Bringing preppy back?

Last week, Capitol Hill Style's intern Alison blogged about the "return of preppy." I took slight issue with the piece because, honestly, preppy never left. How can you say the style of Jackie O and Katherine Hepburn was ever not chic? And in DC, the preppy look comes standard; the degree to which it is stylish or frumpy depends on how the person wears it. And I truly believe that preppy can be - and has been - incredibly chic and stylish.

However, we can agree that what Peter Som has done with the Hilfiger brand is a very good thing.

Alison put together a preppy look complete with schoolboy blazer, boat shoes and crew neck sweater. But the preppy look is also more than Polo and Lilly Pullitzer and J. Crew. You can seamlessly incorporate preppy pieces in your look without looking like you come from the pages of a LL Bean ad.

I put together two looks - a weekend look and a work look - below that exude preppy without coming off as stodgy or basic.

Weekend wear:

Rebecca Minkoff Claude plaid wool capelet, available at Bloomingdales: $495

Equipment Signature blouse, available at Singer22: $188

Rag and Bone The Skinny, available at Piperlime: $180

Michael Kors belt, available at Yoox: $158

Elizabeth & James bootie, available at National Jean Company: $375

Trina Turk Grecian Links necklace, available at Bloomingdales: $218

Forzieri pashmina: $78

House of Harlow 1960 Horseshoe ring, available at Pink Mascara: $25

Fossil 'Vintage Reissue Lock' leather crossbody satchel, available at Nordstrom: $238

Work wear:

Tory Burch Simone cardigan, available at Bergdorf: $225 

Vineyard Vines Charlie dress: $195 (this is way cuter in person,  I swear)

Anthropologie River Bow Necklace: $38

Kate Spade enamel dot bangle, available at Nordstrom: $48

Cole Haan Stephanie Air pump, available at Shoe Box: $298

Kate Spade Summerville Jenkins: $311

And finally a couple basic, preppy accessories to wear with both looks:

Michael Kors midsized chronograph watch, available at Net-A-Porter: $195

Tiffany & Co. pearl stud earrings: $300

Like the preppy look? Stay tuned, because coming later this week, I'll feature an upscale preppy look - one I dream of wearing.