Story by Alexandra Hildreth / Photography and video by Charlotte Rutherford / Styling by Chris Horan / Hair by Lauren Palmer Smith / Makeup by Cherish Brooke Hill

GOOGLE and PAPER came together to highlight the SMALL BUSINESSES that are LEADING the BIGGEST TRENDS of the summer based on Google’s trending search data.

Fashion is cyclical, and yes, we know that means that everything old will be new again, but it also means that we can revisit trends of our past and make them work in our favor. A way to right our sartorial wrongs. Those of us who lived through the 2010s wave of prep remember the awkwardness of squeezing into a pair of 3-inch inseam pastel shorts and suffering through sandy summer days unable to sit down comfortably. We were caught in a daze of neon floral print microskirts (which despite their WASPy roots, were just as short as those “Dirrty”-era denim skirts), eyelet dresses from Martha’s Vineyard and dirty white sneakers scuffed from the rocky coasts of New England beaches.

Now a new version of this iconic style, “hyper-prep,” has emerged. Taking its cheeky cues from TikTok’s emphasis on personal expression, it’s transforming its original form into something less... oppressive. Preppiness used to be fundamentally defined by a taste that could only be acquired through a specific lived experience, but now, picking and choosing our favorite signifiers, we are giving them new meaning as a fun and unique expression of identity. Here are the ones to watch out for, from a tried-and-true (reformed) Connecticut boarding school girl.

The Accessory Cardigan

One of the most essential pieces in a preppy wardrobe is an oversized cardigan sweater — not to wear, but to accessorize. This can be worn cross-body, tied around the neck, draped over the shoulders — pretty much any way you can imagine except as a sweater itself. In the past, sweaters needed to be exclusively navy or white pullovers, but this time around knits abound in whatever loud color or print speaks to your heart’s desire.

The Modern Argyle

When thinking of the OG preppy aesthetic, argyle immediately pops into mind as one of the most identifiable prints. Thanks to Gen Z’s obsession with thrifting and upcycling, it’s received a youthful makeover. What was once your grandfather’s sweater vest is now a two piece matching mini set. It’s not a flat, dated print on the golf course anymore; it’s a colorful optical illusion guaranteed to make a hyper-prep statement while out for dinner and drinks.

The Loafer

From head to toe, a prep’s outfit must exude an effortless elegance. This includes shoes that can be slipped on and off with ease. Laces are simply too much of a commitment for a coastal woman floating through her daily life. The shoe must be chic, simply fashionable and appropriate for any outfit or occasion — hence, the loafer. The loafer, as a classic preppy shoe silhouette, can be styled or worn in almost any context depending on your version of hyper-prep. Loafers are no longer stiff and neutral; they can be chunky, velvet, platform, neon, mules, fur lined or even all of the above.

The Mini Skirt

Some things never change, specifically, mini skirts. The hyper-prep girl knows the importance of a pleated mini skirt — an equal nod to afternoons spent playing lacrosse or tennis after school. Now, paired with a chunky shoe and an oversized sweater, the look carries enough insouciance to leave elder WASPs quaking in their wake.

The Pearl Necklace

Hyper-prep is all about accessorizing, or shall I say, over accessorizing. These are no longer the pearls passed down through generations in your family, though you can certainly mix them up. The coolest pieces feature unexpected colors and shapes and are meant to be layered along with other decadent accessories. Maybe they’re purple or perhaps they have a tooth with a jewel dangling from the center. The foundation of the preppy pearls is there to use, but the rest is up to you.

VP Production, Talent: Katie Karole / Digital Director, Talent: Justin Moran / Art, Fashion Director: Malcolm Mammone / Executive Creative Director: Jordan Bradfield / Managing Editor (SBLBT): Laia Garcia-Furtado / Managing Editor (PAPER): Eliza Weinreb / Photographer, Video Director: Charlotte Rutherford / Stylist: Chris Horan / Hair: Lauren Palmer Smith / Makeup: Cherish Brooke Hill / Nails: Sreynin Peng / 1st Photo Assistant: Lance Williams / Digital Tech: Eji Eustaquio / Grip: Sam Trave / Gaffer: Sebastian Johnson / DOP: Jordan Black / 1st AC: Hannah Carpenter / 2nd AC: Alicia Afshar / Colorist: Arianna Shining Star Pane / VFX: Metapoint / Sound: Will Vaughan / Co-Writer: Will McDowell / Stylist Assistants: Greer Heavrin, Katie Somavia / Set Design: Eric Vidmar, Skye Whitley, Marie Sommers / Producer: Amanda Kahle, Roberto Escamilla-Garduño / Market Editor: Emma Sayer / Partnerships: Caitlin Sharp, Bonnie Monk / Web Design: Composite