Is there a way to wear the preppy look without it getting repetitive?

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Luella's take on preppy chic makes the grade.

It's true: The uniform of polo shirts and pleated skirts can seem ubiquitous these days. So how do you pull off preppy chic without looking like you've just stepped out of a country club social? Just look to Luella Bartley's spring collection. The streetwise Brit took Ivy League-issued V-neck sweaters and khaki shorts and punched them up with rocker suspenders, leather jackets, and stiletto loafers. Kenzo's Creative Director Antonio Marras took it a step further by pairing his bold nautical stripes with pink polka-dot tights. If you're one for simple subtleties, then tennis-bred brand Lacoste is key. Head designer Christophe Lemaire's mad mix of basic solids, plaids, and stripes will easily leave your stuffy-Buffy image in the dust.