Boat Shoes

Photos by Salt Water New England

Preppy Rule: Old Girls, Hot Pink

Photo by Salt Water New England

 

Preppy Rule: If you can't cycle to tennis, move.

Photo by Salt Water New England

 

Preppy Rule: Geraniums can be any color, as long as it is pink.

Photo by Salt Water New England

 

Preppy Rule: Pink and Green belong together. It's just science.

Photo by Salt Water New England

 

Preppy Rules: Towns are only as good as their cemeteries.

Photo by Salt Water New England

 

Preppy Rule: The best summer jobs are on the water. The second best are by the water.

 

Photo by Salt Water New England

Preppy Rule: The first vehicle you learn to drive should not be a car.

Photo by Salt Water New England

Preppy Rule: You should be practical in most things, but not all things.

Photo by Salt Water New England

 

Preppy Rule: Golf can be practiced (almost) anywhere

Photo by Salt Water New England

 

Preppy Rule: Drive out of your way to drive by the water.

Photos by Salt Water New England

 

Reader Question: Favorite Poolside Drinks for Guests

Photo by Salt Water New England

Hi Muffy,

Yesterday's post begs the most important question of all for readers.  What is your favorite poolside drink to serve to your guests?  

  

Outdoor Cooking and Eating

Photos by Salt Water New England

A question for the community: 

Which foods do you prefer for outdoor cooking and eating? And what are favorite techniques or occasions?

 

Volvos

"Volvo is ending production of its estate cars... The Swedish carmaker will be switching to manufacture SUVs alone." (The Guardian, Aug 3, 2023)  

Photos From Our Archives: 

Photos by Salt Water New England

 

Ask Muffy: Which Polo Shirt should I buy?

The Platonic ideal of polo shirts were the polo shirts of my youth, the Izod Lacoste.  You could buy these without a worry.  They looked right, they felt right.  Ironically, it is the knock-offs of those shirts, by Ralph Lauren, that remain the safest bet today.  Now, as then, Ralph Lauren polos are soullessly derivative but solid.  

Beyond that, when looking for polos across vendors, this is for what I look:

The fabric should be pique-knit, not jersey knit.  It should also be 100% cotton, with no treatment, no stretch, no blends. 

Tennis tails are key.  Two button plackets only, and avoid polos with too narrow a placket.  (When wearing, I button neither if worn alone.  Button one if worn under a sweater if it positions the collar better.  Never button both buttons.)

A good collar is not too tall.  Ralph Lauren’s is a perfect height, while L.L. Beans’, for example, is too tall.  A tall collar will not stand up at all. (I am often asked if the collar should be worn up or down.  I generally put it up in the back and down-ish in the front when I first put it on, then forget about it.  A polo collar worn up from end to end looks, well, you know.)

For colors, look at White, Light Pink, Hot Pink, Navy, Light Blue, French Blue (not Royal Blue), Kelly Green, Lime Green, Hunter Green.  Some people, and I am not one of them, can look fabulous in a pure Red or brilliant Orange.  Stay away from Pale Peachy Pink, Mint, Rust, Teal, Mauve.  Never Black.

The issue of logos or not on the polo tend to get some people excited.  I have found that people who want to play the purist insist on no logos.  I think of them as I do car stickers.  They can add both character and a nice contrast, if done well.    

One other consideration if you are planning on buying more than one.  Many polos shrink considerably.  Before you buy a second, see how the first one launders.  That will greatly influence what size you end up buying.  Similarly, the dyes in polos vary greatly as well, and can change considerably, for better or worse,  across washing, salt water, and sun.  Your Ralph Lauren polos will often look different after a bit of time on the bay.

As with all clothes, don’t get anything too tight.  But especially with polos, where the use cases include sporty endeavors, such as tennis (White for clay courts), sailing (White for crewing on a Herreshoff at Classic Yachts), and golf,  or casual summer wear, relaxed is essential.  The only exception may be under crewneck or v-neck sweaters, where a tighter fit can be preferable so as not to add excess bulk.  

And while I am often a fan of androgynous clothes, this is a place where women will want to preferably find a Women’s version and not a Men’s.   A Men’s will most always hang in an unflattering way.

Polos can last decades, and be a nice workhorse for your wardrobe.   

Buy hard, wear easy,

Muffy  

Preppy Notecards and Mugs! From Maine's The Muddy Dog

Photos by Salt Water New England

Maine's The Muddy Dog has a wide array of jaunty, bright, and fun offerings, from notecards to mugs to napkins to wrapping paper.  While they cover the range of seasons and holidays, I have selected a handful of items particularly well suited to those with summer interests.

Women's Summer Essentials Ceramic Mug

Notecards: Islesboro Tote; Nantucket Lighthouses; Fairway Golf; Tennis, Anyone?

Mugs <https://www.themuddydog.com/collections/mugs>

Notecards <https://www.themuddydog.com/collections/stationery>

Nantucket Forever Toile Ceramic Mug

Men's Summer Essentials Ceramic Mug

Nautical Chart Ceramic Mug - Choose Your Location!

Tennis, Anyone? Ceramic Mug

 

Patsy's (New!) Preppy Fun Earrings

Photos by Salt Water New England

Want some fun?  Patsy has you covered with her brilliant new colors (above), adding to her already joyful collection of her preppy Monkey Fist earrings (below).

• Monkey Fist Earrings <https://www.patsykane.com/yachting-collection-earrings>

From Concord Prep to New Canaan Prep, and everything in between.

 

Oxfords from the 80s

Maine Coast - Photos by Salt Water New England

Polo Shirt Under Fair Isle

Photo by Salt Water New England

A Transition Time of Year

• Women's West Coast Yoke Fair Isle Jumper - Crabapple Green <https://www.bosie.co/modern-heritage-collection/womens-west-coast-yoke-fair-isle-jumper-crabapple-green>

 

Two Tote Bags from Steele Canvas Basket, Made in Massachusetts

All Photos by Salt Water New England

Many here already know about Steele Canvas Basket company.   They've been making hard wearing canvas products in Massachusetts since 1921.

I have very much enjoyed getting to know two of their awfully good looking totes, their classic and low-key natural canvas tote in Small (now my camera bag) and their vinyl beach tote in a brilliant green in Medium (headed for the boats next).   Durable and tasteful, be sure to read the measurements provided on their site carefully as they are generously sized bags.

• Lime Green Steeletex Beach Tote - Medium <https://www.steelecanvas.com/collections/steeletex-beach-totes/products/lime-green-steeletex-beach-tote-medium>

• Natural Canvas Tote Bag - Small - with 10" Handles <https://www.steelecanvas.com/collections/for-home-tote-bags/products/small-tote-bag-canvas>