When it comes to classic style, there are few better sources than The Official Preppy Handbook author Lisa Birnbach. She recently joined designer Tommy Hilfiger to fete the opening of his world-travelling Prep World pop-up shop, and we jumped at the chance to quiz her on her favorite shops, from East Hampton to the Manhattan's Upper East Side. (Spoiler alert: She's clearly a big fan of Jack Rogers sandals.)
The Feast: What kind of a shopper are you?
LB: I don’t really shop, because ... I have it! You know, my clothes haven’t changed that much. Having said that. Thirty years ago, when I wrote The Preppy Handbook, you really had to know where to go for clothing. And unless you lived in Newport, Rhode Island, or south of the Mason-Dixon line, you couldn’t find a lot of preppy clothes in New York. I used to buy jackets at a riding store -- hacking jackets meant for equestrians -- because it wasn’t always easy to find a tweed blazer.
The Feast: So where do you shop in the Hamptons?
LB: I keep thinking they’re going to change it from EHNY to DKNY because it’s so fashionable. There’s Dior and Tiffany and Ralph Lauren ... Let's see:
Belgian Shoes: "For those classic shoes." 110 East 55th Street, Manhattan; 212-755-7372.
Bookhampton: "I buy a lot of books here." Various locations in East and Southampton and Sag Harbor; 631-324-4939.
Brooks Brothers: "I love Brooks Brothers. I’m just always shopping here. Women can easily pull off a little boy's jacket, because it's cut slim and just looks good." 346 Madison Avenue, Manhattan; 212-682-8800.
Calypso: "Sandals, Jack Rogers, great stuff here." 21 Newtown Lane, East Hampton; 631-329-0033 / 935 Madison Avenue, Manhattan; 212-535-4100.
Jack Rogers: "Sandals, sandals, sandals! They just opened on Madison Avenue, too." 1198 Madison Avenue, Manhattan; 212-259-0588.
Steven Alan: "I buy everything from Steven Alan shirts -- he has a bunch of stores in Manhattan, one on Columbus Avenue, Tribeca, Soho ... " 52 Newtown Lane, East Hampton; 631-604-1726 / 69 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan; 212-242-2677 and various locations.
Orva: "Where did I buy [Jack Rogers] the other day? Oh yes! Orva. Who knew?! I go there for sneakers, and they sell Jack Rogers!" 155 East 86th Street, Manhattan; 212-369-3448.
Sperry: "The stuff that I’ve always worn. And now, the stuff that I’ve always worn is now so easily available!" Shop Sperry at Boot Tree, 30 Jobs Lane, Southampton; 516-427-0063 and Outdoors, 171 Main Street, Amagansett; 516-267-3620.
Tommy Hilfiger: "Of course, Tommy Hilfiger! I’m wearing quite a bit of Tommy on this Prep World tour." 375 Bleecker Street, Manhattan; 646-638-4812.
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