^^^ This. Think Brooks Brothers, LL Bean, (
old) Abercrombie & Fitch. A lot of Ralph Lauren draws on a preppy style.
Drolefille, you need to find yourself a used copy of
The Official Preppy Handbook. It explains much, and is
way funny.
Speaking of which, 30 years later Lisa Birnbach is coming out with a new book this fall --
True Prep: It's a Whole New Old World.