What we know today as preppy style has its roots in the fashions adopted on US Ivy League university campuses as long as a century ago. The look really took hold in the 1950s, and often nods to the type of clothing upper-class Englishmen wore for sports such as rugby, tennis, golf and rowing. Because of this, preppy manages to be both smart and casual at the same time.

The blazer, so often associated with sporting clubs, is a cornerstone of the look, and Polo Ralph Lauren makes a great version in navy. Now the brand is launching an innovative customisation programme that’s exclusive to its new Regent Street store and allows you to create your own crest with monogrammed initials.

This is part of a wider Polo Custom Shop initiative, a service that offers the opportunity to personalise a number of clothing items with an endless selection of monograms, crests, patches and so on.

ralphlauren.co.uk

Lewis Burton wears Polo Ralph Lauren throughout