Lisa Birnbach Quotes

#1. The University of Miami is not a campus with visible school spirit, just visible tan lines.

Lisa Birnbach

#2. Like everything else, Preppiness begins in the home.

Lisa Birnbach

#3. Wool, cotton, and the odd bits of silk and cashmere are the only acceptable materials for Prep clothes. They look better. They require professional maintenance. They are more expensive.

Lisa Birnbach

#4. Dartmouth Winter Carnival opens, proving once again that bitter cold is no obstacle to going completely out of control.

Lisa Birnbach

#5. Preppy clothes are built to last, since they certainly won't go out of style.

Lisa Birnbach

#6. You can't regret what you can't remember.

Lisa Birnbach

#7. A tip: if you're invited to your friend's country club to go the lost and found bin and pretend that you left something there. Next thing you know, you have a fabulous sweater ...

Lisa Birnbach

#8. Looking, acting, and ultimately being Prep is not restricted to an elite minority lucky enough to attend prestigious private schools, just because an ancestor or two happened to arrive here on the Mayflower. You don't even have to be a registered Republican.

Lisa Birnbach

#9. Sarcasm mascarades as the Preppy's sense of humor.

Lisa Birnbach

#10. Always underdress. The goal is not to look as if you made an effort for the particular event. If you can dress for a different party (i.e., wear black tie to a cocktail party, or tennis clothes for lunch), so much the better. You give the impression of being much in demand.

Lisa Birnbach

#11. If you tell a friend a secret, she will keep the secret by telling only one other person.

Lisa Birnbach

#12. Cynicism is more than a pose; it's also a handy time saver. By deflating your companion's enthusiasm, you can cut conversations in half.

Lisa Birnbach

#13. Grandmother. The true power behind the power.

Lisa Birnbach

#14. It is the inalienable right of every man, woman, and child to wear khaki.

Lisa Birnbach

#15. In a true democracy everyone can be upper class and live in Connecticut.

Lisa Birnbach

#16. Prep clothes are sensible: rain clothes keep you dry; winter clothes keep you warm; collars are buttoned down so they don't flap in your face when you're playing polo. Layering is a natural response to varying weather conditions.

Lisa Birnbach