Comfort and propriety periodically demand you sport the preppy look, but does that mean you need to look like a croquet jockey/Andrew McCarthy? Not if you pick up gear from SHADES of GREIGE, whose fall line drops this week.

Founded by a recent Fashion Institute grad, SoG melds traditional prep with hipster and a dash of New Wave (like what Duran Duran would've worn to a semi-formal). SoG starts with classic foundations like Grey Herringbone wool and cotton twill, then tweaks them with subtle touches: their safari blazer boasts a modified "pop-me" collar, and the pea-coat's cut short to the waist, to better show off your fashionable belt buckle/fashionably unzipped fly. Also hitting stores are their deep V-neck Ts, twill slacks, and full- or baseball-sleeved Henleys adorned with octagonal elbow patches, an homage to the classic Chuck Norris film, and stop signs.

Despite the designer's student loan repayments, SoG's priced reasonably: $30 for T's, topping out at $180ish for the jackets -- wear either to the next croquet match and guys named Blaine'll spill their Arnold Palmers in terror.