# Collegiate Chic School-inspired fashions offer a fresh and young way to dress. By [Katherinev123](https://www.trendhunter.com/katherine), Contributing Editor | Published Mar 21, 2012, updated Mar 27, 2012 | Category: [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/style-and-fashion-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/collegiate-chic ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.5/10 - Evidence articles: 6 ## What is the Collegiate Chic trend? **Collegiate Chic:** The schoolgirl look has always been a favorite -- of both men and women -- but today's school-inspired fashions are centered on fresh preppy looks, rather than (sexy) innocence. These collegiate-inspired fashions, which range from plaid blazers to striped cardigans and colorful separates, provide a youthful appeal that consumers find refreshing and fun, especially when other designers are focusing on more serious, somber and monotone styles. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 6 featured examples - Articles from: Jan 3 to Dec 26, 2011 - Published: Mar 21, 2012 - Patterns: [Cyclicality](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/cyclicality), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Co-creation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/co-creation), [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Nostalgia](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/nostalgia) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Themes within the Collegiate Chic trend ### Preppy Chic The resurgence of popular preppy styles is filtering into mainstream society, providing fashion companies with a chance to captivate a television-loving teenage demographic. ### Luxury Schoolgirl Look Luxury fashion designers are drawing inspiration from traditional school uniforms to create edgy, high-fashion ensembles. ### Androgynous Preppy Styles Women's collegiate fashion is turning to androgynous preppy polos and separates as a unique twist on traditional school-influenced styles. ## What the Collegiate Chic trend means for industry ### For Fashion Preppy and luxury schoolgirl looks provide an exciting opportunity for fashion companies to revamp traditional school-inspired fashions to engage with consumers. ### For Television The continued popularity of shows like Gossip Girl provides an alternative channel for businesses with a teenage audience demographic to promote new, trendy styles in television. ### For Luxury Goods Luxury retailers have a unique chance to capture consumers with high-fashion, alluring renditions of traditional school styles, using luxury materials and innovative designs. ## Trend signals for Collegiate Chic Trend score 4.5 out of 10, from popularity 55%, activity 73%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 55% - Activity: 73% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Collegiate Chic trend 6 featured examples from Jan 3 to Dec 26, 2011. - [Preppy Campus Looks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/esprit-spring-summer-2011): Esprit Spring Summer 2011 Campaign is Too Cool for School (Category: Fashion) Implication: Fashion retail industry can incorporate preppy styles into their product offerings to attract teenage consumers. - [Retro Schoolgirl Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elisa-sednaoui-el-pais): The Elisa Sednaoui El Pais Semanal Shoot is Perfectly Preppy (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Fashion designers can leverage these trends to create modern and innovative styles with traditional school uniforms as inspiration. - [Sassy Scholastic Shoots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/karmaloop-lookbook): The Karmaloop Fall Lookbook is School-Ready (Category: Fashion) Implication: A chance for fashion brands and designers to explore new and creative ways of showcasing their collections, such as incorporating unique and historic locations for photoshoots - [Sultry Schoolgirl Outfits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/band-of-outsiders-pre-fall-2012): The Band of Outsiders Pre-Fall 2012 Collection is British-Chic (Category: Fashion) Implication: Retailers specializing in vintage or retro-inspired clothing can take advantage of the trend of designers looking to the past for fresh fashion ideas. - [Sassy Schoolgirl Ensembles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anna-selezneva-vogue-japan): The Anna Selezneva Vogue Japan January Shoot is Alluring (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Fashion brands can explore new luxury schoolgirl designs and religious-inspired pieces to stay ahead of the game and appeal to a target demographic seeking unconventional styles. - [Laid-Back Collegiate Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-campus-in-vanity-fair-italia): Summer Campus in Vanity Fair Italia Adds Punch to Preppy Style (Category: Fashion) Implication: Fashion retailers can leverage the popularity of collegiate fashion and preppy style to attract college-age customers and enhance their brand image by offering curated collections… ## Recent trend clusters - [Scaled Restraint](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/small-luxury-watches) (Fashion) - [Sneaker Theater](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sneaker-theater) (Fashion) - [Ritual Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ritual-systems) (Fashion) - [Athletic Styling](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/athletic-styling) (Fashion) ## Trending in Fashion - [Paisley-Shelled Collector Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paisley-shelled-collector-sneakers) - [Fruit-Inspired Digital Watches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/themed-wristwatches) - [Deluxe Beauty Advent Calendars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/classic-and-prestige) - [Modular Winter Wardrobes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moose-knuckles-fallwinter-2026) All articles: [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion)