Full Preppy Disclosure

It was 20 years ago this month that I left my hometown of Aylmer, Quebec to run away to attend Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Linda Frum's influential 1987 eponymous university guide book had pegged Queen's as Canada's snootiest school, with a reputation for social elitism, arrogance, and snobbery. She then provided a quick test for the reader to see if they were the "Queen's Type": (1) Am I blonde? (2) Did I go to private school? (3) Am I rich?...

Ouch! All barbs aside, Frum conceded that Queen's was certainly one of Canada's best universities, with a truly collegiate atmosphere, unsurpassed school spirit, very competitive entrance requirements, and strong departments in almost all arts and science fields. I was convinced and applied to Queen's post-haste. Oh, and for the record, my answer was "No" to all three questions.

So what does any of this have to do with The Preppy Handbook? Well, my first-year roommate, A., had a copy. He was from the affluent Toronto neighbourhood called "The Beaches" and went to a high school founded in 1903, with notable alumni such as Glenn Gould, Alex Trebek, Norman Jewison, and Keifer Sutherland (Wow! My high school was built in 1968 in a field on the eastern fringe of Hull, Quebec. I don't think we ever graduated anyone notable). A. had the most awesome preppy wardrobe I had ever seen. He was one of those guys that just had effortless style, plus he was also one of the sweetest people I have ever come across.

I came across TPH in a style blog recently and I had a wave of nostalgia. I recall sitting on my bed in Leonard Hall reading TPH cover to cover on many occasions. If A. was in the room at the time we would be listening to Depeche Mode or The Cult, among his top-3 favourite bands. We must have blasted "Personal Jesus" and "Edie" a few thousand times. A. also loved KISS and had their posters all over his side of the room. I was (and remain) a huge U2 fan and had my posters up accordingly. A. detested U2 but did happen to admit that he liked one song off their then-recent Rattle and Hum album called "Hawkmoon 269".

So to first year at Queen's...to buying Sperry Top-Siders at Shalimar Shoes, to finding discounted Ralph Lauren, Izod, and Madras plaid shirts at Phase One, to tracking down burghundy Weejuns in the old Kingston Centre...to big hair, big glasses, and the pain and glory of coming to age.