A pink Polo Ralph Lauren shirt is pretty much the last thing I'd expect my son--a lifetime subscriber to board shorts and surf tees--to ask me for, but I (and my inner East Coast-bred prepster) was more than happy to fulfill his request. He needed it, he explained, for a preppy-themed party and possibly for occasions beyond. And so I went into Beverly Hills the other day and reacquainted myself with polo horses, Western prints and cable-knit cashmere--all of which I used to wear back when I was my son's age--and fell in love with these stylish classics all over again. Naturally, I decided I could use some additional forever-chic staples in my wardrobe to effect that flawless, timeless, back-to-basics look (similar to above)--things like this that looks way more luxe than its $268 price tag (I'd size up for a roomy fit), these divine high-waist day-to-night , this apres ski-ready , this and this under-$200 .