[asark]

One of the only interesting observations in the (awful, just awful, I cannot emphasize enough how bad it is) sequel to The Prep Handbook is that synthetic fleece had, since the first book, became a hugely popular exception to the usual prep-set rule of "no synthetics", largely for practical reasons (at least at first). I wouldn't be surprised if it's a bit of dressed-down prep fashion being expressed or imitated, at least by a certain set of the folks wearing it. Finance'd be the right crowd for that.

[EDIT] that is, The Official Preppy Handbook. The sequel's called True Prep and is, again, awful, do not read it, it has none of the fun, well-voiced humor of the first, it's bad, bad, bad.