In this age and generation, “nothing beats the classics” has never been truer. There has been a clamor for “silent luxury” fashion on social media and the internet, while Gen Zs are giving preppy fashion, new styles, a unique vibe, and a fresh touch.

While preppy style has been a mainstay for as long as yachts and tennis courts existed, it has evolved quite significantly into an amalgamation of aesthetics that play around the basic concept of mixing dressed up and dressed down pieces.

In the Philippines, one of the actors who’s always been giving this vibe of fashion sense is Joshua Garcia. On his Instagram feed, he shares a piece of his everyday life wearing neutral color shirts, loose pants, and a pair of comfortable shoes—gunning for that sophisticated yet comfortable style. No wonder Sperry, a shoe name synonymous with the aesthetic and purveyor of the iconic topsider, named the award-winning actor its first brand ambassador in Asia. 

With this, Joshua leads the brand's campaign this fall season with three new preppy propositions ranging from clubhouse to '60s retro to academia, with its latest collections including chunky casual loafers, sneakers, and boat shoes.

“Sperry has different styles of shoes that I can choose depending on the look I’m going for on various occasions, especially, since my style depends on my mood,” Joshua said. “There are times that I want to be simple. Sometimes, even though I don’t have any important engagement, I want to look presentable, iba-iba. And with Sperry, nagagawa ko yung style na gusto ko (I can do the styles that I want).”

The preppy dressing has always been tied to country clubs and the tennis courts that feature prominently in their manicured grounds. These days, rugby stripes, rich jewel tones, berets, and oversized sleeveless sweater vests are the norm. To complement this bold new proposition, Sperry reinvented its classics like the Halyard and the Bahama in neutral shades of bone and ivory to provide much-needed contrast.

“My go-to fashion piece is a simple shirt. I like neutral colors because they are simple, not flashy. For jeans, I like them loose so I can easily move,” he said. “Then sneakers or sliders, and of course, the Sperry Halyard Retro. Ginamit namin iyon nung campaign shoot namin, iyon yung pinakanagustuhan ko (We used it during our campaign shoots and that’s what I liked the most).”

Meanwhile, when achieving that Upper East Side Style, Sperry’s newest loafers and boat shoes now come with chunky lugged outsoles, multicolored leather uppers, and contrasting textures for a playful and current take. Joshua attests to the comfortability of Cabo II can bring to the wearers. He shares that he’s taking a culinary course, and Cabo shoes helped him move quickly in the kitchen.

“Nung first day ko since wala pa akong pang-kitchen na shoes ginamit ko yung Cabo, it has this protective layer that brings comfort,” he says.

Sperry’s latest collection, including Joshua’s top picks, is now available in its official online store and retail stores nationwide.