A Sloanie , or Sloane Ranger , is a term for a British subcultural stereotype that became prominent in the late 1970s and 1980s, describing a specific segment of the English upper-middle and upper classes. The name is a portmanteau of Sloane Square, an affluent area in Chelsea, London, and the fictional character "The Lone Ranger."

The aesthetic, codified by the 1982 book The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook , is a combination of practical country attire and conservative city wear, reflecting a lifestyle divided between London and a family home in the countryside. The uniform typically includes Barbour jackets, tweed skirts or trousers, Hunter wellington boots, pearl necklaces, and pie-crust collar blouses.

As a cultural archetype, the Sloane Ranger is often seen as the English counterpart to the American Preppy , but is generally considered more traditionalist, less academic, and more focused on country pursuits and the established English social season. Diana, Princess of Wales, was widely regarded as the quintessential Sloanie during the early 1980s.

The Sloane Ranger has roots in the English upper classes. Families were peers of the Realm (members of the Royal Family or those with titles presented by the Royal Family) or landed gentry (people who controlled estates and received income from tenants renting land on the estate). Men in these families were members of the House of Lords, who had huge influence on British government and society.

During the British colonial era, British aristocrats settled in Australia, Canada, India and the United States. In the United States, they formed the WASP and Preppy subcultures, which can be very similar to the Sloane Ranger aesthetic.

In the 1920s, many of the old estates fell into disrepair due to rising costs and the decline of the servant class. Today many old estates are museums and historical sites. Other estates which remain in the family are rented out for movie and television productions, such as Highclare Castle, the setting for Downton Abbey. Despite the "poverty" of the aristocracy (relative to their ancestors), an old family name or title gives a Sloane status.

Part of the Sloane Ranger aesthetic is a sense of nostalgia for the past, whether it be the 18th century, or the 1920s-1950s. The nostalgia tends to be very patriotic, romanticizing British history and historical figures such as Winston Churchill and members of the Royal Family and ignoring the dark side of British imperialism.

Most of the things that Sloanes value are very old. They do not like or trust things which are new, foreign, or French.

Places and things associated with the English upper classes. There is some crossover with Dark and Light Academia aesthetics because many Sloanes attend boarding school and later prestigious universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, and St. Andrews.

Clothing is generally modest and long lasting. Royal Warrants can be issued to brands which produce high quality goods favored by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Prince of Wales. Warrants can be revoked if the actions of the company displeases the person who issued it. Rigby & Peller, which provided the Queen's undergarments, had its warrant revoked in 2018.

Natural fibers like cotton, wool, and silk are favored. The English insistence on maintaining their traditional dress codes, despite being impractical for the climate of India or the Caribbean, is often mocked in fiction.

Makeup is generally natural, with products used to enhance features. The Sloane Ranger handbook describes the look as "fresh scrubbed."

Members of the Royal Family are loyal to certain brands. Fashion blogs and magazines report on the styles worn by Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, which have made them popular among the general public. Website crashes due to sudden interest in items are common.