Lilly LeSportsac Collection, Serious Sales & Savings

Hello-Hello and greetings from The Great Midwest, where it is snowing. Heavily. You shall hear no complaints from the Prepatorium however, as we have had quite the easy winter, nothing like so many other parts of the country.

We have something to brighten the day for those fond of Lilly Pulitzer: the new collaboration with LeSportsac is now available for pre-ordering at some Lilly shops.  The Ocean Palm is one such shop; below we show the Everygirl Tote in Purrrfect Patch.

LeSportsac at Ocean Palm

The other patterns in this collection are Hip Hop Hooray, with a sunny citrus feel, and She’s a Piston.

The Deluxe version of the Totes runs $98 with smaller sizes priced at $78 and $62.

In the Pink is also offering the new collection on their site; below we see the Mini Backpack ($62) and Lily Wallet (that really is the name).

The collection ships April 15 – 25 according to the Ocean Palm site.

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We have a few Sales and Savings opportunities that are too good not to share, beginning with Polo Ralph Lauren.  The retailer is doing a ‘Last Chance’ promotion, offering an additional 20% off sale prices. This would make the Evelina Velvet Jacket a much more reasonable investment (now $375 from $1398) and the Ginny Cotton Sweater tough to turn down at about $24.

The always fabulous A. Tierney is also offering amazing incredible savings, including their Enamel Bangle Bracelets at only $5.

Also only $5, these darling Toddler Baseball Caps, today’s Pretty in Pink (and green).

We know everyone else is promoting special savings, and in most cases, rightly so, but we couldn’t resist sharing these offers, they seem very appealing. (Psst, if perusing the Lilly LeSportsac collection at either In the Pink or Ocean Palm you may want to browse their online clearance sections as well.)

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We thought it appropriate to share the reaction to ’snowpocalypse’ from one of our office mates here at Princess InterGalactic HQ.

With apologies to those following us on Twitter (for whom this may be repetitious), we couldn’t resist the latest from TillyVille.

With that we say g’bye until next time, with hopes you are warm and snuggly where you may be today.

Early Look: Fashion Week Sketches

Hello-Hello from the Great Midwest. Where we have much. less. snow than our friends in the east and south. More than 2 feet in Our Nation’s Capital?

Everything about this photo is just plain wrong.

Jason Reed/Reuters

Evidently our lack of snow is about to change, if the weatherologists are correct. We are standing by to stand by.

Amazingly, New York Fashion Week starts this Thursday; designers will show collections for the fall season while most of us are focused on simply making it to spring. We have sketches from a few lines that will be showing, starting with a look Milly look as designed by Michelle Smith.

Courtesy Milly

Some may recall Jill Biden wore a Milly houndstooth dress for the Inauguration ceremony and luncheon.

Next, a design from Elie Tahari; there is more than one piece from this brand here at the Prepatorium.

Courtesy Elie Tahari

We read a fascinating story about Mr. Tahari in our Journal this morning; if interested, click here.  This is the first time the brand will show at Fashion Week.

Next, Rebecca Taylor’s style.

Courtesy Rebecca Taylor

Why is it we enjoy the sketches over ‘the real thing’ so much?

Our next rendering is from Tibi, an extremely popular line in many quarters.

Courtesy Photo via Vogue UK

One quick Sales & Savings note, pieces from most/all lines seen above are available now at fiscally-friendly prices at major department stores like Saks, Neimans, Lord & Taylor, etc..

In WWD’s story on new designers showing at Fashion Week, one group of sketches caught our eye.

The line is called Callula Lillibelle; we are intrigued to see actual pieces from the show.

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A quick update on a few Gossip Girl stars: Leighton Meester and Kelly Rutherford made it to last Thursday’s party celebrating the Sonia Rykiel Pour  H&M collection.

The actresses are seen in the photo above with Nathalie Rykiel. Two tops from the group.

Sonia Rykiel Pour H&M

And two looks in our favorite color.

Sonia Rykiel Pour H&M

The line will be available in stores February 20.

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Many readers are familiar with our irrational fondness for Mad Men. WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d) has a feature on Elisabeth Moss, who plays Peggy Olson on the show.  First, Ms. Moss in character.

AMC-TV

Followed by two photos shot by Diego Uchitel for WWD.

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We close with this Pretty in Pink via the Pink and Green Scene.

Nautica Edgemont

The Nautica Edgemont quilt and accessories look nice and springy to us!

Burberry & Hilfiger Limited Editions, Coach & Hermès Going for the Guys

Hello- Hello!

We are experiencing a bit of a Friday Frenzy here at the Prepatorium, but nothing like that caused by the big snow, yikes! We hope all of our friends impacted by the nasty weather are able to stay warm and dry.

In light of the inclement conditions a look at Burberry’s collaboration with French retailer Colette seems in order:

Colette.fr

This may shock some readers, but TP rather likes what Burberry did with this piece.  (Calm, remain calm. We have no intention of purchasing one, so there is no peril you’ll have to cross the street when you see us coming.)  The details are a little over the top for us:

Colette.fr

Besides, knowing our propensity for careening into walls and walking into furniture that has been in the same place for years, it seems likely we might injure ourselves on the studs.

We are not as fond of the trench in its longer version.

Colette.fr

But then, we have never been accused of being fashion-forward. Hee-hee-hee.

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Also available at Colette, the Tommy Hilfiger collaboration with the Keith Haring Foundation.

Colette.fr

The limited edition collection officially launches in September, but the chic French firm has pieces available now for men, women and children.

The Children’s Rain Boot above shows the iconic Haring motif, as does this hi-top tennis shoe.

A pair from the Men’s collection.

All of them are fun, with the touch of whimsy one might expect from such a pairing.

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As we are on the footwear topic, we share a few pieces from the Sorel fall  collection.

Courtesy Photo via WWD.com

Here are some of the boots we shall see in the fall:

Not unlike several styles currently available at the Sorel online shop, here are two more from next winter’s collection.

We had a pair of Sorels that were acquired in another century, they were absolutely fabulous. Sadly, they have been sent on to their next life for a variety of reasons unrelated to their warmth, high quality or waterproofing capabilities.

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Word of a few companies recognizing the men in our lives, beginning with Coach. Come May the first Coach store for men only opens in the West Village, a great spot for such an establishment.  According to this story in WWD the new shop will offer  a broad selection of men’s leather goods and accessories, sunglasses, footwear and coats.

And the new Hermès MAN shop on Madison Avenue opens this Tuesday, the first stand-alone men’s store for the fabled brand.

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We leave with two brief items, first a new bag offered by Louis Vuitton; in the blogosphere it is being called the “Trashbag Purse”.

LVMH via Refinery 29

Some readers may have already seen these on our Facebook page, over at the Coterie blog, perhaps elsewhere, we are actually rather tardy with the story. But because of our October post related to the brand and trashbags, we couldn’t resist sharing the latest. (Below is the October photo we are referencing.)

Via Trendhunter

Also noted on our FB page, the Tory Burch Valentine’s Collection,

This is the designer’s first Limited Edition Artist’s Series, done with illustrator Leanne Shapton.

We hope everyone can sit back and relax this weekend!

“The United States of Ralph Lauren”? (It’s Those Olympic Uniforms)

Hello-Hello, and Happy-Happy Day!

Why are we so perky here at the Prepatorium? Among other things, our first order of the 2010 Lilly Pulitzer Stationery and Gifts line arrived yesterday!

As anticipated, there is lots of goodness contained within, the Watch Sets are outstanding.

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But on to our main topic, the Polo Ralph Lauren Team USA uniforms for the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.  The games get underway in 9 days and yesterday the USOC and David Lauren unveiled the opening ceremony uniforms.

Courtesy Polo Ralph Lauren

Some may recall our original post in July on the uniforms, amplified in our December post where we also show Nike’s podium jacket. (Along with the proscribed look for the snowboarding team, perfect for that sport.)  In this November photo you see the PRL (Polo Ralph Lauren) looks on the left, the Nike styles are on the right.

Chris Trotman/Getty for USOC

Back to the Opening Ceremony uniforms; a snooze news release describes the look:

“…a functional cotton fleece pant, a navy and red down jacket, a classic cable turtleneck, and a traditional wool hat adorned with American flag adding a distinct feel of patriotic spirit.”

As expected, anyone and everyone can purchase their own version of the uniform.  The styles may be acquired at the Team USA shop, along with all manner of  Olympic merchandise, including the Nike Podium Jacket and other pieces.  They are also offered online at Polo Ralph Lauren, PRL stores, and many department stores.

Here are the individual pieces comprising the look; we will be terribly crass, raising that nasty “M Issue” by posting prices as well. (Gasp! The horror!) We begin with the Opening Ceremony Jacket ($325)….

And the Opening Ceremony Sweater ($425).

Along with the Fair Isle Knit Hat ($75) and the Denver Leather Boot ($159).

The items above are all shown with links to Women’s sizes, although they are available in Men’s, Girl’s and Boy’s sizing. We did not see the Fleece Pant in the Women’s collection, but found it in the Men’s department ($165).

There are many additional items we are not showing, tees, more fleece, polo shirts, etc.

We take issue with the statement from the USOC’s public relations department on how we as Americans feel about the uniforms:

“”Polo Ralph Lauren has outfitted the team with a timeless look – one that fellow Americans will be proud to wear,” said Lisa Baird, USOC Chief Marketing Officer.”

Au contraire. Non, non, non.

We appreciate the classic lines and the way the uniforms were designed with homage to the 1932 Lake Placid Games.  This is evident in the sketches released by PRL last year of the athletes Olympic Village styles.

The fabrics and details are outstanding, we’ve no doubt these are quality pieces.  (You know where this going, consider this your chance to flee.) However. We are constitutionally incapable of praising uniforms with a logo the size of an iPad. Honestly. IOHO it is just. plain. tasteless. To paraphrase one of our favorite fellow Tweeters, “Just because they can doesn’t mean they should.”

The Vancouver Sun put it this way:

“The American display, for example, is a testimony to corporate branding. The great republic now appears to be the United States of Ralph Lauren.”

This photo is not part of the Sun’s story, we merely insert it as a point of reference.

Back to the story.

“Ralph’s got the official Olympic supplier gig, and one could be forgiven in thinking that polo — the kind played with ponies — is now an official Winter Olympics sport, given the ubiquity and prominence of Lauren’s horsey corporate logo on the clothing. The logos on his shirts are now the size of actual polo ponies.”

Indeed.

Moving on, one of the cuter items in the Boy’s & Girl’s lines: the Olympic Games Hat/Mitten Set ($95).

Polo Ralph Lauren

If this is all proving to be a bit of a budget-buster, there are always the Olympic pins.  The Ski Pin (L) and the Olympic Pin are each $10.

Thank you for your gracious indulgence of our borderline psychotic diatribes of our silly little Logophobia concerns; you are more than tolerant.

With this we dash, we actually have a number of social engagements today and there is all that fab Lilly to unpack and ship out! Wheeeee!

Anchors Aweigh Nautical Styles

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a one-topic Tuesday!

The title of today’s post provides ample insight on our topic, nautically inclined style. Always a favorite here at the Prepatorium, we can never achieve the nautical bliss found at the one and only Nautical by Nature, but we do make an occasional foray into the topic.

We begin with a look at the Brooks Brothers Nautical Triangle Silk Scarf in either navy or red.

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For the MOTH (Man of the House) Brooks offers a snappy Nautical Belt; we are also fond of our Princess Ribbon Belts (at almost two-thirds less in cost), both styles ideal with a pair of khakis.

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On the apparel front, Ralph Lauren’s Ricky Anchor Crest shirt may be found at Saks.

While visiting Saks (in a cyber sense) the Roberto Coin Anchor necklace caught our eye, as did the Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Nautical Sweater Dress.

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Technically sans anchors, we still thought the Navy Sailboat Dress from Parker warranted a look; it may be found at Revolve.

With temperatures more-than-a-little nippy, the French Sailor Scarf at LL Bean offers a snuggly boost to one’s wardrobe. (And it is only $19.95.)

LL Bean

Bean’s packable Anchors Umbrella could actually make a great gift for someone.

LL Bean

Not to be left out, Targét offers the Nautical Patch crib sheet.

Target.com

The Anchors Print Bikini Top and matching Bikini Bottom (also at Target) are sized for Juniors.

A perfect addition to almost any party, the anchor Beach Ball at Target.

Target.com

The next item prompts a query: how do parents resist purchasing hundreds of pair of shoes for the little ones with so many peaking the Cute-o-meter in the red zone?!?

The Anchor Shoes shown below are for 12-18 month-year-old children.

Babies r Us

The Sailboat Baby Shoes by Jack and Lily also pack an adorable punch.

EverAfterStore.com

Something fun for Mom, the Betseyville Baylee in pink or green; the anchor button decoration adds a nice touch.

The Betseyville offerings at Overstock also include the Brooklee and the Brinda.

The Anya Hindmarch Boat Tote at Saks is available for pre-order only, it has a nice, clean look.

SFA

One nautically inclined accessory we love, the Headbands from Kiel James Patrick. Not only are they very reasonable, we can actually wear them without contracting a major headache, a huge asset IOHO.

The goods Mr. Patrick creates are authentically prep; we enjoy his bracelets, like the Lackatough Stoughton Cog, featuring classic grosgrain ribbon layered over silk rep tie fabric atop a base layer of madras.

KielJamesPatrick.com

We appreciate knowing all the items are made in the USA, and also respect the classic materials used in each item.  The Consort is obsessed very fond of his Mariner & Cape Poge Bay bracelet.

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We first mentioned Mr. Patrick’s line way back in 2008 in this post; there are now fabulous Ear Knots available from this designer.  

The varying styles of bracelets are also tempting.

The site really is a fun place to shop, we could get into big trouble if dallying too long. Sigh.

We are off to our volunteer shift for the afternoon, we hope the sun is shining wherever you may be!