Lisa Birnbach + Tommy Hilfiger = “Prep World”

Well, hello there. Did you say sunny and 75?

Sadly, if you were hopeful of a completely escapist post sans any mentions of the “S word” or “B word”, we are destined to disappoint.  Both of us have spent much too much time in Chicago (The Consort lived there for several years) to allow complete avoidance of last night’s storm.  Below, a view of Lake Shore Drive last evening.

Lauran Berta via Chicago Sun-Times

The conditions were beyond wretched, the road remains closed as of this writing, hundreds of people were trapped in a massive traffic jam for hours. How bad was it?  From a Trib story about the mess:

“With snow caked over the windows of his Honda, he called 911 for help. The dispatcher told him to use his best judgment.

So he turned off his engine to preserve gas, called his family to tell them that he was OK and split a snack-size Nestle Crunch bar with his friend.”

E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune

Lake Shore Drive remains littered with abandoned vehicles, above we show the road this morning. Below, a CTA bus that had to be abandoned.

E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune

Passengers were rescued after six hours.

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune

Here is another look at LSD today, this one via ChicagoPhotoSho. The picture is rapidly going viral, perhaps because of its post-apocalyptic feel.

Via ChicagoPhotoSho

Another man’s story:

“Jim Kaczmarek said he was not rescued until 8:30 a.m. after spending more than 17 hours trapped on the drive… He said he called 911 several times, and was told officials were aware of the problem but couldn’t do anything about it.

He also called 311, where a woman who answered suggested he take a bus, flag a cab, or go to a homeless shelter.”

Mr. Kaczmarek also says he realizes he never should have gotten on Lake Shore Drive to begin with.  There is much discussion today about whether or not the City should have closed the road earlier, for more, click here for the Trib story.

Below, how Chicago firefighters got around.

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune

We are more-than-grateful to be inside, warm and dry.

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On to our primary topic today, news of “Prep World,” a collaboration between author best-selling author Lisa Birnbach and Tommy Hilfiger.

Courtesy Image via DailyFrontRow

The True Prep author and Mr. Hilfiger are launching a capsule collection with that moniker.  The marketing campaign includes what some call a “pop-up shop,” in this case one inspired by a Hamptons cottage.

John Aquino/Women's Wear Daily

Lisa Lockwood at WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d.) was first with the story yesterday, “A Marriage Made in Preppy Heaven“.

“Prep World, a capsule collection for women and men, will launch this spring with a global tour, featuring “drop-in shops” and events hosted by Hilfiger and Birnbach. The line will include 60 pieces that celebrate Hilfiger’s preppy classics with a twist, accessorized with such accoutrements as boat shoes, duck boots, Ping-Pong paddles and badminton rackets.”

Here are some of the photos accompanying the article.

John Aquino/Women's Wear Daily

More pieces in the upcoming collection.

John Aquino/WWD.com

We do like the look of these shirts, no surprise to those already familiar with our fondness for madras and nautical looks.

There are polos shirts in a rainbow of colors.

Style wrote about last night’s preview for fashion editors, “…at a gin-and-tonic-fueled party.”

“Interested shoppers can get their hands on the goods when the roving store opens in New York on April 28th. But, please, don’t be so vulgar as to call it a “pop-up.” Others pop; true preps “drop in.

Oops. Dopey Princess.

Women’s merchandise will run $35-$298, the men’s line will be priced at $45-$178; the chinos also have appeal.

We have seen the new line referred to as a “True Prep” collection, although we believe the proper name is simply “Prep World,” among other things, Vineyard Vines already has items showcasing the True Prep name.

Many of the new styles look promising, while others are clearly not for us.  Tee-shirts proclaiming “prep” simply don’t work at the Prepatorium, nor do logos. Of any kind.

Yet there are many items we saw with classic lines and appeal.

Via Style.com

The collection mirrors our ongoing conundrum with Mr. Hilfiger’s merchandise, sartorial confusion perhaps best described in this post from last fall about the designer’s runway collection for spring 2011.

“We begin with a brand that we always approach with trepidation; Tommy Hilfiger. (We fear one day we shall be attacked by a giant “TH” logo.)

John Aquino/WWD

Our post went on to say the looks were surprisingly attractive, as we had long ago relegated the designer’s work to nouveau-prep status, verging on Anti-Prep territory, it was that hideous.  But many publications have noted Mr Hilfiger’s efforts to “re-invent” his merchandise, we imagine this is part of that effort.

Daily Front Row also wrote about the upcoming line.

“Their limited edition collection offers modern-day Muffys and Cuthberts prep attire that melds European silhouettes with Americana sensibilities, along with necessary lifestyle adornments like cocktail shakers and croquet sets. The collection channels “Nantucket, in the summer… it’s traditionally preppy but it has a bit of grime to it,” Hilfiger said in a conversation with Birnbach this week. “You know, like a salty dog.”

(We do carry True Prep at The Princess, and have also done multiple interviews with Ms. Birnbach, click here and here for a sampling of the of those posts.) Below, springtime candy colors from the collection.

Courtesy Image

Here is a look at some of the creative you will see in the upcoming advertising campaign.

Courtesy Image via DailyFrontRow.com

To read more about the collection:

• Daily Front Row story
• Daily Front Row interview with Ms. Birnbach & Mr. Hilfiger
• Style.com story on the collection
• Thread blog story

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We cannot do a post without marking the significance of the day; we simply must note that there is Punxsutawney Phil and then there is Punxsutawney Till.

Punxsutawney Till

(With apologies to our Twitter pals for the repetition.)

Our other whimsical tidbit comes via our friend Christian over at Ivy Style.

Via Ivy Style

An original Preppie video game, circa 1982, we had nary a clue such an item even existed. Just another example of why we love the interwebs. 🙂