The Preppy Princess Turns 500

Hello-Hello!

Happy Tuesday to everyone, and apologies for yesterday’s whineathon of a post, it was most unbecoming. We promise to be a better Princess today. In fact, today’s post is all sweetness and light. Seriously.

Because today marks our 500th post!

And to mark the occasion we are going to do something we’re not very good at: talking about ourselves (all of us, each and every Princess…heh-heh-heh), in a manner of speaking. More accurately, talking about life on the Preppy Planet as seen through the eyes of our little blog.

Our very first post was back on February 10, 2008, titled Prepalicious Alberta Ferretti. We looked at an outstanding collection from this designer (perhaps better known for her Philosophy line), but not one generally considered to offer a preppy aesthetic.

Our single most popular post? It is titled Gossip Girls Haunt the Hamptons & Here’s One for the Military:

JustJared.com

“… this would be actor Ed Westwick, a Brit who plays a rather slimy fellow named Chuck Bass. There were other celeb sightings: we were told that any females in the vicinity of actor Chace Crawford tend to swoon, or get a bit giggly, as seen in the photo below. You know, teenage, pre-teen, post-teen, tweens, you name it, almost any female breathing in and out could be susceptible, at least from from what we understand.”

Our second most popular post has to have the longest title ever created: Summer Olympics Fashion Focus, Ralph Lauren Team USA Opening Ceremony Uniforms Reactions, and Who Was “Preppy” Dressed Team?

Courtesy Polo Ralph Lauren

Other hot topics include Tiffany Eyeglasses….

Courtesy Tiffany

… Goyard totes,

Courtesy Goyard

…along with all manner of apparel and accessories, especially of a preppish design.

Jim Young/Reuters

And when those styles intersected with politics and/or celebrity (let alone darling little girls), that only seemed to heighten the interest. Sketches have also been popular.

Courtesy J. Crew

J. Crew proved especially adroit at maximizing marketing opportunities in this arena.

Occasionally we let a little of our LogoPhobia (a little?!) rear its head, and we have delighted in sharing felt obligated to report on those newly named to the Anti-Prep Wall of Shame.  We have also loved finding things that are Pretty in Pink, discovering Argyle Adventures, not to mention sharing anything nautically inclined, adorned with grosgrain ribbon, or done in a seersucker or madras motif.

The goings on here at the Prepatorium have also been topics for discussion, as well as our little trips to visit TQM (The Queen Mother) and other royalty, along with cataloguing the travails of getting that drawbridge over the moat up and down when we’re at the mercy of such a testy group of gnomes.  Don’t you find that getting good help is so hard these days?! (This is where one inserts the smirk.)

Classic prep retailers, clothing with a Lilly label (let alone our Lilly Pulitzer stationery collection), spring and fall Fashion Weeks, Grand Slam tennis, nothing is safe it seems, especially if The Consort is doing the post! And we’ll probably keep it that way, unless you direct us to do otherwise. (Although some might be surprised at what we consider our favorite post, as it has nothing whatsoever to do with preppy style or fashion.)

Because we follow your lead; the very best part of all this bloggage has been our treasured readers. By far.  We consider ourselves more-than-fortunate to have made so many friends via this medium, we really are blessed. So if there is something you want to see more, or hear less about, anything at all, do tell! We always want to know your thoughts.

After this there really isn’t anything we can say other than “Thank you”.

Red Carpet Hits & Misses, Tommy Hilfiger Show

Hello-Hello, and welcome to the week ahead!

Today we begin with red carpet fashions, following last night’s Emmy Awards.

Many critics the evening’s big fashion winner was January Jones (aka Betty Draper on Mad Men) in her Atelier Versace gown.

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty

A look at it from another perspective.

Matt Sayles/AP

Also in Versace, Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively; costar Leighton Meester wore Bottega Veneta.

Mark J. Terrill/AP

Ms. Lively changed frocks before attending the HBO party.

Dan Steinberg/AP

On the far side of the Pond, the Sun thought poorly of Chloe Sevigny’s apparel choice:

“”…what looked like a polka-dot bed sheet to the event. The toga-like ensemble was by Isaac Mizrahi Resort 2010.”

Matt Sayles/AP

Ouch. Another gown receiving negative reviews, Victoria Rowell’s. (Ms. Rowell stars in The Young and the Restless.)

Jason Merritt/Getty

Also on hand, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian in understated gowns, although there is much discussion about the need for proper…ah, appropriate…. umm, the need for…well, there is no delicate way to say this, there is chatter about the lack of proper undergarments ‘neath the gown.

PHOTO: Donato Sardella/WWD

Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks wore deep blue L’Wren Scott.

Donato Sardella/WWD

Another celebrity receiving negative feedback for their sartorial selection, Sarah Silverman.

Chris Pizzello/AP

Don Draper Jon Hamm of Mad Men looked dashing in a standard dinner jacket, seen below at the Governor’s Ball.

Jae C. Hong/AP

Our favorite dress was the Valentino worn by Australian actress Rose Byrne, a fairy-tale princess gown if ever we saw one!

Photo: Getty Images

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It is time leave the party frocks behind and move on to the topic of Fashion Week, as we still have more to cover on that front. The Tommy Hilfiger presentation coincided with the official opening of the retailer’s new 5th Avenue flagship.

Courtesy Tommy Hilfiger

Many a celebrity could be found at the party celebrating the store’s opening, as described in this post. The first look down the runway in Mr. Hilfiger’s Spring 2010 line was this Pretty in Pink grouping.

Thomas Iannaccone/WWD

The nautical influences were easy to spot.

Thomas Iannaccone/WWD

AP had this to say in their review:

“Hilfiger’s theme was the “relaxed glamour” of a Southern California boardwalk, which meant a surprisingly cohesive mix of crisp nautical looks and disco-era slinky styles.”

Men’s and women’s styles are seen in the same show.

Thomas Iannaccone/WWD

Broader shoulders were evident in most pieces, but not all.

Style.com was positive in their write-up:

“… an energetic and fresh-scrubbed collection, named Beachside Romp, that was meant to evoke a SoCal boardwalk but could indeed play anywhere.”

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We concur with the assessment from Fashion Wire Daily:

“A highly energetic, if not necessarily highly original, runway show.”

We did think this little dress was darling, although much too young for TP.

Thomas Iannaccone/WWD

We hope this provides a good sense of the Spring 2010 Hilfiger line.  We do have several other styles to share from New York Fashion Week, hopefully in tomorrow’s post.

Of even greater urgency, London Fashion Week is already underway. Below, the seating chart for the London Burberry show, as photographed by none other than the label’s Creative Director, Christopher Bailey.

Christopher Bailey

May your Monday evening be prepalicious!

Amended to add: And may everyone in the southeast, especially Atlanta, be safe and dry.

The First Family Does Talbots & J. Crew, Our New Nantucket Collection

Hello-Hello, and apologies for the lack of a post yesterday! We can only  attribute it to loads of Princess personalization ordering and the Lilly pre-orders, yikes!

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Sadly we start with something transcending a fashion faux-pas dollfaces, more like a fashion disaster In Our Most Humble of Opinions.  Sigh.  Behold actress Hayden Panettiere Monday on her way to tape the David Letterman show.

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While we understand Ms. Panettiere’s need to promote her new film, is the sheer Caroline Seikaly dress even remotely appropriate for someone not yet 20 years old?  This is eerily reminscent of the dress (seen here) worn by Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester at an MTV awards show in June. Harrumph!

Speaking of television shows featuring fashions of a preppish nature, NY Magazine has an in-depth review of last night’s NYC Prep for those following that train wreck. (As many readers have referred to it.)

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On a more upbeat note, the marketing minds at Talbots must have been thrilled to see First Lady Michelle Obama in their rose print dress again, worn this Sunday when boarding Air Force One on the way to Moscow.

Photo: Luis M. Alvarez/AP

BTW, the Talbots Clearance Sale now offers an additional 25% off already reduced prices, making the dress seen above $89.99; it was originally priced at $169.99.

Once arriving in Moscow Sasha and Malia Obama exited the plane in J. Crew.

PHOTO: Sergei Guneev/AFP/Getty

Malia was wearing the Silk Taffeta Trench ($298) and Sasha wore the Girls Crushed Twill Trench (now on sale at $129.99).  Both girls also wore ballet flats from Crew; Sasha in the Printed Minna Flat (left, $98-$108) and Malia in the Womens Black Satin Flats with Contrast Trim (lower right, $98).

And a reminder that J. Crew is also doing a Clearance Sale, with an additional 20% off already reduced merchandise; use promo code EXTRA20 when checking out to receive the discount.

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Remember Hadley-Pollet, the firm doing reversible ribbon belts, as well as totes? If you are a fan of the brand and in the Boston area, the company is having their first sample sale in years this Friday and Saturday.

HadleyPollet.com

The place to be for the bargains is 230 Newbury St.

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We close with something ever-so-fun, a new collection at the Princess! Our Susan Wallace Barnes line features scenes from one of our favorite spots, Nantucket! Below we share an image from the Susan Wallace Barnes 2010 Desktop Art Calendar:

Susan Wallace Barnes at PreppyPrincess.com

We love the bright, vibrant colors and seashore scenes, they just make us smile, and smiles make us happy, happy, happy. (We know, it doesn’t take a lot, does it?!)

The Note Cubes are loads of fun too, and a delightful hostess gift. (At only $14, they are also fiscally friendly.)

Nantucket Notecubes at PreppyPrincess.com

These come finished with a beautiful blue grosgrain ribbon bow, a really cute touch.  The Boxed Note Cards have more island scenes, including an adorable pink station wagon!

Susan Wallace Barnes at PreppyPrincess.com

We’re so ga-ga over that vintage wagon with the wood panels we are takiing executive action and making it today’s Pretty in Pink.

Susan Wallace Barnes at PreppyPrincess.com

We shall leave you with that cheery beach scene, hoping your afternoons are filled with summer splendor!

Major Papers Talk Preppy Style

Hello-Hello and happy day to everyone!

We’ll jump right in today with a few things we never seem to fit in our daily posts, despite the fact we start out planning to include them every. single. day.  We are so slow in sharing them many readers are likely to have already seen them, yikes! Here they are in completely random order:

1) The Times had an outstanding story from David Colman a few weeks back in their Dress Codes series, “The All-American Back from Japan,” examining contemporary preppy style.  A sample from the article:

“There is madras everything, button-downs everywhere. Nantucket reds — washed-out pink pants — are the new khakis; Sperry Top-Siders are more common on roof decks than top decks; and the Polo pony and the Lacoste crocodile are now but two of the critters in a zoo of polo shirt insignia.”

The story is accompanied by a companion slide show, “Dress Codes: The Preppy Look” with excellent photos from Dean Isidro. Below, the gentleman wears Benjamin Bixby, Lacoste, Trovata, Brooks Brothers Black Fleece, Marc by Marc Jacobs.

PHOTO: Dean Isidro/NY Times

The article looks at the history of ‘preppy fashion’ in the US (or more appropriately, that particular moniker for the style) as well as what Mr. Colman refers to as “…the Japanese penchant for Americana…”.

Some of the brands cited in the story and slide show are definitely not “your Father’s preppy style,” although again, TP’s family never referred to it this way. If asked and forced to describe the look TQM probably would have merely said it was conservative or classic, perhaps being so bold as to inquire  “why do you ask?” as it wasn’t something one consciously thought of or needed to discuss. The only possible exception might be if one the children dared desire something out-of-the-norm, in the “no, no, that’s not something we wear” category. How did your family refer to their clothing style? Or did they?

We highly recommend the story and slide show, they are great fun and offer a slew of new brands, some of which you have seen showcased in this space, such as Band of Outsiders, and others we probably won’t be sporting.

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2) Also on the radar for quite some time, this story from the Times of London’s online site:

Preppy power

From twinsets and pearls to cashmere hoodies — new fashion tribes are taking their lead from the Sloanes

The story is another fun read, offering a slightly different perspective as it originates from the far side of the pond.

“Yet rapidly growing numbers of people are embracing the preppy look — whether it’s stripy boat-neck T-shirts, argyle sweaters, brogues or cotton pea coats. Look closely and you’ll see preppy is having a makeover right under our noses.”

The story breaks the preppy looks into five different styles, including Euro Preppy, Fashion Preppy and Power Preppy.  Prince Harry’s former flame, Chelsea Davy, is pictured as an example of Public School Preppy:

PHOTO: Antony Jones/UK Press/PA Photos

A reminder that in the UK ‘public schools’ are actually what we call private schools here in the States, for example, Miss Porter’s or Choate would be called ‘public schools’ in England.

The article also has scads more details with the writer’s ideas on what brands specific prep types would wear, their ‘best looks’ as well as “A Look Too Far,” our favorite sub-category.  Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton is classified as a Euro Preppy, although the story notes:

“To be fair, Kate is more neo-Sloane ranger, but, for obvious reasons, the Euro preppy holds her in high esteem.”

As to the paper’s suggestions of a Power Preppy, they include First Lady Michelle Obama in this group. Rather than bore you with more recitation of the article’s content we suggest one toddle on over and personally read the story, we highly recommend it. A visit to the fabulous Europa Fox is also likely to provide far better insight than anything we offer.

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True Chanel addicts with pin money (okay, investment quality pins) to spare will be pleased to learn of the 1980′s and early 90′s Chanel jewelry and accessories now being offered at high-end vintage retailer Resurrection.  Some pieces serve to remind us that the development of LogoPhobia is not merely in reaction to recent creations:

Courtesy Photo via WWD

If interested, the catalog of goodies can be downloaded by clicking here.

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TP is ever-so-excited to learn one of our favorite spots for retail therapy is undergoing a bit of a lift, so to speak.  Fashion Island in Newport Beach (CA) is going to have some work done, adding wonderful stores like Nordstrom to the roster of existing shops, including Neiman’s, Saks, and Bloomies.  Below, an artist’s sketch of the ‘new and improved’ Fashion Island.

Courtesy Photo via LA Times

The LA Times has the full story.

We leave you with some of the soon-to-be-out, or already available magazines one will spot at the local newsstand:

Courtesy Time Inc.

There are reports of at least two west coast memorial services, one on July 3rd, the other July 10th.

Courtesy People

There is also a report that the Jackson family has been denied permission to bury him at Neverland Ranch.

Courtesy Post-Newsweek

Brooks Brothers Black Fleece Announcement, Tory Burch Sunglasses

Hello-Hello and Happy Monday!

We must say that having the U.S. Open on the TV here at Princess InterGalactic HQ certainly makes for an enjoyable work atmosphere.

We begin by saying that once again TP is forced to publicly acknowledge her inability to properly assess the intricacies what qualifies for ‘cool’ in the world of fashion. To whit, today’s news that Brooks Brothers is opening not just one, but two more standalone Black Fleece stores.

Yes, it’s that Black Fleece with all designs by Thom Browne, he of the shorter pant lengths, a style we are constitutionally incapable of wrapping our little pea-brain around.

Above left, the Black Fleece Madras Cotton Blazer (now at a far more fiscally-friendly $515 as opposed to the original $850 price), and on the right, the Two-Button Classic Oxford Jacket (selling at $600, originally priced at $1000).

Our lack of ‘hip-itude’ is demonstrated by our surprise at the news. The new stores will be located in San Francisco (in the old Simon Pearce spot on Fillmore) and in Tokyo.  WWD reports (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d.) the west coast store will be open by September.

Clearly we do not have our finger on the pulse.

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In news of a gossipy sort (gasp), another Gossip Girl cast member has landed the cover of a popular magazine. This time it is one of the Gossip Guys, actor Chace Crawford, on the cover of People; he has been named the magazine’s “Hottest Bachelor.”

PHOTO: Courtesy People.com

While TP has yet to view an episode of the hit program, we do try and pay attention to the fashions from the show and other information.  We didn’t realize that co-star Penn Badgley originally wanted to have the Nate Archibald role Mr. Crawford has made famous.

PHOTO: Lance Staedler/People Magazine

Nor did we realize Mr. Crawford shares an apartment with Ed Westwick, another co-star.  For a People magazine video with Mr. Crawford as well as more photos, click here.

PHOTO: Albert Ferreira/Startraks

Now for our Question of the Day: is it just us, or does Mr. Westwick bear an unfortunate resemblance to a ferret?  Perhaps it is his hair?  He doesn’t look nearly as … ah, nearly as…. ummm… we’ll just say ‘intense’ in this photo from Thursday’s K-2 event at Bloomingdale’s. In fact, he looks rather charming.

PHOTO: Will Ragozzino/Getty

Also in the news, Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively, seen below with hairstylist Jennifer Johnson at the NYWIFT Annual Awards. We are confused by the trench coat over the party frock, unless it was a sponsored wearing of said trench, a strong possibility as it is also what Ms. Lively wore inside.

PHOTO: Neilson Barnard/Getty

We’re presuming everyone will sleep better this evening being up to speed on these latest events surrounding the hit show. (Heh-heh-heh.)

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Despite the soft economy, Bloomingdale’s is opening the only Turnbull and Asser store-within-a store.  Previously one could only purchase Turnbull & Asser merchandise at the company’s own stores.

Photo: Elissa Wiehn via Men's Style

This comes on the heels of the retailer’s unveiling the massive (7,000 square feet) Polo Ralph Lauren shop-within-the-store.

PHOTO: John Aquino/WWD

The newly refurbished Polo area stocks both Blue and Black Label goods, and actually has its own door on the 59th St. side of the flagship.

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Also today, news  that Tory Burch is adding sunglasses to her line; they will be available sometime in November.

PHOTO: WWD Staff

The oh-so-chic shades will run $135 to $195.

PHOTO:WWD Staff

The frames are being made by the same company that makes Ralph Lauren and Tiffany frames, so we expect they will be quality items.  Best of all, it appears they may not activate our Logophobia as we’re not seeing any of those telltale signs in these photos!

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We close with a reminder to pop over and visit Whale Flip Flops for your chance to win a Carrie & Tuck portable writing center….

Carrie & Tuck at PreppyPrincess.com

The winner will select the color of their choice, Pink, Navy, Green, or Chocolate Brown portfolio. And we are also including a Preppy Alligator Refill Set to keep someone well-stocked in cute paper for the summer.

With that, we say adios until next time!