An AntiPrep’s Comeuppance? (Kind of NSFW)

Hello-hello and happy middle of the week to all of our treasured readers.

Today we wanted to chat about a news item involving a member of the AntiPrep Wall of Shame. Yes, we’re talking about these folks.

Abercrombie & Fitch

(With apologies, I wasn’t sure if this sort of picture would be considered Not Safe For Work, you wouldn’t believe how hard it was to get a screen grab that didn’t show more!)

Regular readers have been subjected to endless carping may have noted our occasional posts about the company. It’s true we are forever harkening back have referenced this artifact before, the label from one of my turtlenecks. (I know, it’s so last century.)

The Prepatorium

The garment is not from Abercrombie’s heyday, but it certainly predates current ownership and management by a few decades. Or so. We are nothing if not frugal.

The point is this harkens back to a company that would never target pre-pubescent girls for push-up bikinis (remember the ‘Ashley push-up triangle top‘ for those 8 to 14 years of age?), nor would they market to your tween and teenage daughters with ads like these.

Abercrombie Facebook

Or get them to sign up for the “A & F Club,” with a website front page like this.

A&F The Club

That Abercrombie & Fitch may have gone bankrupt and ultimately been out of business. But at least they didn’t engage in the sort of thing the current company seems to enjoy. Some readers may know where I’m heading with this. Yes, it’s more about those news stories from last week quoting from a 2006 Salon interview with the brand’s CEO, Mike Jeffries.

“Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.

The quotes resurfaced when a retail analyst, Robin Lewis, wrote about the company’s refusal to stock Large or Extra Large sizes for women. More from the Los Angeles Times:

“As far as Jeffries is concerned,” wrote reporter Benoit Denizet-Lewis in Salon, “America’s unattractive, overweight or otherwise undesirable teens can shop elsewhere.”

In this day of the interwebs the reaction was almost instantaneous. Many were outraged. A Ohio mother, Andrea Neusner, sent her daughters’ clothing back to the CEO with this letter.

Dear Mr. Jeffries:

Thank you for clarifying the reason you do not carry sizes larger than a 10 at Abercrombie. Your customer is an “attractive, all-American kid with a great attitude and lots of friends.” I am a mom of 3 daughters, ages 17, 13, and 10. They are all thin, attractive, all-American kids with great attitudes and lots of friends. They shop at Abercrombie. I believe they are your target audience.

Please find the enclosed clothing, purchased at our local Abercrombie/Abercrombie and Fitch stores. My thin, popular, cool kids will not need them anymore.

Not only will I not let my kids shop at Abercrombie again, I will not let them wear what they already have in their closets. Normally I donate our unwanted clothes, but in this case, I wouldn’t want any unsuspecting thin, cool person to send the message that being exclusionary is OK.

Sincerely,
Andrea Neusner

A Change.org petition was started asking the company to “make clothes for teens of all sizes”; it now has more than 20,000+ signatures. The organizer hopes to get to 25,000.

And yesterday word came of a California man named Greg Karber, who created his own method to “re-adjust the brand”. His idea? Purchase Abercrombie & Fitch clothes at the local thrift store and give them to homeless people, or clean out your closet and donate them. More from the Daily News:

It’s payback for outlandish comments Jeffries made in 2006, when he admitted he only wants to sell clothes to “cool kids” of a certain size and social status.

“Abercrombie & Fitch only wants a certain kind of person to be wearing their clothes,” Greg Karber says in a video explaining his project. “Today, we’re going to change that brand.”

Greg Karber You Tube

Here are Mr. Karber’s suggestions:

Greg Karber You Tube

Some are taking those suggestions to heart:

Buzzfeed

The ‘hashtag’ being used to promote giving A&F clothing to those less fortunate is #FitchTheHomless.

Personally, I am not crazy about the practice of making presumptions based on someone’s appearance, i.e., “the homeless”. Nor does it sit right thinking that homeless individuals are so awful they are bound to strike at the core of Mr. Jeffries being. But do I appreciate the notion of people doing something about a business practice they don’t like? Yes.

Buzzfeed has its own record of the goings-on.

BuzzFeed

Much of it actually seems as hostile as Mr. Jeffries’s attitude toward anyone over a Size 10. But there are also more reasoned approaches, like this image Jamie Smith posted on Twitter.

Jamie Smith Twitter Feed

In case you are unable to see what the note says, it reads:

I’m not a size 10 or under and I’m beautiful! I love myself for who I am and my size. You’re just an overgrown bully who isn’t happy in life. Remember that next time you want to judge people because of their weight.

P.S. Your clothes line sucks.

Love The Beautiful Fat Chick

Now, are Mr. Jeffries and his marketing department probably reveling in all of the attention the brand is receiving? Probably. But they won’t be if enough people stop buying their merchandise.

Vampire Weekend’s “Preppy Image” & Lilly Lovers Make a Heart

Hello-Hello, happy new week to everyone.

While we don’t own any Vampire Weekend music, we have gradually listened to more of their music over the years. (“More” is a relative term, we probably couldn’t name 5 songs.) And we have certainly written about the band’s image in this space before. The group has a new CD coming out tomorrow; in advance of that release there has been substantial coverage of the group, its image, music and many other things the last several weeks.

Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City

We thought it made sense to revisit the group’s ‘preppy image’ topic by sharing a bit from a story in the Irish Independent last week. First, a contemporary look from the music video for the new album’s first single, Ya’ Hey.

Vampire Weekend Facebook

Now to that Independent story by writer Ed Power.

Of course, the question you really want to ask Ezra Koenig is: why are you so hated? Is it the fancy-pants Ivy League degree? The preppy good looks? The boat shoes?

He knows people, thousands of strangers, don’t like him, believe his band Vampire Weekend to be a bunch of jumped-up trustafarians who have coasted to the top of the charts on privilege, rich-kid charm and a well-thumbed collection of Paul Simon LPs. He okay with that. Lately, he can even chuckle at it.

Here’s a 2009 photo from the group’s Facebook page.

Vampire Weekend Facebook

According to the story the preppy image seems to have been something cultivated for the band’s branding, the following is a quote from Mr. Koenig.

“The preppy image – we knew what we were doing,” he says. “I didn’t grow up in a preppy household. I never dressed that way.

As a refresher, here is an image from a 2008 Underground Top Ten piece.

Underground Top Ten

And a 2007 photograph, this one via Stereogum.

Stereogum October, 2007

But even looking at a March 2013 Fader cover story, it’s still a fairly prep look.

Vampire Weekend Facebook

For those unfamiliar with the band’s backstory, they all attended Columbia. In the Independent article (and in many previous interviews) Mr. Koenig addresses this.

He appreciates why people would have a picture of him in their head as a privileged jerk, though. Going to Columbia, he encountered plenty just like that.

“I can give you a million reasons why I don’t fit the stereotype of the rich college kid,” he says.

“But, you know, I did go to those schools. It doesn’t surprise me that, in a deeply unequal society, things that are seen as a status symbol are going to anger people.

It’s safe to say I’m feeling rather moronic, I never presumed the wardrobe was more of an image-making maneuver than a reality. The following is from a story in Canada’s Globe and Mail last Friday:

But enough with the condescension; Vampire Weekend has received enough of that since the release of its self-titled début in 2008 (and again with 2010’s Contra). The indie-rocking New York quartet could not shake its preppy, advantaged reputation – sweater-wearers listening to Afro-pop and arguing about Oxford commas well into the Cape Cod night.

From a very limited scan of reviews it seems critical reaction to the new album is fairly positive. It seems rather unfortunate that so much time and energy during the group’s early years was spent on the group’s look as opposed to the band’s sound. It makes me wonder if VW had simply avoided stressing the prep styles, would the music have been what was discussed and commented on, as opposed to the clothes they were wearing?

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We also wanted to share some bright and sunny pictures most Lilly lovers will enjoy. In honor of the late Lilly Pulitzer, the West Palm Beach Green Market hosted a fun event yesterday.

West Palm Beach Green Market

Banners were set up with some of Lilly’s more iconic sayings.

West Palm Beach Green Market Facebook

This is one of my favorite Lilly quotes.

West Palm Beach Green Market Facebook

The Market was filled with a whole lot of Lilly.

West Palm Beach Facebook

There were mothers and daughters (and some Dads, husbands, brothers) sporting their Lilly. Below, Vicki Angelini and her daughter, Mary, from a story in the Palm Beach Daily News.

Meghan McCarthy/Palm Beach Daily News

And here is the heart made by those in attendance.

City of West Palm Beach Facebook

On that chipper image we say g’bye until next time!

Captain Wales Comes to Washington & One World Trade Center is Now 1776 Feet Tall

Hello-Hello, and Happy Friday. We have a fairly newsy post this morning, tidbits we hope you might enjoy seeing. The first involves Prince Harry’s visit to America.

The young royal headed to Capitol Hill.

Kori Schulman/The White House

He made an unannounced visit to the White House Mother’s Day tea, surprising children of active military parents.

James Birtles, Sky News Twitter

The tea party honored the HALO Trust.

James Birtles, Sky News Twitter Feed

Harry then joined Senator John McCain to view a new exhibit by the HALO Trust, “the world’s oldest and largest humanitarian landmine clearance organisation.”

Kasie Hunt/NBC News Twitter Feed

Harry is the Royal Patron of HALO’s 25th Anniversary fundraising efforts, below we see him visiting HALO Mozambique.

HALO Trust Flickr

Some readers may recall Princess Diana’s involvement with HALO.

Mirror Photos

At a dinner last night Harry spoke about his mother’s work with the organization, this Express story has more:

“…at the dinner, he evoked the memory of Princess Diana’s ultimately successful campaign in 1997 to bring about a worldwide ban on landmines.

“My mother, who believed passionately in this cause, would be proud of my association with HALO.,” he said. In her special way, she adopted it as her own. She would join me – along with all of you, I’m sure – in praising HALO for the amazing work that it has done over the past quarter century….”

One of the more interesting aspects of yesterday’s events was the crowd of young ladies waiting to see Harry, more from UK reporter Richard Palmer:

From the Evening Standard:

Harrymania…crowds of girls had screamed and cheered for the Prince in Washington DC on the first day of his official tour of the US.

This morning Prince Harry went to Arlington National Cemetery. He started his visit in Section 60, this is where those who have died fighting the global war on terror are buried.

Tim Ewart, ITV Royal Editor Twitter

For today’s solemn wreath laying ceremony he was in the ceremonial uniform of the Blues and Royals, that is his regiment. He also wore the Army Air Corps blue beret. Harry is an Apache helicopter co-pilot and gunner, he has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

James Birtles/Sky News

There was an Army Full-Honors Wreath Laying Ceremony.

A visiting head of state will pay formal respects to the sacrifice of America’s veterans in foreign wars by placing a wreath before the Tomb. Similarly, other foreign ministers may also include a wreath laying here as part of their official itineraries.

While not a Head of State, Harry is the Queen’s representative in this capacity.

Via Peter Hunt/BBC Twitter Feed

Back to the Evening Standard’s story:

The grave of US Army Specialist Michael L Stansbery Jr, who died in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on July 30, 2010, aged 21, was chosen at random out of the thousands of graves in Section 60.

The headstone of Spc Stanbery, a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, had six stones and glass beads placed on it by family members to mark their visits.

Harry visited John F. Kennedy’s grave.

Via Deanna Duray Twitter Feed

He then moved to Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

UK in USA Tumblr

Simon Perry of People magazine shared this photo, Harry saluting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Simon Perry, People Magazine Twitter Feed

The handwritten note that was with the wreath.

Via

It reads, “To my comrades in arms of the United States who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom,” and was signed “Captain Harry Wales”.

The focus of Harry’s visit is supporting injured servicemen and servicewomen from both the US and UK, he will be visiting Walter Reed National Medical Center and attending the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs. The Games are hosted by the USOC and include teams from the US Army, United States Marine Corps, US Navy and Coastguard, the Air Force and Special Operations Command.

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Our other news involves One World Trade Center.

Via WCBS880 Twitter Feed

The building is now at the symbolic height of 1776 feet, the spire atop the structure was permanently affixed by ironworkers this morning.

WCBS880 Twitter Feed

The skyline in this morning’s haze and fog.

Anne Thompson, NBC News Twitter

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We leave you with a few of our favorite looks from the Lilly Pulitzer spring/summer line.

Bloomingdale’s

A better look at the Malibu Blazer.($198).

Bloomingdale’s

The contrasting peter pan collar on the Andria Silk Top ($138) is cute as can be, but the way the piece hangs just didn’t wow me.

Bloomingdale’s

You may have noticed the pretty pink belt in the photos, here is a better look at the Bow Tie Belt ($48).

Bloomingdale’s

With that Pretty in Pink we say g’bye until next time!

The Vitals Preppy Guidebook & Another Preptastic Collaboration

Hello-Hello, welcome to a Wednesday here at The Prepatorium. One that started out with some unexpected excitement (more on that momentarily).

We are brief today, with only two tidbits to share.  The first involves something that somehow escaped me, a book called “The Vitals Preppy Guidebook“.

The Vitals Preppy Guidebook via Alex Grant

Once again we turn to our pal Skip over at the Alexander Grant blog, for more info:

Five years before Lisa Birnbach decided to update The Official Preppy Handbook with True Prep, Rosecrans Baldwin and co. of the now elusive Vitals magazine penned an updated version that still holds true today.

Skip shares scans in his post about the Guidebook.

The Preppy Guidebook via Alex Grant

Vitals had a short tenure on the magazine rack, which was too bad, I remember reading several issues, it was a solid product. The Vitals Preppy Guidebook was published eight years ago, in the spring of 2005. No one will be surprised at the number of heritage brands shown in the Guidebook that remain with us yet today, like Nantucket Reds, Brooks Brothers, Barbour and others.

The Vitals Preppy Guidebook via Alex Grant

There were sections on “Where to be seen,” “Where to spend money” and other tongue-in-cheek topics.

“The Vitals Preppy Guidebook” via Alex Grant

Decor images included the Preppy’s Study.

“The Vitals Preppy Guidebook” via Alex Grant

From the description of one’s study, “It’s his solace and his right. It is, if given the option, where he’d be buried. In J. Press plaid.”

Photograph by Matthew Hranek – “The Vitals Preppy Guidebook” via Alex Grant

Does anyone remember this one…..? It looks like such a fun read.

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We also have another collaboration news to share, this time with a decidedly preppish slant.  Stationers Dempsey and Carroll and J. McLaughlin have partnered on a collection of correspondence cards.

Dempsey & Carroll

As many readers already know, Dempsey & Carroll’s cards are simply wonderful. They’re all-cotton heavy stock with hand-bordered edges, accompanied with exquisite lined envelopes. There are three J. McLaughlin designs available: from left to right, the Marrakesh, the Olana (yes, after the Frederic Edwin Church home) and Moroccan Paisley.

Dempsey & Carroll

The Correspondence Cards are $55 for a set of 10 cards and matching envelopes. There are also coordinating Gift Tags.

Dempsey & Carroll

The tags are $7 each, $35 for a set of 5. The paper goods are available online at both Dempsey & Carroll and J. McLaughlin, as well as select J. Mac stores.

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Back to that early a.m. excitement, it involved this.

TPP InterGalactic HQ

Someone who shall rename nameless (although you could always touch base with The Consort) wanted to “sanitize” a dishcloth. How else would one do that other than popping it in the microwave for a full 2 minutes??? Did I mention it was basically dry when it went in the microwave?

Actually, there were lots of popping embers going, and no damage to anything other the dishcloth, so we’re in a major attitude of gratitude.

Budget Prep Basics

Hello-Hello, happy new week to you!

We all know that no one loves a bargain better than preps, so I thought it might be fun to spend a little time this spring looking at alternatives to our standard haunts and brands, we’ll veer clear of Brooks Brothers, Talbots, J. Crew and the like.

We begin with a cursory look at JC Penney’s new brand for men, “Stafford Prep,” introduced last month. The troubled retailer continues to struggle, the new label is one of many created to upgrade Penney’s image, an extension of Penney’s Stafford line. Our first item from the collection is the Bengal Stripe Poplin Shirt, originally priced at $30 the shirts are now discounted to $22.50. (Yes, Penney’s is now back to a promotion-heavy pricing scheme with frequent discounts, specials and perhaps even coupons.)

Stafford prep Bengal Stripe Shirt

The shirt is cotton poplin, clearly created to capture some of the “go to hell” styling favored by other prep brands. The Striped Poplin Shirt (originally $28, now $21) incorporates similar styling, it is available in two different colorways. One of the most appealing aspects of the shirts is the discreetly placed logo, small, just above the vent at the side seam.

Stafford Prep Striped Poplin Shirt

Another basic from Stafford Prep, the Cotton Piqué Polo, comes in a broad selection of colors. Originally selling for $18, the shirts are now $13.50.

Stafford Prep Piqué Polo

For the ladies at your palace, the Short Sleeve Polo shirt on the far left is $16, it offers updated styling with a slimmer fit and extended button placket, some versions are discounted to $11.99, including petite sizes.

JC Penney

Prices for Targét’s basic School Uniform Polo are only $6.48 to 12.99 in junior sizes, shown on the far left. No one is going to know it’s for a school uniform, and it is a durable garment from what friends say. Below center we show the Men’s Mossimo Polo, it also comes in a wonderful array of colors and is priced from $12 to $14.99. If seeking something for your little Master of the House, the Cherokee infant Toddler Boy’s Polo on the far right is $7.

Targét

For comparison’s sake we show the Double L Polo from LL Bean. The shirts are $15.99, and you do get the cute little Bean boot logo.

Premium Double L Polo

However, that is because these are on sale, the original price was $32.95. Other polos are on sale at Bean, and they are great buys. Non-discounted polos at Bean seem to start around $25, at Lands’ End it looks like they start around $24 or $25 as well.

Kohl’s also carries a number of basics, and like other discounters they use promotional pricing much more heavily than Bean or Lands’ End. Most (if not almost all) shirts appear appear to be on sale, we show the Croft & Barrow® Solid Piqué Polo, originally priced at $18, now $9.99.

Croft & Barrow® Solid Pique Polo

A basic solid shirt can do yeoman duty, we share several more from JC Penney. On the far left we see a top from the retailer’s new Joe Fresh collection, brought on with much ballyhoo, the Voile Shirt comes in a number of colors. In the center, JCP’s Long Sleeve Oxford ($24.99), and on the far right, the Silk Sleeveless Henley Top ($39).

JC Penney

Shoes with a prep aesthetic aren’t always as simple to find, although reasonably priced flats seem to abound at most discounters. Below, Target’s Madge is offered in a range of colors and textures, at $17.99 they may not last forever, but they sure will do the trick in the short term.

Target Madge Ballet Flats

Target’s Ona Striped Scrunch Ballet Flat is just $19.

Target Ona Flats

There really is a solid selection of preppish basics available, including discount department stores.  It’s a matter of knowing what you want and keeping on eye on quality: is the construction solid? are seams finished well? are plaids matched at the major seams? Another thing to keep in mind, most of us prefer all natural fabrics: cotton, linen, wool. Polyester can make an otherwise wonderful piece feel entirely different, including making it uncomfortable in warm temps. Depending on the garment maintenance could be more involved; as a rule that has been worth the extra effort in the long run.

We leave you with some madras pieces we discovered at Target: the Women’s Merona® Lari Boat Shoes for $15, Men’s Shorts that are 50% off (now $12.48), Men’s Tie in Navy Madras Plaid at $19.99, and Womens Zulima Plaid Rain Boots, $29.99.

Target

Until next time, may the sun be shining wherever you may find yourself today.