Another New Crew & Let’s Get Private, Shall We?

Hello-Hello, happy-happy spring day to everyone, it is simply beautiful here at the Prepatorium! We hope each and every visitor is enjoying equally splendiferous weather!

We begin with a question, but first this must be read:

Congratulation for your $1,350,000.00 as grant from the Fondation De France. You are to send us the following details so that we can proceed to process your grant.

Name:
Address:
Occupation:
Sex:
Tel.

Our question: should we sell The Princess and cash in on the newfound riches described above? Heh-heh-heh.

Oddly, the return address for the email is a Hong Kong domain.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

J. Crew’s new Men’s Store opens today in Soho, the company’s third such outpost specializing in limited edition and vintage pieces for the MOTH (Man of the House).

Photo: Robert Mitra/WWD

The store also carries standard J. Crew menswear and accessories.

Photo: Robert Mitra/WWD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In a SOTT (Sign of the Times) that is almost sacriligeous, Abercrombie and Fitch is moving into the Hickey Freeman flagship store on Fifth Avenue. (Hickey is part of the bankrupt Hartmarx Corp.) According to Women’s Wear Daily:

“Hickey Freeman declined comment, but it’s likely the brand won’t set up another Manhattan flagship until the fate of its parent company is decided. With three bids on the table, Hartmarx could be sold or liquidated in coming weeks.”

Ouch.  An interesting side note: originally Abercrombie was scheduled to move into the now-vacant Brooks Brothers store on the corner, it remains vacant.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We have had some interesting comments on our post about the upcoming Gossip Girl spinoff, revealed in part of last night’s G2 show.  Serious G2 fans may enjoy seeing that two of the show’s stars managed to land places on Glamour’s list of the 50 Most Glamorous Women. Actress Blake Lively is #28, and co-star Leighton Meester is #26.

The company that originally published the Gossip Girl books, Alloy Entertainment, has a new entry in the land of shows about fictionalized private schools, aimed directly at teens and tweens.

The Times carried an interesting story on this:

“The company is preparing to introduce a show based on “Private,”… best-selling series of mystery novels for teenage girls, set at a fictional Connecticut boarding school.”

Girls can even audition for a spot to be in a commercial airing during the show:

The online series becomes available this Thursday; for more info, Private Novels seems to be the best place to start.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TP saw this stunner of a D&G blouse online and went gaga; we simply had to share it with everyone. Now, we have established the fact that we really don’t need any additions to the walk-in, this is common knowledge with the Prepitariate.

D&G Dolce & Gabbana chiffon blouse

But one look at the silk chiffon print splashed with the anchor print and our heart melted. It is available in both white and navy. Let your conscience be your guide. Sigh.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

With that we have to fly – enjoy your day, wherever you may be!

No More Dirty English & Mad for Plaid

Greetings from a sodden, sopping, and soaking wet Prepatorium.  Well, not here inside the Palace exactly, but just generally in The Great Midwest. It’s terrible timing really, as Misadventures of a Newlywed is in the region and we wanted her to enjoy her trip.

We start with news from Juicy Couture they will shut down Dirty English, their Men’s clothing line. The final shipment for the collection will be this fall.

PHOTO Juicy Couture via WWD

As reported in WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d.), the line never really took off:

“The unabashedly girly Juicy brand was a bad fit for a men’s business, and Dirty English lacked recognition, the company admitted.”

In another SOTT (Sign of the Times) many readers will have already heard about, news that Conde Nast is shutting down their business magazine, Portfolio.

We enjoyed this one from its inception, but never subscribed as we simply have too many magazines already. But then Conde Nast closed Men’s Vogue and we had to select a ‘replacement’ subscription from the publisher, so we opted for Portfolio. Now we’re wondering what to pick next…?!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Also in WWD, their look at fall accessories.  The story notes the influence plaid is having on the category.

PHOTO: Robert Mitra

Above, Polo Ralph Lauren mixes the popular animal print with plaid and below, Longchamps use plaid for one of their classic looks.

PHOTO: Robert Mitra

Of course TP also includes madras in the plaid category, like these J. Crew shorts:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We have a few more Sales and Savings to mention:

• Both Ann Taylor and lower-priced sister store, Ann Taylor Loft, are doing their Friends and Family promotion. Use promo code FRIENDS at checkout to receive a 30% discount on purchases.
• Today is the last day to receive 30% off all regular-priced handbags at Shopbop. Use the code ARMCANDY at checkout.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Although we go to great lengths to remain apolitical here at the Prepatorium, we make no secret of our efforts to buy American when acquiring goodies for the Preppy Princess.  Today we were pleased to receive a note about President Obama showing off the Made in the USA label inside his Hart Schaffner Marx suit.

White House Photo by Peter Souza

We can only hope that HartMarx (parent company to Hart, Schaffner Marx and Hickey Freeman) is able to resolve the financial difficulties currently facing the company.  The Consort will be crushed if either or both of these labels were to disappear from his retail landscape.

White House Photo by Peter Souza

And it would seem the Commander in Chief might also be wardobe-challenged without the upscale clothier. Above Mr. Obama is in Hart Schaffner Marx suit pants, and yes, that is Vice President Biden engaging in a little Friday Fun on April 24th alongside the President.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We close with a couple of Pretty in Pink items to brighten your day, beginning with this treasure at Pink & Brown Love, a companion site to the Pink and Green Scene mentioned in this post.

Pop over to see Erin at Decor by Color or at Pink & Brown Love to learn how to add that poster to your walls if so inclined. Also, Kate Spade’s Union Square Satchel at Bloomingdale’s.

May your day be bright and beautiful!

Exactly what did Vice-President Cheney Buy at Nordstrom at Tyson’s Corner? Also, Andy Roddick’s Latest Lacoste Look.

Hello-hello and happy Thursday…The Princess is finding herself ever-so-glad it is the Thursday before a holiday weekend.

Let’s start with more news about politicians and their wardrobes, more specifically higher-end suits being chosen by those running for office, and those about to leave office. We have news just in to Intergalactic Headquarters of the Preppy Princess: we have learned that Vice-President Dick Cheney did some shopping at Nordstrom last Tuesday. For suits. He bought them off the rack and he bought American, thank you very much. Upscale, understated elegance by Hickey Freeman.

Hickey Freeman 'Madison' Suit

As it turns out, Mr. Cheney didn’t buy just one suit; he bought five of them, all five of them off the rack, and all by Hickey Freeman. The Vice-President selected the Madison model in gray, shown above; a two-button, single breasted suit in 100% Lora Piana Tasmanian wool, a fabric we are familiar with that is simply TDF. To. Die. For. What a marvelous choice by the Vice President.

Some of you may remember our story from last Saturday with the scoop that Senator Obama was being fitted for a navy Hart Schaffner Marx suit, and we wondered if it might be ‘The Suit’ he would wear for his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention in Denver.

Hart Schaffner Marx

As it turns out, TP guessed correctly at precisely which model most resembled the suit likely to be picked by Senator Obama, as shown above; as his was bespoke, or custom made, the photo only serves as an approximation. And as we mentioned in Saturday’s post, the Senator was making a wise choice; Hart Schaffner Marx is not only an American company, it is a Chicago-based firm. Both the Senator and his wife Michelle are wearing apparel this week from Chicago-area companies. And as any politician knows, when running for office one does want to be attired in clothing that says “Made in the USA.”

Chicago Tribune photo by Bonnie Trafelet, June 2008

For those not familiar with the two companies, they are actually ‘siblings,’ both owned by ‘parent’ company Hartmarx. So in a sense, Vice President Cheney and Senator Obama have the same taste in business attire! Who’d a thunk?!

Not so fast little Miss Princess.

For openers, the Senator’s navy blue power suit is a much more contemporary look, essentially an Italian cut, hugging the silhouette more closely. Another distinction? Mr. Cheney’s suits are off the rack; Mr. Obama’s suit was custom tailored specifically for him. One similarity? When it comes to cost, they are both about the same price. The Senator’s suit would run approximately $1500 at a store like Nordstrom, according to HartMarx spokesperson Lisa Wells, and the online price we found for the Vice President’s selection is $1395, so they are within $100 of each other.

Photo REUTERS/Mike Segar

There is also some distinction is size. Senator Obama is a 40 Long with a Size 33 waist while Vice President Cheney is a 44 Regular. But here’s the big news: the tailor at the Nordstrom store at Tyson’s told our source that a year ago the Vice President was a Size 48! Evidently dropping from a 48 down to a 40 is roughly a 40 pound loss, so it would seem that someone has been doing *extremely* well on their diet! Perhaps that should have been our headline: Vice President Loses 40 Pounds!

We think not. But it is an excellent selection by both gentlemen. Many a prep has grown up in Hickey; it is the oldest tailored clothing company in the country.

Enough on that topic, don’t you think? (Until we feel the need to address it again, of course.)

Let us contemplate an always interesting topic: the US Open and tennis fashions. For starters we begin with something not designed by one of the big sporting goods companies. It’s actually the creation of what we believe many term a “supermodel,” Heidi Klum. The Heidi Klum US Open Tee Shirt is bright and vibrant, and better yet, it is made of 100% organic cotton and it’s for a good cause. Proceeds from sales of the tee go to the USTA’s (US Tennis Association) efforts to take care of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, home to the Open.

Let’s talk about this latest Andy Roddick look from Lacoste. Historically whatever Mr. Roddick wears at the Open sells out within days, but TP wonders how popular a zip-front shirt will be to men.

However one likes it or doesn’t, Mr. Roddick has won his matches at the Open, including his first round match against of Fabrice Santoro of France as fiancee Brooklyn Decker watched.

Then we have Roger Federer’s look, truly an interesting style, or more accurately, color.

Photos courtesy Getty Images

To the Princess, it looks like chocolate! But that is probably just wishful thinking. A rather muddy ensemble it seems… what do you think? Perhaps it will look better in the morning.