A New Take on Preppy, Luxury Retailers, Preppy Giveaway

Hello-hello!

We thought we would start this evening with a look at a brand heretofore unknown to The Princess: Kiel James Patrick.

Courtesy: Kiel James Patrick

As described by the designer:

“Kiel James Patrick irregularly stitched bracelets, are individually created solely by the designer from the finest vintage materials. Fabrics are meticulously hand-selected to uphold classic New England motifs.”

Their are a number of brightly-colored collections. The site also offers scarves:

Courtesy Kiel James Patrick

The scarves are original designs by Mr. Patrick, 100% Virgin wool, and bound using silk and cotton.

Next, some readers may remember our story about Tiffany opening its FiDi store a little more than a year ago.

PHOTO: Robert Caplin/Bloomberg News

Situated in the heart of the Financial District (the store is actually on Wall Street), the opening was awash in fanfare and frivolity. The Princess was quite enamored of the Tiffany blue gowns, despite the wrinkles, really unforgiveable under the circumstances.)

Courtesy The Shophound

Initially things went swimmingly.  But in a recent story on the Portfolio website, some say this location isn’t exactly the best place to be right now for high-end retailers. A snippet from the story:

“Sales are already softening at downtown boutiques just as the all-important holiday shopping season gets underway, and the outlook is grim.”

Tiffany’s neighbors Thomas Pink and Hermès and luxury luggage-maker Tumi are said to be suffering, along with Canali, who just opened last spring over on Broad Street. (They do incredible menswear, especially tailored apparel, although the styles are generally a tad too ‘hip’ for the Princess Consort.)

Courtesy Canali

Business publisher Crain’s had a story a few weeks back looking at how ‘luxury retailers’ will weather the tough economy:

“Midtown stores such as Saks and Barneys, both of which are located not far from Lehman Brothers’ 49th Street and Seventh Avenue former headquarters, will be hurt by the market turmoil and massive layoffs. Saks’ flagship Fifth Avenue store accounts for about 20% of the company’s total revenues.”

“Some mid-to upper-end stores, like Coach, which has 10 stores in Manhattan, may stay afloat due to the trading down effect. Shoppers could be more apt to purchase a Coach handbag, retailing for between $200 and $500, than a Prada bowler bag at Barneys which sells for more than $1,900.”

We leave with another reminder to leave on comment about something you are thankful for about the United States…a comment on something you are grateful for related to the USA; leave the comment on this post, or any other post published since last Wednesday, and you will be entered in the Great Preppy Giveaway!  You could win this great Bungalow Scout tote from Preppy Princess!

Bungalow Scout Tote

And if you mention this giveaway on your blog and you are the winner, you also automatically win this set of preppy Madras cards to be sent to anyone of your choosing! (And TP pays the shipping on all of this!)

Holly House Cards at Preppy Princess.com

For full ‘rules’ and how it works, click here!

Grins & Giggles until next time!

Black Friday Starts…TOMORROW. Seriously. And Preppy Bargains Abound.

Hello-Hello from a sublime and sunny day in the Great Midwest, so nice we can hardly believe it is November!

But we may want to fasten our seat belts, as it could be a bumpy ride this Fall, at least for retailers. However, storekeeper stress also means outstanding savings opportunities, so today we are simply discarding our usual neuroses about usage of the ‘M’ word, and offering what insight we have on hand.

For openers, K-Mart is starting their Black Friday offerings tomorrow.  As in Sunday, November 2, 2008.

For anyone unfamiliar with Black Friday, a previous post has a tad more insight on the phenomenon, including a mention of this Ralph Lauren Factory Stores ad, offering something called Midnight Madness.  The ad says, “Join us after your Thanksgiving Dinner. Most stores open at the stroke of midnight.”  Indeed.

Courtesy bfads.net

Back to today’s post: the Kmart ad does not refer, or apply, to all parts of the store. In fact, it really only offer savings in one area of the store, as explained in Friday’s Advertising Age story:

“The retailer …  said it will offer the deals exclusively in the home-electronics category to help customers kick-start their holiday shopping. The category has become an area of particular concern for retailers, as consumers pull back on discretionary items.”

Should shoppers be looking for the special deals in their Sunday newspaper? Evidently not, at least as best The Princess can discern from yesterday’s story.

“Early Black Friday” sales on about 15 items will roll out in Sunday circulars between Nov. 2 and Nov. 23, as well as on Kmart.com. The deals are being worked into existing circular plans… “

And surprisingly, the discounts will be available for more than one day, different from ‘standard’ Black Friday sales:

“Kmart’s deals are also meant to make holiday shopping more convenient, Mr. Aiello said. Unlike typical Black Friday sales, which require an early wake-up call and heavily promoted limited quantities, the specials will be available for an entire week, with ample supplies in stock.”

Because we do heart your pocketbook (we have been told this is the proper way to use this verb) we went decided to be adventurous and go to the K-Mart website. These are the only two sale circulars we see that are applicable commencing tomorrow; the first seems to be primarily Disney and Hannah Montana related.

Kmart Ad 11.02.08

And the second is a Dollar Days theme:

Kmart Ad 11.02.08

Enough of Black Friday, let us move on to Bergdorf’s, shall we? Their Fall Savings event includes the Tory Burch North-South tote in this color is too fun.

Barney’s thinks their sale is groovy; we are not yet convinced, but are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

The Prada Ruched Pump is not destined for our shoe rack,

But the Mawi Enameled Bangle is fun and comes in several colors, including our favorite.  And the pinstripe cashmere throw, as well as the eggshell with multi-color stripes both rank extremely well on the Snuggle Factor.

It seems that Brooks Brothers continues its aggressive marketing stance with their Preferred Customer Event.

This translates to a 25% discount if one uses their Brooks Brothers Platinum MasterCard Platinum, a mere 15% savings for those paying through other means.

J. Crew is pushing their ‘Fall Sale.’

And TP is simply ga-ga over the Clea Flats:

And speaking of J. Crew, a reminder on the next Men’s Shop:

Courtesy J. Crew

It shall be interesting to watch the way Crew plays the Men’s Collection in this locale, as it is quite different from the ambience of the Liquor Store site.

Saks is also eager to assist one’s wardrobe enhancement efforts, offering multiple sales, like the Stuart Weitzman Patent Slide.  And ladies, TP can personally vouch for these; they are divine. Dowdy? Maybe. Frumpish? Perhaps. But they are us, and we don’t have the only toes clad in these at JL meetings.

Then there is the Lord & Taylor ‘Just in Time’ sale which has so many different elements we can barely keep them straight.

But because we want to do our best to help locate fiscally friendly merchandise for all of our Princess readers, we’ll give it a go. L&T is offering:

• Additional 15% off Cashmere
• 33% off Gloves
• 25% off Handbags
• Free shipping on all orders more than $99

J. Press is always an excellent choice, and this fall it is no different, with multiple markdowns throughout the store. These snappy madras trousers for The Spousal Unit at a superb price; they will be ideal during this winter’s annual getaway.

Their Short-sleeve New York Polo is also fun.

.

And so we might close with an ‘appropriate’ Pretty in Pink, here is the Lilly Pulitzer Infant’s Cover-up; Saks is offering this at an attractive markdown.

Happy Hunting!

Stop the Insanity and Another “Preppy Comeback”

Hello-Hello….it is a Monday.

At the risk of tempting fate, we fear it may be time to bring back the “stop the insanity” shrieking from last decade. And we aren’t talking about this:

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

We are saying resurrect the phrase only, not the person best known for yelling those words at us. At least that’s how it felt whenever that show was on the television: ‘Hi, I’m Susan Powter, with TV that’s YOUR FAULT!’  (Good heavens, no, The Princess did not have it on, but when employed in a television station one isn’t always in charge of what is on.)

But the lunacy continued throughout both the Milan and Paris Fashion Week shows. We are talking about footwear and we’ll commence the visual aids with a look from Gucci’s RTW Ready to Wear Spring 2009 show:

Photo: Stephane Feugere

Or the Emilio Pucci RTW Spring 2009…

Photo by Dave Yoder

From Women’s Wear Daily, in a story about the Prada RTW Spring 2009 show:

“As for the accessories, it was all about the shoes, and not in a good way. The mile-high platforms strapped on over what appeared to be Prada’s take on Peds might have been impressive, had half of the girls not had major trouble walking and thus looked absolutely petrified. At least one fell (the meandering stage set didn’t allow for full viewing), and one bailed on the finale. Folks, more sculptural, higher, chunkier, clunkier, strappier, bondage-ier — we get it. But maybe it’s time to cry uncle and downgrade to shoes that function as shoes, even on the runway.”

The photo below is from that same Prada show during Milan Fashion Week:

Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

Next, a close-up of a pair of Ferragamos.

Ferragamo Show, Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty

Below, a shot from this September’s Peter Som Spring/Summer 2009 runway at New York Fashion Week.

Joshua Lott/Reuters

And here, one from the Marni Spring/Summer 2009 show (BTW, they do have a fabulous online store!):

Photo: Imaxtree

And then this photo is just in from yesterday’s Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton spring/summer 2009  show:

Pierre Verdy/AFP/Getty Images

As far as TP is concerned, enough is enough. Actually, it is too much.  What do you think? Is the silly shoes phenomenon out of control?

Next, a quick look at the Lacoste Fall campaign, “Perfectly Prepped.”

And they are showcasing polos for kids, both boys and girls.

It seems that once again “preppy is making a comeback.” This is at least the third or fourth time we’ve seen this headline since we started our little blog back in February of this year and this is our 219th post, so if one does the math, the comebacks are happening more than we care to contemplate. And wouldn’t that necessitate the lifestyle going away in order for it to ‘come back’?  Our most recent discourse on the topic was June 11th, titled “Everyone Discovers Preppy…“

Now in Adam Tschorn’s story for the Los Angeles Times entitled Preppy makes a comeback on the men’s runway, we see it dubbed the preppie renaissance:

“And nothing in American sportswear is as intrinsically optimistic as the preppy wardrobe built around madras, seersucker and oxford cloth, the de facto uniform of the scion-in-waiting circa 1980 who bides his time at a prep school until a Harvard early acceptance puts him on the path to Wall Street.”

The next two looks are from Perry Ellis:

“In this new world order, it’s a preppie renaissance with privileged panache, with Michael Bastian, Thom Browne and others.”

In referring to designer Thom Browne the articles notes we have the ‘neo-preppy’ moniker:

“Thom Browne, the official tortured soul of the neo-preppy brat pack also toyed with texture, filling his tennis tournament set piece with gauzy sweaters, a floor-length peignoir festooned with tennis rackets and jackets woven over-under from strips of grosgrain.”

Because we have shown so much Thom Browne and Thom Browne for Brooks Brothers Black Fleece, we’ll share two more looks from Perry Ellis:

We simply must fly. Back later.

A Manly Take on Fashion Week & Another Gossip Girl Preppy Look

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday! The Princess is ever-so-pleased to welcome a weekend after playing catch-up most of the week from our mini-vacation.

We are most assuredly ready for some Friday Fun. With that pleasant prospect in mind we start with a quick hit we would almost consider “must reading” for its entertainment value: Time magazine’s column on Fashion Week. A sample:

[F]ashion shows are the most serious events in the entire world. Nobody in the audience smiles or talks; the models look like they’re on the Bataan death march; and people slowly, lifelessly clap at the end. I’ve been to political panels, criminal trials, locker rooms of playoff losers, graduate English classes and the Ron Paul convention, and I’ve never seen people take themselves quite this seriously.”

Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for IMG

The writer is the talented Joel Stein who may need his own bodyguard after writing this:

“Vogue editor Anna Wintour, whom I vaguely knew as the lady who wears Prada and is remarkably similar to the Devil, has two bodyguards–that’s how serious fashion is. I’ve interviewed a lot of celebrities, and you know who had bodyguards? Nobody.”

If already planning to visit the Time site, one might want to read their review of the new Candace Bushnell novel “One Fifth Avenue,” a title we have mentioned in previous posts.

Already talking about fashion does allow us to segue right into our next topic, an interesting quote from this week’s Gossip Girl as uttered by the character Blair:

“Are those Tory Burch’s last-season flats?”

We presume it was spoken in horror (oh the shame of wearing last season’s styles) but were also pondering the fact that prior to this primetime hit it is difficult to conceive of dialogue written that specifically about a designer, or playing a role of this importance in a plotline. (Full disclosure: TP did not watch the show but simply saw the quote so many places we felt compelled to share it with those who are fans.)

So, in our apparently never-ending “How to Dress Like Gossip Girl” category we have four quick pieces from a wonderful column by The Chic Spy. The primary style statement is the Sonia Rykiel blazer. Cropped shorter than what one is likely to find at Brooks Brothers, and with oversized (the Queen Mother’s translation: loud) buttons, the double-breasted blazer is available at Net-a-Porter.

The other important piece is one that would send TP into a Logophobic coma were it not for the smelling salts, the the Burberry wraparound check kilt, complete with fringe, brass pin and double side buckles. The kilt, made in Scotland, has a velcro closure inside the waist. Velcro. Indeed.

Should the look be one that you find appealing, the skirt is available in an almost identical style in Girl’s Sizes 2-14 on the Burberry website.

The Spy also showcases Nanette Lepore pumps and the Be & D “Kan Kan Tote” available for pre-order on the website. If that brand sounds familiar, it may be you are remembering Be and Steve’s insanely popular Garbo handbag from last year. And if not a G2 fan, stop by and visit The Spy for some simply delightful reading.

On the topic of reading, here is one addition to the Fall reading list you may enjoy, definitely a ‘must’ for us: Valentino: Themes and Variations by Pamela Golbin.

The book was released earlier this month and it looks just stunning and with Rizzoli as the publisher you know the quality will be top-notch.

Do enjoy!

Top Ten ‘Social Status’ Brands – Is Yours on the List? And an Anti-Prep Update

Recently The Spousal Unit indicated that at times The Princess might be a bit… well, a tad ‘snarky’ in her posts. Snarky? SNARKY? Moi? Feeling the need to defend my good name and reputation, it became obvious that some research was in order. Below we offer partial results for perusal at your leisure.

snarky

Pronunciation: \ˈsnär-kē\
Function: adjective
Etymology: dialect snark to annoy, perhaps alteration of snark to irritate
1 : crotchety, snappish
2 : sarcastic, impertinent, or irreverent in tone or manner <snarky lyrics>
snark·i·ly \-kə-lē\ adverb

We were delighted to find a wealth of information on the topic, with page after page of definitions, discussion and even some debate; it was really quite educational. Frankly, our favorite part of the research involved learning that snark may also be used as an adverb. Right now I’m trying to think of a way to insert it into conversation that way. How do you feel about Snarkalicious…? Oh, TSU was spot on, as always.

Let’s start with an Anti-Prep Update. This was, quite frankly, impossible to resist. As some may already know, Paris is beyond über Anti-Prep. She actually transcends the category, surpassed only by Kim Kardashian and possibly Perez Hilton. And maybe a few others. At any rate, we present Exhibit A, a heartfelt statement from Ms. Hilton on the home page of her hair extensions site, viewable here:

Everyone should get the chance to be me. That’s why I created the world’s hottest hair extensions. Choose from ten fabulous shades and you will be a clip away from hotness.

If we had only known that everyone should have that chance. To be her. Darn it. Once again our unhotness has been exposed in all of its stark, naked horror for everyone to see. And I had no idea I had the chance to be her. No. Idea. At All.

Well, chin up, shoulders back and all that, for here at the Prepatorium we do not let little tragedies like this derail us; we move on. We stated we would be discussing the Top Social Status Brands and we will proceed to do precisely that, hotness-like hair extensions or not. Harumph.

This particular list comes as the result of extensive research done by the Luxury Institute, and The Princess is more than gratified to see who is at the top of The List. You may well recognize The Knot clutches below from the Number One brand.

The Institute polled 1600 individuals with a minimum annual income of $150,000 for the survey, and Bottega Veneta took the top spot. In a story about the poll, Luxury Institute CEO Milton Pedraza notes “Bottega is subtle and inconspicuous — and paradoxically has gotten some press for this…You know it if you’re in the know. It’s for people who aren’t looking to impress others.” Below we show a look from their Fall/Winter 2008 apparel line.

Valentino follows in second place, then Prada (landing page at Neimans seen below)

Then Chanel, followed by Hermes in fifth place.

Giorgio Armani was in sixth place, then we have Versace (that is a dress from the 2008/2009 Versace Resort line below),

then Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. And there you have the top ten from the list.

BTW, if you were wondering who Anna Wintour might fancy come this fall’s election, here’s a clue: she had quite a role at last night’s fundraiser for prospective First Lady Michelle Obama, at a Manhattan gallery. (Wintour is the oh-so-powerful Editor at Vogue magazine and hypothetically the role model for Michelle Obama

Judging from the list of attendees at the function it was quite the place to be.Remember our mentions of Lauren Santo Domingo in previous posts? She was also at last night’s festivities at the Chelsea gallery in a divine Oscar de la Renta frock along with Spike Lee, designers Monique Lhuillier, Georgina Chapman and Nicole Miller. (You know, the Nina Ricci-SJP-SATC-Premiere-Dress-from-You-Know-Where-Nightmare that Lauren wore first?)

Speaking of Sex and the City, Cynthia Nixon also attended, wearing Calvin Klein Collection. Others in attendance included Lebron James and his girlfriend, and you could see Zac Posen’s “Yes We Can, Obama 08″ t-shirt beneath his blazer. Many thanks to Fashion Week Daily for the fab photos!

We close with this absolutely delightful image from the good folks at Barneys. It was part of an email from them several days ago; looking at it keeps bringing a smile to my face. On an afternoon when some whimsy seems like a good idea, we’ll just leave things here and say “Au revoir.” (It is linked if you feel compelled to click!)