More Designer Olympic Uniforms: Stella McCartney, Giorgio Armani & Prada

Hello-Hello, welcome to a new week, we apologize for being so tardy posting, the weekend’s activities somehow left us running behind.

We share just a few Bits & Bytes today, beginning with an update on what some teams are wearing for the upcoming  Summer Olympics as the games draw closer. While we have previously shown the Team USA uniforms from Polo Ralph Lauren (below, the closing ceremony styles, more in this post), designer duds for several other teams have also been created.

Courtesy Images

Giorgio Armani’s designs for Team Italy were unveiled yesterday.

Associated Press via Yahoo

The collection has actually been created as part of the company’s collaborative line with Reebok, EA7. More on yesterday’s unveiling from WWD’s story:

For the occasion, 15 Italian athletes from different disciplines joined the designer to show the Olympic kit consisting of white and midnight blue pieces, including a tracksuit with an asymmetric closure, a nylon jacket, shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, running shoes and suitcases.

Below we see a jacket and topic in the deep navy.

Courtesy Photos

One of the more interesting elements of the Armani styles involves the lyrics for Italy’s national anthem, back to the Women’s Wear Daily piece:

To celebrate Italy, the national anthem is written in gold inside jackets and sweatshirts, and its first verse appears on a blue band under the collar of polo shirts, while a national-flag-inspired polo features one sleeve in red and the other in green.

Associated press via Washington Post

Not all Italian athletes are wearing Armani for the Games, Prada is outfitting the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams, below we see sketches of those uniforms.

Courtesy Prada via StyleSight

Australia is wearing Adidas for competition.

Courtesy Photo via London 2012

Here Australian athletes model the more formal look we will see at the Opening Ceremonies.

London 2012

Team Great Britain’s uniforms are by Stella McCartney, who has worked with Adidas for years now.

Courtesy Photo

The styles were not positively received by everyone in the UK, a snippet from this Daily Mail story explains:

Stella McCartney has defended her choice to feature a blue Union flag on the official Team GB kit for the 2012 Olympics after it was met with public outrage.

Produced by Stella McCartney for Adidas, the range, modelled by various athletes including Jessica Ennis, has been themed around a blue and white flag – effectively eliminating the St George and St Patrick crosses from the design.

More looks.

Courtesy Images

Some pieces from the Team GB collection are available online.

Our final tidbit in this topic, Vogue is doing something unusual with its June issue.

Vogue

Those are Olympic hopefuls Hope Solo (soccer), Ryan Lochte (swimming) and Serena Williams (tennis). The image is unusual because Vogue rarely puts men on its cover, let alone those not fully clothed.  There are stunning images in the pictorial shot by Annie Leibovitz, below we see model Karlie Kloss with gymnast Jonathan Horton.

Annie Leibovitz for Vogue

Click here to see Vogue’s online slide show.

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Our other item today comes courtesy of the lovely Condiments on a City Life, who was kind enough to bestow upon me the Versatile Blogger award. Below we share the rules affiliated with the honor.

1. Link back to the blog that gave them the award (this one was quite easy)
2. List seven things about themselves (a little more challenging, but seven’s not that big a number)
3. Give the award to five others

So now it is time to come up with 7 things, hmmmm. Here we go:

1. I am a closet Jello-O mold making freak. There are more Jello-O cookbooks recipe books (because one really doesn’t cook the unknown substance, we do not call them cookbooks) on hand than you can shake a stick at.

2. I spend more time doing this than I care to admit.

Scrabble

3. To compound things, I recently started playing this with TQM. She wins 90% of the time.

Words with Friends via App Reviews

4. My favorite volunteer obligation right now is manning the gift shop at a local nursing home every other week.

5. The book I am finishing right now is overdue at the library.

Open Library

6. As of a month ago we gave up on the local daily, this is now the only paper delivered to the Prepatorium.

Wall Street Journal

7. This will be the 1023rd Princess blog post.

It has been years since I have done one of these, once again, many thanks to Hayley at Condiments on a City Life for including us in her list. We’ll share this with the Pink and Green Prep, Preppy Girl Meets World, The Preppy Postgrad, and two of the very first blogs I ever followed (these go way, way back!), Pink Cupcakes and TaB, and the Preppy Pink Crocodile. (Recognizing many of us have done these quite a few times, no one should feel obligated to complete this one, I merely want you to know how much I love reading you!)

G’bye until next time!

Thank you

A Life-Size Barbie Dream House, Ralph Lauren US Olympic Uniforms

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a new week.

As many readers have probably heard, it is once again Fashion Week in New York, all manner of styles are being shown for next fall. Cathy Horyn of the Times steps back for a broader view in one critique, and raises an interesting question: What Happened to the Trousers?

America sent the liberated woman striding forward in a man’s world, wearing power pants.

This lean, dynamic figure was once a fixture on New York runways. But halfway through the autumn/winter 2012 season — where have all the trousers gone?

Below, styles from the Tommy Hilfiger, Diane Von Furstenberg and Derek Lam illustrate the Times article.

Chris Moore/Karl Prouse via The New York Times

Back to the piece in today’s paper.

A pants count of the designers’ programs tells the story: Donna Karan’s DKNY, 1 pair out of 27 outfits; Derek Lam, 9 of 33; Tommy Hilfiger, 10 out of 43; D.V.F., 16 out of 48 — a neat one-third.

From what little your fearless scribe can recall from the last several seasons, that seems like a significant change. Hmmm.

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Next, something that somehow seems fitting at Fashion Week, a real-life ‘Dream Closet’ from Barbie’s Dream House.

Getty Images via Fashion Etc.

More from Women’s Wear Daily:

Barbie, the original fashion plate, joined the New York Fashion Week calendar, setting up camp Friday night… with her own “Dream Closet,” a pink glittering wonderland full of all things Barbie.

Brooke Shields is seen below with daughter Grier, as she has her hair done at the Dream House.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Barbie via WWD.com

Also on hand, Kelly Bensimon, of ‘Real Housewives’ notoriety with daughters Sea and Thaddeus, they can be seen playing with Barbie’s Virtual Wardrobe.

AP via The Wall Street Journal

The Journal had an interesting story on the event.

A character like Barbie—all 11 ½ inches of her—inspires a sense of nostalgia and whimsy, perhaps even a kind of reverence. These are feelings you don’t get too much of at attention-deficit-disordered, come-on-just-drink-another-Diet-Pepsi, let’s-hope-there’s-something-I-want-in-this-goodie-bag-under-my-seat-oh-darn-there-isn’t New York Fashion Week.

There was some blinding very bright pink at the event.

INF/Goff Photos via The Daily Mail

Really (r-e-a-l-l-y) pink.

AP Photo/John Minchillo

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Finally today, a look at one version of the uniforms US Olympic and Paralympic athletes will be wearing in London this summer. The ensemble shown is what Team USA will wear while in the Olympic Village, not to be confused with the looks that will be worn for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Ralph Lauren via Business Wire

Late last year we saw images of gold medal decathlete Bryan Clay (left) and medal winning swimmer Ryan Lochte in this year’s Ralph Lauren uniforms.

Associated Press

Today’s ‘duh!’ moment? I thought I had already posted these. (Shakes head back and forth slowly before bashing onto keyboard.) The company also announced its team of twelve Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls who have been named Ralph Lauren “Brand Ambassadors” in December. Here is the full list:

Ralph Lauren

The repp tie stripe belt is a nice touch, as always, the red, white and blue palette is very appealing.

Ralph Lauren

Obviously not so nice, the company’s logo overpowering the US Olympic Team logo. More from the PRL news release:

The collection features reissued heritage pieces from the ’30s and ’40s, including fleece warm-ups, a cricket-collar shirt and sweatshirts with felt “USA” appliques. Vintage track & field designs and embroidery give the collection an old world athletic charm. Modern looks include the sporty Big Pony polo with new Olympic team logo.

Excuse us as we struggle to find the linkage between “vintage designs” and “Big Pony.” Below, a closer look at the shirt on Paralympian basketball star Matt Scott.

The collection will be available for purchase in May on the Team USA and Ralph Lauren websites.

The Birds, Bugs, Fish & Fowl on Your Chest + Jason Wu Targét Update

Hello-Hello, and happy middle of the week.

Today we share a story from last fall about logos on polo shirts, obviously it is a topic we have nattered on about relentlessly occasionally mentioned in this space. More from Charleston’s Gazette-Mail:

“Polo shirt” has become a standard name — like “T-shirt” or “khakis” — to describe a knit shirt.

But after recent visits to my college-age children in Alabama and Virginia, I’ve learned there’s a zoo full of animals adorning the chests of students on campuses throughout the South.

Part of the article examines the broad (growing ever-broader) variety of logos now adorning the ubiquitous shirts. The story is illustrated with this graphic, showing just some of the many icons now besmirching seen on the shirts. (In reality, some of the icons are pretty darn cute. I still prefer mine sans logo, but that fish is darling.)

W. Virginia Gazette-Mail

For those not familiar with each and every logo shown in the illustration, here is a quick rundown, beginning with Psycho Bunny (a Consort fave)…

Psycho Bunny

Southern Proper…

Southern Proper

Brooks Brothers…

Brooks Brothers

Vineyard Vines…

Vineyard Vines

Southern Point…

Southern Point

Southern Tide…

Southern Tide

Polo Ralph Lauren…

Polo Ralph Lauren

Southern Marsh…

Southern Marsh

And Eddie Bauer.

Eddie Bauer

The writer, Sara Busse, brings up a little family history in the article.

My dad, far from preppy and not a golfer or a tennis player, wore the little penguin shirts (by Munsingwear) around the house on Saturdays. Now Brad Pitt wears them. Dad was cool. Go figure.

Here is a 1970s era shirt like the one Ms. Busse describes.

Vendetta Vintage

But back to the present.

Look for Southern Proper’s Labrador retriever, or Southern Point’s German shorthaired pointer. These will set you back $75 or so. If you like bigger dogs, Southern Dignity is set to launch a Great Dane-embroidered shirt just in time for Christmas.

We did not see a Great Dane on Southern Dignity’s site, perhaps we overlooked it. (Who knew so many brands started with the word Southern?!)

A brand that certainly would have fit on the list would be Loggerhead Apparel.

Loggerhead Apparel

For a more in-depth look at the history of the shirt itself, Ivy Style offers ‘Le Crocodile: How Lacoste Became the Preppy Polo of Choice and Kyoto Maiko has a post on the topic as well.

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We were familiar with most of the brands discussed in that graphic up above, but always enjoy learning about new companies.  Here is a name that was new to us, Mahi Gold, offering styles ideal for wearing “from the boat to the beach to the deck to the bar.” Below, the Seaview Shift in both aqua and pink, the Claire dress, and on the far right, the Coastline Dress.

Mahi Gold

The company was started by brother and sister Michael and Becky Gorman, we like knowing the collection is Made in the USA. Another plus – everything is crafted of soft (but durable) organic cotton with a touch of Lycra for stretch (and comfort). They even have dresses available for your little one, below we show the Seaview Shift Dress for Girls and Toddlers.

Mahi Gold

To see a list of stores where you can buy Mahi Gold products, click here.

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Our other item today, a reminder about Sunday’s launch of the Jason Wu for Target collection.

Jason Wu for Target

Because the much-buzzed-about collection is only being carried in ‘select stores,’ Targét has even created a a Facebook page listing stores by zip code that will carry the line.

Jason Wu for Target

Target’s online photos are delightful.

Jason Wu for Target

Last week the company celebrated with a big do, below we see Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively and Chloe Moretz in pieces from the line.

Getty Images for Target via The Daily Mail

There are reports pieces from the collection are already on eBay. We aren’t even going to look, and hope to find a little something when the line is for sale this Sunday.  (For a peek at our post showing most of the collection, click here.)

A quick reminder about our Jack Rogers Giveaway, if you haven’t already entered, scoot on over and do just that, entries close at midnight on Friday.

Goodbye until next time!

“Sexy Preps”? & Those Chanel Bandages (Really)

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a Wednesday here at the Prepatorium, we hope your week is going well.

For someone as busy as your trusty scribe, staying up on all of the celebrities and their businesses, endorsements, 72-day marriages for money and what-not can be a daunting task.  So you’ll forgive us for not being intimately familiar with a gentleman named Brad Goreski. But repeatedly seeing his name followed by the words “sexy prep,” a term some might say is an oxymoron,  made our fingers do some walking, and we toddled off to visit his blog. This picture is on his “about me” page. (Darling!)

"Bradley"

Mr. Goreski hasn’t posted anything since August but he has other photos of himself scattered throughout the existing posts, including this one. (Double darling!)

"My First Post"

At any rate, on that ‘about me” page Mr. Goreski describes himself as a stylist in the fashion industry. That narrowed things down. We did some more online looking and discovered he used to be on a program called The Rachel Zoe Project every week. (We realize that in the time it took me to sort all of this out you have re-read War and Peace.)

It turns out Mr. Goreski is also the new face of Tommy Hilfiger’s just-launched Eau de Prep. (Because we’re big people here at The Prepatorium, we are temporarily setting aside our personal distaste for ‘preppy parfums’ in the interest of journalism.)  The accompanying PR blitz is what has prompted all of the stories about “sexy preps.” Here is more from Refinery 29‘s story about the perfume debut, “Brad Goreski Talks Sexy Preps And His (Almost) Hip-Hop Career“:

“…being the impeccably put together prepster that he is, Brad was the obvious choice to host. True to form, he was sporting tartan plaid pants, a polka-dot bow tie, blazer, and pocket square.”

The story has a Q&A format:

Did you wear the original Tommy fragrance?
I did. I wore all things Tommy Hilfiger. Tommy almost made me hip-hop.

What is so attractive about the prep lifestyle?
I like the idea of looking my best at all times. Whether it’s a wearing a bow tie, a blazer, and plaid pants or a polo, jeans, and lace ups. I think it’s important, no matter the time of day, to put that extra effort in and look your best because you never know who you’re going to run into.

Hmmm…hip-hop and preppy? Below we see Mr. Goreski at the Macy’s launch for the scents last Thursday.

Albert Michael/Shadow PR via Refinery 29

Back to that vital question in Refinery 29’s interview with the stylist:

Who would you say is the sexiest prep in history?
Jake Ryan from 16 Candles. He’s like the end all, be all.

People magazine also covered the launch:

“I consider myself extremely preppy,” stylist Brad Goreski tells PEOPLE. “I always have been. I’ve been looking at a lot of my baby pics, and I’m always in a three-piece suit and bowtie.”

In all seriousness, Mr. Goreski looks like a nice young man, evidently he is going to have a new show on the Bravo network in 2012.

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Here is one that is overqualified for our You Can’t Make This Stuff Up files, the oh-so-buzzed-about ‘Brandages’:

Via Sugoilife

Described as ‘all purpose designer bandages,‘ you can purchase your very own set for $7.95. Sadly, it took me a moment to make the leap: brand name + bandages = brandages.

Brandages via Sugoilife

Because nothing says tasteful like a Chanel bandage on one’s breasticles chest area.

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Because we like to end on a positive note, we leave you with this:

Scottish Fine Soaps

That is the Welly Boots soap from Scottish Fine Soaps, at $7.50 a darling hostess gift, no?

On that, goodbye until next time!

A Preppy Mickey Mouse? Also, An Anti-Prep Lives Up To Wall of Shame Status

Happy Halloween, this is one of those goofy two-day posts, we’re so busy it’s unlikely we’ll be able to pop back in for a visit until Wednesday. We begin today with news of yet another collaboration, this one between two powerhouses, Disney and Tommy Hilfiger.

Women’s Wear Daily had the story today:

The “Meet the Family” capsule collection features a raft of Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto dressed in the Tommy Hilfiger spring children’s collection.

The collection is not going to be sold in the US, it will be available primarily in Europe and South America.  The WWD story quotes Mr. Hilfiger:

“Disney…has a lifestyle and core values that are aligned with our brand,” said Hilfiger. “It was a true honor and joy to be the first designer to give a preppy spin to the looks of our favorite Disney characters.”

The designs do look cute. (How about that hair on the young man in the green tee below right, it’s positively Bieberesque.)

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Speaking of collaborative efforts, there are two very large such partnerships about to hit stores. Because of all the pink we couldn’t help but write about Versace for H&M lands in stores in a few weeks, how lovely is this piece?

Versace for H&M

As one would expect with Versace, there is no shortage of bright colors.

Versace for H&M via Racked.com

This collection is not for the faint of heart.

Versace for H&M via Racked.com

(I don’t know about you, but I have a serious crush on that pink shirt.) There are 87 pieces in the group, it launches November 17 at H&M.

Versace for H&M via Racked.com

Click here to see the entire lookbook at Racked.com or here for H&M’s Facebook album. This one strikes me as a line that could go the way of Missoni at Le Boutique Targét, it seems to have very high sellout potential.

The other sizable collaboration we mention is Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku for Target line, we’ll have more on that later this week. In the meantime, a quick update on two other design partnerships the ‘cheap chic’ retailer is doing:

Albertus Swanepoel for Target is now in stores and online, below we show three different hat styles.

Albertus Swanepoel for Target

Also available now in stores and online, the Josie Natori for Target collection.

Josie Natori for Target

Josie Natori for Target is in stores now through Dec. 22, with a second group of merchandise being offered Jan. 1 through February 23.

Josie Natori for Target

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A quick note from the good folks at Jack Rogers.

Jack Rogers

The company has debuted its new Highlands Rain Boot, it looks cute as can be, and very practical as well. Fans of the brand may be interested to learn Jacks are on sale through 11am Wednesday at flash sale site Rue La La. Obviously the brand new Highlands is not included (there are no boots), there isn’t an enormous selection, but still worth a peek if you are in the market. (If in need of an ‘invite’ to Rue La La, just click here.)

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With apologies to our Facebook friends who may have already seen this, we had to share a comment seen on Twitter multiple times this afternoon:

Kim Kardashian sold the rights to her wedding for $17.9 million. Her marriage lasted 72 days. That comes to a nifty $10,358.80 per hour.

I feel less-than-prep for even writing about the topic, but the woman is one of our original members of the Anti-Prep Wall of Shame. A meritorious member we might add, for she never fails to disappoint.

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We leave you with much cheerier sights, more seasonal in nature. First, our friend Leslie (aka Southern Social) is stunning in a Princess manner of speaking, she looked lovely for this weekend’s Halloween parties.

Southern Social

That wasn’t the only Kate Middleton costume seen this year, not by a long shot. Below, Al Roker and Matt Lauer were part of the fun in the Today Show’s royal wedding reenactment.

The Today Show/NBC Universal

It actually was pretty funny, click here to see the whole thing. To look at a plethora of royally-themed costumes, click here to visit our sister site, What Kate Wore.

We love the Tipsy Skipper’s pumpkins.

The Tipsy Skipper

And we love an argyle pumpkin: we haven’t been able to identify those on the left, the group on the right is from Horchow.

This beautiful group is from the folks at Lilly Pulitzer Palm Beach Gardens.

Lilly Pulitzer Palm Beach Gardens

Here are two more beauties, these are by the talented ladies at The Pink Palm in Richmond.

The Pink Palm

This classic duo by Susan Trader is always fun to see.

Susan Trader

With that we say Happy Halloween, may all of your candy be fresh!