Extreme Prep, the Preppy Pack Rat + Bits & Bytes

Hello-Hello, welcome to a busy Friday here at The Prepatorium.

We merely share a few Bits & Bytes today, business pressures and other commitments mandate brevity. We begin with what might be considered a follow-up to Wednesday’s updates on how several preppish brands are doing, including Talbots (not great) and Lilly Pulitzer (quite well); it turns out that J. Crew is also struggling. Women’s Wear Daily reported the story in yesterday’s paper:

J. Crew Group Inc. continued to struggle in the first quarter with increased markdowns and promotions contributing to net losses and a comparable-store sales drop of 3 percent.”

WWD (subscription required) had more on the story today, including comments from the company’s CEO, Mickey Drexler:

“Drexler acknowledged not being “well balanced in the agelessness and timelessness of our assortments” and cited a lack of full-length sleeves, too many at three-quarter length, and skirts that were “a little too short.…They’re not anymore,” he assured.

The quarter wasn’t without some upsides. “We continued to strengthen our franchise businesses — cashmere, pencil skirts, blazers, ballet flats — those categories where we have leadership and customers come back to us day in, day out,” Drexler said.”

Those who regularly shop Crew have noticed the additional discounts and markdowns, hopefully things will perk up for the retailer heading into the back-to-school season.

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Next, we meet a gentleman referred to as the “preppy pack rat,” Thomas Cary, a fascinating individual.  Mr. Cary has been profiled previously in many publications, online and in print, (last fall in the Yale Daily News here) but we never seemed to have the time to share any of that coverage.

PHOTO: Jeffrey Hirsch/NY Social Diary

Mr. Cary is a book collector, among other things, he counts Kate Spade and Ralph Lauren among his clients, his finds have helped decorate stores for both.  The collection of books in Mr. Cary’s apartment is amazing. When you see some of the other treasures under that roof it is eye-popping.

PHOTO: Jeffrey Hirsch/NY Social Diary

There is no way we can adequately describe the scene in the apartment, we strongly urge you to pop over and visit New York Social Diary‘s post here, see for yourself.

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We also have a quick fashion update for Kate Middleton fans, last night was the big (really big, like GTH big, oh my!) formal dinner for the Duke & Duchess.

PHOTOS: Getty Images

Kate went with a gorgeous gown by bridal and party frock designer Jenny Packham, for more visit our sister blog, What Kate Wore.

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We have done a sizable amount of coverage on the Lisa Birnbach/Tommy Hilfiger collaboration, “Prep World.”  This weekend marks the final appearance of the portable Prep World store, it will be at The Grove in Los Angeles.

Via All The Rage blog

Last night’s launch party for the pop-up brought out a number of celebrities, including Hailee Stanfield, she looks darling in pieces from the limited-edition collection.

Via Pop Sugar Australia

Tommy Hilfiger continues its online contest, you can enter your ‘preppiest style’ photos (ahem) to win the “ultimate preppy getaway” vacation. (Don’t ask, I’ve nary a clue.)

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Here’s one we hadn’t expected to be writing about, “Extreme Prep,” from MTV’s Clutch blog.

“…we’ve noticed a recent trend in band-naming: extreme prep.”

This may surprise you, but this train of thought hadn’t previously crossed my mind. (We can’t speak for The Consort.) Here is the image that illustrates the piece, we’re thinking there might be a little Photoshopping involved, just guessing that is the case.

Getty Images via MTV

Back to the MTV blog:

“So if you’re considering calling your baroque pop three-piece something tongue-in-cheeky like, oh, we don’t know, Highball or Country Club, make sure it’s not already spoken for. Check out this list of groups that have already hopped on the jitney to Prep Island.”

1) Tennis
2) Public Radio
3) YACHT
4) How to Dress Well (Dressing well: very preppy.)
5) The War on Drugs (Reagan-y ,no?)
6) Clams Casino
7) Boat People (see also: YACHT)
8) Botany (And really, anything that sounds like a college major or Victorian hobby. See also: Social Studies, Archaelogy, Art vs. Science, etc.)
9) English Teeth
10) Football
11) Hull (It’s part of a ship. Look it up.)
12) French Horn Rebellion (The edgiest thing the french horn ever did was represent the wolf in “Peter and the Wolf.” Preppy. NEXT!)
13) Ladies Gun Club (Tinged with an intriguing threat of violence, perhaps! But “Ladies + [anything] + Club” = repping prepping.)
14) Madras
15) Nouveau Riche
16) Summer Camp
17) Taddy Porter (OK, Taddy Porter is a Southern rock band, but don’t they sound like an entitled young country clubber who would be an a**hole to Rodney Dangerfield. )
18) White Denim
19) Tom Collins
20) The Vespas (Hey, Vespas are still preppy, right?)
21) Yearbook Committee
22) The Debutante Hour

There you have it.  Any names missing from the list that you can think of?

On that wacky note, we hope the sun shines on our weekend, wherever you may be. 🙂

A Gossip Girl at Prep World Launch & Kate’s Coming to California

Hello-Hello, we are just all adither, business and volunteer commitments have combined to make the time fly by, so we are brief.

We begin with a more in-depth look at the Prep World pop-up shop.

Tommy Hilfiger

From a NY Times story about the store:

“It could have come straight from the Hamptons or Martha’s Vineyard, or “The Wizard of Oz.” Instead, it came from a warehouse in Yonkers, a pop-up dwelling built to look like a fancy beach vacation house, and assembled in less than three days on newly planted sod in Gansevoort Plaza.”

The cottage/shop is designed to have a weathered feel.

Via Dazed Digital

The store opened with a party last night, bringing out a number of celebrities, below we see John Legend and Christine Teigen, as well as model Jessica Stam and Gossip Girl’s Jessica Szohr.

Steve Eichner/WWD

Prep World is a collaborative effort between “TOPH/True Prep” author Lisa Birnbach, and mass merchandiser Tommy Hilfiger.  Below we see the best selling author at last night’s party with actress Hayley Atwell, on the right, Mr. Hilfiger with his wife, Dee.

Steve Eichner/WWD

Teen Vogue has photos from inside the store.

Via Teen Vogue

Why do the limited edition line? More from the Liz Robbins story in the Times:

“The preppy lifestyle has gone global,” he said. “We feel that our business has grown so well because preppy travels so well. It’s all-American classic.”

Via Teen Vogue

Below, merchandise from the 60-piece collection, the Fabric Boat Shoe, and the Anchor Tote.

Via Tommy Hilfiger

More of Mr. Hilfiger’s thoughts on the designs from the Times story:

“When you’re wearing it, maybe you feel like you are a yachtsman,” Mr. Hilfiger said of the line. “Or if you’re wearing something madras, you feel like you’re out on the lawn playing croquet, or if you’re wearing something beachy, you feel like a surfer. It has a lot of different meanings to a lot of different people.”

Shot By Jake

That is true, the word definitely has very different connotations to people.  Just how different? Well, most preps we know wouldn’t even consider wearing these shoes, yet they have already proven to be very popular with the more fashionable crowd.

Tommy Hilfiger

More photos from the store may be found on the the Hilfiger Facebook page.

Tommy Hilfiger

Fortunately there are a number of the cottages, because the London shop in Covent Garden is opening as we type, with another Gossip Girl star on hand, Ed Westwick.  For more detailed background on the collaboration, click here for our original post.

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Our other tidbits involve Prince William and Kate (more formally The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge). St James’s Palace has verified the newlyweds will visit the US, spending three days in California. They are expected July 8-10, following almost ten days in Canada. From The Telegraph’s story:

“While on tour, the Duke and Duchess will take part in Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa on July 1. They are also expected to zigzag across then country, visiting the Arctic, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Alberta.

It will be the Duchess’s longest time in the public eye to date, with the world’s media scrutinising all that she wears, says and does.

The Duchess will have more than enough time to prepare herself – and her wardrobe – for the trip.”

And for those curious about how photographers managed to keep the young bridesmaids and pages entertained while taking the formal photos, The Daily Mail has a cute story explaining the secret.

“…a £1 ‘wiggly worm’ which Camilla revealed yesterday had been bought by her stepson Prince Harry especially for the occasion.

Yesterday, the Duchess revealed that she had been ‘terribly worried’ that three-year-old Eliza and the other bridesmaids might find the event overwhelming.

AFP/Getty

“‘Harry pulled this wiggly worm out of his pocket in the carriage to keep them amused. Eliza loved it so much that she wouldn’t let go and it even made the official photographs.

‘Can you believe it? She was holding onto my finger but in her other hand was this worm.

The young lady was absolutely precious, and very well-behaved throughout the day’s events.

AFP/Getty

On that darling image we say goodbye until next time!

Target’s Next Designer Collaboration, & It Was Bobbi Brown for Kate Middleton

Hello-Hello, happy middle-of-the-week to everyone.

We begin with what could be wonderful news, word that Le Boutique Targét’s next collaborative partnership will be with Missoni.

Stefano Rellandini/Reuters; Luca Bruno/AP via The NY Times

The styles above are from 2007, but you get the idea. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Missoni is known for their strong designs, saturated in lush, vibrant colors.  Below, Alessia Piovan in Missoni, surrounded by pieces from the home collection during Milan Design Week last month.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

Below we see Margherita Missoni at Monday’s Met Ball with Joy Bryant.

Mike Segar/Reuters

Vogue broke the news:

“…the 400-plus fruits of their collaboration (the biggest to date, apparently) will hit Target stores nationwide, the latest in a long line of couplings for the retailer (Proenza Schouler and Rodarte among them). Everything from clothes (women’s, men’s, kids’), to bed sheets, to enough dinnerware to set the table for colazione, pranzo, and cena—all in plenty of Missoni’s swirls, zigzags, and near-hallucinogenic florals.”

Although concerned by sentiment that the Target/Calypso collaboration is sub-par, we are optimistic this will be a strong collection. Our favorite part of the group is likely to be things made for the home.  Below, Missoni dinnerware shown at Milan.

Getty Images

Missoni Rugs via Verde Design Studio .

Verde Design Studio

A look at the results of this spring’s collaboration between Missoni and Converse,

Via High Snobiety

The spring 2011 Chuck Taylor All-Stars by Missoni come in a number of color palettes.

Via High Snobiety

More formal shoes.

Via Shoeblog

The company has been busy, a collaboration with Bugaboo was just announced as well.

Via Missoni

The line is slated to launch September 13.

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Next, we look at a line being shown at Australian Fashion Week, now underway in Sydney. The designer is Lisa Ho, we may have a new obsession.

All Photos by Getty Images

The clean lines, structured cut and strong colors make the designs more-than-appealing.

All Photos by Getty Images

This is something your intrepid scribe feels the need to investigate.

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Another follow-up to our royal wedding coverage, word on who helped Kate Middleton with her makeup. From the Bobbi Brown FB page:

“We are proud to confirm that Bobbi Brown Cosmetics makeup artist Hannah Martin provided makeup artistry assistance to members of the bridal party for the Royal Wedding. We wish to respect the privacy of all those involved, and therefore will not be releasing further details.”

The company has a step-by-step primer for those interested in learning more about the look, or trying it themselves.

Via Bobbi Brown FB page

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We have news about still more ‘copy-Kate’ gowns, dresses imitating the Sarah Burton/Alexander McQueen dress created for the newly titled Duchess of Cambridge.

Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty

Here is the version made for House of Fraser, a UK retailer. The Belfast Telegraph has more:

“Local dressmaker Mary Rose McGrath was among the hundreds of designers who got to work making cut-price copies of the regal look.

Her take on the gown, made of French lace and delicate ivory fabric, was put together in less than 24 hours.

It is said to be a perfect replica of Kate’s dress.”

Below, the McGrath dress.

Via Mary Rose McGrath

Ms. McGrath displays her Royal Replica gown.

Via Mary Rose McGrath

We’ll have more on this knockoff and others at our sister site, What Kate Wore, later today. (We already have a lengthy piece looking at other dresses copying both Kate and Pippa Middleton’s gowns, including one Nordstrom is offering.)

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We leave you with today’s Pretty in Pink, personalized hard candy.

Yum Baked Goods

How darling would that be as a wedding favor? The candies are from etsy seller Yum Baked Goods, and they come in a variety of colors.We also like the company’s Tie the Knot rings.

Yum Baked Goods

Until next time, g’bye!

Prep World Paris, Black Fleece Bargains, Itty-Bitty Kate Middleton Dresses

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a Monday.

Things are a little frenzied this week, we’re pedaling as fast as we can here at The Prepatorium.

We begin with a look at the first Prep World pop-up store.

Via StyleRumor

The Tommy Hilfiger/Lisa Birnbach endeavor debuted last week in Paris.

Via Tommy Hilfiger Facebook page

The launch party was right in front of the store, modeled to look like a Hamptons cottage.

It looked like a beautiful day at Pompidou Centre.

Via PaperBlog.Fr

It is a special treat to see our friend Kiel’s work showcased, don’t his bracelets look wonderful?!

Courtesy Prep World

It is always fun to see the reactions to Mr. Hilfiger’s styles, this story in Paper Blog (France) is replete with references to Gossip Girl characters Serena (Blake Lively) and Blair (Leighton Meester).

“Preppy. The decor is slick and hostesses are welcoming. During a moment you feel like Serena or Blair, you invent a fishing trip and you fantasize about the sweaters and knitted pastel polo shirts.”

For a more comprehensive look at the shop, Style Rumor has a lengthy post with loads of photos.

If in need of more comprehensive background on the Prep World line and concept, click here.  To see more photos, the Hilfiger Facebook page has a number of photos, including this one.

Tommy Hilfiger

Hmmmm.

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We have a few quick Sales & Savings opportunities to pass along, but be advised two of them are time-sensitive:

• There are *amazing* savings at the Brooks Brothers Black Fleece ‘flash sale’ running only through midnight tonight.  A Cotton Seersucker Blazer that is normally $4oo is on sale for $125, and the Little Boy Piped Jacket, originally $450 is also $125.

• The other mention involves another flash sale, this one titled Gossip Girl Boutique at ‘invitation only’ sale site Gilt.com. The sale begins tonight at 9pm EDT, here is more from Gilt’s description:

“We’ve teamed up with Gossip Girl stylist Eric Daman, the man behind some of television’s most fiercely dressed characters, to replicate some of the show’s best looks. Whether you crave Serena’s sexy spin on boho-chic, Lily’s flawless elegance, or Blair’s ladylike polish, you’ll find plenty to choose from. And we haven’t forgotten the guys: choose from pieces for him that range from Brooklyn casual to classic Upper East Side cool.”

• J. Crew is doing an additional 30% off sale items in its Final Sale promotion, use promo code OURTREAT at checkout for the savings.

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For those like us with a mild interest in royal weddings (cough-cough), we share a headline from across the pond about the “William and Kate” movie now being shown in the UK.

Via The Daily Mail

The descriptions and reactions to the film had us both laughing.

Rupert Thorpe via The Daily Mail

From the Daily Mail’s story:

“…the Evening Standard’s Richard Godwin concurred, adding: ‘Critics in America have panned this movie as a cheesy chick-flick, but there are positives.’  It is recognisably a film, in that it takes place on a screen.”

Indeed.

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One item related to the upcoming nuptials that is adorable, the tiny collection of Kate Middleton dresses.

Images via The Telegraph

The set was done for Harumika, The Telegraph has photos of all the styles.

Apparently they will be sold at Toys ‘R Us. (Moms, aunts, grandmothers…TP needs your help, is this a popular brand?)

Our fave itty-bitty style:

Via The Telegraph

Although we are pretty sure Miss Middleton’s shoulders will be covered, we do love the tiny wedding gown created for the line.

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

“The Importance of Being Preppy”

Hello-Hello!

Today we have a mish-mash (a highly technical journalistic term) of tidbits, many relating to topics recently chatted about in this space. The first is a story from our friends on the far side of the pond, “The Importance of Being Preppy“. The piece first ran in Saturday’s Guardian and has been picking up traction online, it profiles Tommy Hilfiger while also looking at the style many refer to as “preppy.”

Tim Know for The Guardian (UK)

Writer Hadley Freeman begins her story with a description of Mr. Hilfiger’s office.

“Even the designer’s office is American to a nigh-on parodic degree: on the top floor of an unassuming building in midtown Manhattan, Hilfiger has tricked the place out to resemble the inside of a chi-chi beach house, replete with white painted floorboards, beach chairs, antique mirrors and striped awnings, where waiters in white buttoned-up shirts tote around goblets of ice water with slivers of lemon.”

Some readers might already be speculating the story is pegged to the recent announcement from Mr. Hilfiger of Prep World, a capsule collection he is launching with True Prep author Lisa Birnbach; such speculation would be accurate. (For our tedious in-depth post on the topic and photos from the line, click here.)

Courtesy Image via Daily Front Row

Back to the story and Ms. Freeman’s description of the preppy aesthetic, it may surprise some readers.

“It is also, incidentally, a look that denotes wealth, or at least aspiration to it. Its nearest equivalent in Britain is the Sloane, but preppiness has less to do with old systems of class and more to do with new money.”

We suggest this might be surprising because of the general presumption that “preppy style” is attached to old money, not new. You know, back in the olden days when such things were not discussed?  (To be candid, any discussion of finances, be they rooted in relatives who floated over on the Mayflower or as new as this year’s hottest hedge fund, is vulgar and really not appropriate, we generally avoid the topic if at all possible.) Back to the Guardian story.

“…in lieu of having a centuries-old class system, America has a profound fascination with money. Along with Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren has long loved the preppy look, and many others – from up-and-coming designer Tory Burch to US high-street outlet J Crew – base their entire labels on the look. Hilfiger suggests its popularity now is a reaction to the global recession. After all, he says with a merry laugh, it’s a way of looking “not poor”.

The story’s timing also relates to Fashion Week, starting this evening; Mr. Hilfiger has been heavily promoting his runway shows via the company’s Facebook pages.

Via Facebook

Ms. Freeman’s story also offers detailed background on the brand:

“By the beginning of the 21st century, the Hilfiger brand had lost much of its fashion lustre, due to overdistribution and an overfondness of branding. “There was a bit of a backlash,” Hilfiger concedes with understatement.”

Understatement indeed.  Without commencing a yawn-inducing retrospective, we shall only say that we have long struggled with Mr. Hilfiger’s penchant for logos the size of canned hams.  Or bigger.  The designer’s recent move toward designs without his initials splattered everywhere is promising; we are intrigued to see the fall runway looks as well as the Prep World pieces.

Mr. Hilfiger is no stranger to the UK’s fashion faithful, during last fall’s London Fashion Week he appeared in a “My Week in Pictures” feature for the Guardian’s sister publication, The Observer.

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage via The Guardian

Above, a photo from the feature shows the designer and his wife Dee with Jennifer Lopez.

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Next, another story looks at the style, this one from The Cavalier Daily, UVA’s student newspaper. “Through pink-and green-colored glasses” provides a student’s view on “U.Va.’s preppy identity in popular culture”.  A snippet from the story by Caroline Massie:

“So where exactly does this reputation stem from? One may look to the year 1979 when alumnus Tom Shadyac (College, 1981) created the “Are you a preppie?” poster as a fundraiser for his fraternity, Sigma Chi, which needed money to pay off a debt.”

Mod Culture

“Shadyac said preppy attire was not unique to U.Va. at the time. Rather, it was prevalent among traditional East Coast colleges.

“Pink and green could’ve been our national colors,” he said.

To read Ms. Massie’s entire story, click here.

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One item that would have better fit in yesterday’s post with all of its bridal buzz, word that Isaac Mizrahi is doing a limited bridal line for Aisle New York, the online members-only (ahem) site offering flash sales of discounted gowns and accessories.

Courtesy Image via WWD

Here is more from Mr. Mizrahi’s site:

“Isaac’s capsule collection of gowns and accessories will be available for six months, launching at the end of February 2011. According to Isaac, “the best place to shop for your wedding gown is the privacy of your own computer.” Hooray for all you blushing brides!”

(If in need of an invite, just click here.)

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The other mention that would have been much more appropriate yesterday, a look at House Beautiful’s March issue, the cover highlights the upcoming Lilly Pulitzer Furniture line in a feature titled “The Power of Pink”.

House Beautiful via Lilly Pulitzer blog

For those who haven’t yet seen the issue the Lilly blog offers a look at the story, while the House Beautiful website carries a number of wonderful pink tie-ins, including a delightful look at “Pink in Unusual Places” from The Accessorator, Judi Roaman.  Below, Ms. Roaman’s picture of the pink roses sculpture on Park Avenue.

Judi Roaman/The Accessorator via House Beautiful

Pop over and visit the Lilly blog for more, or click here for our post on the furniture line.

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Our final two images are quasi-timely, the first involves a new movie and the other, Fashion Week.

Alberto E. Rodriguez for Paramount Pictures

Above, Justin Bieber last night as he arrives at the premiere of “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” in Los Angeles.   Next, Anna Wintour arriving for the Armani couture show in Paris last month.

Jacky Naegelen/Reuters

Why haul out the pictures? Because we just had to do a little side-by-side comparison.

And Young Mister Bieber.

Not bad at all IOHO, the finger puppets are from Mullish Muse on etsy, we thought they were cute as could be and couldn’t resist sharing.

On that wacky note we say goodbye until next time.