Brooks Brothers Spring Preview

Hello, happy Wednesday!

Just when we needed a little bright and sunny pick-me-up, we fell upon this at Brooks Brothers (in a cyber manner of speaking):

Brooks Brothers

The company’s Spring Preview is now online.

Brooks Brothers

Men’s designs are also shown.

Brooks Brothers

Many looks were shown in our ‘sneak peek’ at the line back in September, for that post, click here.  A few more men’s styles.

Brooks Brothers

Here are more photos from that September post.

PHOTOS: Robert Mitra/WWD

We were particularly intrigued by the heavy nautical influence seen throughout the collection.

PHOTOS: Robert Mitra/WWD

The seafaring motif is also evident in the children’s styles.

Brooks Brothers

We like many pieces already shown in this year’s Resort Collection, including the Girl’s Striped Sailor Dress and the Boy’s Embroidered Swim Trunks, both items available now.

One quick aside, like so many other shops, Brooks is doing its semi-annual clearance (including goods for the Young Man & Miss at your palace) and there are some amazing savings, especially on Black Fleece.

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In other news (ahem, there’s a loose interpretation of that word), yet another update on one of our original Anti-Preps. It seems that the Kardashians have a rather large clothing line launching at Sears.  More from Women’s Wear Daily:

“The seemingly ubiquitous reality television sisters, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe, are set to unveil merchandise on a bigger retail stage when the Kardashian Kollection launches exclusively at 400 Sears doors in August…”

“The Kardashian Kollection is the latest in a Kardashian fashion and beauty empire that started with the Kardashians by Bebe line, which finishes with resort 2011. Among other things, Kim and mother Kris Jenner are spokeswomen for Skechers’ Shape-ups; the sisters front an apparel line sold on QVC called K-Dash; Kim Kardashian has a namesake perfume and is the face of FusionBeauty’s lip plumpers…”

We giggled when reading a friend’s comment on the upcoming launch: “They are Paris Hilton with boobs.”  Ms. Hilton is yet another of our original Anti-Preps.

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We have a couple of quick links for Lilly lovers to enjoy, the first is a story in Lonny magazine’s latest issue, “Pulitzer Prize“.

Lonny Magazine

The story focuses on just how the design team comes up with all of the different patterns and pieces for the multiple collections and pieces. Fashion Director Janie Schoenborn is featured, as are many others, and it is a delightful read.

Lonny Magazine

The second link is to a piece in The Daily Basics on the Lilly spring line of home goods at Garnet Hill, with loads of fodder for our Pretty in Pink and Green list!

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Our final photo symbolizes our sympathy for all of our friends coping with the insane amounts of snow, some of it in the strangest of places.

Tiffany

The Mittens Charm may be found at Tiffany.

Mixed Signals on Designer Logos & Those Snooki Slippers

Hello-Hello, welcome to a fab Wednesday here at the Prepatorium.

Today we take a look at children’s’ fashions, with an emphasis on the logofication issue. A number of publications have suggested These Challenging Times are fostering less conspicuous consumption, including smaller, fewer, and more discreet use of logos, particularly for luxury labels.  This first picture may help explain why we’re confused.   Above we share an image from Burberry’s online store in the Girls’ apparel category, but similar use of the company’s signature check motif is abundant throughout the site.  These items do not seem to fit in the smaller and discreet categories.

The retailer still offers plenty of adult merchandise with its name and/or logo loud and proud, below we show the Wool Crewneck Sweater for women, and on the right, a Men’s Lightweight Hoody.

Bloomberg recently did a story about luxury labels turning their attention to other revenue streams, including children’s wear; the story is titled Burberry $750 Kids’ Trench Coats Turn Playgrounds to Runways.

“Celebrity culture and status-seeking are driving the growth, according to Fflur Roberts, Euromonitor’s luxury-goods research manager.

Suri Cruise, the 4-year-old daughter of actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, has been photographed wearing a Burberry fur- trimmed parka and beige velveteen coat lined with the brand’s signature plaid.”

To be fair, the iconic motif is seen very little on higher end Burberry London pieces, it is almost invisible in the Prorsum line. It is featured primarily on the lower end fashions and accessories targeted at the aspirational shopper.

The continued logo placement is not limited to Burberry.  Your little ones’ feet seem to be a popular spot for advertising, below left, the D&G Infant Sneakers, the Gucci Baby Sneakers are on the right.

We all know how yours truly feels about the logo on the left, adorning a pair of Children’s Sneakers, not to mention the all-over play it receives on the Baby Bal-Harbor Slip Ons.

More from the Bloomberg story:

“…. dressing their kids in designer gear is a guilt-free way for fashion-focused parents to indulge their own penchant for following trends, Roberts said. “It makes them feel good,” she said.

“Parents increasingly see their children as a reflection of themselves so they want to make sure they look good and are in the latest things,” said Sarah Peters, senior retail analyst at Verdict Research, a part of the Datamonitor Group.”

Calvin Klein ensures everyone will know where Little Bitsy’s togs came from.

We previously mentioned that Fendi is launching a children’s line in the spring, on the left we see children in the upcoming collection; we are hopeful pieces won’t be like these Baby Zucca Booties.

The Times ran a story on Monday about the lucrative returns in fashion for little ones, Designer Labels Go Pint Size.

“Gucci, Fendi and Stella McCartney are among the latest designers to add luxury children’s collections to their company’s stable, a small step for high-end fashion but among the first signs of growth since the recession.”

A few items from the soon-to-launch collection from Ms. McCartney.

The Stella McCartney pieces do not disappoint, they are cute as can be, eminently wearable, and sans logos.  Amen.  When it comes to the children’s line, buzz on Planet Fashion is all about the Gucci Kids advertising:  the word is that the campaign features Jennifer Lopez and her 2-year-old twins.  From the Women’s Wear Daily story, “Gucci Gucci Goo“:

“The images feature a sun-kissed Lopez and her two-year-old twins decked out in Gucci clothes and accessories, including sunglasses, romping on the beach.”

Apparently the ads were almost never shot, according to this story:

“Jennifer Lopez’s cute new advertisement for fashion house Gucci with her twin babies almost never happened – because her husband Marc Anthony refused to turn the spotlight on their children.

The singer/actress reveals she struggled to persuade Anthony to agree to let their kids Max and Emme join their superstar mum and model in the photo spread, admitting he only relented because it was all for children’s charity UNICEF.”

Via MumbaFashion

We haven’t seen enough of the new Gucci collection to know if children are at risk of Logophobia or not, but be assured we will not drop our guard, vigilance is our watchword. (Heh,heh,heh.)

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There is good news and bad news about two of our AntiPrep Wall of Shame member. First, the good: JWOWW’s clothing line is apparently not going to be created; Jezebel has more:

“Sad news for those who were eagerly awaiting our Boob Slings in the mail: JWOWW’s clothing line will not go into production, due to a trademark dispute.”

But now the bad: Snooki-branded products are now hitting the marketplace.

Jason Merritt/Getty Images & Happy Feet

The folks at Happy Feet say the first 10,000 slippers ordered should be delivered in time for the holidaze. Can a Snooki Snuggie be far behind? (Surely we aren’t the first people to consider this possibility…?)

On that tragic image we say adieu until next time!

Ralph Lauren…at the White House? Gossip Girl Reality Show in the Works

Hello and Happy Friday!  It seems the week has either flown by at a furious pace or been painfuly slow, no in-betweens for our friends and business associates. What about you? Frenzied crazy-fast? Or painfully slow-as-molasses?

Speaking of a frenzy, Fashion Week is officially underway. We will do our best to share relevant updates, photos and info as we can.  In fact, we’ll start with a little gossip via the always-on-top-of-things staff at NY Mag.  The GQ fashion week party was Wednesday night, and apparently the conversation turned to the Obama family and their sartorial selections.  Several attendees considered ‘preppy purveyors’ talked about the President’s selection of neckties.

“… designer Tommy Hilfiger said that while his company had not formally approached the Obamas about wearing his designs, “I know Barack wears some of my ties, I’ve seen them.” David Lauren, clad in Rugby and wearing a foot cast after a run-in with a cracked Soho sidewalk, added that the Obamas “have great style … and if they choose to wear us, we’d love it.”

The “He likes me better!” “No he doesn’t, he likes me best!” one-upsmanship apparently continued:

“But even if Sasha and Malia Obama eschew outsized Polo ponies this season, rest assured that the Ralph Lauren brand has already made its mark on the White House. “I believe that [the Obama girls’] rooms have been painted with Ralph Lauren paints,” said Lauren.”

We expect everyone shall enjoy much more restful sleep this evening being in possession of this information.

BTW, the online Tommy store does have *all* kids merchandise 30% off, according to the website:

Tommy Hilfiger

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On a quasi-related note, one of our original Anti-Preps, Kim Kardashian, is evidently attending some shows at Fashion Week.  Seriously.  Ms.Kardashian claims the idea to attend some of the shows was actually the brainchild (?) of “Reggie.” (Apologies, but we do not know Reggie, although we presume he is a romantic interest for Ms. Kardashian.)

At any rate, apparently the two are planning on being at the Adidas Y-3 show. Below we show a Y-3 look:

Courtesy Ruby Hornet

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Big news for Gossip Girl fans: Bravo is launching a reality show based on Gossip Girl! Broadcasting & Cable reports a new show is planned by the producer who does Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style.

The story on the magazine’s website says:

“The docudrama is being described by insiders as the real-life Gossip Girl, although the show will not feature any of Manhattan’s exclusive schools specifically.

This is not the first time a reality show based on the G2 theme has been attempted:

‘CBS also looked into a reality series about students at the Manhattan private school York Prep, but the school was said to be skittish about the attention such a project would bring.”

The story says the show will air later this year.

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We share a few SOTTs (Signs of the Times) our readers may deem to be of note:

• Both the The Inter-Con Montelucita & W resort hotels in Scottsdale are facing foreclosure. (Both remain 0pen.)
• The Knickerbocker Yacht Club is closing, according to this Newsday story.  Not a club we have ever visited, the article’s online photos show the charm of the Port Washington Club.  Apparently members even looked at merging with Manhasset Bay Yacht Club YC, but that is not an option. The Club has been in operation for 135 years.

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  PHOTO: Ana P. Gutierrez/Newsday

Our thanks to Luxist for both of these tips.

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Hello Kitty now has some hip apparel designs to accompany her MAC Cosmetics collection. MAC asked multiple designers to create looks for the doll; below we show two sketches, starting with Emanuel Ungaro:

Courtesy Vogue UK/Ungaro

If that isn’t the cutest pink bow, we don’t know what is. Of course, here at the Prepatorium we believe “Life is Better with a Bow,” so we are favorably predisposed to bows. Especially if they are pink.  This creation by Elie Saab also features a pink bow, although not quite as prominently.

Courtesy Vogue UK/Elie Saab

Other designers include Herve Leger by Max Azria, Zac Posen and Charlotte Ronson.  Each of the eight designs was then made into an actual garment; they are now being auctioned on eBay as a fundraiser for the FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York. It is worth a nanosecond or two to see how the sketches translated into reality, very fun!

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Okay, it is time for some Pretty in Pink to perk up the gray day outside.  How about these darlings for your little darling? The Kenneth Cole Bow Glitz ‘n Bow Flats are sized for Infants & Toddlers; they are on sale for about $19 at 6pm.

A reminder that 6pm is actually Zappo’s site for sale and clearance merchandise – bargains abound! And speaking of fiscally friendly shopping, Target has the entire Thakoon Collection marked down, with discounts that look substantial.

On that happy note, don’t forget to enter our Lilly Pulitzer Stationery Giveaway, and Happy-Happy weekend!