“The Princess Principle”, Blake Lively Gets Carried Away & Petunia the Preppy Pig

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a Thursday here in the corner condo at the Prepatorium, where we are buried in work, so today’s nattering on post is ever-so-short.

Today we share news of multiple Princess appearances that we thought you might enjoy, beginning with Her Serene Highness, Charlene of Monaco. She and Prince Albert have been on this side of the pond, below left we see them at the Princess Grace Awards gala Monday and the opening of the “Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess” exhibition in Toronto last night.

/Reuters & /Reuters

The Awards honor emerging talents in the arts, including film, dance and theater. Below we see the Monaco royals with Dame Julie Andrews, who received special honors, and Anne Hathaway, both of whom actually played princesses on the big screen.

Lucas Jackson/Reuters

The exhibit in Toronto doesn’t open to the public until tomorrow, but it looks impressive.

John Rieti/CBC

That exhibit features many of the late Princess’s original dresses, including a special look at her wedding gown.

John Rieti/CBC (L) & AFP/Getty (R) via CBC

How dreamy would this one be to visit in person? Field trip anyone?

Also out and about yesterday, the former Kate Middleton, now formally known as the Duchess of Cambridge.

© UNICEF 2011/Jan Grarup

She and Prince William were in Copenhagen, hoping to draw attention to the crisis in East Africa. They joined Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary for a visit to UNICEF‘s warehouse, it is the organization’s supply chain headquarters.

© UNICEF 2011/Jan Grarup

The couple is taking a page from the Brangelina playbook as noted by Lisa on Twitter yesterday.

EastAfricaCrisis.org

Their capacity to do good by shining a light on specific causes and needs is substantial, their first such endeavor is the East Africa Crisis, where malnutrition and starvation have reached epic levels. (If interested in more on the visit, our sister blog is What Kate Wore.)

We leave this segment with a snippet of a piece in the Times last month, “The Princess Principle”

Every woman has had a princess moment in her life. But even if most of us have put away our tiaras, we still want to feel like princesses, or even queens, when we get dressed.

The piece by Jessica Michault was written in conjunction with fashion week, but it certainly has merit for many, no? Is the “Princess Principle” something that rings true, or is it passé in this day and age, simply not realistic in the hectic, crazy-busy real world?

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Our final tidbit involves Christian Louboutin and Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, below we see her being carried by the shoe maestro at Tuesday’s party. (Note the rather… ah, ‘strategically placed’ handbag. Yikes!)

Splash/The Daily Mail

That was at was the big do at Barneys celebrating the shoe designer’s 20th anniversary and book launch.  Below, the limited edition pump being sold exclusively at Barneys, the ‘Highness 160’. (We are trying to stick with that royals theme, after all.)

Barneys New York

It is a very limited edition indeed, only twenty pair are being sold. If interested, hold onto your pocketbooks, they are $3995.

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We leave you with a seasonal item from an upcoming holiday; meet Petunia, I am calling her the ‘preppy glass pig.’

Artful Home

Petunia is just one of many handmade glass Christmas ornaments at Artful Home, we may showcase others moving forward. Doesn’t everyone need a pink and green pig? 🙂

An Anti-Prep Bigger than the Royals? Prepalicious Sales & Savings, Friday Fun

Hello-Hello, and happy weekend to everyone.

Because of the holiday weekend we are brief, and primarily focused on lighter fare, Monday’s post is always solemn enough.

We begin with several tidbits of note:

• Sadly, this morning marked the end for Elaine’s, an Upper East Side mainstay for decades. Elaine Kaufman ran the restaurant for more than 40 years, until her death late last year. Even if you never actually went to Elaine’s, you may well have seen its interior, Woody Allen’s Manhattan was filmed at the legendary spot.
• There is an abundance of rumors that Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively is seeing the newly-single Leo DiCaprio. (Oh my!)

FAME photo via The Blemish

More from Fox News:

“DiCaprio also happens to be on the rebound. He just split with 25-year-old Israeli supermodel Bar Rafaeli, and they’re known to be on-and-off.”

• In our Monday post about the Chelsea Flower Show we forgot to include the Hunter boots done in Royal Horticultural Society prints, they really are darling.

Hunter/RHS

•  Our final tidbit involves one of the original Anti-Preps, Kim Kardashian. It is actually more of a “Help Me Understand,” as  we are genuinely befuddled, this CBS News headline explains the subject of our dismay.

Kim Kardashian will out-do the royal wedding, sister says

Seth Browarnik/startraksphoto.com via E! Online

Here is more from an E Online! story by Marc Malkin:

“It’s going to be royal wedding number two,” sister Khloé told me earlier today while promoting the new season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. “I could only imagine Kim having the hugest wedding.”

Little the varying family members have done is surprising, but in this instance we admit to being taken aback, and must ask those more knowledgeable about the cast of characters: really?? Really truly??

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We move on now to our weekend roundup of fiscally friendly Sales & Savings opportunities:

• Talbots is offering an additional 25% off already-reduced sale and clearance merchandise.
• Polo Ralph Lauren is promoting an extra 25% off “select already-reduced styles”
• At Polo Ralph Lauren outlet stores the offer includes savings of “25% on select styles” plus an additional 20% off  your entire purchase

PLR

• Be cognizant of what the promotional literature for the J. Crew Factory “sale” is offering, which is nothing other than the existing discounts. We aren’t saying there aren’t fiscally friendly prices, but prices are as marked, there is no additional discount being taken.

J. Crew

•  The semi-annual sale at Nordstrom is underway with reductions on women’s and children’s merchandise.

Nordstrom

• Lacoste outlet stores offer 25% off everything in the store.

Lacoste Outlet Stores

• Brooks Brothers Factory stores are offering 40% off your entire purchase
• Ann Taylor is promoting an extra 40% off already-reduced styles, use promo code EXTRA40 at checkout
• At Ann Taylor Loft the deal is even better, 50% off already-reduced merchandise entire purchase
• Saks, Neimans and Barneys all have varying discounts and sales meriting a look; at Bloomies it is the Big Brown Bag sale

Bloomingdale's

Happy Hunting.

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In the Friday Fun portion of our post, a few trinkets that caught our attention; first, the Barbie Dream House Ring.

Via nOir Jewelry

We first saw the ring mentioned at The Fashion Planner blog and just found it fascinating, so we popped over to Jewelry nOir,  where the ring is sold, for a closer look. While not something we would wear, for some reason the ring is intriguing.

Our other fun item is a favorite here at The Prepatorium, it’s Fleet Week in the city.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

That’s the USS New York passing in front of the Statue of Liberty on Wednesday, when events honoring our Marine and Navy corps kick off.  You’ll always find me partial to sailors, my father was a WWII USN officer.  Below, the USS Iwo Jima heads up the Hudson.

Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

God love our troops…

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

And everyone who supports them.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Here’s the USS New York (rear), which was built from steel recovered from the World Trade center attacks, as it goes past the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum.

Kathy Willens/AP Photo

May your weekend be safe and happy. If still thinking about a way to observe the holiday, here are some ideas from the National World War II Museum.

Say Goodbye to Two Gossip Girls, And It’s Round Two for Princess Beatrice’s Hat

Hello-Hello, happy middle ‘o the week to everyone.

We are brief again today, beginning with an update on everyone’s favorite faux-prep school show, Gossip Girl.  From the Ministry of Gossip blog:

“”Gossip Girl” actresses Taylor Momsen and Jessica Szohr — the two bad girls from the wrong side of Manhattan — are leaving the CW show.”

Below we see Ms. Szohr (L), and on the right, Ms. Momsen with co-star Ed Westwick.

Splash News (L)/The CW (R)

(From what we gather this this isn’t much of a shock for those who watch the show, unfortunately your Princess Ignoramus is not up to speed on any all things GG.)

Another Gossip Girl star has been busy this week.  Chanel showed its Winter 2012 (eek!) cruise collection in Cap d’Antibes, and “brand ambassador” Blake Lively was on hand. Below she is seen at the dinner with Chanel Pooh-bah Karl Lagerfeld.

Kristy Sparow/Getty Images

For the “Collection Croisiere 2012” show Ms. Lively was in a more revealing ensemble, we show her with Monaco’s Princess Caroline and her daughter, Princess Alexandra, they attended the event as well.

All Photos by Getty Images

The setting for the show was the storied Hotel du Cap.

Dominique Charriau/Getty Images

Many of the looks were understated elegance at its best.

All Photos Getty Images

However… we are constitutionally incapable of contemplating next winter’s resort collections when we have yet to experience spring’s arrival.

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In today’s Bits & Bytes:

Boyle + Gardner for The Wall Street Journal

Saturday’s Journal carried a solid story on a preppy basic, the ribbon belt, explaining that “…now, however, the ribbon belt has pretty much gone back to the rarefied realm from which it came.”

There is also news that “celebri-chef” Paula Deen will launch another home line, separate from her furniture collection.  Launching next spring, the new group will include bedding, bath, lighting and decorative accessories.

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One quick OPB (Official Princess Business) note, in the next several weeks we’ll be sharing scads of new goodies being unveiled at the National Stationery Show. Here is a an early look at pieces from the new home acrylics collection we will be offering from Boatman Geller.

Coming Soon at the Princess from Boatman Geller

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Our final note today involves everyone’s favorite chapeau. (BTW, can we just say there seems to be *a lot* going on in this photo?!)

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

It seems Princess Beatrice’s fascinator is going to be auctioned for a good cause.  Sarah Ferguson is on Oprah today, and during the show she apparently shares the news the hat will be listed on eBay, with proceeds being donated to UNICEF and Children in Crisis.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

There you have it.

Oh, Those Party Frocks! And Prep World New York

Hello-Hello, it seems we might be back to “normal,” although ascertaining just what ‘normal’ is continues to evolve.

At the very least we return to more normal blather and bloviations topics, beginning with last night’s Met Ball. Considered by many as the fashion world’s Oscars, the night brings out the A-list.  As Hilary Alexander wrote in The Telegraph:

“In terms of style, effort, money and glamour, this red carpet mother of all fashion-fests, orchestrated by Anna Wintour for the last 13 years, outshines them all.

It was an occasion for the well dressed and the merely wealthy.”

Below we see Ms Wintour (yes, that is The André in all his regal splendor to her right) in a stunning Chanel couture gown. On the right she is with her daughter, Bee Shaffer, who wore Balenciaga.

Getty Images

The formal name for the event is the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala.  This year’s event coincides with tomorrow’s opening of the highly anticipated Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty show.

Met Photos via WWD

As one might imagine, coming on the heels of the royal wedding and the two Sarah Burton McQueen wedding gowns, the atmosphere was electric. Below, the woman of the hour, Ms. Burton.

AP/Getty Images

Sarah Jessica Parker was in vintage McQueen.

AP Photos

Hamish Bowles was in McQueen.

Via

For those not familiar with the Costume Institute, it is part of the Met, housing more than 75,000 costumes and accessories.  Below, part of the Lauren clan, left to right we see Dylan Lauren, David Lauren and Lauren Bush.

Getty Images

Jessica Alba also wore Ralph Lauren, she was radiant.

Getty Images

There were some figure-hugging creations; below left, Fergie in a Marchesa gown more reminiscent of a wedding dress, on the right we see Beyonce in Emilio Pucci with her husband, Jay-Z.

Getty Images

How snug was Beyonce’s dress? She was unable to climb the stairs in it,

Getty Images

The lights are blinding, Renée Zellweger is silhouetted below.

Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty

Some of our favorite faux-prepsters from Gossip Girl were on hand, Leighton Meester was in Louis Vuitton, Blake Lively in Grecian-inspired Chanel and Jessica Szohr in… in.. umm, we have lost our notes, eek!

AP/Getty/WWD

The level of detailing on these gowns is extraordinary.

AP/Getty/WWD

Below, Dakota and Elle Fanning, both wore Valentino.

Getty Images

Perhaps our favorite gown of the evening was Ashley Greene’s, custom Donna Karan.

Getty Images

It was exquisite.

Last night the first menswear from Tory Burch debuted, seen on Kanye West; the designer was in vintage Jean Patou that was gorgeous.

Mike Segar/Reuters

Tommy Hilfiger his wife, Dee,and Jessica Stam wore Hilfiger.

Reuters

It is a busy week for Mr. Hilfiger, the designer’s collaborative line with Lisa Birnbach, Prep World, launches its first pop-up store in the US.

Prep World/Tommy Hilfiger

As covered in this post, the first pop-up store was in Paris. The temporary stores are designed to look like a beachside cottage in the Hamptons, below we show the model store.

Courtesy Image

And here is the real deal under construction in the Meatpacking district, originally scheduled to open the 28th of April, now looking like it will be ready for a Thursday opening.

The capsule collection features an array of products, many of them appealing.

 

Some of the merchandise is available online.

http://usa.tommy.com/tommy/index.jsp?ctcampaign=871&ctkwd=tommyhilfiger&ctmatch=Exact&ctcreative=10700438385&gclid=CMGv_q2izKgCFUOo4AodOWuZpQ

For more background on the line, click here. If interested in seeing the Paris Prep World, click here.

Apologies for the brevity today, but we must race out the door!

ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• Kristin Somody Whalen/WWD
• Steve Eichner/WWD

“Preppy Kate Middleton,” Blake Lively Goes Red

Hello-hello, and welcome to a Wednesday.  Things are a tad mad here at The Prepatorium, orders flying out the door, The Wedding less than 48 hours away, tornado warnings.

We begin with a quick look at a new hair color for Gossip Girl star Blake Lively.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for TIME

The actress was sporting the new color at “TIME’S 100 Most Influential People In The World” party last night. Below, a closer look at the color and a shot of her with Seth Myer.

Getty Images

The color change is for a film role, the stunning gown is by Zuhair Murad. Unfortunately it seems the long train was a challenge, more from NY Mag’s The Cut:

“Lively’s long silk chiffon train — apparently not intended for fast maneuvering — had become ensnared under the foot of none other than ubiquitous party photographer (and dear friend of New York) Patrick McMullan.

…McMullan, oblivious, walked away — with the train still stuck to his shoe. A second later, Lively’s train had left her gown and was trailing along after McMullan like a four-foot piece of aqua silk chiffon toilet paper. Martha Stewart was the first to recognize the problem. “Patrick!” she demanded. “Give her back her train!” McMullan, still oblivious, turned around and gasped, “Oh, I seem to have stepped on some lady’s train!”

One more celebrity sighting we want to share in honor of a few friends (as always, you know who you are, heh-heh-heh), Mad Men star Jon Hamm was spotted at last night’s Lakers game.

Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Also seen at the game, actors Jeremy Piven and David Beckham.

Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

For those wondering why we are mentioning Mr. Piven, Mr. Beckham or the Lakers, three subjects previously not discussed in this space, it is an effort to make a segue to our primary topic, as Mr. Beckham must surely be on his way east for Friday’s festivities.

He is escorting his wife Victoria to The. Wedding.

As you might imagine, last-minute details and photos are now ricocheting around the interwebs at a maddening rate. We are at that point in the process where we have more photos of… people taking photos.

Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Many of the more recent photographs are shot from far, far away.

Toby Melville/Reuters

Above we could not possibly see Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry arrive for the final rehearsal at Westminster Abbey.

Yesterday’s Guardian has an outstanding story, “Kate Middleton: William’s very private princess-to-be”:

“A slick press team and loyal friends have preserved Middleton’s mystique in the runup to the royal wedding, but plenty can be gleaned from what is not said”

Writer Patrick Barkham traces Miss Middleton’s background and the major influences in her life thus far. When talking about her style he writes:

“Salons in New York have reported customers asking for “a Kate” cut and her preppy look is credited with inspiring a Sloane revival. “

It isn’t the first time the bride has been described as possessing a ‘preppy style’ aesthetic.  The story shares an interesting fact:

“Middleton dresses herself “without any advice or input from the palace”, according to the royal source, and her style has attracted attention around the world.”

We don’t imagine that lack of input from the Palace will remain the case down the road.

This morning there was a full-scale dress rehearsal with the military, starting well before sunup.

Darren Staples/Reuters

Exactly how we’ll look come Friday.

Darren Staples/Reuters via MSNBC

The Tornado flyby is scheduled for 1:30pm (London time), the pilots also rehearsed today.

EPA via The Daily Mail

The decorating of the Abbey and environs also continues apace, below, a photo from The British Monarchy’s flickr photo pages.

The British Monarchy Flickr

A reminder, anyone can look at The Monarchy’s pictures, just click here.

A few more photos surfaced this afternoon.

JNVisuals via The Daily Mail

Above, the bride’s sister Pippa (also her Maid of Honour) and Carole Middleton head into London.

Next, a picture that has really started tongues wagging.

JNVisuals via The Daily Mail

Here’s why, from the Mail:

“…there was a sheaf of paper visible in the back seat of the car that included a passage from an unrecognised work.

While many of the words were obscured, it read in part: ‘With so much love within our hearts.’  While the passage could be from a separate reading, it opens the possibility that they have followed the example of many young couples and written their own vows for their special day.”

The Daily Mail

The only thing we can add is that the typeface does look like it is prompter size. We also noted Miss Middleton is in heavier makeup, we presume today also included lighting and makeup test shots.

Later today the bride was carrying things into Clarence House.

PHOTOS: Splash via The Daily Mail

Lots of things have also been moved into the family headquarters for the next several days, the Goring Hotel.

Chris Eades via The Daily Mail

The location is under continual police protection, there have been comings and goings all day.

PHOTOS: Splash News (L) and Chris Eades (R)

But this has to be our favorite photo of the day.

Andrew Winning/Reuters

The Queen was visiting Cambridge earlier today, doesn’t she look splendid?

Here are a few other places to visit:

• The British Monarchy Facebook
• Clarence House on Twitter
• The Official Royal Wedding website

Until tomorrow, g’bye.