‘Preppy Pictorials’ & Logophobia Strikes Again

Hello-Hello!

Welcome to a new week here at the Prepatorium, we just know it is going to be a good one.

We begin with a link to one of our favorite sites, Trendhunter.  The site has put together what they are calling 52 Preppy Pictorials, a variety of photo pieces featuring ‘preppy styles’ and fashion.

via Trendhunter

If going to the site be sure to scroll down a bit past the advertisements to see the selection of topics, including everything from Bright Boating Shoes to Vintage Sports Fashions.

via Trendhunter.com

From the introduction to the features:

“From the halls of Harvard to hipsters sporting bow ties and boat shoes preppy style is everywhere and seems to influence almost everyone. You see geek-inspired styles in the streets, in magazines and in the lookbooks full of preppy pictorials for upcoming fashion collections.”

via Trendhunter.com

One cautionary note: not all of the looks showcased fall into what many of us would refer to as classic prep styles.  Actually, few fit in this category. We enjoy looking at such things, but Brooks Brothers or J. McLaughlin it is not; some might even confer When Preppy Goes Wrong status upon certain designs, although that feels a tad stringent.

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Stringent is an appropriate word for our stance on Tommy Hilfiger merchandise; we acknowledge frequent references to the brand as nouveau-prep.  You can imagine our surprise when seeing a story on the brand in the Times on Friday, with this opening line:

“WHEN did Tommy Hilfiger become cool again?”

Cool? Again?

Now, many readers know of our fondness for Eric Wilson’s writing in the paper; be assured that sentence raised some eyebrows here at the palace.  His story continues:

“Once a preppy kingpin and then a megabrand designer of urban streetwear… Mr. Hilfiger, in the 1990s, was very cool. But then, about 10 years ago, he just wasn’t. People became more interested in his divorce and his dating life and his daughter’s reality television show than his clothes, all of which looked increasingly like the result of a designer who was trying too hard.”

A “preppy kingpin”? We think not.

1996 AP Photo via NYTimes.com

The designer is quoted in Mr. Wilson’s story:

““The large logos and the big red, white and blue theme became ubiquitous,” he said. “It got to the point where the urban kids didn’t want to wear it and the preppy kids didn’t want to wear it.”

Below, another image accompanying the story shows Mr. Hilfiger with models wearing his designs.

Michael Falco for The New York Times

While many items appear to have toned down the dreaded TH and/or crest we associate with the brand…

One needn’t look far to observe the wretched initials adorning apparel and accessories, evident even on items for the tiniest of preps.

Of course, it is all reminiscent of another brand and its offspring; left, a Polo Ralph Lauren shirt, and right, a Rugby polo shirt. (The Rugby top is also an example of When Pink and Green Go Wrong. Sigh.)

We shall cease dwelling on the unfortunate topic of Logophobia and move on.  To see the entire Times story, just click here.

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A quick reminder that the French Open is almost upon us (it begins Sunday), brought on by seeing the latest from Lacoste:

In honor of the event Lacoste has released a collection of pieces from French designer Les Bijoux de Sophie. The items showcase the company’s logo and polo shirt; there is a Pink Crocodile handbag, even a candle with a detachable band that can be worn as a bracelet.

So much for staying away from the L word (logos).

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We close with a simple (and simply beautiful) Pretty in Pink… and Green.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

The balconies at Claridge’s are awash in springtime splendor. If only we were there in person!

‘Patently Preppy’ and ‘Prepster Deck’ Shoes

Hello-Hello!

We start with an homage to the one and only Third Coast Preppy; when we saw this hat it simply shrieked TCP.

Courtesy Refinery 29

It may be difficult to discern because the photo is so dark, but the hat is a giant lobster.  The creation is by milliner extraordinaire Stephen Jones and was worn at a gala noting the opening of the V&A’s new show “Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones.”

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As always, we like to bring you news of ‘preppy perspectives’ around the world. Today’s comes via The National in Dubai.  Their story, Feet on the Ground, takes an in-depth look at the saddle shoe.

“…. think appliquéd college jackets, button-down Oxford shirts and rolled-up pants – footwear that wouldn’t be out of place at a boys’ boarding school circa 1950 is back in style. Two-tone saddle shoes – usually sporting a suede upper, contrasting leather and a red rubber sole – are a key look.”

Courtesy Paul Smith via The National

Red rubber sole? We think not. A number of interesting assertions are put forth in the story; we do not concur with all of them, but suggest readers may still find it an interesting read. Another point:

“The patently preppy saddle shoe has infiltrated the streetwear market as well.”

Almost every brand we can think of seems to be included in the story, from Sperry to Gucci to Fred Perry.  Happy Reading!  (As an aside, the Paul Smith website shows a number of Mens’ Brogues, but not the style seen in the photo accompanying the article.)

Regular readers know we are simply batty for Paul Smith, especially their socks with the little bow.

Adoration of these is not our fault, it is something in our genetic makeup, we are quite sure.  (Tee-hee.)

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Since we seem to be featuring shoes today, we’ll share a pair used in a story proclaiming the following to be *the style* to have this summer.  We generally wear a pair so beaten up they really are an assault on the eyes, but they are our favorites and we can’t bear the thought of discarding them!

Stephanie Prommer at the Teen Fashion Blog writes:

“This may sound crazy, but I predict that prepster deck shoes are going to be THE footwear choice of the summer. I’m personally crushing on these $60 Bahama Plaid Cuff kicks from Sperry Top-Sider, which come in five adorable color combos.”

They are available in a variety of delightful colorways, including this one:

We do adore the shoes, and think another blogger of a Prepalicious sort may have already featured them.

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Speaking of Prepalicious, Miss Nautical, did you see this one at Bergdorfs from Stella McCartney?

Net-a-Porter also carries it and there is a coordinating sail print skirt as well.

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We almost never-ever-ever do this, but today we post a springy message lifted directly from our electronic in-bin, compliments of Bergdorf’s.

Courtesy Bergdorf Goodman

The retailer was promoting their a pink theme.

On that note, ‘bye until next time!

‘Pernicious Prep’ and Gossip Girls & Guys Hit the Shows

Happy Day everyone! The sun is bright & beautiful here at Intergalactic HQ for the Princess, it is just delightful!

First off, our Lilly Pulitzer Stationery Giveaway (featuring this Mix ‘n Match set) winner is Preppy Mama! We used Random.org to select the winner, congratulations to Preppy Mama!

We continue our Fashion Week coverage with the focus on those lines showing a preppy aesthetic. But before we even get to looks for fall, how about this look for right now from Boy by Band of Outsiders?! If the brand is not familiar and the name perhaps off-putting, be assured this is the women’s collection by Band of Outsiders, marked by tailored lines, flawless fabrics and attention to detail.

The Cropped Blazer with Grosgrain Binding is available online at Opening Ceremony, an outstanding retailer that did not have online shopping until this week. We are ever-so-pleased we can now graze and perhaps purchase at the website, although the majority of their wares are far too hip for TP.  They also do loads of collaborations, especially on footwear.

Last year the company collaborated with Sperry for distinctive Topsiders (Top-siders) and they are doing so again this year. In this post we talked about the line being named as “The Brand” for preppy attire by Complex.

Below, we shift to a Fall 2009 look.

In their review yesterday of the Band of Outsiders fall presentation at Fashion Week, Racked refer to it as “Pernicious Prep,” adding:

“…attendees found models posed in various tableaux vivants, all channeling naughty prep schoolboy/girl.”

Another style from the fall collection:

PHOTO: George Chinsee

BTW (by the way), the shoes in the presentation were all Manolo Blahnik.  One more style below:

PHOTO: George Chinsee

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It was only a matter of time before we heard about Gossip Girl cast members in attendance at the shows. Chace Crawford was spotted at the Calvin Klein show; below, a look from the Men’s RTW Fall 2009 line.

PHOTO: Thomas Iannaccone

WWD caught up with the actor before things got underway:

“Crawford…had the day off from taping “Gossip Girl,” pleaded ignorance about fashion even though the show is so stylish. “The fashion on the show is really for women,” he said.”

The star sat next to Jared Leto.

PHOTO: Getty Images

And the folks at The Cut also queried Mr. Crawford about his reaction to the show:

“”Favorite pieces? Uh, I like the solids, the grays,” he said. “I’m not that savvy with fashion.” He added that he feels “very weird” going to fashion shows. So why was he there? “They give me great clothes.” Touché.”

The show is now such a part of fashion culture that in their Band of Outsiders review, the writer at Racked refers to a model in the presentation as sporting “…what we like to call the “Chuck Bass lewd leer”.

Some in the fashion media are speculating about the ‘dueling Gossip Girls’ at Thursday’s Proenza Schouler show. The word is that Vogue‘s guest for the show is another G2 star, actress Blake Lively while Elle magazine is hosting Leighton Meester. We aren’t exactly anticipating any spat. Honestly.

Speaking of Vogue, editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and actress/designer Sarah Jessica Parker chatted up a storm at the Alexander Wang show.

PHOTO: Louis Lanzano/AP

In attendance at Herve Leger, actresses Lucy Liu and Mad Men star January Jones.

PHOTO: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Here is another shot of Ms. Jones at the Leger show, and we think she almost looks like an entirely different person:

PHOTO: Steve Eichner

It matters not what angle the star is shot, for she is always lovely.

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Time for us to toddle off to other duties, we shall close with a look at the new Samsonite Black Label group by Viktor and Rolf.

PHOTO: Courtesy Samsonite via Hypebeast

We can’t remember the last time we saw a bow on luggage! We also find the retro airplane print rather fetching.

Photos Courtesy Samsonite via Hypebeast

Our thanks to Hypebeast for the story tip as well as the images.

Until next time dolls, may it be splendid and sunny wherever you are today!