Polo in the Hamptons, Lilly Pulitzer Fall 2009

Hello-Hello!

Goodness, what a wacky weekend. We allowed ours to be consumed in large part by this:

PHOTO: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Although we were crushed to see it end up in this fashion:

PHOTO: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

However, the fervor of our hopes that Mr. Watson might win must not detract from the ultimate outcome of the tournament, and the remarkable accomplishment of Mr. Cink. We know that Yellow Jacket fans are pleased to see the outcome; the Champion Golfer of the Year as decreed by the R & A is a Georgia Tech alum.

Mr. Watson is an original prep, attending Pembroke Hill in Kansas City before matriculating at Stanford. And while we acknowledge our fondness for Mr. Watson (not only because one of his sponsors is Polo Ralph Lauren), but thought both men conducted themselves with grace and dignity throughout the tournament.

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There were other sporting events this weekend, notably the kickoff to the polo season with the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge in Bridgehampton. Among those on hand were model/player Nacho Figueras, seen below.

PHOTO: Getty Images

The match brought a Gossip Girl star to the Hamptons, actor Chace Crawford was in attendance.

PHOTO: Ariel Ramerez

According to the Times Square Gossip blog Mr. Crawford and/or his entourage may not have conducted themselves as graciously as one would hope; this post has more.  Oddly we had just finished reading this story about Mr. Crawford’s plan for attending Wimbledon earlier this year, written with the classic snark one can frequently find in The Independent (the UK).

“And then there was the US actor Chace Crawford (“Who?” we ask), whose “people” insisted he’d bring a magazine snapper with him to “give your tournament some publicity”.

Yikes.

Those who enjoy watching Mr. Figueras may be pleased to learn the polo player and model for Ralph Lauren is actually slated for an appearance on Gossip Girl; he will be on the show’s season premiere September 14. In a post on the WWD Blog Mr. Figueras talks about his reaction to being on the show:

“First and foremost, I thought it was a great opportunity to promote Polo and my team Black Watch. Second, and most important to my wife, was that I would be able to meet Chuck Bass [actor Ed Westwick].”

The polo scenes were shot at the Greenwich Polo Club.

Finally, in our six degrees of separation segment today we can share the following: golfer Tom Watson’s brother Marshall Watson designed one of the rooms in the Hampton Designer showhome; he had to make many a trip to the media room in that house this weekend to catch a few minutes of his older brother at Turnberry. At last that is the case according to this story on Newsday’s Long Island real estate blog.

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In retail notes, the Country Living home collection hits Sears and Kmart next month, both in stores and online. The new collection is inspired by Country Living magazine, and includes tabletop, home textiles, furniture and decorative items. We’re more than a little confused as to what this means for sister site The Country Living Store, as it features merchandise by name brands in all of the categories listed above and several more.

We are more than a bit tardy with this one, but the the Lilly Pulitzer Fall Collection has hit, with loads of fun designs.  In the Pink has the entire Collection online for your shopping pleasure. Here are a few items we’ll show very quickly, if only to display Lilly’s color palette for the fall.

First, the Paley Ruffle Cardigan in navy wool.

Next, the Burke Dress in one of three colorways.

The Palm Beach Printed pants.

And the Lulu Dress.

Obviously, there’s no shortage of fun finds in the new collection.

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We close with a few goodbyes today. Two gentle men (that is not a typo), strong in ways we can’t comprehend, yet generous of spirit and compassionate in personality.

We are grateful to have had the opportunity to meet one of these extraordinary men.

Courtesy Arizona State University/Reuters

Because most readers have been able to read or watch stories about Mr. Cronkite we shan’t bore you with tedious commentary from these quarters, other than to say he blazed a trail of incredible depth and breadth, setting an image and standards for many of us following in his profession.

We were not as fortunate in making the acquaintance of Henry Allingham; he passed away Saturday at the age of 113. Again, that is not a typo, this gentleman was the oldest man in the world.  He was also a survivor of WWI.  He was a founding member of the RAF in 1918.  A. Founding. Member.

From an Associated Press story about this remarkable man:

He made it a personal crusade to talk about a conflict that wiped out much of a generation. Though nearly blind, he would take the outstretched hands of visitors in both of his, gaze into the eyes of children, veterans and journalists and deliver a message he wanted them all to remember.

Below Mr. Allingham is seen with his great-great grandson in June on the occasion of his birthday.

PHOTO: Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty

“I want everyone to know,” he told The Associated Press during an interview in November. “They died for us.”

PHOTO: Photo: Eddie Mulholland

What an amazing life.

We would be remiss if we neglected to mention Irish-American author Frank McCourt. Mr. McCourt is best known for writing “Angela’s Ashes,” for which he received the Pulitzer.

Until next time…!

When Argyle Goes Bad

Hello-Hello, and Happy-Day-Before-Friday!

Because it remains crazy-busy here in the corner condo at Princess InterGalactic HQ, once again we shall stoop to a post more filled with photos than fabulosity.

We begin with the thought that many readers will remember back in the olden daze days, when one of the primary purposes of golf at the club was doing a little business whilst making one’s way over to the nineteenth eighteenth hole. TP’s father certainly solidifed more than one commerce-related friendship in this manner, although TQM ultimately opted out of her role as the executive’s spouse; something to do with the 12-hour time commitment required for proper entertaining: attention to the round and wife/wives at hand, cocktails following the sporting event, dinner after the libations, you know the drill. It was a far more ‘liquid-intense’ affair back in the day than it is now. (No, bottled water is not what we reference with the word liquid.)

Naturally one required appropriate apparel for these activities, and we remember both parents clad in colorful prints.  Yet somehow they avoided  looking like this:

PHOTO: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

This strikes us as something that really transcends the average Adventures in Argyle, don’t you think?

Believe it or not, the appendages cloaked in the garments seen above and below all belong to one individual.

PHOTO Montage: Matthew Childs/Action Images

Come now, you must know upon whose legs you gaze … of course you do.

PHOTO: Matt Dunham/AP

It is that bad boy of golf, John Daly.  And before one thinks about looking in horror upon his wardrobe selections over at Turnberry (or elsewhere) let us all remember he is only doing his job, promoting his eponymous line of golf clothing.

The name of his line? Loudmouth.

As always, writers on the far side of the Pond describe the scene far better than we can; here is a morsel from the Times talking about Mr. Daly’s look at the Scottish Open last Friday:

His “pants” as they call them in the United States – in Scotland we prefer “breeks” – were just about indescribable: a bonfire of colour, at least six different shades of polka-dot, from his rear to his ankles. You could be forgiven for thinking Daly had forgotten to change out of his pyjamas when he rose in the morning. “Christ, I was aghast when I saw him!” rasped a Scottish marshall on the 9th tee…”

Loudmouth offers amazing styles and the Ladies should not feel as if there is nothing equally striking for their walk-in, below we share a slightly more tame look in our favorite color combination:

Courtesy Loudmouth Golf

And while the pink and green is really quite acceptable, when it comes to Mr. Daly’s attire we envision TQM now floating somewhere between “Gasp! The horror” and “Did you make this up?”

Indeed.

Others sported argyle this week at the British Open, including Tom Watson in a more classic style.

PHOTO: Marc Aspland/The Times

Mr. Watson’s sweater is from one of his sponsors, Polo Ralph Lauren.

Frequent readers know this isn’t the first time we’ve commented on proper clothing for athletic endeavors. Hardly.  For a far more entertaining look at  just how big the pro-apparel sponsorship business is, here is a story running earlier this week in the Times.  For example, we had no idea that Nike selected what Tiger Woods would wear this week more than a year ago.  (And we’re OCD?)

There is no shortage of bright colors and bold patterns on the golf course. We enjoy most of them, but do feel if one is going to have a strong horizontal pattern it simply must be matched at the side seams. If this means the item becomes too costly to manufacture, then it simply should not be made, it is too offensive to the human eye.

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Something that is more-than-easy on the eyes? The reminder today via Peak of Chic about the new Lulu DK for Matouk linens collection; we just adore it.

Courtesy Lulu DK Matouk

You won’t be disappointed.

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And those fond of the excellent selection of goods at the MOMA store may appreciate a reminder:

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We close with happy news here at the Prepatorium, we are starting to receive our calendars for next year in stock! Below, the Donovan Designs 2010 desktop offering.

PreppyPrincess.com

We like their cute colors and grosgrain bow, along with the acrylic easel holding the darling artwork. (And their price point of only $18!)

On that cheery note, G’bye until next time!