The Wedding Gown Ralph Lauren Created for Lauren Bush

Hello-Hello, welcome to a sparkling new week, albeit a shortened one for many.

We begin with an update to this summer’s post about the marriage of Lauren Bush to David Lauren, pictures of the exquisite wedding gown designed by her father-in-law, Ralph Lauren, are in this month’s issue of Vogue.

Mark Seliger/Vogue

From the story accompanying the photos:

Lauren, 27, and David, 39, were married over the Labor Day weekend at his family’s 17,000-acre Double RL ranch in Ridgway, Colorado, before some 200 guests—intimate by fashion-industry social standards.

Mark Seliger/Vogue

For anyone needing a refresher (it took yours truly a nano-second to recall the lineage), the bride is the daughter of Neil and Sharon Bush. Neither President George H.W. and Barbara Bush were able to attend because of the altitude (Mr. Lauren’s ranch is at 9000 feet) but the bride’s uncle and aunt, President George Bush and Laura Bush, were on hand.

More on how the gown was created from that Vogue story:

She and Ralph had a few casual conversations at family meals and holiday weekends about what sort of dress she’d like. In late June they met at the Ralph Lauren studio for their first official design meeting. “I walked in, and there were these beautiful illustrations of the looks we’d discussed with my face on them,” she recalls. “It was like a dream come true.”

The silhouette was an elegant blend of old and new, a Victorian influence is obvious when initially looking at the gown. Only when seen from another angle does the open back offer the very contemporary sense created by Mr. Lauren.  Ms. Lauren wore cowboy boots, her bridesmaids were in vintage prairie skirts and white linen shirts.

Mark Seliger/Vogue

It sounds like a lovely weekend, to read the entire story click here.

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Also today, a brief glance at this weekend’s big do celebrating the 100th episode of Gossip Girl.

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Above, some of those Gossip Guys, Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford. A point of curiosity: are there any photographs in existence taken when Mr. Westwick is not posing? Next, two of the show’s stars, Leighton Meester and Kelly Rutherford.

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Below we see Matthew Settle (evidently a fan of Thom Browne’s shrunken styles) and actress JoAnna Garcia Swisher.  (No comment on the fit of Ms. Swisher’s….scrap of fabric…dress.)

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Many were eager to see what Blake Lively would wear to the party, she was in a Marchesa dress from the spring 2012 collection.

Via Red Carpet Fashion Awards

Red Carpet Fashion Awards did not think highly of Ms. Lively’s party frock:

The best place for this embroidered fringed dress is the ice rink at the Winter Olympics or ‘Dancing with the Stars’.

This dress is doing nothing for her and I’m bewildered that she selected it.

I’ve looked at every single picture to find something positive to say about this look, but I have no words.

Ouch. (Not that we disagree, it is a rather ghastly frock.)

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Finally, a delightful holiday collection from a brand we have vilified and relentlessly railed against occasionally questioned, Tommy Hilfiger.

Tommy Hilfiger

You may have already seen some of the ads from the print campaign, here are two pieces we liked.

Tommy Hilfiger

There are some darling accessory and gift items in the group.

By the way, if shopping online today, everything is 30% off, use promo code THANKS30.

With that we say g’bye until next time.

Target’s New Designer, That New Gossip Girl, Stella & Dot Adds Handbags

Hello-Hello, and happy top of a new week!

It has been a little busier than normal here at the Prepatorium, more on that later. But first, we have a quick look at the newest addition to the Gossip Girl cast. Although we don’t watch, a number of readers are fans, so we attempt to stay abreast of developments on the show, below we see Elizabeth Hurley shooting a scene with Chace Crawford last week.

Flynet Pictures via The Daily Mail

The show is in production for its next season, shooting on the UES. Ms. Hurley plays a character named Diana Payne,we also show Ed Westwick and Penn Badgley working on the set last week.

Splash/AKM Images via The Daily Mail

The new character is apparently that of a ‘media mogul,’ obviously a very attractive one.

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Next, word from Women’s Wear Daily (subscription req’d.) that Le Boutique Targét is adding another designer line, this one from Gwen Stefani. The Harajuku Mini collection will debut in November, with pieces for “babies, children and tweens,” according to the trade publication.

Courtesy Photo via WWD

Prices for the line will run $3.99 to $29.99. Sharon Edelson’s story points out that Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. collection is one of very few successful fashion endeavors being done by celebrities.

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Next on the menu today, a look at a new accessories collection from a company called Sloane Ranger.  The line is just being launched, from its website:

“Inspired by the streets of Sloane Square, It was time to bring the Sloane’s effortless cool and confident styling across the pond.”

Many readers remember Princess Diana as the most well known individual associated with the moniker. Here are a few of the company’s iPad/Netbook cases, retailing at $20.

And here are some of the belts being offered, they run $18.

Thoughts on the new wares? Intrigued? Yawn? Cute?

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Women’s Wear Daily also has word about Stella and Dot, the jewelry and limited accessories line sold through private trunk shows. The company is adding handbags to the merchandise its stylists will be offering, below we show one of the bags.

Courtesy Photo via WWD

The initial handbag collection will consist of five bags, here is more from the WWD story:

“A clutch; a convertible, three-way style; a cross-body bag; a wristlet, and a key pouch will comprise the first collection. Prices start at $44 for the key pouch and go up to $258 for the convertible bag. “

Stella and Dot already offers jewelry totes and rolls.

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Finally today, one of the reasons we say the weekend was a little chaotic.  Facebook fans have already heard that we hired a new shipping manager, seen on the job below overseeing Friday’s shipment of Lilly Pulitzer Agendas to Princess customers.

Courtesy Tilly T. Bulldog

It was good to have new personnel on the job, we had quite a few Lilly Pulitzer Agendas to get ready for today’s shipping run.

Above we show boxes being prepped for shipment, below, some of the boxes ready to go.

The Prepatorium

And more boxes filled with Agendas going out today.

The Prepatorium

Of course, with this many orders one counts on the shipping supervisor.  You’re wondering where that employee is aren’t you? So were we.

Caught Red-Pawed

We finally located her, tracked by the sound of her snores.

Honestly, you just can’t get good help these days.

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.

Friday Fun, Sales & Savings of a Prepalicious Sort, That Wacky Hat is Everywhere

Hello-Hello, welcome to a Friday.  It has been an insane week, it seems like forever ago that we were gathered in front of our varying viewing platforms to watch the royal wedding.

A little Friday Fun is in order, and we start with a look at a delightful experiment, the first Lilly Pulitzer “lifestyle store” that opened in Raleigh this week.

Via Palm Avenue

Palm Avenue is the first Lilly store combining apparel and accessories with the new Home Furnishings & Accessories collection, the shop moved into a new location to accommodate everything.

Palm Avenue

We have some lovely photos inside the new store from our flickr friend castaff.

Via castaff

It’s fun to see how well the furniture and accessories are integrated into the store.

Via castaff

Palm Avenue also has photos, they are viewable on the store’s Facebook page.

Via Palm Avenue

The store’s official grand opening gala is this Thursday, the 12th.

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Next, a follow-up to yesterday’s post on the Prep World pop-up shop. We mentioned that the London store was opening today and promised pictures.  Below, Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick at the opening.

Via Grazia UK

There were a number of celebrities at the event, including someone we really hadn’t associated with a preppish style, Ronnie Wood.

Via Grazia UK

From the Grazia story:

“For Tommy Hilfiger himself, attaining Pure Prepdom is a little more complex: “You need colour, you need madras, and you’ve gotta have seersuckers. You need to be holidaying in The Hamptons or Nantucket, and you should be wearing anything red, white and blue to look nautical. And even if you don’t know how to sail, you should pretend.”

Also on hand, model David Gandy.

Via Grazia UK

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We are way behind the times with our next topic, hopefully not everyone has already seen the story. We are speaking about Ralph Lauren’s “L’art de l’Automobile” exhibit in Paris that opened last week.

Jacques Brinon/AP

The designer is widely considered to have one of the finest collections of vintage sports and racing cars in the world, many of the automobiles are on view in the exhibit. The exhibition is at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs museum, the Lauren family looked elegant for the opening night gala, below (from L to R) Andrew Lauren, the designer and Ricky Lauren, David Lauren.

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Some notable names were on hand for the party, including India Hicks (L) and Melanie Thierry (R).

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One of our favorite French retailers, Colette, has a collection of polos in honor of the exhibition.  The Discovery Channel will be airing a documentary about the exhibit in several European countries over the summer, there is also a commemorative book.

If interested in learning more about the exhibit or the collection, click here to visit Mr. Lauren’s official site for the show.

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We have a few quick Sales & Savings opportunities to share, the first actually pertains to establishments owned by the gentleman seen above; the Polo Ralph Lauren “Private Sale” (cough-cough) runs through Monday, with an additional 15% off already reduced merchandise.  Use promo code MAY0511 to receive the savings.

Via Ralph Lauren

Over at Brooks Brothers the Friends and Family event is underway, offering 25% off all purchases.

Via Brooks Brothers

The 25% is good at both regular and outlet stores.  Use promo code 06FRIEND at checkout.

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We leave you with a few news photos you may have missed in the frenzy of the week, all on the same topic. Now, some of us were somewhat dismayed at the Philip Treacy fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice to the wedding last week.

Getty Images via The Mirror

Little did we know how popular the hat was going to be.

Via Delsrayser Tumblr

Via The Telegraph

Via The Telegraph

Until next time, may everyone enjoy some refreshing and restorative spring air this weekend.

The Royal Wedding Party, Carolina Herrera Kids & “Indie Prep” (Ahem.)

Hello-Hello, and happy Tuesday, it is downright balmy here at the Prepatorium, almost 40° and your trusty scribe is giddy from the heat.

We begin today with an update on the upcoming wedding. (You know, The. Wedding.) Many of our treasured readers have already seen the news, but for those not yet hearing the details, we have all of the particulars about who will accompany Kate Middleton and Prince William down the aisle.

As the Palace put it, “Miss Catherine Middleton has asked her sister, Miss Philippa Middleton, to be her Maid of Honour. Prince William has asked his brother, Prince Harry, to be his Best Man.”

Getty Images via The Daily Mail

Philippa is more commonly referred to as Pippa; the Middleton sisters have long been close.

REX via The Telegraph

As have the young Princes.

The following young ladies and young men will be Bridesmaids and Page Boys:

• The Lady Louise Windsor (seen lower left) is the daughter of The Earl and Countess of Wessex (aka Prince Edward and his wife Sophie), age 7;
• Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones (lower right) is the daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Linley, age 8

The other two young ladies who will be attendants:

• Miss Eliza Lopes (seen on the left) is the granddaughter of William’s stepmother, Camilla, duchess of Cornwall, she is 3 years of age;
• Grace van Cutsem, is carried by her mother, Lady Rose van Cutsem, Grace is also 3

IMAGES: The Picture Library via The Daily Mail

The young men acting as Page Boys:

• Master William (Billy) Lowther-Pinkerton is the son of longtime aide and private secretary to the Princes, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton (below we see Prince William playing with his soon-to-be page boy )

REX via The Telegraph

• Master Tom Pettifer, age 8, is the son of Charles Pettifer and his wife Tiggy (formerly Tiggy Legge-Burke, a nanny to the boys in the 1990s).

We simply must share this photo of Lady Louise from last August, seen with her father, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.  The little girl seems so very serious with her hands behind her back, she looks like an old soul in a young body.

Chris Jackson/Getty

More from the Palace:

• Please note that all the children’s parents have informed us that they do not wish to talk to the media.
• Details about the Bridesmaids’ dresses and the Page Boys’ uniforms will be made available on the Wedding Day.

To read the snooze news release in its entirety, click here to visit the media page for the Prince of Wales.

The Telegraph has more details, including the following:

• “Prince William has broken with the tradition that bridegrooms in royal weddings traditionally chose a “supporter” instead of a best man.”
• “The wedding details were revealed on the same day that it was announced that the couple would be paying an official visit together later this month to the university where they met.”

The Mail offers these additional tidbits:

• “In the past Prince Edward and Sophie have been reluctant to allow Lady Louise to be photographed because she was born with exotropia, a rare condition which causes a divergent squint.”
• “As tradition dictates, Prince Harry will now be responsible for organising William’s stag party.” (Editor’s note: this fact is enough to strike fear into even the strongest of British backbones.)

More perspective is offered in this Associated Press story:

“”It’s unusual to have only just one man,” said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine. “All of the queen’s sons – Charles, Andrew, Edward – had two supporters at their wedding. But obviously William doesn’t feel the need to have more than one supporter and it’s by no means a hard and fast rule.”

Here are a few more shots of the Middleton sisters, the first dates to 2007.

PHOTO: PacificCoastNews.com

Like older sister Kate, Pippa Middleton has a keen eye for fashion and fun, below left she is in costume to attend a “Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco” fundraiser in 2008, on the right she is headed into the Tatler’s 300th Anniversary party in 2009.

Getty Images

A year ago this month Pippa was in the front row for the Issa runway show during London Fashion Week.

Stuart Wilson/Getty Images Europe

Below we see (L to R) the girls’ mother, Carole Middleton, Pippa, Kate and Prince William skiing last March in the French Alps.

Bauer-Griffin

A photogenic group, to be sure, as always, we shall continue to follow events and share updates as appropriate.

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Next on the hit parade, Tommy Hilfiger’s menswear collection for the fall.

From the Women’s Wear Daily review:

“Those who believe there are only so many ways to do preppy clearly haven’t met Tommy Hilfiger, whose newest interpretation might just be his best one yet.

Via All The Rage

Back to Women’s Wear Daily:

“It’s called Indie Prep,” Hilfiger said before his men’s show on Friday. “When you mix indie rockers with prepsters, that’s what you get.”

Ahem.

In our next post we will look at the Hilfiger styles for women.

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We have a touch of spring and summer to share, the new Carolina Herrera styles for the Young Miss and Master at your palace.

The lines are classic and the color palette perfect for the season, khaki and seersucker are almost always prepalicious.

There is lots to like in this newest collection from the gifted designer. (Later this week we will have the Fall 2011 looks showing this week.)

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We leave you with a few updates on stars from everyone’s fave faux-prep school show, Gossip Girl.

• Actress Blake Lively received an Elle Style Award yesterday in London, she wore an electric blue gown by Emilio Pucci.

Ian Gavan/Getty

• Christian Louboutin has announced that his newest design is named after Ms. Lively.

Courtesy Image via The Daily Mail

• Many of the show’s star’s have been spotted at various shows during Fashion Week, Ed Westwick attended the Hilfiger menswear show on Friday night, and also made it to the Simon Spurr show Sunday evening.

• Fashion Week is a timely topic, the plot has been following “Blair” and “Dan” during their internships at W magazine.

The CW

With that oddity we say goodbye until next time, we hope the sun is shining on you today!

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ADDITIONAL  PHOTO CREDITS:

• Rex Features
• Paul Ellis/AP photo (Princes William & Harry)
• Chris Jackson/Getty (Lady Louise)
• Jamie McCarthy/Getty (Ed Westwcik at Hilfiger)
• Jeff Gentner/Getty (Ed Westwick at Simon Spurr)