Hello-hello, and welcome to another sodden April day here at the Prepatorium, the downpour glorious in its own right for what we know will ultimately follow.
Regular readers know our fondness for the Critical Shopper columns in the Times, a fabulous feature critiquing retail establishments in the city. Today’s column is loads of fun, a look at the Lilly Pulitzer Mother Ship on Madison from writer Cintra Wilson.
We love the way Ms. Wilson described her own apparel as she entered the store:
“When I visited the newly refurbished two-story shop on Madison Avenue, I was, as usual, dressed entirely in black, which doesn’t make me self-conscious in most New York locales. But here, it was a bit like attending a children’s birthday party in a latex ski mask.”
Here is the portion referencing ‘hilariously preppy’:
I was charmed by a device invented for the vintage rack: pristine Pulitzers of bygone decades (most around $200) with printed tags reading “If This Dress Could Talk,” and mini-questionnaires below, on which previous owners have handwritten the who-what-where of a memorable moment in the garment’s past. These tend to be unintentionally yet hilariously preppy:
“Summer of ’69 … Sailing on the bay … Mitzi and Tripp … Sunny afternoon.”
“1975 … Martha’s Vineyard … My true love … Champagne and bike riding.”
It sounds like the previous owners of those frocks were in perfect settings for a little Lilly, oui?
Ms. Wilson appears a tad puzzled by the men’s section of the store:
“The second floor was also home to some absolutely terrifying sport jackets for men. I imagined it was what Anita Bryant’s linen closet would have looked like after Hurricane Andrew: violent mangos, pinks and aquamarines starched into jackets of such female bedspread intensity they might cause even Ricardo Montalbán to run toward the volcano.”
We’re not understanding; things like this are too bright?
Above left we show the Peter Blazer in Shorely Blue Bizzy Little Fizzy, and above right, that Blazer in Daiquiri Ten Ton Bouquet.
We have a little more from the Times story:
“How does one become as polished, poised, cheerful and sane as Jackie O, while living a life as bent, backward and whitewater-intense as anyone else’s?
The answer might lie in matching the print on your chemise to your daughter’s pedal pushers, your son’s swim trunks, your husband’s Bermuda shorts, your father’s bow tie and your paper cocktail napkins.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Next, a quick glance at something that surprised us: the Marimekko fall collection.
The photos are via WWD, we simply had nary a clue the firm did ready to wear. The fall collection was just shown at Danish Fashion Week, but Marimekko has been doing fashion styles for quite some time. And here we thought it was all about pillows and aprons and cute jackets!
Below, a look from this spring’s collection in silk and linen, we’ll say it’s today’s Pretty in Pink.
Here is the Pixie Dress in a jaunty black, white and pink print, rather appealing IOHO.
We are huge fans of almost all everything the Finnish company creates, but primarily thought in terms of the brand’s iconic prints on household goods, like the Unikko Bed Linens or Unikko Tea Towels.
What a delightful discovery, that puts a smile on our face!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We close with Monday evening’s Dressed to Kilt event hosted by Sir Sean and Lady Connery.
Above we see actor Sam Waterston and NBC’s Al Roker modeling their kilts at the annual fundraiser. Beneficiaries of this year’s event include the Wounded Warrior Project and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Below we see Miss Scotland, Katharine Brown.
Also on hand, Kelly Bensimon (we believe she is a housewife on one of the many ‘Real Housewives…’ shows?) and singer Kellie Pickler.
Vets also walked the show, no small accomplishment for many of them. Below, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dan Nevins, injured in Afghanistan.
Some may remember last year’s event featured Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick.
He was not a participant this year, but G2 designer Eric Daman took part in the festivities.
With that we say G’bye until next time!
ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:
- Marimekko Fall 2010: Johnny Kangasniemi/WWD
- Dressed to Kilt: Lucas Jackson/Rueters
- Dressed to Kilt: AP Photo/Peter Kramer