The List: a Preppy Black Friday

Hello-Hello and Gobble-Gobble!

For those thinking about an excursion (there’s a euphemism!) of a retail kind in the next several days, we offer our list of Sales and Savings this Thanksgiving weekend.  We may update it once again before the weekend concludes, but are more likely to revel in the company of family and preparations for our Pink & Green Monday!

That’s right, 20% off everything at The Princess for one day only, complete with our free gift wrapping! Use promo code PGM at checkout to receive your discount on all of our preppy goodies!

Here is information on other preptastic retailers; well, mostly preptastic. As always, check with your local store, shopping center or outlet mall for specific hours and details.

J. Crew: Already underway online, take an additional 20% off merchandise only, use promo code EXTRA20 at checkout.

J. Crew Outlet stores: before 8am Friday morning take an additional 40% off Clearance merchandise, other weekend discounts at Crew outlets include 30– 50% off select holiday styles & 30–40% off select Crewcuts holiday styles.

Lacoste: Already underway online, 30% off all merchandise, use promo code THANKS09 at checkout to receive the discount; ends 11/30/09.

Lilly Pulitzer: On Friday only spend $500 and receive a limited edition Resort Tote like the one seen below (a $200 value); gift wrapping is also complimentary all day on Friday.

Courtesy Lilly Pulitzer

Polo Ralph Lauren: Already underway, 25% Off, use promo code HOL2009, ends 12/7/09

Ralph Lauren Factory Stores: 20% discount on purchases of $150+ after midnight Thanksgiving night/Friday morning until 10am.

Brooks Brothers: Friday & Saturday 7am – Noon receive an additional 15% off your entire purchase; receive an additional 5% when using your MasterCard or your Brooks Brothers Platinum MasterCard.

Brooks Brothers Factory Stores: 40 percent off all items until Sunday, and an extra 10 percent off of this Friday and Saturday until noon.

Banana Republic: We have heard but have not confirmed that on Friday only cashmere sweaters will be Buy One, Get One free

Banana Republic Outlets: 40% Off Any Purchase.

Ann Taylor: “Style Steals” on various items now through Sunday.

Ann Taylor Loft: “Style Steals” on various items now through Sunday.

Tommy Hilfiger Outlet Stores: 40% off the entire store all day on Black Friday and additional discounts for specific days; to download coupons providing these markdowns, click here.

The Gap: Already underway and online-only, 50% off all regularly-priced  Men’s & Women’s Sweaters, Kids & Baby Cozy Fleece styles.

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Here is what we can share on the more standard department stores, offered with an apology for the more East Coast-centric emphasis:

Saks 5th Avenue: Starts online Thursday and at 8am Friday in stores, up to 60% off original prices on selections for her & him, various additional offers too lengthy to list; also free shipping for any online order, use promo code HOLIDAY9, offer valid through midnight Monday night (the 30th)

Neiman Marcus: The Women’s Apparel Sale is already underway with up to 40% off original prices; there is also free shipping on any online orders until midnight 11/3/09, use promo code NMNOV at checkout.

Neiman Marcus Last Call: Shoppers using their Neiman’s card will receive an additional 25% off, ends 12/1; select stores are open midnight-8am as well, click here for details.

Barneys: their sale is already underway online with up to 40% off on select merchandise.

Bergdorf Goodman: free shipping with any online order, use promo code SHOPBG at checkout.

For more information on special sales, promotions and the like, here are a few general interest sites that may be of assistance:

• Black-Friday.net
• BlackFridayAds
• GottaDeal.com
• BlackFriday2009.com

With that, farewell until next time, and may everyone enjoy a simply splendid Thanksgiving!

Gobble-Gobble.

Tiffany Says Not in Our Backyard, Next Target Designers Revealed, Black Friday

Hello-Hello and welcome to a Monday!

We begin with a tale about Tiffany; this time it is the story of the luxury retailer’s lawsuit against its landlord in Century City (California).  It seems the jeweler is making it ever-so-clear they do not want fast-fashion merchandiser H&M as a neighbor. (As in H&M that just did the wildly popular ‘Jimmy Choo for H&M’ line, described in this post.)

Apparently Tiffany believes having H&M as a neighbor would be just this side of apocalyptic; the LA Times has more:

“H&M is not a luxury or upscale retailer. H&M is at best characterized as a ‘popular-price’ mass merchandise clothing retailer.”

“The location of the H&M store will cause irreparable injury to Tiffany’s business reputation as a luxury retailer, a reputation that Tiffany has enjoyed and worked hard to maintain for more than a century and a half,” the lawsuit said.”

While understanding a brand’s desire to protect its caché, the story points out that in Pasadena the two stores are almost next door to each other. Other stories on the topic wonder about Tiffany’s efforts to embrace the ‘aspirational shopper,’ those coveting upscale brands while also shopping mass retailers like H&M.

Courtesy Tiffany

Many such consumers are precisely the same customers fond of merchandise displaying a retailer’s logo, something Tiffany has marketed strongly the last several years.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out. We do want to note this is not ‘new news,’ as we are wont to say; the original story broke in September and yours truly keeps forgetting to post it.

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A few more retail notes today, including word on the next two accessories designers for Targèt; the Cynthia Vincent for Target collection will launch at Target stores nationwide and at Target.com from April 18, available through through July 1. Below, several styles from Ms. Vincent’s Fall 09 Collection.

Also, headwear from Eugenia Kim will debut next year, it is going to be the first hat launch in Target’s series of limited-time-only accessories. The Eugenia Kim for Target collection debuts April 18, running through June 20. Below, looks from the 2008 Eugenia Kim line.

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There is also news that Forever 21 has launched its love and beauty cosmetic line.

Courtesy Forever 21 via WWD

Everything in the new line is priced at $10 or less; it all appears to be available online.

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Before delving headfirst into our next topic it is time we are honest with our cherished readers; we do not participate in Black Friday.  It is really not our cup of tea; additionally, we are always blessed by a visit from The Queen Mother for Thanksgiving, precluding any chance to partake of the mayhem. Such a shame. (Cough-cough.)

We still desire to maintain contributions to the PPP (Pocketbook Protection Program), continuing efforts at providing a list of fiscally friendly locales for the upcoming frenzy.

To be fair, there are far too many special markdowns, discounts and promotions to accurately track; we are including those we believe to be of the most interest to our bloggy friends.

Here we go, beginning with Talbots, already offering 20% off merchandise and free shipping; use offer code 020556520 at checkout to receive the discounts.

Martin & Osa will discount all denim (regularly $89.50 – $120) and cashmere to $59 (regularly priced at $130 – $170).

• Brooks Brothers: November 27th and Saturday, November 28th until 12:00 noon each day. Shop Early and receive an additional 15% off your entire purchase; receive an additional 5% when using your MasterCard or your Brooks Brothers Platinum MasterCard

• J. Crew Outlet stores will take an additional 40% off Clearance merchandise before 8am Friday morning; clearly one should check with their local factory store for hours
  • Other discounts at Crew outlets  for the weekend include 30% – 50% off select holiday styles & 30 – 40% off select Crewcuts holiday styles

• Tommy Hilfiger Factory Stores: 40% off the entire store all day on Black Friday (the 27th)
  • There are additional discounts for specific days, including the Wednesday before Thanksgiving; to download coupons providing these markdowns, click here.

• Banana Republic Outlets: 40% Off Any Purchase

• Old Navy stores: Open 12 – 7pm on Thanksgiving Day, & 3am – midnight on Black Friday, too many discounts to list

• Henri Bendel 8-10am Friday:
  • Save 40% on all Cold Weather Knit Hats, Scarves & Gloves
  • Save 40% on Bath & Body Collection
  • Save 25% on Candle Collections, Home Fragrance, Sweet Treats
  • (After 10am these items remain on sale but at 25% off)

• Macys.com continues its Thanksgiving sale with savings of 20% to 50%, ending 11/28.

• Lacoste: 30% off everything in the store

We are still seeking verifiable information on the following stores: Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Loft, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren & Polo Ralph Lauren Factory stores, Brooks Brothers Factory stores.

NOTE: Please be sure to note if we are citing discounts at regular stores and factory stores or outlets.  Be sure to let us know if you have information to share on any preptastic shopping opportunities and we’ll pass it along.  If looking for other products, here are some general Black Friday sites:

• Black-Friday.net
• BlackFridayAds
• GottaDeal.com
• BlackFriday2009.com

Savvy shoppers may remember that after all the Black Friday comes Cyber Monday: the day when online retailers offer special deals.  That tradition is alive and well here at The Princess, in fact, we’ll have a little surprise for what we’re calling Pink & Green Monday.

Until next time, do let us know if you

Target Limited Edition Towels, BIG SALES, Why Polo Ralph Lauren Free Shipping is Better

Hello-Hello!

We learned that Target is offering shoppers a very attractive collection of Limited Edition Beach Towels designed by contemporary artists. The artists featured include Raymond Pettibon; how gorgeous will this be when you and Mister Wonderful spread it out across the sand?

Raymond Pettibon at Target.com

The towels are $50 and only available on line, not in stores. 

These beauties are also available at Works on Whatever, a fundraising group attempting to raise art awareness.

In other Target news, we are terribly slow in talking about Target’s next collaborations, including the upcoming collection from swimwear designer Ashley Paige.  Yes, this is cable TV’s “Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust,” of TLC reality show notoriety.

Above, two swimsuits currently for sale, the Deep Diver at $380 and on the right, the Gold Digger at $460. (Those two names for the swimsuits really belong in the “I Couldn’t Possibly Make This Stuff Up” category. Honestly.)

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The retail marketplace is really heading into a frenzied unlike any we have previously , and as readers know, we are no spring chicken.  Here is a sampling of the offerings from our electronic in-bin; all are clickable to make it easier for you to get started on any last-minute shopping:

Kate Spade

As predicted, J. Crew is continuing their markdowns, offering merchandise at up to 60% off. They are also providing complimentary shipping, regardless of the amount one spends, a new twist for the retailer.

J. Crew

Use promo code HURRY for the shipping promotion. And despite their disclaimer on the main website saying the “60% off is not applicable in J. Crew Factory Stores,” there is also a 60% off promotion in progress at their outlet stores.

One caveat: judging from the email we are receiving here at the Prepatorium the J. Crew website problems continue; this story in Women’s Wear Daily verifies the outages.

“On Cyber Monday, which fell on the first of the month this year, J. Crew was down for at least six hours and Bloomingdale’s was also out. J. Crew was back up Tuesday, but has had ongoing problems since, including some downtime Monday afternoon.”

Polo Ralph Lauren is also providing complimentary shipping on all orders, but here is the beauty of their offer:

“If you choose to ship Standard Ground and are shipping to multiple addresses, you will receive free shipping on all shipping destinations.”

And that is a beautiful thing for anyone how may be struggling to finish up their shopping, needing presents to go to different locations. Sadly, our affection for their aggressive shipping promotion is tainted by this:

RalphLauren.com

Shocked by our initial sighting of the dreadful creation, overcome with sorrow for the poor pooch, we were even more horrified when reading the description:

“Reversible diamond-quilted vest with preppy heritage details…”

“Preppy Heritage?” In a word? Not.  Heh-heh-heh. (If this is something you find appealing for Fifi, just click on the photo above and you are there.)

Next….

TommyHilffiger.com

Tommy Hilfiger doesn’t seem to be doing the same with shipping, but at 40% Off Your Entire Order perhaps that lack is made up by deeper price cuts. When heading into the Women’s Department, in a cyber sort of way, one sees this incentive:

TommyHilfiger.com

One sees the same signage at the Men’s Department. In fact, today’s Argyle Update is compliments of Tommy Hilfiger, the Men’s Tonal Argyle V Neck:

TommyHilfiger.com

The Hilfiger Extra 40% off discount is scheduled to end December 22.

Banana Republic is also discounting heavily, even taking markdowns on gift items, like their fragrances (Rosewood Gift Set) as well as more standard fare. This gives us the chance for another Argyle Update! Whoo-hoo! The cashmere Argyle Sweater is now only $99!

BananaRepublic.com

The sweater is available in a number of colors.

Brooks Brothers is touting 40% off throughout the website, although some deeper discounting is also available.

Another sign of the times from Barneys:

Barneys New York

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For anyone near Bloomie’s this afternoon (the 18th), pop in for a special Lilly Pulitzer event. Remember our photos of the special Lilly Steinway anniversary piano from this post?

Courtesy Photo

Splashed in pink, yellow and green Hibiscus, the piano is part of the Lilly 50th Anniversary celebration and it will be on hand during today’s event at Bloomingdale’s.  Artists from the Lilly design team will also be on hand creating a special print inspired by suggestions from anyone willing to offer input!

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For today’s Pretty in Pink we offer the Steamline Small Editor Vanity Case:

Steamline Vanity at Vivre

Available at Vivre, there is also a matching trunk that looks equally fabulous.

Have a simply splendid afternoon!