Friday Fun: Preppy Modern Office, Prabal Gurung for Target & Miss Wu

Hello-hello, welcome to a Friday at the Prepatorium, where after a week of this….

Preppy Princess InterGalactic HQ

We’re more than ready for something vibrant and cheery like this:

Anything sunny and bright is making us smile today. That brings us to our first topic, a lovely post from the good folks at Kravet about a ‘preppy modern office‘. Here is more from inspired.talk, Kravet’s blog.

As temperatures continue their slow descent to zero in the Northeast, it seemed fitting to cast our eyes west to the fresh, fun office of Bravado Design in San Diego, California where they are certainly not bundled up in their warmest layers. The office, inspired by its owner’s lifelong love for Lilly Pulitzer, feels like a warm dose of sunshine. No matter which version of winter you’re currently experiencing, we feel certain this inspiring office will appeal to you. Enjoy!

Another angle.

Via inspired.talk

Details about the process:

The previous space was modern, “more serious,” as Soldau put it. The redesign included white furniture, adding paint to dark stained walls, and freshening up the plain doors with accent paint and molding detail. With bright, citrusy fabrics from Lilly Pulitzer for Lee Jofa, the vibe is energetic and youthful.

Reading about the office first thing this morning definitely brightened my day.

Via inspired.talk

You can read the entire Kravet post here, and/or learn more about Bravado Design here.

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Also on our hit parade today, a very quick peek at the upcoming Target collaboration with designer Prabal Gurung.

Courtesy Photos

A closer look at one of the dresses, this is one of the print ads you’ll see if you haven’t already.

Target Courtesy Photos

Pricing looks reasonable, although once again I wonder about a $199 price point at Targét. Here is some background on the collection as shared in Target’s news release.

Prabal Gurung for Target was inspired by a tender love story, offering women’s apparel and accessories suitable for all occasions from the initial crush to the first kiss, to everlasting love.Ranging in price from $19.99 to $199.99 for apparel and $12.99 to $39.99 for accessories and shoes,

Target Courtesy Photo

Below we show a minaudiere in the ‘Nolita’ print, it will be $34.99.

Target Courtesy Photo

The collection launches February 10 online and in-store. If you would like to look at the entire 80-piece line, Elle has the lookbook.

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Our final tidbit isn’t really “news,” it’s about products that have been available for several weeks. We’re talking about the ‘Miss Wu’ collection for Nordstrom by Jason Wu.  Below, the ‘Belted Crepe de Chine Shirtdress,’ it is $375.

Nordstrom Courtesy Photo

If looking to expand my wardrobe this line holds far more possibilities than the Gurung collection, a function of the distinctly different style aesthetics of Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu. Of course, the Miss Wu prices are significantly higher.

Miss Wu for Nordstrom

Above we show a silk Geometric Print Chiffon Blouse ($265), the Modern Weave Crop Jacket ($495) atop the matching Shift Dress ($425), and the Bow Back Cotton Topper coat ($595).

That’s all for today, may the sun shine on your weekend!

Tory Burch & Marc Jacobs Coming to Your Targét…?

Hello-Hello, we thought it might be a good week for some Friday Fun.

We begin with news about an upcoming collaborative effort announced this week: Target and Neiman Marcus are teaming up for a joint collection. Women’s Wear Daily has more:

The Target + Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection will be sold beginning Dec. 1 at all 1,763 Target stores and the 42 Neiman Marcus stores, as well as online at target.com and neimanmarcus.com.

Among the designers included in the line: Oscar de la Renta, Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg and Marc Jacobs.  Merchandise will be priced from 7.99 to $499.99, WWD says that most items will cost less than $60.  Below, the logo that you will be seeing when it comes time for promotion of the limited edition goods.

Courtesy Photo via WWD

Each of the 24 designers has created 1 to 3 items for the collection, back to the WWD story for what is in the line:

“…gifts in men’s, women’s, children’s apparel and accessories, as well as other categories that some of the designers are getting into for the first time, such as sporting goods, home decor, pet accessories and accessories for electronics.”

Here is the other designers participating:  Alice + Olivia, Altuzarra, Band of Outsiders, Brian Atwood, Eddie Borgo, Derek Lam, Judith Leiber, Lela Rose, Marchesa, Philip Crangi, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, Robert Rodriguez, Rodarte, Skaist-Taylor, Thom Browne, Tracy Reese, and Jason Wu.

As with so many of these partnerships, executives believe things will sell out quickly. (At the risk of sounding cynical, can you say ‘eBay’?)

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That is not the only news about a high-end retailer teaming up with a lower-priced chain: Nordstrom and Topshop have announced a partnership as well. This September the upscale company will start offering Topshop merchandise in 14 of its stores, some of the pieces will be exclusive to Nordstrom.

Business Week offers this:

To get women excited about shaking up their wardrobes again, Peter E. “Pete” Nordstrom, 50, the president of merchandising, has cut a deal to sell clothes from Topshop, a London-based retailer known for mid-priced trendy styles — punk-inspired pinafores and ladylike tweed — that defy easy characterization. It’s the sort of fashion people don’t expect to find at Nordstrom. And it could draw in new customers — or turn off existing ones.

And why we are seeing so much of this now? Back to Business Week:

At a time when wary U.S. consumers obsessively comparison-shop online and open their wallets only for must-have products, retailers are falling over themselves to lock up merchandise shoppers can’t find anyplace else.

Hmmm. Thoughts on either or both of these? Will it cheapen the brand for either Neimans or Nordstrom, or is it a savvy move for the discounters?  Too soon to tell?

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Two final tidbits today, the first one of those “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” kind of items. Behold, the Sock Sandals.

Via Geek Alert

Thank heaven Geek Alert was all over this:

Meet the Silly Sock Sandals. No need to rub your eyes, seeing is believing. Now for the first time socks and sandals have joined forces and have melded into one. Imagine the smiles you’ll receive as you sport the silliest socks known to mankind. Furthermore, you’ll save valuable time getting ready for the day.

The time-saving benefits are something we somehow overlooked. Heh-heh-heh.

Our final morsel comes via the Times, it was too cute to overlook, a story about posh dog houses.

Drew Kelly for the New York Times

The article looks at a number of different styles, including this one that model Rachel Hunter commissioned.

La Petite Maison via The New York Times

Evidently it was intended to look like a miniature version of her Mediterranean-style home.

Then there is this one, intended to look like the Grant Humphreys Mansion in Denver.

La Petite Maison via The New York Times

Having lived a block from the house for years and years, I was surprised the replica didn’t resemble the real deal a little more.

Via About.com

Regardless, they are all fun to look at, there are even abodes for other pets. Oh my.

Stacy Sodolak for The New York Times

To enjoy the slide show in its entirety, click here.  Jennifer Kingson’s story is not only a great read, it offers some great resources for those interested in upgrading quarters for the four-legged family members.

We want to thank everyone for the lovely comments and email the past few days. They mean more than you might realize, we can’t tell how much we both appreciate them.

May everyone enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Lilly Pulitzer’s Home Store Experiment, Serious Party Frocks & Pooches on Parade

Hello-Hello, welcome to another wacky week here at the Prepatorium, when all manner of things seem to be happening at the same time.

We begin with word that Lilly Pulitzer is going to experiment with a new type of store altogether, one that the company is going to try out in Raleigh, NC. Here is more from the News Observer’s story:

“The store will be a Lilly Pulitzer Lifestyle Store, the first Lilly Pulitzer store in the country to sell home and fashion items under one roof. It will be similar to stores from companies such as Anthropologie that put different kinds of merchandise in one outlet.”

Below, pieces from the soon-to-debut Lilly Pulitzer Furniture line via Dovecote Decor.

Photo via Dovecote Decor

According to the story putting apparel & accessories right alongside the new home furnishings collection from HFI is a test; we presume that if it is successful the practice will be replicated in other locations.

Via Dovecote Decor

On the surface it makes a great deal of sense, allowing the company to display even a few items from what is an *enormous* furniture collection of 200+ pieces alongside its iconic clothing and accessories.  We may have to impose upon our friends in the area to do a little investigating once this is up and running, hello, Adventures of a Southern Newlywed?

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We move now to Fashion Week, with a look at Jason Wu’s wonderful RTW styles for this fall.

GoRunway.com via Style.com

While the notion of dealing with anything for fall is anathema, the tailoring in this collection is simply stunning. Below, just a few of the designer’s gorgeous party frocks.

GoRunway.com via Style.com

The word exquisite comes to mind.

GoRunway.com via Style.com

Here is a closer look at the incredible fabric used on one of the gowns.

Via

Bliss.

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In Friday’s post we promised a look at the Fall/Winter styles from Nautica, a Princess fave.

Via Fashionising.com

As with all collections, the company invokes its nautical roots. Designer Chris Cox said his inspiration for the collection was Sleeping Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan.

Via Fashionising.com

From WWD’s review:

“Never forsaking the brand’s DNA, he transformed an archival peacoat into a form-fitting, elongated version, trimmed the suits to give them a fresh and modern feel and added several wool toggle coats for those crisp evenings at the boathouse.”

Via The Fashionisto.com

The presentation was staged to look like a waterside setting, pulled off rather successfully IOHO.

Via Fashionising.com

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Because it’s not enough to have all of the nonsense mentioned above going on, it’s also time for this.

Westminster Kennel Club

You know we simply have to share a few reminders that Westminster is underway.

Seth Wenig/AP

The spots underneath those stripes belong to Mia, a Dalmation entered in this year’s show.  Below, Nicole the Basset Hound.

Tina Fineberg/AP

(Tilly is curious, wondering how Nicole can sit that way?)

Of course, the Westminster show means it was also time for the Pre-Westminster Fashion Show.

PHOTO: Natasha Ryan via Metromix

There is always an amazing array of styles, from both a canine and costume perspective.

PHOTO: Natasha Ryna via Metromix

It can be difficult to see where the pooch ends and the owner begins.

PHOTO: Natasha Ryan via Metromix

It seems not everyone was happy to see this on their social calendar.

PHOTO: Natasha Ryan via Metromix

Tilly is worried her vision of sartorial splendor isn’t quite up to snuff.

Tilly Models Her Favorite Sweatshirt

You can guess what category she’ll be watching.

Westminster Kennel Club

Television coverage begins this evening at 8pm on USA, switching to CNBC from 9-11pm; that schedule is repeated tomorrow night.

We hope to be back tomorrow with more, but it may be Wednesday before we can dig out from the mess that is the desk. Sigh. So we leave you with a Fashion Week photo selected with a few friends in mind (Preppy 101? Miss Julie?):

Mike Coppola/Getty

Yes, Mad Men’s Jon Hamm has been out and about at Fashion Week, in this case he was looking at fall styles by Rag & Bone.

Meet the Crillon Debs, More Preppish Black Friday Updates

Hello-Hello and greetings from a rather frenzied Prepatorium!

We jump right in today with a look at some of the young ladies making their debut this weekend at the Bal Crillon in Paris, always a fascinating event filled with pretty people and stunning party frocks. (Previous participants include Lauren Bush, Scout Willis, Victoria and Vanessa Traina, and Lily Collins.)

This year’s group includes Francesca Eastwood, daughter of Clint Eastwood, seen on the right in the photo below; younger sister Morgan is on the left.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Also entering society, Lady Kitty Spencer, seen below on the cover of Tatler, (she was named the magazine’s ‘Girl of the Year’).  The young Lady is the daughter of Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother.

Seen in a more casual photo, this debutante will be wearing British couturier Bruce Oldfield, a favorite designer of Princess Diana’s.

Frederic Nebinger/ABACAPRESS.COM

Also making her official entry into society, Autumn Whitaker, daughter of Forest Whitaker and actress/model Keisha Whitaker.

Christophe Guibbaud/ABACAPRESS.COM

Today’s story in WWD about the Bal notes that Miss Whitaker will be wearing Jason Wu and shares a bit more on her escort:

“Friend William Bellingham, who can trace his ancestry back to Sir Anthony of Bellingham, 8th Baronet of Castlebellingham.”

A young lady who happens to be a delightful blogger is also part of this year’s class, Jane Aldridge.

Frederic Nebinger/ABACAPRESS.COM

Miss Aldridge writes the Sea of Shoes blog and has also designed two capsule shoe collections for Urban Outfitters. We are guessing the teen is probably more concerned about her hair than she is about shoes at this time; here is part of Saturday’s post from her blog:

Courtesy Sea of Shoes

Miss Aldridge will be wearing Chanel Haute Couture.  We can only hope the poor child’s hair turns out as she hopes.

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The holiday season increases the amount of merchandise described as ‘preppy’, with most merchandise labeled this way resembling nothing most readers would own, but it is that time of year.  We were pleasantly surprised when perusing the Prepster gift guide at PlazaToo suggesting this Shearwater Boot from Sperry.

On the flip side of the coin, a new boot debuting this Friday, created jointly by Ralph Lauren and Ronnie Fieg.

PHOTO: Pj Monte via High Snobiety

The new Ranger “Cookie” boot will only be available at hip shoe emporium David Z and its online site.  Clearly not for us, but the David Z site does have some fabulous markdowns on footwear for those in the mood for a little harmless shoe surfing. (Ahem.)

We move to another Ralph Lauren-related item, one of today’s updates to our Black Friday listings.  The Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Outlet Stores offer a 20% discount on purchases of $150+ after midnight Thanksgiving night/Friday morning.

Courtesy Polo Ralph Lauren

We enjoyed the helpful suggestions included with a portion of the copy detailing this year’s Midnight Madness event, tips on how a “well-planned excursion creates a more enjoyable environment” and remembering the “generous spirit of the season”.

Courtesy Polo Ralph Lauren

Ah, an effort at bringing civility to a rather uncivil occasion, laudable on PLR’s part.

We also have an update on Lacoste; this retailer is not waiting until after Thanksgiving to start its sale.

Lacoste is offering 30% off all merchandise as of now; use promo code THANKS09 at checkout to receive the discount.

Eddie Bauer is promoting its Thanksgiving Weekend sale; like Lacoste’s promotion, the Bauer sale is also in progress.  Yesterday’s post offers more Preppish Sales and Savings information.

Finally, we close with a look at our “9 Under $10“.

This was actually supposed to be “10 Gifts Under $10,” but someone here at the Prepatorium is clearly incapable of performing the most rudimentary math functions. (That would be yours truly, most assuredly not The Consort.)

At any rate, our idea was to make a quick and easy list of preptastic gift ideas for Christmas, Hanukkah, whatnot, all of them under $10. Friends who visit us on Polyvore may have already seen this little effort, but we want to blanket the Planet (heh-heh) as part of our ongoing efforts to Protect Your Pocketbook. The Seaside-themed Notecards, Custom Key Fobs, Magnet Packs and everything else you see is fiscally friendly, $10 or less.

With that shameless self-promotion, we say G’Bye until next time, may everyone enjoy a perfectly splendid evening!

Kate Spade Shoes, Fashion Week: Lacoste, Jason Wu, Barbie!

Hello-Hello!

We start with a very quick hit on WWD‘s (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription required for most material) story about the Kate Spade shoe line expansion.

Courtesy Kate Spade via WWD

“Though Kate Spade found success with its collection of preppy flats and party shoes, the New York-based accessories brand has been positioning itself for a bigger presence in the footwear world.”

Courtesy Kate Spade via WWD

The line’s new Design Director has a history with two other prep-relevant lines, Burberry and Banana Republic. What to look for moving forward? An added emphasis on boots, including some with bows.

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The insanity that is Fashion Week has descended upon New York with the 2009 Fall/Winter lines being shown, although fewer design houses are participating. Just to set the scene, a bit from James Covert’s column in yesterday’s Post:

“THE perks at Fashion Week are taking a weird turn downmarket. High-powered fashion editors and retail merchants – who in seasons past have hauled off gift bags of Victoria’s Secret lingerie, Calvin Klein perfume and Estée Lauder cosmetics – will be treated this year to McDonald’s, Budweiser and Jell-O.”

Indeed.

Things kicked off Thursday with Monique Lhuillier showing 12 styles from her Fall RTW (Ready to Wear) Collection, including one with a darling bow we simply had to share!

PHOTO: John Aquino

We’ll chalk up the ripped hose (shown with almost every piece) to artistic license.

This morning the first show was Lacoste.

Stephen Chernin/AP

Of course, each season we attempt to predict the severity of Logophobia to expect in the coming season, in efforts to gauge how strong the innoculations should be, what strain of the disease to look for, etc. The Telegraph (UK), addresses the issue in their story on Lacoste’s F/W ’09 styles:

“The classic crocodile logo, originally introduced by the legendary French tennis star, René Lacoste, in 1927, was revamped as a larger, tone-on-tone motif, rather than the well-known, little green ‘crocodylidae’.”

Designer Christophe Lemaire’s color palette is intriguing, more subtle than previous seasons.

PHOTO: Stephen Chernin/AP

We did not sense any ‘wow!’ moments this go-round.

PHOTO: Stephen Chernin/AP

It could be that this year it is more about subtlety than big and bright splashes of exuberance.

PHOTO: Scott Gries/Getty

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First Lady fave Jason Wu had his show yesterday, and there are a number of pieces we adore, two in particular.

PHOTO: Robert Mitra/WWD

We dubbed the dress above the Fairy Tale Princess dress. And then we saw this one:

PHOTO: Robert Mitra/WWD

It is also a Fairy Tale Princess gown… lush, lovely, luxurious…sigh. A girl can dream, can’t she?

The designer dubbed as preppy by TPC (the Princess Consort) early on in the Michelle Obama dress frenzy had several other looks we are fond of, including this:

PHOTO: Robert Mitra/WWD

While not for us, the next frock is one we can see Mrs. Obama wearing.

PHOTO: Robert Mitra/WWD

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BTW, for those interested in the very latest on Fashion Week, Project Runway winner and designer Christian Soriano is live-blogging for Time magazine; click here to take a look at Mr. Soriano’s bon mots.

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Here at the Prepatorium we try to maintain a positive perspective, preferring to look at the upbeat more than the negative, but sometimes we simply must stop and ask: why?

PHOTO: Michael Loccisano/Getty

High-waisted leather shorts, Gwyneth? What were we thinking?

And then there is the J. Crew spinoff label, Madewell 1937, and its collaboration with Shopbop on an upscale denim line.  Generally we adore Shopbop. But this?

Courtesy Photo via WWD

The line debuts online next Friday (2.20.09) with pricepoints one would expect from a premium line as explained in the WWD story:

“There’s a vintage feel to the Madewell for Shopbop collection, which consists of ex-boyfriend and vintage flare jeans, both priced $200; a station skirt, $130; switchyard shorts, $130; a dispatch vest, $125; a workwear jacket, $138, and a boiler suit, $125.”

It can only be old age and decrepit thinking keeping us from falling for the Boiler suit. (?)

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We shall close with more Pretty in Pink, a few in fact, from today’s Barbie Runway show at Fashion Week. We start with Barbie & Ken…

PHOTO: Diane Bondareff, Courtesy Barbie/AP

(Psst – did you notice the pink and green backdrops onstage?!)

Next, the shoes by Christian Louboutin:

PHOTO: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

In the audience today at the show, Heidi Klum….

PHOTO: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

As well as singer Kellie Pickler and Miss Africa USA, Nyasha Zimucha.

PHOTO: Bryan Bedder/Getty

Others on hand for the 50th Anniversary show included Diane von Furstenberg, Annie Leibovitz and Julia Allison.  We cannot wait to read Suzy Menkes’ column on the show! The next photo shows a design from Juicy Couture, probably not our favorite look.

PHOTO: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

The next shot is during Friday’s rehearsal for the show; the dress is by Koi Suwannagate.

PHOTO: Diane Bondareff/Mattel Handout

We will share more of these delightful looks in our next post!