Lilly’s Big Birthday Bash, Brooks Brothers New Digs

Today we share a look at Lilly Pulitzer’s 80th birthday bash, clearly the place to be this weekend for many of us who admire the iconic designer.

The event was at the Museum of Lifestyle and Fashion History, an ideal venue, the Museum has been featuring a special Lilly  exhibit.

Courtesy Life is Better with a Twist of Lime

As one would expect at such a festive occasion, there was an abundance of pink and green.

Via Southern Living Preppy Style

Here is how Lilly’s plate looked.

Courtesy Mary Lane

What does one have for dessert at a celebration like this?

Courtesy Southern Living Preppy Style

Our thanks to the always delightful Jennifer from Southern Living Preppy Style for sharing her lovely pictures, below we see her with the birthday girl.

Courtesy Southern Living Preppy Style

Mary Lane was chairwoman of the event, we see her looking ever-so-chic below left, and on the right…wait a minute, I know that guy! It’s the one and only Kiel James Patrick.

Courtesy Mary Lane (L) & Twist of Lime (R)

Fortunately Kiel’s better half friend Sarah Vickers was also at the party, we see her below (L) with Bethany of Maryland Pink and Green (C) and Wendy of Life is Better with a Twist of Lime, isn’t that a gorgeous group?

Courtesy Life is Better with a Twist of Lime

There was also a fashion show by a company that knows its Lilly, C. Orrico.

Courtesy Mary Lane

There were also vintage styles shown, yours truly actually owns the frock on the left.

Courtesy Mary Lane

The party was clearly an enormous success, our hats are off to those who organized the gala. We also want to thank Mary Lane and Wendy of a Twist of Lime for graciously sharing their photos!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our second topic today involves another storied prep brand, Brooks Brothers, the retailer opened its new Flatiron concept store this weekend.

Steve Eichner/Women's Wear Daily

More on the store’s different look from Women’s Wear Daily:

….represents a major departure for the retailer in terms of merchandising. While the entire apparel assortment is also found in the company’s traditional Brooks Brothers stores, it is brought together in a creative, playful way to attract its target customer: college students and young professionals.

The merchandise has an edgier appeal without detracting from the core brand.

Brooks Brothers Courtesy Photos

The company is wise to broaden its customer base, more on the tactic in this post on the concept store.

Steve Eichner/Women's Wear Daily

Speaking of Brooks, we wanted to share the latest celebrity to step out in the company’s formal wear.

Disney

That is one very dapper frog, it turns out he wears Brooks in his new movie that opens Thanksgiving.

Collaborations of a Preppy Kind (Ahem) & “New Prep”

If this isn’t a glorious fall day, we’re not sure what is; we hope yours is equally bright and beautiful.

We have all manner of collaborative partnerships to share, almost all with a prep slant. We begin with one involving a longtime Princess fave, J. Press, and Urban Outfitters.

NY Magazine

NY Magazine has more:

“J. Press, the preppy menswear label beloved by every Ivy Leaguer with Wall Street ambitions, has partnered with Urban Outfitters to make a line of sweaters, ribbon belts, ties, vests, and shirts. The collection features a tie in Princeton orange, a scarf in Dartmouth green, and a belt in Cornell red, among other collegiate-inspired items that are perfect for frolicking around the quad and spilling beer.”

Womenswear inclusion in a future J. Press collaboration would make us a very happy camper indeed.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next, a partnership we have previously mentioned, and one that has had us more than a tad nervous.

Fred Perry

Yes, it is the Amy Winehouse Fred Perry collection, definitely in the You Can’t Make this Stuff Up category.

Via

While the talented performer’s troubled history would make it easy to mock the line, the reality is that there are many appealing pieces, especially for those of us hopelessly lost in the fifties.

It is unlikely we shall acquire anything from the line, for as much as we like many of the items, we also recognize our limitations, knowing we would forever associate pieces with Ms. Winehouse and the frequently unfortunate circumstances she frequently finds herself in, despite her amazing talents.  However, it *is* an extremely fun group to graze, click here to do just that.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our next collection has received oodles of coverage, and we are more than a little late to the party on this one. (“Late to the party” being a teevee snooze news term referencing ‘old news’ ((yes, an oxymoron, we understand that)), perilously akin to ‘moldy oldie,’ news coverage that should not be allowed to float out over the airwaves.) Of course we are talking about the Lanvin H&M collection.

There are some amazing party frocks, among other goodies.

The Guardian has more, referencing Lanvin design genius Alber Elbaz.

“The collection, entitled Lanvin Hearts H&M, includes party clothes and accessories for women and men and, unmistakably, carries the Elbaz design signature.”

The line approaches “we’ll take one of each” levels. Unfortunately, the Prepatorium is not located near an H&M, and the company does not sell online in the US.

The word ‘droolworthy’ comes to mind.

How popular does H&M expect the collection to be? We go back to the Guardian for that answer.

“A spokesman for the brand said at the preview: “We expect it to sell out that day.” H&M will limit shoppers to two versions of the same dress in an attempt to prevent the growing practice of eBay flipping, but the spokesman admitted that it was impossible to control.”

We can see why.

After all, as we are wont to say here at Princess InterGalactic HQ, “Life is better with a bow.”

The collection launches November 23, to see all of the goodies, pop over to Vogue UK for the lookbook.  Sigh.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our final collaborative endeavor involves a perennial favorite, The Gap, and an unlikely partner, Valentino.

Via High Snobette

It is a very small line, only seven pieces, launching in late November, but only available at Gap stores in London and new Milan shop, as well as online at the super-hip Colette.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We want to do what we believe is called a ‘shout out’ to friend and fab designer Kiel James Patrick.

Providence Journal

His hometown paper has done quite the spread on his growing company, describing his creations as “New Prep,” perhaps a surprise to Kiel, certainly an old school prep if ever we met one.  We love that the story points that it was Sarah Vickers, Kiel’s longtime partner and collaborator, who suggested he actually start the company.  (Go Sarah!)  We are proud to carry many of Kiel and Sarah’s designs here at the Princess, including KJP headbands and earrings.

It’s always nice to see good things happen to good people, especially these two.

The Providence Journal/Kris Craig

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We leave you with a quick Sales & Savings alert:

Polo Ralph Lauren

Polo Ralph Lauren is doing its “Private Sale” (don’t get us started on the ‘privacy’ of said sale), offering up to 40% off regular prices, as well as an additional 15% off the 40% off. Use promo code NOV0410 to receive the additional discount.  Also offering discounted goods, Bergdorf Goodman.

The retailer’s fall sale kicked off today.

Until next time, grins and giggles!

 

New Collection for Kiel James Patrick Giveaway & Now You Can Have Don Draper

Hello-Hello, welcome to a crazy Tuesday here at the Prepatorium.

We have just a few brief items before moving to our primary topic, Kiel’s fabulous new line of belts. But first, a quick glance at the Mad Men premiere party in New York Sunday night. Below, Betty & Peggy January Jones and Elizabeth Moss at the party.

Evan Angostini/Chase Sapphire/AP

There was quite a crowd on hand in Times Square for the festivities.

Evan Angostini/Chase Sapphire/AP

In related news…

Courtesy BarbieCollector.com

Yes indeedy, the official Barbie Mad Men dolls are now available. We are a tad confused about the target audience for these, as most girls enjoying their Barbies are not old enough to be watching the show, so how would they know who Betty and Don are …? Are adults expected to buy them?

As well as Roger and Joan.

Unlikely to be seen here at Princess InterGalactic HQ.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We are ever-so-excited to share a new product launch with our friend Kiel James Patrick.  Behold the designer’s new Croffix Sailing Belts!

Kiel James Patrick

Kiel launched these in the wee hours of Monday morning after months of hard work, and we are delighted to share them with you.  Princess readers won’t be surprised to see that one of our faves is the Arabella Brayton Fellix (L), we also like the Gigi Tripler in a classic combination, pink and navy.

To see them in person is to marvel at the craftsmanship and attention to detail.  As with all KJP products, the belts are created from hand-knotted rope, finished with the finest Italian pebbled leather and lined with the firm’s trademark madras fabric.

Of course they coordinate perfectly with the bracelets we carry at the Princess.

Including our exclusive pink and green KJP Princess Bracelet seen sandwiched below between Kiel’s solid green and white belts.

Below, more styles from the new collection.

Kiel James Patrick

How excited are all of us about the belts? Enough that Kiel has asked us to help kick-off the Croffix Belt launch with a giveaway! The winner receives one of the new Sailing Belts in the pattern  and size of their choosing.  How fun is that? Here’s how to enter:

• For one entry leave a comment telling us your favorite KJP belt
• For a 2nd entry leave a comment telling us your favorite KJP product at The Princess
• For a 3rd entry fan The Princess on Facebook & leave a comment telling us you did (If already a fan just let us know)
• For a 4th entry blog about this giveaway (please leave a link to your post in your comment)
• For a 5th entry Tweet about the Giveaway and let us know you did
• Receive 3 additional entries for sending friends/readers to the contest, just have them tell us you sent them here in their comment

Entries will be taken until Noon next Monday, August 2 and we will announce the winner in Tuesday’s post.

Until next, thank you for popping in to visit!

The Princess Figures Out That Bieber Hair & A Preppy Cookie

Hello-Hello, happy Wednesday!

We begin with something that seemed to hit a nerve:

Charles Dharapak/AP

Last week we briefly chatted about teen idol Justin Bieber and his hair in this post, and were surprised by the number of comments and email volume related to the topic.  Not wanting to shirk our journalistic responsibilities (ahem), we investigated. It seems others are also looking into this. Like the Old Gray Lady:

“Just as every girl wants hair like Blake Lively of “Gossip Girl,” her brother wants to look like the artist who helped bring “Eenie Meenie” to the world.”

This is from a Times story that assists us in comprehending the appeal:

“Most fans seem to agree that Mr. Bieber’s skillful hair-flipping is part of his appeal. A video of him blow-drying his locks is all over YouTube, meant as a teaser for his new show on MTV, “The Diary of Justin Bieber.” In it, he towel-dries his medium-brown hair then proceeds to have at it with a hair dryer, tossing his head with pubescent insouciance.”

Courtesy Island Def Jam via NYTimes.com

We do love our insouciance. But let’s get back to the important part of this compelling story, explaining what we didn’t fully grasp about the style:

“Call it the Flip and Switch, the Flow, or the Twitch: the Bieber hairstyle — with sideswept bangs that end about an inch past where the Beatles snipped theirs off — is everywhere. Tim Urban wore it on “American Idol” before he was voted off in late April, and Miles Heizer wears it on the NBC show “Parenthood” to play a brooding teenager. The idea is that the front-combed bangs are so long that they must be flicked aside constantly with a whole lot of attitude.”

Finally. It’s the flippage. Now we at least comprehend the point of the do, if you will.  Not to be left out, The Moment blog (part of the Times fashion apparatus) has a post on the topic, aptly titled “Pop’s Hair Apparent“.

“Since you’re in the mood for fun: inquiring minds what to know about your hair. Let’s talk man-bangs — how do you get hair like that?
[Laughs] I’d love to be able to say it was complicated, but I’m just chilling. My hair takes five minutes to do in the morning. I shower and as soon as I get out I just shake it and it just does that. For real.”

And just in case the Times isn’t a solid enough source, Coco Perez says that 6 of 10 teen boys ask for the haircut.

Fame via Coco Perez

There you have it.

Don’t let it be said TP doesn’t go to every length to dig up the dirt facts on ridiculously inane and insipid important issues of the day.  Indeed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In addition to yesterday’s news about our exclusive new Madras Headband from Kiel James Patrick, we have another exciting addition to the store:

We are thrilled to be offering this terrific line from The Preppy Ladybug.  All of our new Stickers and Labels from the Ladybug are personalized with your return address and adorned with a standard monogram, single initial, or classic preppy icon.

These little gems are $4.50 per sheet; we think they make an ideal gift.

The Preppy Ladybug also does a delightful line of stationery, we are fortunate to be offering these personalized Flat Cards.

The Cards come in sets of twelve for just $22.

There are even pieces geared to the young Master and Miss to use whilst away at summer camp.

We are just tickled to be carrying this wonderful collection!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next, how cute are these?

Eleni's Cookies

A friend emailed us about Eleni’s Cookies and we were off to learn more about such yummy-looking goodies.  The Handbags caught our eye.

Eleni's Cookies

As did the Polo Shirt cookies, looking ever-so-preppy.

Eleni's Cookies

What a fun and delicious spot!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We leave with a quick reminder to our friends fond of their Lilly:

RuueLaLa.com

Beginning at 11am EDT tomorrow (Thursday, 5/13/10) there is another Lilly Pulitzer Sale on the Rue LaLa members-only shopping site.  The sale only runs through the 15th, so shopping earlier is better than later if so inclined. (Anyone needing a pre-approved invitation to the site can click here.)

Do Not Read if Offended by Shameless Self-Promotion

Hello-Hello and happy springtime day to all!

Welcome to one of only two special days we have every year at Princess InterPlanetary HQ, it’s our special post celebrating the “Not an April Fool” sale, when everything at The Preppy Princess is 20% off. (Our only other big day like this is Pink and Green Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving.)  If thinking about shopping, do use promo code APRILDEAL to receive your discount, this special offer expires at midnight tonight (April 1st).

Such an auspicious occasion prompts wretched and shameless self-promotion as we focus on a few goodies from our little store. And because we don’t want to simply flirt with impropriety, we want to step madly into that vast commercial abyss with flagrant references to the “M word,” providing actual prices for each item shown. (The horror.) Psssst, these are the prices before your 20% discount, so they are even more fiscally friendly!

We begin with one of our favorite items this spring, the Scout Original Dean-o Tote in solid colors ($30), we want one in every color.  Sadly, one of each is not something the Consort can wrap his brain around.

Scout Original Deano at PreppyPrincess.com

The sale means all of our custom grosgrain ribbon belts (starting at $19 for Tiny Preps and $23 for the grownups) and Key Fobs ($6) are even better deals…

…not to mention we have added several new ribbon styles, including one that Gator fans might like.

If looking for something a tad brighter, our Candi Belts ($48) or Flip Flops ($48) might be in order.

The color combinations are loads of fun and more-than-versatile, below we show the Stewart pattern followed by Gum Drop, the green and purple together make a great style statement IOHO.

We suspect The Queen Mother and a few other Spartan fans might opt for the Spearmint pair in green and white. The colors would be particularly stylish this weekend, I understand her team has some sort of basketball game in Indianapolis on Saturday. (Heh-heh-heh.)

Don’t forget about your four-legged family members, all of our grosgrain goodies are available as Dog and Cat Collars, Harnesses, and Leashes.

The sale also offers an opportunity to snag our new Jonathan Adler Pocket Papers ($4.50) as well as the Jonathan Adler Note Cubes ($12.50) at a great price.

And to get a jump on party planning for graduations, weddings, and other goings-on.  Lilly Pulitzer has just what you need for special occasions, including re-useable Plastic Tumblers ($15) that are dishwasher safe, making them eco-friendly, and Beverage Napkins with Fun Savings ($5), excellent conversation starters.

Our  new Monogramed Polka Dot and Striped Garden Flags ($40) are perfect for gifting…

As are the Personalized Argyle Doormats ($39) and Monogramed House Flags ($59).

Our Kiel James Patrick collection is one of our fastest-growing lines, with Earrings ($28), Headbands ($26) and Braided Rope Bracelets ($35 – $58) all sporting a nautical touch. The exclusive Preppy Princess Pink/Green/White model is flying out the door.

This doesn’t begin to mention our Preppy Paper goods or Lunch Bags, the fab Towels or Pillows, and scads of other treasures.  We’ll have to leave those for you to discover at your own pace, we must scoot so we can organize the elves to handle the deluge of orders… eek!