Tag Archives: Kooba handbags

NYC Prep Handbags? When Pink & Green Isn’t Pretty

Hello-Hello everyone, it is another stellar day here in The Great Midwest, we hope all of our friends in the southeast have a respite from their weird weather soon!

We have a couple of quick ‘hit-and-split’ items today as it is our heavy volunteer duty afternoon.  We begin with a mournful SOTT (Sign Of The Times) that took us quite by surprise.

Courtesy The Shophound

Courtesy The Shophound

Not that TP isn’t generally fond of the color combination seen above, but in this case the pink and green signs carry sad news: Beau Brummel is closing their New York store. While carrying more European styles than those of the kind TSU (The Spousal Unit, aka The Consort) would wear, we are still glum to see the shop departing.  For anyone interested in picking over the bones in some great bargains, the price points are now discounted by 75% according to this story over at the Shophound.

We are far more despondent about the recent news Smith and Hawken is shuttering all of their 56 locations; the upscale garden stores are holding going out of business sales with most merchandise marked down by 20%, furniture by 30%.

If clicking on the link to their website, one sees their eloquent farewell:

There’s no word on what this means for the Smith and Hawken line at Target. For more details we suggest this story at the Dallas Morning News

Sniff.

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Another interesting fashion tidbit about the Wretched-Show-We’ve-Never-Seen: there are now handbags created for Bravo’s NYC Prep television program. Below, the Kelli bag as carried by the Kelli character on the show.

Courtesy Bravo via Luxist

Courtesy Bravo & Kooba via Luxist

A better look at the bag from Kooba.

Courtesy Bravo & Kooba

Courtesy Bravo & Kooba

One may order the bags via Bravo or Kooba. There are also bags for Camille, Jessie and Taylor. (These are other primary characters on the quasi-reality show allegedly portraying the lives of preppy kids on the UES.) If shopping for the bags on Kooba however, be advised they do not have the names of their characters. For example, the bag carried by Kelli is actually named the Kristie.

Below, the Jessie aka Blake bag from Kooba.

Courtesy ShopBravo.com

Courtesy ShopBravo.com

Are we the only ones finding it rather odd one of the four bags in the NYC Prep line is named Blair? (For those not really fans of Gossip Girl, one of the lead female characters is named Blair Waldorf.) Why would there be a purse in the NYC Prep line with the same name as a primary Gossip Girl character?

We’re guessing that despite the “designed exclusively for Bravo’ language these are pre-existing Kooba styles.

Courtesy Bravo & Kooba

Courtesy Bravo & Kooba

The bags are priced at $595.  FYI, we are not negative about the marketing minds that came up with such a creative cross-channel tie-in. To the contrary, in many ways it is marketing brilliance; we simply question how many fans of the show can actually afford one of the Koba purses.

Below, a photo yesterday of the Blair character just mentioned, as played by G2 actress Leighton Meester while she was shooting a scene in the city with co-star Ed Westwick.

Courtesy Just Jared

Courtesy Just Jared

We had to share the cute dress seen in this photo of Miss MeesterAnother photo of Ms. Underwood, also sehot on location yesterday. (One can see costar Blake Lively behind Ms. Meester.)

NOTE: TP is committing the ultimate in hypocrisy by being such a crankenstein regarding NYC Prep (and on occasion Gossip Girl), having never seen either program. Why is this hypocritical?

Because for lo-those-many-years in television TP (and The Consort at times) wailed and whined about individuals calling the television station to voice complaints about programs or stories that had not yet aired. (Despite directing others to cease any complaining about said calls.) A common response was “But sir, how can you know you won’t like the _________ if you haven’t seen it?!”

(For anyone wondering, posing what may sound like a logical question to the caller rarely helped. Presumption of rational thought processes on the part of most individuals calling TV stations is not wise.)

At most stations the Programming department handled the bulk of the calls, but if it was a news story (heaven forbid), folks dialed directly into the newsroom. We would repeat the same mantra about “How can…” in these cases, only we were likely to be a bit more terse. (“Likely?”)

Thus our relentless whining comments about the two shows mentioned above are really beyond the pale.

We do not apologize.

But everyone knows the Princess is generally a happy soul; any momentary trips into the UCCZ (Uncommonly Courmudgeonly Conduct Zone) should be regarded as rare and isolated incidents demonstrative of TP’s old age, lacking in any value whatsoever.

We’re almost out the door, may everyone have a simply splendid rest of their Tuesday!

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Filed under preppy

New Thakoon Line, Preppy on Sale: Brooks Brothers, Hickey Freeman, LL Bean, More

The fashion comet known as Thakoon (formally Thakoon Panichgul) continues to fly high with word he is launching a new line, “Thakoon Addition.”  As seen in the WWD story:

“… a new capsule collection… a supplementary line with May-June and November-December deliveries, which will be inspired by some of the designer’s most popular designs, and sit alongside the main collection. The suggested retail price points for the line will range from about $495 for a top to $825 for dresses.”

This is not connected with the Thakoon for Target Resort collection, now slated to hit stores December 28.  The previous release date was December 25, an absolutely absurd day to launch the line; the 28th is far more reasonable.  Below, one of the looks from that group.

Courtesy Thakoon

Courtesy Thakoon

The News-Observer (Raleigh-Durham) makes some intriguing observations on the upcoming Target collection:

“His look for Target is J. Crew meets Anthropologie, with a heavy-handed mix of stripes and florals — a look that’s expected to be big for spring. He was generous in using colors traditionally found at J. Crew — where he was once a merchandiser — including canary yellow, Kelly green and navy.”

The writer, Samantha Smith, is always a great read; she also does an excellent blog. It appears fashionistas will see the designer’s work at Target long before knowing if he is doing any Inaugural Day fashions for Michelle Obama, or even Sasha or Malia.

In our ‘Preppy on Sale’ update, Brooks Brothers has substantial inventory in their online Clearance section, including most Handbags and Shoes at 70% off.  They are also doing their Golden Fleece Foundation through tomorrow (Thursday, 12.12.08) night.

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

Shoppers using their Brooks Brothers Platinum MonsterCard MasterCard or  Brooks card will receive a 25% discount on their purchases; those using any other form of payment enjoy a %15 savings.  2% of net sales will be donated to Golden Fleece Foundation which supports charities like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Miss Nautical by Nature, we couldn’t help ourselves – the moment we spotted this we thought of you:

Brooks Brothers Nautical Scarf

Brooks Brothers Nautical Scarf

Although truth be known, we aren’t seeing this on you.  If anyone finds it appealing,  Brooks has the Nautical Scarf marked down 50%, now $114 from $228.

Banana Republic says they have added new items to their sale; we found the Striped Peacoat Sweater appealing, now $119 from $175.  It looks like it could have a very high snuggle factor.

Banana Republic

Banana Republic

LL Bean has added lots of new inventory to their sale and they are also discounting a number of outerwear styles.

LL Bean

LL Bean

Their offer of a $10 Bean gift card with a $50 purchase continues through Dec. 24.

LL Bean

Bergdorf’s is touting their sale, including three pages of Jay Strongwater markdowns.  The Tory Burch Channing Sporty Patent Flat is available in a number of sizes in both khaki and navy (left), and the Kate Spade Sassy Bow ballerina flat is also on sale.

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The Penelope clutch from Kooba in either pink or black is now offered at $207, from $295; the Florence Eiseman Pleated Ribbon Dress for 3-9 Months is selling at $82 from $136 (we love the Peter Pan collar and front bow!).

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J. Crew continues with what is beginning to seem like the never-ending promotion; we are reluctant to use the word ‘sale,’ as that implies a discount on specific merchandise. This is Crew’s discount predicated upon how much one spends.  J. Crew is also offering free shipping for purchases totaling $100 andmoreonline. Use promo code HOHOHO at checkout.

J Crew

J Crew

Hickey-Freeman continues their sale, also offer free shipping on internet orders of $100+, with the code GSHOL. The Boy’s Navy Pinstripe is $148.50 from $195, as is the Donegal tweed.  Both are the Madison model, and at these prices one can’t go wrong.

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Hickey-Freeman’s younger, trendier Hickey merchandise also provides significant discounts right now, like the Striped Crew sweater at $82 from $248.

Hickey Striped Sweater

Hickey Striped Sweater

Hart Schafner Marx is in the midst of their Semi-Annual Sale; their cotton/silk sport shirts are $40.50 from $135, absolutely heavenly to the touch.

Hart Schaffner Marx

Hart Schaffner Marx

We are surprised to see they have removed the little promotional box about President-elect Obama from their home page. This is the brand doing the tuxedo for the Inaugural festivities, and they have also done several suits Mr. Obama wears frequently.

And the upscale Bobby Jones line has some very fiscally friendly bargains, items that whisper discreetly, “Take me to your closet!” Women’s Clubs are an additional 25% off, and the Argyle Cardigan in Navy is now $147, from the original selling price of $245.  Their $250 Urban Plaid Pleated Skort is now $75, available in a full range of sizes as of this writing.

Bobby Jones

Bobby Jones

The Men’s Madras Shorts are now $75 down from $125.

Bobby Jones

Bobby Jones

Free ground shipping is also included here for orders totaling more than $100, use Promo code GSHOL for the shipping offer.

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We close with an item dedicated to the always-wonderful Third Coast Preppy: the Times says lobster is at its lowest price in 25 years!

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

PHOTO: Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

We thought everyone would appreciate that news, as well as the shopping and pricing rationale from the story’s author, Melissa A. Clark:

“I’M a sucker for a sale, the kind of shopper who tallies the amount “saved” rather than spent. My arithmetic goes like this: It makes more sense to buy the $125 cashmere sweater marked down to $95 than to pay full price for the $80 one.”

On that happy thought, until next time!

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Filed under nautical, preppy, Preppy clothing & brands, Preppy Fashion