Tiffany Makes a Move, Sales & Savings of a Prepalicious Sort

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday dolls, yippee!

It is a simply splendid day here at the Prepatorium, so let’s dive right into things! (The sooner we finish the sooner you-know-who can scoot outside!)

We want to do a quick reminder about the Lilly Pulitzer sale at RueLaLa; things sell out so quickly at these sites it is best to mention it right off the top so anyone interested in adding to their walk-in can head in that direction.

RueLaLa is one of those ‘invite only’ online sale sites that have sprung up recently. If you aren’t yet a member, use the special Princess code to join: go to RueLaLa.com, at the prompt select “Invited by a Member” and then enter this as the email address to get in: VIP@ruelala.com.

Now, Lilly isn’t the only sale at RueLaLa, they are also doing CC Skye.

Both sales end Saturday night.

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Next, word on some interesting moves by upscale retailers, Tiffany & Henri Bendel. Let’s start with the store-we-once-adored,Tiffany. (Surely you remember this dreary tedious episode and yes, of course we continue wallowing in our snit.)

News came late yesterday that Tiffany is buying bankruptcy-challenged Lambertson Truex (see the middle of this post if seeking more details) from Samsonite. This could make perfect sense for both companies, as this story on the WWD site explains:

“Lambertson and Truex will explore the development of a collection of leather accessories for Tiffany & Co.”

Remember our posts last summer about these outstanding totes? (NOTE: We have linked to them as a courtesy but they are no longer available.)

Courtesy Tiffany.com

It makes perfect sense to us; there may well be many more pieces in this color.

As far as Bendel goes, they are going to stop selling clothing and shrink the 5th Avenue flagship store as today’s WWD reports:

“The Fifth Avenue flagship will be reduced in size from three to two selling floors, offering accessories, handbags, jewelry, gifts, beauty and fragrance…”

“There’s lots of iconography, like our [brown and white] stripes…

TRANSLATION: Probably more of this sort of thing.

Now mind you, TP has long been fond of Bendel’s iconic brown and white stripes, along with the Bendel Girl. We just don’t care to see them on our teapot every day, be it by Villeroy and Boch at Bendel or from Target.  So our guess is the company will roll out more logofied merchandise moving forward.

We do want to alert everyone there is a sale on some goods at Bendel, including the Henri Bendel Mini Notebooks. (We confess to a soft spot for these, in previous years they have made a great gift.)

They are fun because of their names: Bliss List, Me, Me, Me, Thin, Rich, and Fabulous, and Worth Waiting For. Previously selling at $25, the notebooks are now $12.50.

Perhaps if we hold hands and sing Kumbaya our fears about raging attacks of Logophobia will prove to be unfounded. What do you think?

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Yesterday’s post talked about what we refer to as something of a ‘preppy trifecta’:significant sales at Brooks Brothers, J. Crew and Polo Ralph Lauren.  We neglected to mention the obvious:

Brooks Brothers Friends and Family event begins Saturday, providing a 30% discount on merchandise, ending Monday, May 11. Use promo code FRIEND79 or FRIEND 81 to receive the discount, or go to BrooksBrothers.com/friends.  By the way, if in need of the code to receive an additional 20% of sale merchandise at J. Crew, use promo code EXTRA20 at checkout.

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In other Sales & Savings news, Target has reduced prices on the Alexander McQueen collection, prices many felt were too high from the outset.

Additionally the always awesome Third Coast Preppy is clearly back in the swing of things after bringing an exquisite new preppy into the world, her list of preppy savings and sales can only be referred to by one word – Prepalicious!

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We also have a few briefs on several stars of that kinda’-sorta’-preppy Gossip Girl, starting with news that actresses Blake Lively and Taylor Momsen both made People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People list.

PHOTOS: People Magazine, WENN

And another star of the hit TV show has landed another magazine cover; Leighton Meester can be seen fronting this month’s issue of Cosmopolitan.

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We close with a Pretty in Pink.

A Princess customer needed token gifts to use as favors at a shower; she ordered 40 of these when she learned the custom key fobs are only $5 each.

Apologies for the shameless self-promotion, we just thought the fobs were such a cute idea and more-than-practical.  (They’re far more vibrant than TP’s photo conveys, Francesco Scavullo we are not.)

On that note, we do hope everyone has a delightful weekend filled with fun and food for the spirit!

Shoshanna Sneak Peek, Sales of a Preptastic Sort!

Hello-Hello and happy almost-weekend to everyone! We are simply awash in the bright and beautiful day here in the Great Midwest!

We are all about apparel and accessories of a springy nature today, hopefully that is in keeping with your frame of mind! Earlier this week we mentioned the Shoshanna Trunk Show at Saks next Thursday; sadly, TP will not be popping in. We shall be trapped like a rat working spending our day lolling about the Palace. However, thanks to the good folks at Shoshanna, we’ll help everyone who can’t go feel like they were there. Sort of. In an abstract, far away manner of speaking.

As we did not (and are not) scooting out of town to a warmer spot this winter, just looking at clothing designed for warmer temps does our heart good.

Our thanks to Lindsey for the photos.

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Remember our post about the next design collaboration Target is doing, this one with designer Tracy Feith?  The always-on-top-of-things-Bust has shared some photos of the Collection, due in stores and online in mid-May.

Courtesy Bust.com Blog

The dress above is to retail at $29.99, the one below at$44.99.

Courtesy Bust.com Blog

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The title for the post referenced the remarkable number of sales and clearances; the notion of sharing some with readers had merit, so we start with Brooks Brothers.

While certainly not what anyone would mistake for a “screaming deal,” at least not when contrasted with recent pricing, there are savings in every department. In honor of Nautical by Nature, we show the Country Club Canvas Sailboat Tote in navy dotted with nautical flags.

At $88, it may not represent what most would term a bargain, but if you purchase one tote, a second tote can be had at %50 off that price. For much better buys, click on over to the clearance section for some fabulous markdowns on shoes, boots, shirts and just about everything else.

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Next on our hit parade, J. Crew, still offering a significant amount of merchandise in their Final Sale sections and on line.  Additionally, select women’s shorts are 20% off, select women’s women’s swimwear is up to 25% off, and there is up to 30% off select women’s tees.  Our favorite? The Clea Ballet Flat, now$49.99.

A cautionary note on these: we did not see a broad selection of sizes, so proceed accordingly.

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Also offering substantial markdowns, Banana Republic.

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Talbots is taking larger markdowns than normal at this time of year with their One Sweet Sale promotion.  These basic pumps are $34.99, down from $118.

Don’t forget to peek at the retailer’s Last Chance Clearance section of the website.

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Polo Ralph Lauren is offering an additional 20% off sale prices on ‘select items’ for a ‘limited time’. The Carole Taffeta Dress is $229, from $598.

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Combining two topics, a SOTT (Sign Of The Times) and a sale, we move to upscale accessories house Lambertson Truex.  The company has filed bankruptcy, and closed their shops in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  Frankly, we enjoyed the Las Vegas store, and we are sorry to see it closed. On up note, efforts will be made to keep the website in operation.

The Large Margo minaudière is now offered at $345; the original pricepoint was $1145.

While most bags are not for us, we simply liked the idea of the shop being there for us to pop into when we were on the road. Selfish? Yes. An unusual sentiment? Doubtful.

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Our final preptastic mention for the day comes via the wonderful Just Madras, where there are some fabulous new treats as well as outstanding bargains! The Newport Clutch is darling, and at only $15, too good to pass up!

Just Madras Newport Clutch

The Pink/Green Patchwork Small Bucket is easy on the eyes as well as the pocketbook!

Just Madras Bucket Bag

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And because we so adore all things pink, and think so highly of Isaac Mizrahi, today’s Pretty in Pink features one of his last designs for Target, the Herringbone Party Coat in “Pink Glow” that reverses to black. We have been fond of that colorway name for months, pink gloooooowww.

Target.com

And talk about a price that is friendly from a fiscal responsibility perspective, the coat is on sale for a mere $22.49 – the original selling price was $89.99. And it appears to be available in all sizes, amazing this late in the season. Besides, it really is a collector’s item in a sense, from Mr. Mizrahi’s final collection at the retailer before his departure to run Liz Claiborne.

If that isn’t pink enough, perhaps the 23″ pink LCD TV will work:

Target.com

Have we shown this before dolls? We hope not, but if so, it probably merits a second look. How often do we see pink televisions?

On that cheery note, enjoy a splendid weekend!