Oh, Those Party Frocks! And Prep World New York

Hello-Hello, it seems we might be back to “normal,” although ascertaining just what ‘normal’ is continues to evolve.

At the very least we return to more normal blather and bloviations topics, beginning with last night’s Met Ball. Considered by many as the fashion world’s Oscars, the night brings out the A-list.  As Hilary Alexander wrote in The Telegraph:

“In terms of style, effort, money and glamour, this red carpet mother of all fashion-fests, orchestrated by Anna Wintour for the last 13 years, outshines them all.

It was an occasion for the well dressed and the merely wealthy.”

Below we see Ms Wintour (yes, that is The André in all his regal splendor to her right) in a stunning Chanel couture gown. On the right she is with her daughter, Bee Shaffer, who wore Balenciaga.

Getty Images

The formal name for the event is the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala.  This year’s event coincides with tomorrow’s opening of the highly anticipated Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty show.

Met Photos via WWD

As one might imagine, coming on the heels of the royal wedding and the two Sarah Burton McQueen wedding gowns, the atmosphere was electric. Below, the woman of the hour, Ms. Burton.

AP/Getty Images

Sarah Jessica Parker was in vintage McQueen.

AP Photos

Hamish Bowles was in McQueen.

Via

For those not familiar with the Costume Institute, it is part of the Met, housing more than 75,000 costumes and accessories.  Below, part of the Lauren clan, left to right we see Dylan Lauren, David Lauren and Lauren Bush.

Getty Images

Jessica Alba also wore Ralph Lauren, she was radiant.

Getty Images

There were some figure-hugging creations; below left, Fergie in a Marchesa gown more reminiscent of a wedding dress, on the right we see Beyonce in Emilio Pucci with her husband, Jay-Z.

Getty Images

How snug was Beyonce’s dress? She was unable to climb the stairs in it,

Getty Images

The lights are blinding, Renée Zellweger is silhouetted below.

Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty

Some of our favorite faux-prepsters from Gossip Girl were on hand, Leighton Meester was in Louis Vuitton, Blake Lively in Grecian-inspired Chanel and Jessica Szohr in… in.. umm, we have lost our notes, eek!

AP/Getty/WWD

The level of detailing on these gowns is extraordinary.

AP/Getty/WWD

Below, Dakota and Elle Fanning, both wore Valentino.

Getty Images

Perhaps our favorite gown of the evening was Ashley Greene’s, custom Donna Karan.

Getty Images

It was exquisite.

Last night the first menswear from Tory Burch debuted, seen on Kanye West; the designer was in vintage Jean Patou that was gorgeous.

Mike Segar/Reuters

Tommy Hilfiger his wife, Dee,and Jessica Stam wore Hilfiger.

Reuters

It is a busy week for Mr. Hilfiger, the designer’s collaborative line with Lisa Birnbach, Prep World, launches its first pop-up store in the US.

Prep World/Tommy Hilfiger

As covered in this post, the first pop-up store was in Paris. The temporary stores are designed to look like a beachside cottage in the Hamptons, below we show the model store.

Courtesy Image

And here is the real deal under construction in the Meatpacking district, originally scheduled to open the 28th of April, now looking like it will be ready for a Thursday opening.

The capsule collection features an array of products, many of them appealing.

 

Some of the merchandise is available online.

http://usa.tommy.com/tommy/index.jsp?ctcampaign=871&ctkwd=tommyhilfiger&ctmatch=Exact&ctcreative=10700438385&gclid=CMGv_q2izKgCFUOo4AodOWuZpQ

For more background on the line, click here. If interested in seeing the Paris Prep World, click here.

Apologies for the brevity today, but we must race out the door!

ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• Kristin Somody Whalen/WWD
• Steve Eichner/WWD

A German Take on Ivy Style, “The Prepicenter” & When Preppy Weds Hippie

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a Thursday here at The Prepatorium, where spring has been evicted by winter’s return. (Insert royal whineathon here.) Are you also experiencing the nasty weather in your corner of the globe? 

We have quite a few tidbits to share today and jump right in with a topic that is somewhat disconcerting, the April issue of Vogue Enfants.

Vogue.fr via Fashionista

Two different fashion sites have interesting perspectives on the magazine, published by Vogue France. The always-on-top-of-things-Fashionista has a column headlined “Things that Creep Us Out from the New Issue of Vogue Enfants“.

“On the whole, French Vogue supplement Vogue Enfants is a gem for parents and children alike.”

“But after reviewing the issue, Lauren, Leah and I all felt a little uncomfortable after looking at some of the images, both ads and editorials.”

Below, two pages from the magazine.

Styleite also writes about this month’s issue:

“We know this is Vogue — and a supplement of Vogue Paris at that — but when we think of our childhood we think of smiling faces and candy and finding ways not to eat cauliflower, not giving a photographer the perfect pouty stink eye or looking malcontented.”

“They just look angry. And they shouldn’t. Because they’re six. If fashion magazines can do stuff like this to kids, it’s no wonder they can’t get it right when it comes to grown women.”

Two more images.

Back to the Fashionista story by Steff Yotka:

“Maybe we don’t get it because of our Puritan mentality (Vogue Enfants is French after all but then again TLC puts out a popular show called Toddlers and Tiaras), or maybe it’s that seeing children modeling like they’re adults–adults who are supposed to be sexy–is just plain unsettling.”

Well then, mark us down as puritanical as well, we agree with the concerns articulated by both stories, particularly when looking at the makeup on that beautiful girl in the cover shot.  But we should also point out that while Vogue France doesn’t need us to defend it (there’s a concept), we must acknowledge seeing many other publications showcasing little girls with inappropriate clothing and makeup, this is not the first time a glossy fashion publication has prompted us to express a fervent wish that little girls be allowed to be little.

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Next, another look at prep style, this time from Germany.

Via Ivy Style

Our friend Christian over at Ivy Style posted about this earlier in the week; we thought readers might enjoy a glance at some of the images.

Via Ivy Style

The feature is from a magazine published by German retailer Breuninger. More images are also available at Fashionisto, we leave you with these two shots.

Via Fashionisto

We have one more editorial spread to share with you, this one from Virginia Living. We are fortunate to have spotted a post on this at The Classic Preppy.

Cade Martin/Virginia Living

The photos by Cade Martin are beautiful, lush and rich. The majority of the piece was shot at a place close to the hearts of many friends, Sweet Briar (where yours truly almost went, in part because the school colors are pink & green).  From the feature:

“We had fun shooting this story at Sweet Briar College with students and faculty, and some friends from nearby Hampden-Sydney College—Virginia’s “Prepicenter.”

Another stunning photo from the story.

Cade Martin/Virginia Living

The talented Whit at Worthy Style also has a look at the story, or click here to visit Virgina Living.

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The upcoming marriage of Lauren Bush and David Lauren receives an interesting treatment in The Post, the paper’s Page Six magazine “When Preppy Weds Hippie“.

New York Post

The piece attempts humor at the blending of cultures and backgrounds, although when reading it a third and fourth time in an effort to write about it for you, it just felt flat. More forced than funny, as if an editor said “We *are* running this, you *will* finish it, and it *will* be funny.” (Having been on both ends of that kind of conversation, we can only confirm that it happens. More often than we care to remember.)  At any rate, if you pop over to look at the illustrations, do let us know your thoughts, our expiring little mind is dying to know if you found it humorous or humorless. (And while you are there you may enjoy a gossipy little story “Leader of the Snob Mob” about the Native Society, certainly not a new topic, it has been covered extensively by other media, but still a fun read.)

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In today’s not-so-delightful news, it looks like those of us obsessed with fond of Mad Men may be waiting a little longer to see our favorite ad agency back on the air; more from this story in the Times:

“Fans accustomed to spending their summer Sundays with Don Draper may have to wait a while longer. It looks increasingly likely that the fifth season of “Mad Men,” the three-time Emmy Award-winning AMC series, will not have its debut until late 2011 or early 2012.”

AMC-TV

Brian Stelter’s story also points out:

“Money often causes strife between program creators and distributors, but rarely do the negotiations drag out this long.”

Harrumph.

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We leave you with something much cheerier, today’s Pretty in Pink.

Lilly Pulitzer Picture perfect Espadrille

That is the Picture Perfect Espadrille at Lilly Pulitzer, it shrieks spring, and we need a touch of that today.

Until next time, may the sun be shining for you and yours.

Royal Engagement Photos, Sales & Savings

Hello-Hello, it is wonderful to be back blogging again, this week has been simply insane with work at the Princess and volunteer commitments. We couldn’t be more grateful for the Consort’s ease in stepping up to share his wit and wisdom with all of you. 🙂

We begin with a look at the official engagement photos of Kate Middleton and Prince William, something most readers may well have seen already. There are two pictures, here is the more relaxed setting.

Mario Testino

The Prince is wearing a Turnbull & Asser shirt, and it turns out he actually borrowed the sweater he is wearing from photographer Mario Testino, as the pictures were being shot.  Nor is Miss Middleton’s blouse fresh off the rack, more about that in a moment.  But first, here is the more formal photograph.

Mario Testino/Courtesy Photo by Reiss via NYMag

On the right you see the dress worn by Miss Middleton, it is the “Nannette” style by Reiss, a company we hadn’t previously heard of until this week.  Here is more from the company’s blog:

“The Nannette dress that Kate is wearing comes as part of our core dress offering that we are renowned for. While this particular style is not currently available, there will be a version coming out mid January as part of our SS11 collection.”

Miss Middleton is wearing white topaz earrings by Links of London. If we’re not mistaken, it looks like she chose the Hope Egg Earrings.

Links of London

They make a lovely symbol, representing “hope and new life”.

Perhaps the most charming part of the engagement photo story comes via The Telegraph:

“Middleton insisted on dressing herself for the shoot – despite several assistants being on hand with a selection of designer clothes to style her – and chose a cream, silk blouse from high street chain Whistles for one of the portraits. The £95 blouse is over two years old, having featured in the retailer’s autumn/winter 2008 collection.”

The bride to be also did her own makeup.

When the big day comes next April most discussion will be about The Dress.  As they have done previously when it comes to high profile gowns, Women’s Wear Daily asked designers to come up with sketches showing what they might create if asked by the bride to design her gown.

First, a Gucci design that we found attractive.

Courtesy Photo via WWD

J. Crew’s design offers a scooped back.

Courtesy J. Crew via WWD

Next, a sketch from Elizabeth Emanuel, best known for designing Princess Diana’s frothy wedding gown.

Courtesy Elizabeth Emanuel via WWD

Below left we see a Badgley Mischka gown, and on the right, a Jason Wu design.

The Tommy Hilfiger design is seen below left, and the sketch, below right, Lela Rose.

There are loads more sketches to look at, click here to see them all.  We’re guessing our Royal Correspondent, the Queen Bee herself will have some insight on the dress at some point down the road.

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Another noteworthy engagement we learned about courtesy of Miss Coterie Books, that of Lauren Bush and David Lauren.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF

Above the couple is seen at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball last month.  Apparently Mr. Lauren proposed to Miss Bush last Friday at the Met, which happens to be where they went on their first date. Of course, Mr. Lauren is designer Ralph Lauren’s son, while Miss Bush is the niece of former President George Walker Bush, granddaughter of President George Bush.

Miss Bush is also known for her philanthropic work via the Project FEED bags, although now there are things other than bags sold to raise funds for those in need. Below left, Plumpy the FEED 5 Bear, and on the right, the FEED USA Lunch Tote.

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We leave you with several Sales & Savings opportunities, this isn’t intended to be a comprehensive look, merely markdowns at a few shops we are aware of; we start with J. Crew.  Generally the retailer’s online factory outlet is open only Friday-Sunday, but it will be open (in a virtual sense) through the 20th.

Additionally Crew is taking 30% off all Factory prices and off ‘regular’ sale merchandise, use promo code MUSTHAVE at checkout to receive the discount.

Tory Burch has started its winter sale, promising savings “up to 50%’.

Neiman Marcus is taking an additional 30% off all regular and sale-priced cashmere through the 18th.

Talbots has taken markdowns on a sizable amount of fall/winter merchandise, and is also doing 40% off all full-priced accessories through midnight tonight.  Use promo code PRESENT to receive the discount.

A number of Lilly stores are offering excellent deals right now, check with your local shop to see what kind of fiscally friendly price points are available.

A final item of note today, the always delightful Preppy Southern Princess is doing a fun little contest; one lucky winner will receive one of our Lilly Pulitzer photo albums.

With that, we say g’bye until next time, we are off to supervise The Consort the elves here at The Prepatorium as they get all of those orders out the door.

 

Ultimate Fashion Gala, & A Sneak Peek at the Preppy Laptop

Hello-Hello, we hope the sun is shining as brightly in your corner of the globe as it is here!

We begin with an apology to those not fond of fashion-laden posts, we must beg your indulgence one more day, as we have yet to share the images from another big do. The Met Ball was Monday night, arguably the season’s most important event for seeing, and being seen, in serious formalwear. (The official name for the event: the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala.) The evening also officially kicked off the Museum’s special exhibit, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.

For decades the Gala has been overseen by Anna Wintour.

Via The Cut

The Vogue magazine editor was in an ensemble by Chanel Couture; some found it less than attractive, but we actually liked the look, and thought it was flattering on Ms. Wintour.

Two of the evening’s most elegant looks: Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad.

Kristin Somody Whalen/WWD

And Marion Cotillard in glittering Christian Dior.

Kristin Somody Whalen/WWD

They are both wearing what we refer to as “SPFs,” Serious Party Frock.  The editors at Refinery 29 came up with this group of “Best Dressed” ladies at the Gala.

Via Refinery 29

From the left, Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein, Kate Bosworth wears Valentino, Rosie Huntington (apparently a popular model) in Burberry and Emma Watson, also in Burberry.

The event is A List only; below we see Lauren Bush and David Lauren, on the right, Ricky and Ralph Lauren.

In an unusual twist, we thought the younger generation’s styles were superior to those seen on their elders; the blue jeans looked horribly inappropriate.  Below left we show Dylan Lauren, and on the right, Tommy Hilfiger and his wife, Dee Ocleppo.

Taylor Swift was in Ralph Lauren Collection, and Tory Burch in Tory Burch.

From the Gossip Girl contingent, Blake Lively wears Marchesa and Jessica Szohr in Versace.

Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley were also on hand.

The Cut had an intriguing tidbit in their post about the G2 stars and the event:

“… all the relationship drama has made the cast of Gossip Girl skittish around reporters, because Penn Badgley, Jessica Szohr, and Blake Lively each didn’t so much as turn their heads as they hustled up the stairs, surrounded by flacks, and went inside.

And how did Ms. Lively look for the after-party? Below left we see the more casual look she sported, and on the right, co-stars Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford at that function.

We were not crazy about Ivanka Trump’s Atelier Versace dress, nor did we think highly of the Chanel look seen on Kristen Stewart.

We also struggled with someone we generally adore seeing in a fab frock, Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks; this blue gown simply didn’t work.

The black and white gown on Malin Akerman was another miss IOHO.

One dress creating quite a stir (and also making it onto almost every ‘worst dressed’ list), Katy Perry’s LED light-up dress.

We absolutely adored WWD’s commentary on the gown:

“It was enough to provoke a seizure (or at least a headache), but Perry behaved as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Guess no one told her there’s a difference between dressing to stop traffic and dressing like a traffic stop.”

Note who leads off Refinery 29’s review of the “The Bad” styles:

Photo Collage via Refinery29.com

Also seen with Ms. Perry in the dubious distinction category above, Chloë Sevigny in Proenza Schouler, Tina Fey in a jumpsuit of unknown origin, and another Mad Men fave, January Jones.  Ms. Fey and Ms. Jones surprised, they usually appear far better put together. In a new category we are calling “Worst Gown by Volume,” model Coco Rocha and her Zac Posen.

WWD.com

As the Fug Girls wrote:

“…that reminds me of every Bed In A Bag on sale around the time I was going off to college.”

We don’t consider our reading on any fashion topic complete until we have seen what Cathy Horyn writes, we especially like this comment from her story:

“I thought Lauren Santo Domingo looked terrific in a sparkly, long-sleeved beige dress by Proenza Schouler. It suited her height and coloring and it’s nice to see long sleeves.”

Just in case anyone missed the most important part of the comment:

“… it’s nice to see long sleeves.”

Not that we’re obsessed proponents of bringing back sleeves for some styles. Not at all. (Heh-heh-heh.)

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We share good news and not-so-good news in today’s SOTT (Signs of the Times):

• Saks is closing their San Diego Fashion Valley store in July and the NorthPark (Dallas) Armani store is being closed the 16th of this month. (Muffy and Hopsy – oh no!)
• Saks is expanding their Off Fifth stores, adding outlets in Pittsburgh, Portland, Houston and the Raleigh/Greensboro area
• On an up note, Nordstrom opened their new store at Fashion Island (Orange County) a few weeks back

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And with apologies to our Facebook pals who may have seen this on one of our Fan pages, we close with a stellar Pretty in Pink that also qualifies as an Adventure in Argyle:

HP Courtesy Image

That is the soon-to-be-released Preppy Pink Mini from HP, a thing of beauty.  The Mini 210 is technically a netbook, not a laptop, and while we aren’t crazy about the pink keyboard, we are gaga for the overall design.

HP Courtesy Image

The HP Mini 210 in Preppy Pink (it will also come in “white crystal”) launches June 15 in the USA with a $355 price point.  Click here to register for availability notification from HP.

With that, g’bye until next time!

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ADD’L PHOTO CREDITS:

• Katy Perry Dress: Steve Eichner/WWD
• Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters

The Preps Hit Fashion Week: Tory Burch, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren

Hello-Hello and Happy Weekend!

In yesterday’s post we promised more photos from the Tory Burch show at Fashion Week.

PHOTO: Giovanni Giannoni

There was some angst here at the Prepatorium about the direction Ms. Burch is taking with this Fall’s Collection, and more than a few readers echoed these concerns. Below, the portion of the WWD story that we shared yesterday:

“Tory Burch is trading in her sandals and ballet flats for a pair of ready-to-rumble combat boots. This season, she’s gone streetwise and edgy.”

PHOTO: Giovanni Giannoni

More from Women’s Wear Daily’s story:

“Burch still has those charming ladyfied pieces, as in the polkadot blouse and a prettily allover petaled jacket. The rest just skews oh-so-darkly glam. “I’m pushing the limits,” said Burch. “There’s a lot of leather.”

There is.

PHOTO: Giovanni Giannoni

As far as there being “… charming and ladyfied…” styles, we scanned each and every look and encountered difficulty locating much we would call ‘ladyfied’ in the collection.  There are a few pieces reminiscent of the Tory Burch style existing customers expect to see from the designer, including this dress.

PHOTO: Giovanni Giannoni

As well as this coat, not entirely flattering in the shot below.

PHOTO: Giovanni Giannoni

One last style:

PHOTO: Giovanni Giannoni

The Burch show attracted its share of entertainment industry stars, including Kanye West, LL Cool J and Russell Simmons.

PHOTO: Giovanni Giannoni

Women’s Wear Daily attributes some of the directional shift in the line to the designer’s romantic life:

“Ever since she’s been dating Warner Music Group Vice Chairman Lyor Cohen, Tory Burch’s fashion week presentations have felt more street than Park Avenue.”

Indeed.

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We also promised to share more from the Tommy Hilfiger show.

PHOTO: Marcio Madeira

The collection was titled “Quintessentially Fifth Avenue” in honor of the enormous Hilfiger flagship store on Fifth Avenue opening this summer.

PHOTO: Marcio Madeira

The program for the show started with this:

“It is aspirational yet affordable, inspirational yet attainable.”

Menswear is shown simultaneously; WWD had this to say in their review:

“Although the show failed to define the Tommy Hilfiger man, it had polish and ample commercial appeal.”

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PHOTO: Marcio Madeira

Some may remember the coat from yesterday; we had to share it one more time.

PHOTO: Scott Gries/Getty

Also “Pretty in Pink,” the sheath:

PHOTO: Robert Mitra

We found this an elegant look:

PHOTO: Marcio Madeira

For some reason, this model looked exactly like Matt Damon to us.

PHOTO: Marcio Madeira

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Today’s hottest tcket had to be the Ralph Lauren show, drawing A-List celebrities like Gossip Girl star Blake Lively.

PHOTO: Andrew H. Walker/Getty

Also seen in the photo with Ms. Lively are socialite Amanda Hearst, David Lauren, and designer/model Lauren Bush.  You may remember our previous posts showing other G2 stars (Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford, Taylor Momsen) at other shows earlier this week; this was the first appearance for Ms. Lively.

Below, a few looks from the Fall 2009 RTW (ready to wear) Collection:

PHOTO: Kyle Ericksen

Another look:

PHOTO: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images

One more shot below; we promise to share more from the Ralph Lauren show in our next post.

PHOTO: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images

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Because we all want to pursue fiscally friendly investments, we leave you with a few more opportunities for savings, starting with the latest J. Crew promotion: 30% off Select Women’s, Men’s & Kid’s pants online and in stores.

Speaking of the Crew, has everyone seen the ABC news stories about Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts? There is a possibility she will wear J. Crew to the Oscars this weekend, as detailed in this story.

PHOTO: Ida Mae Astute ABC News

The coral dress on the far left is the J. Crew, in silk tricotine.  The lavender in the center is silk chiffon by J. Mendel, and the cobalt blue on the far right is a Reem Acra creation.

Wisely, the retailer is promoting the possible Oscar connection:

Courtesy J. Crew

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We close with an “Adventure in Argyle,” the Four Seasons Argyle sweater on sale at Bobby Jones.

Bobby Jones Four Seasons Argyle Crew

Originally $275, the Men’s sweater is now $68 as part of the President’s Day Sale. There is more Men’s merchandise in the sale than Women’s, but you may find it worth a small investment of time.

Enjoy the weekend!