Barbie’s Fabulous 50th & Lilly Pulitzer Contest Reminder!

Hello-Hello and Happy Start of the New Week!

PHOTO: Timothy Clary/AFP

In yesterday’s post we promised more on the special Barbie Show at Fashion Week; we begin with more on those in attendance, including, a number of the social set. Below, Muffie Potter Aston and daughters, Bracie and Ashleigh Tatiana.

PHOTO: Getty

Also in attendance? The one-and-only Fashion Herald; we almost emitted a most-unbecoming shriek when we read her Tweets about it!

Next, the little ones gather backstage.

PHOTO: Patrick McMullan

For those unfamiliar with all the hoopla, in honor of Barbie’s 50th Anniversary this year, fifty designers created actual looks for the show. Below, Rachel Roy’s sketch…

Courtesy Rachel Roy

And the real deal, designed to honor the very first Barbie outfit.

Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Yesterday’s post really had a better shot of the special Christian Louboutins worn by every model walking the show; here is another look. (Not a terribly flattering shot, is it?!)

PHOTO: Stephen Chernin/AP

We retract a portion of the previous: not every model was wearing the Louboutin heels:

PHOTO: Stephen Chernin/AP

Those look like your basic Chuck Taylors to us, too cute! Now, we are guessing this next dress is the Diane von Furstenberg creation:

PHOTO: Imaxtree

It looks like the basic wrap dress… yes? And below, we are also guessing on the designer. The style seems very Tory Burch to us.

PHOTO: Imaxtree

Here is the Tommy Hilfiger sketch for his beaded white mini-dress, very “groovy,” don’t you think?!

And the real deal:

PHOTO: Imaxtree

Here is TP’s favorite unidentified look:

PHOTO: Imaxtree

Another unknown design:

PHOTO: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for IMG

Other designers we are fond of who participated in the show were Calvin Klein, Trina Turk and Bob Mackie.  Here is a closing shot of the models and their young escorts…

PHOTO: Thomas Iannaccone

A few notes on things related to all of the above:

• To see all of the incredible Barbie dolls dressed by Bob Mackie, click here.
• To read the Suzy Menkes story in the IHT about the show, click here.
• Trina Turk is having a sale online; we do not know about markdowns at brick and mortar retail outlets.
• Calvin Klein is doing 30% off select spring styles for the President’s Day weekend.
• The clearance sale at Tory Burch continues, with 40 – 60% off original retail prices.
• The Tommy Hilfiger Fall/Winter 2009/2010 collection shows on Thursday. Below, a few sketches from that group.

Courtesy Photo via the Telegraph (UK)

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We will share more from Fashion Week as appropriate and when time permits. Tomorrow’s dance card includes the Brooks Brothers Collection Preview (not a runway show, but at the Madison Avenue store), Carolina Herrera, and one of First Lady Michelle Obama’s favorites, Thakoon.

Before we dash, a quick reminder on entering our Lilly Pulitzer Stationery Giveaway:

Lilly Pulitzer Mix & Match Stationery

To win the Mix ‘n Match stationery set, just leave a comment on this post, or any other. To learn how to be entered more than once, click here. We will use Random.org to pick the winner tomorrow (Monday, 2.16), before noon!

Old School Preppy & More J. Crew for the First Lady,

Hello everybody, please accept our apologies for the lack of a post yesterday. We have been simply swamped filling all of the Lilly Pulitzer pre-orders we received here at the Princess! It seems TPC (The Princess Consort, aka The Spousal Unit) gave the minions the day off! All of them! (Ahem. Right.)

So it seems we shall be forced to engage in actual manual labor again today. Honestly! But someone must help pack these…

Lilly Pulitzer Latte Da! mugs at Preppy Princess

And these….

Lilly Pulitzer Notebooks at Preppy Princess

Controlled chaos, yes, that’s what we have!

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We move on now to a look at Southern Proper’s new looks from their outstanding  Southern Seaside Collection.

Southern Seaside at Southern Proper

For those unfamiliar with this fine establishment, it is well worth an investment of time to gaze at their offerings.

Not only is the merchandise refined and elegant, it is also whimsical, a rare combination to find well done, as it is at this firm.

Southern Proper

While the company specializes in ‘Haberdashery for the Gentleman,’ they do offer their Belle Bands for the ladies:

Southern Proper

We have been planning on posting about the company for months, but receiving their Southern Seaside email finally nudged to do it and we’re glad we did; we always have fun looking at their superb merchandise.

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The Brooks Brothers Black Fleece shop received a visit from one of our favorite columnists, Cintra Wilson, another of the Critical Shopper writers at the Times.

In describing the look and feel of the store Ms. Wilson takes a shot at a retailer arriving more recently to the prep aesthetic:

“It’s a slightly gothic twist on the Old Money Athletic Club look, originally reified into postmodern absurdity when Ralph Lauren stuck crusty leather bridles and yellowing crew-team photos on mahogany paneling and pronounced it a lifestyle.”

Ouch! The story naturally focuses on designer Thom Browne, the man responsible for the Black Fleece collection; a few looks are shown below.

BTW, the Black Fleece Chesterfield Coat (above left) is now selling at $598; it was originally $4200.  Also above, the Double-Breasted Chesterfield in navy, originally $3700, now $598.  Double ouch.

Ms. Wilson approached her assignment with some excitement, eager to try on the apparel, but she was disappointed.

“I found, in most cases, that the proportions were a bit off. The necks were too tight, the skirts too tentlike, the busts flattening.”

The writer does more comparing between Mr. Browne and Mr. Lauren:

“Mr. Browne, like Mr. Lauren, nurtures a fetish for the trappings of Old School Preppy, but the Thom Browne alumnus seems to be a bit more pale, less muscular and more (ahem) eccentric. Picture a cross between Pee-wee Herman and Nurse Ratched, only more obsessive-compulsive.”

Ultimately Ms. Wilson concludes Thom Browne is a “gifted designer,” but one who needs to figure out how proportions differ between men’s and women’s clothing.

“While superb on a mannequin, Mr. Browne’s designs don’t seem to possess any sympathy for the kinetic demands of three-dimensional hips and breasts.”

BTW, there do not appear to be any Black Fleece spring collection pieces online. It may be the company is slow in getting them to the web, or perhaps they need to clear out more old inventory before showing current looks.  And a significant amount of old merchandise remains at Brooks’ online shop.  We did not see *any* pieces that were not discounted by at least 50%.

The folks at Rare Daily also review the recently-opened store:

“The interior is a masculine contrast to Browne’s shrinking suits. It’s lavish and upscale.”

However, we do have to disagree with their statement that “… (Thom) Browne is the new Black this season.”

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We haven’t updated the goings-on at G2 (Gossip Girl) lately, we’ll just do a quick hit mentioning Blake Lively at the premiere of her new film, “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.”

PHOTO: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Ms.Lively is wearing the Silk Trompe L’oeil Wrap Gown by one of our faves, Oscar de la Renta. (It is available online.) Also seen with the actress at the opening in Berlin, Zoe Kazan (R) and Robin Wright Penn (2nd R), and director Rebecca Miller (2nd L).

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Because we are just as concerned about your trust fund as you are, we thought it timely to share a few sales at retail establishments you may be fond of, like Banana Republic.  They have added to their already healthy clearance selection.

Banana Republic

We received another email from Polo Ralph Lauren this morning, touting their markdowns as well, “Now up to 75% Off“.

And the J. Crew President’s Day sale at their Factory Stores offer “up to 50% off” in their “Goodbye Winter Clearance” as well as 20-50% off “select Spring arrivals.”  This promotion runs through 2/18.

Speaking of J. Crew, the retailer must have been thrilled to hear that Michelle Obama wears another of their pieces in the March issue of Vogue.

PHOTO: Annie Leibovitz

We close with a little nudge to enter our Lilly Pulitzer Stationery Giveaway, if you are so inclined and haven’t already entered!

Happy day and smiles to everyone!

Jill Biden Inauguration Dress on its Way, Brooks Brothers Cuts Prices on Black Fleece

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday everyone!

In all candor, sometimes we wonder about this proclamation of happiness for ‘the weekend,’ when in reality we frequently work on the weekend.  Both daze days.  Yet from a psychological perspective, things are a tad more relaxed here at the Prepatorium, and unless we have functions, we dress in business casual.  So we do greet the approaching weekend with a bit of a boost for the spirit; we hope you face yours with this sense of an anticipatory smile for your heart as well.

Today we start with the Black Fleece standalone store, now open in the Village.

PHOTO: George Chinsee/WWD

The new shop by Brooks Brothers features the full men’s and women’s collections created by TP’s favorite designer (ummm….not) Thom Browne.  We are now going to be completely crass in our discussion of things related to that nasty “M word,” and tell you that the bigger story IOHO is Black Fleece price points being lowered.  According to this column in WWD (Women’s Wear Daily):

“Prices for the Thom Browne-designed line have been dropped significantly — a men’s suit that formerly retailed for $2,700 can now be had for $1,900 and women’s prices have dropped in tandem — reflecting the “friendlier” exchange rate of the euro for the Italy-produced collection.

“There’s new pricing for spring,” revealed Claudio Del Vecchio, Brooks Bros.’ chief executive officer. “But we didn’t change the quality or the make of the men’s suits.”

We have been vocal in our fondness for several of looks in the current group, including the Navy Pinstripe separates.

Not all prices are changing: the men’s shirts and toes remain at $150 and higher. The Black Fleece collection is also being offered in an enhanced setting at the Brooks flagship on Madison Avenue, currently being refurbished.

PHOTO: George Chinsee/WWD

Perhaps the best news in the story is that the company is not encountering the same wretched sales numbers as so many other retailers:

“We’re not a designer brand like Armani or Prada, we’re more of a family brand” with lower-than-luxury prices. “We feel we’re in the right place for when this is over. It’s a good time to be Brooks Bros.”

That comes from Claudio Del Vecchio, Brooks Brothers’ CEO.

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There is news today of another popular Inauguration look being made available to the masses.  The always brilliant Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan has the scoop at the Journal’s Heard on the Runway blog.  In her Thursday column Ms. Tan reports that Milly will re-introduce the dress worn by Dr. Jill Biden for the Inauguration and Luncheon.  Below, the dress is barely visible on the far left.

PHOTO: Harry Hamburg/Pool

The Houndstooth Wool Dress is still available at Saks, with a broad range of sizes offered, at $360.

As this is one of TP’s favorite lines, we are ecstatic to learn price points are also dropping at Milly! According to Ms. Tan’s story, company founder Michelle Smith feels she had little choice in this area:

“… after major retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue slashed prices by as much as 70% to get consumers to spend.”

“It’s disappointing, it’s frustrating but, what can you do?” says Ms. Smith…”

We are not going to be disingenuous and pretend sadness at this action, for we do love our Milly!

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We have posted previously about the upcoming Alexander McQueen for Target Collection, most recently on Tuesday of this week, sharing a sneak peek at pieces from the line.  The line is receiving substantial buzz, not all of it laudatory.  Below, another look from the group, with thanks to the good folks at Nylon:

Courtesy Target via Nylon

In this column yesterday for the Times, writer Eric Wilson asks “But How Will It Play in Tulsa?”

“Tapping Mr. McQueen to design a collection seems a little odd even for Target, which has branded itself as a design maverick, given the times.”

Courtesy Target via Nylon

Mr. Wilson goes on to say:

“The McQ clothes are on average more expensive, from $19.99 to $129.99, than Target’s prior fashion collaborations, and certainly not as cheerful as anything Isaac Mizrahi would have considered.”

Interesting points, indeed.  While the look is assuredly not for us, we say ‘good for the Boutique’ in reaching out to a different demo; we aren’t convinced the McQueen collection will be a strong seller, but hopefully we will be wrong on this front.

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We close with a “Pretty in Pink” for your perusal, another offering from the Lilly Pulitzer Stationery & Gift line due at the Princess next week.

Lilly Pulitzer at PreppyPrincess.com

Now if we could plant that in our Diet Coke (or other libation…heh-heh), our day would be infinitely improved!  The Drink Umbrellas are available for pre-ordering now!

On that cheery note, until next time!