Little Lanvin, Lilly Fall 2011 Gifts and Snooki Goes Pink & Green

Hello and Happy Friday to everyone.

We begin with a quick look at a new collection launching for your little ones, this one comes from French label Lanvin.

Lanvin Courtesy Photo via Blackbook

The new collection is clearly not for those seeking practicality.

Bazaar UK has more:

….twenty-five precious pieces for 4–10 year-olds is awash with embroidered organza, crystal, satin and grosgrain and pleated tulle aplenty.

The pieces look darling, as we recall they are going to cost a pretty penny.  Here is our favorite photo from all of the publicity stills:

Courtesy Photo

She looks ever-so-serious, doesn’t she?

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Speaking of serious, the Times‘ Critical Shopper column pays a visit to Madewell this week, a brand we have discussed with some regularity in this space, although not to the degree we have covered its corporate partner, J. Crew.

“…a line that might be described as Skipper to J. Crew’s Barbie. Fewer sequins, more lanyards.

…the company is now producing clothes not for the working class, but for the class of young women who attend expensive private colleges and are taking a gap year to, you know, figure out what they want to do with their lives.”

Alexandra Stoddard’s story is just this side of scathing:

“Madewell brass, lovingly tarnished I’m sure, also pride themselves on showcasing items from local partners, or so-called “hometown heroes,” including…. Alyssa Ettinger “NYC-themed” white ceramic dairy bottles ($40 to $50).

They are less forthcoming about the fact that most of their all-American looks, including “heritage premium” overalls in a faded “bighorn wash” ($200), are made in China. Now that’s distress of another stripe.”

Ouch. To read the entire review, click here.

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We move on to some Friday Fun, offering a spot of color with a brief look at some of this fall’s Lilly Pulitzer Stationery & Gifts collection, starting with new styles in Wine Glasses and Water Bottles.

Fall Lilly Expected in September at PreppyPrincess.com

The new Wine Glass patterns include Cabanarama, Docksider (shown above), Floaters, remaining in the line is Trouble Hibiscus.  New designs for Water Bottles include Nice to See You, as well as Luscious and Navy Bloomers. Perhaps the most talked about item we have previewed is the new Eco Cup.

Coming to PreppyPrincess.com in September

The Cold Drink Tumblers are dishwasher safe, BPA- and Pthalate-free, and they will hold 20 ozs. of your favorite chilled beverage. These are going to run $14.50.  Below, we show the new Photo Magnets, they’ll be sold as a set of three ($12.50), on the right you see the new Magnet Board patterns.

Coming This Fall to PreppyPrincess.com

Agenda images have been on the site for some time as we continue to take your pre-orders, but here are a few more pictures of this always-popular item.

This year’s patterns include Docksider, Luscious, Navy Bloomers and Nice to See You, they remain priced at $24.50 for the Large Agenda, $14.50 for the Pocket Agenda. These also continue as 17-month calendars, running from August 2011-December 2012.

Another item garnering attention, the new re-useable Sandwich and Snack Bags.

Fall 2011 Lilly Gift Collection

The cotton bags are lined with moisture-resistant material, can be tossed in the wash machine and are Food Safe. They are also BPA-, Phthalate- and Lead-free. The bags will run $9.50.

We’ll post the rest of the catalog photos on our Facebook page, and also here as time permits.

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Finally this Friday, troubling news from the Land of the AntiPrep: the individual known as Snooki is debuting flip flops and the colors are what some might consider ‘preppish’:

Via CNN

You never know what she is going to do next, Snooki gets points for creativity, pink and green pickles, oh my! What do you think, is this something we should add to the store? (Heh,heh,heh.)

With that, we hope everyone enjoys an especially restful and relaxing weekend.

Sales & Savings of the Prepalicious Kind

Hello-Hello, welcome to an almost-weekend, we admit we are tickled at the prospect of even a smidge of calm as we slide into Saturday and Sunday.

We want to share some Sales & Savings opportunities, beginning with the Friends & Family promotion at Neiman’s Last Call.

Neiman Marcus Last Call

To receive the discount online use the code FRIEND at checkout for 30% off your entire order.  The promotion runs through March 28.

Prep stalwart Brooks Brothers has started its Preferred Customer event.

Brooks Brothers

Shoppers using their Brooks charge will receive 25% off their total purchase, those using any other method of payment receive 15% off.  This runs through April 7.

The Tory Burch Private Sale is underway, it also runs through the 28th.

Before we get to the savings now on offer at LL Bean we want to share the news that has Bean customers smiling ear to ear.

LL Bean

In case the print is hard to read, Bean announced yesterday that shipping will always be free, with no minimums and no special requirements.

Bean is also having a sale, with some fairly solid markdowns and then some that are just so-so.  One of our favorite casual dinnerware designs is on sale, four place settings in the Vacationland pattern are now $47, marked down from $59.

Also in the home store, a fabulous deal for those interested in a nautical touch, the Maine Isle Throw Pillows are significantly discounted to $8.99 from$29.50.

For those fond of Bean’s Seacoast Skirt, it is now $10.99, that is a 75% reduction in price from $44.50.

There are even solid basics on sale, like the women’s Pima Cotton Tee ($10.99 from $22) and the Oceanwashed Polo Shirt (also $10.99 from an original selling price of $22).

The children’s section offers a variety of things, including footwear.  The Plaid Canvas Sneaker is roughly 50% off (now $14.99) and the Puddle Stomper Boots are discounted by 25%, they are now $21.99.

Not to be left out, Lands’ End is promoting savings as well.

Lands' End

They also have discounts on wardrobe basics, the Long Sleeve Polo on the left is $19.99, originally $34.50. There are savings on the more upscale Lands’ End Canvas line as well, the Heritage Polo seen on the right is only $14.99 in last season’s colors, and there is a broad selection of sizes and colors.

There are scads of sales underway of interest to all denizens of the Preppy Planet, far too many to list. Happy hunting for those on the prowl!

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We are guessing that many readers are already weary of the hullabaloo surrounding The. Wedding.  And while arguably we are contributing to WFS (Wedding Fatigue Syndrome,) hopefully our coverage can be categorized as relatively tame, not reaching the insane levels seen elsewhere.

This next item is neither sane nor tame.  Behold the GE Royal Wedding Refrigerator.

GE

Because nothing says wedding celebration like a 6-foot image of Prince William and Kate Middleton grinning at you as you reach for that cold slice of pizza. (With apologies to our FB fans for the repetition, we couldn’t help ourselves.)

However… some things are actually rather sweet. Cath Kidston, the UK-based retailer, has added several Royal Wedding items to its lineup.  The Tea Towel is cute as can be, and the all cotton Reusable Tote is also fun.

It is the whimsical art that is so appealing, here is the Coffee Mug.

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Finally today, news for those fond of the Lilly Pulitzer Agendas for 2011 – 2012.

PreppyPrincess.com

Because of the level of interest and volume of inquiries following our initial mention of this August’s Agendas, we are now taking pre-orders for both the Large and Pocket size Agendas.  We want to be responsive to the number of customer requests, but do note these will not ship until at least mid-July.  Once again these are 17-month Agendas, running from August 2011 – December 2012, and the new patterns are as shown above, Luscious, Docksider, Navy Bloomers and Nice to See You.

On those cheery images we say Goodbye until next time, may your weekend be bright and happy!

 

Does J. Crew ‘Help Preppy Go Euro’?

Hello-Hello, and happy Monday! We hope everyone enjoyed a pleasant and restful weekend.

Today we invoke ‘brevity is a virtue’ as our modus operandi, things are a tad frenzied here in our corner condo at Princess HQ.

We look at a story in yesterday’s Sunday Magazine from the Times. “J. Crew Helps Preppy Go Euro” analyzes the ongoing transformation of J. Crew’s position in the marketplace, starting with a little background on the retailer:

“… with its anodyne clubby name and clothes that ripped off L.L. Bean, Brooks Brothers and J. Press, J. Crew seemed to spoof the preppy style while making it available.”

We loved the photo illustration that accompanied the article.

Kevin Van Aelst/NY Times

Writer Virginia Heffernan deftly examines the company’s move toward a different aesthetic, referencing a specific sailor shirt featured on Crew’s website.

“The shirt is sporty and thus not un-American, while also signifying “Paris,” a new concept jcrew.com has been audaciously colonizing. The site twinkles with references to France and haute couture, and recently it has positioned dissipated and mysterious Euro-type models in the slots that used to be reserved for “J. Crew models” — fresh-faced, wholesome strawberry blondes.

The shirt under discussion:

J. Crew

We hadn’t really noticed a change in models, but then, we spend very little time on the site or looking at the catalog.  Have you noticed a drift toward a more European look in the models?

The story also revisits a topic discussed and whined about ad nauseam occasionally in this space, most recently in an April post we titled “J. Crew’s Disdain for Preppy“.  Back to yesterday’s Times:

“The stateside European, in J. Crew’s imagining, wears all our usual American stuff — shorts, T-shirts, cargo pants, polo shirts — but has no use whatsoever for the simplicity and androgyny that used to be hallmarks of preppy.”

Referencing the impact of design director Jenna Lyons and CEO Mickey Drexler, the story shares this perspective:

“Every outfit seems slightly hacked — cut up and embellished by a home tailor. You don’t envision someone in J. Crew playing lacrosse anymore; they seem more likely to be philosophizing and seducing. “I have a hard time with the word ‘preppy,’ ” Lyons told Style.com not long ago. “It’s very coastal, and it leaves out a lot of Americans who aren’t yachting or going to the beach club.”

This summer, then, what is the new J. Crew ideal? Not the East Hampton WASP, not anymore. Rather, it’s the sultry au pair watching the children. In sequins.”

Our favorite part of the article has to be this segment:

WHEN WASPS BLOG
Those days of preppy names in print only at birth, marriage and death are long over. Now they can’t stop . . .musing. For modest laughs: To the Manner Born, WASP 101, Tickled Pink and Green, Muffy Martini, Pink Washingtoniette, 2PreppyGirls and Summer Is a Verb.

Reading this group of names at the end of the story had us grinning ear to ear. Congratulations to all included! The story is fascinating, click here to read it in its entirety.

A related note of interest, J. Crew is doing their Final Sale promotion again, offering an additional 20% off sale-priced merchandise.

J. Crew

The promotion runs through this Thursday, July 15. Use the code EXTRA20 at checkout to receive the discounted pricing.

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We apologize for the brevity of today’s post; the flood of orders for these….

Lilly Pulitzer Agendas at PreppyPrincess.com

Has prompted the creation of one of these stacks everyday here at the Prepatorium, as the Consort and I our immense staff of Princess Pixies get the Lilly Agendas headed out the door!

Christmas in July?

Heaven only knows what the stack of Lilly iPhone Covers will look like when they are shipped in early August, eeek!

On that note, g’bye until next time!

Gossip Girls Do Chanel, New Designer Baby Goods at Targét

Hello-Hello and Happy Thursday from the corner condo here at The Prepatorium!

We apologize for the completely disorganized random nature of today’s post, we have only a few items to offer as we are simply swimming in a frenzy of business. Not that we complain, mind you, nay-nay, but there just are not enough hours in the day.

We begin with a summertime update on those favorite faux prep-school students from Gossip Girl.  It is the fall couture season, both Blake Lively and Leighton Meester were front row at Tuesday’s Chanel show in Paris.  WWD’s Stephane Feugere took these first two photos.

Ms. Meester wore leather Chanel while Ms. Lively was in a silk Chanel frock; both wore Christian Louboutin heels.

Ms. Meester and Ms. Lively, along with many other cast members, are shooting next season’s episodes in La Ville-Lumière (the City of Light).  We have nary a clue as to whether or not the following advisory is needed (TP has never seen an episode of the program), but we’ll trust the Women’s Wear Daily story; it carries an alert, so we shall share this advance warning as well.

***SPOILER ALERT***

There. Now it is safe to share a few tidbits:

“Blake Lively — aka Serena van der Woodsen — let slip a few plot hints at the Chanel couture show. “It involves hidden identities and Chuck and Blair bumping into each other, and just love affairs and beautiful clothes,” she said.”

Photo: FAME

Looking at the image of Ms. Lively approaching the set, we are more concerned about the return of even bigger shoulder pads are on the way than any plotlines. Below, costars Ed Westwick and Ms. Meester are seen in costume.

Even we can tell that this next snippet from the WWD story is safe to share, it shan’t ruin any upcoming episodes:

“Leighton Meester said she had just taken a break from her role as queen bee Blair Waldorf by playing a character who is “sort of dorky and uptight and a bit insecure” in the teen flick “Monte Carlo,” co-starring Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy.”

Here are two more looks, via JustJared.

There may actually be some Chanel/Gossip Girl linkage if the rumors this photo prompted are reality.

Trago/FilmMagic via Glamour UK

The picture of Blake Lively and Karl Lagerfeld leaving the Ritz together has many speculating that the Chanel Grand-Pooh-Bah might be making a guest appearance on the show.

Another Gossip Girl phenom was spotted at men’s Fashion Week in Milan.

Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty

Chace Crawford put in an appearance at the Dolce & Gabbana show last month.

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Of course, everyone who is anyone on Planet Fashion is in Paris.

Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

We are simply smitten by the ensemble seen on Ms. Wintour below.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

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Next, a look at some of the new infant goodies now available at Le Boutique Targét.

Target Courtesy Image via All the Rage

Several new designer collections are now available at Target through mid-October, according to this report at All the Rage. The cute pink and green items seen above are by Baby Buggy for Target, the other line being offered is by Little Seed, a maker of organic cotton goods.

Courtesy Target

Another special edition item at Le Boutique, Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bags in pink, and on the right, the bag in blue.

Both are also known as ‘Clever Carryall Diaper Bags’; both are $49.99

The designer duds and accessories are all part of a larger fundraising effort for Baby Buggy, the charitable group providing baby necessities to those in need.

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Two quick Mad Men notes. First, a different look for Betty Draper actress January Jones.

Courtesy via InStyle

Ms. Jones is seen here in the look done by celebrity hair stylist Mark Townsend as part of his new online magazine. We are more used to this style for Betty.

AMC-TV

Our other note comes via Very Short List, a look at the soon-to-be-released “Mad Men Unbuttoned: A Romp Through 1960’s America.”

From the VSL story:

“Here you’ll find anecdotes and analyses of a time passed. Did you know, for instance, that Don Draper is based on a real ad man named Draper Daniels? Or that a polite wedding night in the ’60s didn’t involve sex? If yes, there’s plenty more.”

The book is available for pre-ordering at Amazon.

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And a few quick updates to our Monday and Tuesday posts on the Lilly Pulitzer Fall 2010 Gift and Stationery Collection.  (Those not fond of Lilly can simply skip to our next items.)

• Our first shipment of the new Lilly Agenda Books and Pocket Agendas arrives here at Princess Intergalactic HQ tomorrow! The Consort & I mighty Princess staff will have them turned around and winging their way to you late tomorrow or early Saturday.
• The Lilly Personalized Acrylic Home Collection should be available around September 1st. As soon as we know more and have product photos we will post them on our Facebook page and/or here.

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We share a few Argyle Adventures, these two via Under the Palm Tree; both are Lilly sweaters, both are reduced in price to $76.80 and both were originally $128.  The are also both the same model, on the left, the Halle sweater in pink and green argyle on white and on the right, the pink argyle Halle V-Neck.

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Two quick Sales & Savings opportunities to share, the first at Vineyard Vines.

Vineyard Vines

And also at Garnet Hill.

GarnetHill.com

Because we care about the state of your pocketbook.

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Our final image is another sent by our friend MLD (she of the Jon Hamm/Mad Men Mizzou story), this one answers the question “How hot is it?”

(No, that is not Silly Tilly, she said it was too hot for any photo ops!)

Additional Photo Credits:

• Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Lands’ End Launches New Collection, Calendar Craze

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday!

We jump right into things today with a look at the new Canvas line from Lands’ End.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

As the story in WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription required) explains:

“Land’s End Canvas, a collection designed with a “modern sensibility,” or, in other words, a younger audience, in mind.”

The new pieces have classic appeal.

Courtesy Lands' End

We like the Heritage Cardigan as well as the Boyfriend V-neck Cardigan.

More from today’s WWD story:

“Named after the label’s signature canvas tote, the line combines pieces that reflect the company’s sailing heritage ­­— fitted oxfords and slouchy, cuffed cargos for women and washed plaid shirts, khaki and denim for men — with a slimmer cut.”

Frequent readers know of our fondness for the basic Tretorn sneaker, and we expect Miss Nautical by Nature might have an affinity for the Silk Tie Belt with its sailing motif.

The Men’s looks are also solid.

The merchandise is already available for ordering online at the new Lands’ End Canvas website.

Those on Twitter may have seen our Tweet about Lands’ End offering a Friends and Family discount of 25% off regular priced merchandise; click here to take advantage of the offer – it expires at midnight on the 16th. (NOTE: This is not applicable to the new Canvas collection.)

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Also offering something new, Polo Ralph Lauren, adding Tote Bags to their Create Your Own line.

Both the Medium and Small (or Children’s) totes are available for the personalization

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We close with a quick reminder about our 2010 Calendars: they are going quickly.

The Lilly Pulitzer Pocket Agenda is now sold out in Trouble Hibiscus, and our vendor is completely out of stock.

We do have all three patterns still available in the Lilly Large Agenda Book, as well as the Lilly Wall Calendar and Desktop model, but all of our other preppish styles are also moving quickly, especially our Susan Wallace Barnes calendars and day planners with the Nantucket illustrations.

Perhaps it is our history as somewhat of a procrastinator on this issue (does going to buy a calendar after the first of the new year qualify as procrastinating?) but we really did not expect to sell so many this early!

With that we send a wish that everyone enjoys a wonderful Fall weekend!