Now, Now, Now… Can’t We all Play Nice? Apparently Not.

Hello-Hello, and Happy Friday!

Spat: a brief, petty quarrel or dispute

War –  noun, often attributive

b : a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end

We have updates to two previous stories today, beginning with that Martha Stewart and Macy’s spat war. Some may recall that Martha Stewart recently announced the sale of part of her company to Penney’s, despite the fact she sells her products at Macy’s, a Penney’s competitor.

Macy's

Of course, part of the deal is that Penney’s will sell Martha’s merchandise, the retailer has said it will open hundreds of mini Martha Stewart boutiques inside its stores. As one might expect, Macy’s is not amused. Here’s more from Business Week:

“Macy’s sued in January to stop New York-based Martha Stewart Living from executing an agreement to sell merchandise in J.C. Penney Co. stores.

Ouch.  Then it really gets nasty, with Martha’s lawyers saying that Macy’s is “essentially holding Macy’s hostage,” alleging:

“…the retailer has stocked and priced Martha Stewart products in a manner that favors Macy’s own private-label brands.

Business Week has a good story on the dispute, including predictions this will be settled out of court.

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Our other business battle is also a followup, this one is about the new C. Wonder stores.

Via Design Wire

The first store opened in Soho, since our post three more stores have opened, in Westchester, Paramus and Garden City.

Via

The Post reports Ms. Burch isn’t happy about the new stores her husband has opened.

A source close to the situation told us, “She is demanding Chris Burch shut down C. Wonder. The famously calm ice queen has lost her cool. She is furious and claims he has directly copied her business plan.”

While no lawsuit has been filed as yet, the source adds, “They are negotiating through lawyers. While Chris set up Tory Burch, his new stuff is identical and a third of the price. She wants him off the board of her company and for C. Wonder to close.”

Below, jewelry at C. Wonder.

Deidre Schoo for The New York Times

The Critical Shopper column in The Times on the store was titled “At C. Wonder, Something Feels Familiar“:

“Now the Burch brand is facing a puzzling retail riposte from her ex-husband, J. Christopher Burch, a venture capitalist who helped found her company and is still a chairman of its board…. he is opening a series of stores named C. Wonder that mirror Tory’s preppy style: go-to-hell colors, nautical flourishes, trim but conservative cuts. It’s unclear whether this is an amicable homage or a hostile takeover.”

Here is a side-by-side look at the two logos:

Logos from Facebook via The Daily Mail

The couple was married for ten years, 1996-2006.

Wire Image via The Daily Mail

More from the Alexandra Jacobs Critical Shopper column:

Maybe it’s a sign that the former missus has arrived, since Mr. Burch is also cheerfully knocking off Chanel, Goyard and Kate Spade — and those were just the influences I clocked in the foremost right quadrant of his new flagship on Spring.

Even the Daily Mail has written about it:

The venture capitalist has chosen an emblem that some see as being almost identical to his ex-wife’s now famous mirror image T’s.

Others like PR guru Kelly Cutrone, who is working with Mr Burch on a collection, argues that a man who has helped launch nearly 50 brands is fashion savvy enough to take credit for his own look.

Hmmmm. We need your thoughts ladies… is it too close for comfort?

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We leave you with a quick Sales & Savings Opportunity, a quick mention of about bargains at Bean, the company is doing a ‘Secret Sale’ this weekend, taking 20% off regular *and* sale prices. That make something on sale like the LL Bean Maine Isle flip flops $15.99, as opposed to $24.95.

LL Bean

The deal is good at both LL Bean and LL bean Signature line, use promo code FEB20 to receive the discount.

J. Crew Fall 2010 Wedding & Lilly Pulitzer Stationery Goes Paperless…?

Hello-Hello, welcome to a Wednursday here at the Prepatorium. Yes, a Wednursday – that’s what happens when you combine two days of the week into one, precisely what we are attempting with our post, the schedule is a bit frenzied these days and this is the best we can offer at this point.

We begin with a look at styles from the fall J. Crew Weddings & Parties collection.

Courtesy J. Crew via FabSugar

There are some lovely confections.

A few frocks are almost impossible to view properly online because of the light colors and softness of the design.

As with all Crew Bridal looks, the detailing can be exquisite.

Pieces are crafted of silk taffeta, chiffon, and faille.

It appears chunky statement jewelry remains in vogue at Crew.

Most of the silhouettes are true to Crew’s clean, unfussy aesthetic.

But not all.

J. Crew calls the fall palette “cotton candy colors,’ there are rich neutral and earth tones, with few splashes of color.

Here is one of those palettes showing the colors for gowns in silk taffeta.

The dresses are available for pre-order, and the lookbook can be seen online.

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We also have a look at the just-launched Lilly Pulitzer online only stationery and invitation group at e-stationer CocoDot.

Couurtesy CocoDot.com

CocoDot provides what are commonly known as e-greetings, things like e-vites, e-cards, etc. You may select from blank templates and fill in the appropriate text.

There are too many delightful patterns to count. In addition to words, photographs may also be used to create the desired look.

While we see the beauty of online correspondence in some circumstances (small thank you notes for online courtesies come to mind), wedding invitations via the interwebs?  Non, non, non!

Despite the lovely palettes…

Courtesy CocoDot.com

And stunning Lilly designs…

Courtesy CocoDot.com

Wedding invitations need to arrive the old-fashioned way.  As does most other correspondence.

Buuuuut…..if one is inclined to engage in this sort of thing, and we are (gasp) on a wee, small scale, CocoDot is the service we are likely to use.

Now before anyone starts sending nastygrams in our direction, let’s not get our whiskers in a wad. We recognize and respect the notion we are partaking of a verboten practice. Heresy that is especially distasteful for someone engaged in selling Lilly Pulitzer invitations and stationery made of real paper, as we are.

However, there are individuals we only know online, for whom we have no physical address, virtual acquaintances if you will, people we may not want to ask for their address.  A personalized online greeting to thank a Lilly friend, or say ‘hello’ to a casual online associate seems in perfectly acceptable taste; using the CocoDot product makes sense in that respect. Vastly superior to one of our tedious emails.

CocoDot works like other ‘paperless post’ services, one pays a fee to join, differing levels of memberships are offered.  For anyone else considering this sort of thing, In-style readers can save 30% on an annual membership by using the code INSTYLE at checkout.

InStyle

We shall always offer paper Lilly Pulitzer products here at the Princess, the two methods for staying in touch and extending invitations and other greetings are not mutually exclusive.

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Next, an interesting take on the Ferragamo fall ad campaign from Lauren at Fashionista.

Courtesy Ferragamo via Fashionista

Her issue? The company’s efforts to “… freshen up the Ferragamo brand for a younger audience…”.

“I don’t think that they succeed, nor do I want them to. I like Salvatore Ferragamo because it’s the best in old lady-chic.

I’ve got a couple pairs of those vintage bow flats, with the square little heel and gold charms. I bet spokesmodel Dree Hemingway does, too. Why? Because they look great. And they are great. They don’t need to be modernized or updated. The Vara pump, to me, is as classic as a Chanel ballet flat.

So instead of trying to be something it’s not, Ferragamo should embrace what it is. Soon enough, everyone will be pining for Vara pumps all over again.”

We heartily endorse that sentiment.

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We leave you with this item, we simply must have your esteemed and refined opinions on these:

Courtesy Nike via Coco Perez

This is what happens when Nike meets Hunter, at least that’s our impression, and also what Coco Perez notes in his post on the boots.

Courtesy Nike via Coco Perez

What thinketh everyone? Hot… or merely hideous?

Oops, we almost forgot (this is the last-last thing, honest, promise!) the reminder about the sale on the Lands’ End Canvas collection.  Yesterday we mentioned the LL Bean Signature sale and we know some readers are devotees of this group as well.

LandsEnd.com

Happy hunting.

LL Bean Signature, and an Unusual Launch for Brooks Brothers

Hello-Hello!

Today we have more pictures than prose (there’s a blessing!), hopefully images you shall find moderately appealing. We begin with an early look at fall styles from the recently launched LL Bean Signature line.

The new styles are featured at a delightful blog, N’East Style.

As difficult as it is to contemplate the possibility of a weather change in a few months, the pictures serve to remind us of fall’s inevitable arrival.

Many of the styles are enticing, we are eager to see the catalog.  Our thanks to the N’East Style blog; for an early look at Signature for Men, pop over here.

Perhaps of equal interest, the ongoing LL Bean Signature Sale, with solid markdowns.  This includes the Piped Sweater Jacket (now $64.50 from $129) in the Twilight colorway.

The Mariner Leather Tote (originally $285, now $198) has a more fiscally friendly price point, as does the Chambray Shirt Dress, although the latter is not as deeply discounted as the bag (the dress was $79, now $63.20).

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An even newer launch is now officially underway; Brooks Brothers is promoting its new Fleece line for children.

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

Frequent readers may recall our posts previewing the line, below we show two styles we like, the Cashmere Intarsia Dress, and the Velvet Sailor Dress.

The number of sleeveless dresses for winter is disconcerting (unless they are intended to be worn as jumpers), while many of the accessories are cute.

The retailer continues to leverage new media resources, including its Facebook page; Brooks offers all of its catalogs online as well.

Brooks Brothers is also using the internet in another way, debuting a new collection online, but not at its own website.

Gilt Groupe

The new line is being launched via online ‘members-only’ sale site Gilt.com. We should make that past tense, as the sale went live at Noon EDT.  (If in need of an invite to the site, simply click here.)

Here is the description from Gilt’s sale site:

Available from Gilt before it hits stores in August, Brooks Brothers’ new collegiate-inspired line — which culls inspiration from campus life during the Roaring Twenties as well as vintage advertising from the extensive Brooks archives…”

This will be more than intriguing to watch, not now, but in August when the merchandise lands in-store. Are the Gilt sale prices what one might expect to see in stores and online? Or are these ‘discounted prices’ going to be raised when the selling channel moves from Gilt to the Brooks Brothers brick and mortar stores?  We’ll let you know what we discover.

Gilt has done a stellar job expanding into a ‘full-service’ off-price site, now offering goods for men, women, children and the home, as well as gifts and travel opportunities.

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As we approach the upcoming debut of Mad Men Season 4 we can expect to see many of the show’s stars featured in other media; below, Exhibit A. We’re going to go out on a limb, and suggest that a few friends will be gaga find the August cover of W to be of interest.

Nathaniel Goldberg/W magazine

The August issue showcases what many are describing as actor Jon Hamm’s “smoldering look”.  Mr. Hamm is best known for his role as Mad Men’s Don Draper. He is joined in the magazine feature by actress Rebecca Hall, she co-stars with him in The Town, a film being released this September.

Here is one last photo from the spread; we happily recommend the other photos and accompanying interview, click here to see both.

Nathaniel Goldberg/W magazine

We apologize to our Facebook fans, as we already shared the cover photo on that site, we simply couldn’t resist.  Silly Princess.

On that note we say goodbye until next time!

J. Crew Bridal Store Open & 769 Collection Launch

Hello-Hello and happy almost-weekend!

We jump right in to things today, starting with a look at the new J. Crew Bridal store.

John Aquino/WWD

Frequent readers are familiar with our tedious whining concerns about Crew’s ‘disdain’ for preppy, but we remain favorably impressed with the firm’s bridal line.

Crew is also launching a new line, the 769 Collection, available only in the new store. This collection will feature cocktail dresses and evening gowns, as well as tuxedo jackets and harem pants, according to the Women’s Wear Daily review of the store today. The story quotes Crew’s president, Tracy Gardner, on the store’s niche.

“… J. Crew bridal fills a price niche between David’s Bridal and Vera Wang, offering a range from $229 for a silk tricotine Sophia gown or $350 for a Duchess bow monde satin cocktail dress, to sequin gowns for $1,500, or $3,500 for a metallic Twenties-inspired tulle gown. “We’re not fancy here. We’re still J. Crew, but it’s an elevated experience,” Gardner said.

The Times also has a review of the new shop:

“… has cocktail dresses from the 769 Collection that are exclusive to the store (the one at left is $795) and jewelry pieces like Lulu Frost mesh necklaces with vintage pins and brooches attached (below, $695).” (Here are the images referenced in the Times story quote.)

Courtesy Images via NY Times

There appears to be a solid commitment to customer service, more from the WWD story:

“The receptionist in front of the store is the tip-off to the high-service environment of the store. It’s manned with four personal shoppers and six wedding specialists equipped with hand-held technology and Wi-Fi to quickly answer questions about products and locate items that may be elsewhere in the J. Crew’s multichannel distribution network. “

Shoppers will also find products from Cosabella, Leah C. veils, jewelry pieces from the firm’s collaboration with Miriam Haskell, and cosmetics from Bobbi Brown.

The store officially opens Tuesday with an appearance by Darcy Miller from Martha Stewart Weddings, so if in the city anywhere near Madison and 66th, pop in for a visit.

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In other news from J. Crew Group, merchandise from their Madewell brand is finally now available online; the e-commerce site for Madewell is up and running.

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Yesterday we talked about the single most-popular post here as we hit the one-million blog views milestone; we’ll merely say that post involved the Hamptons and Gossip Girl.  Imagine our surprise when checking WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription required) this morning, seeing a sizable story titled “Summer in the Hamptons: Better, But No Boom“.

The piece looks at the recession’s impact on the area, focusing on the retail sector, noting the departure of one luxury retailer, Gucci. But there is a lengthy roster of store openings: Balenciaga, Chico’s, Juicy Couture, and many more.  One way to gauge expectations for summer? Traffic on the Jitney, which a spokesperson described in the story:

““2009 was our best year ever as far as passenger counts, and currently for 2010, we are already surpassing those numbers, month to month,”

Good news for Jitney riders, the posh Ambassador service is returning, complete with on-board movies.

If in that corner of the globe on Saturday, fans of Hamptons Cottages & Gardens can meet the magazine’s new Editor in Chief, Kendell Cronstom; there’s a little get-together at the Maidstone from 5-7pm.

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We have a few more Sales & Savings opportunities, beginning with an important note we forgot to mention in yesterday’s list of fiscally-friendly offerings:

• Select LL Bean Signature merchandise is 30% off.

• Also, Saks is doing their online-only Home and Gourmet sale. (It looks like some fab goodies from the Macbeth Collection are included.)

• And Neiman’s is promoting a special on Cole-Haan, 40% off select styles; this is also an online-only promotion and runs today (Thursday, 5/27) only, ending at midnight.

NeimanMarcus.com

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We leave you with a special Pretty in Pink today in keeping with our wedding chatter, a piece from the new Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaid collection.

On that lovely image we say g’bye until next time!