A Lack of Logos? Yes, Please!

Hello-Hello! We enjoyed a glorious weekend and hope you did as well.

We begin today with what can only be described as good news, a story about These Challenging Economic Times and logos disappearing from upscale merchandise. The Financial Times recently ran a piece titled “No Logo – Luxury products without overt branding are the new mark of exclusivity“.

The appeal of living large hasn’t disappeared but it seems the logos associated with lavish lifestyles have.

Below we share two higher-end bags, the Valentino Aphrodite and Fendi Leopard-Print Peekaboo.

Valentino (L) & Fendi (R) at Bergdorf Goodman

Frequent readers are painfully aware familiar with the topic, we do blather on incessantly occasionally chat about the issue. This isn’t the first time we have heard about the disappearance of logoed-up (rather like tarted up, no?) merchandise, we did a post on the topic almost exactly one year ago.

In that post we used this screen grab from the Girls’ section at Burberry to demonstrate that perhaps the company wasn’t on board  with the logo-free movement.

Burberry Online October 2010

How refreshing to visit that same children’s department today.

Burberry Childrenswear October 2011

A look at the Girls’ section online reveals a positive scene indeed.

Burberry Girls

Jim Shi’s story talks about Valextra, exclusively sold at Barneys.

Emanuele Carminati Molina, president of the Italian luxury leather goods company Valextra, says the rich have “found satisfaction in rediscovering private luxury”.”

The brand is carried only at Barney’s, below we show the Valextra Caju Mirror Tote and Namaste Big Hobo.

Valextra Bags at Barneys

Another brand mentioned in the story is Hermès.

During the downturn, high-end brand Hermès known for timeless bags rather than a new, trinket-laden style every season – has thrived. It posted an increase of 50 per cent in its first half profits this year and is looking to hire 400 staff to boost production.

Hermès bags are not completely devoid of logos, as seen with the pink Clou de Selle below right, but it is a far more discreet look than many other brands. On the left we show the Picotin Lock, elegant and understated.

Hermès

Not all companies are entering the logo-free zone, here is an email that arrived this morning from Saks, showcasing the Gucci Resort line.

Saks Fifth Avenue

To be fair, not everything Gucci offers is a walking advertisement for the brand. We only wish the trend would filter down to more brands, allowing merchandise to speak for itself.

Not everyone got the memo, including Juicy Couture; on the left we show the Scottie Daydreamer ($198) and on the right, the High Drama Daydreamer ($248).

Juicy Couture

However, it *appeared* the percentage of bags sans the Juicy logo was higher than I recall, perhaps the company’s not-so-fabulous performance has positively impacted its designs.

We do want to share two items we stumbled on while wasting time window shopping researching things for the post. Both are by Bottega Veneta at Bergdorfs and both are insanely expensive. The Two Tone Deerskin Tote and Woven Lambskin/Linen Tote are today’s Pretty in Pink.

Bottega Veneta at Bergdorf Goodman

We would have to hold quite a few bake sales here at the Prepatorium to come up with the $$$ for either. Sigh.

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One quick Sales and Savings note:  J. Crew is offering an extra 30% off sale merchandise.  Additionally, Crew is leaving its online Factory Outlet ‘open’ through Thursday, especially good news for parents as the company just added childrenswear to the outlet this month.

J. Crew

Use promo code OURTREAT at checkout to receive the discount.

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Finally today, a look back at this weekend’s Head of the Charles.

Elise Amendola/AP Photo

The annual Regatta looked like another fabulous event.

Michael Dwyer/AP Photo

It was a good weekend for the Crimson, Harvard had a stellar showing. Several friends were on hand and/or actually competing, including the Queen Bee, a tip of the hat to them.  We also applaud several preptastic retailers, Brooks Brothers continued its sponsorship of the event, Smathers and Branson partnered with North River Outfitters for limited edition HOC goods like the flask shown below.

Smathers & Branson/North River Outfitters

Until next time, may all of your oars be pulling in the same direction!

Dressing for Dinner with Tory, Vuitton’s Creatures, Has Kate Designed her own Dress?!?

Hello-Hello, welcome to a new week.

We begin with a little party-hopping, Tory Burch was honored at last week’s “Dinner with a Designer” gala, put on by the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America).

John Shearer/Getty Images via WWD.com

We were intrigued by what the folks at The Fashion Lovers said about how guests were dressed:

“In a night where everyone dressed a little too casual for my taste, it was nice to see some stars dressed up a bit.”

Below, Haillee Steinfeld (l) and Eva Amurri (r), both wearing Tory Burch.

John Shearer/Getty Images via WWD

Other stars on hand, Teresa Palmer, Michelle Monaghan and Kristin Davis, all three ladies are also dressed in pieces by the designer.

PHOTOS: John Shearer/Getty Images via WWD.com

We’re guessing singer Eliza Doolittle may be one of those underdressed individuals being referenced in the quote above.

John Shearer/Getty Images via WWD

It is difficult to grasp why anyone would arrive at a party attired this way.

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A few very brief updates on the Kate Middleton wedding dress front, the rumors and speculation are now flying at a fast and furious clip.

• Over the weekend Yvonne Yorke wrote “exclusively!” in a HuffPo post that the designer is Sophie Cranston of Libélula, some readers may recognize the Dulwich coat from that label as worn earlier this year by Miss Middleton.
  

  FAME via The Huffington Post

• One peril of suddenly achieving notoriety on a global scale, the traffic can crash your website.

Via Libélula

• The Daily Mail then breathlessly reported another version of the story:

“Kate designs her own dress: It’s ivory satin and lace with pearl buttons a 10ft train and a ‘nod’ to Lady Diana”

We’re guessing that before we hit publish on this post there will be many more headlines on the topic, it is all becoming very entertaining to watch from afar. (For our two cents on the designer’s wedding gowns, click here to visit sister site What Kate Wore.)

One other note, this one on a footwear line favored by Kate Middleton that we also happen to like, Women’s Wear Daily reports that LK Bennett is entering the US market.

PHOTO: Robert Mitra/WWD

The line will be available this fall at Bloomingdale’s and other upscale shops, as well as two LK Bennett boutiques.

Again, not everyone is interested in the event and all of the hoopla surrounding it. In fact, Page Six reports that NBC is scaling back some of its coverage of the event:

“NBC Universal has cut a number of pretaped segments from its “aggressive and comprehensive coverage” of the royal wedding because insiders fear Prince William and Kate Middleton are “too boring,” according to sources.

“But sources told us worries over viewer fatigue resulted in a decision to cut up to half of the pretaped footage. “They’re allotting fewer resources to it because they’re afraid it’s not going to rate well,” said one.”

According to the paper NBC denies they are cutting back on coverage.

Last week we mentioned a gift popular among those not-quite-so-interested in the goings-on:

Via Sorry But...

We have good news for stateside readers interested in the mugs, they are now available internationally.

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We also have quick word about what is being called a “True Prep” sale at online “members only” site Gilt Groupe. The sale is described this way:

“A preppy look is always spot-on for spring—think elegant lawn parties and trips around the Cape—and in this sale you’ll find pieces that go way beyond basic polo. Stock up on buttoned-up basics like cute cardigans and madras dresses, plus an array of pants, skirts, and trenches.”

Below, some of the images accompanying the promotional information (we don’t recognize *any* of the three styles shown).

Via Gilt.com

Frequent readers know we are more-than-underwhelmed by promotion touting the “members-only” aspect of the flash-sale sites, as anyone can join. (If in need of an invitation just click here.)

However, Gilt has previously offered decent discounts, so it is likely we’ll take a peek at what is offered; the sale opens (in a virtual sense) online at midnight tonight (12:01am Tuesday to be more precise).  Gilt is also offering $5.95 shipping on all orders through the 21st, nothing to scoff at IOHO. (They are currently running a Shoshanna sale, another line we are rather fond of here at The Prepatorium.)

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We leave you with a few amazing creations from Louis Vuitton.

Courtesy Photo via WWD.com

The ‘creatures’ are all made of small Vuitton leather goods, created at the company’s request by UK artist Billie Achilleos.  Above and below, the “Grasshopper.”

Via "If Its Hip Its Here"

The Chameleon.

Via If Its Hip Its Here

The armadillo.

Via If Its Hip Its Here

A very different use for the usual offerings from the luxury leather goods company.

Goodbye until next time!

“Parisian Prep” & Brooks Brothers… on Twitter?

Hello-Hello, happy Monday!

We begin with an interpretation of the prep aesthetic we hadn’t previously encountered, one dubbed “Parisian Prep” by a writer at the Daily Gamecock, USC’s student newspaper.

“Parisian prep is the preppy style to be influenced by, and is not to be confused with the Ivy League prep of Oxford shirts and plaid skirts.”

The writer is Amber Rose, here is more from her column:

“As flawlessly showcased at Louis Vuitton, it includes the classic black-and-white-striped tee paired with bright pastels such as pink, green and muted browns.”

We’re not sure if this is what Ms. Rose had in mind or not, but below we show looks from the upcoming Louis Vuitton Resort collection.

(A personal aside: the logo/LV monogram dress on the right is utterly hideous.) Back to the story:

“Bold tweed suits or accessories are always classically French, beginning years ago with the classic Chanel suit. To make it more “of the now,” pick a graphic pattern in black and white, throw on a solid V-neck or graphic tee underneath and again add some cute flats and a scarf.”

The piece is illustrated with this photo, rather odd as the story’s focus is on feminine styles. But knowing the tight budgets at newspapers these days, let alone student newspapers, we understand the paucity of images, and applaud Ms. Rose for seizing the topic and running with it.

MCT via The Daily Gamecock

It is always fun seeing other interpretations of the style, and hope you enjoy reading about the topic as well.

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A few quick techno-updates of note, both involving prep retailers.  In the “Will wonders never cease?” category, Brooks Brothers has joined Twitter. Upon ‘following’ Brooks on Twitter, one receives a message from the retailer:

“Thx for following America’s Original Clothier. Please view our style legend to see how we’ll be fashioning our Tweets.”

The message links to this image, a brief explainer of acronyms the venerable retailer plans to use when Tweeting. (For the uninitiated, “Tweets” must be 140 characters or less, so abbreviations like these help keep the word count down.)

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

How exactly does the company use the micro-blogging/messaging service? Here is one of today’s Tweets:

While we don’t have any snappy acronyms, we do Tweet; pop over and say ‘hello’ if so inclined. (If interested, Brooks has also established a Facebook page, done in a very Brooks manner.)

Our other update involves Lilly Pulitzer, the company has overhauled its blog, A Colorful Blog.

"A Colorful Life"

The new design is light, bright, and very easy on the eyes, while also maintaining the whimsical style one associates with Lilly.

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We also have a few Sales & Savings to pass on, we’re guessing these will be plentiful between now and the end of the week.

• Fans of Tory Burch may have an interest in tomorrow’s sale at RueLaLa, one of those online ‘members only’ shopping sites; the merchandise will be offered starting at 11am. If in need of an invite, just click here. (Those with a sweet tooth may be intrigued by the Mrs. Prindable’s sale as well, beginning at the same place and time.)
• Neiman’s Last Call is touting 40% off one’s entire purchase, both online and in-store, through Tuesday night at midnight. And call us crazy, but somehow we expect Needless Markup Neimans to offer more discounts this holiday week and weekend.

Speaking of Last Call, the two new Last Call Studio stores are now open in Paramus (NJ) and Rockville (MD).  Leilah at Madison Avenue Spy actually visited one, and posted about the shopping experience, saying the store “…closely resembles a Nordstrom Rack or a Saks Off Fifth.”  Here is a photo at the Studio store Leilah shot.

Via Madison Avenue Spy

We posted about the new ‘Studio’ stores back in October when the company announced their addition to the Neiman’s family and must say, we did not expect the new outlets to look this… well, spartan.  Our sense of how the new chain will do?  On the surface of things it seems likely to further dilute the brand, shoppers won’t know the difference between the three shops: Neiman Marcus, “regular” Last Call stores and Last Call Studio stores.

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For today’s Pretty in Pink feature we leave you with two items, both from museum shops, wonderful places to while away the time as you whittle down your shopping list.  One such place that we love is the MOMA store; below left we show the Fuchsia Lollipop Snowman, $20 ($18 for members); on the right we see the Pink Heart Vase from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, $22.

With that, g’bye until next time!

When Logos Go Bad & Hamptons Habitats

Hello-Hello!

We are brief today, in large part because The Consort and I the Princess Elves must deal with this:

Princess InterGalactic HQ

That is but a portion of the 300+ pounds of Lilly Pulitzer Fall 2010 goodies, along with ribbon belts, preppy totes and other treasures the UPS man dropped off today.  Sadly, Tilly doesn’t quite seem… well… she doesn’t appear to be engaged with the task at hand.

"Where's my biscuit?"

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We begin with a follow-up to a previous post about the topic of a hypothetical decline in the popularity of designer logos; today’s story comes via the Telegraph, on the far side of the pond.  We offer the following from the paper’s story, “Designer logos are a fashion no-go“:

“Handbags and accessories with large logos are being removed from designers’ collections to be replaced with more subtle designs as part of a move for “antibling” fashion.”

The Telegraph story uses an image featuring one of our original AntiPreps, below we see Paris Hilton with her Louis Vuitton handbag and bathing suit in 2006 and on the right, a new bag from Louis Vuitton.

REX Features via The Telegraph

The story is pegged to a quote from the CEO of Vuitton’s parent company suggesting logos are shrinking and/or disappearing. (That quote was mentioned briefly in this post.)

“His admission was an extraordinary turning point in the top-tier designer industry, where design labels have made billions of pounds by having accessories with big logos showcased by rappers, footballers’ wives and socialites.”

Below, Farandole Strass rings by Vuitton.

In the story, the Telegraph’s fashion director is quoted:

“This really began the day Daniella Westbrook was pictured head to toe in the Burberry check. The shift has been taking place for some time.”

Below, Ms. Westbrook in the ensemble under discussion.

PHOTO: MrPaparazzi.com via The Sun

To be sure, this….

Chanel

is a vast improvement over this.

Chanel

The subject seems to be gaining traction, another UK paper had a story on the topic today; The Mail’s story is titled, “Stealth wealth: Why the label to have this season is no label at all as consumers turn their back on logo-heavy designers”.  That story also uses a photo of another member of the Anti-Prep Wall of Shame, “Snooki” and her Gucci handbag.

PHOTO: Xposure via The Daily Mail

Clearly we are intrigued to see how this plays out, do let us know your thoughts on the topic, and what you are seeing in your corner of the globe. We are guessing this isn’t exactly your vision of the ideal decor for your domicile.

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ModerneKunst.no

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One other quick note we meant to include yesterday, spotted when perusing Vanity Fair; the magazine has a pretty feature, “Behind the Hamptons Hedges“. The piece showcases eight individuals who spend significant time in the area, like polo player Nic Roldan….

Alix Smith/Vanity Fair

… and Dylan Lauren, photographed at the Dylan’s Candy Bar in East Hampton.

Alix Smith/Vanity Fair

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We’re off to have a little talk with Tilly about her work ethic.

We’ll see you next time, probably Monday!

American Apparel Plans on Preppy (Seriously) & Royalty Hits the Hamptons

Hello-Hello, and happy Monday!

Today we begin with a Sign of The Times that we hoped would herald a return to sanity when it comes to logos. Below, a snippet from this story in Women’s Wear Daily about luxury merchandise and markets:

“…Gucci Group would move away from logos, “adjusting to this new perception of luxury, which is more subtle, more sophisticated.”

The comments come from Gucci’s parent company, PPH; we can only hope this movement points to a diminution in the number of Logophobia attacks one suffers when in close proximity to most Gucci merchandise. Unfortunately, the “move away from logos” doesn’t appear applicable to all Gucci items.

‘Subtle’ and ‘sophisticated’ those are not. Nor are two handbags from the Fall 2010 line.

Perhaps we didn’t fully understand the company’s intent when it comes to this topic.

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Next, reports that American Apparel is moving toward more ‘traditional’ styles.  Sunday’s Chronicle carried a story entitled “Can Preppy Look Save American Apparel Empire?”

“After outfitting the world of 18- to 30-year-olds in all manner of T-shirts and leggings, American Apparel is going preppy, diving into more sophisticated garments such as blazers, pleated pants, button-down shirts and more formal lace tops.”

We would find the notion laughable were it not obvious this is the firm’s direction; it certainly goes in the “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” category. But when visiting the company’s online store one notices the home page touting “Classic Guy” styles.

American Apparel

“Preppy” from the firm that the story notes “… remade the hipster wardrobe, sensing the demand for neon nylon bike shorts and lace-thong leotards…”?  Not to mention the firm known for its overtly racy ads featuring scantily clad (or unclad) young people? (If unfamiliar with this marketing maneuver, all one need do is visit the company’s online Photo Archive to see examples.)

One of the most surprising items we saw in the men’s section, the Red Wing shoe, similar to many boat shoes, albeit with trendier lines.

American Apparel is contending with a number of issues, not the least of which is possible delisting on the New York Stock Exchange; this is compounded by its own accounting firm quitting, citing concerns over some of the company’s financial data.

Other challenges are explained in the story (which also appears in Bloomberg Business Week):

“Before the financial concerns intensified, Charney had been contending with damaging sexual-harassment allegations followed by an immigration bust. Fifteen hundred workers at the Los Angeles factory had to be let go owing to lack of documentation and 1,000 more quit over concern of being swept up for immigration violations.”

(To learn more about American Apparel’s CEO Dov Charney, click here, he has his own web page.)

One mystery amid the style changes: we don’t understand why the new direction appears targeted only to male shoppers. Visiting the women’s section of the website doesn’t indicate any evidence of a newly conservative or traditional approach.

American Apparel

Indeed, items the company is known for abound; most are NSFW (Not Safe for Work viewing).

American Apparel

To be fair, there are some basics available, like the Unisex Collared Shirts and Unisex Tees.

But by and large it seems that American Apparel’s new ‘preppy’ clothing styles are intended for the gentlemen, not the ladies.

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We close with a quick look at this weekend’s benefit for the Princess Grace Foundation in the Hamptons.

Astrid Stawiarz for The Wall St Journal

On hand for the festivities (and also a co-host), Monaco’s Prince Albert II and fiancée Charlene Wittstock. Louis Vuitton was the other primary host, the event was held at the Water Mill home of Anne Hearst McInerney and Jay McInerney.  Below we see Ms. Hearst and Mr. McInerney, the latter is an author we very much enjoy reading.

Monaco’s royal wedding is scheduled for July 11, 2011. For more on how Ms. Wittstock is approaching that event, we turn to Women’s Wear Daily:

“But Wittstock seems very low-key about her upcoming nuptials, scheduled for next year, even if the rest of European society isn’t. “I’m not one of those girls who imagined themselves walking down the aisle in a big dress,” she said. “My style is very easy.” Wittstock was wearing gold flip flops with her gown.”

With that we say G’bye until next time!