Sneak Peeks: Zac Posen & John-Paul Gaultier for Target, Longchamps Sale

Hello-Hello and welcome to a Thursday Friday!

Many thanks to all for their lovely comments  on yesterday’s post, we appreciate the support more than you may realize.

Back to today, there is lots and lots going on!  In an effort to jam it all most of it into this post, we’ll do some of the newsbytes headline-style

Our Twitter followers saw this yesterday, but for those who don’t Tweet, we were spreading the word that Longchamps is on sale at Magnums (the best online dealer for the brand IOHO, and more importantly, an authorized vendor), with discounts of up to 40% on some pieces.  (A bit of unsolicited advice: if interested, don’t dilly-dally here, go shop now, styles sell out quickly at these prices.)

The Longchamps site also has markdowns on some merchandise; if unable to find your heart’s desire at Magnums, it is worth a visit.

Also in Longchamps news, WWD reports today that model Kate Moss has done a line for the luxury label, scheduled to launch in stores February 11.  Ms. Moss has been the brand’s face for several years.

How could we not do this for today’s Pretty in Pink?

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Other bullet points today:

• Jimmy Choo is doing a line with Uggs.  No, we did not make this up.  (However, another individual here in the office did ask if this makes the new collection “Chuggs”.)
• Word is that Bloomingdale’s is working on opening outlet stores to better compete with Neiman’s Last Call and Saks’ Off Fifth.  Lord & Taylor’s first outlet store opens in February.
• Women’s Wear Daily also has a story about the future of Martin & Osa, the concept store American Eagle Outfitters debuted in 2006. The story quotes retail analyst Liz Smith:

“The older customer AEO attempted to target with M+O proved hard to please and AEO has struggled with fit, design and building awareness for the new brand,”

Ouch.

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WWD also has the news about a new face at Polo Golf:

Courtesy Photo via WWD.com

Webb Simpson has been signed by Polo Ralph Lauren as a brand ambassador.

If interested in seeing precisely what looks Mr. Simpson is wearing, he is currently playing in the Sony Open in Honolulu. (Pssst, if in need of any polos from the Women’s Golf line, these are on sale!)

Polo Golf

That pictures looks like a pile of ice cream sherbet to us. Yumalicious.

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We have an early look at the Zac Posen for Target collection via Refinery 29 and Fashionista.

The collection is slated to be in stores April 25.

Fashionista has images of all the looks.

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But that is not the only designer line for Le Boutique Targét we have photos from – Refinery 29 snagged pictures from Jean-Paul Gaultier’s upcoming collection.

This group launches March 7.

From their story on the collection:

“At times the looks can look sweet, ranging from prim floral A-line skirts to bustier tops with a chipper, sailor’s neckline. But other times the looks can be positively head-scratching.”

And finally, Fashionista is reporting that Target’s next designer collaboration will be Tucker by Gaby Basora.  Below a few looks from that line:

Photo via Blackburn & Sweetzer

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We leave you with two delicious looks, the first a different take on a classic.  Regular readers know are familiar with our completely irrational devotion fondness for Hello Kitty; below, the Hello Kitty LOVE Pendant in sterling with Pink and White sapphires/diamonds. It is available at some Zales stores.

The second item is related to someone’s addiction to appreciation of a certain snack food:

Hershey's

The Hershey’s Kiss Pendant in sterling is rather cute, perhaps a little something for a Valentine on your list.

With that sweet thought we say g’bye for now, hoping everyone enjoys a simply splendid weekend.

Tiffany Says Not in Our Backyard, Next Target Designers Revealed, Black Friday

Hello-Hello and welcome to a Monday!

We begin with a tale about Tiffany; this time it is the story of the luxury retailer’s lawsuit against its landlord in Century City (California).  It seems the jeweler is making it ever-so-clear they do not want fast-fashion merchandiser H&M as a neighbor. (As in H&M that just did the wildly popular ‘Jimmy Choo for H&M’ line, described in this post.)

Apparently Tiffany believes having H&M as a neighbor would be just this side of apocalyptic; the LA Times has more:

“H&M is not a luxury or upscale retailer. H&M is at best characterized as a ‘popular-price’ mass merchandise clothing retailer.”

“The location of the H&M store will cause irreparable injury to Tiffany’s business reputation as a luxury retailer, a reputation that Tiffany has enjoyed and worked hard to maintain for more than a century and a half,” the lawsuit said.”

While understanding a brand’s desire to protect its caché, the story points out that in Pasadena the two stores are almost next door to each other. Other stories on the topic wonder about Tiffany’s efforts to embrace the ‘aspirational shopper,’ those coveting upscale brands while also shopping mass retailers like H&M.

Courtesy Tiffany

Many such consumers are precisely the same customers fond of merchandise displaying a retailer’s logo, something Tiffany has marketed strongly the last several years.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out. We do want to note this is not ‘new news,’ as we are wont to say; the original story broke in September and yours truly keeps forgetting to post it.

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A few more retail notes today, including word on the next two accessories designers for Targèt; the Cynthia Vincent for Target collection will launch at Target stores nationwide and at Target.com from April 18, available through through July 1. Below, several styles from Ms. Vincent’s Fall 09 Collection.

Also, headwear from Eugenia Kim will debut next year, it is going to be the first hat launch in Target’s series of limited-time-only accessories. The Eugenia Kim for Target collection debuts April 18, running through June 20. Below, looks from the 2008 Eugenia Kim line.

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There is also news that Forever 21 has launched its love and beauty cosmetic line.

Courtesy Forever 21 via WWD

Everything in the new line is priced at $10 or less; it all appears to be available online.

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Before delving headfirst into our next topic it is time we are honest with our cherished readers; we do not participate in Black Friday.  It is really not our cup of tea; additionally, we are always blessed by a visit from The Queen Mother for Thanksgiving, precluding any chance to partake of the mayhem. Such a shame. (Cough-cough.)

We still desire to maintain contributions to the PPP (Pocketbook Protection Program), continuing efforts at providing a list of fiscally friendly locales for the upcoming frenzy.

To be fair, there are far too many special markdowns, discounts and promotions to accurately track; we are including those we believe to be of the most interest to our bloggy friends.

Here we go, beginning with Talbots, already offering 20% off merchandise and free shipping; use offer code 020556520 at checkout to receive the discounts.

Martin & Osa will discount all denim (regularly $89.50 – $120) and cashmere to $59 (regularly priced at $130 – $170).

• Brooks Brothers: November 27th and Saturday, November 28th until 12:00 noon each day. Shop Early and receive an additional 15% off your entire purchase; receive an additional 5% when using your MasterCard or your Brooks Brothers Platinum MasterCard

• J. Crew Outlet stores will take an additional 40% off Clearance merchandise before 8am Friday morning; clearly one should check with their local factory store for hours
  • Other discounts at Crew outlets  for the weekend include 30% – 50% off select holiday styles & 30 – 40% off select Crewcuts holiday styles

• Tommy Hilfiger Factory Stores: 40% off the entire store all day on Black Friday (the 27th)
  • There are additional discounts for specific days, including the Wednesday before Thanksgiving; to download coupons providing these markdowns, click here.

• Banana Republic Outlets: 40% Off Any Purchase

• Old Navy stores: Open 12 – 7pm on Thanksgiving Day, & 3am – midnight on Black Friday, too many discounts to list

• Henri Bendel 8-10am Friday:
  • Save 40% on all Cold Weather Knit Hats, Scarves & Gloves
  • Save 40% on Bath & Body Collection
  • Save 25% on Candle Collections, Home Fragrance, Sweet Treats
  • (After 10am these items remain on sale but at 25% off)

• Macys.com continues its Thanksgiving sale with savings of 20% to 50%, ending 11/28.

• Lacoste: 30% off everything in the store

We are still seeking verifiable information on the following stores: Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Loft, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren & Polo Ralph Lauren Factory stores, Brooks Brothers Factory stores.

NOTE: Please be sure to note if we are citing discounts at regular stores and factory stores or outlets.  Be sure to let us know if you have information to share on any preptastic shopping opportunities and we’ll pass it along.  If looking for other products, here are some general Black Friday sites:

• Black-Friday.net
• BlackFridayAds
• GottaDeal.com
• BlackFriday2009.com

Savvy shoppers may remember that after all the Black Friday comes Cyber Monday: the day when online retailers offer special deals.  That tradition is alive and well here at The Princess, in fact, we’ll have a little surprise for what we’re calling Pink & Green Monday.

Until next time, do let us know if you