Popped or Not, Nantucket or the Vineyard?

Hello-Hello and happy Monday.

For those who don’t summer an entire season at the shore it is once again that time of year, friends and families are packing up and heading off for for a few days at the beach. That makes a story in today’s Boston Globe perfect reading, it looks at two of our favorite places.

Via Weather-Forecast

“Islands Apart” considers the age-old debate about which is the preferred island: Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard…? The story suggests that perhaps sentiments on the topic have intensified.

“But what has changed, natives say, is how rabid the rivalry has become off the field, especially among the summer people… who care very much about what their island choice says about them.”

Now, we don’t come from the school of “let’s pick where we summer based on how it will impact the way people think of us”.  IOHO basics like proximity, history, ease of access, and weather make more sense when determining one’s vacation spot, no? Nor are we sharing our personal preference between the two islands (full disclosure: yours truly grew up summering on the shores of Lake Michigan, these two lovely spots are merely places we have been fortunate enough to visit), but we can say many of the observations made by residents and visitors in Billy Baker’s article ring true:

“Both islands, of course, are summer paradises of great natural beauty. They are also very expensive, very exclusive, and very preppy. Nantucket, the broad-brush argument goes, is just more extreme in all categories. In other words, many Vineyarders say, “snobby.’’

One point made in the article involves simple geographic distinctions:

“Martha’s Vineyard is much larger and more populated, with six towns that have distinct personalities; while Nantucket is just one town. The Vineyard is also considerably closer to the mainland. The traditional ferry takes just 45 minutes to arrive, and well over two hours to get to Nantucket.”

The story hones in on an aspect of the rivalry that may be easiest to envision, fashion differences between ACK and the Vineyard, more specifically, brands.

“In Vineyard Vines, a self-described “preppy’’ clothing store that began on Martha’s Vineyard and has now spread to other Sperry meccas, including Nantucket, pastels, braided belts, and shorts with whales on them rule the day.”

And it’s here where we get to a hot-button issue for many Princess readers, the article quotes a VV assistant store manager, Julia Graham:

“It’s basically the same style,’’ said Graham, who is from Greenwich, Conn. and has been summering on the Vineyard her whole life. “But in Nantucket, they pop the collars up.’’

The popped collar, even for a girl from Greenwich, is a thing, a symbol, the epitome of the preppy snob. Except that on Nantucket, many wear that exact stereotype as a badge of honor.”

Full disclosure #2: your trusty correspondent does not ascribe to the popped collar practice.  With no disrespect to those who do, we never have, it is more-than-unlikely we ever will.

Murray's Toggery

When presented with Graham’s assessment, John Murray, the latest generation of his family to own Murray’s Toggery Shop in Nantucket, the birthplace of Nantucket Reds – perhaps the quintessential preppy trouser – did not dispute the pop-collared joke.

“I’m OK with that,’’ he said. “We like to think of ourselves as more sophisticated.’’

Via Damee NYC

Your thoughts? Is one or the other considered a favorite?

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Also today, a quick update on this weekend’s Red Cross Ball in Monaco. Below we see newlyweds Prince Albert and Charlene, behind them you can just about see the Prince’s sisters, Princesses Caroline (L) and Stephanie.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Princess Charlene wore a deep fuchsia gown by Akris, as well as a custom-made necklace by Van Cleef and Arpels.

Reuters via The Daily Mail

As an update to our post that shared some of the rumors about the couple’s relationship and marriage, the Palace says those reports are untrue; the couple is suing L’Express, a French magazine that printed allegations about the Princess trying to flee the country just days before her wedding. Hmmmm.

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Finally today, an early look at one of the soon-to-be-released ads promoting the upcoming Missoni for Target collection.

Courtesy Image

The enormous collection launches September 13, and will be a major component of Targét’s Fashion’s Night Out event.

We’ll be back on Wednesday, until then may the sun be shining on your island, wherever it may be.

“Here Comes the Prepster”???

Hello-Hello, is everyone recovered from the weekend’s festivities?

We begin with an interesting story from AOL’s Daily Finance, “Trucker Hat Meet Boat Shoe: Here Comes the Prepster“.

“An amalgamation of two seemingly irreconcilable looks, preppie and hipster, the new style seems poised to take hipsters to a new sartorial level while it brings preppies to the forefront of fashion.”

Us? At the forefront of fashion? Bruce Watson’s story references names familiar to readers:

“…the classic preppy brands, a collection of companies that have never really achieved fashion superstardom, but have managed to maintain a robust cultural presence for decades — or, in the case of Brooks Brothers, over a century. From LL Bean to J Press, Murray’s Toggery Shop to Paul Stuart, these brands are the opposite of faddish: steadily profitable, they have generated loyal, if relatively small, followings.”

The author makes a strong argument for the blending of the two styles.

“While popular retailers like the aforementioned Zara, H&M and Uniqlo have latched on to a stylish office look that borders on preppy, some of the classic preppy brands have also sought to capture the hipster market. LL Bean, for example, launched LL Bean Signature, a more slim-cut, tailored version of the company’s classic garments. Priced a little bit higher than most of the brand’s offerings, Signature’s clothes were designed by popular designer Alex Carleton, and are skewed to a younger audience. Similarly, Brooks Brothers’ Black Fleece and Paul Stuart’s Phineas Cole lines also pander to a more body-conscious audience.

To read Mr. Watson’s ultimate conclusion, and also see a video on the topic, click here. (NOTE: If the author sounds familiar, we recently posted about his story “Fashionistas, Recessionistas and Prepsters: Is Preppy Dead?“)

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Next on the hit parade (and perhaps evidence of the validity of Mr. Watson’s theory), a story from men’s fashion site District Cut, “Coach Gets Preppy“.

The photos used in the post are from über-hip Japanese style magazine Popeye.

“Riding on the sudden resurgence of prep and collegiate style, the editorial entitled “Take Preppy” mixes and matches bags and other accessories, giving Coach a relevance that’s sure been missed.”

The story also provides some welcome information, if true:

“Come spring, nary a monogram print in sight…”

Sadly, any expectation that spring will bring merchandise sans the logo goes in the “we’ll believe it when we see it” category. While there are some lovely Coach pieces available now…

Fully half of the apparel and accessories items carry a Coach logo, be it the otherwise appealing Morgan Blazer…

… or a basic hat.

We shall effort optimism on this front.  Regardless, we are clearly in the minority with logophobia issues, the company just reported another extraordinarily profitable quarter.

For something irresistible and logo-free, look at these darling Coach Enamel Bow Bangles.

Cute, cute, cute.

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We have a different sort of Pretty in Pink (and green) to share today, related to our obsession fondness for textiles, we enjoy hoarding a staggering amount the little collection we have acquired over the years.  So when visiting the always delightful Diary of a Southern Belle and seeing her post about fabric, we realized we had to share one of the treasures she posted. Knowing our fondness for all things nautical, here are two swatches from the “Urban Zoologie” collection by Ann Kelle.

Not included in the Belle’s post but meriting a peek, two wonderful Adventures in Argyle and sweet hearts from the ‘Remix’ Collection by the same designer.

Our other Pretty in Pink comes via Erin at the Pink and Green Scene.

The letters are from Bliss Living, and available in a variety of colors and patterns.

With those fun photos we say goodbye until next time!