Lilly Pulitzer’s Home Store Experiment, Serious Party Frocks & Pooches on Parade

Hello-Hello, welcome to another wacky week here at the Prepatorium, when all manner of things seem to be happening at the same time.

We begin with word that Lilly Pulitzer is going to experiment with a new type of store altogether, one that the company is going to try out in Raleigh, NC. Here is more from the News Observer’s story:

“The store will be a Lilly Pulitzer Lifestyle Store, the first Lilly Pulitzer store in the country to sell home and fashion items under one roof. It will be similar to stores from companies such as Anthropologie that put different kinds of merchandise in one outlet.”

Below, pieces from the soon-to-debut Lilly Pulitzer Furniture line via Dovecote Decor.

Photo via Dovecote Decor

According to the story putting apparel & accessories right alongside the new home furnishings collection from HFI is a test; we presume that if it is successful the practice will be replicated in other locations.

Via Dovecote Decor

On the surface it makes a great deal of sense, allowing the company to display even a few items from what is an *enormous* furniture collection of 200+ pieces alongside its iconic clothing and accessories.  We may have to impose upon our friends in the area to do a little investigating once this is up and running, hello, Adventures of a Southern Newlywed?

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We move now to Fashion Week, with a look at Jason Wu’s wonderful RTW styles for this fall.

GoRunway.com via Style.com

While the notion of dealing with anything for fall is anathema, the tailoring in this collection is simply stunning. Below, just a few of the designer’s gorgeous party frocks.

GoRunway.com via Style.com

The word exquisite comes to mind.

GoRunway.com via Style.com

Here is a closer look at the incredible fabric used on one of the gowns.

Via

Bliss.

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In Friday’s post we promised a look at the Fall/Winter styles from Nautica, a Princess fave.

Via Fashionising.com

As with all collections, the company invokes its nautical roots. Designer Chris Cox said his inspiration for the collection was Sleeping Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan.

Via Fashionising.com

From WWD’s review:

“Never forsaking the brand’s DNA, he transformed an archival peacoat into a form-fitting, elongated version, trimmed the suits to give them a fresh and modern feel and added several wool toggle coats for those crisp evenings at the boathouse.”

Via The Fashionisto.com

The presentation was staged to look like a waterside setting, pulled off rather successfully IOHO.

Via Fashionising.com

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Because it’s not enough to have all of the nonsense mentioned above going on, it’s also time for this.

Westminster Kennel Club

You know we simply have to share a few reminders that Westminster is underway.

Seth Wenig/AP

The spots underneath those stripes belong to Mia, a Dalmation entered in this year’s show.  Below, Nicole the Basset Hound.

Tina Fineberg/AP

(Tilly is curious, wondering how Nicole can sit that way?)

Of course, the Westminster show means it was also time for the Pre-Westminster Fashion Show.

PHOTO: Natasha Ryan via Metromix

There is always an amazing array of styles, from both a canine and costume perspective.

PHOTO: Natasha Ryna via Metromix

It can be difficult to see where the pooch ends and the owner begins.

PHOTO: Natasha Ryan via Metromix

It seems not everyone was happy to see this on their social calendar.

PHOTO: Natasha Ryan via Metromix

Tilly is worried her vision of sartorial splendor isn’t quite up to snuff.

Tilly Models Her Favorite Sweatshirt

You can guess what category she’ll be watching.

Westminster Kennel Club

Television coverage begins this evening at 8pm on USA, switching to CNBC from 9-11pm; that schedule is repeated tomorrow night.

We hope to be back tomorrow with more, but it may be Wednesday before we can dig out from the mess that is the desk. Sigh. So we leave you with a Fashion Week photo selected with a few friends in mind (Preppy 101? Miss Julie?):

Mike Coppola/Getty

Yes, Mad Men’s Jon Hamm has been out and about at Fashion Week, in this case he was looking at fall styles by Rag & Bone.

Friday Fun & Fashion Week

Hello-Hello, we are ever-so-tickled that it is Friday, the promise of a slightly more relaxed pace over the weekend holds great appeal.

As we have mentioned, Fashion Week is officially underway, kicking off Wednesday with the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection. The fashion show is part of the month-long effort to raise awareness about heart disease, the #1 killer of women.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images/Heart Truth Red Dress

Above we show Denise Richards, Dita Von Teese and Suzanne Somers.  Below, Julianne Hough in a Swarovski embellished gown.

Here is more on the event:

“….reminds women of the need to protect their heart health and inspires them to take action. Each February since its launch, The Red Dress symbol has come to life on the runway with the support of the fashion industry and celebrity models at the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show.”

The scene backstage before the show officially started:

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Below, several people attending the Red Dress event, left to right, Kat DeLuna, Bill Rancic and Matthew McConaughey.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Is it just us, or do all three people in that photo look a little… off?

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One can always look forward to a full slate of social events tied to NYFW, including the amfAR gala headlined by President Clinton Wednesday night. Below left we see the President’s daughter Chelsea, as well as Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively in Alexander McQueen.

One of last night’s hot tickets was GQ’s menswear bash at the oh-so-chic Ace Hotel.  Ms. Lively’s co-star Penn Badgley was in attendance at that party, along with Tommy Hilfiger and Jessica Alba.

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Shifting our attention back to actual fashions, we offer a few images from yesterday’s Steven Alan show.

Catwalking via NYTimes.com

Before offering any bloviations thoughts about the styles, it should be said that we seem to be having a bit of a Crankenstein moment; the words ‘fall fashion’ bring to mind images of wintry weather, and the very. last. thing. we want to see are runways overflowing with fall colors, fabrics and designs. We are eager to embrace the bright, vibrant colors of spring, not autumn’s earth tones. (Insert ‘harrumph,’ crossed arms and world class pout here.)

Back to the Steven Alan show, described by several reviewers as “rugged preppy,” the pieces are always cut with classic lines and also very well constructed. We generally find lots to like when seeing this line, but just didn’t have that reaction this time.

Catwalking via NYTimes.com

The Spring 2011 line seemed far more appealing, if interested in seeing that collection in its entirety, click here for the lookbook.

Wondering what models do when it is time to hurry up and wait?

Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters

Fashion Week crowd shots are always entertaining, here is one that caught our eye:

Timothy A. Clary/AFP

In the “will they never learn?” category, we take a peek at yesterday’s Christian Siriano show. Below we see model Alexa Chung with actresses Gabrielle Union and Mena Suvari at the show.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for IMG

In speaking to the ‘will they never learn?’ issue, a look at the shoes; keep in mind Mr. Siriano is an experienced footwear designer with several collections for Payless under his belt.

From Fashionista:

“It was like Christian went a little too overboard trying to balance the chiffon and floral theme with big angry shoes. I love a big shoe, but it’s time to take it down a notch, never mind the peril to the models.”

The peril?

AP Photo

One of several models losing the struggle with the sky-high shoes. More from Fashionista:

“The shoes at Christian Siriano’s show were killer. No, that’s not a compliment. They nearly killed at least four models. One girl took a tumble and multiple others tripped, faltered, or stumbled; one was so completely irritated by them that she took them off during the finale walk in a huff.”

While it is unlikely any of Mr. Siriano’s work will ever be seen here at The Prepatorium, we do admire his talent, below, two gowns from the designer’s fall line.

Our final NYFW shot today is from a show just about to get underway, Nautica, this image is from the company’s Twitter photo stream.

Courtesy Nautica

That is model Ryan Carney getting ready backstage before the presentation, we look forward to sharing more from this collection Monday.

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We have a quick update for those asking about Verizon iPhone 4 cases: our personalized Clairebella cases are now offered for that phone. 🙂

PreppyPrincess.com

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We leave you with two items qualifying as Friday Fun, the first comes via the Shiny Sheet, the paper mentioned a segment on Lilly Pulitzer vintage fashions airing in today’s Martha Stewart show, this fab photo accompanied the story.

Via Palm Beach Daily News Shiny Sheet

That is Ms. Pulitzer in the amazing pink headdress, she is wearing one of her own designs at a 1968 party she hosted.  A reminder that the show now airs on the Hallmark Channel, and while it aired this morning at 10am, we presume it will be repeated at some point.

Our other item is also a Pretty in Pink:

Via NetCarShow

Do you think it would make an acceptable Prepmobile? (Heh, heh, heh.)

Until next time, we hope everyone is able to enjoy a restful, restorative weekend.

ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• Arun Nevader/Getty Images for Payless
• Andrew H. Walker/Getty
• Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

Gossip Girl Clothing Line, & The Siamese Slanket

Hello-Hello!

We jump right into things today with the news there actually will be a Gossip Girl clothing line.  From a story in the Houston Chronicle we learn more about the collection:

“…based on the show’s stylish characters, including Blake Lively’s couture-clad socialite Serena van der Woodsen and Leighton Meester’s Blair Waldorf.”

The line is being produced by the UK’s Miss Selfridge, a delightful chain of stores on the far side of the pond.  Below we show the Black Stripe Bow dress from Miss Selfridge, and the store’s Cropped Tux Jacket.

As an executive put it:

“Fashion is intrinsic to Gossip Girl and a key ingredient in the continued popularity of the series.”

There’s no disagreeing with that statement.

Sophie Wilkinson/Splash News

The clothing line will be available in April. We do not know if it will be distributed in US stores; if not, Miss Selfridge does ship to the US.

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Fashion Week continues apace, we have several looks from Mulberry to share:

BTW, that is Willis the French Bulldog you see on the left; his resumé lists “chewing headphones…general destruction” as some of his favorite things.

While not for someone practically in her dotage (heh-heh), these are going to be darling on the appropriate young ladies.

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Next, two styles from the Elie Tahari show:

As mentioned in an earlier post, this is the first time Mr. Tahari has shown at Fashion Week.

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The Tory Burch show was Thursday morning.

From the WWD review:

“…. with the eclectic, fashion-forward taste of the art-world archetype in mind, Burch put forth her boldest collection yet.”

More from the WWD writeup:

“It was a step in a riskier direction that paid off in vibrant, well-detailed clothes.”

We’re not sure how to characterize the brief comments on the show in the Times:

“It probably says something that guests at Tory Burch’s presentation greeted the designer as a celebrity. They oohed at the splatter-print jeans… and the jaunty sequined jacket with elastic at the waist and cuffs.”

More from the Times:

“They ahhed over the shoes, high-heeled hiking boots.”

Getty Images

“One woman said she took the train up from Washington just to have her picture taken with Ms. Burch.”

It’s not hard to see why. Ms. Burch has never given a thought to the red carpet.”

We can’t figure out if this was meant to be snarky or a compliment.

An interesting side note; Ms. Burch supported other designers this week: she attended the Narciso Rodriguez show, and following her own event Ms. Burch joined Tommy Hilfiger and other fashion notables at the first-ever runway show by Reed Krakoff.  Mr. Krakoff is the Coach CEO, regarded as the person responsible for bringing that brand back to life and making it a power player; he is now launching his own line of apparel and accessories.

We shall have a look at Mr. Krakoff’s new line tomorrow, as well as styles from the Hilfiger show, closing out Fashion Week tonight at 8.  Anyone interested in seeing the show live, as it happens, click here for the Tommy Hilfiger Facebook page. (And do pop over to visit The Princess on FB as well, one never knows what we’ll be up to!)

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Two more tidbits:

1) Marie Claire has a story on “15 Preppy Chic Bargains” that we haven’t yet read; we cannot say if we think the looks are preppy or chic. Or bargains.

Marie Claire

2) Finally, because of our utterly irrational and inexplicable propensity passing interest in all things Snuggie/Slanket, we bring you the very latest: the Siamese Slanket.

We only discovered this last evening, via those sharp shoppers at Outblush. Keep in mind, the Slanket folks say they were first with the phenomenon, that the Snuggie is merely following in their footsteps.  (Click here for the post that really gets to the bottom of this important issue, with a look at what the Consort calls the Snuggie-Slanket Smackdown.)

Not  only do we have the Siamese Slanket, available in two snappy colors (ahem), we are happy to introduce readers to the Travel Slanket.

Courtesy Slanket.com

Because air travel isn’t miserable enough.

With that we say g’bye until next time!

PHOTO CREDITS:

• Mulberry: Marcio Madeira/First View via Style.com
• Mulberry: Pasha Antonov
• Tahari: Marcio Madeira/First View via Style.com
• Tory Burch: George Chinsee/WWD
• Tory Burch: ImaxTree
• Gossip Girl: Sophie Wilkinson/Splash News

Taylor Swift says “Kanye Who?” Also, Target’s Next Designer Revealed, Ralph Lauren Fashion Week

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday!

We hope to make it a little happier for Miss Pink Tutu, our lucky winner in the Great Preppy Plate and Platter Giveaway! Miss Tutu indicated in her comment she favored the Damask, but we don’t know if it is Boatman’s Geller’s Madison Plate, or perhaps Preppy Plates brand Hot Pink Patter, the Lime Plate, or maybe another style?

Drop us an email Miss Tutu and let us know your selection, as well as how you would like your plate or platter personalized. (This really is Friday Fun to the nth degree, we *love* giving things away!)

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This just in! (Gasp – breaking news here at the Prepatorium!) The word is out that the next designer collaboration for Targèt will be with Jean Paul Gaultier, perhaps best known for his cone-shaped bustier Madonna wore on tour. As reported in Women’s Wear Daily, Target has no details on when the collection will launch, what price points will be, or how many pieces will be in the line.

“Gaultier is known for edgy street fashion interpretations, a Parisian panache, over-the-edge couture, generating lots of media and groupie followings.”

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Courtesy Photo via WWD

Our second tidbit is old news for those who follow us on Twitter (you can follow TP here if so inclined) as we tweeted the sad news a couple of times yesterday: In what can only be called a SOTT (Sign Of The Times),  Prescriptives cosmetics is being closed.

There are a number of contributing factors but the overarching concern is the continued underperformance of the brand.

Courtesy Photo via WWD

The line is owned by Estee Lauder (it was originally launched by Ronald Lauder 30 years ago), and we don’t know a timetable for the shutdown. We have already heard  from a number of current customers who tell us they are making plans to stock up.

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Fashion Week continues apace, as most everything was wrapping up with last night’s Tommy Hilfiger show. We’ll cover some the Hilfiger collection for Spring 2010 in our next post, but thought Friday Fun mandates we share some celebrity sightings and front-row attendees at yesterday’s shows.

First, recording star Taylor Swift at the Hilfiger show in what we’ll call her “Kanye Who?” look.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

After all, looking good is the best revenge. While Miss Swift is far beyond stooping to vengeful behavior, one can’t help but think about that when seeing her in such a stunning dress.

This next photo of the young star (yes, that is Penn Badgley of Gossip Girl to her right, our left, and yes, he’s underdressed once again in yet another tee-shirt, no threat however to James Dean or Marlon Brando) reminds us of an incredibly rigid rule a lesson taught at an early age: ladies cross their ankles, not their knees.  Of course.

PHOTO: Diane Bondareff/AP

Also at the Hilfiger show Betty Draper, January Jones of Mad Men.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

Here is Ms. Jones with Mr. Hilfiger, better showing the Pretty in Pink sheath she is wearing.

PHOTO: Diane Bondareff/AP

We cannot wait to see who she is wearing for Sunday’s Emmy Awards.

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And now we cover today’s primary topic, the Ralph Lauren show at Fashion Week.  We start with the front row, Janet Jackson is seen below with Dylan Lauren.

Rob Loud/Getty

Onto the main attraction: the clothing and accessories.

/WWD

As described in the Journal’s Heard On The Runway blog (must reading for TP):

“When the going gets tough, the tough get back to honest American working clothes. That’s means jean jackets, striped cotton shirts and pink floral sundresses.”

Fernanda Calfat/Getty

Some of the denim looks were outstanding, although we recall owning a pair of overalls quite a. long. time. ago.

Robert Mitra/WWD

The references to Steinbeck’s dust bowl were everywhere, with some reviewers even titling their stories “The Grapes of Ralph”.

Here is a taste of the WWD review on Mr. Lauren’s Spring 2010 Collection:

“Certainly there is something wonderful about Lauren’s unabashed romanticism. In an industry rampant with cynicism, he’s proud to be American and believes deeply, as his show notes reminded, in this country’s “resilient spirit.”

More from WWD:

“…. he made some risky choices; It’s unlikely many designer customers will aspire to shredded jeans and faded shirts, no matter how perfectly arranged the decay. As for their feminine counterparts, floral house- and sundresses, charmers for sure, but late-to-the-party kind of frocks that have flooded the contemporary market for some time.”

We found some of the tailored styles more appealing…

… and a number of the party frocks divine.

Despite our love of sheer overlays, other looks just didn’t seem to have the right proportions, the skirts overly full.

The look below prompts us to recommend a visit to the High WASP for her views on high-end shorts.

Robert Mitra/WWD

Some touches were absolutely exquisite.

One of our favorite fashion writers, Cathy Horyn at the Times, was not as positive about the show as many other journalists:

“I wondered, looking at the collection—which was weak by Mr. Lauren’s usual standards—what the discussions in his studio were about such a theme. Can hard times and their associated misery ever be an acceptable theme for a fashion show?”

Clearly the designer’s execution of his theme did not sit well with Ms. Horyn.

Kyle Ericksen/WWD

More from Ms. Horyn’s blog post:

“And if the clothes don’t really attempt to explore legitimate modes of American dress, and instead remain on the surface—a little faded and ripped denim with rhinestone sandals—isn’t that somehow worse?”

Courtesy First Post

Most of the handbags shown were of the casual, western look Mr. Lauren favors.

Below, the designer and his wife, Ricky, upon completion of the show.

Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images for IMG

For more photos, click here. We are curious to hear from readers about the show… two thumbs up? Down? No thumbs at all? Do tell, TP is dying to hear your reaction. After all dolls, sharing is caring.

Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Fernanda Calfat/Getty