Lacoste Black Label, Lush @ Brooks Bros & When Anti-Preps Gather…

Hello-Hello!

We continue Fashion Week coverage, starting today with the Brooks Brothers presentation of their Fall 2009 Collection. Like many others, this is not a runway show, but an event at the Madison Avenue store.

PHOTO: George Chinsee

The styles are displayed in tableaus, as seen above. We like the rich gray and lush purple, it is very striking.  The review in yesterday’s WWD mentions plenty of cashmere, in twinsets and coats.

PHOTO: George Chinsee

In an interesting partnership with Wilson, the official NFL football maker, Brooks will debut a new briefcase and duffle crafted of vintage leather from Wilson. And they will retail a limited edition co-branded football made of this same material; the football is just visible in the photo below.

PHOTO: George Chinsee

The review also talks about changes in the Black Fleece line from designer Thom Browne:

“The women’s wear has lightened up. “We’re softening the girl,” Browne said, noting there are “more skirts and dresses” offered this time. “The collection is a lot more feminine, from the shapes of the skirts to the looseness of the knits.”

We are intrigued to see the Men’s full-length beaver overcoat Mr. Browne has created. All in all it appears to be a nicely done collection that is eminently wearable.

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Thought we’d sweeten your day with a few tidbits we haven’t posted yet, including the debut jewelry collection from Liberty of London.

Photo by WWD Staff

The line will be available at Barneys.

We also share a few images from the Lacoste Fall 2009 Men’s collection, we ran out of time when posting the Women’s collection on Saturday.

PHOTO: Talaya Centeno

As the WWD staff put it in their review of the line:

“Christophe Lemaire’s newly named Black collection for Lacoste offered plenty of comfort. In men’s wear, Lemaire showed the strongest conviction with his milky-colored, fine-knit suits, but sweaters…. held the most appeal.”

Another look:

PHOTO: Talaya Centeno

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We have another frightening instance of multiple AntiPreps being located in the same place.

At. The. Same. Time.

Behold, the Tracy Reese runway show yesterday:

PHOTO: Amy Sussman/Getty

Between Ms. Kardashian and Paris Hilton is Nicky Hilton, singer Kellie Pickler is on the far right. Quote of the Day award clearly goes to Ms. Hilton, as seen in an interview with E! News this weekend:

“There’s nobody in the world like me. I think every decade has an iconic blonde, like Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana and, right now, I’m that icon.”

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We bring you an update on a favorite brand for TPC (The Princess Consort), Hart Schaffner Marx.  In this January post we detailed the firm’s bankruptcy filing, but there was good news on Friday from a Federal judge, allowing a line of credit to be extended so the menswear manufacturer can keep operating.  It also appears creditor are showing patience with HartMarx as it works to dig out of the financial mess.

Hart Schaffner Marx

President Barack Obama owns several of the Hart Schaffner Marx Golden Trumpeter suits; it was also a tuxedo from the line that he wore to the Inauguration Balls.  Speaking of Presidential fashion, one of First Lady Michelle Obama’s favorite designers was at Fashion Week.

Maria Pinto did not do a runway show, but rather, held appointments to show her Fall looks. Below, the one we found most appealing:

PHOTO: Kristen Somody Whalen

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It would not be Fashion Week without seeing models struggling in the insane shoes they must now wear. These shots are from Sunday’s Hervé Léger by Max Azria show:

The model on the right was wearing these:

PHOTO: Getty

One designer, Maria Cornejo, is vocal in her thoughts on the heels and the spills taken by models; she spoke with NY magazine:

“That’s just sad, you know? It’s boys dressing women. I’m sorry — they don’t have to wear the —– shoes…

What could I possibly add to that comment?  Except, perhaps this:

Here is one for the “When Pink Goes Wrong” category, the high-heel sneaker.

Photo by WWD Staff

This one is the result of a Puma – Sergio Rossi collaboration.  Not that that should be anything about which to brag…

Ta-Ta for now.

Another Prep Fashion Faux Pas, Inaugural Updates, AntiPreps

First off, before you read one more word, scoot over here and leave a comment so you are entered in this week’s Great Giveaway, with preppy goodness anyone can win! Leaving a comment about anything you are thankful for = giveaway entry.

Quick headlines of the day, many of which may well be moldy oldies to many of you, but here we go anyway.

The Presidential daughters will be attending Sidwell Friends school; Malia at the Middle School in Northwest DC (the Upper School Building is also here), and Sasha at the Lower School campus that is actually located in Bethesda. Malia is in fifth grade and Sasha in second grade.

PHOTO: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

The Obamas selected the Quaker school where Chelsea Clinton and Al Gore III received their educations, deciding it was a better fit than Georgetown Day and Maret. For more background, our post here may be helpful.

Newsweek features the future First Lady in their Dec.1 issue, on newsstands today.

PRNewsFoto/NEWSWEEK

And we hear an entire book dedicated to the Michelle Obama style is quickly being put together; former Mademoiselle editor Mandi Norwood is writing the book. It is scheduled for publication sometime next spring by Avon Books.  Coming out even earlier, “Michelle Obama: Meet the First Lady“ is due December 9.

Harper Collins

Written by David Bergen Brophy, the publisher is Harper Collins.

Speculation continues on who will design Michelle Obama’s gown for the Inaugural Balls in January, but we have seen little devoted to basic inauguration day apparel for Michelle Obama and the girls….? Seeing some designs in that genre would be most enjoyable.

That now-famous Thakoon dress worn by Michelle Obama is now officially out of production, at least for the time being.

PHOTO: Mark Wilson/Getty

More sketches for Inaugural gowns are floating about from other designers, including this from Isabel Toledo, done at People magazine’s suggestion, for a story.

Isabel Toledo via People.com

Below, Mrs. Obama in the Isabel Toledo gown worn to a June fundraiser hosted by Anna Wintour (Vogue) and Calvin Klein. Many readers may be familiar with the divine illustrations Ms. Toledo’s husband, Ruben, has done for the Nordstrom catalogues.

PHOTO: AP

And Reem Acra also shared her creativity, again, per People magazine’s request.

Reem Acra via People.com

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We have another entry in the Gwyneth Paltrow Fashion Faux Pas category. While we do not want to appear as though we are unfairly focusing on Ms. Paltrow, her style statements of late are surprising in light of her über-preppy upbringing.

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Above, the actress at the grand re-opening of the remodeled Fontainebleau this weekend. The famed hotel was also home to the Victoria’s Secret fashion show taping.

The always-interesting Styleist blog takes Ms.Paltrow to task for the Antonio Berardi dress she wore (below) to the Two Lovers film premiere in London.

PHOTO: Getty Images

The comments include these:

“We see London, we see France, we see Gwyneth Paltrow in Paris at the premiere of ‘Two Lovers’ wearing another weird dress. Plus we see underpants! And her bra!

Gwyneth frequently comes thisclose to fashion greatness. But then she takes a giant leap off the Cliff of “Odd and Awkward” into the ocean of “Looking at Her Makes Us Wince”. Doesn’t she have any friends? Or a mirror?”

The Victoria’s Secret goings-on alerted us to very frightening news: two Antipreps were in the same place.  At the same time.  Clearly someone neglected to put up the deflector shield.  Mon Dieu.

Exhibit A:

PHOTO: Hans Deryk/Reuters

In case anyone is fortunate enough to *not* recognize this individual, it is TV personality Kim Kardashian; here is our initial post affirming Ms. Kardashian attaining official AntiPrep status.

Next we have Paris Hilton, our very first Anti-prep, as explained here. It could almost be said Ms. Hilton prompted the necessity of an Anti-prep category.  BTW, for those keeping score at home, this is the second such occurrence of dual (dueling?) anti-preps appearing at the same location.

PHOTO: Hans Deryk/Reuters

We apologize for the multiple spellings on antiprep; we just can’t locate the word in our Webster’s and don’t know how to spell it so we can find it when we look things up in the blog.

Until next time!

Obama Inaugural Gown Update, Preps Party at CFDA

Well, here we are again!

The volume of inquiries surrounding plans for the Michelle Obama inauguration gown is increasing; thus today’s additional post.  At last night’s CFDA gala Diane von Furstenberg shared an interesting tidbit, according to a story in today’s online New York magazine: she has submitted sketches for an inugural gown.  And why did she send sketches?

“Well, they asked me to. Of course, everybody has,” she said. “I’m so proud to be an American.”

In the story by Alisa Gould-Simon, the question of a dress for all those Inaugural Balls was put to one of Mrs. Obama’s favorite designers:

Thakoon Panichgul, one of Michelle’s favorite designers, tried to remain elusive when we asked if he’d submitted sketches. “Um … we’ll see what happens,” he said with a devilish smirk.

And the Observer has a headline that will grab the attention of most fashionistas: “Narciso Rodriguez Hoping for a Second Chance to Dress Michelle Obama,”with insight from designer Narciso Rodriguez on one of his designs being worn by Ms. Obama election night:

“She saw that dress and she liked it,” said Narciso Rodriguez, who designed Michelle Obama‘s Election Night dress. “She saw it on the runway, she chose it, I guess from the runway…” He nodded slowly and mouthed “yes” when asked if he’d known in advance that she would wear it.”

Should one be interested in more information about some of the Thakoon designs worn by Ms. Obama, here is a post as well as here. The Observer story includes speculation from those in attendance at the dinner about an inaugural gown:

The young designers of Proenza Schouler approached Mr. Rodriguez. “Did you see Michelle Obama in his dress?” cried Lazaro Hernandez. “Really major!”

“They have a fabulous new bag line,” deflected Mr. Rodriguez. Mr. Hernandez asked if Mr. Rodriguez was designing the inaugural gown. “It would be nice to think so,” he said modestly.

Also in attendance at the CFDA/Vogue gala were Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively (in a dress that didn’t really wow us) …

PHOTO: Scott Gries/Getty

…and Penn Badgley….

PHOTO: Scott Gries/Getty

…along with Tory Burch…

PHOTO: Scott Gries/Getty

and über-preppy couple David Lauren and Lauren Bush…

PHOTO: Scott Gries/Getty

We apologize for being tedious, but we may need to be back one more time again today with our update on Black Friday sales for Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, J. Crew and more.  We’re typing as fast as we can!

A new Anti-prep, Estee Lauder at Wal-mart, Vuitton Watches

Hello-hello! And aren’t we feeling more positive about that pesky little financial crisis. Hhhmm, it must all be taken care of apparently…

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Lots of these faces all over the place Monday, including most of the overseas markets….

Oh…it’s not all taken care of?  We shouldn’t toddle over and visit our friends at the bank to apply for an unsecured loan? Oh. How dreary. And as you can see, not everyone was happy Monday.

Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty

These gentlemen are described as:

“A group of unemployed financial businessmen perform for money on Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange…”

In case this isn’t already evident, ‘Fair Warning’ to readers: it is possible, perhaps even likely, The Princess is feeling a tad snarky today. Oh my!

snarky

Pronunciation: \ˈsnär-kē\
Function: adjective
Etymology: dialect snark to annoy, perhaps alteration of snark to irritate
1 : crotchety, snappish
2 : sarcastic, impertinent, or irreverent in tone or manner <snarky lyrics>
snark·i·ly \-kə-lē\ adverb

It has been some time since we shared any new nominations to the AntiPrep Hall of Shame, but with so many suggestions coming in we are concerned about a backup.  Therefore we reveal our newest member: Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth.

AP Photo/Matt Sayles

Yes, that Omarosa.  As a contestant on the first season of NBC’s The Apprentice she was loathed by most; she returned for the Celebrity Apprentice edition. This is a woman who has taken self-promotion to new levels.  Tomorrow Ms. Manigault-Stallworth’s book is released, entitled “The Bitch Switch: Knowing How To Turn It On and Off.”  Really. We couldn’t possibly make this up, not on our best day.

The publisher, Phoenix Books, describes the book:

“From Omarosa, reality star, global television personality, and the prime-time woman you love to hate, comes The Bitch Switch, the smart and bitingly honest must-read for every woman who aspires to succeed in relationships, in business, and at home.”

According to People magazine, Donald Trump wasn’t the first person to fire her:

“The former political appointee—who spoke glowingly of her White House days—was banished from four jobs in two years with the Clinton Administration. At her last one, “she was asked to leave as quickly as possible, she was so disruptive,” says Cheryl Shavers, the former Under Secretary for Technology at the Commerce Department, where Omarosa worked several weeks in 2000.”

If you are not yet familiar with the AntiPrep, it can be either ‘things’ like these, or humanoid, like our HOS members Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. More than anything it is gauche if not outright crass or vulgar, and frequently involves extraordinary levels of self-promotion.

Every day for a week we have been meaning to post this.  We promptly forget about it until the next day when it is once again the most-emailed story on WWD (Women’s Wear Daily online, subscription required) and we say, “Gosh Princess, you really should share this, everyone else seems to find it fascinating.”

Courtesy Estee Lauder

‘This’ is news that Estee Lauder is going mass-market, introducing three different perfumes at Walmart in December before starting sales at other discounters like Target and Kohl’s.  How upset do insiders think the department stores will be? Not very.

“Decades ago, news of a Wal-Mart tie-up would have rattled the chandeliers in the company’s Fifth Avenue headquarters. But now the move could be interpreted as merely reflecting the broad evolution in the market and at Lauder…”

Each of the three scents is named for a gem: Blue Opal, Purple Diamond, and Ruby. They will be packaged as eau de toilette sprays and sell for $17 and $25.  Now on to our next topic.

In the “Life Just Isn’t Fair” category, word today the curvaceous Christina Hendricks isn’t able to borrow designer duds the way more petite stars can.  Ms. Hendricks plays the role of Office Manager Joan Holloway on hit show Mad Men; the Post featured her on the cover of Page Six Magazine this week. Apparently one isn’t necessarily rewarded for being shapely:

“No one will send me dresses,” she says. “Designers loan size 2 or 4 samples to actresses, but I’m not that size. It’s like I’m a freak because I’m curvy and I can’t squeeze into those things. I’ve had some problems with that.”

As regular readers know, TP is so enamored of the show her social secretary knows to plan Sunday evening activities around it, most unusual for the Princess household. A little secret: TP even follows characters from the show on Twitter.  If anyone missed last night’s episode, be advised things became quite cryptic at the close of the show, perhaps related to these two? (Laura Ramsey plays ‘Joy’ with no last name & ‘Don Draper’ is played by Jon Hamm.)

Mad Men on amc.tv

Next, word that luxury superpower LVMH (think of brands like Vuitton, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs) had a smashing third quarter, despite many other retailing groups performing poorly. The only downside seemed to be Vuitton watches, causing one stock investment analyst to say:

“Sales of watches did not slow down, but collapsed…”

Louis Vuitton Bijoux

Some blamed the decline on Tag Heuer’s watches, which are considered the lower end of the company’s brand spectrum. We must admit we did not contribute to any horological growth for any company, anywhere.

Happy day everyone!