French Open Blues, Longchamp is Pretty in Pink & Rafa Nadal…Preppy?

Hello-Hello, and happy first week of June! Yippee!

Has everyone been watching the goings-on at Roland Garros? Some amazing things, we must say, and not all of them involving the actual play, although we were stunned to see the early ouster of Rafael Nadal. No, we’re talking once again about the fashions at this year’s French Open, and feeling like we didn’t get the blue memo.

Above left, Roger Federer and on the right, Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic. Below, we see Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka (R) and Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic.

PHOTO: Jacques de Marthon/AFP/Getty

Also in blue tones with teal and turquoise, Maria Sharapova.

PHOTO: Jacques de Marthon/AFP/Getty

Is it just us, or does this style almost make Ms. Sharapova look matronly? A difficult thing to achieve given the tennis star’s natural beauty.  Below, Roumania’s Sorana Cirstea sports similar colors.

PHOTO: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty

Two more in blue, Juan Martin del Porto of Argentina (L) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France.

PHOTO: Ryan Pierse/Getty

If blue isn’t your hue, then there is always our favorite color: pink! Below, superstar Rafa Nadal.

PHOTO: Ryan Pierse/Getty

The Nike Bold Open tennis polo Mr. Nadal is wearing is available online.

The Spanish heartthrob was also in pink for the news conference following his loss to Sweden’s Robin Soderling. In fact, we’ll just declare that both of the pink tops qualify as today’s Pretty in Pink.

PHOTO: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty

Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova was in the pink as well, paired with black.

PHOTO: Jacques de Marathon/AFP/Getty

Next, China’s Na Li in what is rapidly becoming a popular combination, hot pink and orange (or a peachy salmon/coral).

PHOTO: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty

Serena Williams donned a similar orange offset by dark gray.

PHOTO: Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty

Those mourning Mr. Nadal’s status may wish to turn their attention to this story from the June issue of Vogue.

PHOTO: Bruce Weber for Vogue

Renowned photographer Bruce Weber did the photos for the story.

PHOTO: Bruce Weber for Vogue

In the photo directly above Mr. Nadal is in a Nike shirt and Tommy Hilfiger khakis, the white linen suit in the first image is Ralph Lauren Purple Label.

As always, for the true insider’s scoop on all the tennis happenings, toddle over to see Rich at Down the Line Tennis, as he seems to know simply everything that’s happening on the circuit.

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Frequent Princess readers know how serious we are about protecting their pocketbooks, ever-vigilant in our search for fiscally-friendly opportunities to invest in our economy.  Here are a few:

Is everyone familiar with The Laundress? If not, trust TP when she says it is a fabulous line, one we greatly admire.

To receive 20% off all purchases through June 30th, use promo code INSTYLE09 at checkout.

Also offering a 20% discount, the funseekers at one of our online faves, Fred Flare.  Really, where else does one find upscale accessories like this?

FredFlare.com

The bacon bandage is one of this spring’s must-haves, to ensure you receive the 20% discount use the same promo code at checkout, INSTYLE09.

Who says we don’t have an eye to the elegant, the refined, the timeless classics, hmmm?

Speaking of same, the Designer Sale at Saks continues apace, and here is another Pretty in Pink offering:

SFA

The Longchamp X-Light Nylon Tote is an excellent buy dolls, at $269; the original price was $385.  To receive free shipping at Saks (no wretched minimum purchase foo-foo to cope with either) use promo code SAKSSHIP9 at checkout.

We leave you with just a few photos from this weekend’s Veuve Clicquot second annual Manhattan Polo Classic. We begin with David Lauren (L) and Nacho Figuera.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner

Next, Byrdie Bell.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner

And HRH Prince Harry of Wales.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner for WWD

We shall share more tomorrow.  Promise.

On that chipper note, we say ‘ta until next time!

Target’s Next Handbag Designer, Princely Polo, J Crew Talks Changes (More Price Cuts)

Happy-Happy Friday everyone, and may the sun be brightly shining upon you as we approach a respite from the frenzy that somehow took over the week.

We begin with news of the next designer collaboration for Le Boutique Tarzsay, aka Target.  The hip discount retailer is partnering with Carlos Falchi for a line of handbags in jewel tones like plum and teal, crafted of faux-snakeskin.

For those unfamiliar with this designer, we share a few current offerings from the upscale designer’s current collection, not associated with the upcoming Target line.

This will be Target’s eighth limited edition handbag collection; the line is slated to be available from Oct. 11 to Dec. 27.  Fashionistas can still purchase pieces from the company’s current collaborative effort: the Felix Ray for Target collection remains in stores until June 14.  (Pssst – several styles from this group are on clearance!)

Just to ensure we have a Pretty in Pink today, here is another piece from the current Carlos Falchi collection.

Falchi can be found at most of your standard stops: at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, eLuxury and Zappos.

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Big doings for Burberry yesterday in honor of the company launching their new Madison Avenue headquarters.  In fact, Mayor Bloomberg officially decreed it Burberry Day, and we’re sure readers will not be surprised to hear there were plenty of posh people celebrating such an amazing (ahem) and august occasion.  Many of the usual suspects were party circuit regulars popped in, or at least made sure to visit the red carpet area leading into the bash.

PHOTO: Andrew H. Walker/Getty

Actress Blake Lively from TV’s Gossip Girl was on hand,sharing her sentiments on what her favorite Burberry fashion is:

“I just live in my Burberry trenches,” Lively said about the fashion company’s signature coat.”

Indeed. Ms. Lively wasn’t the only G2 star on hand, co-star and real-life paramour Penn Badgley also made it to the festivities.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty

The pièce de résistance for Burberry execs was the unveiling of the company’s logo high above Madison Avenue:

PHOTO: Kambouris/Wire Image

While poking a little fun at some of these functions we don’t want to overlook a seriously good thing occurring in tandem with Burberry’s move into its new US digs. The company is putting $500,000 from their newly established Burberry Foundation into projects geared toward teens.

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Some may remember a bit of our incredibly tedious pontificating post discussing the “Business of Preppy,” as we call it. We have an update for J. Crew, who released financial results for the quarter in a conference call with financial analysts yesterday. While things are still not good at Crew (profits down a whopping 33%), they were better than hoped.

One of the benefits of the earnings reports is the accompanying information that looks at future plans.  In today’s WWD story (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d.) on J. Crew’s financial performance some of CEO Mickey Drexler’s insights and plans for the future are revealed:

• Adjusting Crewcut prices downward.
• Getting more aggressive on marketing the new Crewcuts catalogue. The first edition made its debut earlier this month; the second comes out in August.

• Adjusting investments in higher-priced goods, including the range on Madewell jeans to emphasize those under $100 such as Madewell 37, priced at $59.50, and the “ex-boyfriend” style, priced at $95. Premium jeans can go as high as $198.

According to the story, Mr. Drexler indicated more J. Crew Collection and J. Crew Menswear stores are possibilities, saying he scouted locations this week in San Francisco and Los Angeles for such additions. And how does the retail and branding whiz kid feel about the overall situation?

“In a very perverse way, the bad environment was a big wake-up call. I kind of like it. The customer has become so much more acute and educated about buying goods.”

Good for Mickey, we have always admired his tenacity.

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Because we want to end on some Friday Fun, we close with a quick peek at an addition to our Lilly Pulitzer Stationery line: the Lilly Party Pack.

Lilly Pulitzer Party Pack

If buying all of the items separately the cost would be $61.50, a more-than-fair and reasonable investment IOHO (but of course, we are biased!).

Lilly Party Pack in Taboo

But why spend all that when you can snag everything you need in a Party Pack while lowering the cost to a mere $52.50!

Party Pack in Juice Stand

Let Lilly and the Princess do some of the work for you with a Party Pack!

Party Pack in Loco Patch

With those sunny images and bright colors we say sayonara until next time. And whether contemplating weekend activities that are lush and languid, or fast and furious, we hope you can savor each and every minute.

SILLY PRINCESS WARNING — FORGOTTEN CONTENT — SILLY PRINCESS WARNING

Whoops!!! In our fervor to pop into the sunshine we almost forgot to mention Prince Harry’s visit to the city today and tomorrow’s big goings on!

The Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic will feature some faces you may be familiar with:

This would be Nacho Figueras, arguably the best polo player in the world, captain of the Black Watch Polo team. He is also the face for Ralph Lauren’s Black Watch fragrance; Mr. Lauren sponsors the Black Watch team, and also sells limited edition apparel adorned with the team’s logo and Mr. Figueras’ number “2”.

The match this Saturday is destined to be great fun, pitting the Black Watch against another team featuring a famous face:

PHOTO: Matt Cardy/Getty

This would be Prince Harry, who also knows his way around and atop a polo pony. A news release on the event explains the ultimate good purpose behind the gala goings-on:

“Event proceeds will benefit American Friends of Sentebale, a U.S.-based charity that supports at-risk children in Lesotho, Africa”

HRH has already made his first official stops, posing for a photo with firefighters:

PHOTO: Chris Ison-Pool/Getty

On his way to placing a wreath at Ground Zero.

PHOTO: Pool/Lucas Jackson/AFP/Getty

This is the first official visit to the US by the Prince, his first as a child was technically considered a private event.

To view any of several videos showcasing the Black Watch, Mr. Figueras and the Polo fragrances he fronts, click here.

Now finally, we say adieu.

The Times Sends the Critical Shopper to Tommy Hilfiger

Hello-Hello…. are we all sufficiently sodden and soggy at this point? The rain is beginning to seem like an enemy instead of a welcome friend. Waaahhh! (And how long ago was it we were whining about snow?? Indeed.)

Regular readers know we are gaga about the Times’ Critical Shopper column, having been exposed to same in this blog countless times.  In this week’s column writer Mike Albo pays a visit to the Tommy Hilfiger store on Bleecker Street.

PHOTO: Katie Orlinsky for The New York Times

Mr. Albo’s assessment of any recessionary impact (none) on shopping in this West Village neighborhood is rather humorous:

“… as busy as ever. This little hamlet of cute shops and cupcakeries is not like the rest of the country. It should be rezoned on maps and called the People’s Republic of Carrie Bradshaw.”

The store has been open since 2007, but recently underwent a little updating and tweaking. The column has some positive comments on the merchandise:

“Many of the clothes are bright, eye-catching and playful — almost a parody of what rich people wear. A seersucker suit ($498) hung near seersucker shorts embroidered with little lobsters ($49).”

Tommy Hilfiger

We quite like the shorts! But then we have the Clarkston Board Shorts (seen below) for men. They really don’t work for us, despite our fondness for anchors.

Tommy Hilfiger

From Mr. Albo’s critique of the store, not everything works for him either:

“Many clothes teeter on garishness. A striped shirt with a bright floral print on the inside cuff and collar ($98) was too in love with its own hidden follies, and a shirt with a white-on-white vine pattern on the shoulders evoked high school prom, Long Beach, 1989.

We’re guessing the Ben Stripe Shirt (seen below) is the first item Mr. Albo references in the paragraph up above. We don’t find the floral trim to be hideous, but the large logo on the pocket proclaiming the brand?  We think not.

Tommy Hilfiger

The column continues with other concerns about Hilfiger designs:

A loud button-down shirt with an eye-searing print of orange and red flowers ($49.99) would only be right for the brilliant, queeny comedian Paul Lynde if he were still alive. These garments made me worry that Mr. Hilfiger was still designing for his label’s heyday, a time when it was cool to promenade around the Hamptons with a professional umbrella holder.”

It is just a guess on our part, but it seems possible Mr. Albo might file this under “When Preppy Goes Wrong.”  We find ourselves feeling a tad more charitable. (Yes, you read that correctly, and we do know it is the shocker of the day, almost headline material.)

There are redeeming qualities in some of Mr. Hilfiger’s creations.

And best of all, there is also an online promotion underway, providing an Additional 30% Off Sale Merchandise, bringing some inventory to about 75% off its original selling price.  We are claiming the Women’s Basic Fitted Oxford as today’s Pretty in Pink, especially as it is now available in three colors for $29.99.

Tommy Hilfiger

And just to have an Adventure in Argyle today, we’ll share the Men’s Hampton Argyle V-Neck, a nice look for The Consort perhaps.

Tommy Hilfiger

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Before we dash,a few quick sale updates, starting with the Summer Sale at J. Crew:

J. Crew

Kate Spade is promoting ‘Up to 75% Off‘, while competitor Tory Burch is offering “Up to 60% Off” with their sale.

And the Alexander McQueen Sale starts next Tuesday, June 2nd. Click on the image below to pop over to the McQueen site to register for the sale, offering up to “40% off original retail prices”.

McQueen fans won’t want to forget the big markdowns on the McQueen for Target Collection, including the Tattoo Print Strapless dress, now selling at $19.98. (Originally marked at $79.99.)

Until next time, may the sun shine upon you and those you love today!

The Preppish Bargains Continue

Hello everyone, may your day be going better than TP’s! (We’re merely having a Monday on a Wednesday, so to speak.)

We want to alert you to a number of Sales and Savings opportunities currently available, starting with the Hayden-Harnett sale. Significant markdowns have been taken on many items in all categories, including their Toulouse Weekender now at $244; the original price was $348.

Brooks Brothers is promoting their continued Clearance, with prices reductions of 50% to 70% according to their mailer.

BrooksBrothers.com

We are somewhat tempted by the Wool Chalkstripe Coat, very handy for a winter here in The Great Midwest.  The coat’s original selling price was $798, it is now $239.

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Saks has started their Sale, with a good assortment available across most categories and lines, including many preppish brands. The Tory Burch Mercedes Coat is now $417, discounted from $695.

And from the Lilly Pulitzer Jubilee Collection, Saks offers the Cotton Sateen Fitch Shift.

This one is so luscious we’ll make it today’s Pretty in Pink. The dress retailed at $348; it is now selling at $209.  Not *quite* meriting PIP status but fun nonetheless: Lacoste’s Bold Stripe Cotton Sweater with 3/4 sleeves.

Lacoste continues to carry a significant amount of merchandise that is on sale or discounted in some way at their online store.

Now for an entirely different looking Lacoste tee, how about this avant-garde version?

Via Men.Style.com

A collaboration between Lacoste and the design minds at Andrea Crews, the shirt will be available in July. We simply had to share the tee because of that delightful touch of whimsy in the design, almost mocking the brand’s heritage. (For those wondering if it might trigger a case of Logophobia, goodness, no, no, no, not at all. That can’t happen when the design clearly isn’t intended to be taken seriously.)

With that happy tee as our last image, we say G’bye until next time!

The Business of Preppy, Frette Kinda’ Sorta’ Goes Outlet, Logo Atrocities

Hello-Hello! Happy Summertime everyone!

We jump back into the daily drill taking a quick glance at the Business of Preppy as we refer to it here at the Prepatorium.  Most true-blue preps are comfortable in their own skin, returning to the brands they were raised with again and again, while occasionally adding a new contributor to their personal style mix.  The overwhelming majority of classic ‘preppy brands’ have always provided outstanding value in exchange for one’s investment, be it a suit from Brooks Brothers or a belt from LL Bean.

The business of marketing to preps alongside ‘faux preps’ (or those aspiring to same) is particularly daunting during These Challenging Times. Many of us marked the loss of classic stationer Mrs. John L. Strong with sadness last week. For those unfamiliar with the brand, this description in the NY Times story suffices:

“Mrs. John L. Strong was the stationer of choice for well-heeled brides and socialites. They were in good company.

Other customers included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (the Duchess had her crest engraved in royal blue), Pat Nixon and Mamie Eisenhower, Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, and Vogue’s editor, Anna Wintour.”

Below, a photo from last winter’s Forbes story on the company and its CEO, Nanette Brown:

PHOTO: Dennis Golonka/Forbes

Sniff, sniff. (Psst, does anyone have a tissue?)

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Another outstanding story in the Times references changes in strategy for a locale generally isolated from previous economic downturns, the Hamptons:

“The Hamptons wants you to perceive it as conforming to the spirit of these hard times and not to caricature it as the flashy, traffic-choked, over-the-top playground it has increasingly become.”

“Raw glitz is out, confirmed Valerie Smith, owner of the Monogram Shop on Newtown Lane here, where napkins imprinted with “Reduced Circumstances” are selling well. “I didn’t order the $2,500 Italian backgammon board this year, which I sold three of the summer before last,” she said.”

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And then we have news that Frette has opened an online outlet. (Gasp. The horror!)

The Italian purveyor of luxury linens is doing the ‘outlet store’ online only; it opened May 15 and closes at 6pm EDT June 15, so shop early, shop often, but shop soon if so inclined.

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Marketing in this day and age also involves using all available tools, something that has challenged preppish retailer J. Crew.  While the issue seems to be significantly reduced, Crew’s inability to manage basics at their online store is well-documented, approaching infamy in some annals of marketing nightmares.

Now the company’s blogging policy is under the microscope by the folks over at Media Bistro, although the story indicates the primary concern for J. Crew policymakers is likely micro-blogging site Twitter. However, as the story notes:

“If J.Crew’s official Twitter efforts are an indication, they have a lot of work to do to shake out their social voice. McAuliffe’s email signature finishes with @JCrew_Insider which stands at 299 followers, 1 following, and 7 updates at the time of this post.”

As of this writing that number is 334. The last @JCrew_Insider Twitter post is dated more than a month ago, April 21st, mentioning the retailer’s Malibu store opening. If tweeting store openings is a priority, at least one mention of the company’s Hamptons locations should be made.

(In the interest of full disclosure,  the Princess is on Twitter and loves it, as are many of our fabulous blogging friends.)

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Today we have two entries from the land of logo abominations, the first dubbed The Ugliest Rolls Royce Ever by the witty writers at Luxuo.

PHOTO: AutoJunk via Luxuo via Carscoop

The second item may be familiar to readers, it was featured in Vogue‘s June issue, the Last Look page.

PHOTO: Courtesy via WWD.com

Yes, silly season is still with us. The Fendi bicycle is available in two versions, one selling for $9500 (removable fur saddlebags and other accoutrements) while the budget version (hee-hee) is merely $5900.  The lower-priced model does include Fendi’s Selleria leather accessories, a leather GPS navigation holder, key & bike chain cover. (In all candor, we do this second entry rather tongue-in-cheek, as there simply isn’t lots of logoing going on; it was all about the flow of words, the perfect segue, in a manner of speaking. Heh-heh.)

But we have good news: a new entry to the luggage market will not be triggering a case of logophobia for almost any of our tastefully-inclined readers.  Okay, for our clue, it’s time for a show of hands: how many were raised toting about Hartmann bags?

Aw, you guessed already! The collaboration between Brooks Brothers and Hartmann luggage quietly debuted last week:

The official launch is slated for this week, but if shopping now, there is special introductory pricing.

Well dollfaces, it’s time for today’s quiz: what classic brands do you swear by? What new discoveries have you made? Any major disappointments along the way? Do tell, we’re dying to know.