Adventures in Argyle & When Preppy Goes Wrong #416

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday!

We must begin with an item only The Consort would think up: when showing him an outrageous pair of shoes from this week’s Alexander McQueen show at Paris Fashion Week, he immediately said “Whoever designed those must have a Bedlington Terrier.”

The shoes:

ImaxTree

The dog:

Courtesy Bedlingtons.US

As his mother has been known to say, “His mind is God’s own special mystery.”

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And we thought it would be fun to share a few Adventures in Argyle, beginning with the Lacoste Bed in a Bag at Macy’s.

Lacoste is also running their Sweater Event promotion, offering 30% off their Fall Sweater inventory. Below left, the 3/4 Sleeve Cotton Cardigan, on the right, the Short-Sleeve V-neck.

The Men’s Sweaters at Lacoste are on sale as well.

Brooks Brothers is also breaking out what many consider to be a staple of the ‘preppy wardrobe’. While we like the Cashmere Twinset on the left, the Merino Argyle on the right just doesn’t seem well put together, or at least not properly fit on the model.

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For a more fiscally-friendly style, here is a Merona Cotton Argyle now only $6.98 at Le Boutique Targèt. This is a Petite size, and as of this writing it was available in Medium to XX-Large. If Argyle Rain Boots speak to your inner fashionista, these come in two color combinations, also at Target.

One cautionary note on the boots, the two reviews left by customers aren’t terribly positive.

If more casual footwear is on your radar, the Pink & Chocolate Argyle Canvas Argyle at 6pm.com (Zappo’s lower-priced arm) are also kind to one’s wallet at $19.95 and available in a number of colors/patterns.

We complete today’s footwear section with a pair of shoes unlikely to make their way into TP’s closet: the Burberry Sneakers.

When it comes to argyle it doesn’t get much cuter than items for the little ones brightening our lives, like this Baby Gap Hoodie for the young master of the house.

Or how about a personalized pink and green Argyle Sippy Cup from the always-wonderful Lauren Nicole?  Or perhaps blue? There’s even a Monogrammed Mug for Mom.

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We cannot leave our argyle portion of the post without sharing a “When Preppy Goes Wrong“: note the pattern in the Prep School Cutie costume for Halloween.

MyDivasCloset.com

Indeed.

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We leave you with a new item at the Princess, just added to our offerings for the Preppy Home.

We are just gaga over our cute new magnet sets.

The magnets come four to a pack, and are available in all sorts of bright, vibrant designs and colors.

They work perfectly with our magnet boards from both Lilly Pulitzer and Lake House Designs.

And at $10 per pack we’re planning on these for some stocking stuffers and Hanukkah presents.

With this bit of shameless self-promotion (gasp!), we’ll close with wishes everyone enjoys a fun and fabulous weekend!

Your Vote is Needed, and a Preppy Mish-Mash

Hello-Hello and happy sunny, breezy, blue-sky-kind-of-day!

We spent the morning away from the Prepatorium and are racing to catch up, so we shall primarily offer what we believe to be called ‘eye candy’ in our little post today. (Do tell us if this usage is improper.)

Because we know you frequently awaken in the middle of the night, unable to sleep because of your concern about the Hope Diamond and how it is faring, we bring you an update:

Courtesy Photo via WWD.com

The company that originally donated the diamond to the Smithsonian, Harry Winston, is going to be resetting the famous (and many believe cursed) stone.  There are several design options under consideration, including this:

Courtesy Photo via WWD.com

As well as this….

Courtesy Photo via WWD.com

The Smithsonian is saying, “The Fate of the Hope Diamond is in your hands.”

How can that be? The ultimate decision on which new design Harry Winston will use for resetting the stone is open to a public vote; here is the third design you may select:

Courtesy Photo via WWD.com

Just click here to review the three designs, learn loads more about the 45+ carat stone, and cast your vote.

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Next, a little retail news with word that Fornash has opened their new store at Tysons!

Simply one more reason to visit that corner of the globe when in the area. We have long favored the Gecko Bangles from Fornash:

In other retail news, J. Crew is promoting their Long-Live Summer Sale.

We haven’t perused the offerings, but do have one thought to share: if it is at all possible to hold off on purchases, we’re betting Crew does the “Take an extra 20% off sale prices” promotion sometime around the approaching holiday weekend. We have nary a clue other than past experience.

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Next, how is this for an Adventure in Argyle?

The Prinz Preppy Photo Album holds forty 4″ x 6″ pictures, and is only $2.99.

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If seeking a little Pretty in Pink for your four-legged friends and family members:

Yes, it is the Preppy Puppy Tank from PetCo, described thusly:

“…A cute and sassy tank top that goes anywhere…”

Silly Tilly would like to be “sassy” but sadly (ahem), is a little rotund for such apparel.

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We close with a look at Gossip Girl’s ‘Chuck and Blair,’ from ads running in this month’s NYLON Korea.

NYLON Korea

The ads are actually for ASK clothing (we’re not linking to the site as Google warns it may harm one’s computer), and feature Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick.

NYLON Korea

For more on the ads, pop over to the NYLON blog.

This concludes today’s preppy mish-mash. Thank you for your patience with our goofy little mess today!

Preppy Look “Stronger than Ever” Also, Preppy Pins? We Think Not.

Hello-Hello!

It is rainy and cold, and one could almost believe Fall was hovering around the corner. But as we are living in denial, we know that isn’t the case.

However, we will acknowledge that a change of seasons brings a change in wardrobe for most of us as well, including the offspring.  To that end, we share from this story in the Montreal Gazette, “Prepping for School”:

“The preppy look is going stronger than ever into the high school years, with Gossip Girl blazers, plaids, knee socks, ties and headbands. (Of course, much of what these Upper East Side privileged private school students wear on the town would throw most parents into a tizzy, if not bankrupt them.)”

The story includes photos of  clothing, including this Fleece Blazer by Canadian retailer Joe Fresh:

Courtesy Photo

The story continues:

“…. Gossip Girl has influenced those girls, with tweeds, bows, knee socks and ballet flats,’’ she said. That’s the urban preppy look….”

Montreal Gazette

The illustration above shows something called a TRie (spelled just this way, upper and lower case) from the Jonas Brothers line of clothing…? Is this a combination of the words ‘tie’ and ‘ribbon’ possibly, or are we just thicker than normal today?

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Today we have the unfortunate task of adding to our “When Preppy Goes Wrong” gallery; the source of the fashion crime faux pass is what’s troubling us today: Fred Perry!

You are looking at the Fred Perry Preppy Pins, a set of 4 enamel on metal pins.  We’re having flashbacks to our skating days and thinking we must be at a competition swapping pins.  In and of themselves they aren’t horrid, despite the raging case of LogoPhobia they are bound to trigger.  It’s just that we were still clinging to Fred Perry as one of a vanishing breed, a firm resolved to avoid wallowing in a world of gratuitous logos splattered everywhere.

And now this, something that belongs in the land of Hideopolis. Sniff.

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We have decided to soldier on despite the tragedy detailed above, efforting cheery smiles via a number of Pretty In Pink items, how is that for therapy? First, the Girls Plaid-Trim Polo from the folks at Nautica.

At $12.99 an early withdrawal from the trust fund isn’t required, the top originally sold for $26. For Mom, the Varsity V-Neck Sweater is also offered at a lower price point, $37.99, marked down from the original selling price of $79.

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For the furry member of the family, the ARFgyle Bones Toy, isn’t it cute?

The only challenge for us here at The Palace? We have to explain to the Tilly-Bomb:

“Not recommended for aggressive chewers”

Oops.

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Many readers may have already seen this next item, but we simply have to share it for those who may not have viewed photos of the lovely, lively LillyMobile.

This cute bug of a vehicle looks very much like any number of personalized golf carts buzzing around the course in Florida, and according to the Lilly Facebook page:

“We had a jeep last year but this November we’re “rolling” out an electric car!! It comes in white and pink!!Eeeekk! Stay tuned for more details and how to order one early!!”

There’s something to look forward to!

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And finally in our Pretty in Pink category, we close with our brand new Preppy Pushpins!

PreppyPrincess.com

These are from a new vendor whom we adore, Sara, at Kenwood Lane.  The pins are perfect for tacking up things on your bulletin board, and come in all sorts of fun colors and patterns.

Perhaps best of all they come packaged in cellophane accented by a pretty bow! We are already thinking they will be the ideal stocking stuffer for several friends and relatives.

With that lovely readers, we toddle off, back to work! May your days be filled with sunshine and smiles!

When Argyle Goes Bad

Hello-Hello, and Happy-Day-Before-Friday!

Because it remains crazy-busy here in the corner condo at Princess InterGalactic HQ, once again we shall stoop to a post more filled with photos than fabulosity.

We begin with the thought that many readers will remember back in the olden daze days, when one of the primary purposes of golf at the club was doing a little business whilst making one’s way over to the nineteenth eighteenth hole. TP’s father certainly solidifed more than one commerce-related friendship in this manner, although TQM ultimately opted out of her role as the executive’s spouse; something to do with the 12-hour time commitment required for proper entertaining: attention to the round and wife/wives at hand, cocktails following the sporting event, dinner after the libations, you know the drill. It was a far more ‘liquid-intense’ affair back in the day than it is now. (No, bottled water is not what we reference with the word liquid.)

Naturally one required appropriate apparel for these activities, and we remember both parents clad in colorful prints.  Yet somehow they avoided  looking like this:

PHOTO: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

This strikes us as something that really transcends the average Adventures in Argyle, don’t you think?

Believe it or not, the appendages cloaked in the garments seen above and below all belong to one individual.

PHOTO Montage: Matthew Childs/Action Images

Come now, you must know upon whose legs you gaze … of course you do.

PHOTO: Matt Dunham/AP

It is that bad boy of golf, John Daly.  And before one thinks about looking in horror upon his wardrobe selections over at Turnberry (or elsewhere) let us all remember he is only doing his job, promoting his eponymous line of golf clothing.

The name of his line? Loudmouth.

As always, writers on the far side of the Pond describe the scene far better than we can; here is a morsel from the Times talking about Mr. Daly’s look at the Scottish Open last Friday:

His “pants” as they call them in the United States – in Scotland we prefer “breeks” – were just about indescribable: a bonfire of colour, at least six different shades of polka-dot, from his rear to his ankles. You could be forgiven for thinking Daly had forgotten to change out of his pyjamas when he rose in the morning. “Christ, I was aghast when I saw him!” rasped a Scottish marshall on the 9th tee…”

Loudmouth offers amazing styles and the Ladies should not feel as if there is nothing equally striking for their walk-in, below we share a slightly more tame look in our favorite color combination:

Courtesy Loudmouth Golf

And while the pink and green is really quite acceptable, when it comes to Mr. Daly’s attire we envision TQM now floating somewhere between “Gasp! The horror” and “Did you make this up?”

Indeed.

Others sported argyle this week at the British Open, including Tom Watson in a more classic style.

PHOTO: Marc Aspland/The Times

Mr. Watson’s sweater is from one of his sponsors, Polo Ralph Lauren.

Frequent readers know this isn’t the first time we’ve commented on proper clothing for athletic endeavors. Hardly.  For a far more entertaining look at  just how big the pro-apparel sponsorship business is, here is a story running earlier this week in the Times.  For example, we had no idea that Nike selected what Tiger Woods would wear this week more than a year ago.  (And we’re OCD?)

There is no shortage of bright colors and bold patterns on the golf course. We enjoy most of them, but do feel if one is going to have a strong horizontal pattern it simply must be matched at the side seams. If this means the item becomes too costly to manufacture, then it simply should not be made, it is too offensive to the human eye.

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Something that is more-than-easy on the eyes? The reminder today via Peak of Chic about the new Lulu DK for Matouk linens collection; we just adore it.

Courtesy Lulu DK Matouk

You won’t be disappointed.

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And those fond of the excellent selection of goods at the MOMA store may appreciate a reminder:

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We close with happy news here at the Prepatorium, we are starting to receive our calendars for next year in stock! Below, the Donovan Designs 2010 desktop offering.

PreppyPrincess.com

We like their cute colors and grosgrain bow, along with the acrylic easel holding the darling artwork. (And their price point of only $18!)

On that cheery note, G’bye until next time!

Next Target Designer & Another Argyle Adventure

Hello-Hello and Happy Spring Fever! It is so fantabulous we are officially decreeing today as…..

… Prepalicious, the feeling is utter bliss here at the Prepatorium; we hope the same can be said for your corner of the globe.

We start with news of the next designer collaboration for Target. The Boutique will offer another jewelry line, this one in tandem with the oh-so-wonderful Anna Sheffield, perhaps better known to some readers as the designer of Bing-Bang jewelry.

Courtesy Anna Sheffield via Hungry Elephant/S. Varady

The Anna Sheffield for Target Collection launches August 30; it will be online and in stores through December 30.  Last year the designer teamed up with Urban Outfitters for a line. Below, a cuff currently in the Bing-Bang group.

Bing-Bang Courtesy Photo via WWD

Additionally, Miss Sheffield’s Hobo Bag was featured last year on Gossip Girl.

In addition to her own website, Ms. Sheffield’s work is available at Intermix, Shopbop and other retailers.

Speaking of Gossip Girl… we have a few updates for readers, starting with news that actress Leighton Meester has officially signed a record deal, with an album release expected this fall. We are more-than-tardy mentioning a fashion spread featuring Ms. Meester in the NY Times magazine.

PHOTO: Terry Richardson/NY Times

The Moment blog also has a story with the 23-year-old that fans may enjoy reading.

People has an interesting online update pegged to Monday’s return of Michele Trachtenberg’s character (Georgina Chapman) to the UES. One thing addressed in the story is what seems to be finds an incredibly high rate of intra-cast romantic relationships:

““I haven’t tasted or drank the love potion yet because I’m actually not dating anyone from the set,” Trachtenberg jokingly said. “But we all roll up with Red Bull in the morning, so maybe there is something in there.”

“With Ed Westwick dating Jessica Szohr, Leighton Meester meeting boyfriend Sebastian Stan on the set and lovebirds Blake Lively and Penn Badgley still going strong, Trachtenberg admits it’s usually only a matter of time before costars hook up.”

Of course.

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Just to prove we retain our capacity to cope with late-breaking news, we offer the latest for your consideration:

PHOTO: Andrew Milligan/AP

There is more in this article from The Daily Mail. Oh, what exactly does this have to do with preppiness, other than the possibility that is a Burberry scarf? Nothing.  Not a thing, dolls, we apologize.

There you have it.

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We have an interesting Argyle Update today, if only because of the individual sporting the argyle:

PHOTO: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Yesterday First Lady Michelle Obama was wearing another Junya Watanabe argyle cardigan. Does it look familiar? Readers may recall Mrs. Obama in another colorful sweater by the designer during the G2 trip to Europe in early April; if not, this post may be of assistance.

The designer is no stranger to argyle, it is one of the reasons we are drawn to his creations. Below, a vest from this spring’s Comme des Garcon collection for Colette.  But prepettes also know it’s not exactly Brooks Brothers standard issue.

Courtesy Junya Watanabe via Hypebeast.com

Again the First Lady looks beautiful. We love the bright colors in her cardigan. However (you just knew this was coming) we are simply never going to adapt to daytime sequins despite intense counseling from the Fashion Herald and Wendy. We’re constitutionally incapable. It Just. Will. Not. Happen.

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We close today with a look at some of Kenneth Paul Block’s amazing fashion illustrations. First, “Babe Paley in Mainbocher and Amanda Burden in Sarni”

PHOTO: Courtesy Kenneth Paul Block via WWD

Next, Ungaro Dress, today’s Pretty in Pink:

Courtesy Kenneth Paul Block via WWD

Mr. Block created magnificent drawings for W and WWD as the principle in-house illustrator for Fairchild Publications, frequently using members of the ‘jet set’ as subjects. Below, Jackie Kennedy Onassis in a Valentino jumpsuit.

Courtesy Kenneth Paul Block via WWD

The artist also did numerous illustrations for upscale retailers like Bonwit Teller, Bloomingdale’s  and Bergdorf’s. In March Mr. Block donated almost 1900 drawings to the MFA in Boston.  For a real treat, pop over to the Museum’s Textile and Fashion Arts Facebook page and gaze upon the fabulosity. One can also check out Drawing Art: The Fashion of Kenneth Paul Block at their local library or consider adding it to their personal library.

Mr. Block passed away last week; he was 84.