New (and Cool) Goodies at the Preppy Princess Part 1

Hello-Hello and welcome to the Prepatorium. Today we have some Friday Fun targeted a little closer to home, we are going to share some of the wonderful new products we have added at The Princess. There are so many new treasures we have had to split the post into two parts, today we have the first portion.

We begin with word of a line we are *very* excited to offer, the Pomegranate Collegiate Collection. Behold, the official plaid of the University of Florida.

Pomegranate Collegiate Collection at PreppyPrincess.com

The motifs adorn all manner of items, from tote bags and duffels to tablecloths and oven mitts. All patterns and designs are officially licensed by the NCAA, here are a couple of items in the UGA (University of Georgia) group, the Tablecloth (2 sizes, $36, $64) Napkins and Koozie ($12).

Pomegranate Collegiate at PreppyPrincess.com

Jayhawk fans will be pleased to see the University of Kansas collection.

Pomegranate Collegiate at PreppyPrincess.com

All of the patterns are not plaid, here are some of the items in the official Alabama paisley group.

Pomegranate Collegiate at PreppyPrincess.com

There is an enormous selection in the University of Kentucky plaid, including the Cotton Scarf ($28), D-Ring Belt ($30), and Picture Frame ($22).

Pomegranate Collegiate Collection at PreppyPrincess.com

The final group we share from this line is the Louisiana State group, below we show the all cotton Tablecloth (2 sizes, $32 or $64) and cotton Napkins ($28).

Pomegranate Collegiate Collection at PreppyPrincess.com

Don’t despair if you do not see your school here, Pomegranate is adding more as quickly as possible. Next to join the collection? The Vols from Tennessee (Hello Preppy 101!) and Sooners from Oklahoma.

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Also new, our Clairebella Greek gifts and goodies.

Delta Zeta Gifts by Clairebella at PreppyPrincess.com

The line is currently offered for 17 different sororities, items are priced $17.50 to $55.

Kappy Kappa Gamma Gifts by Clairebella at PreppyPrincess.com

Items in this collection can be done in any color and almost any font you choose, there are lots of options. Below we share one last sorority, this one on behalf of TQM.

Delta Delta Delta by Clairebella at PreppyPrincess.com

That’s not all that’s new from Clairebella this fall, here are the new ‘preppy’ designs by Kathy Denness, the brains behind the beautiful patterns at this company.

Clairebella at PreppyPrincess.com

The new patterns are available on all of our Clairebella products, including the personalized Phone Cases, Cutting Boards, Platters, Melamine Trays, License Plates, Clipboards and more.

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Another addition that also makes an ideal gift, our Personalized Mugs from Lovie and Dodge, $24.50.

Personalized Mugs at PreppyPrincess.com

Not only do they offer a snappy Halloween polka dot, there are several more masculine designs, a possibility for Dad this Christmas or Hanukkah?

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Next on our list of new and fun finds here at the Prepatorium, our stationery that matches the oh-so-preppy icons on the 2012 Preppy Calendar ($12).  Here are some of the Preppy Calendar Flat Cards in two of my favorite designs, the Plaid Woodie from the month of March, followed closely by January’s Knotted Anchor.

Preppy Calendar Flat Note Cards at PreppyPrincess.com

Of course the delightful designs are by the very talented Shannon of the Preppy Ladybug, she created all of the artwork for the Calendar. She has also created these snappy Preppy Calendar Address Labels ($4.50 and up). We show the Argyle Christmas from December (you know you need some of these!), May’s Seersucker Tote and the Polka Dot Wellies from April.

Preppy Calendar Address Labels at PreppyPrincess.com

There are also darling Foldover Note Cards, we don’t have them all on the site yet, they should be there before the weekend is over.

Preppy Calendar Folded Note Cards at PreppyPrincess.com

(The poor Consort, he is typing just as fast as his fingers can fly while building the pages.)

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Our final item today, can you guess what it is and who is all excited about it?

Jonathan Adler at PreppyPrincess.com

That’s right, Silly Tilly is all gaga over her new Jonathan Adler dog mats, only $12.50 and very durable, the mats come in four vibrant designs.

One last note:

Lilly Pulitzer Agendas at PreppyPrincess.com

Our wildly popular Lilly Pulitzer Agendas are back in stock, we have them in both Large and Pocket size in several of this year’s patterns.

On that note we say goodbye until next time, may your weekend be wonderful!

Lands’ End Launches New Collection, Calendar Craze

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday!

We jump right into things today with a look at the new Canvas line from Lands’ End.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

As the story in WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription required) explains:

“Land’s End Canvas, a collection designed with a “modern sensibility,” or, in other words, a younger audience, in mind.”

The new pieces have classic appeal.

Courtesy Lands' End

We like the Heritage Cardigan as well as the Boyfriend V-neck Cardigan.

More from today’s WWD story:

“Named after the label’s signature canvas tote, the line combines pieces that reflect the company’s sailing heritage ­­— fitted oxfords and slouchy, cuffed cargos for women and washed plaid shirts, khaki and denim for men — with a slimmer cut.”

Frequent readers know of our fondness for the basic Tretorn sneaker, and we expect Miss Nautical by Nature might have an affinity for the Silk Tie Belt with its sailing motif.

The Men’s looks are also solid.

The merchandise is already available for ordering online at the new Lands’ End Canvas website.

Those on Twitter may have seen our Tweet about Lands’ End offering a Friends and Family discount of 25% off regular priced merchandise; click here to take advantage of the offer – it expires at midnight on the 16th. (NOTE: This is not applicable to the new Canvas collection.)

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Also offering something new, Polo Ralph Lauren, adding Tote Bags to their Create Your Own line.

Both the Medium and Small (or Children’s) totes are available for the personalization

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We close with a quick reminder about our 2010 Calendars: they are going quickly.

The Lilly Pulitzer Pocket Agenda is now sold out in Trouble Hibiscus, and our vendor is completely out of stock.

We do have all three patterns still available in the Lilly Large Agenda Book, as well as the Lilly Wall Calendar and Desktop model, but all of our other preppish styles are also moving quickly, especially our Susan Wallace Barnes calendars and day planners with the Nantucket illustrations.

Perhaps it is our history as somewhat of a procrastinator on this issue (does going to buy a calendar after the first of the new year qualify as procrastinating?) but we really did not expect to sell so many this early!

With that we send a wish that everyone enjoys a wonderful Fall weekend!

Mad Men Yourself, “Parodies of Preppiness”?

Hello-Hello,

For those readers of a…umm…well, readers of a ‘certain age,’ we must share yesterday’s “Where did TP’s brain go?” episode: after launching into a silly flurry of activity to make it to our afternoon volunteer shift at the local Senior Center, what do we learn? We learn (again) that putting things *in* the calendar is really very effective at warding off those occasions when one shows up for a shift that is scheduled for the following week. It also helps prevent the special looks one receives from the other volunteers.

Indeed.

But since we are chatting calendars again, we must share the newest addition to our Preppy Calendars category at the Princess, our desktop In Good Company Calendar for next year.

This is a desktop calendar, and the twelve oh-so-preptastic months fit right into the acrylic case that doubles as an easel.

Upon learning we could offer this to Princess customers for only $14 we put it on the “must-have” list for our little store.

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Next, we wanted to share a fascinating column from the Boston Herald, one we think readers will find more-than-intriguing. The piece is titled “Let Me School You About Preppies,” it is by writer Sam Allis.

It begins condemning a show we have blathered on about ad nauseam mention here occasionally, NYC Prep.

““NYC Prep,’’ the ludicrous reality show about spoiled rich kids, most of whom attend Upper East Side private schools.

The show has nothing to do with preppies. Real preppies would have nothing to do with it. They’d be laughed out of New Canaan…”

Mr. Allis makes the point about the origins of the word “preppy” in prep schools, somethings Princess readers are well aware of, but he then raises a topic we once heard debated with a ferocity that seemed just inane:

“And prep schools are, in the cultural sense I’m talking about, boarding schools – not country day or Upper East Side privates.

It was on boarding school campuses that true preppies were spawned. The petri dish in which the culture was created and perpetuated was the prep school dormitory.”

We are in the camp that believes one is not required to be at boarding school to be immersed in what we would refer to as a basic preppy culture, one need only be attending certain schools. The entire topic reeks of a “I’m preppier than you are” sort of argument, a topic not even worthy of conversation IOHO.

Naturally the story contains the standard references about current definitions of ‘preppy style,’ appropriately referring to it as “classic, conservative men’s clothes.”  That breaks no new ground.

But then things take a bit of a negative turn when discussing specific retailers:

“The reigning king of preppy wistfulness remains Ralph Lauren, born Ralph Lifshitz in the Bronx, who has created the ultimate illusionary preppy world. His efforts are nothing if not about a yearning for a past he never knew.”

“His threads are beautiful, in contrast to parvenus like Vineyard Vines, an upstart that makes clothes for men and women that are parodies of preppiness. J.Crew still answers the bell because it sells smart preppy knockoffs.

We’ll share the following and then move on, encouraging readers to look at the actual column personally, that ensures a far better experience than our efforts at paraphrasing it.

“Every once in awhile, marketers will try to sell patch madras or seersucker again. What they’re selling is the past. No one drinks gin and bitters anymore, but who cares?”

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We close with something we stumbled on to via Twitter yesterday that is likely to hold appeal for our fellow Mad Men fans. Remember the Elf Yourself fun every year around Christmas? (No, that isn’t TP, or even anyone we know.)

Well, true aficionados can now make their very own Mad Men avatars!

Courtesy amc-tv

Oh, of course we made our very own:

We hope we can convince the Consort to make one for himself.

Until next time, g’bye!

The First Family Does Talbots & J. Crew, Our New Nantucket Collection

Hello-Hello, and apologies for the lack of a post yesterday! We can only  attribute it to loads of Princess personalization ordering and the Lilly pre-orders, yikes!

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Sadly we start with something transcending a fashion faux-pas dollfaces, more like a fashion disaster In Our Most Humble of Opinions.  Sigh.  Behold actress Hayden Panettiere Monday on her way to tape the David Letterman show.

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While we understand Ms. Panettiere’s need to promote her new film, is the sheer Caroline Seikaly dress even remotely appropriate for someone not yet 20 years old?  This is eerily reminscent of the dress (seen here) worn by Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester at an MTV awards show in June. Harrumph!

Speaking of television shows featuring fashions of a preppish nature, NY Magazine has an in-depth review of last night’s NYC Prep for those following that train wreck. (As many readers have referred to it.)

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On a more upbeat note, the marketing minds at Talbots must have been thrilled to see First Lady Michelle Obama in their rose print dress again, worn this Sunday when boarding Air Force One on the way to Moscow.

Photo: Luis M. Alvarez/AP

BTW, the Talbots Clearance Sale now offers an additional 25% off already reduced prices, making the dress seen above $89.99; it was originally priced at $169.99.

Once arriving in Moscow Sasha and Malia Obama exited the plane in J. Crew.

PHOTO: Sergei Guneev/AFP/Getty

Malia was wearing the Silk Taffeta Trench ($298) and Sasha wore the Girls Crushed Twill Trench (now on sale at $129.99).  Both girls also wore ballet flats from Crew; Sasha in the Printed Minna Flat (left, $98-$108) and Malia in the Womens Black Satin Flats with Contrast Trim (lower right, $98).

And a reminder that J. Crew is also doing a Clearance Sale, with an additional 20% off already reduced merchandise; use promo code EXTRA20 when checking out to receive the discount.

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Remember Hadley-Pollet, the firm doing reversible ribbon belts, as well as totes? If you are a fan of the brand and in the Boston area, the company is having their first sample sale in years this Friday and Saturday.

HadleyPollet.com

The place to be for the bargains is 230 Newbury St.

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We close with something ever-so-fun, a new collection at the Princess! Our Susan Wallace Barnes line features scenes from one of our favorite spots, Nantucket! Below we share an image from the Susan Wallace Barnes 2010 Desktop Art Calendar:

Susan Wallace Barnes at PreppyPrincess.com

We love the bright, vibrant colors and seashore scenes, they just make us smile, and smiles make us happy, happy, happy. (We know, it doesn’t take a lot, does it?!)

The Note Cubes are loads of fun too, and a delightful hostess gift. (At only $14, they are also fiscally friendly.)

Nantucket Notecubes at PreppyPrincess.com

These come finished with a beautiful blue grosgrain ribbon bow, a really cute touch.  The Boxed Note Cards have more island scenes, including an adorable pink station wagon!

Susan Wallace Barnes at PreppyPrincess.com

We’re so ga-ga over that vintage wagon with the wood panels we are takiing executive action and making it today’s Pretty in Pink.

Susan Wallace Barnes at PreppyPrincess.com

We shall leave you with that cheery beach scene, hoping your afternoons are filled with summer splendor!