Lilly Pulitzer Fall 2011 Agendas, Talbots, Kate Spade & Prep World Updates

Hello-Hello, welcome to The Prepatorium, we are happy to see a bright new week!

Today we bring you dribs, drabs and tidbits of info, the post may read more like a headline service than anything else.

We begin with a look at Talbots styles for fall, loath as we are to even contemplate that season.  WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d.) has an early peek at some of the styles.

Kyle Ericksen/WWD

The deep teal seen above is pretty, but our favorite part of the WWD story may be this quote:

““The silhouette is definitely more important. Everything is more refined and dressed up,” said Michael Smaldone, chief creative officer…”

Amen and hallelujah to that sentiment, may it only prove true.  The pinstripes are also attractive.

Kyle Ericksen/WWD

As always, we aren’t crazy about every single piece, those shown below generate absolutely no sense of anticipatory excitement. The drape on the pants shown on the right is hideous.

Kyel Ericksen/WWD

However, it is likely that come August yours truly will be coveting this coat.

Kyle Ericksen/WWD

As we are on the topic of next season’s clothing, Kate Spade fans might enjoy Fashionista’s sneak peek at the fall ad campaign being shot in Soho last week.

Via Fashionista.com

Once again Bryce Dallas Howard is featured, we are more-than-intrigued by that polka dot suit.

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One might think this next item would go in our “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” files, but sadly it isn’t shocking, merely a sad commentary.

Manhattan mom sues $19K/yr. preschool for damaging 4-year-old daughter’s Ivy League chances

The headline is from a story in The Daily News, here is more:

“She’s demanding a refund of the $19,000 tuition and class-action status for other toddlers who weren’t properly prepped for the standardized test that can mean the difference between Dalton and – gasp! – public school.”

Oh, the horror.

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Several other items of note that may hold interest for some:

• Our friend over at The Preppycrat is back to posting again and has a nice look at the Painted Pink Pony shop in a recent post
• Prep World, the Lisa Birnbach/Tommy Hilfiger collaboration (detailed in this post) has announced the opening date for its New York pop-up shop: May 19. If not in the city, shoppers will find most of the collection available in Hilfiger stores and online starting then. We like seeing our friend Kiel’s bracelets showcased in the collection.

• There is a new blog up and running, Real Preppy, below we show a delightful style montage from Friday’s post

RealPreppy.com

• One item you may have missed. (That is liberal use of the word “missed”.) Behold, the Royal Wedding Donut.

Dunkin' Donuts via Eater.com

Eater puts it well:

“Because nothing says royal matrimony like a heart-shaped donut filled with jelly and topped with vanilla icing and a chocolate drizzle.”

Perzactly.

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We leave you with two quick items, both slightly more upscale than the donut.

Tiffany Blue® Bow Mug

Tiffany is now offering “Blue Bow” items, and while not a fan of the company’s logo-ridden pieces, the Mug somehow seems cute and whimsical, sure to brighten one’s morning.

The other item is a sneak peek at this August’s Agendas from our Lilly Pulitzer Stationery line.

Fall 2011 Agendas

This year there will be four Agenda patterns, making it even more difficult to choose just one.

Lilly Pulitzer

Until next time, thank you so very much for coming to visit!

Bohemian Prep? Hippie-Prep? Hello?

Hello-Hello, we are practically melting here at Princess InterGalactic HQ, today’s heat wave will have us close to 50°, before you know it we’ll be parading about in shorts and a tee.

No one will be surprised to see us return to Fashion Week in today’s post, we begin with a look at styles from the Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2011 collection for women.

Thomas Iannaccone/WWD.com

Once again Mr. Hilfiger surprised, the restraint shown in most of the designs is very attractive. From the WWD review:

“But what stood out more was how remarkably controlled and expensive everything looked. Hilfiger dug into men’s wear — mannish tailoring, heavy-duty utility wear and foulard prints — and blew them out into an array of Ivy League threads with a subtext of cool.”

Not everything works for us.

While leather isn’t our style, we know it appeals to many.

Expect to see a lot of ponchos and capes this fall.

Thomas Iannaccone/WWD.com

From a Style.com interview with the designer:

“We always want to be preppy,” Tommy Hilfiger said on the phone yesterday. “But we always want to make preppy fresh.”

Some reviews called this collection “bohemian-prep,” others say “hippy-prep” (?) and still others have additional terms. The designer’s menswear collection for fall was termed “indie-prep”.  We have long since given up on attempting to keep track of what iteration of hypothetical prep Mr. Hilfiger is using at any given time, we can only judge the styles as individual pieces through our own prism of what might work for us. (Frankly, we’re still staggered by the fact there are pieces by this designer we find appealing!)

Kyle Ericksen’s backstage photos for WWD provide another perspective on the styles.

The candid shots provide a better glimpse into a style’s wearability IOHO.

It is nice to see the pops of color among the muted tones for next fall and winter.  Again, our hat is off to Mr. Hilfiger, the collection makes us consider actually experimenting with one of his styles at some point in the future. (Gasp.)

As always with Mr. Hilfiger, the audience was sprinkled liberally with celebrities, including Claire Courtin-Clarins and Virginie Courtin-Clarins, granddaughters of the man who originally founded that cosmetic line, lower right we see Olivia Palermo.

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Michael Kors celebrated his label’s 30th anniversary with a stellar show.

Among the many celebrities in the front row for this event, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, on the right, Vogue Grand Pooh-bah Anna Wintour waits.

For a complete Kors recap with outstanding photos, visit the Quintesessence blog.

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A few quick hits, the first from Vera Wang:

Marilynn K. Yee/The New York Times

Nothing from Vera really had a wow factor, nor did anything jump out at Hérve Léger.

Via PurseBlog.com

Two more tidbits and links:

Chris Moore/Karl Prouse via The NY Times

• Suzy Menkes had a stellar piece in Tuesday’s Times, “On the Straight and Narrow,” looking at the change in silhouettes and psyche:

“It is back to the straight and narrow in New York Fashion Week. No more loose and sloppy casual clothes, easy sportswear or girlish frills.”

• The Journal has a story about Jenna Lyons and J. Crew that includes this quote from Ms. Lyons, provoking a small “amen” here at the Prepatorium.

“WSJ: What about the collection resulted in softer sales last fall?

Ms. Lyons: [The customer] was sick of ruffles and so were we. There are always cycles where things sort of ebb and flow and all of a sudden that thing that you loved you now hate and that thing that you hated you now love.”

Perhaps someone at Talbots will take note of the ruffle change as well.

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We are excited by some wonderful news about our friend and style blogger Skip Brooks at Alexander Grant. (Note the snappy bow tie.)

Courtesy Image

Skip is partnering with the Style Cooperative on a line of bow ties launching this March. We love the nautical influence in the blue and white version seen above and in the fabric close-up below.

We’re thinking that perhaps Skip didn’t spend all his time at Harvard with his nose to the law books. Just speculating mind you. (Heh, heh, heh.)

With that, g’bye until next time when we look at Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers’ fall collections.

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

We leave you with a peek at the Brooks Brothers new Fair Isle knit tie from next fall’s line.

 

ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• Thomas Iannaccone/WWD (Hilfiger runway)
• Alice Bensi / GoRunway.com (Hilfiger front row)
• Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images For IMG (Michael Kors front row)
• Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times (Anna Wintour)

 

The Royal Wedding Party, Carolina Herrera Kids & “Indie Prep” (Ahem.)

Hello-Hello, and happy Tuesday, it is downright balmy here at the Prepatorium, almost 40° and your trusty scribe is giddy from the heat.

We begin today with an update on the upcoming wedding. (You know, The. Wedding.) Many of our treasured readers have already seen the news, but for those not yet hearing the details, we have all of the particulars about who will accompany Kate Middleton and Prince William down the aisle.

As the Palace put it, “Miss Catherine Middleton has asked her sister, Miss Philippa Middleton, to be her Maid of Honour. Prince William has asked his brother, Prince Harry, to be his Best Man.”

Getty Images via The Daily Mail

Philippa is more commonly referred to as Pippa; the Middleton sisters have long been close.

REX via The Telegraph

As have the young Princes.

The following young ladies and young men will be Bridesmaids and Page Boys:

• The Lady Louise Windsor (seen lower left) is the daughter of The Earl and Countess of Wessex (aka Prince Edward and his wife Sophie), age 7;
• Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones (lower right) is the daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Linley, age 8

The other two young ladies who will be attendants:

• Miss Eliza Lopes (seen on the left) is the granddaughter of William’s stepmother, Camilla, duchess of Cornwall, she is 3 years of age;
• Grace van Cutsem, is carried by her mother, Lady Rose van Cutsem, Grace is also 3

IMAGES: The Picture Library via The Daily Mail

The young men acting as Page Boys:

• Master William (Billy) Lowther-Pinkerton is the son of longtime aide and private secretary to the Princes, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton (below we see Prince William playing with his soon-to-be page boy )

REX via The Telegraph

• Master Tom Pettifer, age 8, is the son of Charles Pettifer and his wife Tiggy (formerly Tiggy Legge-Burke, a nanny to the boys in the 1990s).

We simply must share this photo of Lady Louise from last August, seen with her father, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.  The little girl seems so very serious with her hands behind her back, she looks like an old soul in a young body.

Chris Jackson/Getty

More from the Palace:

• Please note that all the children’s parents have informed us that they do not wish to talk to the media.
• Details about the Bridesmaids’ dresses and the Page Boys’ uniforms will be made available on the Wedding Day.

To read the snooze news release in its entirety, click here to visit the media page for the Prince of Wales.

The Telegraph has more details, including the following:

• “Prince William has broken with the tradition that bridegrooms in royal weddings traditionally chose a “supporter” instead of a best man.”
• “The wedding details were revealed on the same day that it was announced that the couple would be paying an official visit together later this month to the university where they met.”

The Mail offers these additional tidbits:

• “In the past Prince Edward and Sophie have been reluctant to allow Lady Louise to be photographed because she was born with exotropia, a rare condition which causes a divergent squint.”
• “As tradition dictates, Prince Harry will now be responsible for organising William’s stag party.” (Editor’s note: this fact is enough to strike fear into even the strongest of British backbones.)

More perspective is offered in this Associated Press story:

“”It’s unusual to have only just one man,” said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine. “All of the queen’s sons – Charles, Andrew, Edward – had two supporters at their wedding. But obviously William doesn’t feel the need to have more than one supporter and it’s by no means a hard and fast rule.”

Here are a few more shots of the Middleton sisters, the first dates to 2007.

PHOTO: PacificCoastNews.com

Like older sister Kate, Pippa Middleton has a keen eye for fashion and fun, below left she is in costume to attend a “Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco” fundraiser in 2008, on the right she is headed into the Tatler’s 300th Anniversary party in 2009.

Getty Images

A year ago this month Pippa was in the front row for the Issa runway show during London Fashion Week.

Stuart Wilson/Getty Images Europe

Below we see (L to R) the girls’ mother, Carole Middleton, Pippa, Kate and Prince William skiing last March in the French Alps.

Bauer-Griffin

A photogenic group, to be sure, as always, we shall continue to follow events and share updates as appropriate.

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Next on the hit parade, Tommy Hilfiger’s menswear collection for the fall.

From the Women’s Wear Daily review:

“Those who believe there are only so many ways to do preppy clearly haven’t met Tommy Hilfiger, whose newest interpretation might just be his best one yet.

Via All The Rage

Back to Women’s Wear Daily:

“It’s called Indie Prep,” Hilfiger said before his men’s show on Friday. “When you mix indie rockers with prepsters, that’s what you get.”

Ahem.

In our next post we will look at the Hilfiger styles for women.

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We have a touch of spring and summer to share, the new Carolina Herrera styles for the Young Miss and Master at your palace.

The lines are classic and the color palette perfect for the season, khaki and seersucker are almost always prepalicious.

There is lots to like in this newest collection from the gifted designer. (Later this week we will have the Fall 2011 looks showing this week.)

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We leave you with a few updates on stars from everyone’s fave faux-prep school show, Gossip Girl.

• Actress Blake Lively received an Elle Style Award yesterday in London, she wore an electric blue gown by Emilio Pucci.

Ian Gavan/Getty

• Christian Louboutin has announced that his newest design is named after Ms. Lively.

Courtesy Image via The Daily Mail

• Many of the show’s star’s have been spotted at various shows during Fashion Week, Ed Westwick attended the Hilfiger menswear show on Friday night, and also made it to the Simon Spurr show Sunday evening.

• Fashion Week is a timely topic, the plot has been following “Blair” and “Dan” during their internships at W magazine.

The CW

With that oddity we say goodbye until next time, we hope the sun is shining on you today!

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ADDITIONAL  PHOTO CREDITS:

• Rex Features
• Paul Ellis/AP photo (Princes William & Harry)
• Chris Jackson/Getty (Lady Louise)
• Jamie McCarthy/Getty (Ed Westwcik at Hilfiger)
• Jeff Gentner/Getty (Ed Westwick at Simon Spurr)

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