Tag Archives: preppy girl’s clothes

LL Bean Signature, and an Unusual Launch for Brooks Brothers

Hello-Hello!

Today we have more pictures than prose (there’s a blessing!), hopefully images you shall find moderately appealing. We begin with an early look at fall styles from the recently launched LL Bean Signature line.

The new styles are featured at a delightful blog, N’East Style.

As difficult as it is to contemplate the possibility of a weather change in a few months, the pictures serve to remind us of fall’s inevitable arrival.

Many of the styles are enticing, we are eager to see the catalog.  Our thanks to the N’East Style blog; for an early look at Signature for Men, pop over here.

Perhaps of equal interest, the ongoing LL Bean Signature Sale, with solid markdowns.  This includes the Piped Sweater Jacket (now $64.50 from $129) in the Twilight colorway.

The Mariner Leather Tote (originally $285, now $198) has a more fiscally friendly price point, as does the Chambray Shirt Dress, although the latter is not as deeply discounted as the bag (the dress was $79, now $63.20).

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An even newer launch is now officially underway; Brooks Brothers is promoting its new Fleece line for children.

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

Frequent readers may recall our posts previewing the line, below we show two styles we like, the Cashmere Intarsia Dress, and the Velvet Sailor Dress.

The number of sleeveless dresses for winter is disconcerting (unless they are intended to be worn as jumpers), while many of the accessories are cute.

The retailer continues to leverage new media resources, including its Facebook page; Brooks offers all of its catalogs online as well.

Brooks Brothers is also using the internet in another way, debuting a new collection online, but not at its own website.

Gilt Groupe

The new line is being launched via online ‘members-only’ sale site Gilt.com. We should make that past tense, as the sale went live at Noon EDT.  (If in need of an invite to the site, simply click here.)


Here is the description from Gilt’s sale site:

Available from Gilt before it hits stores in August, Brooks Brothers’ new collegiate-inspired line — which culls inspiration from campus life during the Roaring Twenties as well as vintage advertising from the extensive Brooks archives…”

This will be more than intriguing to watch, not now, but in August when the merchandise lands in-store. Are the Gilt sale prices what one might expect to see in stores and online? Or are these ‘discounted prices’ going to be raised when the selling channel moves from Gilt to the Brooks Brothers brick and mortar stores?  We’ll let you know what we discover.

Gilt has done a stellar job expanding into a ‘full-service’ off-price site, now offering goods for men, women, children and the home, as well as gifts and travel opportunities.

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As we approach the upcoming debut of Mad Men Season 4 we can expect to see many of the show’s stars featured in other media; below, Exhibit A. We’re going to go out on a limb, and suggest that a few friends will be gaga find the August cover of W to be of interest.

Nathaniel Goldberg/W magazine

The August issue showcases what many are describing as actor Jon Hamm’s “smoldering look”.  Mr. Hamm is best known for his role as Mad Men’s Don Draper. He is joined in the magazine feature by actress Rebecca Hall, she co-stars with him in The Town, a film being released this September.

Here is one last photo from the spread; we happily recommend the other photos and accompanying interview, click here to see both.

Jon Hamm

Nathaniel Goldberg/W magazine

We apologize to our Facebook fans, as we already shared the cover photo on that site, we simply couldn’t resist.  Silly Princess.

On that note we say goodbye until next time!

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Filed under preppy

‘Fleece’ by Brooks Brothers Sneak Peek

Hello-Hello, and Happy Monday!

With things crazy-busy here at The Princess, we jump right in with an early look at the new Brooks Brothers line for young ladies, Fleece.

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

These images were posted this weekend on the new Brooks Brothers Facebook page.

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

The new line is slated to launch in time for back-to-school shopping.

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

The Brooks Brothers Facebook page also shows this fall’s styles for the young master of the house, just click here to see the upcoming fashions; below we show the logo for the new line.

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

According to the Brooks FB page, information about a private Fleece Trunk Show for FB fans will be announced on their FB Wall (for those unfamiliar with Facebook, this is rather like one’s home page, for lack of a better term).  Our hats are off to the design team at B2, for the most part we think the girls collection looks promising.

While the majority of the Fleece styles for young men are also impressive, we have a moderate concern about this:

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

As many readers are more than tired of hearing aware, our LogoPhobia can be triggered by something like the item seen above, and in the case of Brooks Brothers, we are off the grid a bit sensitive to the topic, borderline hysterical concerned that logos on sweatshirts are merely the first step on a slippery slope. A slope that this company has judiciously avoided in most respects.

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Saturday brought us our monthly issue of WSJ magazine, always a fun read. This issue was particularly enjoyable for any preppish reader, beginning with the cover story, “The Church of Mickey Drexler, Inside the world of J. Crew’s evangelical CEO“.

Courtesy WSJ Magazine

Tina Gaudoin’s profile is enlightening, and while we are not terribly fond of many Crew fashion decisions, we cannot fault Mr. Drexler’s business acumen.

Another interesting piece in this issue, an interview with designer Thom Browne.

Jeff Riedel/WSJ Magazine

Mr. Browne is perhaps best known to Princess readers as the designer of Brooks Brothers’ Black Fleece collections, as well as the man pushing higher hemlines. For men.

Finally, WSJ takes a fast glance at tote bags, commenting that “Preppy goes paisley and punchy with this summer’s take on the traditional tote.”

Nigel Cox/WSJ Magazine

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We want to mention another children’s line, this one from Princess favorite, J. McLaughlin.

J. McLaughlin

We like a number of the dresses for girls, along with other offerings in the limited edition collection.

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Here is one of the day’s Pretty in Pink offerings, Marilyn Monroe in her iconic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes dress.

The famous gown was sold at auction this weekend for a staggering $309,000.

For another Pretty in Pink that is also an Adventure in Argyle, we bring you this image via the always-on-top-of-things Erin at Pink and Green Scene.

Pink and Green Scene

For more on the Summer Oasis beach Towel, click here.

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We leave you with this image as we celebrate and honor Flag Day.

Toby Talbot/AP

Goodbye until next time!

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Filed under Argyle, Logos, preppy, Preppy clothing & brands, Preppy Fashion, Pretty in Pink

Real Prep School Fashion, Rugby’s Prep Shop

Hello-Hello, happy springtime day!

We jump in with a look at something we always enjoy chatting about: actual prep school fashions.  The looks were captured by WWD in this story on the topic.  Below we see Kerry Joyce, a student at Phillips.

PHOTO: Meghan Colangelo/WWD

We smiled when reading the first sentence from writer Katherine Bowers:

“They don’t call it “preppy” for nothing.”

Ms. Bowers and photographer Meghan Colangelo traveled to three of the country’s more prominent schools (Phillips, Milton, and Concord) to see what is being worn on campus. More from the story:

“If New England private school fashion conjures images of L.L. Bean duck boots, and a heaping tablespoon of J. Crew or Ralph Lauren, the ground-level reality isn’t far off.”

The story points out most students mix traditional brands with trendier items. Below left we see Alexandra Sweeney Vesty at Milton, and Hannah Lee at Phillips.

One of the more interesting parts of the story is seeing that the girls “… showed a huge fondness for thrift, consignment and vintage stores”.  Below, Amelia Fitch at Concord.

Meghan Colangelo/WWD

This is one of those times we really wish a WWD subscription wasn’t required to read the entire story; while not groundbreaking, it is an interesting piece we think you would enjoy. (Envision a sad face.)

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In a related item, we have an update on Ralph Lauren spinoff Rugby.

Courtesy Rugby/PRL

The retailer is launching its ‘Rugby Prep Shop’ microbrand.

Rugby.com

Rugby is using a Polyvore contest as part of its promotion for the collection.

Rugby

From the website:

“The Rugby Prep Shop is where classic style meets Rugby charm. Casual campus essentials meet downtown cool for sharp, sexy style.”

Rugby.com

Per usual, some pieces are darling until one encounters the logos. The Pink Doeskin Jacket and RFLC Crested Fleece Blazer are good examples of the dilemma.

More from the contest page:

“…the Prep Shop’s signature pieces — super-skinny denim in pastel tones, Rugby’s madras-collar trench, and bright spring blazers — that redefines the preppy style we know and love.”

Ahem.

Some of the accessories are very appealing, like the Canvas Foldover Clutch.

Rugby.com

Related material can also be found at the Rugby Blog and on Rugby’s Facebook page.

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We close with a peek at our special Pandamonium Thermal Mugs by Lilly Pulitzer, arriving shortly here at the Prepatorium.

"Pandamonium" at PreppyPrincess.com

The limited edition mugs are part of the Lilly Goes Green effort. Partnering with the World Wildlife Fund, 10% of proceeds from mug sales (as well as all items in the Pandamonium print) go to the WWF, with a minimum donation of $50,000.

With that we say g’bye until next time!

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Filed under Gossip Girl, Lilly Pulitzer Paper & Gifts, preppy, Preppy clothing & brands, Preppy Fashion, preppy lifestyle

J. Crew Seems to be Moving Away From “Preppy”

Hello-Hello!

We’re having something of a “major Monday” here in the corner condo at Princess InterGalactic HQ.  We can only thank the Consort the IT Department for their assistance and resolution of a major operator-error-induced-meltdown few minor foo-foos with the desktop. As a result of today’s lesson in patience, the post is brief.

We begin with great good news for one of our favorites, Kiel James Patrick, he of the fabulous bracelets, headbands and earrings.

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Kiel shared a big announcement on Friday: he has signed a deal to create custom KJP products for several Ivies. More specially, exclusive KJP designs will be offered at the Harvard, Dartmouth and Yale campus stores. How cool is this news?!?  Better yet, Kiel is one of the world’s all-time nice human beings, Friday’s announcement shows that good things happen to good people.

Besides, he’s kinda’ cute. (But don’t tell him I said so.)

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Next, word that Tory Burch is going to be adding eyewear to her offerings.

For more background on the story, click here to read the designer’s blog, featuring the trade magazine story seen in the images above.

No one will be surprised to read that while we like the Wraparound frame sunglasses, the logo would be a deal killer. To take a look at other eyewear styles Ms. Burch currently has available online, click here.

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Also today, J. Crew fans might enjoy an interview Style has with Jenna Lyons. We found this particular portion of the interview fascinating:

“Preppy” style is often mentioned in the same breath as J.Crew. Is today’s preppy different from yesterday’s?
I have a hard time with the word “preppy.” To me, it’s a way of styling. Classic things mixed a certain way—especially special color combinations—look very preppy. We still have the same pieces: polo shirts, khakis, a great classic blazer, a beautiful white shirt.

Below, the wool Schoolboy Blazer and Stripe 3/4-quarter sleeve shirt. (Of the three “classic shirts” shown on the retailer’s website only one offers long sleeves.)

Back to the designer’s thoughts on ‘preppy’:

“But what we’ve been trying to do is change the way things are presented.  Maybe that little cargo jacket that we would have shown ten years ago with a polo shirt we’re now showing with a little sequin top and high heels.

Or perhaps the Sequin Chino shorts:

Call us crazy, but we’re not seeing these at the club for cocktails after the 18th hole. But then, the retailer isn’t proposing these styles for that type of activity; this portion of the quote better explains why not:

“And the thing about preppy is it can be alienating to some people. It’s very coastal and it leaves out a lot of Americans who aren’t yachting or going to the beach club.

They shorts are not for us, but then, we aren’t the brand’s target demo.This makes perfect sense when paired with recent and current Crew merchandise.  The company wants to be inclusive, continuing its path toward trendier, younger shoppers.  And to be fair, the credo has worked exceptionally well in recent years; despite These Difficult Times, the firm is very healthy.

But we need your thoughts: does J. Crew work for you? Is the company’s direction one you find appealing? Or are you still fond of some things, but finding yourself back at Brooks Brothers or J. McLaughlin for many basics? Do tell, expiring minds are dying to know.

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Next, a look at some of the limited edition bottles Kiehl’s had created to recognize Earth Day.

Courtesy Kiehl's

Among those designing bottles, actress Julianne Moore and artist Jeff Koon. The bottles are now available at Kiehl’s online and in stores.

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A reminder on our great Spring Fling Thing:

Enter to win these and other goodies in our contest, we are drawing five winners! And we have one more element to entries as the result of a great idea accompanying an entry: all active military automatically receive two entries, just be sure to let us know your status.

Until next time dollfaces, may your Mondays be bright and beautiful!

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Filed under Logos, preppy, Preppy clothing & brands, Preppy Fashion, preppy lifestyle

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

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….”

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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!

Fred Perry Preppy Pin Badges

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.

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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?

t10109_group_062009fetchdogdotcmThe 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.

LillyCar

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!

KenwoodLanePinckneyPink

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.

KLgrovesmallKLriverraspKLnewburysmall

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.

KLPack_Shot

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

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Filed under Argyle, Gossip Girl, preppy, Preppy clothing & brands, Preppy Fashion, preppy lifestyle, Pretty in Pink, Sales & Savings, When Preppy Goes Wrong