Lacoste Limited Editions, Forever 21 Does Plus-Size

Hello-Hello everyone, we hope your day is sun-splashed and bright, as ours is turning out to be!

We will blast our way through a number of headlines today without going into too much detail, there is simply so much going on!

Most importantly, we used Random.org to select a winner of our Lilly Pulitzer Giveaway:

Congratulations to Tales of a Golf Gal at Country Club Livin’! Please send us your information so we may get your Lilly Mouse Pad and Lilly coffee mug on their way to you! Whoo-hoo!

And as we are speaking of giveaways, over at Misadventures Manor…

… the always-fabulous Mrs. Newlywed is doing a Giveaway of her own, debuting some of our new classic totes!

We hope the photos are bright enough to show these off, as they are just wonderful! The totes are good sized, made with heavy-duty cotton canvas that can take a beating, but they’re also fashionable, with their grosgrain ribbon trim. The new line will come with ribbon in iconic preppy images…

As well as images that…ummmm, well….let’s just say ribbon that inspired a healthy debate here at the Prepatarium!

It’s simply this: we don’t really consider certain images to be ‘classics.’ It’s not so much the pretty little ballerinas, but the pirate ribbon that generated the “discussion.” (Ahem.) But we are guessing many of our kind readers have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc., who simply adore the skull and crossbones imagery…perhaps? Perhaps yes?  So, the new totes shall be offered in all of our favorite ribbons as well as some designs considered to be more ‘contemporary.’

Best of all, the pricepoint on these is more than fiscally-friendly: at $35 they are a whale of a deal! (Yes, tedious pun intended.) We are mortified to admit these are not yet available at the Preppy Princess, we promise to have them online early next week.

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Regular readers know we adore the clean lines and understated elegance one finds in apparel and swimsuits by Shoshanna. If you are going to be anywhere near the city next week, the designer will be showing her latest looks at the Saks mother ship (5th Ave.) next Thursday, the 12th, from 4-7pm.

Here is just one of the new pieces from the collection:

Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue

The Ruffle-Front Eyelet Dress is done in a chic cotton, ideal for your spring break or this summer’s cocktail functions!

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Lacoste is doing another limited edition collection, this one featuring nine different shoes, all  celebrating the myths surrounding crocodiles.

Lacoste Tennis 91 West Africa

The blue shoe is meant to be representative of West Africa, the green Tiller model relates to Egypt and the brown commemorates crocodiles in Polynesia.

Lacoste Tiller

Should you find these appealing, they will be available in April.

Lacoste Tennis Polynesia

Recognizing our remarkably self-indulgent stick-in-the-mud fashion sense, we must acknowledge they probably are not for us. These are more our speed:

The Espa 2 can be found any number of places; our photo is from Zappos.

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We have news that the wildly popular Forever 21 stores will be launching plus-size fashions.

“Faith 21” is slated to launch in May, although not at all stores. For example, the Trib reports the retailer’s Michigan Avenue store will not carry the collection.

The Princess has never set even so much as a little itty-bitty toe in a Forever 21, primarily out of fear that upon doing so all movement would cease, every head would swivel in her direction and an emergency message would begin emanating from the store’s loudspeakers: “Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! We have an old lady in the store!”  Thus we were intrigued by the shop’s Nautical Collection:

Forever 21

Something tells us this collection will not be seen here at the Palace.

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We’ll close with a Pretty in Pink offered by the Princess Consort!

PHOTO Courtesy Caters News via TMZ

He tells us this is an albino dolphin. He also promises this is the truth and he is not making it up. We suggest taking it under advisement and consulting with local counsel.  Indeed.

Until next time dolls, have a super sunny day no matter where you are!

Another Lilly Pulitzer Stationery Giveaway from the Princess!

Hello-Hello, we hope everyone had a splendiferous weekend!

We’ll start with something we love doing here at the Princess, giving away merchandise! And because we are having insane, crazy, fabulous fun filling all of your Lilly Pulitzer stationery and Gift orders, it seems only right we do another giveaway featuring Lilly!

This time we are giving away not one, but two items from the new line, both in the Cabanarama pattern, a prize package just perfect for sitting at your computer with a cup of coffee or tea.

First, one of Lilly’s wildly popular Latte Da! mugs:

Lilly Pulitzer at PreppyPrincess.com

Cabanarama is seen in the lower left, a classic Lilly pattern in bright pink and green, we just love it! Of course, the mugs are also beautifully packaged in a smart and fashionable box.

 

Latte Da! mugs at PreppyPrincess.com

How does this involve working at your computer?  Because the second item in this giveaway is a Lilly Pulitzer Take Note Mouse Pad, also in Cabanarama.

Lilly Pulitzer Take Note Mouse Pad

The mouse pad actually combines two items, a standard-size mouse pad topped by a pad of Lilly note paper.  So you are entering a Giveaway with a mug, a mouse pad and a pad of paper, too fun!

Here’s how to enter:

• Leave a comment to this post to be entered once.
• To receive a second entry in the drawing, leave a second comment naming any of the patterns in any product from our Lilly line. (Ummm, using the Cabanarama pattern doesn’t count. What a mean Princess.)
• To be entered a third time, post this giveaway on your blog or homepage, and *please* be sure to mention this in your comment.
• To receive a fourth entry Tweet about the Giveaway on Twitter (and Tweet us that you did or tell us you did in another comment or email us at thepreppyprincess@mac.com)
  
• For a fifth entry mention this on your Facebook page (same thing – please write on our wall telling us you did, or Tweet or leave another comment, or…well, you know the drill.)
  

The drawing is in just a bit more than a week, Wednesday, March 4th.

And don’t forget, it is not too soon to start planning for your spring and summer parties entertaining and gift needs: graduation, Mother’s Day, showers, weddings, and all the other summer fun ahead! The Lilly collection offers everything you need from party planning to the perfect present.

Have fun, and do let us know if you have any more questions! 

Ralph Lauren…at the White House? Gossip Girl Reality Show in the Works

Hello and Happy Friday!  It seems the week has either flown by at a furious pace or been painfuly slow, no in-betweens for our friends and business associates. What about you? Frenzied crazy-fast? Or painfully slow-as-molasses?

Speaking of a frenzy, Fashion Week is officially underway. We will do our best to share relevant updates, photos and info as we can.  In fact, we’ll start with a little gossip via the always-on-top-of-things staff at NY Mag.  The GQ fashion week party was Wednesday night, and apparently the conversation turned to the Obama family and their sartorial selections.  Several attendees considered ‘preppy purveyors’ talked about the President’s selection of neckties.

“… designer Tommy Hilfiger said that while his company had not formally approached the Obamas about wearing his designs, “I know Barack wears some of my ties, I’ve seen them.” David Lauren, clad in Rugby and wearing a foot cast after a run-in with a cracked Soho sidewalk, added that the Obamas “have great style … and if they choose to wear us, we’d love it.”

The “He likes me better!” “No he doesn’t, he likes me best!” one-upsmanship apparently continued:

“But even if Sasha and Malia Obama eschew outsized Polo ponies this season, rest assured that the Ralph Lauren brand has already made its mark on the White House. “I believe that [the Obama girls’] rooms have been painted with Ralph Lauren paints,” said Lauren.”

We expect everyone shall enjoy much more restful sleep this evening being in possession of this information.

BTW, the online Tommy store does have *all* kids merchandise 30% off, according to the website:

Tommy Hilfiger

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On a quasi-related note, one of our original Anti-Preps, Kim Kardashian, is evidently attending some shows at Fashion Week.  Seriously.  Ms.Kardashian claims the idea to attend some of the shows was actually the brainchild (?) of “Reggie.” (Apologies, but we do not know Reggie, although we presume he is a romantic interest for Ms. Kardashian.)

At any rate, apparently the two are planning on being at the Adidas Y-3 show. Below we show a Y-3 look:

Courtesy Ruby Hornet

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Big news for Gossip Girl fans: Bravo is launching a reality show based on Gossip Girl! Broadcasting & Cable reports a new show is planned by the producer who does Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style.

The story on the magazine’s website says:

“The docudrama is being described by insiders as the real-life Gossip Girl, although the show will not feature any of Manhattan’s exclusive schools specifically.

This is not the first time a reality show based on the G2 theme has been attempted:

‘CBS also looked into a reality series about students at the Manhattan private school York Prep, but the school was said to be skittish about the attention such a project would bring.”

The story says the show will air later this year.

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We share a few SOTTs (Signs of the Times) our readers may deem to be of note:

• Both the The Inter-Con Montelucita & W resort hotels in Scottsdale are facing foreclosure. (Both remain 0pen.)
• The Knickerbocker Yacht Club is closing, according to this Newsday story.  Not a club we have ever visited, the article’s online photos show the charm of the Port Washington Club.  Apparently members even looked at merging with Manhasset Bay Yacht Club YC, but that is not an option. The Club has been in operation for 135 years.

• 

  PHOTO: Ana P. Gutierrez/Newsday

Our thanks to Luxist for both of these tips.

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Hello Kitty now has some hip apparel designs to accompany her MAC Cosmetics collection. MAC asked multiple designers to create looks for the doll; below we show two sketches, starting with Emanuel Ungaro:

Courtesy Vogue UK/Ungaro

If that isn’t the cutest pink bow, we don’t know what is. Of course, here at the Prepatorium we believe “Life is Better with a Bow,” so we are favorably predisposed to bows. Especially if they are pink.  This creation by Elie Saab also features a pink bow, although not quite as prominently.

Courtesy Vogue UK/Elie Saab

Other designers include Herve Leger by Max Azria, Zac Posen and Charlotte Ronson.  Each of the eight designs was then made into an actual garment; they are now being auctioned on eBay as a fundraiser for the FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York. It is worth a nanosecond or two to see how the sketches translated into reality, very fun!

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Okay, it is time for some Pretty in Pink to perk up the gray day outside.  How about these darlings for your little darling? The Kenneth Cole Bow Glitz ‘n Bow Flats are sized for Infants & Toddlers; they are on sale for about $19 at 6pm.

A reminder that 6pm is actually Zappo’s site for sale and clearance merchandise – bargains abound! And speaking of fiscally friendly shopping, Target has the entire Thakoon Collection marked down, with discounts that look substantial.

On that happy note, don’t forget to enter our Lilly Pulitzer Stationery Giveaway, and Happy-Happy weekend!

This is Clearly Out of Control: the Princess Consort Has Run Amok

Well, well, well.  It would appear the Princess Consort has taken some liberties with our request that he “help out a little bit with the blog” whilst we deal with the holiday frenzy here at Princess HQ.  He complied. Oh yes, indeedy.

In case this all comes as a bit of a mystery to anyone, we offer some of the backstory: the Consort crafted the “End Your Year With A Freebie & It’s Open Season On The Princess Consort” post and published it on Saturday, a day I mistakenly presumed would have low readership, a day least likely to draw attention to his post.

In his post The Consort included his silly little Cat on a Roomba video (fine, we can overlook his sense of humor) and mentioned our giveaway, a fabulous deep teal tote from the Preppy Princess.

PreppyPrincess.com

He then instructed readers that if they wanted to enter the Giveaway they needed to leave a comment asking the Consort a question. An entirely harmless little endeavor, oui?

Non.

NON!

In fact, how many ways can I spell W-R-O-N-G?????? You see, it isn’t the questions our cherished readers asked that pose the problem. Nay nay, it is the Consort’s answers to the questions that are so disturbing. I mean, this is up there with the summer our ‘neighbors’ at the lake rented their cottage to complete unknowns, can you imagine? Oh, you think I exaggerate? Let’s just look at a few examples, shall we? (Consort comments are in dark blue.)

Our dear and treasured Legally Blonde Ambition simply asks:

“Is there a Junior Royal Consort? Perhaps a Princess-in-waiting?”

“Sadly, it has been determined that I am not a role model for impressionable youth. Therefore, the US Congress has taken action (a move that will be denied by all involved) that bars me from reproducing.”

Gaze upon his answer to this simple inquiry from the always-so-nice BBoss and you will begin to grasp the horror.

“Do you have now or have you ever owned a tiara?”

“Your question has me a bit flummoxed. In all honesty I can say TPP has never, to my knowledge, owned a tiara. However, I own a modest tiara but only wear it on the weekends when TPP and I have our “special” dress-up nights. Discretion does not allow me to elaborate. Thank you for asking.”

OMG. How could he?!

Then Rambling Creativity innocently references the Consort’s comments on canine companionship:

“I think adopting a dog is a great idea but I doubt we would ever have a dog…I can barely get the hubs to pick up after himself!”

“Did you ever consider training a dog to pick up after your husband? It’s something to think about and training a dog is easier, by far, than training a husband.”

How rude is that?

And the divine I Pick Pretty was only looking for a suggestion, some help in her honest desire to locate the perfect gift for her dear Pug.

“Since today’s post seems to have something of an animal theme, what would be a good Christmas present for the discerning Pug who has everything?”

“It goes without saying that chew toys are too common. Those dreadful little sweaters are just that… dreadful. Animals should flaunt their nudity. Lord knows I do. But that’s another issue for another day. So where does this leave us? With one choice: contact lenses. I’ve seen the eyes on that breed. A good set of contact lenses will work wonders for your faithful little friend. It doesn’t matter if your Pug is male or female. Contact lenses will make your Pug the envy of the kennel or dog park. No more Marty Feldman impressions! No, sirree! Your Pug will be a canine sensation and the improved vision will do wonders for the dog’s self-image. Trust me on this one, my friend.”

Do you understand now? Do you comprehend the abject terror as I gaze at the plans for tomorrow’s League luncheon?

I am so ashamed.

And here is the cruelest cut: you must continue to comment with questions for the Consort, as that is the only way to enter the drawing for the tote.

Please forgive me.

I have always known he is incorrigible. That he is a loose cannon on a rolling deck.

But….

He is my loose cannon. And he wrote this:

“Now to the question of TPP’s wedding dress. This is a topic that makes me smile as I remember seeing her at the end of the aisle in the church on our wedding day. She was radiant. I thought I loved her before; at that very moment I expected my heart would burst with happiness.”

And I love him so.

So go ahead.. let’s indulge his unique perspective: leave him more comments that “Question the Consort.” What’s the worst that can happen? (BTW, if possessed of a curious mind, a strong constitution and in a location free of impressionable young children, the majority of the questions/comments may be seen here.)

New Collections at the Preppy Princess! (Oooh, more madras!) Plus Giveaway Winner!

Hello-Hello!  Things are bright and sunny here at the Prepatorium, oh-so-wonderful after all the dark and dreary days we have seen.

In fact, we are more than a little excited over new collections at the Preppy Princess, although we fear TSU (The Spousal Unit) would make the case we are closer to ‘completely ga-ga’ in our enthusiasm. And it goes without saying we have to share them with you!

We start with the Bermuda Madras Placemats, 100% cotton patchwork madras, reversible to a solid plaid madras on the other side.

PreppyPrincess.com

Accompanied by the Bermuda Madras Table Runner in the same patchwork and reversing to the plaid on the other side.

PreppyPrincess.com

Matched by the Bermuda Madras Napkins, also 100% cotton.

PreppyPrincess.com

Everything in this group is machine washable, like all of our linens. It would be simply insane to have to go to the trouble of taking things like this to the dry cleaners. We also have new napkin rings that complement just about any color in your linen closet!

Glass Napkin Rings

The Glass Napkin Rings are solid with in bright, vibrant colors.  You just know what is going to happen with our dinner table:

At only $2 each, they make an ideal stocking stuffer! The red and green would be fun and festive right now.

Now we also want to show you another new group, starting with the Blue Lagoon placemats in a classic blue, white, and yellow design.

PreppyPrincess.com

Fun for perking up the table now, or perhaps while wintering in Florida, and absolutely ideal at the cottage this summer. The matching napkins:

PreppyPrincess.com

And we even have matching Blue Lagoon kitchen towels:

PreppyPrincess.com

The Blue Lagoon group is also constructed of 100% cotton and entirely machine washable.  A really fun Christmas or Hanukkah gift basket could be easily put together with any of these groups. And everything is fiscally friendly with placemats (place mats?) at only $8, napkins $4, the towel also $4 and the table runner $20.

Enough about us… let’s talk about you! We have a winner of this week’s Great Giveaway. Congratulations to one of the private blogs we enjoy, Well, I Do Declare! Amelia receives these goodies from the Princess:

The Classic Whales Guest Towels:

Classic Whales Guest Towels Set

Our exclusive Have a Whale of a Holiday notecards…

"Have a Whale of a Holiday" notecards

And the Black Baguette market tote from a line we love, Bungalow Scout.

Scout Baguette Tote

We will be posting information on our last fifth and final (at least until we are well into next year) Giveaway later today or early tomorrow.

Enjoy a splendid day!