J. Crew Bridal: A Closer Look, and An Unusual Seal of Prepaliciousness Recipient

Hello-Hello, we are are efforting grace and calm as we whine and wail and rail approach a ridiculously overbooked somewhat busy day, so today’s post is shorter than most.

Like many of the fairer sex, when given the opportunity we cannot resist looking at wedding gowns, they are simply too wonderful to behold.  We previously posted about the new J. Crew Bridal shop; today we have a more extensive look inside and more on the retailer’s collaboration with Miriam Haskell jewelry.

Tuesday’s party celebrating the store’s official opening brought out scads of notables, including Kate Spade with her daughter Frances, Martha Stewart Weddings’ editorial director Darcy Miller, and Crew’s Jenna Lyons.

J. Crew Courtesy Photo via StyleList

On hand to cover the event, AOL’s Stylelist.com; here is a snippet of their story:

“J.Crew’s Jenna Lyons has done an about-face on wedding dresses.

The creative director, who got married years ago in a full-length, embroidered linen gown, would go a lot simpler if she did it again today.

“I’d probably wear the 18-inch feather skirt and a chambray shirt and loads of pearls,” she told StyleList at the opening of the J.Crew Bridal store on New York’s Madison Avenue at 66th Street, Tuesday evening.”

Ms. Lyons revealed the dress remains at the dry cleaners where it has been for six years. Here are more images from the StyleList story.

Wireimage/Courtesy of J.Crew via StyleList

Appointments are required for the bridal salon, located on the first floor of the new boutique.

Holly Watson/AisleDash

Shoppers interested in other merchandise are welcome to shop at their leisure without an appointment.

J. Crew’s new 769 Collection of party frocks and accessories is available only at the Bridal store.

Holly Watson/AisleDash

There is also an elegant offering of basics, such as the firm’s cashmere sweaters.

Holly Watson/AisleDash

Pieces from the Miriam Haskell collaborative collection of wedding jewelry are also displayed.

Holly Watson/AisleDash

Below, two rings from the Miriam Haskell for J. Crew weddings collection.

Next, two pair of earrings from the Haskell collection.

We also have a few looks from J. Crew’s Fall 2010Wedding and Parties lineup.

Two more styles for the fall.

Finally, one more dress from the new store.

Holly Watson/AisleDash

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We have a rare and unusual event; today we award the official Seal of Prepaliciousness to an individual not generally associated with the prep life. Perhaps an even more amazing fact: we are naming a professional athlete as our recipient of the Seal.

Armando Galarraga

Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga is our unusual choice for the honor.

Many may know why we are taking this extraordinary step. However, it is not because Mr. Galarraga threw a perfect game last night against the Cleveland Indians and had that extraordinary accomplishment stolen by an umpire’s bad call on what should have been the final out of the game.

For those not familiar with the inner workings of the game, this means there are no runs allowed.

No hits.

No errors.

No nothings.

27 men come to the plate, and 27 men leave without a hit. Nada, nothing, zero, zilch.

To understand the difficulty of attaining such perfection, it has only happened 20 times in the history of the game.

Mr. Galarraga successfully retired 26 hitters last night and was within one out of accomplishing the unthinkable; to see what happened, click here.

It was not to be, and sadly, no one feels worse than the umpire who admits he made a bad call. From a Detroit Free Press story:

“No, Jim Joyce said, “I did not get the call correct. I kicked the (expletive) out of it.” No, he would not blame his angle. (“I had a great angle on it.”). Or say it was close. (“I just missed the damn call.”)”

Paul Sancya/AP

As mentioned, the Great Seal is not being awarded because of the athletic accomplishment; that’s not our focus here at the Prepatorium, at least not until they start playing in pink and green uniforms accented by Lilly prints. No, it is what Mr. Galarraga did not do that draws our admiration and respect.

He did not pout. He did not whine. He did not complain, nor did he talk about calling his agent or threaten to contact a lawyer to look into legal action or throw his glove or engage in any of the tantrum-type activities we have sadly seen with many athletes of late.

As a Free Press sports writer explains, Mr. Galarraga did quite the opposite.

“I told Galarraga that Joyce said he felt terrible, that he cost Galarraga a perfect game and that he was really beating himself up over it.

Galarraga did not hesitate.

“Tell him no problem,” Galarraga said. “I can go tell him.”

He smiled. “I should probably talk to him. It will be better.” And he did.”

The 28-year-old from Venezuela, who was pitching in the minor leagues two weeks ago, did something else:

“…. Galarraga said that he hugged Joyce and told him, “Nobody’s perfect.””

For that grace under pressure, we award Armando Galarraga the Seal of Prepaliciousness.

In our dreams should we behave with such elegance and dignity under that kind of pressure.

We kind of like the look. What do you think?

Altered Reality Courtesy The Consort

We just hope they can get the uniforms embroidered in time for this afternoon’s game. (Heh-heh-heh.)

Until next time, g’bye!

Clothes for the Club, Mad for Madras & the Preppy Pet’s Nautical Bed

Hello-Hello and happy Wednesday, this seems to have been a rather intense several days, we’re wondering how it could only be Wednesday?!

We begin with a look at a brand some readers may not be familiar with, Kitsuné.

Kitsuné

Originally started as a music label, the Parisian firm’s design aesthetic is one we appreciate.

Most are simple pieces that can meet a myriad of  needs.

The lines are classic, with little or no frou-frou.

This fall’s collection is called Ivy League; below a few samples via the always-on-top-of-things folks at High Snobette.

Courtesy Images via HighSnobette.com

Here are two styles from the fall group we find rather fabulous.

A list of brick and mortar stores carrying the line is available here; the selection of shops where one might shop online is much broader.

And two very quick looks for your MOTH (Man of the House).

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In today’s Bits & Bytes:

• There is news that Jaeger is launching an offshoot of the brand aimed at a younger demo:

via BeautyConfessional.net

Targeted at a younger demo, Boutique by Jaeger launches this July and according to British Vogue, the new group will retail for 30% less than Jaeger’s standard collection. Below, two looks from the new collection.

The Lilly Pulitzer Warehouse Sale runs from Wednesday, June 9 through Saturday, June 12 at the usual site, the Valley Forge Convention Center.  The fun starts at 5am on Wednesday.

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We share a couple of cute finds in our Mad for Madras category, we simply couldn’t resist the Madras Toddler shoes, despite their distressed (we think that is the proper use of the term) design, they are too cute.

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Readers may also appreciate the Sperry Madras tennis shoes for Boy seen below left. (These are designed to be sans laces – gasp.)

Above right we show the Polo Ralph Lauren Madras Sandals, also for Boys.

The Girls PRL Sandals (L) are peaking the Cute-o-Meter in the red zone as far as we are concerned, as are the Avril Casuals by Morgan & Milo shown on the right.

When it comes to madras for Mom, we were surprised to discover a brand with a logo larger than Mr. Lauren’s. Silly Princess.

The giant rhino is courtesy of Marc Ecko, both pair are seen at Shoes.com.  But then, we’re still fixated on these from F-Troupe at Gargyle.

F-Troupe at Gargyle.com

Sigh.

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We close with what must be an adorable ensembles for the four-legged family members at your palace:

Plaid and Hound

By Puppia, the bright eyes at Plaid and Hound discovered the nautically inclined bed, and we simply had to share.

With that we say g’bye until next time!

A French Take on Preppy, J. Crew Bridal Jewelry

Hello-Hello, we hope you are enjoying a simply splendid springtime day!

It’s time for Friday Fun here at the Prepatorium, and we are going to do most of this with minimum blather and maximum images.

It doesn’t get much more fun than this, the very latest from Lilly.

Courtesy Lilly Pulitzer

The Lilly Pulitzer Cruiser is available for pre-order only, the real deal arrives August 1. These beauties are being made by the folks at Van Dessel.

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Frequent readers know we always love to look at the way other cultures view ‘preppy’.

Glamour France via SunRainey.com

These images are from the May edition of French Glamour.

Glamour France via SunRainey.com

The blue and khaki are so vivid they make us dream of the beach.

Glamour France via PopBee

For more images from the May issue, visit SunRainey or PopBee.

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Next, because we still do not have enough perfume and cologne with celebrity names on them, more perfumes & cologne are being created under celebrities’ names; the latest coming from these two individuals.

Lolavie by Jennifer Anniston will be sold exclusively at one of our favorite places, Harrod’s.

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More collaboration news, WWD reports on J. Crew’s partnership with classic costume jeweler Miriam Haskell. Below, a sampling from the new collection.

Courtesy Images via WWD

We are thinking a number of readers possess some treasured Haskell pieces passed on through the generations; we are fortunate to have a few in our jewelry box.  For a bit of background on the Haskell legacy, this piece from our friends at The Daily Basics is worth a read.

And the folks at Barbour have teamed up with handbag designer Anya Hindmarch.

Courtesy Images via The Telegraph

For more, this story in the Telegraph is an excellent read.

And in collaborations we have previously chatted about, don’t forget the Cynthia Vincent for Target footwear line launches Sunday, as well as the retailer’s first limited edition hat collection, with Eugenia Kim for Targét.  Below, three pieces from that collection.

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As threatened promised yesterday, we close with a few more images from Monday’s “Last Bark for Bryant Park,” the Fashion Institute of Technology’s second annual pet apparel fashion show.  Below, Lily, a Papillion, sports a “magical flower fairy outfit”. (????)

Afton Almaraz/AP

Below, Jake the Yorkshire Terrier models a leather bomber jacket.

Afton Almaraz/AP

Jake also walked the runway in a military canine shirt and pants set.

Afton Almaraz/AP

Indeed.

With that we say Happy-Happy Weekend, may yours be bright and sunny and filled with fun!

You Can Buy Princess Diana’s Famous Frock, Spring 2011 Bridal Gowns

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a combined Tuesday/Wednesday post here at the Planet.

We begin with news about one of Princess Diana’s most iconic gowns, this strapless black taffeta dress created by designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel.

The gown was worn by a 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer for her first major appearance following news of her engagement to Prince Charles. Some found the design inappropriate. The dress criticism wasn’t as heated over the gown’s lines when seen on an upright Princess-to-be, as shown above.

It was this angle that really got tongues to tsk-tsk-tsking.

The UK’s Daily Mail has more:

“The gown – thought by teenage Diana to be the epitome of grown-up glamour, but one that left staid palace courtiers spluttering into their G&Ts – is set to fetch up to £50,000 when it comes up for auction in June.”

Some readers may recall that Princess Grace was at the function.

The infamous dress is not the only piece belonging to the late Princess being auctioned; 30 additional items from the Emanuel’s archives are also going under the hammer.  The lots are part of a June 8 sale at Kerry Taylor auctions, known for their textile and fashion design expertise.

Below we see the enormous tulle petticoat worn for the wedding rehearsal, as well as sketches of the wedding gown.

The auction valuations seen above seem low; we expect bidding to be much higher for these items.  To read more about the auction, click here for the Mail’s story.

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Speaking of weddings, we move back to the topic of wedding gowns as New York Bridal Week is just wrapping up.  We relish any opportunity to gaze upon wedding gowns, especially when created by some of the world’s greatest designers. Below, several exquisite gowns for Spring 2011 from Oscar de la Renta.

Here are two more beauties for 2011, these are from Christos.

The topic also segues into our recent conversation about contemporary wedding dress styles, and sleeves, or the lack thereof.  More specifically, we approach the ongoing debate over today’s designs and the seeming inability by many to confront a simple fact: not all women are possessed of a swanlike neck and décolletage flattered by today’s sleeveless styles.

Now, we’re not proposing young ladies be cloaked head to toe, or carrying the volume of material seen in this classic image.

But a spot of fabric can to a great deal to help out where the gene pool may have left off, so to speak. A good example of this is seen in the Christos gown on the left or the Melissa Sweet dress on the right. (Both styles are for Spring 2011.)

After all, not everyone is possessed of an elegant neckline, not to mention the upper arms, arguably one of the least attractive parts of the female body.

Princess Diana was not the only royal in sleeves on her wedding day, more recently married royalty also covered their shoulders.  Below we see Princess Marie of Denmark on the occasion of her wedding to Prince Joachim in May of 2008. Her gown was by a Swiss fashion house, Arasa Morelli.

Getty Images

In another 2008 royal wedding we see Italian actress Isabella Orsini following her marriage last September to Belgian Prince Edouard de la Ligne de la Tremoille in a sleeveless Gerald Watelet gown and lace jacket.

PHOTO: Life

Below, one of Oscar de la Renta’s more colorful creations for spring 2011.

George Chinsee/WWD

Sometimes the issue isn’t a bride’s neckline; it is the upper arms that present a challenge. Several of Mr. de la Renta’s ensembles leave plenty to the imagination, doing so in a more-than-elegant way.

To be clear, we are not opposed to the more revealing styles, we know many young brides who were simply stunning in gowns similar to these next two creations from Mr. de la Renta.

The placement of a wrap, a veil, a jacket can do a world of good. Below left, another Oscar de la Renta, and on the right, a Melissa Sweet gown.

Two shorter dresses from Priscilla of Boston collections that help disguise challenging body issues while also looking simply stunning.

For some a white or ivory gown isn’t the answer. In addition to those more standard colors, Vera Wang also offered gray and blush creations.

As previously mentioned, some of this week’s more glamorous gowns are not floor length. On the left, Jewel by Priscilla of Boston and on the right, an offering from Amsale, both of them breathtaking in their simplicity.

Also captivating, another Priscilla of Boston (L) and one more by Amsale (R).

Perhaps one of our favorite gowns was this treasure from Angel Sanchez

PHOTO: john Aquino/WWD

The other dress eliciting “ooohs” and “ahhhhs”, this Carolina Herrera concoction.

WWD

Such amazing creations, they are lush… and luscious.

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We have with a two quick bytes, the first an Adventure in Argyle via our electronic in-bin:

Paul Stuart

The colors look more like cotton candy on the beach than dreary men’s socks, but if interested in the latter, they can be found here.

The second item is a literary note, perhaps appealing to those fond of the Shopaholic books; the next installment is out this fall.

via Trashionista

Mini Shopaholic is slated for a September 16 release; more information may be located at Trashionista or Ms. Kinsella’s site.  Yours truly just finished one of the author’s books penned under her real name, Madeleine Wickham (Sophie Kinsella is a pseudonym Ms. Wickham uses.)  The Gatecrasher was thoroughly enjoyable; we highly recommend it if one is seeking lighter fare.

Besides, the pink and green cover art was irresistible.

Until next time, we hope your afternoon is bright and beautiful!

ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• Vera Wang: George Chinsee/WWD
• Oscar de la Renta: George Chinsee/WWD
• Amsale: Kyle Ericksen/WWD
• Christos: John Aquino/WWD

Preppy is Back. Again. Also, Brands You’ll See in True Prep

Hello-Hello, happy new week!

We must begin with an enormous “Thank You” to everyone who left such kind and lovely comments following Friday’s post, not to mention the Tweets and Facebook comments.  There is no adequate way to explain how touched we were by the sentiments, it made our day extra special.

Today we have breaking news just in to the Prepatorium: there is another preppy resurgence! Oh my!

Umm… not exactly. We apologize for our poor step into hyperbole, we were unable to resist the temptation. The not-breaking-news comes via our friends on the far side of the pond.  In yet another look at ‘preppy style’ this story from Sunday’s Independent asks: “Are you Ready to get Preppy?” with the following as a subheadline:

“After 30 years in the doldrums, the relaxed East Coast look is back – along with a new handbook to help you wear it with elan”

The story is pegged to this fall’s release of “True Prep” from Lisa Birnbach and Chip Kidd, a topic covered previously in this space. Here is the story’s opening paragraph from writer Susie Mesure:

“Can’t tell your Top-Siders from your Sebagos? Unsure how high to roll your chinos? After some preppy shopping primers? Well, unfurrow your brows and raise a gin and tonic because help is at hand from a new book out this autumn that will exploit the current clamour for East Coast style.”

We doubt Princess readers are struggling with the issues mentioned above, but we could be wrong.  The photo accompanying the story shows looks from the spring 2010 Ralph Lauren collection (our post on the collection may be found here.)

Courtesy Polo Ralph Lauren

If given a choice of designers to illustrate the Independent story, we lean more toward these Brook Brothers promotional pieces…

Brooks Brothers

They promote the Summer at the Cape collections.

BrooksBrothers.com

An editor from Gentleman’s Quarterly is quoted in the Independent story:

“Robert Johnson, associate editor of the fashion magazine GQ, said: “Preppy is back. Every season, particularly summer, there is always a nod to classic Americana but preppy is a big trend this year.” He partly attributed its popularity to the fact that people are “bored” with denim.”

To read the story in its entirety, click here.

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One of our favorite blogs, All the Rage, also previews the upcoming book in this piece by Adam Tschorn.  This photo collage is used to illustrate his story.

Brooks Brothers & Tory Burch via All the Rage

Mr. Tschorn (aka ‘Cuffy’) offers the perspective of someone who actually attended prep school.  In today’s post his interview with Ms. Birnbach offers insight on what brands readers can expect to see in the upcoming book:

“…familiar favorites are revisited. Among them are Lacoste, Sperry Top-Sider, Brooks Brothers, and Ralph Lauren. “I was very, very stingy with [Ralph] in 1980. I think he’s referred to maybe once,” she said. “But this time he gets a lot of play.”

She said that some additions are labels that actually pre-date the first book, including Burberry, Barbour, Hermès, Verdura, Kenneth Jay Lane, Hunter Wellies, and J.M. Weston (“They have these beautiful loafers from France,” she explains).”

Many brands included in the upcoming volume did not even exist when TOPH (The Official Preppy Handbook) was published. More from Mr. Tschorn’s story with Lisa Birnbach:

““We’ve got Vineyard Vines – they started in 1998, and of course J. Crew — which wasn’t around then either [it launched in 1983 as a mail-order company]. And we’ve got some Kenneth Cole [1982] and a little bit of Robert Graham [2001].”

Below, two shirts from Robert Graham.

Ms. Birnbach also chats at length about Tory Burch in the story.  We recommend popping over for a read, it is a fun piece.

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Perhaps the most amazing thing we’ve seen yet on the book was in today’s Book Bench from the New Yorker site.  In a post titled, “Prep is Dead, Long Live Prep” Meredith Blake mentions yours truly (prompting a most unPrincess-like shriek):

“While the original handbook advised that “you should appear in print only three times in your life—upon birth, marriage, and death,” today’s prep is virtually screaming for a little attention; the wasp mystique, it seems, has faded. Like everything else, we can blame it on the Internet, where there’s a thriving community of bloggers dedicated to all things prep-related. At the pink-and-green themed The Preppy Princess, Susan Kelly defends her love for Lilly Pulitzer, while Melissa Morris’s May December has such an impassioned following that its author was the subject of a profile in the newspaper of record. There’s also The Trad, a slightly more idiosyncratic blog dedicated to classic American-made garments.”

Saying we were astonished would be an understatement, and we send our thanks to Ms. Blake for including us with such illustrious company. To see the rest of her post just click here.

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We conclude all this blather with a cautionary note: it is likely we shall encounter an increasing volume in the mainstream media about the preppy aesthetic being raised from the dead (ahem), in sync with the calendar’s movement toward True Prep’s September release date.

And with visions of books dancing in our head we say, g’bye!