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!

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! 

Lilly Jubilee Update, Scratch ‘n Sniff the Sexiest Man Alive. Seriously.

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday!

Both TP and TSU (the Spousal Unit, aka The Princess Consort) are due at a relatively high-profile volunteer/charitable function tonight, so we are going to be speedy.

By far the nicest part of opening the Preppy Princess store is meeting so many warm and wonderful people online, many of them through this goofy blog.  One of our newer friends is the way-too-cool Miss Cassoulet Cafe, and not just because she has bestowed upon us the Superior Scribbler award! Oh my! Her extraordinary stories and writing skills make it a must for TP and we are guessing you will enjoy stopping by as well.

Merci, La Cassoulet Cafe

Although Miss Cassoulet is a wonderful read, we were a little concerned by her comment following our post, A Tiffany Christmas, as it indicates she may believe us to be possessed of a fashionable perspective.  A stylish eye. An on-trend outlook.

We don’t know how to break the news that TP is not only deficient in this arena, some consider her staid (translated: bore-ing), challenged (translated: puh-thetic) and much too preppy (translated: apparel & accessories so bright they glow in the dark) style to be more than a little challenged.  So the young and chic set must pop over to Miss Cassoulet‘s Cafe and advise her on the boots.

Now, there are Award Rules attached to this lovely event:

• Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 Bloggy Friends.
• Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
• Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
• Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
• Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog

Here are six fabulous blogs we always look forward to reading, places we think you will enjoy visiting:

• Lipstick at the Mailbox is an outstanding writer, with perspective we always appreciate;
• Landlocked Mermaid shares wisdom, recipes and more when she isn’t doing her incredible commute!
• We are always ready for a Piece of Coconut Cake, especially when it is the sugar-free, lo-cal and high-fun version provided by Miss Coco.
• Witty, erudite and lots of fun describe Misadventures of a Newlywed, and she has started selling some more-than-fun goodies online!
• Tickled Pink and Green is forever brightening our day with her preppy style tips and great reading list;
• From tutus to the tooth fairy, Momx2 shares snippets of life we love to read.

Merci beaucoup Miss Cassoulet!

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Whatever you do, don’t forget to leave a comment on something for which you are grateful so you are entered in the Great Giveaway! That’s all it takes to be entered to win *very* cool prizes from the Preppy Princess shop, like the Perfect Circle Apron with matching gloves, and a set of our Trey’s Stripes notecards, that will be personalized just for you!

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Has everyone heard who People’s Sexiest Man in the Galaxy is?

Courtesy People Magazine

What you may not have know about yet is People’s special scratch ‘n sniff version of the annual issue. The always-sharp Dylan Stableford at Folio Magazine asks:

“Ever wonder what Michael Phelps smells like?”

In his story about People’s scented pages he tells us:

“The magazine, which hits newsstands on Friday, includes a section dubbed “Sexy Scents” with “scratch-n-sniff” photos of Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford Ed Westwick, film actor Taye Diggs, Law & Order star Chris Meloni and U.S. Olympic Team swimmer Michael Phelps—each of whom “describe the fragrance that makes them feel their sexiest.”

Even allowing for a rather rugged week, Mr. Westwick’s ‘scentiments’ on ‘essential oils’ are simply beyond our grasp. BTW, Mr. Phelps ranks in the Top 10.

PHOTO: Lance Staedler/People Magazine

If you would like to read more without us spoiling things, just click here.

NOTE: Mr. Stableford’s story refers to Chace Crawford, however, we *think* he means Ed Westwick who is prominently featured in the photos on People’s site. We are double-checking this, if anyone knows definitively, please let us know!

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Please forgive us as we make an executive decision: we are revisiting our distaste for discussing or mentioning the “M word” here at the Palace. It appears the financial markets aren’t going to be self-correcting, or be corrected by outside influences for that matter, at least not in the near future. Therefore we acknowledge we have to adjust our standards and display a little more flexibility in our perspective when dealing with this issue. Indeed.

So here is an item related to one’s bank balance: this story in yesterday’s Journal discloses that despite recent interest cuts, many of the credit card companies are charging users higher rates and increased fees. From the story:

“Banks had already been tightening the screws on people with less-than-perfect credit in recent months. Now, even customers who pay their bills on time will find it more expensive to carry a balance.”

While we are extremely grateful this is not an issue for us at this point in time, we are simply staggered that the same companies who just escaped closer regulatory scrutiny and penalties are now back to their old habits.  TP recognizes that for many in these trying times; their MonsterCard is not being used for luxuries, but for life’s necessities like food, medicine, gasoline.

“The bank will also start charging a new $10 monthly service fee to some cardholders who have been carrying large balances for at least two years, while raising their monthly minimum payments…”

Are we deranged? Or is this what the companies should be doing? And remember, TP is a capitalist with a capital ‘C’, we are not opposed to growing companies and profits, but there is also a principle of ethics involved here.

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For today’s Pretty in Pink we share information on the Lilly Pulitzer anniversary contest.  The Jubilee Jet Setter contest looks like loads of fun, and the Perfectly Pink passport is too cute.

Also recently added to the oh-so-improved Lilly website, the two 50th Anniversary Jubilee prints.  In both Bananarama…

Lilly Pulitzer Bananarama

… as well as Lagoon Blooms…

Lilly Pulitzer Lagoon Blooms

…something is hidden.  As explained on the company’s website

“We have added 50th and/or JUBILEE in every print. Just like you ‘look for the Lilly’ in every print, these JUBILEE Prints will be selling on ebay in 50 years as THE Lilly prints to have.”

Oh.  Actually, we did not toddle over to our local Lilly recently hoping to purchase something we could use, save, and sell on eBay. Honestly.

Oh well, that doesn’t detract from all the the fun things we *did* see at Lilly!

Happy weekend!

More Preppy Sales: Banana Republic, LL Bean, Lacoste

Hello everyone, and happy new week!

The Princess must publicly thank La Bellette Rouge for providing us with a much-needed boost on a dull and dreary Monday morning: her Blog Love Award!

Merci Miss La Bellette Rouge!

Miss LBR is an extraordinary writer and we are ever-so-thankful for her recognition!

We move to updates on additional methods for acquiring necessities (or luxuries, however one deems them) without taking out a second mortgage on the summer home. (Translated: more sales.)

Banana Republic is now offering 40% markdowns on both their Men’s and Women’s merchandise. In menswear the basics abound: outerwear, sweaters, denim, etc., but they are so staid we can’t bring ourselves to showcase them. Instead we share something perilously close to not quite meeting TP’s stringent standards of decorum.  Yet desperate times require deperate measures; therefore we give you the Men’s Taxi cab Boxers in blue.

Much more fun while also qualifying for today’s Argyle Update (although not yet on sale), the Cashmere Argyle Socks.

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Also offering markdowns (and really, who isn’t right now?), Lacoste, including the Libby Ballet Flat as well as the Women’s Espa 2.

LL Bean has a good number of items marked down from their original prices, including the Infants Fleece Coverall.

TP is especially fond of the little ears on the hood. In fact, TP is craving a little fleece jumpsuit all her own to snuggle into and snooze away the day. Sounds reasonable to us… how about you?

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Does this not look delish and divine? We can only wish we were somewhere in the northeast; it is  Nantucket bay scallops time!

Dylan Cross Photography

We didn’t think it possible to make this melt-in-your-mouth fabulosity sound, well, boring, but it seems The Journal may have accomplished just that feat in this article on the topic.  On the upside, they do include a source for ordering the delicacy to be shipped wherever one desires, within reason.  A caveat: the article mentions trying these these sushi-style (sounds so much better than ‘raw,’ don’t you think?), TP has no intent of ever doing so as they are too wonderful cooked. Tender doesn’t begin to describe them. Sigh.

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A quick reminder: to win all of these excellent preppy goodies…

Boatman Geller Carrie & Tuck

..from Boatman Geller…

Boatman Geller Carrie & Tuck Nautical Madras set

And Me Too…

Me Too Cotton Apron

And the Preppy Princess….

Preppy Princess Towel set

Including one of our favorite books, Summer at Tiffany…

Summer at Tiffany

… treasures valued at more than $125, leave a comment telling us one friend you are grateful for. That’s it! For more information on the Great Giveaway, just click here! Here are a few of the comments left thus far…

The always astute Miss Daisy at Legally Blonde Ambition says:

“Oooh. I’m thankful for my internet friend Katie at Overflowing Brain for listening to me rant & rave. Whew.”

 Elaine R writes:

“I am thankful for having my friend Linda in my life. We have stayed friends through growing up then marriages,children and sickness-my love for her is unconditional.”

And from someone who actually makes tech fun and understandable (how’s that for a combo?) here is part of the comment left by Miss Techyness:

“I am most thankful for my support network. This is not just one person- but a collection of people, experiences and feelings.

It’s being thankful for that person who asks if you want a cup of coffee with a smile when you’re having a crappy day at work.

It’s when your mom sends you a text message and signs it “love mom” even though you have explained to her that you already know it’s from her.

So, what I’m thankful for are all of these people and the things they do that keep me sane “

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We close with a Pretty in Pink offering from the Land of Nod, the Color Block Rug in an almost preppy pink and green color scheme, although this is a tad pastel to qualify.

With that, we say goodbye until next time!

Giveaway Winner & Preppy Princess Boatman Geller Giveaway

Hello-Hello, and welcome to another Thankful Thursday!

We are ever-so-excited here at the Prepatorium because we can announce the lucky winner of our first Preppy Princess Giveaway: the always witty and wonderful Momx2, who left this comment as her Giveaway entry:

“I am most grateful that in America, if you work hard, you can be successful. We’re not a hugely classist society where people can never aspire to be something more. I’m grateful to live in a country where I can say whatever I want and not worry about being jailed for it.”

So the Bungalow Scout Zip ‘n Tuck Tote is headed her way!

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And because Momx2 mentioned the Great Giveaway on her blog, she also wins the secondary prize: the Madras Holly House photocards to be sent to whomever she wishes (including herself if she is so inclined!) Yippee-skippee for Momx2!

Now on to this week’s Thankful Thursday Great Giveaway, which is an outstanding collection of goodies including the following:

1) A Boatman Geller Carrie ‘n Tuck portable stationery studio in navy from the Preppy Princess….

Boatman Geller Carrie

2) Along with a Carrie and Tuck refill set in Boatman Geller’s Anchor & Madras Blue combination:

PreppyPrincess.com Carrie & Tuck refill set

3) Rounding out our nautical theme, the winner receives a complete set of Seaside Dish Towels.  These are 100% cotton, embroidered in designs showcasing an anchor, a compass and a ship’s wheel. You know you simply must have these for the boat; isn’t it your experience that Cook is always so much happier when her assistants have perky towels to dry things? (Heh-heh-heh.)

PreppyPrincess.com Seaside Dish Towels

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To enter all you need to do is leave a comment about a friend you are thankful for.  Just tell us a friend you are grateful to have now or perhaps had years ago, and you are entered!  We use a random number generator to select the winner.

And this week’s Bonus Prize Pack to be sent to anyone you choose, including yourself, is the delightful Laguna Beach apron in an elegant turquoise and chocolate brown color scheme. Remember, to win the Bonus Prize, post or mention the Great Preppy Giveaway on your blog or home page – it is that easy!

PreppyPrincess.com Laguna Beach apron

Accompanying the apron (if only because it coordinates so well) is the delightful book about one of our favorite stores, Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart.  As described by the publisher, the book tells the story of author Marjorie Hart’s summer working at Tiffany with a friend:

“… the pair, self-described as long-limbed, blue-eyed blondes, were hired at Tiffany’s—the first female floor sales pages… “

We want to mention Miss Amelia who made us think of including the book in this week’s Giveaway, a brilliant idea on her part!

Leave your comments before midnight next Wednesday, the 19th, and you are entered in the Giveaway. Let us know if you have any questions…that is why we are here!