Is Coach Like McDonald’s? Also, Socialite Style

Hello-Hello everyone, what a scrumptious day here at the Prepatorium, despite an early trip to the HOP (House of Pain, aka the dentist) the day still sparkles. Is it bright and beautiful where you are? We ardently hope so, it is good for the soul.

We start with a little something we have been meaning to share for a few days, a look at one of “The Big Money” columns as run by Reuters last week: “Coach is Now Traveling Coach.”

“… fashionistas who prefer Hermès and Louis Vuitton dismiss Coach as gateway luxury. A competitor called it the “McDonald’s of luxury” and one fashion blogger asked during Boom 2.0 whether it is “the scheming social climber of the handbag world.”

Ouch!

Courtesy Photo

The story by Jill Priluck is focused more on the new Poppy line from Coach, most recently discussed in this forum here (with lots of pics!) and here (very brief) last month. More from the story:

“”Even the occasional luxury buyer shuns the brand: “I don’t want to carry the same bag as a 15-year-old,” said a 37-year-old mother from New Jersey.””

However, while Ms. Priluck’s story allows some to bash the retailer, she does not.

“And yet by all measures, Coach operates with exceptional savvy in the fast-changing, embattled fashion industry.”

Below, a collage featuring pieces from the new line not accompanying the article.

The story is a fascinating look at where the brand has been, and where it’s going. We highly recommend it.

Has anyone bought things from the new line? Looked at it in stores? Love it? Hate it? Unsure? Do tell, we are all dying to hear!

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Other morsels and meanderings today include a reminder about the wonderful work being done by the incredibly-generous Prep-E Girl on behalf of our four-legged friends.

Miss Erin has started a new blog, Puppy Love by Erin, with a ‘higher purpose’ than most blogs, including this one. Erin is raising money so she can sponsor a puppy in the Puppies Behind Bars program, a $3000 undertaking.

And how is she doing this? Because Miss E is one talented prep, she is making and selling handcrafted dog collars in all sorts of fabulous fabrics and materials. Below, a shot of the stylish Jake modeling one of the collars in an outstanding madras, very chic.

Erin is requesting a $20 donation for each collar, very reasonable IOHO.  We want to do what we can to help out, and this is our first step, simply sharing information about Erin’s efforts with our friends here in the Preppy blogosphere.  Our next step will be more tangible, but that will be just ‘tween us and Miss Erin. 🙂

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We share another bit of linkage now that we keep meaning to post, a wonderful story the folks over at the Refinery 29 Blog did in June.

From Babe to Brill: The Evolution of Socialite Style

The story by Kelly Hoffman really needs to be seen because of the superb graphic layout detailing styles decade by decade.

“Socialite, social, society—the words may change, but New York has always had its crowd of well-heeled women who never fail to bring the wow factor to a good party. But today’s toniest group of Tribute wearers weren’t the first pretty young things to light up a room (and cause a scandal or deux).”

Babe Paley, Nan Kempner, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Tinsley Mortimer and Lauren Santo Domingo are a few of the women featured. As you can surmise, the story is another fun read we suggest one might want to find time for!

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Finally, we sign off with a darling photo we were emailed by the inimitable Jen at When Pigs Fly:

Cotton Candy Flip Flops at PreppyPrincess.com

We’re very impressed by the lovely pedicure seen on those toes, our Cotton Candy flips are honored to be used merely to accent that elegance and beauty! (Heh-heh.) At any rate, Jen managed to find time to take the picture while in the midst of a horse show this weekend, talk about multi-tasking! (You can read more about the show here.)

We mentioned a fun feature to Jen that we are starting at the Princess shoppe, and she jumped on it, getting that image of the twinkletoes seen above to us despite her extremely busy weekend! Simply put, Pictures from a Preppy Planet (that is our goofy working title for our endeavor) asks our charming customers to send us a picture(s) showcasing their Princess merchandise in action.

We have our top IT Folks on this (exactly, The Consort) project, creating a special page for the pictures on the shoppe’s website. Because we are sensitive to the need for anonymity, we realize not all customers can show the products in use with a person. But photos like the one above are ideal, just perfect!

Best of all, anyone submitting a picture that we can use receives a 10% discount code to use at the Princess for a month, it seems only proper to say “Thank You” to those sharing their fun!

Until next time, happy day!

The Ultimate Preppy Ribbon Flip-Flops and Belts!

You know, there may be no more universally recognized ‘preppy accessory’ than the grosgrain ribbon belt or flip-flops. In some locales it might be a tote or a headband, pearls in a more formal setting, but as a rule nothing says “preppy” like a ribbon belt or flip-flops. And here at the Prepatorium we have struggled as we searched high and low for grosgrain ribbon belts and flip-flops to bring to you, items that were different, a step above all the ‘usual’ or mundane examples, these had to be something better. They needed to be bright and vibrant with a touch of whimsy while retaining a sophisticated edge; it goes without saying they needed to be very well-made. We were about to give up.

And then it happened! We found these wonderful pieces practically in our own back yard, and we are ever-so-pleased to present for you the very new Princess Flip-Flops and matching Princess Belts.

A fabulous addition to the Preppy Princess, we think of them as the ultimate preppy grosgrain ribbon flip-flops and belts. These treasures are different from the majority of grosgrain ribbon belts or flip-flops we generally see, those that are all kind of similar in style with a single piece of ribbon as the decor. Our Princess Belts and Flip-Flops are made using several different pieces of vibrant ribbon, then those pieces are interwoven by hand for a unique and perfectly preppy style statement you’ll just love. (Well, if The Princess isn’t proud of herself for finding these treasures?)

The Princess is very fond of the ‘Bubblegum‘ flips seen below, after all, they’re made with interwoven grosgrain ribbon in ‘our colors’ of pink and green! They’re shown with the matching belt, and honestly, these are to die for, it’s that simple. To. Die. For.

The next colorway just screams summer sun and beachy blues of water and sky. The only thing that could *arguably* be better than the grograin ribbons used in this pattern it’s the name: Lopsickle.

This next pair is in the Cotton Candi colorway, that chic teal and chocolate brown, pretty cool to look at and like all of our flips, pretty comfortable as well, because they are made with an über comfy sole.

Of course there is nothing like the timeless style of black and white to boost your wardrobe’s versatility and style; that’s a combo that will go with just about anything. We present the Domino pattern.

There’s a little secret in the family that is now known by everyone. (By definition I guess that would mean it is no longer a secret.) At any rate the story is that while growing up I always took only the purple and the green gumdrops from the bowl and left the rest; we think perhaps that accounts for my love of this pattern appropriately dubbed ‘Gumdrop‘.

For those of us wanting to get a little more formal, here’s an alternative: a classic Stewart plaid in red and navy with a touch of green.

We hope you love these as much as we do here at the Prepatorium. We’re proud to say they are made in the USA, and the soles of the flip-flops are a step above (no pun intended) most you see, cushier and conforming better to your foot a bit, unlike less well-made flips.

Because we know you will love them as much as we do, we are offering a special offer for our wonderful blog readers. You can receive 10% off your total purchase at PreppyPrincess.com, not just the flip-flops or belts, 10% off your entire purchase through midnight on Sunday, August 17th. The coupon code at checkout is FLIPDEAL, all one word.

We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on them, even if you aren’t in the market for them! We simply adore getting as much feedback as possible. Have a wonderful Wednesday!