Preppish Tidbits, Sneak Peak at Coach Poppy Line

Hello-Hello, Happy Friday!

It is simply fantabulous here at the Prepatorium, although we expect a repeat performance of last night’s raging thunderstorms, they are expected to return this evening.  The booming and crashing always sends Scooter-the-Wonder-Cat straight up in the air and then under the bed, poor thing. It reminds us of when we were a tiny Princess and asked what was going on; at some point we were told the noise was God bowling.  Were you ever told any tall weather tales as a child?

So much happening in the few days we were away! First, a few SOTTs (Signs Of The Times), most of which many readers already know:

• Eddie Bauer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday; yesterday a judge gave permission for the company to continue paying employees and vendors.
• Upscale retailer Ben Sherman announced in May it will no longer carry shoes, last week the announcement came the childrens line will also be discontinued. Below, we’ll use the Sherman women’s Argyle Vest for today’s Adventures in Argyle. (It is quite the bargain, now only $39.99, originally $80.)

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Other newsy tidbits:

• The city selected for Tommy Hilfiger’s second ‘American Stories’ ad campaign is our nation’s capital; below, one of the ads.

PHOTO: Phil Poynter via WWD

• Ralph Lauren’s annual gala celebrating Wimbledon’s start attracted royalty, entertainers, and the fashion crowd last night at Kensington Roof Gardens.  We see Sarah Ferguson with daughters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice in this photo.

PHOTO: Gareth Cattermole/Getty

• There is a new preppy brand on our radar: Jeremy Argyle, recently opened in Soho, but better yet, available online! The company’s Pink Framed Stripe shirt is seen below:
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One Sales & Savings reminder we feel obligated to share in light of the ‘additional percentage off’ savings:

The Kate Spade online sample sale ends tonight, but if one scoots over there before midnight, there is an additional 20% off merchandise.

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We share a few nautically-inclined items today, starting with the Vans Captain Fin anchor tee.  The design is actually the logo for Captain Fin, known for their surfwear.

Vans Captain Fin Tee

And a line we weren’t familiar with that actually sounds rather unusual, the scented tees by Spiff.

Courtesy Spiff via Nitrolicious

Probably not for TP, but that doesn’t mean others can’t enjoy them. Our thanks to the always on-trend Nitrolicious, where we spotted the photo.

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Some may recall our previous post on the new Coach Poppy line aimed at a younger, more financially conservative demographic.  The Poppy bags aren’t officially due in stores until June 26th, but we can share a couple of the bags.

Courtesy Coach

The line will include everything from bags and shoes….

Courtesy Coach

to jewelry…

Courtesy Coach

and headbands.

Courtesy Coach

According to a wonderful story in Business Week about the company, price points for the line will run approximately 20% less than other Coach merchandise.

“Poppy is supposed to help move the entire company back to … a more comfortable place, which at Coach means an average price of $290 for a handbag.”

The story by Susan Berfield makes for a great read.

There is also a Coach Facebook page for the new collection.

Courtesy Coach

We’ll leave you with a Pretty in Pink borrowed from the new group.

Courtesy Coach

Happy weekend!

Kentucky Derby Barbie, Michelle O. Does Talbots, J. Crew Sale

Oh dolls, what a beautiful day it has been, outside as well as in, warm and sunny is the mood for the day!

We must share a number of things we can only refer to as Preptastic! First we thank the more-than-generous Kristin Pearce, for offering this gorgeous necklace in her blog giveaway last month!

Kristin Pearce Jewelry

We were fortunate enough to win, and the necklace arrived in our mailbox and to say it is stunning would be an understatement.  Kristin is one talented lady who has fantastic treasures in her etsy store; she also creates custom jewelry pieces. This beauty makes its debut Easter Sunday; thank you Kristin!

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For today’s Pretty in Pink we share our love for this amazing artwork from the one and only Fifi Flowers, an excellent print we bought last week.

Pink Luggage by Fifi Flowers

Fifi is insanely talented and you will adore her artwork, as well as her boxed note cards, equally bright and beautiful!  They are available in Fifi’s etsy shop, all of them Preptastic IOHO.  And Miss Fifi has a wonderful blog we love to read on a daily basis.

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Also making the Preptastic List this holiday weekend, the Kentucky Derby Barbie.

Appropriately attired in a floral dress with coordinating chapeau, Barbie wears a strand of pearls.

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As one might anticipate, bargains abound with Spring/Easter/After Easter/etc. sales and clearance events. J. Crew launched theirs several days ago:

J. Crew

There is a good assortment of merchandise across a spectrum of sizes, like the Avignon Peep-toes, originally $328, now $149.

J. Crew Avignon Pump

Or the Cotton interlock promenade dress:

The casual knit is sized Small-XL in black and bright pacific, now $49.99, marked down from $75. TP is happy to vouch for the versatility of Crew’s lightweight knits, they are outstanding.

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In what may be a boost for Talbots, First Lady Michelle Obama wears a Talbots dress on the cover of May’s Essence magazine.

PHOTO: Timothy White/Stockland Martel

The First Lady’s mother, Marian Robinson, is seen in the cover shot as well.

It appears Mrs. Obama is wearing Talbots Rose Print Silk Dress.

The dress is shown in the ‘Lagoon Blue’ colorway. 

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On a related note, there is word the Obama family will spend their summer vacation on the Vineyard according to this story at the Cape Cod Today website.

Courtesy CapeCodToday.com

The article says the First Family plans a two-week stay in the East Chop part of Oak Bluffs. We have always been fond of the East Chop Lighthouse.

And on that pretty picture, we’ll say ‘night!

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.

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  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!