Brooks Brothers Gets Social, Preppy Sales & Savings

Hello-Hello, thank goodness it is almost the weekend. Somehow the week became a rather long and tedious sequence of days, frenzied and harried with little breathing room.

There are loads of things happening all over the Preppy Planet, so we jump right in with an item qualifying as Friday Fun in our book: the result of yet another fashion collaboration, the Social Primer for Brooks Brothers Bow Tie Collection.

Brooks Brothers

Some readers are familiar with Social Primer, an online etiquette blog geared to men, as well as a retail outlet operated by K. Cooper Ray.

SocialPrimer.com

For those not yet enjoying the Primer we share this description from Brooks Brothers:

“The voice of SocialPrimer.com, “SP”, is a stickler for tradition and good manners. He reminds men to walk on the curbside of a lady and to always stand when they shake a man’s hand. SP is sometimes a dandy and always a gentleman.”

The partnership between these entities makes good sense, affording Brooks an opportunity to offer an updated look for a traditional item.

No one will be surprised by our appreciation for the ties; it is common knowledge we are silly for seersucker and rarely see a madras we don’t like, let alone a nautically inclined look.

Kudos to Mr. Ray and Brooks Brother. The collection is not yet officially launched (that happens May 19th), but the ties are available online and in Brooks Brothers stores.

Speaking of B2, they are in the middle of their Friends and Family Sale; everything is 25% off online, at retail stores and factory outlets stores.  To receive the discount, use promo code Friend1A at checkout. The promotional pricing runs through Monday, May 10th and it does include Black Fleece items.

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We smiled when reading the Financial Times’ story: “A summery outlook for men’s shoes”, illustrated with this image of Tod’s brightly colored driving moccasins.

Courtesy Image via Financial Times

The story shares insight from Lacoste’s chief marketing pooh-bah:

“Colour and the whole preppy style is very much on trend at the moment, and it’s something that Lacoste is strongly associated with,” citing the brand’s new pistachio green, baby blue and salmon pink canvas slip-on shoes…”

We haven’t yet seen the new Lacoste shoes referenced, but are guessing the look isn’t one The Consort will be sporting.

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Other Sales & Savings of note:

• Talbots is taking an additional 50% off sale prices.
• Polo Ralph Lauren offers an extra 15% off already-reduced prices through Monday, May 10. Use promo code MAY0610 for the discount
• Lacoste is taking 30% off merchandise through May 10th

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We close with two quick Pretty in Pink items; the first is an item from the store we used here at the Prepatorium just yesterday.

The Scout Insulated Casserole Carrier was put into action transporting our Apple Cake across town and it worked perfectly, as it always does. And that recipe? It is so easy recipe even yours truly can’t mess it up. (Well, not yet.)  Here is the recipe:

KitchenAid Apple Cake

• 11⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 11⁄2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 11⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 11⁄2 cups applesauce
• 1⁄2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup chopped, peeled apple
• 1⁄2 cup chopped walnuts

1. Combine dry ingredients in mixer bowl. Add applesauce, butter, and eggs.
2. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute. Stop and scrape bowl. Turn to Speed 4 and beat about 30 seconds.
3. Add apple and walnuts. Turn to STIR Speed and mix just until blended.
4. Pour batter into greased and floured 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Cool completely on wire rack. Frost with Caramel Creme Frosting, if desired.

Yield: 12 to 16 servings.

Per serving: About 318 cal, 5 g pro, 51 g carb, 11 g fat, 36 mg chol, 315 mg sod.

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Our second Pretty in Pink is something we stumbled upon when visiting the Everything is Better Pink blog:

Emma Graham Designs

Pieces from designer Emma Graham were featured on the blog, and we couldn’t resist sharing the image above, it is such a perfect pink and green! Our thanks to Sally at the blog, she has a great eye.

With that we say G’bye until next time, may everyone enjoy a weekend filled with love and laughter!

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!

Best Kids Sweaters, Sneak Peek at Brooks Brothers Next Perfume, Talbots Sale

Hello-hello on another lovely day in the Great Midwest, perhaps the weather is at least this wonderful wherever you are? But then we have this:

Getty Images

Rather than sit and fidget with glazed eyes watching CNBC or Bloomberg, we will simply move forward and do a Scarlett O’Hara: “….after all, tomorrow is another day…,” knowing that cooler heads on Wall Street and in the FiDi (Financial District) will prevail and the market shall correct today’s correction. Of the earlier correction. That preceded the….oh, never mind. Onward.

The Princess is accepting she must acknowledge that the chill in the morning air is evidence transcending any doubt that the seasons are changing and Fall is here. Fine. We grasp the reality. Truly. See us digging the LL Bean catalog out of the pile and looking at things? Hear us speaking with Cook about the Princess Consort’s delight in slow-cooker entrees?

And just to prove how utterly in sync we are with the Weather Pooh-bahs, we share some of the following, Boys and Girls sweaters from Best & Co., with more than a few styles you may wish were available in Big People sizing!

The first is an argyle, irresistible for TP and also available in a beautiful blue. If this next one is not an all-grown-up-girl’s sweater with a definite ’60s-ish and Jackie look, TP doesn’t know what is!  The double-breasted cardigan would also work as a light jacket and is available in a great lipstick red. (We do hope it’s okay to use your name in this way Miss Lipstick!)

And while we have never been advocates for spoiling children, we don’t take issue with introducing them to cashmere as an integral part of one’s existence at an early age, so long as it is well appreciated and well cared for, that goes without saying. Having bored everyone to tears with that information, we come to the Girl’s Scottie sweater, all sweetness and snuggles and cuddles tied up with a pink bow around its neck.

And you know what the Princess is always saying: Life is better with a bow. It just is, and that is why it’s our mantra here at the Preppy Princess.

There are so many appealing looks for the little girls it is impossible to choose just one as our favorite.

Let’s switch to the Boy’s sweaters, equally fun to look at online IOHO. Best has wisely stocked up on a wonderful array of novelty sweaters for the little guy in your life. And look, each can have a Scottie sweater all their very own, but his is wisely made of wool.

We are also fond of the Crewneck with Terrier style, accented by nicely understated argyle trim.

What young man doesn’t enjoy all manner of vehicles? The Truck Crewneck is cotton, frequently a welcome change from all that winter wool.

There is also a superb rugby sweater for Boys, in a chunky knit, available in three colors.

As with the young ladies, there is also a plethora of attractive looks for the young Master at Best:

Well, after fifty years without introducing a women’s perfume, come mid-November Brooks Brothers New York for Ladies will hit stores. By its side, look for (oh, you already guessed!) Brooks Brothers New York for Gentlemen. Below, an early look at the packaging for both scents.

It’s doubtful readers will remember the mid-fifties womens’ perfume Brooks sold, taken off the market by the end of that same decade. Women really weren’t a priority for the company unless they were buying things for the men in their lives.

Some readers may recall the days when there was very little women’s apparel at B2. As in, “Oh really, if we must have something for the girls, fine, but we are a gentleman’s shop and truthfully, can’t be bothered waiting on them hand and foot…” etc., etc., etc.  There was almost no clothing or accessories or much of anything else in the store worth taking time to look at for females. And one must remember there were only ten stores in existence into the late sixties. TP remembers going into stores in the 1970s and 1980s, some into the 90s, where it was very much a struggle to be taken care of if you were “a girl” unless, as previously noted, you were purchasing something for the man of the house.

This does not take away from the fact that girls at Miss Porter’s wore Brooks Brothers Polo Coats for decades, first introduced to the US in 1910.  (The name for the coat is just too fun when considering one of the company’s largest competitors!)

The three existing Brooks Brothers men’s fragrances will stay on the market through the new scent’s launch; this includes the Signature, 1818, and Country Club colognes.

The bottles are quite nice, cut crystal with the company’s Golden Ox logo. The fragrances are being done by the same firm that does the Gap and Banana Republic “personal care products.”  BTW, if you do happen to pop in and visit the good folks at Brooks Brothers, there are some remarkable bargains available! The scented soap set as well as the boxed set of the Brooks Brothers scented candles in silverplated holders, are now $16, a substantial markdown from their original prices of $68 and $78 as we recall. Don’t let it be said The Princess isn’t looking out for your pocketbook in these stressful times.

If you haven’t yet received your “One Sweet  Sale” catalog from Talbots, look for it in your mailbox any day now, or head for your local store, or even shop the sale online. With pieces like this Stretch Wool/Silk/Jacket at price points 40% off the original selling price you are sure to find something you need, or didn’t yet know you needed, as sometimes happens.  Not everything is discounted at that level; the French terry zip-front hooded jacket is only 23% less than its retail price.

If some new clothing is on the agenda for the little ones or the man in your life, the Talbots Online Outlet is worth a visit, as they are closing out everything in the Men’s and Children’s lines. For example, the Quilted critter jacket in Sizes 2-7 looks darling (50% off), as does the Hooded dot-print raincoat in an oh-so-preppy pink is also (0% off; this looks similar to what we used to call a slicker.

Who can resist such stylish Argyle overalls for the newborn, or the Beary-Good Raincoat? It’s also for newborns and available in two colors.

Such cute clothing for the precious treasures in your life, with many more pieces available for your perusal online.

Rafael Nadal as Beefcake? Oh My! New Stores for Tory Burch & the Vines, J Crew Sale Gets Better!

NOTE: The Princess must apologize, for she thought this post was published yesterday (Monday) and it was not. She is shamed and chagrined. Silly Princess. Our bad.

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Well hello-hello everyone, and isn’t it a delightful Monday? A perfect August day marred only by the fact summer is drawing to a close, however desperately yours truly lives in denial of that reality.

We should have expected this I imagine, the Rafael Nadal and tennis fashion fascination, along with the Rafa is ‘hot’ as I believe it is said in today’s lingo? But you must remember The Princess is from a somewhat different era: members of the opposite sex are gentlemen (or nothing at all) and we most assuredly never referred to them as “Beefcake.” (Gasp!) Having said all that, TP has come to the conclusion that in an effort to be better connected to her customers at The Preppy Princess, not to mention her readers here at the blog, it’s time she learns all about Beefcake. (Double Gasp!)

At the very least we must force ourselves to become acquainted with the topic in terms of how it relates to tennis fashions, as that is something near and dear to our heart and a topic covered with some frequency on this blog. This week’s issue of New York has a fascinating story entitled The Beefcake in the BackCourt, written by the wonderful Ben Williams with a subhead that reads: “Another way in which ripped, raffish Rafael Nadal and his cardigan-wearing Swiss rival aren’t anything alike.”

And there is this:

TP is aghast. Horrified. Her face is aflame with a fuchsia color that would make the best Lilly Pulitzer print look washed out by comparison. She must make plans to go to confession as soon as she finishes this post. She simply cannot believe the photo on the right with Rafa looking so… ah…, looking so…, well, we’ll just say he looks rather intense. (Heh-heh-heh.)

The story is a splendid read, including the opening paragraph:

“Take your time. It’s okay. That photo of Rafael Nadal on the back cover of this magazine is undeniably … what’s a polite way to put it? Arresting. The mussed locks curled just so above the shoulders. The biceps curved like a particularly ripe aubergine. The shadows playing across the deeply grooved abs. All demand extended scrutiny.”

When you’re done, ask yourself this: Would Roger Federer ever pose for a photo like that?

The pirate look Mr. Nadal wears so well was evident in at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

As was Mr. Federer’s more buttoned-up look.

The Princess must say reading about ‘ripped’ Mr. Nadal’s additional attributes made for an enlightening morning, albeit somewhat shocking. We’ll do our best to recover. Just knowing we could share it with you makes it all that more memorable! BTW, if there is anyone who can dish on the tennis fashion topic, Rich over at Down the Line Tennis is always on top of things.

We haven’t mentioned a number of store openings lately and wanted to cover just a few because they are of interest and/or more than timely. For openers, the Tory Burch store in San Francisco opens today on upscale Maiden Lane, a fab location. Here are a couple of the fall looks:

We aren’t wild about either one, but in the spirit of full disclosure TP has never done well with earth tones. They are very attractive to be sure, just not for us. The same can’t be said of the Hope Hooded Cardigan, very much for us, as it looks ever-so-snuggly. We acknowledge it’s not a bright and brilliant color, but when it comes to hoodies and their snuggle factor, color somehow ceases to be an issue for us!

A note on a name to watch: Katherine Fleming with news today she is launching her own line of handbags. At this point you are saying “This is all fine and lovely TP, and we’re quite Ms. Fleming is a wonderful human being and a great American, but why do we care about her handbags?!” Because fellow prep-heads, she is the designer responsible for much of the Tory Burch accessory line, as explained in this morning’s WWD story about her collection:

“…most recently Tory Burch, where she launched the brand’s accessories and was design director of accessories.”

Well, that definitely puts her on TP’s radar! Also opening a new store, but not until mid-November, is Vineyard Vines. They’ll be taking over the old Talbot’s Mens store in the Back Bay, and if there isn’t a lesson from the retailing Gods in that little scenario, wow. And that reminds us, you don’t want to miss out on the V2 Sale which is going full steam ahead.

We can’t pass up treasures like the Overboard Skirt, still available in a good range of sizes, or the Girls Boot Striped Polo, good to go in 3 great colors.

A decent amount of merchandise remains in the Mens and Boys sale areas as well as the Women’s and Girls, should this be of interest to anyone looking to snag a few things before the season is over.

Which brings us to one more preppy sale of note, the J Crew sale. Their merchandise is now an Extra 30% off, customers just need to use the code EXTRA30 at checkout. What could be easier than that?

We’ll chat more later. Happy hunting!

Nouveau Prep, Sneak Peek at Talbots’ New Style, Vibrating Mascara Update

In a fabulous little post on their HiveDaily Blog, the good folks from StyleHive did a story on what they call the ‘Nouveau Prep look’ entitled This Summer, Preppy Meets Downtown.

The preppy, ‘I summer in Nantucket’ look reinvents itself every season, falling somewhere between Lilly Pulitzer and Ralph Lauren, but this season, it’s taken a new turn. As the perfectly put-together, overly polished look wanes in favor of a slightly (or more) rumpled one ever so popularized by the likes of Mary-Kate Olsen and Lou Doillon, stylishly in-the-know folk are taking the look downtown, knocking it around a bit, and then casually forgetting that last button when they clean it up. It’s a deconstructed polo, a slouchier take on the striped tee, a less conservatively cut sweater, a plaid skirt paired with beaten up old leather boots.. or in today speak, it’s Gossip Girl, plus practicality, minus the excessive layering. Scuff up those pristine Jack Purcells and take a look at my SLIDESHOW of five nouveau-prep styles.

Seen in that slide show is this ‘McQ By Alexander McQueen Blue Plaid Flannel Mini Skirt’ (below left) with its, ahhh…ummm…well…we’re just going to say it is a rather bohemian-appearing hem. Preppy? Methinks not.

One of the other four pieces included in the slide show is the Project E Prj-Peace Polo at Lisa Kline, a fabulous online shop. What do you think about the mini-skirt? Now what do you think the odds are that TP is looking to add that little number to her walk-in?

Our next topic is the new look at Talbots, with an absolutely critical collection ready to launch for the retailer, due in stores next week. (The 10th of August to be precise.)

Reinvigorated. Redefined. Rethinking. Those are words being used to describe the Talbots 2008/2009 Fall and Holiday Collections. In reality what we’re talking about is no less than this, as reported in a story last week in WWD:

“This really is a relaunch of a venerable brand,” said Trudy F. Sullivan, Talbots chief executive officer and president, during an interview at the retailer’s New York creative studio on Tuesday. “Dowdy is done. It’s wiped out.”

You see more of the Fall line in the shot above; it also includes Michael Smaldone, the company’s Chief Creative Officer. Now you may be saying “This is all lovely TP, but what sort of changes might actually be noticeable to me as a shopper?” A few, including the following:

• A dressier holiday set, including organza tops with crystal buttons in varying shapes and sizes, “reimagined” satin trenchcoats that almost look like dresses and long “hostess” skirts, paired with three-quarter-sleeve turtlenecks.
• The first-ever full holiday gift assortment that’s weighted to colorful tops and accessories.
• Greater emphasis on wear-now merchandise.
• A redesign of Talbots store to reflect the overhauled collection for 2009. “We’re incubating ideas,” Sullivan said.

Below we show some of the Fall bracelets and scarves (left) and Trudy Sullivan, Talbots CEO, with more apparel (right).

Here on the left is a tiny peek at the Holiday group, which looks intriguing, especially with the hot pink.

Overall (a *very* broad overall, see note below on color) things look a bit improved from our perspective, but we are more-than-eager to hear your reactions to the apparel shown and what little you could see of the accessories. Our immediate reaction was “Oh my goodness, it is very orange, isn’t it?” but then, most Fall collections at this level have that color in them… don’t they?

Regular readers may remember being subjected to ‘Mascara Wars – Round 3‘ with last week’s introduction of Lancôme’s Oscillation vibrating mascara. (TP has lowered herself to using a most vulgar term in describing the escalating wars: “Smackdown”. We recognize we may be evicted from the Country Club for stooping to such common street language.)

For those whose very life’s breath didn’t depend on every detail about this $34 mascara (available in one color only: black) , it was a one-day only pre-launch in advance of the mascara’s actual arrival in November when it will be readily available in the US. (Yawn TP, we are Y-A-W-N-ing over here…!) At any rate, WWD has a little update on this story (subscription req’d.), estimating that most of the select 17 retail outlets sold out of the mascara by lunchtime.

A figure of $200,000 in estimated total sales is used, and guess what else we learn in this article? “The brush, which is battery operated, provides 7,000 micro-oscillations per minute,” according to Jean-Louis Guéret, creator of the mascara. See ladies, TP recognizes you will sleep better tonight having that information. (Heh-heh.) Now if you want to sign up to be notified when the mascara is available for purchase in November, the Oscillation page is still active for that function. And isn’t that a relief?

Now friends, TP must scoot. We’re lunching at Neiman’s just to have those divine popovers with the raspberry butter (or is it honey butter?) and then off to the trunk show and private fittings.