Friday Fun: amfAR Party Frocks & Justin Bieber Does It Again

Hello and welcome to a Friday here at The Prepatorium, where once again we feel that some Friday Fun is in order.

Today we devote most of our attention to last night’s annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala, always a hotspot for pretty party frocks and heavy-duty celebrity viewing.  Below, Charlene Wittstock in Giorgio Armani Privé with her fiancé, Prince Albert of Monaco.

Reuters/Getty Images

A major part of the evening is an auction, one lot included personal swimming lessons with Ms. Wittstock, a former Olympian, and a private tennis lesson with Prince Albert; combined the two lots raised one million euros, or about $1.4 million.

The event is always held during Cannes, below we see Prince Albert’s niece, Charlotte Casiraghi, going short in vintage Chanel Couture with matte black accessories.

Getty Images/Reuters

Naomi Campbell and Vladimir Doronin were on hand, as well as Georgina Chapman, she was in one of her own Marchesa designs.

Stephane Feugere/WWD

More than $10 million was raised, a record-breaking amount, with proceeds going directly to research. Below, actress Fan Bingbing was stunning in fuchsia Louis Vuitton.

AP Photo/Getty/Getty

In fact, she looked gorgeous throughout the entire festival.

Getty Images

Regardless of what she wore.

Getty Images

Not everyone looked stellar in eveningwear.  From left to right, Sarah Ferguson, Ivanka Trump and fashion editor Giovanna Battaglia.

Getty/Reuters/Getty

Other attendees included Rob Lowe and model Karolina Kurkova.

Stephane Feugere/WWD

Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. dress was also auctioned.

Via Hello!

More on the celebrity’s week in France, via this WWD story:

“Gwen Stefani also mixed business and pleasure during her stay. In between hanging out on Russian millionaire Roman Abramovich’s yacht with her husband Gavin Rossdale, she shot her latest ad for L’Oreal Paris at a villa overlooking the Mediterranean.”

We liked the detail on Clemence Poesy’s Chanel gown.

Getty Images

Janet Jackson looked elegant in Haider Ackermann, but her jewels may have received more attention than her apparel.

Getty Images

Model Eva Herzigova also elected to go with a short style.

Reuters/Getty Images

Model Hofit Golan’s jewels and bag outshone her gown.

Reuters/Getty Image

Our favorite auction item had to be the Giuseppe Zanotti shoes.

Courtesy Photo

Not only are they pink, they were covered in jewels from none other than Chopard. Here is how they looked on model Anja Rubik’s feet.

Francois Durand/Getty Images

The ‘bling’ on the pink satin sandals included 600 briolette-cut gemstones, they were sold for £125,000 pounds, a bit more than $200,000.

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Our other tidbit for the day involves singing sensation Justin Bieber.  The pop phenomenon is launching a women’s perfume.

Reuters (L) and Robert Mitra/WWD (R)

Apparently the young man’s success with his OPI line of nail polish demonstrated the many ways of extracting $$$$ from the young ladies of the world.  The scent is named “Someday,” and targeted at 14-18 year old young ladies. More from the WWD story:

“The product choice seems obvious to Bieber, who responded to questions via e-mail from Japan, where he is performing. “Let’s be real, the way a girl smells is very important to a guy! I have such a deep connection with my fans, so creating a fragrance that I personally love is another way I can bring them closer to my world,” he said.”

Robert Mitra/Women's Wear Daily

Perzactly.

American Apparel Plans on Preppy (Seriously) & Royalty Hits the Hamptons

Hello-Hello, and happy Monday!

Today we begin with a Sign of The Times that we hoped would herald a return to sanity when it comes to logos. Below, a snippet from this story in Women’s Wear Daily about luxury merchandise and markets:

“…Gucci Group would move away from logos, “adjusting to this new perception of luxury, which is more subtle, more sophisticated.”

The comments come from Gucci’s parent company, PPH; we can only hope this movement points to a diminution in the number of Logophobia attacks one suffers when in close proximity to most Gucci merchandise. Unfortunately, the “move away from logos” doesn’t appear applicable to all Gucci items.

‘Subtle’ and ‘sophisticated’ those are not. Nor are two handbags from the Fall 2010 line.

Perhaps we didn’t fully understand the company’s intent when it comes to this topic.

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Next, reports that American Apparel is moving toward more ‘traditional’ styles.  Sunday’s Chronicle carried a story entitled “Can Preppy Look Save American Apparel Empire?”

“After outfitting the world of 18- to 30-year-olds in all manner of T-shirts and leggings, American Apparel is going preppy, diving into more sophisticated garments such as blazers, pleated pants, button-down shirts and more formal lace tops.”

We would find the notion laughable were it not obvious this is the firm’s direction; it certainly goes in the “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” category. But when visiting the company’s online store one notices the home page touting “Classic Guy” styles.

American Apparel

“Preppy” from the firm that the story notes “… remade the hipster wardrobe, sensing the demand for neon nylon bike shorts and lace-thong leotards…”?  Not to mention the firm known for its overtly racy ads featuring scantily clad (or unclad) young people? (If unfamiliar with this marketing maneuver, all one need do is visit the company’s online Photo Archive to see examples.)

One of the most surprising items we saw in the men’s section, the Red Wing shoe, similar to many boat shoes, albeit with trendier lines.

American Apparel is contending with a number of issues, not the least of which is possible delisting on the New York Stock Exchange; this is compounded by its own accounting firm quitting, citing concerns over some of the company’s financial data.

Other challenges are explained in the story (which also appears in Bloomberg Business Week):

“Before the financial concerns intensified, Charney had been contending with damaging sexual-harassment allegations followed by an immigration bust. Fifteen hundred workers at the Los Angeles factory had to be let go owing to lack of documentation and 1,000 more quit over concern of being swept up for immigration violations.”

(To learn more about American Apparel’s CEO Dov Charney, click here, he has his own web page.)

One mystery amid the style changes: we don’t understand why the new direction appears targeted only to male shoppers. Visiting the women’s section of the website doesn’t indicate any evidence of a newly conservative or traditional approach.

American Apparel

Indeed, items the company is known for abound; most are NSFW (Not Safe for Work viewing).

American Apparel

To be fair, there are some basics available, like the Unisex Collared Shirts and Unisex Tees.

But by and large it seems that American Apparel’s new ‘preppy’ clothing styles are intended for the gentlemen, not the ladies.

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We close with a quick look at this weekend’s benefit for the Princess Grace Foundation in the Hamptons.

Astrid Stawiarz for The Wall St Journal

On hand for the festivities (and also a co-host), Monaco’s Prince Albert II and fiancée Charlene Wittstock. Louis Vuitton was the other primary host, the event was held at the Water Mill home of Anne Hearst McInerney and Jay McInerney.  Below we see Ms. Hearst and Mr. McInerney, the latter is an author we very much enjoy reading.

Monaco’s royal wedding is scheduled for July 11, 2011. For more on how Ms. Wittstock is approaching that event, we turn to Women’s Wear Daily:

“But Wittstock seems very low-key about her upcoming nuptials, scheduled for next year, even if the rest of European society isn’t. “I’m not one of those girls who imagined themselves walking down the aisle in a big dress,” she said. “My style is very easy.” Wittstock was wearing gold flip flops with her gown.”

With that we say G’bye until next time!

Another Royal Wedding on Tap and National Pink Day

Hello-Hello, and Happy National Pink Day!

This is perfect timing, coinciding nicely with the big news of the day for royal watchers: word that Monaco’s Prince Albert is engaged to Charlene Wittstock of South Africa.  Below, the official photograph released by the Palace accompanying the announcement.

Amedeo M.Turello/Palais Princier Monaco via Getty

The official announcement may be viewed here.  Ms. Wittstock is a former Olympic swimmer from South Africa; from the news release:

“Ms Charlene Lynette Wittstock is of South African nationality and was born on 25 January 1978 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Before settling in Monaco, Charlene Lynette Wittstock was a youth worker.”

We saw many photos of the couple over the weekend in our posts on the Swedish royal wedding of Princess Victoria. Here are two more pictures from this weekend’s festivities.

We are sure no one will care about this silly bauble, but we’ll include the photo of Ms. Wittstock’s engagement ring anyway. (Heh-heh-heh.)

Amedeo M.Turello/Palais Princier Monaco via Getty

Today’s happy news lets us segue properly into our primary topic, a celebration of our favorite color here at the Prepatorium. We begin with an image of the famed royal residence.

In the photo above the Palace in Monaco appears rather more pink than it actually is, but a lovely sight nonetheless.  Other pink structures we stumbled across include this rental home not far from the white cliffs of Dover in the UK.

Holiday-Rentals.co.uk

Many are familiar with the Royal Sheraton in Hawaii.

Via Global Graphica

While the Monaco residence is considered an icon, others think of this when hearing the ‘Pink Palace’ moniker.

Via Classic Katie blog

From Chess City in Russia.

Via Chess Base blog

The pink highrise was photographed in our former hometown, Denver.

Skyscraperpage.com

If a pink building isn’t on the horizon, an interior in these tones is always a possibility.

Matthew Millman via HGTV.com

The pink and green room seen below was designed by Steven Miller Design, originally viewed here.  Our next Pretty in Pink room is from designer Jennifer Frank.

PHOTO: via HGTV.com

A more formal setting is found in this living room by designer Grace Sielaff.

HGTV.com

This room might be more conducive to sleep.

NewsHouseDesign.com

Locating furnishings in our favorite color is nowhere near as difficult as it was in TP’s day. Below, PB Teen’s Cushy Lounge Love Seat.

PB Teen

One would want a large space to house this Bruehl piece.

Bruehl via NewsHouseDesign.com

Some may recall this post with our bespoke pink chair from Squint.

Squint Ltd.

Surely locating a pink vehicle is far more challenging than doing a room in the color, no?

Who can ignore this adorable electric car from Lilly Pulitzer?

Lilly Pulitzer

The pink Mini is destined to stand out.

As will the pink Corvette, sure to attract attention.

Who can forget Barbie’s pink Fiat for her 50th anniversary?

Sadly, many readers may remember this monstrosity and the AntiPrep flaunting it.

Our treasured readers won’t be surprised to read that we definitely like the Estate Wagon pedal car.

We are rather fond of the pink Pedal Plane.

The notion of pink aircraft is troubling.

VIA

Many of us have spent far more time on an Airbus A-320 than we want to remember, but never on this one.

Via Airliners.net

Nor on this one.

Via Airliners.net

Pink ships are also baffling.

Via Donegan Landscaping

Let alone a pink freighter.

Via Ugly Ships blog

Surely the pink bulldozer is an anomaly.

Via New Zealand Pictures

The Pink Toe Truck has us nonplussed.

Via Art Car Central

Some things simply should not be pink. Car interiors would be near the top of that list; this is clearly a Crime Against Pink.

Other things that shouldn’t be pink?

Four-legged family members.

Via Siderite Blog

We are not surprised by pink uniforms, merely the number of people wearing them in this image.

We admit to being taken aback by this image.

Via Eternally Cool

More men in pink on the job.

Via EternallyCool.net

The vintage PSA Airline uniforms and aircraft raised our eyebrows.

Via Jaunted

(We highly recommend Jaunted’s entire History of Pink Airline Uniforms, it will make your day.)

Below, more people in pink as part of a breast cancer awareness initiative, these folks are getting ready for a fundraising walk in Kuala Lumpur.

Via CloveToo.com

There are things we never considered, like a pink-clad chain gang; below, inmates from the Maricopa County jail.

Via Trendhunter

Nor did we envision a hot air balloon shaped like a pink house.

While we shudder at the specter of pink boats….

Via Moods of norway

We are on the bubble when it comes to the Pink Flamingo Pedal Boat.

Here is one pink watercraft we like, this one rowed by the women of Cape Cod Rowing as a reminder that one in eight women develops breast cancer.

Courtesy PinkBoat.org

The pink hay bales have a whimsical appeal.

Via Trendhunter

There are all manner of pink drinks.

Via Brenda's Wedding Blog

We have never experienced pink Jello in person.

Via PenangFaces.com

When it comes to food, what could be better than these yummies?

Via

And who could resist this stunning creation from Pink Cakebox?

Via PinkCakebox.com

Or these treasures via It’s a Piece of Cake?

And this is something we could never turn away from, also by Pink Cakebox.

Pink Cakebox

By far the strangest pink item we discovered is this:

Via His Nibs blog

The 200-foot bunny lives on the side of a hill in Italy; as described on His Nibs, the site where we discovered it:

“Viennese art group Gelatin designed the giant soft toy and say it was “knitted by dozens of grannies out of pink wool”.

From another angle.

Via FootlooseMoose.com

Back to the HisNibs post:

Group member Wolfgang Gantner said: “It’s supposed to make you feel small, like Gulliver. You walk around it and you can’t help but smile. And Gelatin members say the bunny is not just for walking around – they are expecting hikers to climb its 20 foot sides and relax on its belly.

The giant rabbit is expected to remain on the mountain side until 2025.”

A final look, with thanks to PhilNeeds on Posterous:

Via PhilNeeds Posterous

Clearly a prime candidate for inclusion in our You Can’t Make This Stuff Up category.

Indeed.

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We also have to share just one more thing, with thanks to our dear friend Julie for sending it along last night, creating quite the tizzy.

Courtesy AMC-TV

The fun begins on July 25.

May you enjoy a wonderful day of pretty pink things wherever you may travel!

ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier