LL Bean Signature Line Sneak Peek

Hello-Hello and Happy Wednesday!

How is everyone doing? Here at the Prepatorium we are clawing our way back to health (a tad overly dramatic, don’t you think?!) but the absentee rate at several local school districts is at 30 – 32%. Ouch.

We start with a look at a new collection from one of our faves, LL Bean.

Courtesy LL Bean via WWD

The company’s new Signature line was revealed to fashion writers last week.

Courtesy Photo via WWD

We have more details from this story in WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d.):

“…200-piece collection, split evenly between men’s and women’s, is clearly indebted to Bean’s past but the line marches into new territory with items like relaxed cotton suits and washed oxford dress shirts for him, and wrap dresses and sandal cork wedges for her.”

The company is engaged in a number of initiatives to broaden their appeal; some readers may recall this August post chatting about the return of Bean’s classic Norwegian sweater.  Here are more looks from the new collection:

More from the WWD story:

“Carleton pulled in diverse bits of Americana, from the Forties, via Hepburn-style denim pants and jacket, to the early Eighties, by way of bleached plaid shirts and ringer polos. The influence of WASP casual also abounds in the oxford cloth dress shirt, madras blazer, sun-bleached knits, and leather moccasins.”

We have previously talked up award-winning designer Alex Carleton, occasionally featuring pieces from his Rogues Gallery line; Mr. Carleton was hired by Bean to oversee this collection. Below, styles from Rogues Gallery demonstrates why he was the perfect choice for the Signature line.

He also designed for LL Bean before moving on to create the Rogues Gallery line.  Simply put, Mr. Carleton gets it – the lifestyle, the look, the legitimacy we all demand.  Below we see Mr. Carleton and a model at the press debut of the collection.

Courtesy GQ

A number of looks for women:

Photo via Style List

The reaction from Style.com:

“Fittingly, the look ran from rugged (plaid button-downs, khakis) to more feminine (ditsy floral shirts, preppy striped knits, a little madras dress). There were also great accessories in leather carryalls, oversize totes, and cute macramé belts with tortoise buckles.”

Glam’s take on the new line:

“…a line of easy breezy separates that college prepsters and beach bound fashionistas will be coveting…”

This one has the potential for the Official Seal of Prepaliciousness.  The collection officially launches in March, you may want to bookmark this site for future reference.

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Reclining while recovering has allowed us to spend more time than usual browsing that unholy pile our carefully curated collection of magazines. While doing so yesterday we fell upon this photo in Elle.  Recognizing every single reader may have long ago seen (or perhaps posted) this image, we still felt compelled to share the pink and green fun.

Photo: Thomas Whiteside/Elle

We have word a few Sales & Savings opportunities, beginning with the J. Crew Fall Sale.

Lord and Taylor is offering their version of Friends and Family.

Use promo code FRIENDS at checkout to receive 25% off most merchandise.

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Recently we mentioned the newest version of the Armani phone; in the interest of equal time here is the new Dior phone.  If planning on one of these for a stocking stuffer you will need to make choices: color, plating and the recipient’s preference for sapphires or diamonds.

Courtesy Dior

Don’t dawdle, they become available in December and it is possible they will go quickly.  Indeed.

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We close with these images accompanying Refinery 29’s story on four-legged beasts taking jobs away from human models – oh no!

Courtesy Opening Ceremony via Refinery 29

Opening Ceremony is using these furry style stars to market the outstanding bow ties created by Alexander Olchs. Below, a few more looks at the dogs…. ummm, we mean the ties.

It’s all about the ties. Absolutely it is.

Courtesy Opening Ceremony via Refinery 29

Silly Tilly was feeling somewhat left out. We explained we knew there would be scads of opportunities in her future once she is out of her collar.

That made her feel much better and she returned to her normal state.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

She does love her sleep. (She loves her blue binky and burrows into it before sleeping. It is like watching a big blue mushroom move about the floor. She  is truly an amazing creature.)

Until next time dollfaces, may you and those you love stay healthy!

Polo Ralph Lauren Wimbledon Collection, New J. Crew Accessories Shop

Hello-Hello everyone!

Did you know it is Milan Fashion Week? As in menswear and accessories for Spring/Summer 2010. While the temptation is to generally flip the ‘ignore’ switch, there are times we stumble upon fascinating newsbites and/or styles emanating from the event.

Guess who showed up for the Giorgio Armani show?

PHOTO: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

Yes, one of the Gossip Guys, Chace Crawford.  (This probably means he wasn’t watching NYC Prep.)

Gossip Girl fans awaiting the release of the show’s second season on DVD now have a date: August 18.

Suggested retail for Gossip Girl: The Complete Second Season is $59.98, but it may be pre-ordered now at Amazon for $38.99.

Speaking of idle gossip that serves no purpose whatsoever Mr. Crawford, WWD has an interesting story on what magazine covers are selling the best, more specifically the People Hottest Bachelor cover discussed in this space yesterday…

Courtesy People

Or this issue of In Touch Weekly …

Courtesy In Touch Weekly

…featuring Kate Gosselin of that hideous the Jon & Kate Plus 8 show; we admit ignorance here as neither TP or The Consort have viewed so much as one frame of video from this show.  (We do have a major ‘Help us Understand‘ question related to Ms. Gosselin’s hair style…? Is there some fundamental fact or background story we have missed on this topic?)

It may come as a surprise to learn this is not a pulication with which we are familiar; we are told one may see copies of the magazine when in line at the market.  Indeed.

To get to the point, apparently Mr. Crawford isn’t exactly the hottest-selling cover for People, especially when contrasted with the misfortunes of the Gosselin family.

“Editors at competing celebrity magazines questioned whether the 23-year-old television star was recognizable enough for People’s audience, or if they should have gone with a bigger name. Past “Bachelors” include Matthew McConaughey in 2007 and “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks in 2006. Both issues sold 1.6 million copies each.”

Oh.

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We’ll quickly share an item that is what we generally refer to as ‘a little stale,’ meaning it is recent, but not anything of the “this just in” ilk.  (Although how frequently do we really encounter ‘breaking preppy news,” really, who are we kidding?)

At any rate, preppy retailer J. Crew has just opened their first accessories store in SoHo.

PHOTO: Thomas Iannaccone/WWD

Described as a standalone shop, the store actually leads right into the J. Crew women’s store. Crew CEO Mickey Drexler describes the new store’s customers to Women’s Wear Daily in this story:

“It’s the same customers shopping the designer stores.” They’re looking to spend less for products with style and of similar quality, he added.

Those spending time in the Hamptons will be pleased to know the retailer’s plans include an accessories shop-within-a-shop for its East Hampton store.

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We have been chatting about Wimbledon fashions as recently as this post yesterday, and almost forgot the Polo Ralph Lauren involvement with this event!

Wimbledon by Polo Ralph Lauren

For the exclusive Polo items available only from the Wimbledon folks, click here.

To shop the Polo Ralph Lauren tennis looks, click here to find items like this Silk-Tie Trimmed Blazer.

While not an ‘official Wimbledon item,’ the Limited Edition Fred Perry polo is now 20% off at Gargyle.

Gargyle.com

Use the discount code limited100 when asked for the promo code at checkout.

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One of the alltime fun summer happenings is this weekend:

If you’re anywhere near Litchfield (Conn.), we *highly* recommend it.

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We close with a note about All Things Southern & Preppy, a daily read that is always top-notch.  This fabulous blog is doing a 4th of July giveaway! The lucky winner will receive a set of our popular Traditions Placemats…

PreppyPrincess.com

And the matching Tiny Flowers napkins.  All of these are 100% Cotton, machine washable, and reversible, as well as being made right here in the USA.

PreppyPrincess.com

Toddle on over to visit ATS&P (aka Preppy 101) to enter her Giveaway!  And to see who won this from another favorite, Whale Flip Flops in NYC, just click here. (These are all too fun, we love doing this!)

And we’ll do something we generally avoid, mentioning tomorrow’s topic: pictures of the new Lilly Pulitzer Fall/Holiday 2009 Collection!

Enjoy the afternoon!

Chuck Bass & Don Draper – Need we Say More?

Hello-Hello, and happy day everyone!

We start with a nudge on a must-read story in the Times for fans of the styles seen in Mad Men and/or Gossip Girl.  Friday’s story looks at the costume designs for popular television shows, including interviews with Gossip Girl’s costume designer Eric Daman and Katherine Jane Bryant of Mad Men.

PHOTO: Giovanni Rufino/CW

Mr. Daman’s thought on sartorial selections for Ed Westwick’s character, Chuck Bass?

““He’ll walk around the Hamptons in a beautiful mint-green suit and a bow tie if he feels like it.””

Is there a better representation of Betty & Don Draper doing formal apparel?

We highly recommend the story and accompanying interactive photo piece. Below, some of the Mad Men cast backstage at the Golden Globes earlier this year.

PHOTO: Gavin Bond via INStyle.com

Mad Men aficionados may be intrigued by this story sharing the compromise reached in the ongoing hoo-haa over adding two minutes of commercial time to the hit show when it returns this August. (The 16th of August to be precise, but really, who’s counting?) A wise decision it seems, the two minutes are added but the content is not curtailed; the show will run into the 11pm hour a tad.

And in a final Mad Men note, the show’s style is invoked in this brief review of the new Liz Claiborne Men’s Line.

“The debut collection combines the slim cuts of the Mad Men era with classic preppy pieces–narrow polos and cardigans, bermuda shorts in madras, and two-button jackets.”

This is the first menswear line created under Isaac Mizrahi; it is created by a designer of whom we are fond, the gifted John Bartlett.

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We also have a few SOTTs (Signs of the Times) to share:

• Lots of speculation that Eddie Bauer may be filing for bankruptcy as early as this week; for more info, head for the story in USA Today. This one frustrates us no end, as this was once a great American company; now reduced to a B-school case study in what happens when a brand loses its way.
• Neiman Marcus will cut the hours it is open in some locations to trim expenses; the story in yesterday’s WWD explains that the changes in hours will vary by location. For example, the underperforming Galleria store in Houston will now open at 1pm on Sundays (instead of noon), while another location will close at 8pm Monday-Friday, instead of the more standard 9pm. Hours at premiere sites like Northpark in Dallas and the Beverly Hills store will remain the same. And as we’re speaking of Neimans, don’t forget their sale continues. The new promo code for complimentary shipping with any purchase amount is JUNNM.

In other Sales & Savings news, Lord & Taylor’s Friends and Family sale offers an “Extra 25% Off Almost Everything,” with “10% off Cosmetics and Fragrances.” Use the promo code FRIENDS at checkout.

Online Shoes is doing their Summer Sale:

And J. Crew has decided to throw in Complimentary Shipping with their Extra 20% off promotion.

Yes, they call it Free Shipping, but TP refuses to use that term; it isn’t really ‘free’ by our definition.  It is complimentary, or included, or no charge, but not free. (Ooooh, do we have a reappearance of Crankenstein Princess?!) The promo code remains the same, EXTRA20.

And to continue our tedious whine-athon, we’re curious to know if anyone else finds it almost laughable/borderline offensive when a retailer puts an item “on sale” by taking approximately 13% off the original selling price? The issue came to mind with the Crew Perfect-Fit Short-Sleeve tee:

J Crew

We don’t mean to unfairly pillory J. Crew, and we adore the tee, there are more than we care to think about a few here at the Palace.  Nor is J. Crew the only company pursuing what seems an insane practice, but 13% barely covers the sales tax in some locales these days. Can someone help us understand?

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Okay enough of our insanity, it’s time to perk up with a few Pretty in Pink items, our first from Polo Ralph Lauren, also holding a sizable Sale and Clearance event.

The Fairway Print stretch polo is now $69. While not for us, the shorts hold potential. (This could be attributed to our Logophobia, but it seems a high proportion of the womens items we surfed had the logos-on-steroids issue.)

The second is a discovery by our good friends over at the Pink and Green Scene:

The Company Store

The letters are just too cute, available at The Company Store.

Happy hunting, if that is your task today! Until next time, g’bye.