A Busy Week for the Ralph Lauren Clan, An Unexpected Royal Wedding Dress Reaction

Hello-Hello, please forgive the lack of a post yesterday, things have been crazy-busy here at the Prepatorium.

We begin today with an update on someone we don’t follow in-depth, Dylan Lauren of Dylan’s Candy Bar notoriety.

Photo via Lifeguard Press

There is a significant amount of buzz surrounding the entrepreneur’s activities of late, not all of it limited to her popular candy stores. Some of it involves the launch of her new Stationery and Gifts line with our friends at Lifeguard Press.  Above she is seen at the official début of the new collection yesterday, wearing one of the Candy Bar Tiaras.

Ms. Lauren is also going to be featured on the cover of the May 23 Forbes.

Courtesy Forbes

From that story:

“When your dad is worth $5.8 billion, it’s not like you need to work for a living. But Dylan Lauren, 36, daughter of fashion mogul Ralph Lauren, devotes round-the-clock energy to her ten-year-old retail sweets business, Dylan’s Candy Bar.”

Some pieces from the new stationery collection are available now, like tableware for parties, pens, and sticker sets.

Dylan's Candy Bar at Lifeguard Press

Future additions to the line include agendas, scented iPhone cases and candles.

Ms. Lauren continues to work on expanding her original candy store business as she looks at other endeavors:

“The Manhattan flagship just got a liquor license and opened a redesigned upstairs space to serve candy-themed cocktails as well as pizza, cupcakes and ice cream. There’s talk of a children’s book and a TV show.

To see the entire Forbes story, click here.

In related news, expect to see Dylan, as well as the other Lauren kids on Oprah tomorrow, part of a show featuring Oprah’s interview with their father, Ralph Lauren.

Photos via Styleite.com

As portrayed in USA Today, the “queen of daytime is taking on the king of the runway.” (Cough-cough.)  Here is more from the paper’s story:

“As part of her élite eight — those last eight shows — Oprah Winfrey is sitting down Wednesday with the famously press-shy Ralph Lauren, who is giving his first TV interview in nearly 20 years, according to Harpo, and opening up his RRL Ranch outside Telluride, Colo., also a TV first.”

It is common knowledge within the industry Mr. Lauren is not at all fond of television interviews, tomorrow’s show is likely to do a huge number. (Translation: the show should have big ratings.)

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We bring you a quick look at a line we weren’t aware of until today, Regatta.

Regatta

The company’s runway show at Philippine Fashion Week caught our attention, the pieces are from the Holiday 2011 collection.

Via Regatta Facebook Page

Clearly derivative of sailing and beachside motifs, the line was intriguing.

Via Regatta Facebook Page

The downside is that we don’t see any locations where Regatta is sold in the US, so we can’t speak to the quality of the clothing. (A caveat if thinking about looking for the company’s wares online, this is not the same as the UK’s Regatta, a much older firm whose quality we can attest to.)

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A note for royal readers, expect to see author Andrew Morton simply everywhere as he hits the promotion circuit for his new book, “William & Catherine: Their Story“.

Borders.com

Mr. Morton is perhaps best known for his books on Princess Diana.

From his biography:

“He became an overnight sensation with the publication of his groundbreaking 1992 biography revealing the secret world of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.”

Although the book was published just three days after the wedding, the serious publicity only started yesterday, with appearances on morning shows, with lots more on the schedule.  The timing coincides with the launch of Mr. Morton’s new website, The Morton Report. To read excerpts from the new book, click here.

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We leave you with a “Help Me understand,” for your devoted correspondent is confused and we just know you can provide insight. Our question involves a surprising reaction to the Kate Middleton wedding gown, it seems a burgeoning number of fashion stories feature similar headlines, “________________ dresses like Kate Middleton at ______________” whatever event.  A case in point, Penelope Cruz and the Givenchy dress worn for the UK première of the latest Pirates film.

Photos: Courtesy Givenchy/Getty Images/AP

From The Daily Mail:

Very Kate Middleton! Penelope Cruz wears white lace to Pirates London premiere

“It had been said that Kate Middleton’s wedding dress would influence bridalwear for years to come.

But it seems her Alexander McQueen lace gown is influencing more than that, as Penelope Cruz showed when she arrived at the premiere of Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in London last night wearing a full-length white lace dress”

Really? Are we supposed to believe that Penelope Cruz and/or her stylist saw the Sarah Burton/Alexander McQueen wedding gown and said “Oh, I must have something like Kate Middleton’s dress to wear in two weeks for the UK opening”?! We think not. (Unfortunately this is not one of Ms. Cruz’s best looks, she is generally in something much more flattering.)

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Our final note (so we don’t leave you thinking we are a Crankenstein), some of our favorite new pillows, perfect for the sailor in your family.

Cottage Coastal Store

One would also make a splendid hostess gift for your next visit to a friend’s cottage. On that happy thought we say g’bye until next time!

Ultimate Fashion Gala, & A Sneak Peek at the Preppy Laptop

Hello-Hello, we hope the sun is shining as brightly in your corner of the globe as it is here!

We begin with an apology to those not fond of fashion-laden posts, we must beg your indulgence one more day, as we have yet to share the images from another big do. The Met Ball was Monday night, arguably the season’s most important event for seeing, and being seen, in serious formalwear. (The official name for the event: the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala.) The evening also officially kicked off the Museum’s special exhibit, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.

For decades the Gala has been overseen by Anna Wintour.

Via The Cut

The Vogue magazine editor was in an ensemble by Chanel Couture; some found it less than attractive, but we actually liked the look, and thought it was flattering on Ms. Wintour.

Two of the evening’s most elegant looks: Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad.

Kristin Somody Whalen/WWD

And Marion Cotillard in glittering Christian Dior.

Kristin Somody Whalen/WWD

They are both wearing what we refer to as “SPFs,” Serious Party Frock.  The editors at Refinery 29 came up with this group of “Best Dressed” ladies at the Gala.

Via Refinery 29

From the left, Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein, Kate Bosworth wears Valentino, Rosie Huntington (apparently a popular model) in Burberry and Emma Watson, also in Burberry.

The event is A List only; below we see Lauren Bush and David Lauren, on the right, Ricky and Ralph Lauren.

In an unusual twist, we thought the younger generation’s styles were superior to those seen on their elders; the blue jeans looked horribly inappropriate.  Below left we show Dylan Lauren, and on the right, Tommy Hilfiger and his wife, Dee Ocleppo.

Taylor Swift was in Ralph Lauren Collection, and Tory Burch in Tory Burch.

From the Gossip Girl contingent, Blake Lively wears Marchesa and Jessica Szohr in Versace.

Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley were also on hand.

The Cut had an intriguing tidbit in their post about the G2 stars and the event:

“… all the relationship drama has made the cast of Gossip Girl skittish around reporters, because Penn Badgley, Jessica Szohr, and Blake Lively each didn’t so much as turn their heads as they hustled up the stairs, surrounded by flacks, and went inside.

And how did Ms. Lively look for the after-party? Below left we see the more casual look she sported, and on the right, co-stars Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford at that function.

We were not crazy about Ivanka Trump’s Atelier Versace dress, nor did we think highly of the Chanel look seen on Kristen Stewart.

We also struggled with someone we generally adore seeing in a fab frock, Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks; this blue gown simply didn’t work.

The black and white gown on Malin Akerman was another miss IOHO.

One dress creating quite a stir (and also making it onto almost every ‘worst dressed’ list), Katy Perry’s LED light-up dress.

We absolutely adored WWD’s commentary on the gown:

“It was enough to provoke a seizure (or at least a headache), but Perry behaved as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Guess no one told her there’s a difference between dressing to stop traffic and dressing like a traffic stop.”

Note who leads off Refinery 29’s review of the “The Bad” styles:

Photo Collage via Refinery29.com

Also seen with Ms. Perry in the dubious distinction category above, Chloë Sevigny in Proenza Schouler, Tina Fey in a jumpsuit of unknown origin, and another Mad Men fave, January Jones.  Ms. Fey and Ms. Jones surprised, they usually appear far better put together. In a new category we are calling “Worst Gown by Volume,” model Coco Rocha and her Zac Posen.

WWD.com

As the Fug Girls wrote:

“…that reminds me of every Bed In A Bag on sale around the time I was going off to college.”

We don’t consider our reading on any fashion topic complete until we have seen what Cathy Horyn writes, we especially like this comment from her story:

“I thought Lauren Santo Domingo looked terrific in a sparkly, long-sleeved beige dress by Proenza Schouler. It suited her height and coloring and it’s nice to see long sleeves.”

Just in case anyone missed the most important part of the comment:

“… it’s nice to see long sleeves.”

Not that we’re obsessed proponents of bringing back sleeves for some styles. Not at all. (Heh-heh-heh.)

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We share good news and not-so-good news in today’s SOTT (Signs of the Times):

• Saks is closing their San Diego Fashion Valley store in July and the NorthPark (Dallas) Armani store is being closed the 16th of this month. (Muffy and Hopsy – oh no!)
• Saks is expanding their Off Fifth stores, adding outlets in Pittsburgh, Portland, Houston and the Raleigh/Greensboro area
• On an up note, Nordstrom opened their new store at Fashion Island (Orange County) a few weeks back

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And with apologies to our Facebook pals who may have seen this on one of our Fan pages, we close with a stellar Pretty in Pink that also qualifies as an Adventure in Argyle:

HP Courtesy Image

That is the soon-to-be-released Preppy Pink Mini from HP, a thing of beauty.  The Mini 210 is technically a netbook, not a laptop, and while we aren’t crazy about the pink keyboard, we are gaga for the overall design.

HP Courtesy Image

The HP Mini 210 in Preppy Pink (it will also come in “white crystal”) launches June 15 in the USA with a $355 price point.  Click here to register for availability notification from HP.

With that, g’bye until next time!

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ADD’L PHOTO CREDITS:

• Katy Perry Dress: Steve Eichner/WWD
• Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters