Secret Sales at Luxury Retailers & Are Those Gossip Girls Underdressed?

Hello-Hello and welcome to a Wednesday!

We start today with a look at a new phenomenon in online shopping, courtesy of several upscale retailers: the limited-time sale. It generally starts with an email like this:

Courtesy Neiman Marcus

The image above is from a Neimans email we received Monday; it is for the ‘midday dash’ at Neiman Marcus, a two-hour online-only sale.  At the appointed time this is what a savvy shopper will see at the Needless Markup Neiman Marcus site; the merchandise changes with each sale.

As described in a July story in the Times:

“Customers learn about the sale mere hours before it begins. This week’s “dash” featured a $697 Burberry handbag, marked down from $1,395. A Carmen Marc Valvo chiffon gown was $575, down from $1,150. And Cole Haan flats were $82, down from $165.”

By no means is Neimans the only luxury retailer trying new ways to prompt consumers to open (re-open?) those pocketbooks.  The following screen grab shows what one sees today after the most recent Saks ‘Fashion Fix’ sale ended.

Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue

The Fashion Fix email explained “Today, the rush begins. Get Yours. Online Only.” and promoted 50% savings on top brands at Saks like Herve Leger, Alice and Olivia, Chloè, and more.

However, not all ‘secret sales’ are online only, as the Times story details:

“… the benefits of secret sales — whispered discounts and discreet price negotiations between customers and sales staff in the aisles of upscale chains. A time-worn strategy typically reserved for a store’s best customers, it has become more democratized as the recession drags on and retailers struggle to turn browsers into buyers.”

Nor do the higher-end stores want to tell everyone in the world about their discounted goods.

“The conventional wisdom is that the more consumers who know about a sale, the better for business. But that rule does not necessarily hold in luxury retailing.”

The Journal has also written about the relatively new practice; from their October story on Saks testing this method of selling:

“The realm of online “private sales” so far has been dominated by a small number of retail startups that specialize in the brief sales of discount designer apparel. Their Web sites, including Gilt.com, RueLaLa.com and HauteLook.com, have built a following with virally marketed, daily “members only” sales.”

Below, a recent Rue La La screen shows listings for that day’s ’boutiques’.

AOL’s Daily Finance has more on how the designers’ perceive these sales:

“The sites are popular with designers, who’d rather have their goods sold there than hung in clearance racks at department stores. Designers know their brands are their currency and they are very wary about cheapening them; it’s a constant point of friction between designers and department stores. That’s why you’ll never find Hermès sold off-price.”

Back to Stephanie Rosenbloom’s story in the Times, with more on the psychology behind selling this way:

“Such discreet sales preserve a brand’s veneer of exclusivity and help create a sense of urgency by limiting the time customers have to score a deal. Additionally, secret sales enable stores to discount their merchandise deeply without angering regular customers who may have bought at full price.”

In many respects this doesn’t seem all that different from what many retailers have been doing online for some time, providing early notice to its better customers of special discounts, sale and promotional events. One issue that may be a concern is overexposure; below, another email received here at the Prepatorium from Neimans, this one touting the Last Call sale currently underway.

Courtesy Neiman Marcus

Some customers may start to feel inundated with ‘special sale’ notifications and promotions.  It’s no secret that we find J. Crew a repeat offender in this category, with the volume of email creating a perception that everything is always ‘on sale’, and if not currently ‘on sale’, it will be ‘on sale’ again very soon.

On the other hand, here at the Princess we have been told we should email customers on our mailing lists more frequently. We only send our newsletters to those requesting them, generally every four to five weeks.  We take your email address and privacy very seriously, and while desirous of offering special savings and sharing new merchandise with you, we want those occasions to remain ‘special’. (If not a subscriber and interested in receiving either our Preppy Planet or Lilly Pulitzer newsletters, just click here for our  home page, and look at the lower right-hand side of the page to sign up.)

BTW, if anyone needs invites to the ‘members only’ sites like those listed above, just email us (thepreppyplanet@gmail dot com) and we’ll get one on its way to you.

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Also on the hit parade today, a follow-up to yesterday’s post showing a rather scantily clad Blake Lively attending the premiere of her new film. It is not unusual for Ms. Lively to be out and about in such apparel (or lack thereof), while Gossip Girl co-star Leighton Meester is generally deemed to be more conservatively clad.  Ummm… perhaps not so much any more.

PHOTO: Splash News

Ms. Meester is seen at last night’s American Eagle store opening party, where she performed several songs from her new album.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

Whiles these images may look fairly provocative, the actress’s photos in the December issue of GQ are far racier. The one we show below is the only image not carrying the dreaded NSFW caution.

GQ

We really were amazed at the other pictures.

Speaking of G2, there is word today that Michelle Trachtenberg is doing a jewelry line with Coach.  From the story in today’s WWD:

“Trachtenberg will apply her tough-girl meets sugary-sweet vibe to her first jewelry collection in collaboration with Coach under the accessories giant’s youthful and spirited Poppy line.”

The new line will launch next Spring.

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We close with a special Pretty in Pink, French department store Printemps is all aglow for the holidays.

We loved shopping at this retailer when they entered the US market many years back (ultimately an unsuccessful endeavor), but we have not visited any located on the far side of the pond for years.

On that, may everyone enjoy an evening that is light, bright and filled with fun!

Saks’ Sale on Christmas, Fierce Footwear & A New Anti-Prep

Hello-Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today we begin with a topic of a serious nature (ahem) impacting almost everyone (not exactly) in the free world: Hello Kitty.

Please allow us to be among the first to proclaim our fondness for said Kitty. While not found on anyone’s list of Top Preppish Accessories, we still find her to be cute and cuddly, perhaps even a little cheeky. Our appreciation of Ms. Kitty comes as no surprise to readers who have suffered through occasional posts containing KRC (Kitty Related Content).  Perhaps the best that can be said about this practice is that we have been consistently inconsistent, writing about the Hello Kitty MAC collection here, sharing products from the upcoming 35th Anniversary Collection here….

…or talking about miscellaneous Kitty merchandise here.

We have even included some Kitty products in our Pretty in Pink category.

We haven’t always understood everything Kitty, like the Large Diamond Pendant necklace at Needless Neiman Marcus… or the Coffee Maker… or the Toaster.

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However, we have always been able to comprehend their creation and merchandising.

Until now.

PHOTO: Markus Klinko - Indrani

This creature is known as Lady Gaga, and the next image may fall under the NSFW umbrella (Not Safe For Work viewing), something we diligently try to avoid here at Princess HQ.

PHOTO: Markus Klinko - Indrani

The Daily Mail initially got their little journalistic paws on the photos, and their story explains their ultimate purpose:

“The images – by celebrated photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani  – will be featured on the cover of  the special, limited-edition reissue of GaGa’s hit album, The Fame.

The 23-year-old New Yorker… is reportedly giving away a lock of her hair with every sale of the box-set.

According to her website, it will also include a pair of 3D glasses to view ‘forthcoming Gaga visuals’ and the definitive ‘book of Gaga’.”

Not only is this a Help Us Understand, it is most assuredly an addition to the Anti-Prep Wall of Shame, don’t you think?  If anyone is capable of passing along some information or perspective on Miss Gaga, we would be most appreciative for your gentle guidance and educational assistance.

NOTE: We have been advised by our house guest that she enjoys Miss Gaga’s musical offerings.

Evidently the performer will be guest starring on Gossip Girl next week.

PHOTO: Giovanni Rufino/the CW

In the photo above she is seen with G2 stars Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley.

There you have it.

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Those in search of fierce footwear will be pleased to learn that some of Christian Siriano’s line is already online at Payless Shoes.

The new handbags in his Holiday collection are not yet online, but the six shoe styles are available. Below, the Micola Zipper flay on the left; the Slither Boot is on the right.

Styles unlikely to be seen here at the Prepatorium, but certainly appealing for those more hip than TP (a group including most of America’s female population).

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We have several quick Sales and Savings opportunities to pass along, beginning with the Vera Bradley sale at ‘members-only’ shopping site Rue LaLa.

If in need of an invite, just email us: thepreppyplanet@gmail.com.

Don’t forget the Polo Ralph Lauren Private Sale begins today as well; use promo code NOV0509 to receive an additional 15% discount on reduced merchandise.

The Nordstrom semi-annual sale for women and children has commenced.

Also underway, Saks’ Online Only sale.

There is a significant amount of this year’s holiday merchandise in the sale, including Christopher Radko’s 2009 Saks ornament (originally $55, now $38.50), and the I’ll Take Manhattan ornament (originally $45, now $31.50).

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Also available, an ornament Silly Tilly would love.

Sales and Savings of a Preptastic Kind

Hello-Hello, we have a weekend edition today because of all the Sales and Savings opportunities we feel compelled to share!

The Land of Nod almost never disappoints, and their Summer Sale offers quite a bit of merchandise, like the Everything’s Coming Up Roses bedding.

The offerings at Barneys continue apace with their Clearance Sale. (That still sounds so odd, saying ‘Barneys’ and Clearance Sale’ in the same breath, let alone the same sentence.)

If in need of cosmetics, all of the Vincent Longo appears to be discounted by at least 50%.

Kate Spade is taking an additional 25% off all sale items.

That means the hibiscus island baby stevie will be approximately $160; it was originally priced at $425.

Seen in the pink and poppy colorway, the bag evidently has 14-karat gold plated hardware. Honestly. We were about to say this might serve us very well for today’s Pretty in Pink.  Scratch that. (The sound you just heard? TP’s mind slamming shut.)

The sale at Kate Spade runs through the 14th.

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The Designer Sale at Saks ends this Sunday night, the 12th.

There is a substantial amount of merchandise now discounted at the upscale retailer. Frankly, some of it deserves to be on sale. For your perusal, Exhibit A:

Burberry at Saks

The Transparent Burberry Rain Slicker was originally $695. It is now being sold for $417. There seems to be a sufficient supply of these on hand from what we can ascertain. Indeed.

The Lilly Pulitzer Shandy Top initially selling at $198, the top is now $118.

As much as we love this particular Lilly print, the ruffles make the top a little frou-frou for us, but it will be darling on most readers, we just know that for a fact.

Also at Saks, the Ralph Lauren Infant Patchwork Jumper in a madras we simply adore.

The jumper (shown with a sweet little blouse) is now $22.45, the original price was $65.

BTW, a good part of the Sale merchandise at the Polo Ralph Lauren online shop is also reduced an additional 25%  making a visit there worth the investment of time should one be in need of apparel, accessories, or home goods.  For example, the Large Equestrian Canvas Tote is now$299.

The original selling price was $695.

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Garnet Hill‘s sale runs through August 4th, so there is still a little time to look around.

The online and catalog retailer has Hanky Panky unmentionables on sale, including the Lace Bralette.

This item is selling for $29, it is usually $45.

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Many other retailers not shown here are offering substantial discounts. Brooks Brothers, is doing their Annual Sale, there is quite a bit of Black Fleece merchandise marked down. J. Crew and Tommy Hilfiger, and J. McLaughlin continue their sales as well.

We leave you another brand we are generally fond of, Lacoste, and their Carnaby Sneaker for Toddler, Little Kid & Big Kid on sale at Nordstrom.

This cutie is discounted in all sizes.  And don’t forget the Nordie’s Anniversay Sale beginning next week.

Enjoy!

Major Papers Talk Preppy Style

Hello-Hello and happy day to everyone!

We’ll jump right in today with a few things we never seem to fit in our daily posts, despite the fact we start out planning to include them every. single. day.  We are so slow in sharing them many readers are likely to have already seen them, yikes! Here they are in completely random order:

1) The Times had an outstanding story from David Colman a few weeks back in their Dress Codes series, “The All-American Back from Japan,” examining contemporary preppy style.  A sample from the article:

“There is madras everything, button-downs everywhere. Nantucket reds — washed-out pink pants — are the new khakis; Sperry Top-Siders are more common on roof decks than top decks; and the Polo pony and the Lacoste crocodile are now but two of the critters in a zoo of polo shirt insignia.”

The story is accompanied by a companion slide show, “Dress Codes: The Preppy Look” with excellent photos from Dean Isidro. Below, the gentleman wears Benjamin Bixby, Lacoste, Trovata, Brooks Brothers Black Fleece, Marc by Marc Jacobs.

PHOTO: Dean Isidro/NY Times

The article looks at the history of ‘preppy fashion’ in the US (or more appropriately, that particular moniker for the style) as well as what Mr. Colman refers to as “…the Japanese penchant for Americana…”.

Some of the brands cited in the story and slide show are definitely not “your Father’s preppy style,” although again, TP’s family never referred to it this way. If asked and forced to describe the look TQM probably would have merely said it was conservative or classic, perhaps being so bold as to inquire  “why do you ask?” as it wasn’t something one consciously thought of or needed to discuss. The only possible exception might be if one the children dared desire something out-of-the-norm, in the “no, no, that’s not something we wear” category. How did your family refer to their clothing style? Or did they?

We highly recommend the story and slide show, they are great fun and offer a slew of new brands, some of which you have seen showcased in this space, such as Band of Outsiders, and others we probably won’t be sporting.

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2) Also on the radar for quite some time, this story from the Times of London’s online site:

Preppy power

From twinsets and pearls to cashmere hoodies — new fashion tribes are taking their lead from the Sloanes

The story is another fun read, offering a slightly different perspective as it originates from the far side of the pond.

“Yet rapidly growing numbers of people are embracing the preppy look — whether it’s stripy boat-neck T-shirts, argyle sweaters, brogues or cotton pea coats. Look closely and you’ll see preppy is having a makeover right under our noses.”

The story breaks the preppy looks into five different styles, including Euro Preppy, Fashion Preppy and Power Preppy.  Prince Harry’s former flame, Chelsea Davy, is pictured as an example of Public School Preppy:

PHOTO: Antony Jones/UK Press/PA Photos

A reminder that in the UK ‘public schools’ are actually what we call private schools here in the States, for example, Miss Porter’s or Choate would be called ‘public schools’ in England.

The article also has scads more details with the writer’s ideas on what brands specific prep types would wear, their ‘best looks’ as well as “A Look Too Far,” our favorite sub-category.  Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton is classified as a Euro Preppy, although the story notes:

“To be fair, Kate is more neo-Sloane ranger, but, for obvious reasons, the Euro preppy holds her in high esteem.”

As to the paper’s suggestions of a Power Preppy, they include First Lady Michelle Obama in this group. Rather than bore you with more recitation of the article’s content we suggest one toddle on over and personally read the story, we highly recommend it. A visit to the fabulous Europa Fox is also likely to provide far better insight than anything we offer.

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True Chanel addicts with pin money (okay, investment quality pins) to spare will be pleased to learn of the 1980’s and early 90’s Chanel jewelry and accessories now being offered at high-end vintage retailer Resurrection.  Some pieces serve to remind us that the development of LogoPhobia is not merely in reaction to recent creations:

Courtesy Photo via WWD

If interested, the catalog of goodies can be downloaded by clicking here.

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TP is ever-so-excited to learn one of our favorite spots for retail therapy is undergoing a bit of a lift, so to speak.  Fashion Island in Newport Beach (CA) is going to have some work done, adding wonderful stores like Nordstrom to the roster of existing shops, including Neiman’s, Saks, and Bloomies.  Below, an artist’s sketch of the ‘new and improved’ Fashion Island.

Courtesy Photo via LA Times

The LA Times has the full story.

We leave you with some of the soon-to-be-out, or already available magazines one will spot at the local newsstand:

Courtesy Time Inc.

There are reports of at least two west coast memorial services, one on July 3rd, the other July 10th.

Courtesy People

There is also a report that the Jackson family has been denied permission to bury him at Neverland Ranch.

Courtesy Post-Newsweek

It is All About the Pink!

Good afternoon dollfaces…

We seem to be a tad scattered this sunny afternoon; the prospect of sun and 60 degrees arriving at the same time has our brain addled.

Because of said addled state, we shall proceed with a brief, yet thematically consistent post.  We know how vitally important thematic standards are to everyone, precisely the reason we are so consistently inconsistent. (Heh-heh.)

We begin with additions to previous posts about ongoing sales at many retailers trading in preppish wares.  Now Tommy Hilfiger isn’t really in this category, more on the bubble in our mind, but they do merit the occasional drive-by and are having quite the clearance sale:

In The Pink Zone we show the Fitted Oxford Stripe Shirt, marked down about 40%, from $68 to $39.99.

 

TommyHilfiger.com

Over at Lacoste there is also a broad selection of merchandise on sale. The Girls Cotton Drawstring Skirt was $65 and is now offered at $38.99, the Misses Cotton Knit Pea Coat is $163 from $235.

Next, we move to the treasures at Baekgaard, including the pink luggage Tags:

 

Courtesy Baekgaard Ltd.

Also on sale, Baekgaard’s Mini Card Case in scads of fabulous color combinations.

 

Courtesy Baekgaard Ltd.

We do adore this line, in large part because they do use lush, rich colors; we actually discussed carrying it here at the Princess.

For our final pink item selling at a reduced price, the Lilly Pulitzer Toddler’s Maddy Dress.

 

Lilly Ulitzer Maddy Dress at Saks.com

The dress originally retailed at $68; it is now $46.90. BTW, if planning a visit to Saks, remember it is Friends & Family Sale time, as discussed in this post.

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We move on to a question for everyone about this Brooks Brothers skirt. On the surface it would seem the Country Club Embroidered Wrap Skirt has everything a Princess would love.

 

Courtesy Brooks Brothers

The skirt has pink. It has seersucker. It has little embroidered thingies. It even has grosgrain ribbon, used as tipping. Unfortunately when looking at it our mind sees only one thing: the word FRUMP.  What do you think? In our mind each and every reader is a Princess (or Prince), and we need your input. Are we being too hard on B2? Do you like it? Would you wear it? Do tell, as our expiring mind is dying to know.

Also not on sale but priced so reasonably it had to be shared:

 

The Pink Whale Supply Bags just landed here at the Prepatorium and we are loving them because they are so versatile.  At 9 x 4 x 4 they are simply perfect for your little one’s school supplies, or toiletries when traveling, or even your cosmetics.  The cute factor is off the charts, they are certified PVC-free, and at $14 a great buy. (Psst…if you like the whales, there are also Toddler Backpacks, bigger kids Book Backpacks, as well as Duffle Bags.)

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Finally we share the snappiest item we have seen in a long, l-o-n-g time, perhaps the ultimate Pretty in Pink. This gem is a Digital Photo Frame Japanese design firm Greenhouse.  TDF.

Courtesy Greenhouse Design via Gizmine

The frame is also an alarm clock and calendar. The screen is 3.5″ and the frame can run about 2 hours on one battery charge, or one may use the AC adapter, included in the $100 price. But wait – there’s still more! (We always wanted to sound like an infomercial.)

Are you sitting down? This also plays back MP3 audio and mjpeg video files! How cool is that?!  The frame is available at Gizmine and does come in several other colors. In fact, this is so nifty we just have to go oput on a limb and declare it to be officially Prepalicious!

With this on our minds, we are racing off to the Gizmine site.  Have a fabulous evening!