Another Prep Fashion Faux Pas, Inaugural Updates, AntiPreps

First off, before you read one more word, scoot over here and leave a comment so you are entered in this week’s Great Giveaway, with preppy goodness anyone can win! Leaving a comment about anything you are thankful for = giveaway entry.

Quick headlines of the day, many of which may well be moldy oldies to many of you, but here we go anyway.

The Presidential daughters will be attending Sidwell Friends school; Malia at the Middle School in Northwest DC (the Upper School Building is also here), and Sasha at the Lower School campus that is actually located in Bethesda. Malia is in fifth grade and Sasha in second grade.

PHOTO: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

The Obamas selected the Quaker school where Chelsea Clinton and Al Gore III received their educations, deciding it was a better fit than Georgetown Day and Maret. For more background, our post here may be helpful.

Newsweek features the future First Lady in their Dec.1 issue, on newsstands today.

PRNewsFoto/NEWSWEEK

And we hear an entire book dedicated to the Michelle Obama style is quickly being put together; former Mademoiselle editor Mandi Norwood is writing the book. It is scheduled for publication sometime next spring by Avon Books.  Coming out even earlier, “Michelle Obama: Meet the First Lady“ is due December 9.

Harper Collins

Written by David Bergen Brophy, the publisher is Harper Collins.

Speculation continues on who will design Michelle Obama’s gown for the Inaugural Balls in January, but we have seen little devoted to basic inauguration day apparel for Michelle Obama and the girls….? Seeing some designs in that genre would be most enjoyable.

That now-famous Thakoon dress worn by Michelle Obama is now officially out of production, at least for the time being.

PHOTO: Mark Wilson/Getty

More sketches for Inaugural gowns are floating about from other designers, including this from Isabel Toledo, done at People magazine’s suggestion, for a story.

Isabel Toledo via People.com

Below, Mrs. Obama in the Isabel Toledo gown worn to a June fundraiser hosted by Anna Wintour (Vogue) and Calvin Klein. Many readers may be familiar with the divine illustrations Ms. Toledo’s husband, Ruben, has done for the Nordstrom catalogues.

PHOTO: AP

And Reem Acra also shared her creativity, again, per People magazine’s request.

Reem Acra via People.com

+++++++++++++++++++++++

We have another entry in the Gwyneth Paltrow Fashion Faux Pas category. While we do not want to appear as though we are unfairly focusing on Ms. Paltrow, her style statements of late are surprising in light of her über-preppy upbringing.

…

Above, the actress at the grand re-opening of the remodeled Fontainebleau this weekend. The famed hotel was also home to the Victoria’s Secret fashion show taping.

The always-interesting Styleist blog takes Ms.Paltrow to task for the Antonio Berardi dress she wore (below) to the Two Lovers film premiere in London.

PHOTO: Getty Images

The comments include these:

“We see London, we see France, we see Gwyneth Paltrow in Paris at the premiere of ‘Two Lovers’ wearing another weird dress. Plus we see underpants! And her bra!

Gwyneth frequently comes thisclose to fashion greatness. But then she takes a giant leap off the Cliff of “Odd and Awkward” into the ocean of “Looking at Her Makes Us Wince”. Doesn’t she have any friends? Or a mirror?”

The Victoria’s Secret goings-on alerted us to very frightening news: two Antipreps were in the same place.  At the same time.  Clearly someone neglected to put up the deflector shield.  Mon Dieu.

Exhibit A:

PHOTO: Hans Deryk/Reuters

In case anyone is fortunate enough to *not* recognize this individual, it is TV personality Kim Kardashian; here is our initial post affirming Ms. Kardashian attaining official AntiPrep status.

Next we have Paris Hilton, our very first Anti-prep, as explained here. It could almost be said Ms. Hilton prompted the necessity of an Anti-prep category.  BTW, for those keeping score at home, this is the second such occurrence of dual (dueling?) anti-preps appearing at the same location.

PHOTO: Hans Deryk/Reuters

We apologize for the multiple spellings on antiprep; we just can’t locate the word in our Webster’s and don’t know how to spell it so we can find it when we look things up in the blog.

Until next time!

The Princess is Obsessed….and She Has a Confession! Also, Prep Schools for the Obama Girls

It had to happen.  You just knew that sooner or later TP was going to locate something new, in pink, for scooting around town.  We confess we are simply ga-ga over this:

Courtesy Hermès

We present the Hermès Fortwo édition Toile car, unveiled last Thursday in front of the Grand Palais. This creation is in honor of the Smart Car’s 10th Anniversary, and it will cost just under $50,000.

Courtesy Hermès

It wouldn’t be for everyday of course, and only for certain locales, like Georgetown, or the Loop, perhaps Nob Hill. But not on the highway as almost anything else would turn us into Flat Stanley in an instant! Naturally TPC (The Princess Consort) will have to counsel the staff as a few may be concerned about job security if they aren’t driving TP; he is very good and will work with them to assuage their fears.

Courtesy Hermès

Those who regularly punish themselves by reading our mental meanderings know how we feel about luxury brand logos and may be concerned we are off the reservation here. Are you perhaps a new reader curious about our case of LogoPhobia? We shall attempt brevity: we loathe them. They are beyond nouveau gauche, with a very few exceptions, most have been mentioned in this space.  We consider them to be hideous in most circumstances and beyond offensive at their worst. (An egregious example follows; the D&G baby bottle is worse than most because in this instance the baby is doing the advertising.)

eLuxury.com

But back to the car; of course it comes in other colors, like Hermès’ signature orange. Each Smart car will showcase Hermès leather with covered steering wheels, including lime, navy, fuchsia and other colors. But if not in pink… what’s the point?

So be they on apparel (where to start, really?), on luggage (Louis Vuitton anyone?), on eyeglasses or sunglasses (hello Tiffany?), almost anywhere, they are hideous. However, when it comes to the Hermès logo on the Smart Car, it is our understanding it is going to be quite discreet, in Hermès’ original canvas toile there will be the “H.”  What do you think? BTW, our thanks to TrashBagAesthetics.com for their fab photos!

We now know a bit more about some of the prep schools Michelle Obama was looking into while in Washington the before the President-elect arrived in town for their visit with the Bushes at the White House.  One possibility is Georgetown Day; it is co-ed and teaches grades Kindergarten through High School. It was the first integrated school in the city, and also very progressive according to a story in today’s NY Post, with students and teachers on a first name basis. Below, a shot of the school yesterday following Mrs. Obama’s visit. Tuition here would be approximately $27,445 for grades 1-5.

PHOTO: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Other contenders include Sidwell, pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade is actually in the District proper. It is the Quaker school attended by Amy Carter and Chelsea Clinton; vice president- elect Joe Biden’s youngest son attends Sidwell now. According to Newsday’s story tuition at Sidwell runs $28,442 for pre-K through 4th grade and $29,442 for grades 5 to 12.

Now it is time for the afore mentioned “True Confessions.” Yesterday we had occasion to spend a good portion of our day in one of the PrincessMobiles, driving halfway across the state. And back again. Having neglected to remember to bring the iPod (a gift from the Princess Consort!) we decided to take our chances with the radio. The buttons are all preset in a plethora of combinations offering a multitude of musical genres. So we reached forward and hit  ‘On” and music filled the air.

Oh yes, this filled the air:

“Have yourself… a merry little Christmas….

Make the yuletide gay…”

And the confession? Yours truly did not immediately push another button, oh no. She sang along with Bing Crosby. And then The Carpenters (honestly) and then Aretha Franklin. And then we turned it off.

The Consort is most concerned.