Should a Wellie have a Wedge?

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a warm and already sticky delightful Tuesday here at the Prepatorium.

Despite our personal denial of an approaching change of seasons, professionally we understand many readers are eager for cooler temps and fall fashions. Thus, today’s look at new goodies for autumn, although we begin with a question about footwear from Hunter, one of our favorite spots for foul-weather gear.  Are we hopelessly behind the times once again, not realizing the company is doing sandals? Below, the Amber Thong Sandal.

Hunter

We were also not aware Hunter is doing a midheel loafer (rather an oxymoron, IOHO), the Newberry.

Back to those things the company is best known for, boots. There is a new Wedge-heel boot, the Interlaken, as well as a less pronounced wedge, the shorter Andora. How do you feel about wedges for the wellies?

If more of a mind to do something Pretty in Pink, the Women’s Original Tall boot may be the answer; if needing something for your tiny prep, there is always the Kids Original.  

Also Pretty in Pink, this Girl’s Cardigan by Juicy Couture at Saks, on the right, a trendier take is seen in the KC Parker Girl’s Argyle Cardigan, also at Saks.

For the young MOP (Master of your Palace), the Little Marc Jacobs Sweater offers an updated twist to the classic pattern, while the Burberry Vest is done in the more traditional design.

If your MOTH (Man Of The House) enjoys this motif, the cashmere Argyle Sweater at Polo Ralph Lauren is nicely understated, while Brooks Brothers has a Camel Hair Argyle pullover for Men.

Brooks Brothers also offers a divinely discounted men’s Argyle V-neck in that pink and navy combination we’re so fond of, we are half-tempted to purchase the smallest size available and roll up the sleeves!

Brooks Brothers

One of the more lighthearted argyle items we stumbled upon, the Argyle Heart Knee Socks at the Children’s Place, available in three bright and bouncy colorways.

The fun socks aren’t only for the younger set, grownup girls can enjoy them as well; these three pair are all found at the Gap.

Polo Ralph Lauren also has Argyle Leggings in a subdued navy and green design, sadly the logo looks like it is on HGH (horse growth hormones), while the pink and green Knee Socks add a spark of whimsy to one’s outfit.

Moving away from argyle while keeping our gaze on fall fashions, we look at several new offerings from another Princess fave, Sperry. The Angelfish is offered in graphite nubuck and patent.  (We have yet to reconcile using the words ‘Sperry’ or ‘Topsiders’ adjacent to patent leather, it isn’t a look we’re crazy about.)

Sperry Top-sider

This is a style we have always adored, the Heron Rubber Slip-on, available in a variety of colors.

New for men from Sperry’s collaboration with Band of Outsiders, the Reconstructed Penny Loafer (L). No one will be surprised to see we are especially taken with the Authentic Original 3-Eye, also from Band of Outsiders for men.

But then we saw this. On the Sperry site.

Sperry Top-sider Sienna Low Boot

The only word we can come up with to describe the boot is hideosity.  Recognizing (and respecting) Sperry’s heritage is wrapped in the company’s stylized rivets, we just don’t see them used at the top of a wedge ankle boot.

To calm ourselves we returned to a more recognizable design, the Toddler Boy’s Castaway.

Sperry Top-sider Castaway

A look at the Girl’s Bahama helped restore us to sanity.

Sperry Top-sider Bahama

All is right in the world.

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We leave you with an update on True Prep at The Princess, we are now officially taking pre-orders for the book.

We also took a plunge, adding cult classic Take Ivy to our offerings! This re-printing of the very-hard-to-find-original is being released August 31, just one week before True Prep.  From Take Ivy’s publisher:

“Madras plaid, Top-Siders, seersucker shorts, highwater trousers, tweed jackets, Brooks Brothers, J. Press, J. Crew. What comes to mind? Described by The New York Times as, “a treasure of fashion insiders,”Take Ivy was originally published in Japan in 1965, setting off an explosion of American-influenced “Ivy Style” fashion among students in the trendy Ginza shopping district of Tokyo.”

We leave you with three more additions to the store: on the left, the Lilly Pulitzer 2011 Wall Calendar, and on the right, Lilly’s Desktop Calendar for use with an easel, or without.

Also added recently to our collection of Personalized House Flags, military service designs!

And with that bit of shameless self-promotion, we say g’bye until next time!

Not Your Granny’s Talbots & Lilly in Lavender… ?

Hello-Hello and welcome to a very green (and pink, natch) St. Patrick’s Day here at the Prepatorium!

It’s another busy day, we start with something that is not green, but lavender.  Actually, it’s chatter about a myriad of colors in this AP story on flowers as inspiration for fashion designers. We hear from several of our favorite brands in the story, including Lilly design director Janie Schoenborn. And while many of us think of these colors when hearing the words ‘Lilly Pulitzer’…

… the color discussed in the story is lavender, or orchid.

“Coming from a long line of gardeners – her father has a degree in landscape design, mom has a traditional English garden and Aunt Molly’s specialty is tropicals – Schoenborn is trying to keep up the tradition with lilacs and syringas.

So far, she hasn’t done a lilac print for Lilly Pulitzer, but a shade of lavender was just added to the label’s palette so it probably won’t be long until she tries one.”

Here is the Shere Wrap in lavender.

Lilly Pulitzer

While the color may not exactly pop in this photo, we’re guessing any upcoming lilac prints will be more than pretty. But then, we have always liked this color.  The story explains that spring is a “floral bonanza” at Lilly, no surprise for most readers. What might we expect to see in the future?

“We don’t always do an exact replica of a flower. Right now we have an abstract orchid. There’s a Queen Anne’s lace that we hadn’t done but will have for summer. … We don’t discriminate against any flowers, but we like ‘pretty’ so no cactuses, but we’ll even do lemon and lime blossoms.”

We are fond of the Jungle Orchid print, to name only one Lilly pattern with a touch of lavender.

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The story also offers the floral perspective of Michael Smaldone, creative director at Talbots‘:

“”I’m a pink guy, but my favourite flower is an orange poppy,” says Smaldone. “I love how they’re both wild – with ugly leaves and hairy stems – and have a beautiful delicate flower.”

Below we see the Floral Bouquet Pencil Skirt (L) and the Peonies Print Skirt.

More about Mr. Smaldone’s designs at Talbots:

“He turned to a brush-stroke floral print for Talbots’ spring line, though, because he thought that approach was very optimistic – something the fashion world needs right now.

Two more florals from Talbots, the Linen Sundress in Cherry Blossom (L) and a Silk Dress (R) with a flower we cannot identify.

We expect the feature story will land in many local newspaper style and magazine sections within the next week, but if eager to read it now, we found it on the Winnipeg Free Press site.

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As we are speaking of Talbots, we thought a quick glance at the retailer’s fall line might be intriguing, albeit in an abstract way.

Kyle Ericksen/WWD

Mr. Smaldone’s perspective is also cited in this WWD story on the company:

““The brand lost its relevance,” said Smaldone…”

We are guessing many readers concur with that sentiment. But we admit being taken aback to see the store described as “your grandmother’s Talbots,” by the company’s chief marketing officer, Lori Wagner.  (We were merely off by a generation, presuming the retailer was thinking more along the “not your mother’s Talbots” line.) Below we show more pieces from the fall collection.

Kyle Ericksen/WWD

Described as ‘country club chic’, the collection is also said to be more on trend without being offensive:

“… as much as Talbots wants to take a more stylish stance, it does not want to alienate its loyal customer base, which Wagner describes as fortysomething women who are partial to American sportswear.”

This is one of those times when one hopes for the best while remaining somewhat skeptical, a result of the company’s not-so-distant forays into bizarre styles and shoddy quality. We have been more than pleased with recent purchases and are happy to see Talbots charting a healthier course.

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Also today, good news for those fond of Sperry Top-sider and needlepoint accessory firm Tucker Blair.  Those two companies are collaborating on special-edition products to help promote Sperry’s new retail stores. From today’s story in WWD:

Tucker Blair will produce special-edition needlepoint belts for Sperry’s seven stores that are rolling out this year, including logo and Jolly Roger patterns.

A very savvy marketing move IOHO.  (Is it just us, or do we need to make a ‘collaborations’ category for all of these goings-on?)

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We close with a tease for tomorrow’s post, simply saying it involves our biggest giveaway ever (multiple winners, oh my!) with goodies like this…

PreppyPrincess.com

And this:

PreppyPrincess.com

Oh yes indeedy, this one will be fun.

On that happy note, we leave you with a picture of our girl out and about in the Princessmobile last week, enjoying the notion of spring and days spent lounging in the sun.

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

Sperry + J. Crew = Topsiders (Top-Siders)

Hello and Happy New Week!

We have spent most of the day driving halfway across the state and back, so we shall do some quick headlines, starting with an update on one of the Royals we enjoy watching, England’s Princess Eugenie. It seems she has been a little rambunctious.

In fact, one recent headline reads:

Watch out Harry! Princess Eugenie’s about to steal your hellraising crown

PHOTO: Focus Pictures

It seems the Princess (one of Sarah Ferguson’s daughters) paid a visit to what we shall call a ‘Gentlemen’s Club’ recently; the Daily Mail is just one of many papers reporting the antics in this story:

“…rocking down to the (misleadingly named) SophistiCats Gentlemen’s Club, a strip-dancing joint where men pay £20 for a girl to twist suggestively in front of them, as Eugenie did last week….

“It was 4am — an hour before the bar closes — when Eugenie and her friends turned up…. when Eugenie and her friends turned up and started tucking into a £165 bottle of Bollinger.”

“She then bustled over to the podium where girls in G-strings were working the poles and asked if she could have a go.”

Not surprisingly, there was no comment forthcoming from either Scotland Yard or the Duchess of York.  In the ‘Good News for the Princess’ category, the young lady did pass her driving test last week. Back to the ‘Bad News’ side of things: we are declaring a “When Pink Goes Bad” alert on the pink eyelashes the Princess is sporting in the photo above.  (We’re betting that Europa Fox has the inside scoop on this story.)

BTW, the always fun Shoe Blog shared the new Eugenie heels from Christian Louboutin.

Eugenie by Christian Louboutin

As we are speaking of footwear, Brooks Brothers is doing their Women’s Shoe Clearance, with styles now 75%  off the original selling price.

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Our next headline needs little explanation; it also typifies the “picture telling a thousand stories” axiom:

PHOTO: News of the World (UK)

Why do we have a sinking feeling this photo (which Mr. Phelps has verified as authentic) is already plastered on a batch of tee-shirts somewhere?

The superstar athlete has also issued an apology:

“I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”

The IOC and two of the swimmer’s sponsors have expressed their support for Mr. Phelps, including Omega, who said they consider the issue a private matter and a “non-issue.”  What do you think? Does Michael Phelps have to adhere to a stricter code than other twenty-somethings, or is this a private event that the media is blowing out of proportion?

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We jump back to the topic of shoes with our next tidbit.  For one fond of both Sperry and J. Crew, this should be a godsend: those two companies getting together to collaborate on the ultimate pair of Topsiders. There are two different styles: the Men’s Broken-in Original Suede Sperry Top-Siders® in Dark Wood…

and the Men’s Broken-In Khaki; both retail at $98.

All styles are lined in J. Crew’s cotton Chambray, and all have been given a broken-in look. There is also this Original nubuck chukka Sperry Top-Siders® in Espresso; this style is $125.

As described on Crew’s website:

“The original boat shoe is back and better than ever. We custom-colored each pair (in collaboration with Sperry, of course) and lined them in our famous cotton chambray—details you won’t find anywhere else.”

If you can just give us a moment here we shall dig out our photos of the Women’s version of the Top-siders.  Give us just a sec…ummm… hold on, we’re still looking…. uhhhh, well, we can’t find them. Why can’t we find them? Because they are not available in Women’s.  Oops. That’s why we said above the collaboration “should be a godsend.” Our thanks to Hypebeast for the original information on this one.

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Someone leaked a memo from the Bank of England to WWD and it’s fascinating, as it contains directives as to how female employees should dress for work.  From this story in WWD:

“Look professional, not fashionable; be careful with perfume; always wear a heel of some sort — maximum 2 inches; always wear some sort of makeup — even if it’s just lipstick.” Shoes and skirt must be the same color. No-no’s include ankle chains — “professional, but not the one you want to be associated with;” white high heels; overstuffed handbags; an overload of rings, and double-pierced ears.”

And we thought our wardrobe tilted a bit toward the stodgy!

Until next time!

Westchester WASPs Declining? Also, Classic Preppy Style and Argyle Update

Monday’s Journal News has a fascinating story “Westchester WASPs on decline, still prized,” one that is being printed out and hand carried to a few relatives who will find it more than intriguing. The publication covers the lower Hudson Valley, essentially Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.

The story starts out this way:

“Fifty years ago, it was easy to tell who was on top.

The men wore suits from Brooks Brothers or J. Press, the women white gloves and pearls, and places like Westchester County were their natural habitat.”

It goes on…

“… it seems now more than ever the WASP has left its central position on the historical stage, even in places like Westchester and Putnam counties.

It may be time to send in a final thank-you note for all the memories.”

The story quotes author Susan Cheever at length; here is a brief excerpt:

“Preppy style is one of the few things this country has managed to export in fashion. You could argue that style is an echo of WASP elitism, and it’s huge in Japan and Europe,” said Cheever, 65. “The clothing also connotes a certain kind of ethic, the old preppy ethic. But it’s interesting to see what gets passed along with the clothing, and what doesn’t.”

Speaking of J. Press, they do have an inordinate amount of marked down merchandise available, like the Blackwatch button down, as well as the Madras shirt.

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And now we have an argyle update, as we follow up on the sweaters posted a few weeks back.  We stumbled across this Fred Perry Short Sleeve Argyle Sweater at Nordstrom whilst grazing the online pastures in search of a few holiday treasures to buy and hide away for TPC (The Princess Consort).

Unfortunately this one felt a little…well, a little “nerdy,” if that is the appropriate term we hear the younger generation use today? We also stumbled across these Perlina pumps (lower left) in a chocolate and pink combination at Zappos.  Lower rght, the Juicy Couture Margot slipper, which didn’t make us ga-ga either.

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Below, the Volcom Prepster argyle sweater for Men.

Volcom

It isn’t working for us, but then, Volcom isn’t exactly created with folks like TP in mind. It is more of a surfing, skateboarding brand, and while many of you no doubt envision The Princess barreling down the drive on a skateboard, that isn’t our M.O.  At any rate, what we really wanted to share was this, from the always-fabulous Rich over at Down the Line Tennis:

PHOTO: Down the Line

On the left we see the USA’s own Andy Roddick, and on the right in the photo Russian ace Nikolay Davydenko. Age 27. No, it isn’t his grandfather or even his father. Amazing what a little argyle can do for a guy. BTW, while visiting Rich, look for the feature on Rafael Nadal as fashion plate while receiving a major award Friday.

PHOTO: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Next, a story from the Times you might enjoy, a piece on classic clothing entitled, The Fashion Report of 1920. Written by Guy Trebay, who frequently covers fashion and style for the paper, it really is a gem.  Kim France, editor of Lucky magazine is quoted:

“There are all these great standbys that don’t really have anything to do with the lifestyle we lead here in New York and are totally underappreciated,” she added, referring to things like Red Wing engineer boots, Aran sweaters, Barbour jackets, Sperry Top-Siders, Woolrich jackets, Alden cordovan loafers and Pendleton shirts.”

PHOTO: Greg Scaffidi for the NY TImes

The photo above features a flannel-lined wool shirt by Woolrich, white Hanes T-shirt, Carhartt pants and Hunter Wellington boots.  The column continues:

“Versions of this stuff are popping up everywhere from Ralph Lauren to Rag & Bone to the neo-traditionalist collections Alex Carleton designs under the Rogues Gallery label, Mr. Fielden said. Anonymous, eminently functional and reasonably priced, the clothes seem perfectly attuned to times like these. That they are cool besides seems to derive not from any sartorial irony or nostalgia for the manual labor fast vanishing from the American landscape or even from a conservative cultural atmosphere. It is more simple than that. They do the job.”

PHOTO: Issac Turner

Above, a photo of the Rogues Gallery store in Portland. Maine. You may read more about this wonderful establishment here.

And finally, for today’s Pretty in Pink photo, we share the darling Pretty Pink Princess Sky King Trike at Vivre. Created by Airflow Collectibles, it is too cute. Perhaps the only thing cuter from Airflow is the Princess Pedal Car, complete with chrome accents and a running board!

Happy almost-here Monday!