An Anti-Prep Bigger than the Royals? Prepalicious Sales & Savings, Friday Fun

Hello-Hello, and happy weekend to everyone.

Because of the holiday weekend we are brief, and primarily focused on lighter fare, Monday’s post is always solemn enough.

We begin with several tidbits of note:

• Sadly, this morning marked the end for Elaine’s, an Upper East Side mainstay for decades. Elaine Kaufman ran the restaurant for more than 40 years, until her death late last year. Even if you never actually went to Elaine’s, you may well have seen its interior, Woody Allen’s Manhattan was filmed at the legendary spot.
• There is an abundance of rumors that Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively is seeing the newly-single Leo DiCaprio. (Oh my!)

FAME photo via The Blemish

More from Fox News:

“DiCaprio also happens to be on the rebound. He just split with 25-year-old Israeli supermodel Bar Rafaeli, and they’re known to be on-and-off.”

• In our Monday post about the Chelsea Flower Show we forgot to include the Hunter boots done in Royal Horticultural Society prints, they really are darling.

Hunter/RHS

•  Our final tidbit involves one of the original Anti-Preps, Kim Kardashian. It is actually more of a “Help Me Understand,” as  we are genuinely befuddled, this CBS News headline explains the subject of our dismay.

Kim Kardashian will out-do the royal wedding, sister says

Seth Browarnik/startraksphoto.com via E! Online

Here is more from an E Online! story by Marc Malkin:

“It’s going to be royal wedding number two,” sister Khloé told me earlier today while promoting the new season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. “I could only imagine Kim having the hugest wedding.”

Little the varying family members have done is surprising, but in this instance we admit to being taken aback, and must ask those more knowledgeable about the cast of characters: really?? Really truly??

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We move on now to our weekend roundup of fiscally friendly Sales & Savings opportunities:

• Talbots is offering an additional 25% off already-reduced sale and clearance merchandise.
• Polo Ralph Lauren is promoting an extra 25% off “select already-reduced styles”
• At Polo Ralph Lauren outlet stores the offer includes savings of “25% on select styles” plus an additional 20% off  your entire purchase

PLR

• Be cognizant of what the promotional literature for the J. Crew Factory “sale” is offering, which is nothing other than the existing discounts. We aren’t saying there aren’t fiscally friendly prices, but prices are as marked, there is no additional discount being taken.

J. Crew

•  The semi-annual sale at Nordstrom is underway with reductions on women’s and children’s merchandise.

Nordstrom

• Lacoste outlet stores offer 25% off everything in the store.

Lacoste Outlet Stores

• Brooks Brothers Factory stores are offering 40% off your entire purchase
• Ann Taylor is promoting an extra 40% off already-reduced styles, use promo code EXTRA40 at checkout
• At Ann Taylor Loft the deal is even better, 50% off already-reduced merchandise entire purchase
• Saks, Neimans and Barneys all have varying discounts and sales meriting a look; at Bloomies it is the Big Brown Bag sale

Bloomingdale's

Happy Hunting.

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In the Friday Fun portion of our post, a few trinkets that caught our attention; first, the Barbie Dream House Ring.

Via nOir Jewelry

We first saw the ring mentioned at The Fashion Planner blog and just found it fascinating, so we popped over to Jewelry nOir,  where the ring is sold, for a closer look. While not something we would wear, for some reason the ring is intriguing.

Our other fun item is a favorite here at The Prepatorium, it’s Fleet Week in the city.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

That’s the USS New York passing in front of the Statue of Liberty on Wednesday, when events honoring our Marine and Navy corps kick off.  You’ll always find me partial to sailors, my father was a WWII USN officer.  Below, the USS Iwo Jima heads up the Hudson.

Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

God love our troops…

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

And everyone who supports them.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Here’s the USS New York (rear), which was built from steel recovered from the World Trade center attacks, as it goes past the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum.

Kathy Willens/AP Photo

May your weekend be safe and happy. If still thinking about a way to observe the holiday, here are some ideas from the National World War II Museum.

Target’s ‘Splendid’ New Line & Talbots Troubles

Happy gloomy, snowy day from here in the Great Midwest. We are actually grateful, as we have absolutely nothing to complain about on the weather front, so many friends are coping with just plain miserable conditions we refuse to participate in any sort of whineathon related to our weather.

We begin with a look at the new line from Targét, its Splendid Littles collection for its Baby Boutique.

Target

Many readers are likely already familiar with Splendid, known for its super-soft and posh-feeling fabrics.  Below, some of the new styles available at Target.

Target

Pieces in the collection start at $6.99 for a set of those darling striped bibs.

Target

The highest priced item is $29.99, that is for one of the three-piece newborn sleep sets shown above, definitely today’s Pretty in Pink.

The pieces are very cute, it looks as if Target has found another winner with the new line from Splendid.

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There’s not such stellar news from Talbots today, the company’s sales numbers didn’t meet projections, and its stock price hit a 52-week low. From a Reuters story:

“The debt-laden retailer, hit by slowing sales in the last few quarters, has been trying to woo younger women with trendier clothes, but its efforts have stalled.”

While witnessing promising signs from the retailer (even opening the Princess pocketbook for a few pieces), the most recent offering from the company left us cold.  The latest catalog, “52 Pick-me-ups” showcased scads of items with ruffles.

Above we show the Grace blazer and Ruffle Campshirt. Perhaps we’re just a couple of old fuddy-duddies here at The Prepatorium, but ruffles on the lapels of a jacket don’t work. And the ruffles are seemingly everywhere in the 52-Pick-Me-Ups group; below we show the Cotton Ruffle Skirt and the Ruffle Split-Neck Tee.

And there are also sequins. It’s possible Talbots’ audience is tiring of too much embellishing, too many sequins and far too many ruffles. The styles shown in the catalog may be indicative of a larger problem for the retailer: the inability to find a winning style formula and remain consistent with it.

On a more positive note, there are some pieces that appear to hold promise, including the Tipped Cardigan.

We do hope the company can find its way. One Sales & Savings note for those seeing things they like at Talbots, the Red Hanger sale is underway, with significant markdowns on much of the fall/winter merchandise.

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We leave you with images from last night’s game, with congratulations to our Auburn and SEC friends, along with condolences for Duck fans. (We did live in Oregon for more than four years, yet never adjusted to those Phil Knight/Nike uniforms.)

Regardless of the outcome, we always get chills at this sight.

Danny Moloshok/Reuters

G’bye until next time!

 

ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• REUTERS/Matt Sullivan
• REUTERS/Mike Blake

 

 

Royal Engagement Photos, Sales & Savings

Hello-Hello, it is wonderful to be back blogging again, this week has been simply insane with work at the Princess and volunteer commitments. We couldn’t be more grateful for the Consort’s ease in stepping up to share his wit and wisdom with all of you. 🙂

We begin with a look at the official engagement photos of Kate Middleton and Prince William, something most readers may well have seen already. There are two pictures, here is the more relaxed setting.

Mario Testino

The Prince is wearing a Turnbull & Asser shirt, and it turns out he actually borrowed the sweater he is wearing from photographer Mario Testino, as the pictures were being shot.  Nor is Miss Middleton’s blouse fresh off the rack, more about that in a moment.  But first, here is the more formal photograph.

Mario Testino/Courtesy Photo by Reiss via NYMag

On the right you see the dress worn by Miss Middleton, it is the “Nannette” style by Reiss, a company we hadn’t previously heard of until this week.  Here is more from the company’s blog:

“The Nannette dress that Kate is wearing comes as part of our core dress offering that we are renowned for. While this particular style is not currently available, there will be a version coming out mid January as part of our SS11 collection.”

Miss Middleton is wearing white topaz earrings by Links of London. If we’re not mistaken, it looks like she chose the Hope Egg Earrings.

Links of London

They make a lovely symbol, representing “hope and new life”.

Perhaps the most charming part of the engagement photo story comes via The Telegraph:

“Middleton insisted on dressing herself for the shoot – despite several assistants being on hand with a selection of designer clothes to style her – and chose a cream, silk blouse from high street chain Whistles for one of the portraits. The £95 blouse is over two years old, having featured in the retailer’s autumn/winter 2008 collection.”

The bride to be also did her own makeup.

When the big day comes next April most discussion will be about The Dress.  As they have done previously when it comes to high profile gowns, Women’s Wear Daily asked designers to come up with sketches showing what they might create if asked by the bride to design her gown.

First, a Gucci design that we found attractive.

Courtesy Photo via WWD

J. Crew’s design offers a scooped back.

Courtesy J. Crew via WWD

Next, a sketch from Elizabeth Emanuel, best known for designing Princess Diana’s frothy wedding gown.

Courtesy Elizabeth Emanuel via WWD

Below left we see a Badgley Mischka gown, and on the right, a Jason Wu design.

The Tommy Hilfiger design is seen below left, and the sketch, below right, Lela Rose.

There are loads more sketches to look at, click here to see them all.  We’re guessing our Royal Correspondent, the Queen Bee herself will have some insight on the dress at some point down the road.

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Another noteworthy engagement we learned about courtesy of Miss Coterie Books, that of Lauren Bush and David Lauren.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF

Above the couple is seen at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball last month.  Apparently Mr. Lauren proposed to Miss Bush last Friday at the Met, which happens to be where they went on their first date. Of course, Mr. Lauren is designer Ralph Lauren’s son, while Miss Bush is the niece of former President George Walker Bush, granddaughter of President George Bush.

Miss Bush is also known for her philanthropic work via the Project FEED bags, although now there are things other than bags sold to raise funds for those in need. Below left, Plumpy the FEED 5 Bear, and on the right, the FEED USA Lunch Tote.

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We leave you with several Sales & Savings opportunities, this isn’t intended to be a comprehensive look, merely markdowns at a few shops we are aware of; we start with J. Crew.  Generally the retailer’s online factory outlet is open only Friday-Sunday, but it will be open (in a virtual sense) through the 20th.

Additionally Crew is taking 30% off all Factory prices and off ‘regular’ sale merchandise, use promo code MUSTHAVE at checkout to receive the discount.

Tory Burch has started its winter sale, promising savings “up to 50%’.

Neiman Marcus is taking an additional 30% off all regular and sale-priced cashmere through the 18th.

Talbots has taken markdowns on a sizable amount of fall/winter merchandise, and is also doing 40% off all full-priced accessories through midnight tonight.  Use promo code PRESENT to receive the discount.

A number of Lilly stores are offering excellent deals right now, check with your local shop to see what kind of fiscally friendly price points are available.

A final item of note today, the always delightful Preppy Southern Princess is doing a fun little contest; one lucky winner will receive one of our Lilly Pulitzer photo albums.

With that, we say g’bye until next time, we are off to supervise The Consort the elves here at The Prepatorium as they get all of those orders out the door.

 

About Those True Prep Reviews, Savings of the Preppish Sort

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a Wednesday.

Today we have our promised follow-up to yesterday’s post.  That piece focused on our recent interview with True Prep author Lisa Birnbach, and we promised to look at reviews for the book. The Palm Beach Daily News speaks highly of the book:

“Like its predecessor, True Prep sardonically skewers the social customs of the blue blooded and Blue Booked — and, in keeping up with the times, is a far more egalitarian sort of social X-ray.

Preppiness is not for everyone, and that is the gift. It is a club that requires a certain comfort in its singularity — and that, book or no, is what continues to give Birnbach plenty to celebrate in her own effervescent way.”

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At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Crimson’s story is fairly negative:

“For the most part, the book—a series of short little features on subjects as diverse as trunk shows, second weddings, and different types of loafers—is an entertaining encapsulation of one of the most recognizable (and ridiculous) styles under the sun, and the author certainly maintains a healthy sense of humor throughout. But underneath the humor and behind the fun, the book has an odd dimension that suggests some things that are somewhat less whimsical.”

“Birnbach Defines and Undermines the World of ‘True Prep’” was written by a junior at the Harvard daily paper, James K. McAuley; it is unlikely he is fond of “preppies” real, or literary:

“Naturally, there is never an explanation of why prep culture is something worth glorifying or even a subject worthy of two whole books.”

“It just so happens that almost anyone can assimilate into our world of prepdom,” Birnbach says with regard to the subject of preppy Muslims. But, after 234 pages, one has to wonder: why would anyone want to?”

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Spencer Baily at the Book Beast is essentially positive in his look at the new book.

“Birnbach and Kidd’s book proves that there’s a lot about preppies that you probably never knew, nor did I, despite my own preppy background—boarding school, a good beat-up pair of Sperry top-siders, and, well, did you notice my name? To the contrary, I discovered a culture far more widespread—and diverse—than I ever imagined. In the 21st century, prepsterdom is pervasive.”

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Many articles have used a question and answer format, including Allan Peppard’s story in the Dallas Morning News:

“What has the digital age done to the foundation of preppydom?

Rocked it to its core. One thing that defines a preppy is our very primal need for privacy and the digital age has disemboweled that. Privacy is fundamental. Having money was never the goal of life. The goal of life was having fun, having friends and outsmarting the hangover.”

Mr. Peppard notes the challenges of following up on a classic:

“Duplicating a cultural phenomenon is Sisyphean work, but Birnbach is on her way back up the hill…”

Elizabeth Wellington’s story in the Philadelphia Inquirer offers a positive critique in addition to her interview with Ms. Birnbach:

“Certainly 30 years has not been enough time to break through the members-only barriers of some preppy pastimes (still sacred are private school, a second home on the beach, even the three-martini happy hour), but the door to prep fashion is now open to the masses. What once were elitist department store-only brands – Lacoste, Coach, and Lilly Pulitzer – now have their own mall stores (not to mention their own Facebook and Twitter pages). And anyone can masquerade as a preppy, thanks to H&M and Wal-Mart, the modern-day go-to stores for polo-style shirts and khakis.

So much for exclusivity.”

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A substantial amount of verbiage is devoted to the way the prep world has changed since TOPH (The Official Preppy Handbook) was published 30 years ago. (Eek!)  Ms. Wellington posed a number of questions to the author, including one on a topic covered in many interviews:

“How has hip-hop influenced preppy, and how has preppy influenced hip-hop?

Hip-hop borrowed this aesthetic in a big way. They went big and bullish with preppy. It was preppy with a twist. . . What happened is it got to be too much. The logos were too big. Tommy Hilfiger had to ratchet it back a bit because he found it corrupted his mission.”

The hip-hop topic also comes up in the Dartmouth Independent story:

“There is a classic prep style associated with Dartmouth and other Ivy League colleges. I’ve noticed, however, that the hipster look has been trickling in lately. Some have joked that hipsters, rather than being true counter-culturalists, are actually ironic preps.

It’s funny―I’ve never heard him say it, but I have a son who I think is a hipster, or at least he thinks he’s a hipster.”

To see the rest of Ms. Birnbach’s answer to this question, just click here.

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Sarah Boslaugh writes in Playback St. Louis:

“True Prep is dutiful where The Official Preppy Handbook was cheeky and seems more interested in promoting the virtues of prep-dom than taking a satirical look at its foibles.”

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A Continuous Lean

The über-cool Michael Williams at A Continuous Lean was pleasantly surprised by the book:

“When I first learned of the new book I instinctively cringed. Not to be pessimistic, but I just couldn’t see how anything could be as good as the original.

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Though there are a few style related things in the book that I cannot endorse (which will go unnamed here), I have to say that after reading it with the mindset that the book is not meant to be a “part II,” (it is designed to complement the original) I really liked it. I also must admit that I was wrong about Lisa and True Prep. It is a worthy read and money well spent.

Clearly it is a mixed bag among the professional writers, just as it is with the preppy blog world.

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Many retailers are not having the much-improved 4th quarter sales they hoped for, and that means prices are dropping, promotional efforts are underway and discounts abound. We leave you with a sampling of several Sales & Savings Opportunities.

• Neiman Marcus is doing First Call.

Neiman Marcus

• And Neiman’s Last Call is taking 30% a broad range of products.

• Saks has its ‘Sneak Peek’ sale underway. (Perhaps we’re just thick, it looks very much like a regular sale to us.)

Saks Fifth Avenus

• Ever-more-promotional J. Crew is touting its Holiday Sale. (We’re unsure what holiday is being celebrated.)

J. Crew

• And Talbots is offering an additional 25% off all sale items.

We sign off with a wish and the hope that our military veterans will receive special goodness tomorrow, and every day.

Fab Sales & Savings & Posh Pet Digs & A Preppy Cutting Board

Hello-Hello, welcome to a crazy Thursday here at Princess InterGalactic HQ!

With the holiday approaching there are loads of Sales and Savings opportunities; you know how concerned we about helping you conserve your pin money. We begin with the Brooks Brothers semi-annual sale and a Pretty in Pink, the Madras short at $52.80.  On the right is the Country Club Dress in a lightweight cotton knit that is über-comfy and at a lightweight price, just $59 (originally $98).

Talbots is running their Red Hanger promotion.

Talbots

The sale offers items like the Embroidered Cropped Pants at $63 (originally $79.50) or today’s Adventure in Argyle, the Cotton Blend Cardigan at $71 (originally $89).

Are these great bargains? Not exactly.  For consumers who have grown accustomed to deep discounting during These Difficult Times, the lack of lower price points may be off-putting. Today CNBC looked at summer sale promotions in a story titled “Smart Spending: Are semiannual sales worth it?”

“More than ever, retailers are running sales every two weeks,” said Dan de Grandpre, editor-in-chief of dealnews.com. “The semiannual sale for a lot of people is just noise.”

Second, the discounts are smaller. Try 30 percent to 50 percent, compared with the 75 percent price cuts that were common until about a year ago. And the racks are less full because retailers ordered less to begin with.”

Tory Burch is also offering discounts.

Tory Burch

The Walker Polo is now $66.50 (from $95) and the Kids’ Tory Tunic in pink is also $66.50.

Here is more fiscally-friendly advice from the CNBC story:

“….consider waiting. Retailers like Brooks Brothers, Timberland and Foot Locker still offer big sales well before the winter holidays, often in late September through early November. De Grandpre said those sales can be better than the chains’ semiannual ones because retailers don’t want to be left with extra inventory after the holidays.”

A Princess favorite, Kate Spade, is also offering discounted merchandise; the Krush Slingback is $228, originally priced at $325.  On the right, an item we adore for cooler seasons, the Zoe knit slipper, reduced to $47 from $95.

We promise to pass along any other significant offers we discover.

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A few quick items we simply have to share, here is the first.

Straight Line Designs

The Bird Home comes via Justin Beaumont’s Straight Line Designs in Vancouver.  From the same source, we offer the Pet Camper, just too fun.

Straight Line Designs

Sadly, we were forced to explain to Tilly the dapper digs are not intended for dogs of her… girth. Her reaction?

Tilly is Not Happy

Sigh. What’s a Mother to do?

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We leave you with new to the Princess, our fabulous new Personalized Cutting Boards from Clairebella.

The tempered glass boards are offered in two sizes.

We are ever-so-excited to have these available now in the shoppe, they are going to fill a number of gift-giving needs.

Next to be added from this fantastic line, monogrammed melamine trays.

Clairebella at PreppyPrincess.com

With that fab news, g’bye until next time!