About That Tennis Shirt Logo

Hello-Hello, happy top of the new week to all of our treasured readers.

We begin today with a look at a brand we haven’t chatted about much (if at all) in this space, one with a name and history many will recognize, Boast.  We have been reading about the brand’s return for some time now; word that women’s pieces are now available makes us think the company’s rebirth merits a post.

Launched in the 1970s, Boast was a standard on squash and tennis courts, seen on everyone from the Yale squash team to these notables.

Wall Street Journal

Above we show tennis great Roscoe Tanner and President George Bush (while Governor of Texas). If the Boast name still isn’t ringing any bells, a recent story in the Journal may provide some answers:

The shirts, a preppy icon, were launched in Greenwich, Conn., in 1972 by All-American squash and tennis player Bill St. John. “Everyone was wearing Lacoste, but the cool camp counselors were wearing Boast,” says (John) Dowling, a former New York University film student who worked in advertising.

While the line continued to be sold in some pro shops, it essentially disappeared from the radar until 2010. Now it is back on the scene, WWD explains:

The brand is currently in about 24 doors, including Scoop, By George in Austin, Conveyor at Fred Segal and Murray’s Toggery in Nantucket. Polo shirts for men and women, which retail for $68, are the brand’s core category, rounded out by T-shirts, neckwear, casual jackets, blazers and accessories.

Below we show some of the basics for men.

Boast Clothing

The men’s accessories sport the brand’s iconic logo. (Now, now, now, lest you think we’re promoting nefarious and illegal activity by showing that logo, we are not. More on that topic in a moment.)

Boast Clothing

As mentioned, women’s apparel is now available.

Boast Clothing

These are the basic tennis shirts ($68) for women.

Boast Clothing

As with any brand we continue to monitor products closely, doing our best to stave off unwarranted attacks of Logophobia. That is why we like these tees, the logo is embroidered in the same color as the shirt.

Boast Clothing

The company is also adding pieces by Minnie Mortimer.

Boast Clothing

Two women’s knit dresses by Ms. Mortimer.

Boast Clothing

Clearly these are meant for those who are fit and trim from all those hours on the court, they look a tad…. short. (Cough-cough.)

For those unfamiliar with Ms. Mortimer, she is very much a product of the UES (Upper East Side) and a clothing designer in her own right. Below we see the designer in one of her own creation on the left, and in a Beyond Vintage piece on the right.

Photos by Maia Harms via Refinery 29

In an odd coincidence, last week we chatted about Minnie’s former sister-in-law, Tinsley Mortimer. For those wondering if/how the two get on, here is more from a Page Six story dating back to 2010.

Tinsley Mortimer’s reality show, “High Society,” debuted last night on the CW network — but not everyone in her family is thrilled about it.

Fashion designer Minnie Mortimer Gaghan, Tinsley’s sister-in-law, froze when asked if any of her pieces would appear on the new show, given that she had previously named one of her dresses “The Tinsley.”

Of course, that is an old tidbit, perhaps things have thawed. Or not.

The spring collection harkens back to the company’s prep heritage with basic repp tie stripes for your MOTH (Man of the House):

Boast Clothing via PaperMag.com

Another name you’ll know is now involved with the brand, Andy Spade. Women’s Wear Daily has more:

Spade, who previously helped co-found Kate Spade and Jack Spade, is co-creative director at Partners & Spade, an independent advertising and branding agency whose clients include J. Crew, Warby Parker and Target. Spade previously worked on the relaunch campaign for Boast two years ago but has now taken on a more active role in the company and is hammering out a potential financial stake in the brand.

As promised, more on the company logo from Peter Davis’s story in PaperMag:

I grew up wearing Boast every summer at tennis clinic (sounds so medical!) at The Meadow Club in Southampton. The preppy brand the cool gear to wear because the label’s symbol looked like a pot leaf (it’s actually a Japanese maple leaf). Who would have known?

And from WWD:

The brand has long catered to country clubs but with a youthful, hip edge that set it apart from competing active brands. Its logo, prominent on its polo shirts, is officially a Japanese maple leaf but is often mistaken for a cannabis leaf.

There you have it.

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A quick reminder for fashionistas, tonight is one of the most important events on the calendar, Annual Costume Institute Ball, better known as the Met Gala. This year’s function celebrates the upcoming Met exhibit, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations. Below, images from one of the exhibit’s themes, “Hard Chic.”

PHOTOS: Regina Relang (L) / © Toby McFarlan Pond (R)

For a fab Hamish Bowles piece on the show from Vogue, click here.

Vogue

This year’s Gala offers something new for those of us not attending whose invitations were somehow misplaced.

Vogue

Through the magic of fairy dust and other things-we-don’t-understand-but-do-appreciate, you can watch the red carpet live this year.

Met Museum

The big bash gets underway online at 6:30pm, the livestream will be hosted by Elettra Wiedemann and Vogue’s William Norwich. More on what you’ll see from Vogue:

….an inside look at the party of the year as well as on-the-scene interviews with celebrities from the worlds of fashion, film, sports, business, and society—

The live feed will be available on Vogue.com, Amazon.com/Fashion, and metmuseum.org/metgala.

That’s it for now, g’bye until next time!

For Your Reading Pleasure: Tomboys & Socialites, Targét’s Big Launch

Today we share tidbits about a few books that look intriguing, and then a quick reminder about Targét’s weekend  launch.

We learned about this first volume via last month’s issue of Matchbook Magazine. It is “Tomboy Style” from writer Lizzie Garrett Mettler. The book is actually a natural follow-up to the writer’s well-known blog, TOMBOYStyle.

Rizzoli

From the book’s liner notes:

Tomboys are confident, rebellious, and adventurous. They are bold, brazen, fierce—and sexy. They aren’t known for following rules, they are known for doing—and wearing—whatever they want.

Tomboy captures the tomboy’s style, her je ne sais quoi, her wardrobe, and most importantly, her spirit.

The book offers Seven Archetypes of Tomboy Style, including “The Prep”.  We always enjoy Booth Moore’s pieces in the LA Times, here is a snippet from his story on the book:

…Mettler realized she discovered her own tomboy style while at boarding school, trading clothes with her frilly best friend Kingsley Woolworth, who favored bubble-gum pink bed linens and diamond stud earrings. By borrowing some of Kingsley’s things and mixing them with her old favorites, many of them borrowed from her older brother, Mettler found her own style vocabulary, epitomized by a shirtdress cinched with a men’s ribbon belt.

Below we see a Field Guide to Tomboy Style from the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles Times

From the NY Times‘ T magazine:

Thanks in large part to Alexa Chung, the tomboy look has been enjoying unprecedented appeal of late. But Chung was preceded by a long line of women — notably Katharine Hepburn, Françoise Hardy, Patti Smith, Jane Birkin and Birkin’s two younger daughters, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon — who made stealing from the boys seem like the most stylish thing in the world.

You can also learn more about the book at Lizzie Garrett Mettler’s website.

At the other end of the spectrum, socialite Tinsley Mortimer also has a new book out, a novel titled “Southern Charm.”

MMM

A modern Manhattan fairy tale with the sparkle of a champagne cocktail, Tinsley Mortimer’s debut novel provides a delicious peek into her world of society, fashion, and big-city fame.

Lauren Lipton wrote about Ms. Mortimer’s return to the party circuit in a March NY Times story:

But her quest for fame became grating to some. In 2009, she separated from Mr. Mortimer, which brought only more tabloid notoriety to the old New York family name — this time about his alleged infidelities and his distaste for her lifestyle.

Some readers may recall the reality show Ms. Mortimer starred in, “High Society”.

The CW via the LA Times

That foray into reality TV didn’t sit well with many, more from Lauren Lipton’s story:

Some of her peers said the separation wasn’t Ms. Mortimer’s death knell; it was the show and its supporting cast of odious hangers-on. (The series, which appeared on CW, was not renewed.)

“She was almost like a ‘Real Housewife’ — people didn’t want her at the party,” said a social acquaintance who, for propriety’s sake, asked not to be identified.

Dethroned in 2010 after a series of missteps — including a derided reality show and a separation from her blue-blooded husband — Ms. Mortimer had been lying low, mostly out of the spotlight. But those days are over.

(Forgive us, but is there a better phrase than ‘odious hangers-on,’ especially when talking about reality TV?!)

Below we see Ms. Mortimer at a book signing party in Georgetown earlier this week.

Revamp.com

Hmmmm.

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Also today, a reminder for those interested in Targét’s launch of The Shops at Target this Sunday.

The Shops at Target

The retailer is offering merchandise from several small boutiques, including Boston’s Polka Dog Bakery.

The Polka Dog Bakery at Target

Miami’s The Webster.

The Webster at Target

The Candy Store in San Francisco.

The Candy Store at Target

The Privet House from Connecticut.

The Privet House at Target

And from Aspen, the Cos Bar.

The Cos Bar at Target

This week Target celebrated the upcoming launch, below we see Emma Thompson, Lauren Bush Lauren and Mad Men’s January Jones at the gala. (Ms. Thompson’s cardigan is from the Webster collection, seen in the photo up above.)

Via Styleite

(Our backgrounder on the collections can be found in this post.) Tilly has asked us to look at the pet dishes, she says she would really prefer something a little more stylish at mealtime. The least we can do is go look at the bowls, oui?

The Shops at Target debut in store and online this Sunday.

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We leave you with a Friday Fun item, a look at two pair of shoes in the Keds for Madewell collection.

Keds for Madewell

May the sun be shining on you this weekend, and happy Derby Day!

Tommy Hilfiger, Milly, Gant & Surfing Dogs

Hello-Hello, Happy Monday!

We didn’t get to post pix from all of last week’s shows at Fashion Week (the New York version) and we’re already well into London Fashion Week as we speak…yikes!

So it is time to play catch-up, recognizing many readers may have already seen some (if not all) of these styles. We begin with a brand that we always approach with trepidation; Tommy Hilfiger. (We fear one day we shall be attacked by a giant “TH” logo.) Below, the first two looks down the runway.

Classic lines in primary colors dominated the show.

Mr. Hilfiger is celebrating a notable anniversary, the company he founded is now 25 years old.

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Many of the styles were surprisingly attractive, certain to be stunning on those in the twenty-something age range. As noted by WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d.) in its review:

“…his spring collection was a shiny, happy ode to the genre that made him famous: preppy.”

Mr. Hilfiger packed the front row with celebrities; below Jennifer Lopez and actor Bradley Cooper.

PRNewsFoto/The Tommy Hilfiger Group

In his review, Eric Wilson at the Times wrote:

“This was a collection full of Nantucket red chinos and trench coats, ruffle dresses made of grosgrain ribbon and seersucker blazers. Very country club, yes, but it was awfully difficult to put your finger on what the twist was.”

A closer look at some of the accessories.

One columnist made note of the shoes, predicting the most sought-after next spring will be something akin to a “Sperry Top-Sider” on a platform.  (Ahem.)

Eric Thayer/Reuters

Other celebrities on hand for the show and/or the party following it, Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks and Jessica Szohr of Gossip Girl.

As mentioned in our post on the Ralph Lauren Spring 2011 collection, it is an unusual Fashion Week indeed when we find ourselves more favorably impressed by Mr. Hilfiger’s work, and underwhelmed by Mr. Lauren’s creations.

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Another line we were unable to get to until now, Milly by Michelle Smith.

PHOTOS: George Chinsee/WWD

This collection also used lots of primary colors, bright florals and geometric prints.

PHOTOS: George Chinsee/WWD

Frequent readers know we are fond of this brand, but the dresses above aren’t up to Ms. Smith’s usual deft touch; the placement of the abstract shapes is unlikely to flattering any size or shape.  Below, from opposite ends of the fashion spectrum, two of our favorite looks.

PHOTOS: George Chinsee/WWD

Chic, elegant and easy on the eyes.  In her story on the collection, Elizabeth Holmes from The Journal writes:

“If the name Michelle Smith isn’t synonymous with Blair Waldorf, it should be. The designer behind Milly knows the young uptown girl’s style from her headband to her heel, and showed that again with her latest collection, which must be bound for the “Gossip Girl” wardrobe department.”

Three more looks we love.

PHOTOS: George Chinsee/WWD

A closer look at some of the accessories for next spring, oversized handbags and chunky jewelry.

Some of the celebrities spotted at the Milly show included Tinsley Mortimer, as well as newscaster Natalie Morales, seen on the right with Michelle Smith, the designer.

This collection offered lots to like.

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Some may recall our recent post on the new womenswear collection by Michael Bastian for prep classic Gant.  We shared some styles in that post, but thought we would post a few more, these from the line’s formal Fashion Week presentation.

Courtesy Images via WWD

Most looks seem appealing, particularly for the younger set.

Courtesy Images via WWD

This shot includes some of the mens’ styles, we particularly like the novelty oxford on the far right.

Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images

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We close with something out of the ordinary, but something we think might put a smile on your face.

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty

This weekend the dogs were in the drink as part of the annual Surf Dog competition.

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty

From the Surf City website:

“The Surf Dog Contest includes Small, Medium, Large and Tandem Dog/Human Heats.  Other events include Best in Show Costume Contest, K9 Kayak, Hot Diggity Dog Expo, a 2-mile Woofin’ Walk and more!”

Tilly says her eyes might bug out too if she were on a surfboard.

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty

And then there is always the problem with wave poaching.

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty

It helps to have friends on board.

Mark Ralston/AFP/getty

The event isn’t just fun, it is also a fundraiser for several organizations helping dogs in need; the event page has more. Back to the waves, fierce determination seemed to be the order of the day.

Barry Bland via The Sun

For others, quiet dignity ruled.

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty

And sometimes you just need to know when to get out of the water.

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty

To see a slew of photos from the big do, click here.  How does this relate to anything preppy? It doesn’t. But sometimes smiles are more important than labels and today is one of those days here at the Prepatorium.

Until next time, we hope your Monday is sunny and bright!

ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:

• Tommy Hilfiger: John Aquino/WWD
• Tommy Hilfiger: Getty Images via Fashionologie
• Tommy Hilfiger: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty
• Tommy Hilfiger: Michael Loccisano/Getty
• Milly: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for IMG
• Milly: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for IMG

When the Dress Code is ‘Lilly or Louder’, Tretorn at J. Crew

Hello-Hello, and welcome to a very busy Tuesday, we are off to a volunteer function almost all afternoon, so today’s post is brief.

Many readers may have already read or heard about last week’s big bash at the American Museum of Natural History, we’re more than a little late reporting on the festivities.  If it doesn’t sound familiar, we offer a visual clue:

Patrick McMullan via Huffington Post

It was the annual spring dance, and Lilly Pulitzer sponsored the event. The party was much brighter than most black tie events, compliments of a dress code that said “Lilly or Louder”. Below, the retailer’s design director, Janie Schoenborn, wore Pandamonium.

Patrick McMullan via Huffington Post

Below, socialites Blair Husain and Sara Peters.

Steve Eichner/WWD

Below we see Tinsley Mortimer in what we’ll call “modified Lilly,” as she explained to Women’s Wear Daily:

“I shortened it to make it cuter,” said Mortimer. “I took a pair of scissors to it right before I left the house.”

Peter Kramer/AP

Lilly pooh-bah Jim Bradbeer and his wife Carol were colorfully clad.

Patrick McMullan via Huffington Post

On the not-so-Lilly list, actress Michelle Trachtenberg (L) and model Coco Rocha.

The event’s Honorary Chair did not wear Lilly, actress Claire Danes was in Zac Posen.

Actors Sebastian Stan and Matthew Settle (of Gossip Girl).

Steve Eichner/WWD

One of the best parts of any function Lilly is involved with has to be having the chance to watch the amazingly talented artists from the Lilly Mother Ship in action.

Steve Eichner/WWD

Below, the über-talented Paige Smith works on a floral canvas.

Patrick McMullan via Huffington Post

It sounds like an delightful time, you can read more about it here at the Lilly blog.

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Loads of bits and bytes today, here are a few quick links:

• This story hypothetically lists the “10 Preppiest Colleges,” at least according to the Huffington Post; the comments are as entertaining as the story IOHO.

• J. Crew’s design guru Jenna Lyons will be featured on tomorrow’s (Wednesday, 4/21) Oprah show; the topic is Dream Jobs. (Click here for a teeny bit more info.)  Below, Ms. Lyons in her office.

Roger Neves via Oprah.com

• Speaking of the retailer, our friends at High Snobette report that Crew has launched its collection of Tretorn.

Via HighSnobette.com

With that we say g’bye until next time!

Brooks Brothers Online Outlet & “High Society”

Hello-Hello, welcome to a Wednesday.

In honor of the warming temps here at the Prepatorium we share a few looks from the Brooks Brothers spring/summer collection.

This seems to be the navy sleeveless wrap dress in the photo on the right.

Brooks Brothers

The images immediately below are all clickable if any of the styles are intriguing.

We do like most of the madras pieces shown for men.

The Black Fleece items are always… interesting. The spring styles seem much more wearable than Thom Browne’s previous collections.

Certain motifs work better on the ladies than they do on the gentlemen.

Indeed.

Perhaps of greater interest, word the retailer will be offering merchandise in a new format; more from a late February WWD story:

“eBay also is creating an online outlet mall for the U.S. with some well-known retail and apparel brands. Lord & Taylor’s outlet division is already on board and Brooks Brothers will be added next month.”

This one may hold promise for those seeking outlet mall price point without having to make a trip to said outlet.We’ll let you know when the site is live.

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Next on today’s agenda: High Society. We are not talking about this version.

We refer to this incarnation.

Courtesy the CW

Debuting a week from tonight, the show is launching on the CW; the network’s blog describes the program:

“HIGH SOCIETY follows Tinsley Mortimer, New York’s most talked-about “Park Avenue Princess,” as she and her circle of often-controversial friends circulate through New York’s most prestigious black-tie affairs, outrageous parties and fashion exclusives, with never-before-seen access from behind the velvet rope.”

Or, as the New York Tix blog says:

““Jersey Shore,” look behind you. “The Real World,” step up the pace. “Dancing with the Stars,” watch your step. A new breed of reality show is coming to town, and it’s the New York bluebloods who will be in the spotlight. And no, it’s not “Gossip Girl”: This is the real deal.
Premiering March 10 on the CW, “High Society” looks at the infighting, cat-fighting and general, well, fighting, of a group of upper-crust society ladies.”

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We close with two more quick items. First, yet another in the ever-growing list of Gossip Girl magazine covers, this time Jessica Szohr showcases the April issue of Lucky.

Lucky Magazine

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Second, a sorta’-kinda’-maybe-not-really Pretty in Pink.  Meet the Christian Louboutin Barbie 2.0. (That’s our name for it.)

Net-a-Porter

The official title is Dolly Forever Barbie, we love the miniature shoes that come with the doll.

But the life-size version is much more fun.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Until next time!

PHOTO CREDIT:

George Chinsee/Brooks Brothers Spring Collection