Badgley Mischka for HSN Now Available, Chanel & Vuitton at CostCo?

Hello-Hello, and Happy Thursday!

We begin today with a question: does it seem a tad early for the Black Friday frenzy to be underway?

We have seen several stories on the topic in the last two days, including several focusing on the Target and Wal-Mart strategies for boosting sales. From a CNN/Money story:

“Target is hoping to lure this year’s Black Friday shoppers with $3 toasters and coffeemakers, deep deals on high-definition televisions, and discounts of 50% on clothes and toys…”

Le Boutique even has a Black Friday ad sign-up page on its website; we’re not clear what one receives when signing up on that page, and much as we adore our readers we just couldn’t bring ourselves to sign up in order to learn more.

Courtesy Target

There are a number of sites with the Target ad and many others to peruse if so inclined:

• Black-Friday.net
• BlackFridayAds
• GottaDeal.com
• BlackFriday2009.com

Last year we shared as much information as seemed reasonable about fiscally-friendly opportunities at retail establishments with a preppish slant, Brooks Brothers, Talbots, Neiman Marcus, J.Crew, and the like. We planned to do the same this year. We just feel there is an ever-earlier encroachment, but perhaps it is selective recall on our part.

Speaking of Target, we have more photos of the Rodarte for collection, due to debut December. Below, this dress is featured on Teen Vogue’s December cover with Dakota Fanning.

Teen Vogue

The issue also showcases this Lace Dress, it will run $45.

Courtesy Target

This next image is a scan from Marie Claire:

Marie Claire

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Another major collaborative group launches much earlier than the Rodarte line seen above; the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection will be unveiled this Saturday.

Jimmy Choo for H&M

Below, actress Demi Moore sported a dress from the line in October.

Steve Granitz/Wire Image for H&M

Another look:

Jimmy Choo for H&M

We aren’t going to devote too much space to this however, as the collection isn’t available online in the US and not everyone is near an H&M.

There are a number of interesting stories on this line and the growing trend for fashion collaborations and defusion lines, including this piece from ABC.

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One final joint effort to share today: the Badgley Mischka line for HSN, American Glamour.

The collection is scheduled to launch November 17th with a special program on the shopping channel, but from the looks of things, many pieces (if not the entire line) are already available online.

The Animal Print Bag is showcased in either a Cheetah or Zebra pattern, selling at $349.90.

Price points run from $39 to $499; the collection includes clothing, jewelry and accessories. (But no housewares as in Isaac Mizrahi’s line for QVC discussed in Tuesday’s post.) The Big Bold Ring is $59 and the coordinating 5 Stone Necklace is $79, $69 for the event price. (?)

The Hinged Cuff Bracelet runs $99.

Courtesy HSN

We find this all more-than-interesting to watch from the sidelines, the marketing and merchandising techniques are fascinating.

HSN/American Glamour

WWD’s story on the line says the launch online at HSN is November 15, but everything seems to be available now.

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According to this story in today’s Times, Blake Lively hair is all the rage.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

“At the Bumble and bumble in Bloomingdale’s, Michael Wilson, a stylist, said that more than half his customers ask for the “Textured and Tousled, or Curled and Swirled” styling … It is a request he attributes to Ms. Lively’s hairstyle.”

And the popular Gossip Girl star’s reaction?

““I didn’t really realize the extent of it,” Ms. Lively said of her hair’s popularity, though she had an inkling: fashion forerunners like Vogue staffers routinely approach her at events and fixate on her hair, she said.”

Finally, news that may put smiles on the faces of some fashionistas, while creating scowls for others: one may now purchase both Chanel and Louis Vuitton handbags at CostCo.

A post at StyleList notes the discount warehouse has the Classic Chanel Flap bag at $1999 :

Daniel Acker, Bloomberg via Getty Images via StyleList

From today’s Post:

“The Post found plenty of small-living-space-appropriate surprises in-store.

Like the massive wall of Ugg “Ultra” short boots ($124.99), the Chanel classic flap handbags ($1,999.99) and the classic Louis Vuitton “Speedy 30” mini-duffels ($589.99).”

Of course this is in addition to the Burberry, Tod’s, Ferragamo and Coach merchandise at Costco, at least from what we read.

We’re guessing Costco is not carrying this:

Courtesy Photo via Grazia Daily

This creation from Vuitton honors the Red Cross.

Courtesy Photo via Grazia

This story in Grazia explains more about the limited edition item:

“The box was commissioned by Patrick-Louis Vuitton, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder who says, ‘When reflecting on our collaboration with the Red Cross, it came to my mind to create a special Red Cross kit… [this is a] visually impactful and a truly unique piece.'”

The upscale leather goods firm is also donating a percentage of proceeds from certain handbag sales to the Red Cross.

For more on these efforts and loads of fab photos, click here.

With that we say good bye until next time!

More Sales: Tory Burch, Burberry, Lilly Pulitzer, Saks

The Princess apologizes if our previous two posts had a bit of a diminution in quality; they were our first attempts at posting whilst traveling out of town. What an amazing adventure to use the laptop with that wacky Windows system again! We are grateful to have returned home to Preppy Princess Intergalactic Headquarters intact, sans any severe weather encounters. (We do remain concerned about TP’s mère, however, facing Day 5 without power, and steadfastly refusing to leave the family property. Naturally.)

Judging by the wretched excess in length of last Friday’s post on the myriad sales going on around town and online, it might be difficult to believe we missed any. Think again. TP’s brain is less like a steel trap and more like a steel sieve; it seems we missed more sales than we told you about. Above, one of many examples: the Lord & Taylor Friends and Family sale, with 20% off almost everything online, but they are offering 40% off swimsuits, a big help if you have procrastinated on this front. There are also “more” or “deeper” or “special” discounts or price cuts. You’re grown-ups: you’ve shopped, you know the drill. The best idea is to check before you leave the house if there is any question in your mind about sale pricing being in effect. We make no promises, the best practice is always to shop early, and shop often. Below we show the Land’s End Sale notice, LL Bean’s is similar (although the discounts are not as deep).

Burberry launched their sale today and there is a substantial amount of merchandise marked down. For those interested in wallets or umbrellas, especially those in the Burberry signature designs, there is a good mix available as of this writing. There is also a decent offering in terms of apparel. The Princess was most taken by this sweet cotton jacket with its empire waist, as well as the wildly popular ski jacket, now almost 50% off.

It is well worth your time to glance at the jackets and trench coats for both men and women, including this ‘packaway tench‘ in fuchsia or the Men’s ‘Harry’ jacket. There are also some great markdowns on shoes for both Men and Women.

Next on our hit parade is Tory Burch, with loads of goodies, including the trimmed polo in several colors and the elegant Veronica dress.

Once done at Tory’s meander over to Saks 5th Avenue for even more fun as they continue the Online Only Designer Sale. A substantial amount of merchandise is marked down. Significantly.

Like these summer espadrilles from Ralph Lauren Collection in a red ticking stripe and a pair of Jimmy Choo pink patent slides that are to die for!

If you can manage to make your way out of the shoe department, take a peek at some of the ladies apparel, be it ready-to-wear or designer, like this LBD from Armani Collezioni or what Burberry calls their Neaton Classic Chino Pants.

Of course, this doesn’t include all of the jewelry on sale, like these very cool lucite bracelets from Alexis Bittar or Kenneth Jay Lane.

There is also the Il Baule D’Elianne Infant’s Smocked Dress, and the fabulosity that is the Bose iPod SoundDock Digital Music System. And there is an enormous amount of marked down merchandise you will find in the Men’s Store, Just Kids, additional Women’s Apparel or the Shoes/Handbags categories. Most of your household name designers are represented in this sale, including Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Louboutin, Stuart Weitzman, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Tommy Bahama, Badgley Mischka Platinum Label, Dior, Carolina Herrera, Tod’s, and many more.

While we are worshipping at the altar of the sales savings goddess, let us not forget the Lilly Pulitzer warehouse sale that started yesterday (Wednesday, June 11) and runs through Saturday, June 14 at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA. Why King of Prussia? Because the Lilly HQ are located here.

Of course, if you are nowhere near this part of the planet, there are loads of online Lilly shops, and almost every single one has healthy markdowns on absolutely beautiful Lilly items. A few we love are Splash of Pink, or the Peppermint Palm; below we feature two girls dresses from the Peppermint Palm clearance selection.

As always, The Princess hopes anyone with information they think we should be sharing with the rest of the class (so to speak) will forward that to us via the comment form. Happy hunting and let’s remember this is not intended to be a contact sport!

A Shocker: The Face “Too Famous” for Burberry & Who is Hiring Gwyneth Now?

This seems very odd: it was only last evening I was mentioning to TSU (The Spousal Unit) that I could not imagine Burberry continuing indefinitely with uber-face Agyness Deyn, she was simply everywhere. You just can’t have that without accompanying dilution of the brand. You may recognize the suddenly-supermodel, not only pushing Burberry’s Beat perfume (above on left), but also prominently showcased in the majority of their campaigns (also seen above, big group shot) both print and video. Scads of articles both on and offline quote sources within the company as saying that photographer Mario Testino was most displeased with Ms. Deyn’s high profile. The UK’s Metro reported Aggy’s sudden drop from Mr. Testino’s most-favored-model list on Sunday; US publications were quick to pick up on the news.

Not only was she Burberry’s primary face, she was also Armani’s, as seen in the black and white ads above, including the campaign for the Armani phone. I beg your pardon? You missed the news that there was an Armani phone? Oh dear. Because TP is really all about you – and because we realize how *very* important the right telephone can be, here is a link to said phone. (How sick am I?) In addition to Burberry, Ms. Deyn was or is the ‘It’ girl for Reebok, Hugo Boss, and for Dior’s New Look collection by Giles Deacon. In all fairness to Ms. Deyn it must be noted that Mr. Testino is a brilliant photographer, he is also well-known within the industry for his ego. Very well-known.

Lest anyone think we were unfairly picking on Gwyneth Paltrow in the post about her hideous shoes, here’s a tidbit about the born-and-bred prep: she is the new face for Tod’s, the upscale ltalian leather goods company. The announcement was made in Cannes; Ms. Paltrow is there for the Annual Film Fest where she has a film making its debut. (Actually, who isn’t in Cannes this week, except perhaps yours truly?) The film is four minutes in length and it premiered yesterday. The movie is about Tod’s. The entire film. All. 4. minutes. On its home page the Festival de Cannes describes itself as “the most important film event in the world.” You won’t get any argument from The Princess on that. Not a word.

Now getting back to the print campaign featuring Ms. Paltrow, who do you think shot that? Mario Testino.

(The Princess is unsure who shoots the Estee Lauder Pleasures ads, seen below.)