The Great Preppy Personalized Plate Giveaway!

Hello-Hello and Happy Thursday!

The crush of business prevents us nattering on as we usually do, so we share just a few items today, starting with our great Preppy Personalized Plate Giveaway here at the Princess!

We have added loads of new designs to our selection of Preppy Platters & Plates.  To celebrate the new styles we are doing a Giveaway: the winner receives a Preppy Plate or Platter of their choice, personalized however they choose!

Here is how to enter:

• For one entry, leave a comment telling us your favorite design on any of our preppy dishes
• For a second entry, post the Giveaway on your blog & leave a comment telling us you did
• For a third entry, Tweet about it on Twitter & let us know you did
• For a fourth entry, become a Preppy Princess fan on Facebook & ley us know you did. (Go to Facebook and do a search for Preppy Princess.com)

Some of the fabulous new designs we have in are from the good folks at Boatman Geller, including the Ashley Plaid in Pink:

PreppyPrincess.com

If seeking something more masculine, the Ashley Plaid is available in a sophisticated blue palette. Perhaps you would prefer the Espadrille Nautical stripe brightening your table?

PreppyPrincess.com

This jaunty pattern also comes in the Espadrille Preppy Stripe (below), or the Espadrille Bright Stripe.

PreppyPrincess.com

Our favorite new styles just might be the updated initial plates, like the Repp Tie in Cherry/Navy:

PreppyPrincess.com

At a baby shower the whimsical Confetti Pink is fun for a little girl, but it is also offered in blues for a baby boy. (And ideal for grown-up boys and girls in your circle of friends and family!)

PreppyPrincess.com

Frankly, there isn’t a one of these we don’t just adore as a hostess gift, or a delightful personalized present on any occasion.

Because we want you to enjoy our growing preppy dish collection and enjoy a bargain at the same time, we are offering our treasured readers a 10% discount on the Plates and Platters Collection!  Simply enter DISHDEAL at checkout to receive the more favorable pricing.  We will keep this special discount in place until midnight on the 18th.

And don’t forget to enter the Giveaway before midnight Thursday (the 17th), we will draw a name and announce a winner on September 18!

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Next, last night’s big party at Saks, a gala thrown by Anna Wintour/Vogue, and Charlize Theron. The occasion was a public celebration of the retailer’s newly renovated third floor.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

We love the easy elegance seen in the photo of Oscar de la Renta & Ms. Theron. Also attending the party, Dylan Lauren in a vibrant frock we shall categorize as today’s Pretty in Pink.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

Gossip Girl star Blake Lively looked lovely in a sleek blue dress.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

Also on hand and woefully underdressed, Ms. Lively’s costar and IRL (In Real Life, yes? We feel très cool using this acronym.) romantic interest, Penn Badgley.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner/WWD

It was a very busy night for the Gossip Girls and Guys, as there was another function to attend, this one in honor of the Gossip Girl-inspired collection at Target from designer Anna Sui.

PHOTO: PaperMag.com

And if that wasn’t enough partying for the G2 set, co-star Leighton Meester enjoyed a screening of the Sundance Channel’s fashion series “The Day Before“. The four-part special focuses on Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler as their upscale label preps for Fashion Week. Joining in, socialite and fashionista Lauren Santo Domingo.

PHOTO: Getty Images

Enjoy!

French Open Blues, Longchamp is Pretty in Pink & Rafa Nadal…Preppy?

Hello-Hello, and happy first week of June! Yippee!

Has everyone been watching the goings-on at Roland Garros? Some amazing things, we must say, and not all of them involving the actual play, although we were stunned to see the early ouster of Rafael Nadal. No, we’re talking once again about the fashions at this year’s French Open, and feeling like we didn’t get the blue memo.

Above left, Roger Federer and on the right, Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic. Below, we see Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka (R) and Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic.

PHOTO: Jacques de Marthon/AFP/Getty

Also in blue tones with teal and turquoise, Maria Sharapova.

PHOTO: Jacques de Marthon/AFP/Getty

Is it just us, or does this style almost make Ms. Sharapova look matronly? A difficult thing to achieve given the tennis star’s natural beauty.  Below, Roumania’s Sorana Cirstea sports similar colors.

PHOTO: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty

Two more in blue, Juan Martin del Porto of Argentina (L) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France.

PHOTO: Ryan Pierse/Getty

If blue isn’t your hue, then there is always our favorite color: pink! Below, superstar Rafa Nadal.

PHOTO: Ryan Pierse/Getty

The Nike Bold Open tennis polo Mr. Nadal is wearing is available online.

The Spanish heartthrob was also in pink for the news conference following his loss to Sweden’s Robin Soderling. In fact, we’ll just declare that both of the pink tops qualify as today’s Pretty in Pink.

PHOTO: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty

Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova was in the pink as well, paired with black.

PHOTO: Jacques de Marathon/AFP/Getty

Next, China’s Na Li in what is rapidly becoming a popular combination, hot pink and orange (or a peachy salmon/coral).

PHOTO: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty

Serena Williams donned a similar orange offset by dark gray.

PHOTO: Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty

Those mourning Mr. Nadal’s status may wish to turn their attention to this story from the June issue of Vogue.

PHOTO: Bruce Weber for Vogue

Renowned photographer Bruce Weber did the photos for the story.

PHOTO: Bruce Weber for Vogue

In the photo directly above Mr. Nadal is in a Nike shirt and Tommy Hilfiger khakis, the white linen suit in the first image is Ralph Lauren Purple Label.

As always, for the true insider’s scoop on all the tennis happenings, toddle over to see Rich at Down the Line Tennis, as he seems to know simply everything that’s happening on the circuit.

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Frequent Princess readers know how serious we are about protecting their pocketbooks, ever-vigilant in our search for fiscally-friendly opportunities to invest in our economy.  Here are a few:

Is everyone familiar with The Laundress? If not, trust TP when she says it is a fabulous line, one we greatly admire.

To receive 20% off all purchases through June 30th, use promo code INSTYLE09 at checkout.

Also offering a 20% discount, the funseekers at one of our online faves, Fred Flare.  Really, where else does one find upscale accessories like this?

FredFlare.com

The bacon bandage is one of this spring’s must-haves, to ensure you receive the 20% discount use the same promo code at checkout, INSTYLE09.

Who says we don’t have an eye to the elegant, the refined, the timeless classics, hmmm?

Speaking of same, the Designer Sale at Saks continues apace, and here is another Pretty in Pink offering:

SFA

The Longchamp X-Light Nylon Tote is an excellent buy dolls, at $269; the original price was $385.  To receive free shipping at Saks (no wretched minimum purchase foo-foo to cope with either) use promo code SAKSSHIP9 at checkout.

We leave you with just a few photos from this weekend’s Veuve Clicquot second annual Manhattan Polo Classic. We begin with David Lauren (L) and Nacho Figuera.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner

Next, Byrdie Bell.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner

And HRH Prince Harry of Wales.

PHOTO: Steve Eichner for WWD

We shall share more tomorrow.  Promise.

On that chipper note, we say ‘ta until next time!

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

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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.

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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!

SAY HELLO: Juicy Couture, Tory Burch, Nordstrom SAY GOODBYE: Harold’s, ‘O at Home,’ Club Libby Lu, Men’s Vogue

Well if it isn’t the economy, then it’s the economy!

Yawn. (Please have the houseman send two Excedrin. STAT.)

Before we do all the dreary-dreary, let’s start with some fun news, like Tory Burch opening her Palm Beach store today!

Conveniently located right on Worth Avenue, this is the designer’s 16th store; next month her 17th opens in New York’s meatpacking district.  This reminds us, has everyone seen the new Reva in suede?

Another designer landing nearby on Worth? Michael Kors, with a new boutique he has planned for a long time, according to a story in the Palm Beach Daily News:

“In America, the warm-weather place to be is Palm Beach,” he said. “Palm Beach has always been on my radar.”

Also, Nordstrom *finally* opened their new store in Naples last Friday. At last!  And the Juicy Couture flagship on Fifth is now open, following Thursday night’s big do. Below, co-founders Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Juicy Couture

From the halls of popular prep school drama Gossip Girl star Blake Lively was on hand for the Juicy festivities.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Juicy Couture

Co-star and real life significant other(?) Penn Badgley was on hand along with Jessica Szohr…

Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Juicy Couture

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Many readers are probably familiar with most of these dreary headlines, but just in case anyone missed them along the way…we start with Saks announcing last week that it is closing the Club Libby Lu stores; that is almost 100 shops in total.

The company expects to have all closed by the end of their first-quarter in 2009.

Then we had surprising news today about perennial Wall Street favorite J. Crew, according to an AP story via CNBC:

“Shares of J. Crew Group Inc. fell to an all-time low Monday after an analyst said she expects weaker results from the apparel and accessories retailer…”

And now we are ever-so-glad the Queen Mother wasn’t planning to purchase the new flat-screen at Circuit City, with their bankruptcy announcement today.

But here is the loss that really hurts, hitting too close to home for our sensitivities. Harold’s.

Courtesy Harold's

During our years doing tv in Oklahoma City we frequently found ourselves at the Harold’s at Penn Place if shopping in town. Our favorite out-of-town Harold’s haunts were at River Oaks, The Galleria in Dallas and on Lover’s Lane; we would also pop into the store at Tyson’s when visiting that part of the galaxy.  Even TSU (The Spousal Unit) went nuclear upon hearing the news.

The liquidation sales started last Friday; the company expects it will take approximately four months to finish selling the merchandise.  Sniff.  Tissue please.

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The word came last week that “O at Home,” the quarterly spun off from “O: The Oprah Magazine,‘ will cease publishing with the Winter issue.  Any future issues will be part of O.

The Princess Consort was concerned when he learned that Men’s Vogue will essentially cease publishing, although technically it is being ‘absorbed’ by Vogue, and hopes to publish twice a year.  (Okay… truth be told, the Consort won’t miss this one iota, it is I who enjoyed flipping through the pages.)

And here is one that rapidly became one of our more enjoyable business reads, Conde Nast’s Portfolio. It is dropping from twelve to ten issues a year.

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We are in peril of becoming completely distraught, so rather than going off the deep end we shall mention the Great Preppy Giveaway here at  Preppy Princess Intergalactic Headquarters, where it is *always* pink and green.

You can win an outstanding Bungalow Scout Tote, simply by leaving a comment mentioning something about America you are thankful for… that’s it!  Just fill in the blank: “I am thankful __________” and leave a comment and you are entered!  Plus, if you mention the Giveaway on your blog and you win, you receive a fabulous set of oh-so-preppy Madras Photocards as a second gift that we’ll send to anyone of your choosing! And we pay the postage on all of this!

It is our way of saying ‘Thank You’ to all of our faithful customers and blogging friends! This contest closes at midnight Wednesday night, and the next one begins early Thursday, so have some fun…you just might be the lucky winner! For more information, click here to read detailed specifics and background!

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For today’s Pretty in Pink item we honor Club Libby Lu (not that TP has ever set foot in one, but we have heard about them…does that almost count?!) with the Pop Sugar Polka Dot Cupcake PJ Set in pink.

Club Libby Lu

Until later… grins and giggles.

A Manly Take on Fashion Week & Another Gossip Girl Preppy Look

Hello-Hello and Happy Friday! The Princess is ever-so-pleased to welcome a weekend after playing catch-up most of the week from our mini-vacation.

We are most assuredly ready for some Friday Fun. With that pleasant prospect in mind we start with a quick hit we would almost consider “must reading” for its entertainment value: Time magazine’s column on Fashion Week. A sample:

[F]ashion shows are the most serious events in the entire world. Nobody in the audience smiles or talks; the models look like they’re on the Bataan death march; and people slowly, lifelessly clap at the end. I’ve been to political panels, criminal trials, locker rooms of playoff losers, graduate English classes and the Ron Paul convention, and I’ve never seen people take themselves quite this seriously.”

Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for IMG

The writer is the talented Joel Stein who may need his own bodyguard after writing this:

“Vogue editor Anna Wintour, whom I vaguely knew as the lady who wears Prada and is remarkably similar to the Devil, has two bodyguards–that’s how serious fashion is. I’ve interviewed a lot of celebrities, and you know who had bodyguards? Nobody.”

If already planning to visit the Time site, one might want to read their review of the new Candace Bushnell novel “One Fifth Avenue,” a title we have mentioned in previous posts.

Already talking about fashion does allow us to segue right into our next topic, an interesting quote from this week’s Gossip Girl as uttered by the character Blair:

“Are those Tory Burch’s last-season flats?”

We presume it was spoken in horror (oh the shame of wearing last season’s styles) but were also pondering the fact that prior to this primetime hit it is difficult to conceive of dialogue written that specifically about a designer, or playing a role of this importance in a plotline. (Full disclosure: TP did not watch the show but simply saw the quote so many places we felt compelled to share it with those who are fans.)

So, in our apparently never-ending “How to Dress Like Gossip Girl” category we have four quick pieces from a wonderful column by The Chic Spy. The primary style statement is the Sonia Rykiel blazer. Cropped shorter than what one is likely to find at Brooks Brothers, and with oversized (the Queen Mother’s translation: loud) buttons, the double-breasted blazer is available at Net-a-Porter.

The other important piece is one that would send TP into a Logophobic coma were it not for the smelling salts, the the Burberry wraparound check kilt, complete with fringe, brass pin and double side buckles. The kilt, made in Scotland, has a velcro closure inside the waist. Velcro. Indeed.

Should the look be one that you find appealing, the skirt is available in an almost identical style in Girl’s Sizes 2-14 on the Burberry website.

The Spy also showcases Nanette Lepore pumps and the Be & D “Kan Kan Tote” available for pre-order on the website. If that brand sounds familiar, it may be you are remembering Be and Steve’s insanely popular Garbo handbag from last year. And if not a G2 fan, stop by and visit The Spy for some simply delightful reading.

On the topic of reading, here is one addition to the Fall reading list you may enjoy, definitely a ‘must’ for us: Valentino: Themes and Variations by Pamela Golbin.

The book was released earlier this month and it looks just stunning and with Rizzoli as the publisher you know the quality will be top-notch.

Do enjoy!