Snuggie Truth Revealed, and Sperry for Spring!

Hello-Hello!

A quick reminder to be sure and enter our Lilly Pulitzer Stationery giveaway, entries close at midnight tonight! All the contest info you need is right here; the winner receives both a Lilly Pulitzer Latte Da! coffee mug, along with the Take Note Mouse Pad that also comes with a pad of Lilly paper for handy note taking!

We have even coordinated the two prizes, the better to brighten up your desk! The pattern is the always-fun Cabanarama.

We will use Random.org to select the lucky recipient tomorrow morning and post the news midday. A gazillion “Thank you” sentiments to everyone who has entered, you make it too fun for us here at the Prepatorium!

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It seems there is a wildly popular cultural phenomenon we had been unaware of until recently. We are speaking of the oh-so-popular “Seen on TV” product more commonly known as the Snuggie.

Courtesy Snuggie.com

Somehow we weren’t fully versed in Snuggie-speak, so we were forced to do a little research. (Okay, a lot of research.) Little did we know how popular the creations are, leading the Times to do multiple stories on them in the last few weeks!

For anyone as sadly uninformed as we were, the Snuggie is essentially a blanket with sleeves.

The oh-so-popular item is sold primarily through television infomercials.  But according to this story in the Times, the Snuggie was not the first! (Gasp!)

Nay, nay SnuggieFans, not so fast.

“On CNN recently, a segment on the Snuggie — four million of which have sold since it began advertising in October — said it “has spawned all sorts of online imitators” and later mentioned the Slanket as one “of the other versions of the Snuggie out there.”

But it turns out that the Snuggie is actually the imitator.”

We offer Exhibit A, the Slanket, seen below.

Courtesy theSlanket.com

Gasp!

But the Times story digs even deeper, revealing news the Slanket was preceded by…are you ready? Enter Exhibit B, the Freedom Blanket!

Courtesy FreedomBlanket.com

The Freedom Blanket currently sells for $29.99, the Slanket is $44.95 and the Snuggie is $19.95, although one can apparently acquire one for only $14.99 at ‘select’ retailers like Walgreens.

All of this leaves us wondering if The Princess needs to consider pink and green blankets-with-arms? Will we be horribly out of touch with our customers if we do not carry them come next fall? Will there be anti-Princess protests across the nation if we do not add these to our inventory and keep a ready supply on hand?

The Times also ran a story by Allen Salkin, “Snuggie on the Street: Watch Your Back” investigating the merits of wearing one’s Snuggie on the street.

PHOTO: Christopher Smith for the NY Times

Above we see the Snuggie on Broadway. Below, we see one of the drawbacks to outdoor use:

PHOTO: Christopher Smith for the NY Times

There is no back on this item, creating more than a little draft when one steps away from the sofa. Hhhhmmmm.

The whole topic has us wondering if perhaps some of the womenswear designers were thinking of Snuggies or Slankets when creating next Fall’s looks….?

PHOTO: Mauricio Miranda

These photos from the Milan Fall 2009 RTW shows certainly bear a resemblance to a Snuggie, don’t you think?  These two creations are from Salvatore Ferragamo, the photos via WWD.

PHOTO: Mauricio Miranda

We are just saying….

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In our unceasing efforts to hurry spring we offer footwear designed to boost everyone’s spirits, starting with the Sperry Pelican Tall Boot in a stylized anchor motif.  Miss Nautical, do you approve?

The boot comes in a number of delightful colors and patterns; above you see the blue plaid. We looked at these this weekend at Nordstrom, and would have considered trying on a pair had anyone in the store’s shoe department indicated an interest in assisting us in that endeavor.

Another Sperry shoe we are fond of is the Women’s Print Bahama, available in three colorways. The green version has anchors, the pink features sailboats and the aqua-blue pair is adorned with a seahorse print.

Also new this spring, the Waterloo from Admiral in a seersucker and chambray look.

Courtesy High Snobiety

They will also be available in this classic blue seersucker and chambray.

Courtesy High Snobiety

We thank the bright minds over at High Snobiety for their initial story on these shoes!

Until next time dolls, have a simply splendid afternoon!

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!

Preppy Boatman Geller’s Newest Creation, Polo Ralph Lauren Sale Gets Better

The Princess would say ‘G’day’ to all except she is still scraping herself off the floor… it is more than possible Fashion Week is becoming too long for someone at her advanced age. It’s just too many collections and pieces and people and places to keep track of…d-e-e-p breath. And she’s not even there you realize, this is all online exertion we are talking about.

So let’s just start with a new item here in the Land ‘O the Preppy Princess, from some of TP’s favorite people: the good folks at Boatman Geller. Has everyone heard about the newest of the BG creations? The always-on, never-resting and ever-vigilant preppy antennae many of you possess may have already alerted you to the new and fabulous Carrie & Tuck Notetote from Boatman Geller.

Boatman Geller Carrie & Tuck Notetote at PreppyPrincess.com

If you have heard about the Notetotes it is probably because they are receiving incredibly positive press, and with good reason. Everything you need for your own portable correspondence center is included in this eye-catching set. For example, here is what you find inside the bright pink cotton canvas Notetote:

• 6″ x 9” clipboard
• writing pen
• 5 awning stripe orange foldovers
• 5 pink/orange flat cards
• 25 padded letter sheets
• 15 envelopes
• address sheet

We are all so frenzied-busy these days, being able to just grab and go is a huge plus for the Princess. It’s great while waiting at the doctor, after soccer or ballet, when you are picking up after school, when you are early for the League meeting…you name it! Using that time to dash off a quick ‘Hello,’ or ‘Thank You’ makes the time simply fly by! Besides, we feel so much more constructive with this than when we merely sit… and sit… and sit some more, fidgeting and fretting about the clock ticking, morphing into a massive stressball. Our Notetote is also good for our mental health.

The Carrie & Tuck colors are just outstanding: pink, green chocolate and navy.

The Notetotes are an outstanding value at just $39, something you can be proud to carry in public and a first-class investment you will have for years. We also think they are the perfect gift for just about anyone on any occasion, they are that versatile. Starting to teach a youngster the importance of handwritten personal correspondence? Or perhaps you’re to be a houseguest at Penny & Preston’s cottage in the Port next weekend? Searching for the ideal way to say ‘Great Job!’ to someone? The Notetote is just what you need.

And the really nice thing about the Notetotes? The fabulous refill sets you can choose from, like the oh-so-preppy Alligators, or the snappy Blue Whale set!

Or something completely new for TP, a refill set featuring a “rocker-chic skull and crossbones” design for the preppy rebel in your Palace. If that doesn’t work, then an utterly fabulous Wellies & Madras motif is a must-see.

And there are lots more, just pop in and take a peek at the refill sets to see what’s available; we are adding more as fast as our little fingers can type! (Frankly, we have considered some of the refills on their own merits as they give you a nice cross-section of items in one easy grouping and at only $18 each they are a superb value.)

Now because we know you are taking an early look at your Christmas and Hanukkah gift-giving needs, we are here to help with an offer that helps keep things within budget: free shipping on all of the Boatman Geller goodies at the Preppy Princess! As you are checking out, just type in BGDEAL when asked for any coupon codes, and you’re all set.

Since we’re already thinking about good values, let us consider the Ralph Lauren Last Chance sale, offering some remarkable values if you are in a position to ‘buy ahead’ as we say, or stock up on some basics. And of course that dreary “M-Word” rears its head, but what else is one to do when looking at Clearance merchandise? Many things are an additional 25% off the sale price, so you may want to glance at the website if a retail store isn’t geographically desirable.

So here we are, despite our extreme case of Logophobia, we simply had to show these little Infant shoes in the navy and green – how cute are they? And the Girls Toddler Snowboots are ideal with winter headed this way.

The Toddler Girl’s Hi-top Sneakers in pink oxford cloth are very cute, and the Kilcoy Satin Trim Polo in Ralph Lauren Women sizes 1x-3x has an elegant appeal.

If you are interested in US Open apparel, we show a Boys 2-7 US Open Graphic Tee, or perhaps the White Multi-Stripe Polo, now an additional 25% off its $16.99 price (it was originally $35), quite the fabulous deal *if* it can be used.

The Boys 8-20 Multi-Stripe Polo comes in two colorways and is less than $13 with all the wacky discounts. In Girls 2T-6x the Long Sleeved Polo is available in several colors.

Moving on to ‘grown-up clothes’ there are scads of bargains, especially in the Ralph Lauren Collection category, like the Erica Striped Shirt. In the Black Label group the Classic-Fit Cashmere Crewneck is at a fabulous price point and in loads of colors!

Shoes, handbags and other sale accessories abound. We have always been fond of the Darby Bag, and at the current price it is almost impossible to resist. There is also plenty of Golf and Tennis merchandise on hand, like the Westchester Tech Skort, always ideal on the court and perfect for those already planning some of the wardrobe for Florida and other parts south.

Of course, the men aren’t short-changed in the sale, with everything available from Big and Tall to Golf, and the Purple & Black Labels as well. For example the Long-sleeved rugby is on hand in a a number of colors and a broad range of sizes.And the NYC Weathered Fleece Crew has a very snuggly look to it, almost something TP would consider for wear around the Prepatorium.

This is only an itty-bitty sampling of what is available online and in the stores; now is a superb time for gathering some of the basics at rock-bottom prices, especially those that are not tied to any one season. BTW, there is a substantial selection of merchandise available across all sizes in both the US Open and Official Summer Olympic Games Collections, in Men’s, Women’s, Boy’s and Girl’s, if that holds any appeal.

There you have it – happy hunting!

Tiffany’s Good News, Must Have Wellies, the Lacoste MacLaren & Burberry Nova Strollers

We apologize to readers who may find our first news tidbit a tad dry this Monday morning, but as far as we’re concerned, good news for Tiffany’s is good news for everyone. Besides, we’re keeping it short so let’s not get our whiskers in a wad, allright? And you secretly do care about Tiffany and how it’s doing, I know you do. Tiffany Grand Poohbah James Quinn told reporters last week that not only are they continuing with their expansion plans in the U.S. despite the softening economy, they may accelerate those plans. BTW, the second hotlink to Tiffany’s shows off some of the goodies carried in-store for their Heart of Wall Street shop at the intersection of Wall & Nassau, it is well worth a stop.

Now, having seen firsthand these fabulous Wellies, we simply had to share them with you. What better to be wearing as you muck about the garden? Yes, I know you generally have people who do the slogging for you, but let’s pretend just this once, shall we? After all, they’re so fun you’ll simply have to put them once or twice and go cut a flower or two.

These are the original original classic Hunter Wellies in an eye-popping pink as bright as the roses in your garden on a summer day. New this season is a wonderful Wellie called the Joules Bon Bon, in a delightful pink liberally sprinkled with retrievers, including the little known and rare bleu retriever. Do make a note the first pair in fuchsia is linked to the company’s USA pages for buying same, whilst the Joules Bon Bon & the Young Hunters shown are linked to the firm’s UK site. There are scads more in outstanding design and color combos, so we encourage everyone to pop in and take a peek at their sites!

Now we move on to the MacLaren stroller, always appreciated by Nanny, and of course loved by Mummys and Daddys challenged with the huge perambulator and its inescapable girth and weight. Naturally the switch was made to something like this MacLaren when traveling, as it’s so much lighter in weight and collapsible. And what better style statement than a Lacoste version of the MacLaren Ryder? The good folks at Lacoste have a bonus for you: the stroller comes complete with a little white polo shirt and matching white bucket hat for the little one.

Of course Neimans has loads of strollers, include Burberry and Bugaboo. There is no shortage at Saks either, including the Burberry Nova. and the Quinny Buzz Reversible that is just handy!

Yours truly must now scamper away – too much to do and not enough time! League things are busy, not to mention all the other events on the social calendar!