Not Dead...Yet

It's time. I have been not even remiss, beyond remiss in the updating of this blog. However, I am back and this time (I hope) I will not be such a slacker. So much has happened, the last time I posted a tea party was this event you had with The Girls or in my case my little girls and a few stuffed animals. Now it's, well, you know (more on this later, believe me).

I've also been still scouting out great preppy haunts in the Metro DC and Northern Virginia areas. I had passed by a shop called The Preppy Pink Pony many a time and, intrigued, had wanted to go in, but I was never there during shop hours and when I was, just not able to set aside the time to stop. Believe me as I gazed across the Safeway parking lot from the urgent care clinic, headache feeling like a vice, prescription in hand, I had wanted to stop by. But since this was my usual state when in that neck of the woods, I couldn't go by there. Until a few weeks ago when I was near there to get take out instead of stumble into the clinic sick as a dog. While waiting for the food, I took a stroll over there and Wow! This shop has alot of wonderful preppy needs and a zillion wants. They had Trappe Candles, Bed Head PJ's, lovely silver jewelry and Lilly things for the home like picture frames and bulletin boards, and Scout Bags. Which I immediately fell in love with because the webbing on many of their styles is not navy as is the case with many preppy bags but black. Which to my eye is amazing with pinks, greens and other preppy brights.

But this isn't all, The Preppy Pink Pony has Bonanno sandals, needlepoint sandals and monogrammed clogs for both big people and little people and...Lilly, the resident pooch. Natch, The Preppy Pink Pony has lots of treats for the doggie in your life.

You can visit The Preppy Pink Pony and shop online here.

Proof I am Still Alive

I am uber behind on blogging and posting - funny how a kid beginning kindergarten, a death in the family and illnesses - thank God not of the swine flu variety - will do that to a blogger.

As usual, the ideas are there but the time to post isn't. But watch this space, especially for a much overdue Diana B syrup scrub and body lotion review, and a love letter to my fave store in Williamsburg Binns Dress Shop and my favorite shopping center in Williamsburg, Merchants Square. You can't find a lovelier spot for a long weekend getaway in the fall and into the holidays. So please stay tuned!

Preppycrat to a T, or a Polo

Over the years, I've wrestled with the question of just what style I prefer - how does one reconcile loafers and twinsets with vivid 80s colors, neon, and black, black black?

Finally I've stumbled upon it. I've been more or less looking for a good raincoat the past few months. My old Merona standby in cranberry red is giving up the ghost. A friend gave me her old Burberry and thrilled, I took it. Burberry for cryin' out loud! But not only did it not fit, it was too...beige. I do feel I'm as preppy as the next Muffy or Buffy but problem is alot of colors traditionally associated with prep totally wash me out - navy and beige in particular. Other 3/4 length raincoats weren't quite right either, black/white giraffe print is overwhelming on a woman of average height like yours truly, yellow, pink, orange might well look out of style next year or the year after and besides, I'll probably get sick of them.

Then this week's rains made the quest more urgent. Finally I found it yesterday, plainer than I was looking for initially but I feel right in it and it will last. A London Fog 3/4 length trench in black. Search over. What's telling is I didn't go for the beige, it was the shape of the preppy option but in black, not the first choice for preppy color but the choice I look alot better in. Then I saw the shirt above at one of my fave places to look for shirts American Apparel. Don't know if Muffy or Buffy ever even walk past AA but then again, this prep also has one foot in the 80s and never quite left. Though this shirt is neon purple, it's a polo shirt. I don't own it...yet.

Then there are the shoes - a pair of Sesto Meucci black loafer mules. Preppy shape yes. But in black patent leather with a graffiti print on them that's gotten alot of comments (and compliments) each time I've worn them. The pattern is in shades of green, turquoise, red, and white, and reminiscent of something Stephen Sprouse may have dreamed up and created. I can't for the life of me find them online but will take a pic asap and post it here.

And if any of y'all are curious, I will elaborate on my style journey and how prep wound up coexisting with 80s chick in a subsequent post. All I can say is it can work. Really.

Because I've Neglected the Preppy

Part of Preppycrat, here's a breath of fresh air from the elections. Over Labor Day weekend, we had a friend from Manhattan visit for the weekend. We had a free morning, it was a beautiful day and we decided to go for a drive to a place that was as different from NYC as it could be, the Virginia horse country.

Middleburg has unsung glories. Amongst the upscale restaurants and pubs, antique stores and art galleries we found an excellent second hand store, The Middleburg Humane Foundation thrift shop. The draw here is the riding boots - not for equestrians and equestriennes only! MHF has brand new boots, all leather, beautifully made for $50/pair. Who would have thunk it?

Another treasure we found was the Salamander Touch, a gift shop selling everything from funny and unique greeting cards, to jewelry and leather messenger bags, to Blue Q gifts, and for the men several scents from Royall Fragrances. You can even find something for the kids here from the Guess How Much I Love You line of baby care products. "Doc" is thrilled with his Royall Spyce cologne and the little princesses love Guess How Much I Love You lotion. Mommy loves that it's paraben free.

And my pal from Manhattan? She had a blast, loved being in the country and seeing the men and boys walking down the street in their polo jerseys only added to the exoticness of the day.

We're planning on going back when she's in town again.

Unsung Spot for Preppy Sweaters

From time to time I will blog about stores in my area and before I do, will make sure that they haven't had much attention, if any, from the blogosphere. I found one on a trip to Tyson's Galleria a few days ago, Knits etc. I'd walked by this store many a time on the way to my friend Bill's store Art With Flowers on the third floor. But this time something caught my eye, a pink A line knit skirt with a solid underskirt and an overskirt that appeared to be the "car wash" style but was actually strips of solid knit sewn over transparent knit. Ahhh, perfect for my company's holiday party later this year (last year I'd made the mistake of shopping WAY too late for it and dammit, the perfect dress was not available in my size). But not in pink...in black. On I go into the store and what finds! Almost everything was on sale, and I found a nice selection of sweaters in classic styles, v necks, cardigans, shells, all in the $25-$50 range. Knits etc carries a variety of scarves, handbags, dresses and yes, the skirt I wanted came in a number of colors including black. The handbags were all in the $85 to $135 range in pleather vs leather if you are looking for manmade options, and nary a magnetic closure on the bags that I could see but pushlocks and zippers. Nice because I'm in that camp that swears the magnetic closures on bags ruin ATM and credit cards.

Knits etc, is on the second floor near the Sur La Table store.