Reader Question: For a Work Tote Bag, Look at Eliza B.

A reader recently wrote to me saying that although she loved her L.L. Bean Boat and Totes, she was looking for a tote that was less casual and something that she would feel more comfortable bringing into the office.  She wanted to know what I used for similar situations.

So here are two that I have been using this Spring.   Both totes are from Eliza B.,  both are made in Essex,  Connecticut, and both are canvas; yet they have a different look and feel.

The first is The Brit Bag.

This Khaki tote has a leather bottom.

Rolled leather on the straps;
Navy and Nantucket Red striped Surcingle handles

Lined with Khaki Ultrasuede

This second tote is The Essex Tote.

Suede handles and bottom;
Lined with navy velvet, which has come in very handy for protecting electronics

I have used this bag for meetings in town, here with pink clogs.

With free-range hens, you don't have to wait until Easter for an egg hunt!

Yesterday's Egg Find 

Happy Easter from The Daily Prep!

Cape Madras Patchwork Camp Shorts

The Camp Shorts have a 7" inseam

Madras is iconic for summer wear along the New England Coast, arguably even more than seersucker.   So, as the weather warmed up slightly, I was able to break out my Cape Madras Camp Shorts.

The color is "Cannes"

Cape Madras, a Maine Coast vendor, makes the best madras shorts I have found.   The authentic madras, made in Cape Madras' factory in India, is rich in color, soft to the touch, and has a classic and comfortable cut.

These shorts look great new, and will get even better with age.

Reader Question: What to Wear to Graduation Weekend? A Guest Response

Photograph taken by the author.

Hello Muffy, 

We live in Brazil and our oldest son is attending a school in Connecticut. He will be graduating in May. 

In connection with his graduation, my husband and I are traveling to the U.S. to participate of the formal dance / dinner on Saturday night, and the graduation ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Our son will hopefully be rowing at the New England Regatta on that same weekend. I wonder what would you advise us to wear for those events. 

We have been reading a lot but still some doubts remain. Should I wear a long dress on the Saturday night dinner? Should my husband wear a dark suit for the dinner, tuxedo or a jacket with slacks? How about on the boat race and on day of ceremony on Sunday? I would appreciate you help and if you need some more details just let me know. Best Regards.


I asked a friend to answer it for me, as she is the perfect person to do so:


Dear Reader,

Muffy has asked me to respond to your inquiry since we live in Litchfield County and have a son who is a recent graduate of a New England prep school and who now rows for an Ivy League University.

The weather in late May in this part of Connecticut tends to be hot and humid, but somewhat cooler in the evening. It is not unusual to have rain. You certainly will want to bring along a straw hat for the sun and heat of the day, an umbrella and a light outer layer of some sort for each outfit, such as a cardigan or pashmina. Worcester, Massachusetts, where the Easterns are held, has a climate identical to that of western Connecticut.

Check your invitation to the dinner dance. If formal wear is required, it will certainly say so, but I have never heard of a prep school imposing such rigid clothing codes on parents, students and faculty. More likely, it is cocktail party attire. The graduation will be held outside and perhaps under a tent, which means hats to protect you against the sun, reasonable shoes for the grass (i.e. less than 2” heels) and umbrellas in case of rain. Lake Quinsigamond, where the New England prep schools and universities meet for their annual spring regatta, is a less tony version of The Head of The Charles or Henley. It will be crowded but fun. Every school has a tent and picnic for athletes and families. You can anticipate the better dressed parents wearing smart country clothing but the ground underfoot will be uneven and wet, so wear comfortable but smart walking shoes. In fact, take your cues from the magazine, Country Life, and dress for the English countryside. New Englanders are all anglophiles and like to dress like English country ladies and gentlemen.

Your husband is safe all weekend in the typical New England men’s uniform of a classic Brooks Brother’s blue blazer, oxford broadcloth shirt, silk tie and tan or gray slacks. Men generally wear gray for more formal occasions, such as the dinner or graduation, and tan or khaki or more informal daytime use, such as the regatta. Please refer to the Brooks Brother’s website (www.brooksbrothers.com). No suit is required at any time. English men’s shoes, particularly those made by the British cobbler, Peal’s (found at Brooks Brothers) are always tasteful and appropriate. He may want a comfortable pair of sneakers (trainers) or LL Bean’s boat shoes or moccasins (www.llbean.com) for the regatta or walking around the campus. We love our penny loafers in New England and Bass Weejuns (oxblood being the preferred color) are tasteful and popular among the prep school set, both old and young.

Dressing appropriately as a woman in New England, unfortunately, is not as straightforward. We generally dress in very understated attire, wear minimal make-up (modestly colored lipstick and powder, perhaps adding a bit of mascara for the evening and short fingernails colored, if at all, in neutral pink or clear polish). Our jewelry also tends to be of a modest variety, such as pearl (a single or double strand for the neck is appropriate) or small diamond studs. Rings tend to be limited to engagement and wedding, with perhaps a family crest on the pinky of the opposite hand. A gold bangle or two and a gold charm bracelet or gold link bracelet is fine, but nothing more. As my grandmother used to say, “The only appropriate display of wealth is through charity.” Very high-heeled shoes are inappropriate in any of the settings you describe. You will want a nice pair of flats, some walking shoes, Wellingtons or boat shoes for the crew race (for Wellingtons, try Aigle or Hunter boots; for boat shoes try LL Bean and for flats you are safe with a typical ballerina style such as those made by Delman or French Sole). You will be comfortable in slacks or an A-line shirt with a cardigan and cotton blouse or T-shirt for the crew race and during the day. Stay away from any short and tight skirts or tops, particularly if they reveal your cleavage. Perfume should always “whisper rather than scream.” Prep school boys can be cruel to one another and a sexy mother will only draw inappropriate attention to herself and her son.

For examples of appropriate attire, try

• www.aquascutum.co.uk
• www.pendleton-usa.com
• www.talbots.com, 
• www.jmclaughlin.com, or 
• www.jcrew.com. 

 Our First Lady, Michele Obama, likes J. Crew and is always modestly and appropriately dressed. For my son’s graduation ceremony I wore a sleeveless A-line linen dress with coordinating cardigan and Ferragamo tan and black spectator shoes with a modest heel. For jewelry I wore a double strand of pearls, pearl studs and one gold bracelet. I was comfortable in conforming to the look of most of the mothers. The catalogues this spring have many excellent examples of this look, but one which comes to mind is the following sateen dress from the latest Pendleton Collection:

http://www.pendleton-usa.com/ensemble/Women/OUTFITS/Classic-Outfits/Gina-Sateen-Dress-Pearl-Torsade-Necklace-Silk-Scarf-and-Open-Toe-Pumps/487/sc/1936/c/1832/pc/1815.uts

You can take more liberties with the dinner dance, but a formal dress would not be appropriate in my view. I would wear silk slacks, white or off-white, and a cheerful silk top. You can finish your look with a smart pair of flats or low heels and some fun jewelry. A recent addition to the category of fun jewelry is Meg Carter Designs (www.megcarterdesigns.com/).

We have a custom in the US that white (and summer clothing in general) is not worn before Memorial Weekend or after Labor Day Weekend. Since Memorial Day falls on the weekend of your son’s graduation, you can safely wear summer clothing all weekend long! You probably will also be treated to a traditional New England Memorial Day parade along the main street. Have fun, and remember it is always better to err on the side of anonymity.

Sincerely yours,
HHH

The Author, HHH

Lamb Update

This one has grown a lot in the last two weeks.

Quite a few readers asked how the lambs were doing from an earlier post. I checked in just a few days ago, and I am happy to say they are doing great.

My favorite farms have a variety of breeds and species, and mix growing animals and plants.

The classic and functional chamois shirt.

Of Bean's and Barbour

A nearly empty Freeport.

Each season I like to take a walk through L.L. Bean's Freeport store, and I recently did just that.  I find it more satisfying to see everything in person so I can get a feel for the colors, fabrics, and quality.  I also time it carefully, so as not to have to deal with the throngs of tourists.  

I have seen a lot moose in person over the years, but it is fun to see what the taxidermists can do.

I am still not a fan of L. L. Bean Signature.

But I am a big fan of the Boat and Totes.

They offer quite a few good colors this season.   I will definitely be ordering the Cool Green which I will have monogrammed in a bright pink, probably the default thread color for the Pink Berry.  I am still considering the yellow (Sunrise).

The Hunting Store at night, where I left empty-handed.

On a slightly warmer day,  I headed down to Portland. 

This is the time of year when one can find good prices on items from the past Fall/Winter season, and Barbour did not disappoint.  One flag for me however, was that each of their bags I picked up, while tasteful, was made in China. 

I did get some Barbour items.

I found this Tyne Sports Crew Neck Sweater in Derby Tweed for my husband.  This is an unbelievably thick 5 gauge wool sweater.

I also got him this 100% cotton Sporting Tattersall Shirt.

Having had a run on wax, they had it in stock again.

Barbour's Linhope Berwick Tweed Jacket

Fortunately, or unfortunately, it is still chilly enough for me to be able to wear it today.

My Father's Maine

I believe the experiences around "summering in Maine" historically have been as influential and beneficial to the Prep aesthetic as boarding schools and top universities. This includes the palette, natural beauty, the architecture, love of the out-of-doors, respect for work, need for ruggedness, coastal activities, and eschewing of fussiness.

I hope any vendor trying to capture the prep aesthetic would not trawl malls and resorts, looking for people who, in the immortal words of Oscar Wilde, resemble "peacocks in everything but beauty."  The goal should be to move away from consumers, as described amusingly in 2008's The Anglo Files by Sarah Lyall (Amazon link), who:

Are gaudy and tacky but who revel in their gaudy tackiness.... who like flashy jewelry and expensive, over-the-top, logo-studded designer clothes,... pull their hair tightly back in buns or ponytails, a style known as a "council house facelift,"... [and] go on outrageous spending sprees.

And creating flimsy knock-offs of Prep styles and palettes is a betrayal of Prep, not just a "light" version of it.  Rather, aspirational vendors may spend more time along traditional Maine venues.  Here are some examples from my archives.

 

My father's favorite piece of the coast, and down the hill from where his ashes were later spread.

The above pictures were taken by my father, shown here attempting to out-run the rain on Orange Street in New Haven in his J. Press khaki suit.

I am at a loss for words...

I couldn't not buy these today at my local grocery store.  Sigh. 

Compare with Lilly Pulitzer Prints.

Reader Questions: Places to Visit; Places to Live

Several reader questions follow a similar theme:

• Dear Muffy,  I recently found your blog and have enjoyed it quite a bit. My daughter just moved to a small town in Westchester County, NY. We'll be visiting her over the next few years and want to tie our visits into exploring that part of the world. We've driven up the coast of Maine to Bar Harbor and recently visited Newport, RI and Cape Cod. My son-in-law's family is from Marblehead, Massachusetts and spending a few days there was wonderful - but we don't know much about anything else in New England. We try to avoid tourists in season. I was wondering if you have any suggestions about places to visit...places that might be a bit off the beaten path. Or places thundering herds of tourists haven't discovered and ruined with tacky shops filled with things made in China. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

• Muffy, I just recently discovered your blog.  I'm excited to say that my wife and I have decided to vacation in New England. This will be our first trip to New England. What would your recommendations be on places to go and things to see? We were planning on trying to stay in a centralized location in order to see as much as we can during our trip. Any suggestions from a native would be appreciated.  Thank you for your time on this matter.

• My family and I are looking at relocating to New England this summer; my husband is originally from New Hampshire and has always wanted to move “back home.” Could you please recommend some quaint preppy towns in southern ME, NH or MA to look at? Is there any place that stands out to you as….reasonable, an excellent deal for your money, yet retain charm and class? Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Any effort here is necessarily incomplete, certainly overwhelming, and thereby (in as much as it is covered in this blog) at best done cumulatively. Further, one could reasonably construct an ontology around places to visit for a few days, places to summer, and places to live. (Even this is muddied by the fact that when we travel, if at all possible we stay with friends or family, rather than hotels, inns, or resorts.)

Hopefully, some of the past posts, including Favorite Clothing Shops and Great Places to Eat Afterwards, and the post label of Muffy’s Atlas begin to populate this topic.

Given that, and with some overlaps of past posts, here are some places to start:

Maine
Camden and Bar Harbor have plenty of places to stay but are thick with tourists in season. We stay with friends in Southwest Harbor and on Isleboro Island instead. Blue Hill is a lovely, and quieter, destination with The Blue Hill Inn.

It is more difficult to find an out-of-the-way place in Southern Maine. There is the well known White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine. Prouts Neck is a lovely old summer colony but you do have the Black Point Inn.

Portland, Maine: My favorite New England City.

Portland, Maine is my favorite coastal New England city – a food destination and richly diverse. These places to stay come to mind:

• Portland Regency
• The Danforth
• The Pomegranate Inn
• The Portland Harbor Hotel

Mid-coast has Boothbay Harbor, but again, filled with many tourists. Nearby Damariscotta, Round Pond and Christmas Cove are preferable for summering and year-round living.  And south of Bath, the Falmouth, Cumberland and Yarmouth area is ideal for year-round living as well, with access to both the Jetport and the Downeaster.

And well hidden on Georgetown Island is the Grey Havens Inn.

New Hampshire
The coastline here is small so one can go inland to Lake Winnipesaukee and the beautiful town of Wolfeboro, and then south to the Peterborough and Dublin area.  And the New London, Hanover areas to the north and west are also lovely, to live as well as to visit.

Portsmouth is a vibrant small city with a good deal of texture.


Massachusetts
When I think of nice places to live in Massachusetts, Marblehead, Marion and Hingham come immediately to mind, as do the Boston suburbs of Wellesley, Concord and the like.

The City of Boston

And while it is difficult to find an unattractive spot on the Cape it can also be somewhat difficult to ge around, there are so many people in season. The same can be said for Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. My husband’s parents have had a summer house on the Vineyard  for many decades, but the hassle has made our visits less frequent.

Rhode Island
There is the obvious Newport, but clogged with tourists. I like visiting friends in Watch Hill and Little Compton. Both are better for summering and year-round living.

Connecticut
Old Lyme  has the lovely Bee and Thistle Inn and Essex across the Connecticut River has The Griswold Inn. Fenwick in Old Saybrook is one of the most genteel spots, but it is a private summer colony.

Stonington is great for visiting, but nearby Noank might be better for living.

Guilford is desirable for year-round living.

Stony Creek is a highly textured fishing enclave, but you really need to know someone there.  The well known Thimble Islands are packed with summer residents in season.

I look for places that are low-key, dog-friendly, and with natural beauty. (Our Golden Retriever, Bristol, at Pemaquid Point, 1992.)

This just scratches the surface.  I will add entries on interesting places in posts to come.