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Spellbound
Monogrammed goods are all the rage
BY KATE COHEN

For Hester Prynne, it was a stigma; for Laverne DeFazio, it was a quirky trademark. These days, for the rest of us, sporting a letter on our clothing is a sign of style. Ironically, the very individuality these goods celebrate is obliterated by the presence of this ubiquitous trend, but why be troubled by sociology when there are Retro Rags velour hoodies ($49.99) at Lord & Taylor?

The most popular items for monogramming are shirts and sweaters. Jasmine Sola has Classic Girl tanks ($18) and three-quarter-sleeve baseball shirts ($19) in a wide selection of colors. Lord & Taylor runneth over with Cha Cha Vente and Retro Rags long-sleeve shirts with embroidered or sparkling letters ($24.99–$40), a black Logic V-neck sweater with faux collar and cuffs ($39.99), and pink Maurice Sasson silk/cashmere sweaters ($49.99). Arden B also has cashmere sweaters ($88) and black or white studded tank tops ($19.50). Filene’s sells Carolyn Taylor zip hoodies ($29), long-sleeve shirts ($24), turtlenecks ($18), and cardigan sweaters ($24), and simple Self Esteem silk-screened T-shirts ($14.99). Neiman Marcus online covers the high end, with Priorities made-to-order embroidered baseball T's ($68), T-shirts ($64), cashmere cardigan sweaters ($155), and a Shih long-sleeve black jersey with rhinestone letter ($58). Finally, if spelling it out during the day just isn’t enough, find Polkadot USA pajamas ($28–$36) at Lord & Taylor, a matching underwear set ($14.25) at Claire’s Accessories, and Amy Jo Gladstone monogrammed slippers ($250) at Neiman Marcus.

If you find wearing a symbol above your breast a bit too much like The Scarlet Letter, you can still get in on the trend with initialed accessories. Stuff a Liz Claiborne cosmetic case ($25), compact mirror ($15), keychain ($15), and change purse ($15) from Filene’s into a "Letter Perfect" handbag ($15–$30) or beaded coin wristlet ($15) from Lord & Taylor. Paradox is both dressy with a black fabric purse ($19.99) and casual with brightly colored leather wrist bags ($36), both available at Lord & Taylor. Filene’s sells Fashion Express studded bags in three sizes ($15–$40) and black Nine West handbags ($29–$43.99), the largest of which also has a matching initial keychain as a zipper pull. The brightest colors are at Neiman Marcus, which has Jam by Jana Feifer initialed leather bags ($90–$595). Beacon Hill’s own Flat of the Hill sells a unique embroidered shoulder bag with a wide-ribbon strap ($145).

Swimming in alphabet soup yet? Take a breather and wipe that brow with a sweatband from Claire’s ($4), or better yet, tie on a Cejon silk neckerchief ($22) from Lord & Taylor. Flip through a Tiffany catalogue and find Elsa Peretti letter-pendant necklaces in sterling silver ($100) or 18-karat gold ($330), or order up a sterling-silver Simon Sebbag pendant on a black leather cord ($85), charm bracelet ($95), or pendant necklace ($185) from Neiman Marcus. Face the world with Kemistry monogrammed leather cuff bracelets ($28), sterling-silver pendant bracelets and necklaces ($20–$25), or a Liz Claiborne hair tie ($12) from Lord & Taylor.

Winter won’t even spell the end of this trend; find Cejon coordinated scarves ($29.99), hats ($24.99), and headbands ($14.99) at Lord & Taylor, a pink-and-black cashmere scarf ($68) at Arden B, and hang everything up on tin letter hooks ($10) from Anthropologie.

Where to find it:

• Anthropologie, 799 Boylston Street, Boston, (617) 262-0545; Atrium Mall, 300 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, (617) 559-9995; www.anthropologie.com.

• Arden B, Shops at the Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, (617) 236-0834; CambridgeSide Galleria, 100 CambridgeSide Place, Cambridge, (617) 225-7960; Atrium Mall, 300 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, (617) 641-2808; www.ardenb.com.

• Claire’s Accessories, various locations; www.claires.com.

• Filene’s, various locations; www.filenes.com.

• Flat of the Hill, 60 Charles Street, Boston, (617) 619-9977.

• Lord & Taylor, 760 Boylston Street, Boston, (617) 262-6000; www.lordandtaylor.com.

• Jasmine Sola, 329 Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 437-8465; 35 Brattle Street, Cambridge, (617) 547-3173.

• Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, Boston, (617) 536-3660; www.neimanmarcus.com.

• Tiffany, Copley Place, Boston, (617) 353-0222; Atrium Mall, 300 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, (617) 527-1881; www.tiffany.com.


Issue Date: November 7 - 13, 2003
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