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November 3, 2008

Lauren Bush's schoolgirl fling

Looks like Lauren Bush is hopping aboard the schoolgirl trend—here she is at the the relaunch of Dylan's Candy Bar last week in New York City, wearing a candy-striped Cynthia Rowley jacket.

She almost pulls it off—but with her naturally head girl-y demeanor, this preppy jacket looks a little costumey. An edgier haircut would have offset the overwhelmingly collegiate feel of her ensemble.

Think you can do better?

The multi-colored jacket with white piping detail and side pockets is available for purchase at www.cynthiarowley.com

$330, buy here.

 

November 3, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 27, 2008

Glitter your pumpkins

This Halloween, stylish pumpkins are wearing more glitter than Mariah Carey's cleavage—just ask Sarah Jessica Parker, who purchased a number of spangly squashes from Ovando, an NYC-based floral design company.
"They’re a great quick way to add some last minute Halloween décor to your home," said a rep from Ovando, and we couldn't agree more.
If you can't afford to buy Ovando's jazzed up Jack-O'-Lanterns, Martha Stewart can show you how to make them at home here. She's also suggesting you drill dozens of holes into your pumpkin, resulting in a celestial Swiss Cheese effect. How fun!
Visit Ovando's website here, or call them 212 924 7848.

October 27, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 21, 2008

Grande dame Rosamond Bernier opens up her vintage couture closet

A connoisseur of the finest of arts and highest of cultures, New York socialite Rosamond Bernier has a wardrobe that befits her status as an international grande dame. For the first time ever, she will be opening up that legendary wardrobe for a sale on Yoox.com, the highlight of which is Bernier’s haute couture water-print taffeta ball gown designed in 1959 by Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior, with its matching evening bag—a rare example from Saint Laurent’s brief reign at Dior, which gave him his entrée into the realm of Parisian high fashion.
Bernier has given more than 200 lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and many of her talks were about artists whom she counted among her friends: Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Fernand Léger, Joan Miró, Max Ernst, Alberto Giacometti.
Rather than wearing a little black dress for the lectures, she liked to go all out with her high fashion ensembles. “I thought of it as a performance," explains Bernier. Many of those couture dresses remained ‘sleeping beauties‘in her closet until Federico Marchetti of online retailer Yoox.com came along and convinced her to put them up for auction.
Yoox will create a dedicated area featuring excerpts from her lectures, photographs from her personal collection, and a video interview, to establish the biographical context for the selection of vintage pieces available for sale.  
Bernier worked for Paris Vogue after World War II before co-founding L’Oeil,  a prestigious art magazine of the era. She has lived in New York for nearly 40 years now with her husband John Russell, a former New York Times art critic. She has been decorated for her contributions to culture, awarded the Legion of Honor and the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres in France, and the Cross of the Order of Isabel la Catolica, bestowed by King Juan Carlos of Spain.
On Yoox.com Rosamond Bernier will comment on each featured item from her wardrobe, sharing her recollections of how and when she acquired it and the noteworthy occasions on which she wore it.   
The sale is geared toward serious private collectors and museums. It will also feature a Zandra Rhodes dress from the early 1970’s, a Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel red wool bouclé suit from the early 1980’s and a Kenneth Jay Lane leaf necklace, circa 1970.
The sale starts this Thursday October 23 at around 9 a.m., EST at Yoox.com.

October 21, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 9, 2008

Skagen: The Great Dane

Denmark—it's the happiest place in the world (according to the Global Peace Index), with the highest levels of income equality, a progressive film scene (Lars Von Trier is Danish) and some of Europe's most cutting-edge design. Skagen Denmark, makers of sleek, fairly-priced lifestyle accessories, embodies the Danish spirit of happy excellence. As such I'm delighted  to announce that Skagen Designs is opening its NYC showroom to the public for the first time ever, for a sample sale on October 23 from 8:30 a.m.to 7 p.m. Many of the brand's iconic titanium, stainless steel and leather watches, stylish plastic and metal sunglasses, sleek leather carry-alls and elegant stainless steel jewelry will be deeply discounted. We're told there will also be a selection of little-seen Skagen cashmere sweaters for only $90. A portion of the event's proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer organization in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
All Skagen products are inspired by the Danish village of Skagen, a picturesque artists colony sitting on the tip of the Jutland peninsula. It was Denmark's equivalent of Provincetown in the 1800s, attracting scores of bohemians, artists and writers thanks to the unearthly quality of its light.
The sale takes place for one day only, October 23 from 8:30 a.m.to 7 p.m. at the Skagen Designs showroom, located at 339 5th Avenue, 5th floor (between 33rd and 34th streets).
www.skagen.com

October 9, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 23, 2008

Not the Emmys: Taylor Momsen at the Met Opera opening night

The New York Times was especially irritable in its coverage of the Emmys (and that's saying something, considering the near universal panning Sunday's Emmycast has received in the media). So, for those jaded Gothamites who simply won't suffer another word about Los Angeles and its Emmy Awards—here's Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen looking very elegant for her years in crimson Marchesa at the Met Opera Gala in New York last night.
Yet to turn 16, Momsen (who plays Jenny Humphrey on the show) makes a chic statement in this pleated organza gown with crimson suede bodice. Aside from the red lipstick, which is a little OTT with her platinum hair and garnet dress, she looks divine. Compare and contrast with Phoebe Price, who attempted the Lady in Red look with disastrous results on the Emmy carpet. (Whoops—did I say Emmy again? Fiddlesticks!)
The Marchesa collection, designed by Georgina Chapman, is available at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and specialty stores nationwide.

September 23, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 16, 2008

Robert Verdi: Born for TV

Larger than life, scathingly honest and balder than a baby's behind, TV fashionista and lifestyle expert Robert Verdi is what's known in the business as "a trip".
I met Verdi (who regularly styles Eva Longoria and J-Lo) during New York Fashion Week at his showroom the Luxe Laboratory, where he was hosting an intimate cocktail party for "Portfolio" magazine's European fashion editor Dana Thomas (stayed tuned for my story about Thomas and her groundbreaking book "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster").
Wearing a jewel-encrusted t-shirt beneath a tailored suit jacket,  Verdi had filled the "must be seen to be believed" apartment with designer armchairs, enormous contemporary chandeliers and a giant flat screen TV that functioned as a virtual aquarium. In the bathroom, slick-haired French financiers murmured between themselves next to a ginormous jacuzzi tub, flanked by bottles and bottles of expensive hair product.
"Do you think anyone would notice if I moved in?" I asked one of Robert's assistants. "Maybe not," he said, "but there's no bedroom." I assured him that one of the many over-stuffed couches would suffice.
Verdi and his dog Lucinda whirred about the party on invisible roller skates, braking for brief, breathless conversation before whizzing on to the next guest. "He's a total psychopath, hate him!" Verdi cheerfully yelled, overhearing me mention the name of a leading New York fashion designer. "What the hell is she wearing—she looks like a little boy!" Verdi screamed in horror, pointing at one of his guests, who happened to be standing not three feet away. His frankness was entertaining, and not dumb. Not once did the performance feel contrived—one gets the impression that Verdi was just born like this...born for TV, that is.
I finally pinned him down to talk about his varied broadcast projects. He is about to start taping the second season of his mature models show "She's Got The Look" for TV Land, and is in talks with QVC to launch a jewelry line. He's also host of Surprise By Design on the Discovery Home Channel, and the Style Network's Fashion Police. And then there's a reality show in the pipeline. The working title is the rather genius: "Me, Me, Me.". 
"So Robert," I asked, "what's the show about?"
www.robertverdi.com

September 16, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

20% off online shopping at Owl's Lab

Owl's Lab, the Washington Square, NYC boutique formerly known as Addict, has solid celebrity credentials, naturally—what high-end boutique these days doesn't? What's really exciting is that its online store is offering 20% off to those in the know.
But back to those celebrities (this is Variety after all):
Blake Lively was photographed on the set of "Gossip Girl" with this Bryna Nicole 'Loyola' satchel in violet, available at Owl's Lab for $595.
The store's publicists also inform us that Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jessica Alba are fans of the store. Alba has been spotted with the Rebecca Minkoff 'Nikki' bag and J Brand Maternity jeans gifted to her by the store. Maria Carey's stylist also shopped with them (yes, she pays someone to make her look like that), and the singer ended up wearing her Citizens of Humanity jean shorts from Owl's when she pitched a ball at a game in Japan.
The store carries the following designers and many more:  7 for all Mankind, Botkier, Jill Stuart, Rag & Bone, Sonia Rykiel, Tibi and Vera Wang Lavender Label.
Enjoy 20% off online orders by typing in the code " happy20" at checkout. Offer good till September 20th.
Owl's Lab is located at 20 E. 12th St., (212) 633-2672. Shop online here.

September 16, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 11, 2008

Wabbits have wights, even at Fashion Week

This New York Fashion Week has seen angry protests by animal rights activists outside—and inside—the tents at Bryant Park.
PETA activists stormed the runway at Donna Karan's Sunday presentation, claiming she had broken a promise to no longer use rabbit fur in her designs. (While the collection on the runway did not feature fur, designs currently in her stores do.) The two protesters were arrested.
And Carolina Herrera was the subject of an NYC Animal Rights Group Protest, whose members dressed up as blood-splattered bunny executioners.
More protests are scheduled for today.
The Stylephile's position? Wabbit fur feels really nice but the methods with which it is procured—not so nice. And that tends to detract from the whole fur-wearing experience, if you allow yourself to think about it.

PS. I visited the NYC Animal Rights website and found this amazing photo of two very distressed-looking sea creatures called Hatchetfish. Maybe they too are horrified about the rabbits.

September 11, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rodarte's radical attack

Rodarte's Mulleavy sisters put paid to criticisms that they are only capable of chintzy, Sugar Plum Fairy doily frocks, unveiling a breathtakingly original collection that was more Mad Max than meringue.
The pièce de résistance was, in my opinion, the first to hit the catwalk—am epic technicolor goddess gown that cupped the model's charms with the loving touch of a sculptor.From there came an array of multi-layered, deconstructed mesh and lace frocks, in shades of black, gray and taupe, worn with fishnet leggings and Harajuku platforms, and fit for a petulant punk rock ballerina.
While remaining true to the Mulleavy sisters' unshakably feminine principles, this collection showed how easily and skilfully they can deconstruct their own style. When pushed, these girls can get radical.
Right on.

September 11, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

Narciso Rodriguez Spring/Summer '09: Daring, yet demure

Pure, clean silhouettes are what Narciso Rodriguez excels at, and his latest collection—an exercise in glamorous symmetry—stayed true to form. Dresses hovered coyly above the knee, with vavavoom smuggled in via tight bandaging and discreet panels of exposed flesh. Black or white bandages were placed with almost clinical precision upon a procession of dresses that quietly oozed sex, looking like they had been applied by a doctor who is also an expert at Japanese rope bondage. Models looked happy to be strapped in to their frocks, while the occasional round-shouldered, bubble-skirted bodices nodded, intentionally or otherwise, to Balenciaga.
This was a wonderfully versatile collection—this season, Narciso Rodriguez' ladies can be as demure or as provocative as they choose to be.

September 11, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

In remembrance: September 11

Despite one reader's kind suggestion that I stick to writing about scarves and shoes (see Sarah Palin post here), I'd like to take a second to remember all those brave souls who lost their lives here in New York, on this day seven years ago.
I flew in to New York last night and found the city predictably consumed with the fabulous pomp and circumstance of its Fashion Week. Yet this morning, understandably, many denizens woke up in more somber mood.
I'm staying at the excellent Nu Hotel in Brooklyn (blessed with possibly the friendliest hotel staff in history), where the chief engineer Alvin Torres talked to me this morning about his memories of 9/11. I bumped in to him in the corridor, and noticed his colorful tie, emblazoned with stars, stripes and an image of the two ill-fated towers.
Torres told me how he had been working at the Regent Wall Street Hotel at 55 Wall St. the day of the attacks. "At first, we assumed it  must be confetti," said Alvin, referring to the dust and ash that fell from the sky after the first plane hit. "Then we realized—there was no ticker tape parade." Alvin watched in horror as the second plane hit. He says it's thanks to his military training and a "strong, stable family upbringing" that he kept a clear head while he and colleague Clyde Wilson evacuated the hotel.
Today, he wishes that New Yorkers could reclaim the sense of unity that they displayed after the attacks. "People were nice for about sixty days," he said, "and then it was back to normal. But New York should be like that every day."
Buy a patriotic Twin Towers tie here.

September 11, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 9, 2008

Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer '09: Mary Poppins meets your grandma

Miss Marple, Maupassant and Eastern European fortune tellers will never go out of style, as evidenced at Marc Jacobs' Spring/Summer '09 show in New York.
These looks are the epitome of democratic style, in that you can imagine them working just as well on a young nubile hipster as you could on a homeless crazy lady with three teeth...which is exactly why we loved 'em.
The shoulders were from the screen sirens of the 1940s. The thick wood-soled sandals were from Japanese tea houses. The shiny fabrics were borrowed from Bianca Jagger's closet, circa Studio 54. The sashes were on loan from Romanian gypsy camps. And the hats were supplied by Mary Poppins's private milliner.
Hooray, Marc Jacobs—this sweet, quirky, mish-mash of a collection made me smile.

September 9, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 4, 2008

Omigod: it's Shannen Doherty, cool again

Like, omigod--Shannen Doherty, star of the new "90210", is hosting tonights Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show in New York, suggesting that Doherty's legacy of hideous 90s mommy jeans may finally be behind her.

This is a come-back 15 years in the making, dating back to when Doherty departed the original Beverly Hills 90210 cast amid accusations of belligerence, drug use and general bad style.

Now older, wiser and styled by "Friends" costume designer Debra McGuire for the CW's new "90210", Doherty is ready to take on hosting duties for the fashion show that launched the career of Zac Posen.

Brenda, it seems, is finally back.

Tickets for tonights event are sold out. Look for coverage on The Stylephile.

September 4, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 27, 2008

World's fiercest costume designer: Eric Daman

"Gossip Girl's" Eric Daman could well be the fiercest costume designer in the world right now, as demonstrated by the legions of fans who lined up to catch a glimpse of him and his girls at Henri Bendel in New York last weekend.

Here he is, naked beneath his tight waistcoat, strutting the red carpet and soaking up the love.

The party, thrown by Henri Bendel (Daman recently dressed the windows) and YSL Beauté, celebrates the "Gossip Girl's" second season, which launches on the CW, September 1. The show is known as much for its influence over fashion as for its storylines.

A reporter for Paper magazine wrote how one determined fan breached the velvet rope, determined to get a photo of her heros. When challenged by a photographer, the fan countered "Just cause you got a big camera, bitch, you ain't all that. Why, I should come over there and slap you down!"
Which is also fierce...Scary fierce.

August 27, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 24, 2008

Now boarding...world's first in-flight TV premiere

The first-ever in-flight premiere of a cable or broadcast program takes place next week, when Virgin Chairman Sir Richard Branson and members of the cast of "Entourage" will unveil “Entourage Air”, a custom-wrapped Airbus A320 aboard which Episode One of "Entourage's" fifth season will be publicly screened for the first time.
Sir Richard and the "Entourage" cast will christen the aircraft (the newest in the Virgin America fleet) during the send-off party at JFK airport in New York, complete with Dom Perignon champagne bar. (Guests have been warned that while the dress code is casual, they should "think Vince, not Turtle".)
Then the plane will take off, marking the launch of Virgin America’s new non-stop flight route from JFK to Las Vegas.
On board, passengers will watch the first episode of "Entourage" Season Five, while being supplied with “Entourage Class” amenities—noise canceling headphones, Godiva truffles, Kiehl’s products, Altoids, and catered full course meals from New York chef Keith Dilauro. When passengers arrive in Vegas, they'll party down at the Palms casino at the world’s only Playboy Club. They'll be flown back to New York the next day.
No word on whether high class call girls are included aboard Entourage Air—but here's hoping.
www.VirginAmerica.com

August 24, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (3)

August 23, 2008

Noel Ashman's Plumm job

The worlds of music, fashion and celebrity collide at The Plumm, co-owned by "Sex and The City" actor Chris Noth, Samantha Ronson and Joey McIntyre. The Plumm is where Tommy Hilfiger and Axl Rose had their infamous bust-up, and where model Agyness Deyn and Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes got kissy-kissy shortly before announcing their engagement.
But it's the man behind The Plumm—Noel Ashman—who is the more interesting story.
In the 1990s, when most of his peers were still playing My Little Pony, Ashman was already a precocious club-hopper, smooth-talking his way into Manhattan's most glamorous nightspots. Ashman's parents, worried about their son's hyperactive social life, told him he was going to boarding school. So he left home, aged 13.
At the time, he was a part-time gopher for a real estate company, working for a man who owned "half the Upper Westside."
"I asked my boss if I could move in to one of his vacant apartments, and I paid him cash," recalls Ashman. "Then I called school and said 'I'm not coming in today'."
Ashman (who did go back to school and got his college degree) began renting lofts and throwing weekend parties for his pubescent friends, many of them the sons and daughters of Manhattan's rich and famous.
"I did parties at the Tunnel during the Club Kid days," says Ashman, recalling working with the infamous Michael Alig, who was played by Macaulay Culkin in "Party Monster". "The Club Kids loved us 15 year olds. We would mix my kind of uptown crowd with their very trendy crowd."
Ashman's youthful inner circle matured into known actors, models and socialites, and club owners who had once greeted Ashman with raised eyebrows started begging him to throw parties at their venues.
When his assistant Randall Emmett moved to Hollywood to become a producer ("Day of the Dead", "The Wicker Man") he called Ashman and suggested he try his hand at producing too. "He was the one who got me to produce my first film, 'Speedway Junky'," says Ashman. "He told me that producing required the exact same skills that I used to run my clubs. They are very similar, which is why I've enjoyed it."
Ashman produced a handful of movies, and is currently in talks to make a film loosely based on his life. "It's about a kid who grows up in a very affluent family in New York and has to survive in the heart of the nightclub business," says Ashman.
And then there's The Plumm, beloved by everyone from Scarlett Johansson to Josh Hartnett to Lenny Kravitz to Adriana Lima. Ashman books all the performers and deejays, who have included Samantha Ronson, actress Asia Argento and David Bryan from Bon Jovi.
One of the biggest problems with today's New York nightlife scene, he says, is the bottle service craze—a phenomenon he admits partial responsibility for. "The New York club scene used to be about creative people," says Ashman. "Even if you had no money, if you looked good and dressed creatively, you'd get in. Now, because of bottle service, anyone can buy their way into a club, even if they're not attractive or creative."
Including The Plumm? "No...the Plumm's unique," he says.

August 23, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 18, 2008

Eco, fetish and a touch of grime: Lower East Side Flipside fashion show

Usually the clothes you see on Orchard Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side are cheap, imported and 100 percent synthetic, but on August 17 they were chic, vintage and eco-friendly. The L.E.S. Fashion Flipside event (organized by The Lower East Side Business Improvement District and sponsored by Metro NY) got all the neighborhood’s best boutiques together to turn Orchard into a makeshift runway and show off the distinctive L.E.S. style, with an eco-twist.

After all, whether they’re using eco fabrics, supporting local designers, or selling vintage, many L.E.S hipster boutiques have a shade of green about them. Take the Dressing Room Bar and Boutique, which provides workspace and retail for local designers, and will take your old clothing in exchange for cash, clothing or booze from their in-store bar. (Plenty of fashion-obsessed girls in Manhattan like to trade in last season’s look for a couple of rounds of Ketel and water.)

Other noteworthy boutiques included Kaight, Shop and David Owens Vintage, who showed off both contemporary and retro duds. In true L.E.S. style, there was fetish-wear (from adults-only garment haven Demask), plenty of pleather, and an inebriated street person who tried to climb on the runway—it wouldn’t be the Lower East Side without a little sex and a little grime, after all...

August 18, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (3)

August 13, 2008

MODEL.LIVE: Vogue TV's new online documentary series

Next week, Vogue.tv launches a new 14-part online series documenting the lives of three fresh-faced models trying to thrive—and survive—in New York.
MODEL.LIVE follows three models Cate Van Ee (the Natalia Vodianova one, top, left), Austria Alcantara (the Chanel Iman one, top, right) and Madeline Kragh (the Agyness Deyn one, bottom) as they prepare to walk the runway in New York, London, Paris and Milan for the first time.
I already have a little crush on Madeline, a wandering boho type from Arizona who left home at 15 and traveled the world before being discovered by an IMG scout. All the girls are signed with IMG Models.
The show premieres Tuesday, August 19 on Vogue.TV, and each weekly episode will be approximately eight minutes long. MODEL.LIVE will air every Friday following the August 19 premiere.
If all this sounds exciting to you, you should join the MODEL.LIVE social network immediately at www.bebo.com/modellive. The models will update their profiles daily with video diaries, text messages, photos, blogs, schedules and more. You can sign up for daily alerts, comment on each model's progress or post messages of support and advice like "don't barf more than three times a day" and "you won't get addicted if you smoke it".
View the trailer here.

August 13, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 1, 2008

Review: Gen Art's Shop NYC

Gotham fashionistas medicated their recession blues during an evening of discount designer shopping organized by Gen Art, at New York's  Metropolitan Pavillion this week. 60 of the freshest designers were in the house for their Shop NYC event, many of which, like Gen Art alum Zac Posen, look set to become household names.
Womenswear designer Yumi Kim attracted the largest crowd of fashion addicts with her brightly-colored floral tanks and silk mini-dresses, while the trio behind menswear line Barking Irons kept their line long with the promise of a freshly silk-screened tote bag commemorating the evening.
The event was marketed as designer style at 'recession prices', but even so, shoppers seemed willing enough to swoop up items tagged at $700. With savings of 35% to 70% off, even hefty price tags seemed like a bargain.
VIP Tickets to the event were $40, including express check out and gift bag valued $250. General admission tickets were $15 but once inside the door drinks, hairstyling and extra goods were free.
Look out for the next Shop NYC event this Fall.

August 1, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 28, 2008

Opening Ceremony's Olympic all-nighter

Opening Ceremony will celebrate the 8.8.08 Olympic Summer Games by keeping its New York and L.A. boutiques open 24 hours a day for the entirety of the opening weekend, opening a shop-in-shop named Souvenir selling limited edition Opening Ceremony 2008 items and exclusive Nike Sportswear products.
The event lasts for 72 hours during which time customers are invited to watch the Olympic games on TV, shop at Souvenir, and participate in a “3am Scrabble Hour” or “7am Breakfast for Champions.”
The Air Max 1, Nike’s first sneaker to offer visible Nike Air technology in the sole and originally released in 1987, will be available in very limited quantities in two colors (gold and silver metallic), stocked solely at Opening Ceremony. 
Also on sale will be Opening Ceremony 2008-branded items such as key chains, coin holders, towels, hats, and umbrellas, plus very limited edition jewelry items from Philip Crangi, and charm bracelets by Fallon.
Opening Ceremony was founded in September of 2002 in New York by Carol Lim and Humberto Leon with the idea of bringing their love of travel and fashion to a single concept boutique. 
Opening Ceremony has stores at 35 Howard St., New York, NY 10013 (212-219-2688) and at 451 North La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90048 (310 652 1120). Visit openingceremony.us

July 28, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 23, 2008

Surf-bum film screening in Brooklyn

July 23, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

ENK Menswear shows: Orthodox

Eric Niccoli of Orthodox closed out the ENK Menswear shows, showcasing a series of sleek designs that brought the street to the suit. 
Plaid prints, pointy oxfords and layered henleys in muted tones and patterns populated the runway in a short and sweet Spring/Summer 09 show that mixed classic and trendy, combining pieces that can be worn both now and forever. Jeans were updated with slanted oversized pockets and the classic briefcase was upgraded to a square laptop-size shoulder bag in nylon fabric with metallic blue hue.
Overall, the looks toed the line between catwalk and sidewalk, with a fresh look that was both stylish and effortless.

July 23, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

ENK Menswear shows: Buckler

Some people like it dirty—and fashion designer Andrew Buckler of Buckler is one of them.
His Spring/Summer '09 collection, showcased at the ENK Menswear shows at Pier 92 in Manhattan this week, was a daring knight's tale that merged old world influence with street edge.
The models (including "Make Me a Supermodel" Season 1 alum Dominic Prietto) looked like they'd stepped straight out of a medieval joust, and were covered in dirt, grease and tattoos.
Sporting shield-inspired vests, ridged headpieces and slouchy knits in a grey scale color palette, with a few pops of bright orange and blue, Buckler transformed his band of pretty boy rockers in to ready-for-battle heroes.

July 23, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 3, 2008

Meet the meathead: "The Doorman"

Doormen—like abused pitbulls and parking inspectors, they wield a level of power that is, all too often, entirely unrelated to their level of intelligence.
You can squeeze inside the tiny mind of the door 'tard in "The Doorman", a new Gigantic Pictures mockumentary based on the life and times of fictional doorman Trevor W., the most powerful clipboard holder and biggest ego in New York.
Until he loses his job, that is.
The movie stars the Borat-like Lucas Akoskin, with cameos by Peter Bogdanovitch, nightlife entrepreneur Amy Sacco and "Queer Eye" interior designer Thom Filicia, who sagely reminds the brashly-attired Trevor that "straight guys don't wear turquoise."
The Doorman premieres in New York City on July 18. Here for details.

July 3, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 24, 2008

Your laptop wants a tattoo

Problem: You lust after Kat Von D, and dream of getting a Chinese Dragon half sleeve—but you're a Catholic Bishop. How can you possibly indulge your secret tattoo fantasy without being excommunicated?
Solution: Easy—visit Scott Campbell's Brooklyn tattoo shop Saved, which is laser etching full back pieces on to Mac laptops. The process costs $200, and you can use one of Campbell's designs or choose one by Mike Giant, Irak and others.
You don't have to live in New York to give your Mac a tattoo face lift either. Choose one of the designs from their website and they can ship you a beautifully-etched Mac screen which you can then have (professionally) attached to your keyboard. (They do work with PC's too, but you have to physically bring those in to the store.)
And when the Pope asks why your computer looks so divine...tell him it was a miracle.
Call the shop for details (718 486 0850) or visit www.mamatried.com.

June 24, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 19, 2008

Giveaway, and cute couple alert: Bishop of Seventh

When Chachi Prasad and his wife Karam Kim launched their premium denim line, they named it Bishop of Seventh, in honor of the place their cut their teeth in the fashion industry—namely New York’s Seventh Avenue. Then they packed their bags for L.A.
“We wanted to be around all the big boys in Los Angeles,” says Prasad, referring to major denim brands—J Brand, Seven for all Mankind, Rock and Republic, Paige Premium and others—which are mainly based in L.A., America’s denim capital.
Prasad and his wife had spent their careers on Seventh Avenue, working as designers for high-fashion brands like Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan and Michael Kors. Overnight, they found themselves in the wash houses and denim mills of Downtown L.A., coming up with their own, innovative denim treatments in an already competitive jeans market. “We weren’t really denim people before we started out, so it helped that there was a bunch of chemical engineers in my family,” says Prasad. “That gave me some cool ideas.”
They experimented, putting golf balls and pennies in dryers, and coming up with ways to soften their fabrics with minimal use of chemicals. This was around 2005, at the peak of the premium denim game. Prasad went against the grain, favoring raw, tailored denims and clean rinses rather than the embellished, super-distressed looks that were en vogue at the time. “I felt like we were ahead of our time,’ said Prasad, and he’s right—look around today and it’s all about raw denim, tailoring and minimalism.
Sensing that the premium denim explosion was about to plateau, Bishop decided to expand its focus and throw trousers into the mix (Seven For All Mankind, Joe’s Jeans and Paige Premium Denim have since all launched trouser lines). BofS trousers are engineered, with a twisted seam to elongate the leg and a rayon yarn that “wraps around a woman’s body really well,” says Prasad (He sent me a pair and yes, they do add an inch or two to my tiny frame). “Our trousers have a great price point too," points out Prasad, "especially compared with an Armani trouser for example."
Bishop of Seventh donates a portion of all profits to the charity Earth Rights International, which watches over human rights and environmental abuse by major corporations. (Earth Rights is currently pursuing Chevron for apparently hiring paramilitaries in Burma to oust people from their villages to make way for a pipeline). And for extra feel-good factor, their 35th Street Jean was actually blessed by a monk at a Tibetan Temple in Long Beach (where Prasad and his wife were married). “He performed a ceremony that was 30 minutes long, blessing the jeans for health, happiness and prosperity. Then he told us that we have a good, long journey ahead of us with this company. And so we keep going forward.”
Bishop of Seventh is gifting one Stylephile reader a pair of its 7th Ave jeans in Carbon Grey, plus a Christopher trouser in Black Gabardine (with a combined retail value of around $420).
To win, tell us what your favorite charity is, and why. Most compelling response wins! Leave your answers in the comments section of the post, being sure to include your email address so we can reach you. Deadline is Wednesday June 25, at 5PM.

June 19, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (17)

June 3, 2008

Working class aesthetic, bougie prices: denim by Earnest Sewn

For a company that makes no bones about its infatuation with the American working class aesthetic, Earnest Sewn Denim offers some pretty swanky jeans. With custom pairs selling for a few hundred dollars a piece, it’s hard to imagine Midwestern farmers and big-rig truck drivers shelling out a month’s wages for these denim threads, but it’s clear that those aren’t the Americans that Earnest Sewn is catering to. The upscale line offers clients the opportunity to customize nearly every component of their jeans, from the buttons to the cut to the crucial pocket lining.
Patrons of the spacious New York concept store can while the time away dinking espresso from the coffee bar or trying on a new pair of  Repetto Zizi’s (the lifelong shoe of choice for French pop auteur Serge Gainsbourg). The store doubles as a work shop and the staff prepares all of the custom jeans in-house.
Though the DIY jeans customization is Earnest Sewn’s bread and butter, the company offers a broad range of pre-designed options for men and women that make it easy for non-New Yorkers to get their denim fix. For men, the slim Iggy fit jean in jet black stands out as one of the better style choices, eschewing the acid-washed, baggy look for a tight fit that’s a bit more sleek and understated than Earnest Sewn’s typical designs. Currently, the store’s website doesn’t allow you to design custom pants online, and phoning in an order can be rather tedious, so customers anxious to indulge in the full Earnest Sewn experience must make the trip out to Gotham.
(On a Gainsbourg-related musical tangent, aficionados should check out the recently issued “Cannabis” soundtrack featuring some wonderful music written by Serge and “Melody Nelson” arranger Jean-Claude Vannier. Though not as revelatory or avant-garde as that 1971 magnum opus, “Cannabis” offers some pleasant, if subdued, classical cues and funky rock instrumentals.)
Earnest Sewn, 821 Washington St., New York, NY, 10014. (212) 675 0553

June 3, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

Aladdin-chic at the 2008 CFDA awards

The Oscars of U.S. fashion, the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards is where the hoitiest of the toitiest celebrate emerging and established fashion design. While this year's awards brought few surprises in terms of the winners (Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein in the womenswear category, Tom Ford for menswear, Tory Burch for accessories and Rodarte for best young designers), I did choke on my zero-carb kelp noodles at the sight of so many MC Hammer-style genie pants being worn by the  fashionable guests. Ashley Olsen now registers on my pop culture radar after donning this sweet tuxedo-style bolero jacket and high-waisted baggy pants ensemble, perhaps in a nod to the late Yves Saint Laurent, who was famous for his "Le Smoking" tuxedo jacket for women. Ashley's look is simple, brave, and reminds us of waiters we made out with on summer vacations in Greece.
"Vogue" magazine's André Leon Talley showed up looking like Sinbad the Sailor's gay brother, with his sidekick, the night's MC Naomi Campbell, also opting for a very "One Thousand and One Nights" look. Yards away was Maggie Gyllenhaal in sandals and baggy silk pants, looking very "I Dream of Jeannie". No magic carpets or actual oil lamps were sighted.

June 3, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 29, 2008

Opening Ceremony sale

Another great sale this weekend, on both coasts.
The Opening Ceremony sale begins this Friday, May 30th with 30-60% off selected items by edgy designers we love.
Among them are: Acne, Chloe for Opening Ceremony, Bless, Hussein Chalayan, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Mary Ping, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Nakkna, Marios Schwab, Loden Dager, Nom de Guerre, Jeremy Scott, Melissa Shoes, Nike, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, Topshop, Endovanera, Katy Rodriguez, Jasmine Shokrian, Wren, Suh-Tahn, Grey Ant and, of course, Opening Ceremony.
Opening Ceremony New York is located at 35 Howard St.,  New York, NY 10013. Tel 212-219-2688
Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 11-8pm and Sundays 12-7pm
Opening Ceremony Los Angeles is located at 451 North La Cienega Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048. Tel 310-652-1120. Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 11-7pm and Sundays 12-7pm
www.openingceremony.us
(image from Proenza Schouler)

May 29, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 15, 2008

Harmony Korine at Creativity Now conference, this weekend

Creativity is a nebulous concept, one which will be thoroughly disseected (in the hippest manner possible) at this weekend's Creativity Now conference. Organized by Tokion, the über-forward style and design mag, the conference features panels like "Fashion: Young Designers" (curated by Alex Hawgood of "T", The New York Times' Style Magazine); "Contemporary Comedy" (moderated by "Arrested Development's" David Cross) and cutting-edge director Harmony Korine in conversation with skater Mark Gonzales.
The conference takes place in New York on Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18. Visit www.tokion.com/creativitynow to purchase tickets and to see the full schedule.

May 15, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (2)

May 8, 2008

Anna Wintour and Lebron James cartoon

We hear that none other than that Vogue columnist André Leon Talley has purchased the cheeky New York Observer caricature parodying Vogue's controversial April 2008 cover.  The original cover, which featured a bellowing LeBron James with model Gisele Bündchen, was branded racist by some. The cartoon, on the other hand, features a somewhat terrifying Anna Wintour and a rather fey-looking Condé Nast owner Si Newhouse in their place. 
Perhaps Leon Talley plans to gift the drawing to his boss this Christmas?

May 8, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 30, 2008

How Allure's editor-in-chief protects her summertime skin

Allure was the first major publication in America to devote itself solely to beauty, so it comes as no surprise that founding editor Linda Wells has the scoop on every skincare and sun tanning secret you could think of.
First and foremost, she doesn't trust the sun as far as she can throw it—she wears 85 SPF and adds anti-oxidant drops to her glass of Perrier before venturing out at midday. It may sound a little extreme, but she is BFFs with many of America's top dermatologists, and they all tell her the same thing: sun = danger.
I spoke to Wells today and she reminded me that melanoma is the fastest-growing cancer in America.
That's right—frolicking on the beach without adequate SPF protection and relaxing in a tanning booth could land you in the radiologist’s office quicker than a daytrip to Chernobyl, if you're not careful.
To highlight this sad reality, Allure magazine is hosting an exclusive art auction next week, with nude portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Scarlett Johansson, Gisele Bundchen and Kate Moss donated by some of the biggest photographers working today: Mert and Marcus, Annie Leibovitz, Michael Thompson, Steven Klein, Bert Stern, Reed Krakoff and Eve Arnold among them. The 2nd Annual ‘Most Alluring Bodies’ Exhibit takes place at Skylight in Manhattan, New York on May 7, and all proceeds from the silent auction will  benefit NYU’s Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group and kick-off Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
Ahead of the big event (which is invitation only), I snagged half an hour on the phone with Wells, and asked her opinion on tanning beds, SPF makeup, the best sunscreen and why so many of us think we're immune to the effects of the sun...
Read it and weep, sun worshippers...

So why do you take such a strong interest in skin cancer?

Well, I have the palest skin in the entire United States of America. So I have always been really aware of skin cancer and of my responsibility. The statistics are so terrible—it  is the fastest growing form of cancer in America, and the most common.

The statistics are out there...so why do we still like to bask in the sun like baby seals?

Many people feel their healthiest and most alive when they are out in the sun. But it’s also the situation when they are most at risk. And there's the aesthetics of the sun tan. I know I should bite my tongue, but I still think that suntans look good. But I don’t recommend them.

How does a woman’s awareness of sun damage change as she grows older?

Women in their teens and twenties are the ones most likely to marinade their bodies in baby oil while they sit outside during spring break or go in to tanning booths in the winter. They believe they are immune. When women reach their thirties, they realize they have to protect their skin because they don’t want to look older. The cancer connection comes much later.

Tanning beds, once and for all—are they or are they not safe?

I believe there are more tanning booths in the U.S. than there are Starbucks. The tanning companies say it’s safer to use a tanning bed than to go in the sun. It’s not safer. They bombard your body with UV light. You should not be in those things. It's like sitting in the doctor’s office smoking a cigarette. But don’t expect the tanning companies to tell you the dangers, however.

Having a deep Donatella Versace/George Hamilton permatan is tacky anyway, right?

In terms of fashion, I go to the shows in Europe and New York and very few top models have tans. A lot of them are from Eastern Europe and their skin has never been touched by the sun, and they have no visible pores at all. These women have no interest in getting a suntan.

What about SPF makeup...does it really protect us?

Here’s the problem with SPF makeup– you think you're fully covered, but you’re not. You don’t put it on all over your face; you don't put on enough to equal the coverage you would get from a sunscreen. Also, you don’t reapply it all day long. So it really creates a false sense of security. It’s great that makeup has SPF in it, but that’s not always enough. Luckily most self-respecting cosmetics companies have daytime moisturizers that have SPF 30. And when you go to the beach you should put on regular sunscreen of course.

How do you look after your skin?

I just got back from being on a boat in the Bahamas for four days and I took anti oxidant supplements, and I put anti oxidant drops in my water. I reapplied sun screen every hour. The anti oxidants tablets are called Heliocare and contain a fern extract. They really help protect your skin cells against damage from the sun. But I would never rely on those alone.

What about using chemical-free mineral sunscreens. Are they equally effective?

Mineral products are great but I don’t think there’s that much that’s terribly wrong with chemicals. If the natural product can do what the chemical can do, then terrific, but in all likelihood the natural product probably does contain at least some chemicals. Trust me, the disease is worse than the effort to prevent it.

What are the key things to know when you're buying sunscreen?

You want to pick a broad spectrum of sun protection. It’s not just the SPF. SPF protects against UVB rays. You also need to protect against UVA, which cause wrinkling and skin cancer. I love Neutrogena with Heliocare. They make one called "Dry Touch" that doesn’t make your face greasy at all. I was using SPF 85. I wouldn’t touch an SPF 8 or 15. Aveeno makes a really good one too.

What about self-tanning lotions?

I think self tanning is great. That’s a way of having your cake and eating it too. I do that sometimes, during the summer. If you get a self tan then you’re not going in the sun, but you have to be sure that the self tanner contains sunscreens. There’s new research that says that in the 24 hours after you have treated your skin with tanner, your skin is more vulnerable to sun damage, so people should be aware of that.

What’s the most interesting thing you've learned about sun tanning over the years?

I am always fascinated by the psychology of it, and why we persist in doing something that is unhealthy. It always comes down to that tension between vanity and health. If you can appeal to vanity and take care of health, then you’ve won the game, especially in terms of what we do as a magazine.

April 30, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (3)

April 21, 2008

Billion Dollar Babes in New York

You don't need a billion dollars to be a Billion Dollar Babe—quite the contrary. RSVP for the Billion Dollar Babe Spring Sale in NYC this coming weekend, and you'll be set to save up to 80% off on designer threads by the likes of Marcello Toshi, Kate and Kass, Dolce and Gabbana, Tibi, Oliver Peoples eyewear and many more. The sale officially opens Saturday April 26  at 9am, or there's a VIP preview sale the day before. Visit their website to find out how you can get in early!

The sale tales place at The Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011.

April 21, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 3, 2008

Jazz up your flats

Face it, Repetto girl—the shelves at Payless are covered in ballet flats yet again, a sure sign it's time to move on to new footwear pastures. But where to go? Jazz, of course! 1940s jazz footwear is popping up in all the right places, and I'm loving these two flat styles by Kelly Clark of NYC label Keller.
(She doesn't make tap shoes just yet, but here's hoping...)
Check out the line here.

April 3, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 31, 2008

Diamonds are for puppies

March 31, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 27, 2008

Solar eclipse of the art

There's nothing quite as romantic as a candlelit dinner—but a candlelit art show? This weekend's forthcoming Dark Fair, a "subsersive and experimental miniature art fair" will take place in New York, without the use of any natural or electric light. How very Bram Stoker of them.
Eschewing the traditional head-ache inducing strip lighting, all artworks will be ulluminated through the use of candlelight, flashlights, oil lamps, glow in the dark, light sculpture, and batteries only. Dozens of American and international galleries will be represented, including Air de Paris from Paris, Galerie Guido W. Baudach from Berlin, Marianne Boesky Gallery from New York, and Karma International from Zurich. "In this cavernous underworld of exchange, visitors will experience art in completely new ways," say the organizers,  who are the folks behind the Milwaukee International Art Fair.
Even if you're scared of the dark, you should consider going—fashion designer Benjamin Cho, supermodel Erin Wasson and United Bamboo will also be presenting a fashion show at the event. Runway + models + pitch dark = comedy.
Oh, and don't forget to check out the gramophone DJ.
The event takes place at the Swiss Institute / Contemporary Art, 495 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10012. Tel: 212.925.2035. Dark Fair hours are Friday, March 28 from 6pm to 12am, and Saturday March 29 from 12pm to 9pm.

March 27, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 25, 2008

Acne: Unfortunate name, great jeans

When you hear the word "Acne", many things may spring to mind—overactive sebaceous glands, teenage kicks and cheap cover-up, for starters. But you probably don't think of jeans—unless you're already a fan of Acne Jeans, the Swedish denim brand whose U.S. invasion puts ABBA's to shame. Founded in Stockholm in 1996, Acne  started out as a brand consultancy. In 1997 they designed one hundred pairs of jeans and distributed them to friends, family and clients. Soon after, stores and boutiques came knocking, asking to carry their raw denim with its trademark bright-red stitching. The first full Acne Jeans collection was launched in 1998, and they soon became known as the go-to brand for well-made, ultra-skinny denim. (As a Danish boutique owner told me not so long ago, "in northern Europe, skinny jeans were normal long before they became trendy here".) A pair of Acne jeans will set you back around $300, and a t-shirt around $100.
In a collaboration with Opening Ceremony, Acne has just opened a store in New York, in the space formerly occupied by Cloak. The address is 10 Greene Street, New York, 10013. Tel: 212.625.2828. Hours are Monday - Saturday 11-7pm, and Sunday 12-7pm.

March 25, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 21, 2008

Oh, the horror: Michael Musto as Lindsay Lohan as Marilyn

Bringing us multiple layers of warpedness, Michael Musto, the Village Voice columnist who reputedly coined the term "celebutard", recreates Lindsay Lohan's "New York" magazine Marilyn Monroe spread—right down to the brassy yellow wig.
The resemblance is...horrifying wouldn't you say?

March 21, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 11, 2008

The elixir of youth

Linda Rodin, New York fashion stylist and editor, had become so disillusioned with traditional age defying creams (hear, hear!), she created her own personal elixir of youth. Now her RODIN olio lusso, a blend of eleven essential flower and botanical oils, is available for you to try too. We love that it is made from natural ingredients, including jasmine, apricot and rose hip seed. Plus it's good for boys to use as an aftershave.
Apply with a dropper morning and night for youthful, dewy results.

March 11, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (5)

March 6, 2008

Fierce "Project Runway" giftbags for Stylephile readers

Last night, Project Runway's winning designer Christian Siriano picked up his check for $100,000 at the Project Runway Finale Party, hosted by TRESemmé and Tim Gunn at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in New York City. After seeing Christian's jawdropping show at New York Fashion Week in February, it was no surprise to me that he won.
I wasn't at the party, but I did convince the lovely folks at Project Runway to set aside ten of the party swagbags for the readers of the Stylephile. I know how much y'all love that show.
The first ten readers to comment to this post (don't forget to tell us your email address) will be sent a bag in the mail!
Here's to Season Five!

March 6, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (45)

February 20, 2008

Bless this house

We hear there's a new trend in home interiors—blessing them. Ceremonial artist and urban shaman Donna Henes has noticed an increase in requests for house and office blessings, and her publicists say it seems to be "the biggest shelter trend since Feng Shui, burying a St. Joseph’s statue, and "The Secret"."
Home sellers, home buyers and home makers are asking Donna, who is based in New York, to conduct ceremonies to welcome in new beginnings and clear the space with positive energy.
Donna’s ceremonies involve drumming circles, candlelight, spoken blessings, bells, sweeping brooms, rock crystals and something called "smudge".
For 18 years, Donna was sponsored by The Port Authority of New York to produce "Celestially Auspicious Occasions", including a Spring Equinox egg-standing ritual. Most recently, she was tapped to lead the
Village Halloween Parade as the official Grand Spirit Marshall. In 1982, she composed the first and only satellite peace message in space: "chants for peace * chance for peace." Henes maintains a ceremonial center, ritual practice and consultancy in Brooklyn called Mama Donna's Tea Garden and Healing Haven.
Even if you're not in New York—clearly, it's time to get blessed.

February 20, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 11, 2008

Black, red and un-dead: Rad Hourani

Rad Hourani, a Montreal-based stylist turned designer, calls himself an “anti-conformist”. Which adds up—he has had no formal fashion training, and works only in a palette of red and black, with the occasional splash of white. He showed his first collection in Paris last year, to some acclaim. And the memory of his New York show on Friday continues to haunt me. I can’t shake the sight of his army of un-dead models (including folk dancing supermodel Coco Rocha), with their deathly complexions and limp, poker straight hair. His designs were stark, industrial, and somewhat relentless, a dark and bloody, military parade of rectangular layered fabrics and leathers, pieced over each other, like futuristic Goth club armor. Most memorable was the jacket whose arms were affixed to the sides of the body—a straight-jacket for the fashion-conscious, if you will?
I applaud his mission and wondered—how far is he planning on taking this monochrome dirge? All the way to the bank, it seems—his website features new sections for eyewear, jewelry, shoes, bags, and perfume. Anti-conformist or not, Hourani knows the formula.

February 11, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 7, 2008

Judith Ripka’s Family Jewels

For women of a certain stature, the Judith Ripka temporary store in the tents at Bryant Park has provided a most agreeable pit-stop in between shows. Tucked in between the DHL mailing center and the LYCRA café, Judith Ripka’s space is dominated by a glass cabinet containing all manner of diamonds, white gold and stones the size of Jamaica. I popped in and said hello to the lovely young lady working there, and she kindly agreed to model some of their pieces for me. Pretty, right?
The Monaco ring is $14,000, the diamond bangle is $14,700, the diamond cuff is $12,500 and the earrings are $65,000.
Which is all in a day’s shopping, for some.

February 7, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

Italians do it better

Standing in the check-in line for the Nanette Lepore show, I encountered a very sad-looking Italian security man. I asked him what was wrong. Someone had tossed out his kawfee, he told me. His friend over at the coffee bar had made his cappuccino perfectly, just how he likes it. He put it down on the check-in table for one second--and then it was gone. “I don’t need much,” he said in his heavy Hoboken accent. “I just need my kawfee in the morning.” He had a few pockmarks in his skin, dark hair slicked back and a heavy overcoat.
I saw him giving the evil eye to one of the check-in women. “It was her” he said. “She took my kawfee.” Then he launched into the most colorful list of expletives, explaining that she was on his hit list for the rest of fashion week. You don’t throw out an Italian’s morning coffee and expect not to pay for it. I offered him my Mocha Latte but he shook his head. He was inconsolable.
I was ushered on, where another security guard, older, with slightly thinning slicked-back salt and pepper hair, was keeping an eye on the crowd of guests. He pointed to the cup of Joe in my hand. “No kawfee in the tents, Miss.” Wow – another wise guy!  He was stern, no-nonsense and magnificent. I tossed out my cup immediately and remembered Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” video. This guy, I realized, actually was Papa.
Inside the tents I noticed a hub of activity around front row. Around a dozen photographers were taking pictures of a magnificently busted, no-nonsense looking woman. She looked so familiar, and yet I couldn’t place her face. “Who is she?” I asked the paparazza next to me. “No idea,” she said, snapping away. Then the penny dropped—it was Lorraine Bracco. Star of "Goodfellas". Star of "The Sopranos". Mama mia.
I took a picture, sat back down, and savored the flavor of Little Italy.

February 7, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 4, 2008

Alexandre Herchcovitch’s hard geometry

Backstage, Brazilian fashion designer Alexandre Herchcovitch seemed like a perfectly normal, balanced kind of guy. But if you were to judge him by what he sent down the catwalk—an army of angular jet black looks followed by a series of Technicolor dream coats—you’d  think him a raving schizophrenic.
More simply put, this show was an experiment in color, rhythm and geometry. Not fashion.
The first segment of the show was where we saw him play with shape. A barrage of shadowy looks, seemingly made from the same sheet of shroud-like, coal-black fabric, showed his variations on the same theme. He’d shift an angle here, bundle the fabric there, slice out a shoulder or add a belt, stretching his creativity, always in a controlled and precise manner.
Because the changes were so subtle, it was sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the pieces.
Then—gasp—he started sneaking in color, his grim army marching on but giving us flashes of orange and blue in the linings.
And then—Green Tartan. Black Tartan. Green and Black Tartan in pretty, mini hourglass silhouettes. And a series of looks based on the same, Archer’s Target print, the lines of the simple, elliptical design perfectly tracing the contours of the models’ bodies.
I gotta tell you, like Lou Reed’s “Metal Machine Music”, this collection seemed simple enough in concept, but was surprisingly challenging to absorb. That’s because it was largely devoid of emotion. How very un-Brazilian of him. (Interestingly, the opening and closing soundtrack was by Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed's girlfriend).
But I’m sure that’s exactly how Herchcovitch meant it to be, because when he felt like making something appealing, he did. And of course, he nailed it. (This happened once for every four or five looks.)
He ended in the perfect note, transitioning through the color spectrum to peak at a perfect orange, presenting us with a sweet diaphanous mini dress the color of pure sunset. A snow-white ending would have been too obvious for Mr. Herchcovitch, I’m sure.
(PS: One of his models, Geanine Marques, was worryingly thin, with hollowed cheeks, stick thin arms and sunken features. I’m all for non-traditional beauty, but this girl just needs a sandwich. Apparently she’s been modeling for Herchcovitch since he started designing nearly twenty years ago, and is a singer. Listen for yourselves.)

February 4, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get on your knees and pray, it's Loden Dager

Loden Dager brought new meaning to the term “church suit” when they staged their Fall/Winter show in a seminary on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
There were no hats, gloves or rosaries in the church, but we did see several male models slouching in stained glass windows, looking just how Catholic saints oughtta look—divine.
Loden Dager is a five-person design collective comprising two main designers, Oliver Helden and Paul Marlow, who decided to start the label while working together at Marc by Marc Jacobs. Within 24 hours of a very productive lunch, they found a backer, Melissa Vail, to take care of the business side of Loden Dager. Matthew Sandager takes care of graphic design and photography, and Alexander Galan looks after public relations. The name Loden Dager is a mix of their surnames.
And now, they are officially hot shit.
 Winner of the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award for new talent, they were featured in Paper magazine last month, are putting out a record by music makers The Great Lakes, and, in the ultimate hipster nod—one of the Blonde Redhead guitar twins was at the church party. Praise Jesus! In fact, Loden Dager are so of the moment, they have been guest blogging on “The Moment”, the New York Times' style blog.

Despite all this chatter, the show itself was, perfectly well-spoken. It was, I hear, less queer than their previous “fashion installations”, which have drawn inspiration from the transgender, cross-dressing and dyke communities. But color was still strong (the label uses custom-dyed fabrics only), and Loden Dager continues to provide us with intelligent, practical men’s looks that would fit just as well on a 1960s Parisian student protestor as they would on Al Pacino in “The Panic in Needle Park” (both of which are cited as influencing of the line).
At this moment, Loden Dager’s hot shit continues to steam.

Buy Loden Dager at Odin, Ron Herman, and Hejfina.

February 4, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jack Kerouac’s boots

These boots were made for walking—they belonged to original Beat Jack Kerouac, whose diet of red wine, peyote and cross-country road trips have inspired generations of seekers to hit the tar.
The shoes, along with various other Kerouac artifacts, are currently on display at the New York Public Library, as part of an exhibit called “Beatific Soul: Jack Kerouac On The Road”. For anyone with an interest in the Beats, it’s a must-see. (His wistful, scuffed work boots for a start—you can a lot about a person from their shoes, and these have “alcoholic Buddhist-Catholic iconoclast” written all over them.)
The first thing you are met with is a 50 foot long typescript scroll, the manuscript of "On The Road" typed on endless connected sheets of architectural paper, unfurled so that they travel along the length of the hall to create one long, uninterrupted “road” of prose. It is peppered with edits made by Kerouac himself—he substituted the word “fucking” with “balling” on several occasions, because of his publisher’s concerns about profanity. You’ll find original letters written between Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Neal Cassady, Herbert Hunke and Kerouac, in which they discuss the growing Beat revolution. (Herbert Huncke, a bisexual Times Square hustler, reluctant writer, junkie and Kinsey subject, had introduced Kerouac to the notion of “beat” as metaphysical condition in 1946...the photographs of Huncke, jaded, sunken and decayed, are truly moving.)
I love the profile photograph of Kerouac shot by Allen Ginsberg, the displays of Kerouac’s own paintings and sketches, and excerpts from his impassioned writings on Buddhism, which describe why he thought Zen was the Devil’s work. And then there are the candid photographs of Kerouac with his third wife Stella, taken shortly before his death in 1969 a from liver cirrhosis.
For those fashionistas currently in New York, the library (right next to the tents) really is a great place to hang out in between shows. Simply check in your heavy gift bags at the cloakroom (marvelous invention) take a stroll around the Kerouac exhibit, and visit the wonderful bookstore. Then make like you don’t have a Blackberry/iPhone and check your email at one of the computers on the third floor. Refuse the instinct to shun such vulgar communal practices and instead, feel those wood-paneled walls, absorb the learnedness...you’ll be rewarded with far more than your recommended daily dose of inspiration.

Beatific Soul: Jack Kerouac On The Road is at the New York Public Library’s Humanities and Social Sciences Library until February 24, and then again from March 1 – 16.

February 4, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

Erin Fetherston's fairyland

If Becky Stark was hosting a Rapunzel-themed tea party on the banks of the strawberry river, then she’d do well to pick Erin Fetherston as her stylist. Despite an all-black, dare we say Goth start, Fetherston’s Fall/Winter 08 collection (called “Love Sprung”) packed no further punches because, let’s face it, princesses don’t wear boxing gloves. The remainder of the show was an ethereally pretty, uber-girly haze of flowing floral silks, empire-waisted velvets and shiny satins worn with tights, ballet flats and Alice bands. Hair was long and romantic, adorned with floral headdresses and strategically placed ringlets. After a few minutes in Fetherston’s Femme Fairyland I started longing for some flannel shirts and work boots just to balance things out, but this was a one-way trip down Fetherston’s rabbit hole.
The standout piece was a floral print, empire-waist dress that was short in the front and then flared in to a long train in the back, perfect for wearing when traversing a looking glass.













Anne Hathaway, attired in Fetherston, was seated front row with her Prince Charming. Hollywood stylist Rachel Zoe was a pretty little Tinkerbell in a silvery, shimmery one-shouldered Featherston creation.
While this collection probably won’t be remembered as one of her most innovative, everyone who was in Fetherston’s tent that day is sure to smell of roses for weeks to come.
(Fetherston recently launched a limited edition collection for Target)

February 4, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

Duckie Brown stays strong and silent

You could have heard a pin drop during Friday’s Duckie Brown show, which was conducted in funereal silence throughout. It was an interesting move on their part, freeing up the audience’s senses and encouraging us to focus on just one thing—the clothes. Novel idea!
The show featured 21 largely somber, tailored looks in a palette of charcoal, onyx and storm cloud, with splashes of burgundy and green thrown in to lift the recessionary mood a little. This Fall/Winter 08 collection was considerably more muted than their Spring/Summer offerings, which featured floral prints, gaudy golds and canary yellow trench coats.
Despite the depressed mood (we’re at war, remember?), youthful splashes like Duckie Brown’s trademark oversized beanie hats, spangled shirts and reflective nylon windbreakers worn over suits, injected a baggy, collegiate insouciance in to what could have been an overly pessimistic collection.
Seated next to me was Celeste Harwell, an Associate Publisher at TIME Style and Design magazine. We agreed that the silence was golden, and enjoyed the gentle rustle of cameras shuttering as the models made their turns. “I love that sound,” purred Celeste. Being that I’m a New York Fashion Week ingénue, she pointed out who was seated front row. There was iconic fashion photographer (and former milliner) Bill Cunningham, whose “On The Street” column for the New York Times is required reading for anyone with stylish blood running through their veins. (I later spotted L.A.’s queen of celebrity style Rachel Zoe rightfully paying her respects. “I’m such a huge fan,” she gushed.) Seated next to Cunningham was the Washington Post’s fashion commentator Robin Givhan, whose no-nonsense take on politico style (tough beat!) earned her the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2006, a first for a fashion writer.
Click here to read Givhan’s take on what the election frontrunners are wearing, and why.
 

February 4, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (1)

Bored at Fashion Week? So shop!

Genius move on the part of Alice + Olivia to locate their flagship boutique a mere stone’s throw from Bryant Park. On the first day of shows, I snuck out of the humid tents, dashed across the street in the pouring rain, and took advantage of their 65% off sale. (For those of you who happen to be in New York at present, the 65% off rack is on your right, as you walk in the store.) The sale assistant told me that during Fashion Week they do generally see an increase in foot traffic, although things had been a little slow “because of the rain”. Amazing how just a few droplets of water can scare the living daylights out of fashionistas and their hair do’s.
It’s their loss, as the black and white store features some fun details, like an enormous carved wooden throne doused in black gloss and huge ebony chandelier. Decorating the inside wall of one of the dressing room is a print of a man taking a pee against a wall. (Which is far less gross than it sounds.) Not to mention the clothes—when Alice + Olivia launched in 2002 at Barneys, the line was an instant success thanks to their super-flattering pants and luxurious cashmere sweaters. And not much has changed.
Alice + Olivia
80 W. 40th St.
New York NY 10018
212 840 0887

February 4, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 2, 2008

Disco ball, cracked

New Yorkers, you have until January 28 to check out Helmut Lang's art installation at the "the journal", a gallery in Williamsburg opened by "the journal" magazine.
Lang retired from fashion two years ago after his falling out with the Prada Group and no longer has anything to do with the Helmut Lang label.. Since then he has been working on various art-related projects, including his website hl art. Check out his views on the relationship between art and fashion in "the journal".
The installation, called Next Ever After, features a large cracked mirrored ball, which "like Janus, the Roman god, is  able to view the past and future simultaneously, reflecting while simultaneously absorbing its surroundings, creating a sensation both voyeuristic and self-aware,” as explained on the press release.
the journal gallery is located at 168 N. 1st St., Brooklyn, NY 11211.

January 2, 2008 in NEW YORK | Permalink | Comments (2)

December 18, 2007

NYC event: Karim Rashid in-store party