In Her City

I'm Moving!

2011-09-10T09:17:00.001-04:00

To Tumblr. And I'll actually be posting stuff. In Her City lives on. See you there!

www.inhercity.tumblr.com

New APC Store in West Village, NYC

2010-08-02T17:28:00.001-04:00

One of my favortite labels, APC, is opening a new post in the city's West Village. Not sure where it will be, but Greenwich Street seems like a fine spot. Lot of lovely boutiques have opened up in the past year and half including Zero Maria Conejo, Maison Margiela (!), and Odin. Can't wait to see the finished store!

APC and me have a long love affair. I remember receiving their catalog in 1996 after seeing an item I liked of theirs in Sassy magazine. This was a time pre-online stores and pre-internet proliferation. It was when only about 10% of the population had internet access and it was dial-up AOL. The biggest thing going on was chat rooms-- and online shopping? What's that? It's when Sony's website was in Times New Roman 18 point font and that was the coolest thing you could come up with for a website.

So it was such a special treat to get this APC catalog in. It was stark white with bold and simple black intitals. I coveted everything single item in it from their box-pleated minis to their sweet, floral blouses insprired by gamine schoolgirls. APC was the uniform I wanted, but it was hard to find (there was only one store in the US and in Paris at the time). How shopping has changed since then! The internet has made labels much more accessible. Even luxury labels like Marc Jacobs, who once created websites that were no more than giant lookbooks, are finally giving online shops a go due the stagnant economy. Exclusivity is less important, democratization rules.
http://www.apcjournal.fr/

Bull in the Heather: My Sonic Youth Youth

2010-07-05T19:08:00.006-04:00

My boyfriend (who wants to move out west) often asks me why I want to keep living in New York. I usually keep silent because I understand what he's saying. It's a bitch to live here. It's tough if your pockets are deep and even tougher when your pockets are full of lint.

Here's my long, rambling answer to him:

I was thirteen and thought Sonic Youth's "BULL IN THE HEATER" video was the coolest. KATHLEEN HANNA from BIKINI KILL (who incidentally has been dating AD-ROCK from the Beastie Boys for about a decade) jumps around like a maniac in the music video and I remember thinking, "Who is this feisty brunette? I want to be her!" It was a time when I kept a pile of SASSY magazines underneath my bed including the issue with Kurt and Courtney on the cover. I still remember my favorite writers on the staff by name (Jauretsi and Gigi Guerra).

This was why I wanted to move to New York: it seemed like a place where smart, young women could do creative things, start their own business, and write about fashion and their favorite bands. The ceiling was as high as you wanted it to be. Who wouldn't wouldn't want to be there? People come and go all the time from the city, mostly for the summer, but few stay. You have to be smart, resourceful, tough as nails, and take rejection well. Most end up leaving. But the ones I admired STAYED.

It was X-GIRL clothing, co-founded by Sonic Youth's KIM GORDON, that really caught my eye. I really wanted an X-girl t-shirt back then and the only place that carried them in Chicago was UNTITLED (the era when Untitled was the size of a closet on Clark St. and they still owned Sole Junkies). But alas, they were too expensive for me at the time and I really was just not cool enough to be wearing an X-girl tee, but the idea of fashion sense combined with market appeal, independence, and entrepernuership still stick with me today.

SOFIA COPOLLA and KIM GORDON were my teenage inspiration. Does anyone remember the show hosted by Sofia Copolla on MTV? There were only two episodes and it would air late night. I remember a segment on how Thurston Moore would record the sound of garbage trucks and make noise rock out of it. I need to find it!) Anyways, I think about those women, how important and influential they were to my generation, how they made careers out of their passions and that's why I live here. So leave me alone.

Barneys in Cobble Hill?

2009-12-09T21:15:00.005-05:00

This article in Crain's New York caught my eye for a few reasons. (She's doing a list?)

1. The rise of "South Brooklyn"
Yeah, that's right. I love south Brooklyn. I'm not talking Gravesend, but south enough compared to where the typical non-Brooklynite will go and south enough compared to"North" Brooklyn--Williamsburg and Greenpoint. As every school semester passes I see more and more under 25s moving to Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, and South Park Slope. And new bars and businesses spring up with them.

But bottom line--there's money in these here parts. The average income is significantly higher here than in north brooklyn. After all, Billyburg and Bushwick hipsters aren't known for their excess income and before their population burst the neighborhood was (and still is) working class. But not so in Cobble Hill. Only a few years ago Smith St. was not as gentrified as it is now, but for some reason this area attracted professionals with professional salaries. (I think it was all the trees and the handsome Brownstones).

Based on numbers, opening shop in Cobble Hill makes more business sense. And that's probably why Urban Outfitters jumped at the chance a couple of years ago. (I worked for OU many moons ago, and while I didn't think they had the best policies when it came to their workers, I do have to say the company has sound business judgement. Coincidentally their stock is doing very well). Smaller upscale chains like Steven Alan also opened shop in the area.

Yes, it is a little weird that Barneys is opening in Brooklyn, but its new Dubai-based owner is eyeing expansion. I'm curious to see how it works out.

2. Retail Expansion During Fiscal Crisis
I'm already seeing many new small businesses popping up on the LES and there are less vacant store fronts (except on Ave. A--what's going on there? Many vacant storefronts). The small businesses that I'm seeing are more niche and bespoke than ever which I'm pleased about. Remember when boutiques actually carried products that were hard to find anywhere else? That's why you went to these places in the first place. So what happens when every women's boutique carries Phillip Lim and Alexander Wang and every men's boutique carries Comme de Garcon? And then Bloomingdale's begins to carry Robert Geller? And the The Gap does a collab with Phillip Lim? Your customer either gets bored or goes to Bloomingdales because they have a credit card with them. Yes, it's all great product, and I still want me a Comme wallet, but oversaturation is bad for business.

Sadly, oversaturation was much the fault of retailers. 2005-2007 were great years for shopping. Many young, American designers came up during this time: Vena Cava, Thakoon, Loefler Randall. There were plenty of stores that were looking to fill their racks with something new and edgy and it just so happened that many young companies were coming out with great product and there was a large enough customer base with extra money to spend. Supply and demand matched. But by 2008, those edgy designs were getting ripped off and you could get Loefler Randall look-a-like boots from Steve Madden for a fraction of the cost (of course, their not real Vachetta leather, but hey, you can save $500). It got a bit much and supply exceeded demand. And then the 2008 crisis happened and unfortuanletly some stores and some clothing labels didn't make it. 2009 became the year of the sample sale to get rid of overstock and to give businesses and designers a chance to recoup at least some costs.

But with every crisis, comes growth and the discovery of something new that will change everything. Apple and Microsoft were both companies founded during a financial crisis, and I'm excited because I believe we've reached the turning point.

The recession is technically over and unemployment did not rise in November. While it's not stellar news, it is an improvement from what we've been hearing. I don't think retail will return to the highs of 2007 numbers any time soon. Shoppers have changed their habits and priorities too much for that to happen now, but with a changing customer will come business owners who will cater to this new customer.

Seeing new stores open, new shop owners with faces bright with new ideas and potential, and new expansions of chains is good news. Now is the time. Better to be a leader in the growth that will eventually happen than a follower.

Women Work Harder Than Men

2009-10-05T13:05:00.001-04:00

I stumbled across this article while googling "Women working in finance."

'As early as this November, it's projected that for the first time in US history, more women will be working than men..."It's just sort of this dramatic revolution that's taking place but nobody's really talking about it that much," said Kobliner. "Also, we're seeing that more married women have unemployed husbands than ever before, a record 21 percent ... so the question is: are we going to start seeing the real 'Mister Moms' -- men doing the laundry and taking care of all those household jobs?"'

The article goes on to say a big fat "NO." The truth is women are still the primary caretaker at home, and still do not earn as much as men in the workplace.

Of course.

Women Working More Than Men

Summer Weekend: East Hampton

2009-08-24T11:20:00.008-04:00

It's almost the end of summer. It's consistently 86 degrees in my apartment even though it's only 75 degree out. Summer makes me wish I lived in a cool ground floor, but then again that's where the roaches like to hang out.

The weekend was eventful!

-Day One. Train to East Hampton aka "The Party Train!" Long Island kids are funny.
-Bike ride through the woods to the middle of nowhere. Too much quiet makes me scurred.
-Beach time with the Atlantic looking fierce from all the waves from Hurricane Bill hundreds of miles away. Dangerous and breath-taking.
-Bike ride past beach front properties like in the movies and plenty of trophy cars. Having a convertible out here almost seems neccessary.
-I called a woman a bitch at the grocery check out because she was being very rude to the cashier (After working years of customer service, I have developed a soft spot for other service workers). The woman bought rice pudding and triscuts. Immediately after calling her a bitch, I felt bad, but the woman seemed to enjoy the title. She took her Gucci purse and walked away looking satisfied.
-Day Two. Tresspass onto painter's Jackson Pollock's property in the woods. His backyard view is about three acres of untouched wetland. Imagine painting surrounded by that.
-Stella McCartney pop-up shop (Fall 09 in stores already!) and Agathe Snow installation. Free popscicles on Stella.
-Back to the beach. Watch surfers, sunbathe, play with the waves. I was so happy I couldn't stop screaming.
-Sleepy.
-Train back to Crooklyn.

ESPO's A Love Letter For You/ I'm Mural Crazy

2009-08-18T10:34:00.007-04:00

I'm loving "A Love Letter For You," a new project ESPO's been working on along with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. I'm planning a trip to Philly to check it out when the mural project of 50 painted walls is complete. They're even holding sign painting classes! Frank has a few cans of sign paint at home, maybe I should give it a go. My first sign would say, "My Cat Loves Me." It's the truth.

I recently watched The Universe of Keith Haring on DVD three times and was amazed at how thoughtful Keith was about doing public art. Keith wanted to do something that would last, that the general public could enjoy everyday and not have to go to a musuem or art gallery to see. Here we are 25 years later, and his artwork still can be found in many major cities from public parks, to schools, to even Woodhull Hospital in Bushwick (NOT a nice place--the building looks more like a prison than a place you would go to get better. So genius that Keith would do a colorful mural there. The place needs it).

So happy about all the new murals from Anthony Lister and Os Gemeos. While the twins were painting the Deitch wall on Houston street last month, there was steady stream of onlookers, some were fans, mostly graf heads, and then random people walking by who had no idea who the Brazilian artists were.

I stopped by the wall almost every day because it was on the way home from work, and there was ALWAYS a group gathered around watching them paint and just chillin' on the street, taking photos and video. I always stopped by myself, too. This shows how there is a desire, maybe even demand (especially from other graf/street artists), to see the process of their work. It was a great and rare opportunity to see Os Gemeos use spray paint for the entire mural, to see how they do their detail work, use stencils, and have almost no pre-sketches (at least from what I could tell). Frank took some great detail shots of the mural along with Os Gemeos painting a truck. Maybe I'll put those up soon.

aloveletterforyou.com

Welcome Back

2009-06-18T13:11:00.024-04:00

I haven't posted on here in over a year. I'm not going to explain why, but instead start where I last left off--because that's how good friendships work!

Bet you didn't know it's summer by the way it's been raining every single day.

Seeing this lemon dress by Phillip Lim cheered me up a bit.

3.1 Phillip Lim dress available at Bird

It made me remember that uhh...I LIKE CLOTHES. This sounds silly, but it's important to me because I've been going through this guilt about liking fashion which is connected to my serious MONEY GUILT. I realized recently that I spent more than I would have liked to spend because I was so determined to live in New York and work in the fashion and retail industries. I often feel like I have a closet full of nice clothes whose combined costs total more than my current net worth.

Yes, it's a bit of a downer, but it's important to note moments like this so that I don't make the same mistake again. And I'm writing this so that others out there understand that while it's important to look the part and it's nice to surround yourself with things you find aethestically appealing (soft silks! comfy chunky-heeled booties!)--they are LUXURIES and should not be put before paying, you know, the rent.

I am lucky to have a few favorite dresses by Isabel Marant and Tsumori Chisato--I worked at a very nice boutique and got the clothes free. But I have sold a few items on ebay I no longer loved and made some nice loot. Anyway, lesson learned. In future postings, I'd like to explore building a wardrobe on a budget that incorporates the emerging and European designers I love with mass finds from Uniqlo and Forever 21.

Since I'm on a compaining rant, I've also been feeling like there are so few real men left. Now with more and more young women holding the reigns on their educations and careers, I've seen many a scumbag (sorry, just being honest!) come along and mooch of the ladies' hard work. Men on unemployment dating hot women with good jobs? And what's with all the men on unemployment taking trips to Europe? Where have all the cowboys gone?

Who knew lemons could make me realize so much?

Summer in the City (Eco-Friendly and Carcinogen-Free Edition)

2008-07-31T22:57:00.007-04:00

All I've been reading about lately in the media is how everything in my house could potentially kill me. Talk about consumer scare tactics. The modern lifestyle revolves around plastic. We rub out armpits with chemicals proven to cause Alzheimer's disease. And while the cancer stories may exaggerated, all those plastic water bottles I buy to keep myself hydrated and cool in the hot months are not good for mother earth. And frankly, Alzheimer's scares the shit out of me. So here's a slew of products I swear by to keep cool during those 90+ degree days that are environmentally sound and not bad for your body either.

Tom's of Maine Honeysuckle Rose Natural Deodorant. Light, botanically scented, and aluminum free! It may not keep your pits dry on those really hot and humid days, but natural ingredients like lichen and coriander help to fight odor when you need it.

Klean Kanteen Water Bottle. The simple design looks good and is carcinogen free. Say good-bye to plastic forever. Carry it with you wherever you go and fill it up with good old NYC tap. Those Jennifer Aniston ads should have warned you, Smart Water is for yuppies.

Short shorts, preferably higher waisted. Or better yet, take a pair of jeans you don't like and make cut-offs. Even boys wear short shorts now.

Robert Geller + Den

2008-04-07T14:39:00.022-04:00

Opening Tuesday is Den's newest installment of rotating designers featuring menswear by Robert Geller, whose spring collection proves to be utterly wearable hipster fashionings.

Geller gained cult status revamping the label Cloak with fellow designer Alexandre Plohov. Cloak shut its doors, but the clamor for Geller's designs grew louder. Robert Geller Collection was launched in 2005 and is currently found in only a handful of boutiques. Den will carry a broad collection of the line that includes many exclusives. The crisp grey sharp-shouldered blazers and slim trousers are perfect for any discerning satorialist.

Den is located in the East Village at 330 E 11th street, NYC.

Bjork's Visual Wanderlust

2008-04-01T21:56:00.010-04:00

She's done it again. If you haven't seen it already, check out Bjork's innovative new music video for her single "Wanderlust." It's a 3-D (yes, get out your glasses!) visual menagerie directed by Encyclopedia Pictura. Filmed with a custom made stereoscopic camera rig and a mix of live action, puppets, scale models, and computer generated animation, the stunning video channels the folklore of the mountainous Alps.

The video premiered in 3-D at Deitch Projects Studio in Long Island City, Queens earlier last month. The official release date of the video was yesterday, but it's hard to find a good quality version in virtual world. The video will be released later on DVD.

In the meantime, I highly recommend viewing the clear 2-D version of "Wanderlust" on the Enyclopedia Pictura website here. Wow.

Designer to Know: Isabel Marant

2008-04-01T10:46:00.026-04:00

Scrumptious natural fibers like plush cottons, easy linens, and washed silks have made Isabel Marant a rising star. She creates bohemian perfection in her own signature label and her diffusion line appropriately named, Etoile ("star" in French).

Her collection of short flouncy skirts, baggy pleated linen pants, and various voluminous tops mix well together--on the racks it is very easy to envision coordinated outfits. It's casual, unconstrained, and easy to layer in unconventional ways. It's this relaxed, just-thrown-together mix that is giving Marant notoriety. The perfect t-shirt is a linen Isabel Marant tee in a muted neutral color.

For spring '08 she appropriated the pattern from the ever-popular Afghan scarf and made it fresh fabric for sleeveless tops and dresses. Her flat boots are spot-on slouchy.

She's hard to come by (which makes her even more special). So if you can't stop by her boutique in Paris, try Jumelle or Hejfina. See Isabel Marant's spring 08 fashion show here.

Images from Isabel Marant Fall '08

Oh Fashionista Diaries

2008-04-01T00:36:00.001-04:00

Yes, I watched it every damn episode of Fashionista Diaries on SOAPnet.com and i loved every minute of it. Why? Because Project Runway annoys me now (I am cable-free and happy--the internets is all I need!). I respect the work ethic of each of the assistants (except maybe Andrew). I can totally relate to working entry-level in a competitive industry 50 hours a week while having to look "fashionable" on a three-digit paycheck. Workoholics like other workoholics.

In the end, it was a show about doing what you want because well, it's what YOU want. And it's refreshing to see a few hard working and motivated gals learn the ropes and not some Orange County bimbos who want to be a fashion magazine editors because they "love" clothes.

Tax Refund = New Wardrobe?

2008-03-31T17:39:00.015-04:00

Tax time is here and luckily, I'm getting a refund only because I was in grad school last year.

Instead, what will you spend your refund on? Or have you spent your refund already? Are you disciplined, buying something small and saving the rest? Many gals I know look forward to their yearly tax refund and use it directly towards a new spring wardrobe. After all, it feels like free money--and that's the trick: get mid-income consumers to spend their refund (plus the extra $600 coming mid-year) to literally buy us out of recession.

While I also enjoy fashion, be smart about your consumer choices. Even I can rationalize spending $160 on the perfect Isabel Marant t-shirt I'll wear 50 times, but I try not to put myself into debt doing so (although I have put myself into debt in the past for such silliness). And remember, consumer waste inevitably equals garbage waste. How many things from H&M and Urban Outfitters have you discarded in the past few years?

One thing I've learned in working retail is how to spend wisely on clothing. I've worked at expensive boutiques were few of the customers could truly afford the lifestyle of luxury shopping. Most shoppers were just good at floating debt around, and to be honest, none of those women are particularly stylish, even though they spend thousands of dollars a season on their wardrobes.

If you are lucky enough to be receiving a refund, be smart. Buy yourself something new for spring you will actually wear the whole season (as long as that special something isn't a $1200 Lanvin bag) and put the rest towards paying off your debts. Am I channeling Suze Orman or what? Sheesh.

Above photo of Cheech the Cat doing her taxes.

Spring Clothes Okay, Sandals Yes!

2008-03-10T22:55:00.012-04:00

I've had a huge obsession with spring shoes this season because so far I've found spring 08 in stores to be a little...uninteresting. I still have yet to find a dress that blows me away, maybe because I keep seeing the same rounded, bulbous silhouette as last spring. (Instead, I'm much more into separates, but I'll post about that later.) The dresses aren't catching my discerning eye, but this season's shoes and accessories are spectacular!

Take these Thomas Wylde skull encrusted sandals if you have $950 to spare. They're a great bottom anchor to toughen up a frilly floral dress. The rows of miniature skull-shaped studs on leather the color of metal are smart, more discrete and trend-proof than the typical black t-shirt will skull graphic.

3.1 Phillip Lim + Birkenstock

2008-02-29T17:43:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite designers Phillip Lim has teamed up with Birkenstock Tatami shoes to create sandals for spring 2008. It's the perfect mix of Birkenstock comfort with Lim's easy feminity. The collection of 13 styles for women features soft suede fringing, multi buckles and patent leather accents on a classic Birkenstock footbed.

The Helen sandal in soft suede with a bit of bohemian fringe is my pick. Buy it at eluxury.com for $150.

The New Projects

2008-02-26T12:24:00.001-05:00

I saw this ad on the back of the Onion newspaper and thought it was a funny joke. I called the number on the ad and checked the website. Turns out it's real. Flatubush Gardens are the projects for the new poor a.k.a. middle class.

Pay only $1025 a month to have your own one bedroom with new hardwood floors in the charming neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn! Only blocks from Bed-Sty, and drug dealers available right on the corner! But to rent an apartment you have to pass a criminal background check first. Gotta keep the riff-raff out.

Let's talk Politics

2008-01-04T17:22:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while ya'll. Today's news of Obama's huge win in Iowa sparked excitement in my head. It was a glimmer of hope within my very critical mind and a genuine happiness that other young people out there (in corn-filled Iowa even!) care about things other than Britney's latest meltdown and are willing to make the effort to help change something that isn't working.

According to NYTimes the Euro is now at $1.47US and a whopping 25% of new condos in Manhattan are being bought by investors in Europe and the Middle East. It may be good for the foreign investors, but it's hard not to notice the fact that America's economy and American's confidence has slipped.

The urban dweller's current obsession with superficial environmentalism is a small start towards change. Carrying little canvas tote bags instead of plastic bags is a start. Not buying disposable, poorly made clothing you don't really need at H&M and Forever 21 is another entry-way. But what's next?

It has to be big change. And I HOPE it's political.

Ryan McGinness at Pace Prints

2007-10-05T21:30:00.000-04:00

Check out an installation by Ryan McGinness, the guy who first made graphic symbolism cool to wear on a t-shirt.

Ryan McGinness
When: October 4th, 2007 - November, 8th 2007
Where: Pace Prints Chelsea 
521 West 26th Street, NYC
Tuesday - Saturday:  10:00am - 6:00pm,   Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm

Visit www.paceprints.com for more info. Their online store has a Warhol lithograph for $1500 that I would love to call mine.

See This Now: Mike Nelson's A Psychic Vaccuum

2007-09-24T11:19:00.000-04:00

Creativetime, the presenters of innovative art for the public realm, have done it again. Recent Turner prize winner Mike Nelson's A Psychic Vacuum invites you into an abandoned building on the Lower East Side and transforms you into a world of paranormal possibilities. After signing a waiver (the building is city-owned and does not pass current regulation building codes) you enter a tiny door off Delancey Street into the old Essex Street Market "renovated" by Mike Nelson.

The show is a labyrinth of sorts. You feel like you may get lost or even trapped in one of the dark hallways, but you never are trapped. There is an unnerving feeling that you may be in a real life version of Saw, the movie. The eerie and dilapidated interiors feel haunted. Doors open to more doors or small, dark rooms filled with strange paraphernalia, much of it debris from the original market's heyday. It feels like someone has just left the room and scattered things about: an old naval officer's hat, a dentist's chair, and old tattoo needle, dusty books. Some rooms are filled with a fluorescent light that buzzes slightly. In another room a straight jacket is crumpled on the floor as if it's insane inhabitant has just made a quick escape.

Other interiors feel like they haven't been touched since the 60s. Pictures of JFK and Jackie hang from the walls with a thick layer of dust next to an old rotary phone. Will someone call? The interactive nature of the show is highly appealing. Touch what you want--you are IN the art.

Read an interesting interview with the artist from the NYTimes.

Mike Nelson: A Psychic Vacuum
Sept. 8- Oct. 28
The Old Essex Street Market
117 Delancey at Essex
Friday-Sunday, 12-6pm, Free

The DL: The show is open Fridays Saturdays and Sundays only. Like the best haunted houses (I know, I know, it's not a haunted house--it's an art show, but still) it is best to go alone and not crowded with a bunch of strangers to ruin the effect. This may be hard to do on a busy Saturday.

Hipster Olympics

2007-08-31T18:19:00.000-04:00

Comedic genuis!

Fafi and MOB

2007-08-31T18:02:00.000-04:00

Women's streetwear clothing line Married to the MOB (Most Official Bitches) shot graffiti legend Fafi (pretty!) to model their Fall 2007 lookbook.

Rats in the kitchen

2007-08-31T17:50:00.000-04:00

Don't you hate it when you finally find the time to eat at a restaurant you walk by everyday and it ends up closing a few weeks later due to health code violations?

Chances are the food was mediocre anyway, and you were not planning to eat there again, but still.

Ick.

On the Road with David Choe

2007-08-30T16:03:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite artists David Choe hitchhikes America!

Courtesy Vice TV

Collab Lab 2: Loeffler Randall for Target

2007-08-21T20:29:00.001-04:00

Designer Jessie Randall of Brooklyn label Loeffler Randall just signed up to create an accessories line for Target expected to hit stores in early 2008.

Check out Racked.com to see some of Randall's designs for Target.

Rag & Bone takes over Den

2007-08-21T18:59:00.000-04:00

Den, Odin's concept store in the East Village finished up their insane summer sale just in time to introduce a new installment of the store's rotating designers. Rag & Bone's fall collection for men and women is in-store now.

Rag & Bone's David Neville and Marcus Wainwright design in the city, but manufacture their clothing in North Carolina in a factory known for its quality, "We believed and always will, that jeans represent history, authenticity, and fundamentals. We wanted to fuse these elements together with all the clothing we set out to design and to produce collections that reflected the same qualities that we saw in classic work wear."

I love androgyny and like that women can easily shop in both genders of Rag & Bone's clothing. Their pieces crisp, boyish, military-inspired, and their separates fit easily into your existing wardrobe. One of my favorites is their white tuxedo shirt (above).

Den is located at 330 East 11th Street (btwn 1st and 2nd).

PR Cat Power

2007-08-21T18:39:00.001-04:00

It's the party of the year: the Meow Mix Celebration of the Meow Mix Acatemey! All the B-listers were there! Don't you know?

(Sorry, I had to post this. I'm a sucker for a cute kitty.)

Photos from am New York

Flight of the Conchords For Eva!

2007-08-19T13:02:00.000-04:00

Good news for all you fans of the New Zealand transplant's musical sitcom "Flight of the Conchords." HBO has announced they will renew the show for another season.

Here's a funny clip. Why do I like? It's filmed off the JMZ, near South Williamsburg/Bushwick where I lived just a couple of years ago in a roach-infested apartment when I was poor. Oh wait, I'm still dirt poor, but no longer in a roach infested apartment in the ghetto. Yeah!

Banksy Warhol Mashup

2007-08-12T22:33:00.000-04:00

Check this out (if you happen to be in London at this very moment): A new exhibit is now showing artwork by British graffiti artist Banksy face to face with pop artist Andy Warhol.

The Hospital Gallery in London has opened Warhol vs Banksy, an exhibit that features about 40 similar works by the two artists displayed together. Andy's famous Marilyn screen prints created in the 1960s hang next to Bansky's screen prints of celebrity icon for another generation, Kate Moss.

It is quite a feat for an infamous street artist to be shown next to Warhol. Should be a great show.

Where?
Hospital Gallery, London (Lucky Londoners!)
now thru September 2007

Hipster Trinity

2007-08-10T19:51:00.001-04:00

The mating dance between fashion retailers and like-minded brands has produced more partnerships, this time for trendy retailer Urban Outfitters. Urban will colloborate with Nylon magazine and dirty hipster nightlife photographer Cobrasnake (a.k.a. Mark Hunter) to form a mighty hipster trinity no young consumer will have the power to refuse.

Nylon will launch in-store shops featuring apparel, music and books in Urban's 113 locations, while Cobrasnake (yes, I consider him a brand) was hired by Urban to shoot their fall shoe catalog. Will the collaboration madness ever end? (See previous post)

Cobrasnake photo from urbanoutfitters.com

Collab Lab

2007-08-10T19:34:00.000-04:00

Retail collaborations are big: Phillip Lim for Gap, Alice Roi for Uniqlo, Stella McCartney for Addidas, Kate Moss for London retailer Topshop, and the dynamic duo that started it all: Karl Lagerfeld for H&M.

The symbiotic relationship works for everyone involved.
-The designer creates a handful of pieces for mass retail and gets $$$ to put back into their own signature collection (especially needed for up-and-coming designers).
-The retailer's reputation and sales are bolstered by the designer's edginess. And chances are if you stop by H&M to buy something from Proenza Schouler, you also picked up something from H&M's own line.
-The customer gets to buy top designs, minus some quality, at affordable prices in their own local mall.

These powerhouse partnerships are great publicity for both the designer and retailer. No wonder everyone has jumped aboard. It's also no small coincidence that retailers that haven't done designer collaborations have reported lagging sales. Dresses from Kate Moss for Topshop are still selling on ebay for more than they are worth. The demand for for high design and luxury at an affordable price (somewhat of an oxymoron) is here to stay.

Dress by Alice Roi for Uniqlo, Spring 2007

Alexander Wang's Tough Luxury

2007-08-02T13:40:00.000-04:00

Meet Alexander Wang. He's a young designer with an eye for modern luxury.

Launching his line in 2004, Alexander finally put together a complete ready to wear line last Spring to rave reviews by fashion editors. Now Lindsay Lohan is scooping up his hip cashmere sweaters.

Alexander pairs distressed skinny black rock n' roll jeans with soft cashmere sweaters, silk tanks with wide wool pants--all would make Kate Moss proud. His oversized menswear-inspired cardigans and slightly weathered black leather vests are perfect for a rumpled "I don't care what I look like" look. His short black silk crepe dresses are more tough than cutesy.

Some of my favorites from Alexander Wang's Fall 2007 Collection include his Red plaid oversized lumberjack cardigan ($495).
Alexander Wang is available at Barneys and net-a-porter.com

KAWS/MOB Rattle Bikini

2007-07-30T02:20:00.001-04:00

If you still haven't bought a swim suit this season, check out this one by women's streetwear label, Married to the MOB. Designed by street art favorite KAWS, the limited edition "Rattle" bikini retails for $175. And it's in Donald Trump's favorite colors: Black and gold, baby!

Where:
Alife, NYC
marriedtothemob.com

So Long Jane

2007-07-21T16:42:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite mainstream glossies, Jane, has abruptly closed earlier this month. The August issue will be it's last. First Sassy and now this? Where does an intelligent girl in her 20s go to find a general interest mag that covers fashion, beauty, AND tells you how to fix your car?

Founding editor Jane Pratt left the magazine in 2005. The Conde Nast publication had been struggling with sales and advertisers even before Pratt's departure.

Don't bother checking the Jane website. It's defunct as well and links to Glamour.com, which is fine if you're the type of girl who wants to find out what position pleases your man. However, most Jane readers were not that girl.

Echo's (Ego) Complex

2007-07-21T15:09:00.001-04:00

I love ironic sexist humor when it's smart, but Marc Echo's freebie magazine, Complex, is a true sexist piece of crap perfect for simple-minded boys who love sneakers and the latest tech gadget, but can't get laid.

Self-described as a lifestyle magazine aimed at 18-34 year old men with a focus on hip-hop and urban culture, you'll find plenty of shoe collecting, DJ and graf references to the point of being obnoxious. Echo is following the same business plan of the Vice empire, hoping to capture some of its wild success starting off with a free mag targeted at a youthful audience ready to consume anything it advertises.

Entertaining low points in the latest issue:
-Kanye West plays "style critic."
-Sample article titles: Let's Get Stoned (An interview with Joss Stone), Just Do Her!
-How many times can you refer to a woman's vagina size on one page? Three. Really pushing the journalistic envelope.

The DL:
Nike is referenced on every other page. Another interview with Jeff Staple (I've read three interviews of this guy in three different magazines in the past few months). Lots of all-over print streetwear (still?)

Update: Just finished reading Antennea--make that four interviews with Jeff Staple.

The Fall Jean Debate: Wide vs. Skinny

2007-07-20T14:49:00.001-04:00

The opposite of what is overly-popular is always the "new" shape. Skinny jeans were big last fall, so big legs are back.

But don't throw away your skinnies yet! Come fall/winter they will still be popular, mostly because it's hard to give up the functionality of the skinny jean. When boot season arrives and you can just tuck 'em in and not worry about getting the bottom of you pants ruined in the harsh weather. And their sexy.

The Wide leg, however, can be sexy if paired with heels and something fitted or tucked in on top, Studio 54 style. Look for a medium to high-rise, and avoid frumpy at all costs.

For those of you as OCD as me, here's a pros (and a few cons) list to help you shop this season:

Option 1. Wide Ones
-Comfortable to wear in hot months, and well, just more comfortable period.
-Look great with heels and flats
-Can transition to workplace as a trouser if a dark wash
-An alternative to the skinny jeans you see on MisShapes wannabes everywhere
-Look for a wide leg that is fitted on top and falls straight down from the thigh, not fitted at the thigh and then flared.
Try: Citizens of Humanity Hutton high rise

Option 2. Skinnies
-Tucked into boots is functional for escaping the muck of NYC streets
-Cute with flats
-Perfect to balance longer tops and full trapeze-style tops still popular this fall
-Worn with pointy-heels, skinnies can be trashy and a little dated (unless that's your idea of dressing ironic). If your going to wear high-heels with super tight jeans, try a less severe, rounded toe.
Try: Cheap Monday, J Brand

Option 3. In-Between
-If your looking to add a narrow leg jean to your wardrobe, your best bet is to bypass purchasing a new pair of skin tight skinnies and opt for a straight leg jean (in between a bootcut and a skinny)
-Straight legs look great in a low to medium rise with a shirt tucked in.
-A straight leg is more flattering than super-tight jeans on bodies with short legs or wider hips and a great option for those who refuse to wear skin-tights.
Try: J. Crew Matchstick Jean, James Straight Leg

Dress Like You're Five

2007-07-20T14:31:00.001-04:00

Fashion is always obsessed with youth. Reach the extreme by wearing the same shoes you wore when you first learned to walk. I'm pretty sure I wore these sandals when I was five, and now their back.

Retailing for about $35, the Saltwater Sandal is the perfect, basic flat sandal. Its leather is meant to be worn at the beach and get wet (which makes them kind of like summer rain shoes.) They're very comfy and come in a multitude of colors from bright true red to navy, yellow, brown, black, tan...

Buy them here.
Or here: Bird in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

U.N. Reports: No One Wants to Live on a Farm Anymore

2007-06-30T12:04:00.000-04:00

According to a recent NYTimes article, the U.N. reports that by next year, more than half the world’s population will for the first time live in urban areas.

The urban population growth will be in smaller, developing cities, particularly in Africa and South America, that don't have adequate resources to provide proper sanitation and drinking water. This means the cities will smell like a giant toilet. Lack of government aid for basic necessities also creates a violent system in which one man must fend for himself. On the semi-bright side the report says, “Cities concentrate poverty, but they also represent the best hope of escaping it.”

NYC is ranked no. 5 in the world's most populous metropolitan areas with over 16 million people.
Mexico City, Mexico wins the race with over 18 million.

A.P.C. Sale

2007-06-26T15:10:00.000-04:00

You love love love A.P.C.?

Their summer sale, where merchandise is marked down 50%, starts tomorrow, June 27th. In stores and on-line. Merchandise will sell fast--grab it and go.

Stinkbombs and Paint: Weapons of Choice for Dorks

2007-06-22T20:36:00.000-04:00

Remember that "Splasher" kid a few months back that was trying to make a statement by splattering paint on the city's street art? He wrote that trite manifesto that compared what he was doing to Dadaism. Did someone shank him yet?

No, apparently he roamed free because rumors are he was caught in the act at the new Shepard Fairey show in DUMBO yesterday attempting to plant a stink bomb. Who knows if it was really the "Splasher" planting the stinkies, but it probably was the same person who sabotaged the recent Faile show by setting off stink bombs to clear out the crowd.

People at the Fairey opening say it was packed with hundreds of people. A stink bomb would have certainly caused an emergency situation that could have injured many innocent people. And yet the culprit is still on the loose.

Get sucked into the gossip, read updates (they caught someone), and see a picture of the dumbass (Harry Potter's twin brother?) at The Gothamist

Photo by Streetsy

You Are What You Eat: Pork Butt

2007-06-22T12:53:00.000-04:00

Little piggies are having a resurgence in menus all over the city. The animal's most succulent parts, it's stomach and ass, are being served and eaten in the trendiest eateries around. (Those creative types like their pig.)

Some of my favorite pork dishes include the Korean-inspired Steamed Buns with pork belly, cucumber, hoisin, and scallions from Momofuku Ssam Bar on 2nd Ave.

Or try the juicy Pork Butt with navy beans and cabbage from Little D. in Park Slope. (Their duck is also delicious.)

The Biz: Expanding Bellies of A.P.C. and Opening Ceremony

2007-06-17T19:12:00.000-04:00

Good news for those of you on the left coast. French sportswear company, A.P.C. just opened up shop in Cali. This is only the brand's second store in the States. Also check out their more inexpensive line, Madras, for more charming French-girl apparel, both online and in-stores.

And in NYC, check back to Opening Ceremony on Howard Street if you haven't been in for a while. They've opened up a lower level that houses their private label and menswear. They've slowly expanded to become a three-floor mega-boutique as well as a showroom for great local under-the-radar designers, like Thorn Jewelry.

And they have those great $20,000 plaid Swedish beds made out of horse-hair! I want one. Opening Ceremony also recently opened a California outpost this past Spring. Busy bees.

Summer Sales

2007-06-15T20:59:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year when spring/summer clothing and accessories get marked down. Most boutiques are cutting prices 25-50% now to make room for fall shipments in mid-July. Yes, fall shipments start that early. Check out your favorite independently owned boutique now for deals.

And as always, the best way to find out about upcoming promotions and sales is to get on the email list of your favorite shops.

Faile for your Bathroom

2007-06-14T13:21:00.000-04:00

If you missed the recent Faile show on Chrystie Street, don't feel bad. The show was short-lived--only four days. Now you can shop on UrbanOutfitters.com and take the street art collective's stuff home with you...in a shower curtain.

Or better yet get it from the source at izolashower.com

Going Green

2007-06-13T19:01:00.000-04:00

Being earth conscious is smart, but it once meant you had to hunt for organic or vegan clothing that didn't make you look like an old, fat hippie. Now, big fashion chains are aware of the consumer appeal of designer earth-friendly products. Even mass-market retailer H&M has an organic cotton line of simple tops. Check out some of the designer labels who started the revolution:

Loomstate
100% Organic Jeans and Tees with great screenprints. Their light grey Horse tee, which retails for $55, is one of my favorites.

Stewart Brown Organics
Organic pioneers. They design sweaters, knit tops, and accessories. Check out their 100% organic Mongolian Cashemere Collection.

Questionably Homeless Man Street Style

2007-06-12T19:36:00.001-04:00

Yes, photos of people with super style on the street are fun to look at online. But it's overdone, and I'm not going to do it here. And, like some obnoxious blogs, I'm not going to tell you who or what I'm wearing everyday. You have a life, and I have a life. If you are interested in that I can definitely recommend some sites, but not my site.

Instead I offer inspiration from not-so-typical sources. Like the questionably homeless old people in the city. (Those guys down on the Bowery know how to put together an outfit!) Like this guy (above) and his trash bag bandana. Ingenius! And it's better than showing a picture of some rich wuss from Columbia U. wearing Steven Alan who thinks he's the shit because he has an internship.

For real. So here I offer an ongoing column: Old Man Street Style

Super City Tote

2007-06-12T15:25:00.000-04:00

So I've seen five women in the past two days sporting Anna Corinna's city tote in the miniature version. There must be something there. The leather bag converts from a shoulder strap when folded over to a roomy handle bag making it big enough to carry everything you need to lug with you (and all those things you carry that you don't need).

The summer version comes in cool canvas with leather details that's a definite step up from your typical canvas tote bag with screen print. Way more grown up.

The DL:
The mini city tote retails for $360
Get it at Foley + Corinna in NYC and shopbop.com

Time Warner: I hate you

2007-06-03T00:57:00.001-04:00

So I didn't have Internet or cable for over a week up until yesterday. I cursed out Time Warner Cable for being a monopoly of idiots. After two missed appointments with the cable guys, somehow everything began working one morning. Truly a miracle it was! Even my cats were giddy.

So what did I miss in a week? Lindsey's back in rehab, Paris looks sad all the time because she’s going to jail, and Enterprise rent-a-car is having a weekend sale. How I missed you, Internet, and all pointless information you provide me.

I admit I felt out of touch for the first few days without the web. I was unsure of what the weather outside would be like. Soon, I realized I can stick my hand out the window and figure out the weather myself, like the old fashioned days in the 1800s, before iphone was available. Amazing! I realized there were other things to do besides shopping online. I started reading the newspaper and magazines in their original format, on this thing called paper.

I also realized I should cancel the cable. Seriously, I didn't miss the cable at all.

I'm a hipster, so are you.

2007-06-02T15:03:00.000-04:00

Let’s face it. If you're under 30 and do not work in finance or law, you're probably a hipster.

Chances are you really want to be in a creative industry, read Vice, live green, like getting your picture taken at parties (as long as you look good), are nonchalantly fashion conscious, and live for being slightly more "in the know" than your peers. There are hundreds of thousands of *new* adults with these same interests. This is especially prevalent in New York where youth and creative cultures have always been in large population. Sample the LES or Williamsburg on a Friday or Saturday night. It's like Disney Land for those 18-30. The lines to bars and clubs are filled with slightly bored, but eager hipsters waiting to be let in to ride the same ride for the hundredth time.

So why all the hipster bashing when it may very well become what our generation is known for? (I'm not saying this is a good thing, I'm just reporting.) Because being a hipster no longer means being part of a counter-culture like it did for generations past. The word's connotations no longer imply edge or danger. The definition has changed, and being a hipster now means you possibly live off of your parent's money or you have a daytime office job. (You need to pay for living in pricey NYC somehow.) Frankly, you're a wuss and not very dangerous at all. Worse yet, the hipster's culture is now mainstream culture. Advertisers already know this, but the general population of hipsters are in denial, still thinking they are something unique. If you're so unique, then why are you all wearing American Apparel?

Hipster bashing is so great that mainstream mag Timeout New York decided to dedicate their latest issue to the phenomenon: The Hipster Must Die (for New York to be edgy again?). But there's way cooler stuff on Time Out's website: Play "Guess what train stop that hipster came from". Fun! I'm guessing Metropolitan?

Agree/Disagree? Leave a comment!

New Boutique Alert: Den

2007-05-22T20:20:00.000-04:00

I had a preview yesterday of the East Village's newest boutique, Den, set to open this week. Odin owners, Paul and Eddie, will open shop next door to Odin's 11th St. location. Den is a concept store housed in a former massage parlor notorious for its happy endings. The owners cleaned up well and replaced the pepto bismol pink walls with fresh paint and dark woods.

Den will carry one label's collection only for a limited time. Swedish jean company, Cheap Monday, will kick off the store's opening with their full collection of men's and women's clothing. Expect this label to sell fast because it's dirt cheap and has a hipster cult following. Cheap Monday's best selling skinny jean retails for only $65. Don't worry if the jeans sell out, there are plenty of satanic skull-printed dresses and sneakers abound.

Cheap Monday will take over Den until July. Future collections will exhibit for one month and one week. I'm patiently waiting for one of my favorites, Karen Walker.

5.23.07 UPDATE: Den will open Thursday, May 24. Happy Shopping!

Orthopedic shoes are hot

2007-05-22T16:37:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I like dressing like an old person. This is the geriatric Worishofer comfort sandal you will see all over the city this summer. Cute or ugly? I can’t even tell anymore. Well, at least they give you some height. That's kind of sexy.

Just when you thought things can't get any more practical, check the price. An affordable $55-65 a pop. Buy a pair for yourself and one for grandma. They're also available at Bird in Park Slope and Shoe Market in Williamsburg.

If I were ever to be interviewed by Vanity Fair

2007-05-22T15:25:00.000-04:00

If Vanity Fair ever called up and requested an interview (and photo spread shot by Annie Liebowitz) I would say, "Yes!" and these would be my answers. I thought it would be a good way to introduce myself. Plus, filling out questionnaires makes me feel important.

1. Is there a particular designer you're taken with?
I’m hypnotically drawn to Vena Cava’s line. The Brooklyn-based designers have nailed 1920s vintage romantic with their dresses and camisoles in silk with art-deco style prints. Their cuts are timeless, and the way their fabrics drape on the body is just plain beautiful.

2. Do you look to a particular muse for inspiration?
Charlotte Gainsbourg has great style. She’s a little boyish, a little bohemian, and VERY French. Her signature piece, a black Balenciaga leather bomber jacket, makes a white t-shirt and jeans look incredible. We all need a great signature piece with transformational powers.

3. Is there a trend evolving that you're excited about? Is there a trend you wish would quietly disappear?
As the weather gets warmer, it makes sense to go with a dress. Throw it on. Dress it up. Dress it down. There’s a shape for everyone this season. The trendy trapeze dresses you see everywhere are cute if you’re young and shaped like a stick. If you actually have breasts, a dress with a definite waist or something belted to pull you in is much more flattering.

4. What are some closet staples?
The Etoile by Isabel Marant swing tee has become a staple of mine. It’s a modern, boxy cut t-shirt with a linen texture that looks like you’ve had it forever. I wear it with everything, like Rag & Bone’s slim black jean. It's a little rocker, but not too tapered at the ankle which makes it less of a hipster, tight jean and more of a sexy, black pant. Loeffler Randall’s shoes and boots (another great Brooklyn label) are definitely a staple.

5. Is there a particular beauty ritual that you love for the Spring?
Sunscreen everyday. I get it all over everything, but I don’t care. I’m kind of a nut about it.

6. Is there a book you can't put down or are anticipating to read this Spring?
The Brooklyn Reader. I love learning about New York City history, especially in narrative.

7. What artist/album/genre do you play over and over again on you iPod?
I’m a sucker for The Shins, CSS, and Diplo.

8. Do you have a dream locale you wish to visit this season?
It’s been so long since I’ve driven a car. I’d like to drive along any coast, the wind blowing in my hair, blasting something fun on the stereo, like 36 Mafia.

9. What are some of your favorite rituals you've been anctipiating to do once the weather warms up?
Inner-city field trips. I love walking around in warm weather, stumbling upon neighborhoods (good and bad ones), and photographing them.

10. What food/drink do you crave during the season?
Cherry-vanilla ice cream.

11. What do you love most about your neighborhood?
In the wintertime I forget the trees in Park Slope exist. Then all of a sudden they’re blooming these beautiful, massive pink flowers. It's like the trees are screaming "It's finally Spring!"

12. What do you think of the emergence of boutiques in Brooklyn?
Boutiques promote new fashion talent and can be inspiring to any shopper, whether you can afford to buy anything or not.

13. What are you obsessing about?
I’m obsessed with my fire-escape garden. There is this squirrel, however, that’s been digging up my plants and eating all the bird seed. He's cute, but quickly becoming my arch enemy.