mashupNYC

The Bohemian Shawl

2010-10-21T06:21:00.003-04:00

surfknitta

2010-10-16T16:41:00.003-04:00

My handknit Bohemian Shawls are currently on-sale in Bronxville, NY, at Toney Toni and the gang. Look for the Surfknitta label.

Still to EARLy for these?

2010-09-03T09:13:00.005-04:00

Maybe once EARL blows through, some cooler temps will follow suit. Patience...patience...

Throw-away Chic

2010-07-24T07:26:00.007-04:00

The straw Fedora is EVERYWHERE this summer, and on EVERYONE. In the city, you can find a ridiculous selection of the straw hats being sold by street vendors for $10. For 10 bucks, I'll give it a whirl.

For more inspiration, view the On the Street video from Bill Cunningham at the New York Times (it's a permalink, so you'll need to cut-and-paste the old-skool way): http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/07/23/style/1247468500405/on-the-street-tiptop.html

Whatever floats your boat...

2010-07-12T22:14:00.002-04:00

The Forecast

2010-07-11T08:45:00.010-04:00

Today
Mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Shorts, tank tops
Summer dresses
Anything cotton, loose and light
Oh, and flip flops.

Snow Daze...

2010-02-11T06:30:00.002-05:00

31 Days of Oscar

2010-02-01T20:16:00.006-05:00

Tonight marks the start of TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, and they're kicking it off with FUNNY GIRL starring Barbara Streisand. Streisand received her very first Oscar for her role depicting real-life character Fanny Brice. Gossip Girl? Faggheddaboutit...watch FUNNY GIRL for the amazing, eternally-classic songs and 5-star level of entertainment your TV diet is severely lacking!

Peace in 2010

2010-01-01T08:39:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year everyone.

Joan of Arctic

2009-12-30T12:38:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow's forecast calls for temps in the 30's with "ice pellets" and snow here in the NY area...bring it on! Ankle-deep slush puddles in the city - ha! They're no match for my new Joan of Arctic Sorel's, which were waiting for me under the Christmas Tree a few days back. Dare I say that I'm a little bummed by today's sunny weather and dry sidewalks? Let see what Mother Nature will dish out tomorrow!

Black Friday...Or, Get Your Shop On

2009-11-27T08:18:00.006-05:00

For some, Black Friday marks the first day of the Holiday shopping season. The frenzy has begun. Ridiculously low prices and deep discounts are the draw. Retailers opened their doors early: Toys R Us in Times Square, Manhattan, has been open since midnight last night (image above). Some people have been lined up since 3 a.m. waiting to bust into stores to BUY BUY BUY! There are some seriously good deals to be had, no doubt, but a little sleep deprivation makes those deals even more appealing, I'm sure. eTailers have been dishing out the discounts, as well, and any opportunity to avoid the crowds and germs in stores, is a good one in my book! I'll be hanging out on my couch in my favorite old sweatpants surfing the web for good deals, sipping a hot cup of tea, while watching the ELF marathon on TBS...which reminds me, if you're brave enough to brave the stores out there today, avoid the angry elves, avoid the santas who smell like beef and cheese, and remember to incorporate one of the following 4 food groups into your diet: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.

For the Olfactory-inclined...

2009-11-08T20:56:00.004-05:00

I can't walk by the Bond No. 9 store on Bleecker Street in the West Village without stopping inside to inhale the most heavenly scents in the city...jasmin, vanilla brandy, patchouli....Nuits de Noho from Bond No. 9 is my new favorite 'flavor'. And there's nothing better than stopping in on a crisp Fall day when the air is clear and the nose can discern every subtle turn in each of Bond's amazing perfumes. If I knew how to make this a scratch-n-sniff blog, I'd spray a little right here on my screen to share with you.

Sarouk-It-To-Me

2009-08-02T22:04:00.005-04:00

This gorgeous little number will be gracing my floors in the near future...she's an early 19th c Persian Sarouk Lilihan hand-knotted rug...proof that quality workmanship transcends trends and remains relevant in terms of style, generation after generation.

House Style

2009-07-25T06:27:00.004-04:00

I've recently added a few new sites and blogs to mashupNYC. And they're not clothing-related, which is somewhat of a revelation to myself. Back in November of 09, I moved into a new home. I left the 400sf, 5th floor walk-up, studio apartment on Horatio Street in the city, that had been affectionately known as "The Nest" for six years, and moved into a 1000sf, 4th floor walk-up, 2 bedroom in Bronxville, NY. This is Nest Part II. I suppose I should change my "About Me" page to reflect that I'm no longer a 'city girl' but since I still have two feet on the pavement in Manhattan for a majority of the days of the week for work, I consider myself a NYC Alumn, and will leave as-is.

As with most NYC apartments both space and money limit one from buying furniture. You have the essentials of the bed, a couch, and a chair for guests, and furniture to store things in like treasured jeans, dresses, and shoes, but little else. Looking back on my 6 years, and in light of finding two new blogs devoted to the pursuit of vintage furniture, I can honestly say I have a regret about my tenure as a NYC tenant. And that is, I did not take advantage of the massive flea market that the city essentially is to collect and trade items that would have made The Nest a slightly more cultured environment.

This is something that I'll reflect upon time-to-time here in these blog pages. But without further ado, here are the new blogs and sites I've added to the list of essentials to visit. Two are major players in the realm of the buying and selling of vintage, antique, or just plain old used items of furniture (and whatever else you can think of): craigslist, and eBay. The craigslist antiques section is quickly becoming a daily addiction if only to look at. eBay is the giant and cannot be beat in terms of finding aggregated lots of antique items for your house: gorgeous round oak claw foot dining tables, Eames era chairs, wrought iron beds, and hand-knotted kilims. And two blogs - which are connected in the pair who run them - Severely Vintage and Sit and Read Furniture, offer their reflections on many mid-century pieces that are either in perfect condition or have been refinished and restored (and all items are for sale).

While no big revelation, I thought I'd state that the home is as much a reflection of yourself as the clothing you wear each day. Furniture is an extension of our wardrobe and should not be relegated to strictly a functional aspect of daily life. The mixing and blending of colors, the elegant (or jocular) lines of a chair, the solid grace of a mahogany chest of drawers, and the endless possibilities of combinations to delight in...I need to go contemplate all of this on my new pair of Paul McCobb chairs I found on craigslist.

Golden Boy

2009-06-21T07:15:00.003-04:00

What is it about the t-shirt that everybody loves? It's one of the essential, and eternally classic articles of clothing that EVERYONE, or at least most everyone in the world, owns and dons day-in and day-out. And whether the label says Hanes, Fruit-of-the-Loom, Michael Stars, Splendid, Velvet, LNA, or James Perse; or whether it's a 'Beefy-T', or combed cotton, wring-spun cotton, jersey, pima, or organically made, everyone has a favorite. From Paris runways to the local auto repair shop it's worn by every class of people in every country. There's a classic Seinfeld episode (entitled 'The Marine Biologist') in which Jerry extols the virtues of one old t-shirt that has been with him for years.

Jerry: Elaine, see this T-shirts, six years I've had this T-shirts, it's my best one, I call him...Golden Boy

Elaine: I'm on the phone here.

Jerry: Golden Boy is always the first shirt I wear out of the laundry, here touch Golden Boy!

Elaine: No thanks. (to the phone)Yeah, Yeah I'll hold.

Jerry: But see look at the collar, see it's fraying. Golden Boy is slowly dying. Each wash is brings him one step closer, that's what makes the T-shirts such a tragic figure.

Elaine: Why don't you just let Golden Boy soak in the sink with some Woolite?

Jerry: No!!! The reason he's iron man is because he goes out there and plays every game. Wash!!! Spin!!! Rinse!!! Spin!!! You take that away from him, you break his spirit!

What is the mystique of an old favorite T? My niece composed a poem that compares the old t-shirt to a best friend, and that's truly what it is. The good ones stay with you for years during good times and bad. They're there to support you on those days you need it most, or when you just want to feel comfortable. And when paired with a favorite pair of old jeans, life just doesn't get much easier than that.

As many jeans I have stacked in my closet, I must have twice as many t-shirts stacked in my dresser drawer. It's sad when the time comes to retire a Golden Boy out of a collection, but the good news is, there are always new ones to add to the rotation.

7 for all Rear-kind...

2009-03-06T18:29:00.008-05:00

I could wax-poetic about many denim brands, but there's one tried-and-true that I consistently rank above all others in terms of universally good fit, and flattering rear view, and that's 7 For All Mankind. If for some reason you have yet to discover that this is the jean brand you will reach for day-in and day-out, then now's the time to try them. Listen up ladies, the online boutique Blue Bee that I've mentioned before is offering 30% off all 7's denim... my recommendation is to try the Josefina (pictured here). It's slightly roughed up, with a narrow leg that you can cuff up or wear down, and comes in a nice wash. I've been wearing them for weeks and love them. The fit is true-to-size.

The discount code is 7FAM30B.. The discount code is valid 3/9 - 3/15.

Dean Alan at Planet Blue

2009-02-24T21:36:00.007-05:00

Adorable bohemian prints by Dean Alan, an original bohemian hippy of the 60s.

Bee Mine!

2009-02-11T06:56:00.005-05:00

Splendid, Ella Moss, Helmut Lang, Carlos Falchi, JBrand, James, Genetic, TLuxury, Clu, Alice & Olivia, 12th Street, Kooba, Burning Torch...some of the many brands this Santa Barbara-based boutique carries. Channeling Cupid, they're currently offering 30% off store-wide (code VAL0930)...the winter wardrobe is feeing a little tired, and Spring is just around the corner...

reTRENCH

2009-02-04T06:41:00.012-05:00

In times of economic uncertainty...updated versions of the old classic to help you weather the storm. Luella, Mike & Chris, Nicholas K, Ligne 6 Martin Margiela

Super Love Destroyed, Boyfriend, Slouch, Lazy Boyfriend, Ex-lover...

2009-01-31T09:16:00.026-05:00

Whatever you call them, get used to seeing them...EVERY denim brand is on the boyfriend bandwagon. A few examples here from Pratt, Current Elliot, and the original Levi's. Look for more from Genetic Denim, Prps, JBrand, Joes, Citizen, 7s, and others. Or just borrow/steal a pair of your boyfriends and make your own. Dress them up or down.

Flip flop fantasies...

2009-01-29T15:38:00.005-05:00

I love tall boots, tights, winter dresses, and soft, bulky cardigans to wrap oneself in, with a passion. For me, the enjoyment I get from Fall and Winter ensembles, lessens the pain and malaise that many others experience and hate about the winter months. But there is a point, that day in mid-January that always strikes, when the leather boots start to constrict too much, and the woolen sweaters that cocooned and comforted start to itch...

On a recent morning while getting dressed, the sandals and flip flops that sit in the storage wrack on the back of my closet door eyed me patiently, daring me to put them on. It was 7 degrees outside, and all I wanted to do was walk to work in my reefs! Alas, it would be a good 5 months before doing so here in the Northeast. I have, however, already begun that slow march back to Spring and Summer, and the many sites and catalogs that I peruse have been taunting with frocks and accessories for warmer months. Tie-dyed-yummy-cotton-baring-shoulder dresses tease and capture my fancy...try Singer 22 for this and other perfect Summer styles from Gypsy 05.

It's staying light out later, and the mercury will slowly make it's way above freezing, so patience dear friends and flip flops, we'll get there soon enough.

Facebook-phobic

2009-01-26T16:22:00.003-05:00

A new year means new year's resolutions, and for many - creating a facebook page - was probably at the top of the list of things to accomplish in 2009. For me, it was at the bottom of the list, and therefore has not been accomplished yet.

Now, I embrace technology everday. I blog at work on our company blog, and at home (albeit periodically). I know how to twitter and have posted photos on Flicker. I'm on the computer a good 8 hours of everday, and a blackberry almost as much. I text, ping, a blackberry message others. But for some reason, I cannot bring myself to create a facebook profile. I have, however, joined a new online social knitting community called RAVELRY. In the beta stage, it's a community of knitters, crocheters, and local yarn store owners about 250K strong. I can join forums and learn about technique, ask questions, log in my knitting supplies, keep track of my yarns, and gather inspiration.

Is it a privacy thing? Maybe. Or maybe it's just that I haven't had that overwhelming urge to join the masses - yet. I know I'm not alone. I have plenty of friends and family who are NOT part of the facebook community yet, either. But, the year is young, and things can change.

Anyway, my resolution for 2009, BEFORE launching into facebook, is to post on this blog at least several times per month. And although the focus will most likely remain on fashion, it will expand to include new topics and muses, time-to-time.

Until then, I happily remain part of the dying breed of facebook-profile-less citizens. Happy New Year, and talk to you soon.

Simon Says

2008-08-14T23:01:00.010-04:00

It started today. Olympics-shmympics...Phelps who? Today was Day 1 of the Barneys Warehouse Sale! We're talking olympicized shopping where one can experience the Thrill of Victory, or the Agony of Defeat. Or is that Da Feet. No doubt dozens were line up this morning at 7 a.m. waiting for the doors to open on 17th Street between 7th and 8th Aves in NYC. On this evening at 7pm, the line was inside, and modest. In fact, there was no line heading into the men's section, unless you had to wait in line to check an oversized bag like myself, the BWS amateur.

Let me back up a moment and tell you why I was heading into the men's section.

I'm attending my friend's wedding on September 6th. I'm all set in terms of what I'm wearing, though I'm just finishing up with the accessories. My boyfriend however, was in need of an outfit. (I could not risk a gold corduroy suit episode the likes of Miranda's experience with Steve in Sex and the City!) I had a distinct vision of what he should wear, but I needed additional support. About two months ago, I concocted a plan: to enlist the help of none other than Barney's own Simon Doonan. I met Simon at a New York Observer party a while back. He was extremely nice, and I thought perhaps if I reached out to him via a mutual connection he might be willing to help. I planned on drafting an email that contained the specs of the day, followed by the simple, yet inevtiable question: what should he wear?

Call it fate, kismet, what have you, but fast forward to three days ago while I'm having lunch with clients at GIORGIONE in SoHo on Spring Street. We're sittting at a back table when in walks a woman dressed in a fabulous little white summer dress with pink embroidery. She looks vaguely familiar and is seated two tables away from us. (I know the dress, but for the life of me cannot remember the name of the designer!) Moments later the hostess walks back in our direction again, followed by two nattily dressed men: Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler. I muffled a screech of joy as I elbowed my colleague in the side and announced the arrival of the pair. There was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to chat with him, even if it meant following him into the men's room.

Like a well-rehearsed scene in a play, we sign our check, they sign their check. We get up to leave, they get up to leave. We start walking out and I embrace the moment and walk right up to Simon and say hello. It was as easy as 1-2-3. I said that I had been meaning to email him with my scenario and question. As I begin telling him the story, he invites Jonathan Adler and Liz Lange over to help. I barely say "I'm attending a wedding and my boyfriend needs a suit..." when he interjects three powerful little words: "Barneys Warehouse Sale." He tells me it starts tomorrow you must go! I describe the location of the wedding, time of day, etc, and his recommendation: dark blue suit in either tropical weight wool or cotton, with pale blue shirt, and NO TIE (which is exactly what I had in mind, but wasn't certain if it would be appropriate!) I was grateful. I thanked him and then let the trio exit.

NEXT DAY: We're in line on the evening of the first day of the sale. I anticipated pandemonium. Women and men ripping clothes out of each others hands and diving into bins of designer labels like wild animals attacking their prey. I was surprised to see instead, a modicum of order and organization. And even better: within the 10 minutes of stepping through the door, my boyfriend tracked a gorgeous Hugo Boss tropical weight wool suit in dark blue. It was a gold medal moment.

Thank you Barney's. Thank you Simon. I'll be forever grateful. Check back in a few weeks for photos from the wedding.

BEACH BAG

2008-07-11T20:22:00.006-04:00

Note to self: the following are the only ingredients needed in one's suitcase when embarking upon a beach vacation for one week. I need to write this don't while the list of clothes I actually WORE while out in Montauk is still fresh in my memory.

- Two bikinis (1 bandeau, 1 basic string bikini)
- Two beach skirts
- Two color C&C basic tank tops (one sunshine yellow, one white)
- One pair Lucky brand comfortable cargo pants and beat up pair of 7's
- Two long-sleeved tops for cool nights and A/C (Michael Stars, Alternative Apparel)
- 4 shortsleeve tshirts (Aloha Maui, LNA deep V, Whitehorse Vintage Smiley Face T, old Loomstate Sunshine T)
- One sleeveless LNA tshirt in turquoise
- One Hurley sweatshirt
- One Free People knit sweater
- Two summer dresses: Roxy and Young, Broke & Fabulous
- Two pair of shorts: homemade Levi 501 denim cutoffs, and Danang silk/cotton cargos
- Terry lounging pants
- 3 white Fruit of the Loom wife beaters
- One silk scarf and bandana for hair
- Havaiana flip flops
- 2 pr dressier sandals

Just add a few other essentials, like sunscreen, sunglasses, hat or visor, underwear and toiletries and you're good to go. No need for 3 giant bags of basically everything from your closets and drawers. Remember to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Summer and the beach is about relaxing. About letting your guard down. About BEACHY wild hair, and just going with the flow.

Cut it out..

2008-04-21T21:13:00.011-04:00

Cut offs - the new "it" short to be seen in? Please please please promise me that you'll think twice before spending money on pre-fab cutoffs especially ones that cost $175 (like the brand Siwy featured on the girls above)! Even I draw the line at that. Cut-off jean shorts as the moniker implies is a shortened pair of jeans. To get your own pair, here's all you need to do.

Step 1: dig through closet and pull out pair of jeans you haven't worn in ages. Or better yet, if you have a brother-in-law who does construction and wears Levi's to work in everyday, that are banged up, ripped, and broken-in, start with a pair of those.
Step 2: try jeans on and while standing in front of a mirror, use piece of chalk to draw approximate line as to where you want to cut them off.
Step 3: use sharp pair of scissors to cut off the legs.
Step 4: run through wash once to get desired fringing on the edges
Step 5: throw on Havaianas and old boyfriend t-shirt and go

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your shoes

2008-04-15T23:01:00.015-04:00

My post on the gladiator sandal gave me the urge to watch GLADIATOR the movie, which I'm doing right now. Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) has just been murdered his own son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix)... enter Maximus (Russell Crowe) to pay his last respects. Watching lead me to wonder how and where the gladiator sandal trend got its (ahem) foothold. With a little bit of digging, I found out that we have avant-garde designer Balenciaga and this photo of actress Jennifer Connelly sporting a high-concept pair of knee high gladiators to thank - a look that only Jennifer Connelly and Balenciaga could pull off.

Sword and Sandal

2008-04-14T21:31:00.007-04:00

I'm channeling Hercules, Samson, and Goliath right now, which could be why some of my favorite trends this season involve leather, studs, and rivets. There was the short leather bomber mentioned (gasp) weeks and weeks ago, and now here I am to make a case for the Gladiator Sandal. Now, at 5'2", I'm classified as short, and admittedly I'm not sportin' a pair of gams like Nicole Richie (not even the post-pregnancy Richie, whose two legs equal about one of mine). Typically the thought of wearing a shoe or sandal that wraps around the ankle sends a chill of fear up my spine. Why would I willingly wear something that would make my legs look shorter than they already are? My Eastern European lineage has provided me with a set of solid calves - they're not cankles, but then again they're not those petite dainty calves the size of my forearms that I see on some girls walking about the city. But I covet the gladiator! So luckily, while waiting for Spring to arrive these past several weeks, I visited every e-commerce site out there and discovered a number of gladiator styles that will work for many leg lengths, calf shapes, and ankle widths. Here are a few of my fav's, several of which you'll see me in in just a matter of weeks...
Et tu Brute?

Shoe-revelation

2008-02-06T20:52:00.000-05:00

The secret passion that many women have harbored for years, I have escaped for most of my life.

Earlier in the new millennium, my obsession was jeans. There was a two-year period where I probably grossed about 20 pair. Hearing brand names like 7 For All Mankind, True Religion, Citizens for Humanity, and even Levi’s, did for me what Red Bull and Vodka did for others. I’m happy to say that I’ve moved on, and in the last year my denim-fetish has waned. I’m less about the label now, and more about the cut and fit. Since last fall I’ve added just one new pair to my collection (True Religion Jane in Dusty Road) I’m proud to say.

No, it wasn’t jeans that I was spending my hard-earned dollars on and living paycheck-to-paycheck in for this past year, it was boots. [Pause to reflect on the beauty of the boot] As I was saying, it was about a year ago that the boot entered my consciousness, specifically the FLAT boot in all its glory. It started with a supple pair of brown leather riding boots from JCrew and escalated into a collection that included the brown cuff boot, flat black riding boot, tan flat riding boot (for spring, of course), and short black engineer slouch boot from Frye. Boots are possibly the top reason I look forward to fall and winter outfits, and I’m always a little sad when the mercury starts to rise and my calves begin to – well – get a little too warm in the leather shaft of a boot. There’s only so much a pair of Spanx knee-highs can be expected to do.

Recent spring/summer purchases have driven me to become acutely aware of my [lack of] spring/summer shoes. It’s abominable, really. I have one pair of grey leather mary janes (closed toe), and pair of brown leather strappy wedge sandals that are least 3 years old (that’s 21 in NYC street years), and a variety of beaten-up flat sandals. I have always thought of summer as that season for which you buy “disposable clothing.” The heat, the sweat, the grime of the city takes a toll on clothes and shoes. When it’s 85 and humid, you get one wear out of a tshirt or dress and then it’s right back into the wash. Woolite and Ivory Snow help stave off fading and breaking down, but not for long. The same goes for shoes. I’m meticulous about keeping them clean and polished, but the city streets are hard, giving them a very short shelf-life. I have many friends who refuse to where an open sandal or flip flop in the city in the summer. And rightfully so – the germs that are bred and baked on the street on a hot summer day…ugh…it’s like the city becomes one giant petri dish of bacterial infection. I, however, laugh in the face of infection and regularly wear sandals that are so thin my friend always says they’re no better than wearing a pair of tissues wrapped on your feet. I’ll refrain from providing a lesson in hygiene, but know that regular pedicures help stave off any issues.

Enter The Wedge. In Webster’s a wedge is defined as a piece of hard material with two principal faces meeting in a sharply acute angle. I’m writing to Miriam asking if she would add to the definition with: brilliantly designed woman’s shoe that adds height, without sacrificing comfort, and style without breaking the bank. Not sure about the rest of you, but I’m onto something here for the summer months. Wedges can vary in height from 2 inches to 4, keeping lovely manicured feet above dirty, germy pavement. Leather, pleather, linen, canvas, open-toed, sling-backed, ankle-strapped, suede-lined slides, wood-soled, or flexible-synthetic-soled wedges…pick your poison. I’m agog at the number of varieties there are, really. Espadrilles and Kork-Ease are the classics, but look for brands like Frye, Seychelles, Charlotte Ronson, Matiko, Chie Mahara, and others churning out some modern classics, in every color combination imaginable. I suddenly need a different pair for each summer frock and outfit! At long last I understand woman’s obsession with shoes!

Though NYC is breaking records for temps today, there’s a good two months left of boot-wearing here in the northeast. And though I’ll savor every last moment of the season, I won’t be caught without when that first warm sunny spring day hits.

Recession Jeans

2008-01-22T23:02:00.000-05:00

It was a gloomy day on Wall Street today. The bears beat the bulls...to a pulp. While the cry from the floor was "Sell, sell, sell!" not "Buy, buy, buy!" My cry was "Why, why, why?"

It's mid-winter. What tops, sweaters, pants, skirts, and dresses, felt like a breath of fresh air two months ago, feel like they have a choke-hold on me today. It's late January, and right about now is when I contract a bad case of "I-hate-everything-in-my-closet-itis." The only glimmer of hope and sliver of happiness, are those harbingers of warmer weather and a new season of clothes - the many catalogs that continue to appear in my mailbox, even though the holidays passed a month ago.

Post-holiday. Credit card bills. Bear market. On Larry King tonight, financial analyst Jerry Lewis dished the straight poop--BE CONSERVATIVE WITH YOUR MONEY, i.e. DON'T SPEND, PAY DOWN CREDIT CARD DEBT, STAY ON TOP OF YOUR BILLS.... blah and waah. Oy. But something in what she said rings true.

So, until there's a correction in the market and those bulls start charging again, it's time for me to get creative. Maybe I'll pull out some old jeans that haven't seen daylight in months or perhaps even a year, give them a few new rips and shreds, or convert into a new jean skirt. I'll pretend that my dry cleaner is a fancy NYC boutique where for just $13.50 I pick up a designer dress (that in actuality has been held hostage for the last 4 weeks since no dry cleaner in NYC ever is or ever will be open on Sundays...) I'll turn the heat on full blast, warm my apartment up to a balmy 95 degrees, lay out a beach towel in my bikini, and sip an iced cold Corona and lime while watching surfing movies...

Recession-shmession...it's a yin and a yang kind of world we live in. What goes up must come down and go back up again. You know that, and I know that. Toro toro bulls!! Those bears will realize it's time to hibernate soon...

Get your motor runnin'

2008-01-14T21:36:00.000-05:00

Dust off the old leather bomber girls, or better yet, buy a new one, cropped, fitted, and cute (look up Mike&Chris, D&G, Madison Marcus, or L.A.M.B.) Add flirty feminine frock-with-tall boots with leggings, or over-the-knee socks. Or underscore with floral silk blouse-faded wide leg lightweight denim jeans-ballet flats combo. Play it up or down with chains (layered, delicate, multiple strands, with feathers intertwined), big chunky rings (no spikes!). Layer on the Jovan musk or Love's Baby Soft. Add Bruce and strut.

Hanks a lot

2007-12-10T19:59:00.000-05:00

Hanks and skeins. Guage, slub, nub, and boucle. Chenille or spiral. Needles, hooks, pins, yarnover and casting on. Slip slip knit, slip knit pass.... the peculiar language of knitting! I took up knitting about three Christmas's ago when my sister gave to me as a gift, a set of needles, a book on knitting, and several skeins of yarn to get started. In three years, I taught myself - and have pretty much mastered - casting on, knit and purl, garter and seed stitches, and how to make a cable...the basics. Which has added up to at least a half dozen scarves, and hats, including items knit for friends as well as Peanut, an old tiny teddy bear I own with wobbly head and legs. His little scarf keeps him warm, while supporting his head.

As much as I revel in the thrill of shopping for items perfectly constructed and manufactured by someone else, it doesn't match the feeling of making something with your own hands. Knitting stores are wonderful, cozy places to visit. Cubbyholes are usually packed with colorful hanks and skeins of soft merinos, rough hand-spun worsted wools, baby soft alpacas, shlubby chenilles, flat cottons that look like long strands of linguine, and peculiar looking strands called flutter that add a touch of whimsy to patterns. And the patterns! From simple simple chunky scarfs and hats and mittens, to difficult shawls and cardigan sweaters that I aspire to make - the finished pictures of which would make you drool.

I'm better at holding knitting needles now than I am at holding chopsticks. I love the feel of the warm wood or bamboo in my hands, manipulating the soft yarns - through, up and over, down and through again. Each stitch, one stitch closer to the finished product. It's meditative, calming - until you notice a hole like the hole in a piece of swiss cheese because you've dropped a stitch two rows back...

I knit at home, on my way to and from work, and while traveling. I once made a hat on a flight west to Maui. I've seen people knitting socks on subways, and hats on the cold winter sidewalks of SoHo, New York with ear flaps and all. Simple materials that work anywhere. A simple stand of wool, grown off the back of a woolly sheep, that grows into something charming and wooly to wear...

What I'm thankful for...

2007-11-22T08:33:00.001-05:00

1621. The first Thanksgiving held in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Puritans and Native Americans giving thanks at the end of the harvest season.
Women wearing full skirts, bodices, aprons, and bonnets called coifs and biggins to keep their hair clean...
Men sporting loose fitting blouses, breeches gathered at the knee, high socks, tall leather boots, and Puritan Hats--tall conical hats with a large round brim decorated with a buckle and belt. And Native Americans in moccasins to protect their feet, pants, loincloths, and skirts and dresses made of tanned deer hide, soft as butter.

Clothing was sometimes stylish, but mostly functional, and all was handmade. There were no malls, no mail order catalogs, no online stores, no magazines with high fashion models pushing the latest trends.

Four hundred years ago is was about the essentials. Today it's all about excess. As I reflect upon the day, and think about what I am thankful for, I'll also reflect upon whether or not it's absolutely necessary that I own close to 20 pairs of jeans, dozens of shirts and t-shirts in every conceivable hue, numerous chunky knit sweaters, dresses, and skirts in numbers that make it hard to close dresser drawers and closet doors.

Though I'm thankful for brands like True Religion, Michael Stars, Odd Molly, Dream Society, and Velvet, and for retail and online stores like Loehmanns, Urban Outfitters, JCrew, RevolveClothing, and ShopBop, I realize that it's all just superficial fluff. What I'm truly thankful for is my family that I'm spending this day with, a new love in my life, my best and closest friends near and far away, and my health. I'm grateful for the year I've had, and wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and a happy holiday season ahead.

Give 'em the slip

2007-10-06T08:53:00.000-04:00

As passionate as I am about the exterior look of clothing, I'm currently all about what lies beneath.

There's a passage in the book EAT, PRAY, LOVE (which if you haven't read yet, if you don't do any else this Saturday afternoon, get to a bookstore, buy a copy, and read immediately) when in Italy, after having had a discussion with her friend Luca Spaghetti about how "SEX" is Rome's "word of the city" (as it is what all Romans think about all of the time while walking, working, and well, making love) when Elizabeth Gilbert goes on a lingerie buying spree. She is searching for her own "word" and is led into a little boutique off of the Via Condotti where she spends several hours under the tutelage of a sales associate and buys "enough lingerie to keep a sultan's consort outfitted for 1,001 nights." She continues, "I bought bras of every shape and formation. I bought filmy, flimsy camisoles, and sassy bits of panty in every color of the Easter basket, and slips that came in creamy satins and hush-now-baby silks, and handmade little bits of strings and things, and bascially just one velvety, lacy, crazy valentine after another." "Per chi?" (Why?) She did not know yet.

When I was little, one of my chores was to iron fresh laundry. My mom started me off on simple things like sheets or my dad's hankies - anything flat, and square - but I graduated to other more difficult items like pleated uniform skirts, blouses, and eventually even slips. I never understood slips. I hated to iron them, and never wanted to wear them. I mean, I already had underwear on, why on earth did I need another layer of clothing between my sensible cotton underpants and training bra, and my outer clothes?

My mom had drawers of them made out of silk and satin and cotton voile. Adjustable straps of ribbon-like material, with lacy insets and pin-tuck stitched detailing at the chest. Tiny little bows and rosette accents. The material was slippery so no matter how neatly I folded them, one touch to move them and they'd fall undone. Looking back, I realize that their undone-ness was part of their genetic makeup. A slip is meant to be removed (by oneself, or by another) and allowed to float gently to the floor, and left in a satiny mess. Straps are meant to slide off shoulders and hems are meant to peek out playfully and invitingly. A slip is practical in that the extra layer it provides between your skin and your clothes can either provide warmth, or keep you cool, and protects your clothes prolonging their life. The right-brain character of the slip though is that it is sensual - the silky, soft, delicate fabrics hug your body boosting your libido and confidence. I swear they'll even change how you walk - put on a slip and suddenly your hips find a rhythm they never knew they had.

There's a lingerie & slip revival of sorts happening right now (in America, at least...lingerie is de rigeur in other parts of the world). Look through magazines and catalogs and you'll see them everywhere. Tip: believe it or not, Urban Outfitters lingerie category carries a good selection - black, cream, pink, baby blue; satin, silk, cotton; lace-trimmed, spaghetti-strapped, empire-waist and a-line ... it's a good place to get started. I challenge you to buy one. Just one. And wear it. And then I challenge you to not buy dozens more.

The A-List

2007-09-23T18:25:00.000-04:00

I have closets and drawers stuffed with clothes. Enough things that if I wore a different item every day, I could make it from now until New Years without repeating a one. Why then does it always happen that across the span of a wardrobe's lifetime there's always that one particular piece of clothing, or particular outfit that I love more than all others that if I could, I would wear every day of the week? Everyone has their favorites whether it's a busted up, ripped up, beaten up old pair of jeans being held together by patches of old bandanas, hand-stitched at the crotch; an old t-shirt soft as butter, thread bare at the neck, that never ever gets thrown in with the regular wash; a leather jacket, circa 19--, ripping at the seams, buttons falling off and/or replaced several times.... we all own things like this. It's about how they look on, how they make you feel when you wear them, or better yet, how you felt when wearing them at a particular time in your life. They are the ones we love the most and would cry over longest if anything ever happened to them. They are the A-List.

Those who know me have heard me say that if there was ever a fire in my apartment bulding, god forbid, and I needed to evacuate, the first thing I'd grab and launch out my front window, before myself, is my old pair of flare 7s, blown out at the knee, the ones that fit my butt perfectly. Embedded into the fibers of these jeans is the dust, beer, sweat and peanut shells from dozens of perfect sunny summer saturday afternoons spent at Yankees games with my girlfriends, a couple of years ago. It was perhaps one of the best summer's I've ever spent here in New York. Wrapped up in those jeans are moments of hysterical laughter, cheers, commiseration, support, and bonding. I don't fold them in with the B-list stack of jeans. They hang solitarily on a smooth wooden hanger always at the ready whenever I'm feeling a little nostalgic for the good old days.

Today in Loehmann's, groping my way through the new stacks of JBrand jeans, I overheard a girl say to her friend how she desperately needed to do a Fall closet cleanout -- that it was time to get rid of those old Levi's she had, clogging up valuable closet space. My heart skipped a beat, and I paused, tempted to convince her otherwise, to consider the places and spaces in time those old Levi's had been with her through.

But I didn't. If they're A-list material, they'll make their own case to stay. On my way out I found an Italian wool and mohair cardigan in deep aubergine, with simple little buttons down the front--it'll look adorable with my American Vintage camisole, and 7s. A-list material? Not yet. But with time, experience, and a little seasoning, it just might earn its spot in my closet.

Seasonal crossroads

2007-09-11T08:55:00.000-04:00

If you live in the Northeast, or any place that experiences more than one season, you're at that point of the year--that seasonal cusp--that elicits a variety of emotions in people and is reflected in their clothes. On a mid-September day on the sidewalks of New York City you might see outfits that range from light, flirty sundresses and Grecian lace-up sandals, to moleskin a-line skirts, long-sleeved blouses and tall leather boots. It's that time of year that you experience the pang of despair in saying goodbye to summer, yet that rush of adrenaline as the mercury dips below 70'F and clothes you haven't seen in months suddenly start peaking out of your closet and drawers, winking at you.

"Psst....hey, remember me? That long black cardigan that barely left your body last winter?"

"Well hello old friend. Been thinking about you, and to be sure, you'll be back again this winter, as I've been hard at work planning my new Fall and Winter look."

For the past few weeks, all brand-name retailers, and online stores have been rolling out the new season. My virtual shopping cart is overloaded with playful frocks in corduroy and wool, silky tops, cashmere and pima cotton items soft as baby's' bottoms, boots in leather or suede, tall and short, chunky heeled and plain, buckled and unadorned. Over-the-knee socks, ribbed tights, tortoise-shell bracelets with lockets and keys dangling at the close, and coats to top it all off! As far as I'm concerned, there's no harm in looking. For when summer's wardrobe makes one last curtain call, when that last balmy breeze blows off the Hudson and the sun is just warm enough to leave the sweater at home one last time, and the temperatures drop even further, I'll be ready. My cursor, patiently hovering above the "complete purchase" button, will be called to action, and then, oh joy, I wait as the boxes and envelopes arrive, harbingers of the new season.

Back to school variations

2007-09-04T13:14:00.001-04:00

YESTERDAY: Plaid skirt. Crisp white button down. Navy blue wool cardigan. Blue knee socks. Sperry Topsider Boat Shoes. Librarian frames. Friendship bracelet. Yellow school bus.

Two back-to-school trends I'm diggin' today:

Labor Day Outlet Shopping Post-Mortem

2007-09-03T19:25:00.000-04:00

I don't outlet shop on a regular basis. I consider myself an omnivoric-shopper -- one who shops in boutiques like Olive&Bettes, specialty stores like Verve, department stores like Bloomies, and discount stores like Loehmanns, and of course--online, at my favorite stops listed to the left. But there's something to be said for hauling ones-self to an outlet mall where multiple brands both designer and everyday, abut one another in an outdoor, modern-day agora-like setting.

This past weekend hundreds of thousands of people (mostly women) participated in a shopping holiday frenzy that must be second only to the Christmas holiday season, in terms of volume and spending. Myself, sister, niece, and best friend and co-shopper-in-crime made our pilgrimage to an outlet center to take advantage of deep discounts and sales happening for the Labor Day weekend. Our shopping mecca destination--Wrentham, Massachusetts.

It was a very good day. And a little advanced planning completely paid off. We were fed and hydrated, and arrived at our destination within the first two hours of the stores opening. The evening before, we scanned the list of brands and stores at Wrentham, so when we got there we had a plan of attack--JCrew, the Gap, Ugg, Michael Kors, Banana Republic, Williams&Sonoma, were among the top stores to hit. There was no strolling, no chit chat. And once in a store, we systematically worked the floor, scanning wracks, and checking price tags. When the occasion called for it, we split up, but never for long. We stayed together for moments of approval "that looks adorable on you," moments of disapproval "not crazy about that cut on you, and the fabric feels cheap," and moments of unbridled joy and unconditional support: "OH MY GOD that bag is gorgeous!" Me, "But it's $279..." "Yes, but how much was it originally?" Me, "$389. And I've had my eye on it for weeks." "It is so you. You have to get it." Me--Done.

The trick to outlet shopping is to go in without expectation or low expectations. Keep an open mind. Do not go in looking for that ONE item you saw in the most recent JCrew catalog. There's a good chance you won't find it. Most outlets operate weeks, months, and even seasons behind.

We came, we saw, and we all left with some killer deals. My two finds--a Michael Kors black leather handbag with gold hardware accent that is to-die-for, and a new pair of scrumptious shearling lined leather UGGs that will keep me warm on the many shopping excursions I'll find myself on in the city this winter.

The sexy secretary's day clutch

2007-08-31T08:48:00.001-04:00

I'm often at odds with what's touted as the 'hot new look' for the season or the 'must-have' item that without, would render my wardrobe incomplete.

Case in point: this Fall's hot new look -- the Sexy Secretary. The word 'secretary' conjures two images in my mind: The first, a dowdy, pinch-nosed, slightly overweight matron, in a dark boxy suit, and sensible heels. The second: TESS -- Working Girl -- big-haired, gum-snapping, Staten Island brawd, in poly-blended two piece suit, Reeboks, and socks.

"How do I look?"
"You look great -- you might want to rethink the jewelry though..."

Women who mean business take heed--the playing field has changed. If you've got a head for business and a bod for sin, it's apparently the time to use it. Waist-cinching belts over slim-fitting slim-line dresses, tailored jackets over silky blouses with plunging necklines and silky ties at the neck (oh, behave!); dangerously high stilettos (the better to serve you coffee in); and well let's just add in a pair of long, black leather gloves, a whip, and a bee-hive hair-do while we're at it.

I own one clutch, and it's black peau-de-soie fabric, with suede accent, that I used at two black-tie events I recently attended. A clutch by design is small, and sleek, and can't hold more than a lipstick, eyeliner, credit card, stick of gum or an altoid, and coat check. A clutch says, I'm so put together, that I don't need a handbag the size of a small carry-on to get through the day. It says I can leave my apartment with just my lipgloss, ID, ATM card, and metrocard, and be ready to take on the world.

When I'm turning the pages of LUCKY, Vogue, or Bazaar and see new trends identified my first reaction is usually -- must buy entire new wardrobe, and donate old wardrobe to local Housing Works store. But this time, before I whip out my Visa, I do the following: I put down the magazine, count to ten, and take several few breaths. I step away.

I take a second look, and break it down piece-by-piece. What can I take away from this new trend report? The Sexy Secretary, although sexy, is a relatively conservative approach to business dressing that would actually work best on a curvy woman. Embrace your curves, don't hide them! And though I like to think that my large handbag when held close to my waist and hips, dwarfs the size of them, making me look smaller, maybe it is time to get rid of it since it leaves a dent in my shoulder (because it's filled with the entire contents of my apartment), and simplify my life by carrying a smaller bag.

Take what you can from the magazines this fall. Leave everything else on the pages where they're pretty to look at and fantasize about. We're just a few short months away from another season, and a new trend.

No room in my drawers

2007-08-28T21:55:00.000-04:00

If you're like me, your dresser drawers are stuffed with summer clothes right now, making it hard to open or close them. T-shirts, tank tops, short-sleeves, long-sleeves, printed, plain, boat neck, scoop neck, v-neck, peasant, white (lots of), black, and every other color from the palette. Velvet, Splendid, Michael Stars, JCrew, Abercrombie, American Eagle, Doe....Sometimes the shirts on top are squished in so tight, that when I close the drawer they get shoved to the back, and disappear for a while. Which I don't mind, because when I do find them again, it's like finding an old friend. My summer clothes are in residence at the moment, and although Labor Day is just a few days away, I can't help but want more. And with the temperature still hanging in the 80s, and Indian Summer yet to hit, I know I still have a few more weeks to wallow in their simplicity and softness.

But no -- must focus on Fall -- or at least that's what the magazines are urging. Vogue -- 598 pages long, or something like that. More than 75% of it advertising. Black is the new black, supposedly. Look out for stacked heels, more defined shapes in women's clothing (buh-bye tent dress), fur, textured wool skirts, silky feminine blouses with ties at the neck like my mom used to wear to work back in the 80s. Boots -- lots of boots! Yummy tall, brown, black, leather, and suede ones, low heels, and high. Short ankle elfin boots (not recommended for the short of leg) paired with opaque tights or skinny jeans. Flats in every color with baubles or plain. And sweaters -- lovely sweaters! Grandpa cardigans, refined wool and plush cashmere twin sets in delicious colors, chunky wools with big oversized wooden buttons, wrap-arounds, belted and zipped. I'm a kid in a candy store.

Since about 5th grade, the September issue of Vogue was better than any catalog promising toys. From the moment it hit news stands in mid-August, throughout the Fall season, it was my bible. Dog-eared, worn, torn in places, stained with butter from the popcorn I ate as I reveled in its pages, it transported me to other worlds. Which was ironic since I wore a uniform to school for 13 years, and Filene's department store was the only outlet I knew for fashion (the Limited just didn't count). I carefully rip out pages and pair with other pages to make complete outfits that I would never buy. I was Chanel, Diane von Furstenberg, and Galliano on the inside, and Guess, Reebok, and Swatch on the outside.

I'll be back frequently to share with you my thoughts on the clothes in my life, my overstuffed drawers, my plea for more closet space, and I'll let you know about the best websites to find the best pieces of clothing and accessories. Though I might not share everything with you -- don't want to give away all of my secrets.