Shine On and On and On...

For more shiny somethings, visit Strawberry on 34th Street. I love stores like Forever 21 and Strawberry for items like these, because you won't spend a lot of money for a fleeting trend. Mark my shiny words, next winter you'll have to call out reconnaissance troops to find a sequined tank top in the district.





Very shiny top, left, $17.99, so pair it up with something low-key. Purple tank, $9.99, also comes in black, which might be cuter. And two shiny dresses, dark grey, left, and black, right, both for $24.99. Do these with a heavy stocking.

Bonus Shine:

I loved this Zara Women top (left, $35) so much more on; the fit is great. The beading, again, could work in a hip manner with a skirt or wait, cropped legging and ankle boot! This top (right, $64) is on sale at Macy's (um, sheepishly I must admit on floor 2) and it is my favorite shine: rubbery looking shine. Very cool. The skirt is on sale also, a great Paper Denim Cloth number for $24.50, but I may have bought the last one. Sorry, its retro metal look was irresistible.


Strawberry, 14 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-279-8696
Forever 21, 50 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-564-2346
Zara, 39 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-868-6551
Macy's, 151 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th, 212-695-4400

Shoe Sales

Post Black Friday discounts on 34th Street to shod your lovely feet:

Bakers Shoes - save $25 on every $75 you spend. Fulfill your tall, suede boot needs with styles like "Hayden," right, $79.95.

Shoe Mania - buy one get one half off (of equal or lesser value, of course). Look for these on 34th: left to right, Franco Sarto's "Miss," but it's a prettier lighter grey in the store, $109.95; Taryn Rose's "Yadira," $594.95; and Jeffrey Campbell's "Smlatte," best named shoe ever, $129.95.

Strawberry - up to 50% off selected items. I want the Sacha Too tall boot with laces up the back, $49.95. Sorry, no picture, but they're on 34.

And if you can make it to Make 10 in the next couple hours, you get $10 off any purchase of $30 or more.

Bakers Shoes, 358 Fifth Avenue (on 34th between 5th & 6th), 212-279-7016

Shoe Mania, 11 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-564-7319

Strawberry, 14 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-279-8696

Make 10, 366 Fifth Avenue between 34th & 35th, 212-868-1202

Something Shiny

Walking up 6th Avenue: "Is it going to rain today? Hmm, maybe I should get a salad for lunch...why did I wear suede boots if I knew it might rain...do I need a new dress? I wonder if I'm the only girl in midtown who's obsessed with The Game...am I getting stupider in my old age? Why do all newscasters look alike, they must use the same hair and makeup person...Oh, good god, no:"

And bam, your walking inner stream of consciousness has been needlessly interrupted by a sequin dress. Take this as a strong suggestion while you're shopping for party gear this season: don't be so shiny that you abruptly halt everyone's train of thought and they become rendered immediately speechless and blind from the glare of sequins reflecting off candlelight. Try something like this from Forever 21 instead:

Dressy tops with just a few shiny things. Can you see them? Hardly? Good. A little sparkle on the neckline, nice and subtle gold dolman-sleeved shine, and a total St. John-looking silver shiny thing. I don't like it, but it serves a cleavage purpose for you who've got some:

And my exception to the rule:

Argh, I can't help it I love this super shiny object, it's so wanna-be Oscar de la Renta gone wild. I just know some hipster girl can rock this whole granny society jacket thing.

Because it's Forever 21, prices run from $19.80 to $38.90. And because it's Forever 21, please don't get distracted by the really shiny things. Focus on a nice little holiday glow, not a conversation-stopping glare.



Forever 21, 50 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-564-2346

Almost Pretty

We make some of our toughest decisions of the day before 8am. Or maybe a little after, depending on how cooperative your closet is being. There's boots, there's tights, there's round-necks and V-necks, and there's to skirt or to pant and now, whether or not to short. Speaking of shorts, here's a little outfit you can use to help pacify your closet:

This pairing happened by accident; the shorts were just being tested for fit (Forever 21 runs small). Honestly, I remember it looking cuter in the dressing room. But I like the mix of antique with something tailored and the "kind of ugly" factor. I'm a big proponent of ugly as the new pretty. That antique top will also look great with a skirt, maybe cream? Those shorts, too, can be worn with sweaters, shirts, and are long enough to be fine at work if you're in a stylish shorts-wearing kind of office. Please pair the above with opaques and an ankle lace-up boot.

Both pieces are Forever 21, so this won't cost much. The shorts are $19.80 and the top is $29.80.


Forever 21, 50 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-564-2346

Getting Around On 34th

Hit up the Dr. for inexpensive coats:

Dr. Jay's coats run from $29 up; left, around $129, right, under $50.



Then go to the Gap for a navy jacket on sale ($59.99):




A stripe-y cape ($88);




And a down fur hoodie coat ($128).

Go for sport with the American Eagle:
$129.50
$99.50


Or be pretty in green & yellow at Forever 21:
$13.80 $49.80








Keeping you cozy and looking good in the district.

Dr. Jay's, 33 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-695-3354
Gap, 60 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-760-1268
American Eagle Outfitters, 40 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-947-1677
Forever 21, 50 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-564-2346

Fringe, Coins, and Toeless Socks

Finally, I see a Balenciaga-esque scarf at Zara today. Good news? It's $29. Bad news? It doesn't look much like the Balenciaga. It's more "Balenciaga-inspired," with the fake gold coins, a little fringe and the bright sparkly thread. More bad news? It's kind of passe already. Even though technically that scarf was shown for fall '07, all those damn models have been wearing it since spring '07, making this season's must-have scarf very last season. And they probably got it for free, too. Oh, well, there's an exotic pink scarf ($29) and a lovely print scarf that's Zara Limited Collection and is $79.

So how long am I going to have to wait to find Prada-inspired toeless knee socks? I'm talking about these, the ones every fashion editor put in every fall spread:

I've heard Nine West may have something similar, so I'll check the 9W in Manhattan Mall this week. I'd be happy with just the toeless shape, because as great as the dual tones are I suspect they could be a little difficult to integrate into one's wardrobe. Unless you've got that Prada feather coat lying around.

Zara, 39 W. 34th St between 5th & 6th, 212-868-6551

Nine West, Manhattan Mall, level 2, 6th Ave & 33rd St, 212-564-0063

Deep, Cleansing Breaths

OK, it's officially begun. I even saw Christmas trees on the street this morning. So here's something to look forward to during all this holiday madness:

New Year's Eve! Have you made plans yet? And what are you going to wear? Oh, wait, more holiday planning stress. So instead of freaking out, go all zen and meditate while gazing upon the loveliness that is the big ball there on the right. Yes, that's the ball that will drop over Times Square on New Year's Eve, and it's currently hanging out in Macy's Herald Square, right behind the escalators on the first floor. It's very trippy, and honestly, I thought it would be bigger. But it's very Waterford crystal-sparkly, which is so this year, just like...

This pretty Rebecca Beeson dress, also at Macy's (second floor, of course) and also sparkly but not overdone like a big New Year's Eve ball. It's a perfect option for a New Year's Eve party. I'm going to look for some nice shiny things in the district this week, and we'll talk about all things sparkly that can be put on clothing. Because, unfortunately, this season the sequin cannot be ignored.

sorry, the dress is maybe $138? No one can be expected to remember prices at 5:45am, right? Which maybe is the trick to the success of early morning Black Friday madness. The retailers know that math is very hard to do before 6am.

Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th, 212-695-4400

Y'all Are Crazy

Here's our early bird winner, American Eagle Outfitters, on Black Friday morning, just before 5am (they opened at 12am).







The Old Navy crowd waiting for the 5am opening:











Macy's crowd, 5am, waiting for the 6am opening (they opened earlier, around 5:30am).









KB Toys, Manhattan Mall, 5:10am. There's midtown's most devoted and efficient holiday shopper.






Ah, 'tis the season!


American Eagle Outfitters, 40 W. 34th between 5th & 6th, 212-947-1677

Old Navy, 150 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th, 212-594-0049

Macy's, 151 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th, 212-695-4400

KB Toys, Manhattan Mall Level C1, 6th Ave & W. 33rd, 212-629-5386

Black Friday Opening Hours

5am: Aeropostale*, Charlotte Russe*, KB Toys*, Old Navy, Express

6am: Express*, Forever 21, Foot Locker, KMart, both H&M's**, Macy's, Modell's, Bebe

6:30am: Bakers Shoes

7am: Borders, Foot Locker*, Nine West*, Strawberry (Manhattan Mall & 34th St.), Aldo, Andrew's Coffee Shop (316 W. 34th)

8am: Ann Taylor Loft, Dr. Jay's, Famous Footwear, Lane Bryant, Sephora, Zara

9am: Banana Republic, Daffy's, Enzo Angiolini*, Florsheim Shoes, Gap, Garrett Popcorn Shops, Le Chateau

9:30am: Tourneau

10am: Cambridge Members

And the winner of the earliest open time for Black Friday, 2007 is:

12am: American Eagle Outfitters

Let's hope those American Eagle kids have a big coffee pot.
Happy Thanksgiving and very fruitful shopping to you all.

*Manhattan Mall
**25% off entire purchase before noon

Fly Girls and Boys

I predict an aviator resurgence in our near-future. Perhaps some cotton aviator jackets in pastel for spring? Definitely some aviator leather and white fringe scarves for fall. Be a trendsetter and go to Top Gun, the best source for aviator leather in the city. Plus, there's a big sale; coats are 50%-70% off. PLUS, Top Gun has more than just aviators, there are motorcycle jackets, shearlings, and some very chic leather coats. Consider these for yourself or a very special holiday giftee:

The brown bomber (near left) with the shearling collar is $235 and the soft looking leather on the far left is $225. I love Jeffrey in this 70's retro jacket (below, left, $135), and the shearlings (heavy and warm, below right) are $350 and up.

And for the ladies (super stylish, around $175). I love the pin-up girl linings & the 3/4 white lambskin ($275)

Top Gun Leather, Manhattan Mall, Level 1, 6th Ave & 33rd St, 212-643-4646

Hold Them Up

There is a bright side to the incessant rain we're enduring this holiday week: inclement weather=opportunity to accessorize in exciting new ways. A great example is the umbrella holster Jeffrey showed me last week:

I admit that before he tried this on, I feared "cell phone belt-clip syndrome," which occurs when something handy yet horrible looking is appropriated on the street. Luckily, guys, this holster is practical and sexy. It looks good from every angle. Jeffrey got this Totes umbrella ($25) at Macy's Herald Square.

And because the weather isn't so great, there might not be such a crush at the last day of the Gianfranco Ferre sample sale at Soiffer Haskin. Prices will be way reduced as it's last call for Ferre at non-Ferre prices.

Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th Ave, 212-695-4400

Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd just west of 8th Ave, 718-747-1656

Get This

These beautiful cable knit gloves are now 30% off at Enzo Angiolini. For $21 you get a pair of long, soft gloves that will help keep you warm even in your chic bracelet-sleeved coat.

Don't let the man-hand picture scare you; look closely at the knit. It's distinctive and pretty. And they come in different colors and have matching hats, but sorry, no grey hats left to buy.

Best, while you're at Enzo, you can check out the boots and scarves that are also 30% off. Riding boots are now $165 and under, down from over $200.

And back to winter coats: This Zara sweetie is just about the most perfect coat I’ve seen all year and it’s around $129. Hurry up and snatch it up as it’s not going to last long. Erica happened to be wearing just the right boot, so she tore off those tags and wore it out of the store. Smart girl. Note the kicky back pleat and the clean retro styling.

I know, her boots are awesome. They are Miss Sixty and Erica did not buy them in the district but I'm going to see if Macy's carries the Italian Miss boots (we know they carry their coats). Her stockings are also just the right weight and color, which shows you don't always have to go fully opaque or black for this winter's look. I'm lucky my model has such impeccable taste.

Enzo Angiolini, Manhattan Mall level 2, 33rd St. & 6th Ave, 212-695-8903

Zara, 39 W. 34th Street between 5th & 6th Aves, 212-868-6551

He Was Born That Way

Men, if you have broad shoulders but are slender, and you wear this virtually nonexistent and impossible size called "39R," well, I empathize greatly with you. And ladies, if you are shopping for a man who is "39R," I'm very, very sorry. But I can tell you beleaguered outcasts of the size world exactly where you can find a winter coat.

A brief history: George (39R) needs a winter coat. First stop, the impressive Hugo Boss sample sale at Soiffer Haskin. We almost scored a beautiful coat but it was not for 39R's. We then hit Macy's, first checking out the third floor which 39R said was too "old man." Translate: the third floor is full of wool overcoats all fine for the traditional look, but we needed something more modern. So, down to 2 (I cannot get away from Macy's floor 2) where we found the Ben Sherman corner (ask for the very amiable James from Louisiana). Jackpot. They were so perfect George bought not one, but two coats that fit him just right and look great. Above is the more casual Sherman that's still wearable to the office. This is a classic for a very reasonable $269.

And the money shots: this houndstooth overcoat (right, also $269) is so perfect Ben Sherman! Check out the red lining and the nicely contrasting velvet collar. Also, I love the double pockets. What a coat. Lucky guy, that 39R.




Macy's, 151 W. 34th St between Broadway & 7th Ave,
212-695-4400