Saturday, May 31, 2008

A Little Weekend Color

In case you were bored with the European monochromes:



























Granted, it's not as if these are bright jewel tones, but I like the soft pastels and love the rich green. The pants roll up and down, but I like them up for summer. And you will have a button exposed when rolled down. The pants rolled up with the beige cropped jacket is a favorite look. I also love the flower detail on the pink, and the gathers and tucks on the green sleeveless. Nothing at Gap is just basic anymore; now it's basic with a twist.

Gap, 60 W. 34th between 5th & 6th

Friday, May 30, 2008

EC Summer Dresses

Some of you may understand my bias for the "European Fit" tags on Gap clothing, so can I be forgiven for posting yet again on Gap's European Collection?

EC summer dresses ($59.50 & $44.50), all neutral colors which are totally defying this summer's fashion palette demands. But throw on a colorful cardigan or layer a T-shirt and voila, very cute & functional. Below is my favorite ($49.50):

This is odd because I'm not a baby doll dress girl, I'm tired of the bag dress look, and this has the back ties! But the ties are small, the dress is easy, and it transforms so prettily with a long cardigan (grey & black, $49.50).





The light sweater is always what I'm looking for in summer: a good little something to throw on top of a dress or whatever to combat the a/c. Or to look a little more modest during office/family occasions. Gap has a lot of these cardigans, and the lilac above ($39.50) comes in many lovely hues.

Also, don't miss their bags. Patrick Robinson is not just perfecting the clothes (Gap basic with better detail), he's also transformed their bags. Here's a favorite, the canvas & lambskin satchel for $59.80:


Gap, 60 W. 34th between 5th & 6th

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Gap Artist Editions in Bryant Park

Because I just posted these the other day:










































Beautiful, right? Thanks to the great photographers at Bryant Park Corporation (for whom I also work). Don't the Gap Artist Edition T-shirts look damn good framed, and amongst the trees? They'll be up in Bryant Park until June 4th. Go check them out and have a sandwich at 'wichcraft while you're there. You can try out the fare that should soon also be available in Herald & Greeley Squares on 34th Street.

Gap, 60 W. 34th @ 6th Avenue

New Patricia Field in Payless & Pat on Video

This is a timely event: a launch party for more Patricia Field's Payless shoes. I'm so glad she's doing another line. The addition of her shoes really ups the vamp in the Payless designer collections. Downtown girls have Abaete, uptowners have Lela Rose, the fashionistas have alice+olivia, and the glamour tramps have Pat Field. Who'd have thought Payless could be so exotic?

Sadly, I was not invited to the party, but I was sent the PR video! So go to www.patriciafield4payless.com and enter the password "patfield" to watch an interview with the famous & infamous Sex & the City stylist. It will be accessible only for 48 hours, after which it then, umm, self-destructs? Because of the top secret style tips Patricia gives?! Although I now have an old girl crush. She gives classic fashion advice (stick to your unique style) after gushing over the freaks of NYC who inspire her. And is it wrong that I'm totally drawn to those metallic blue pumps? Well, I think the great thing about Patricia Field is that if you're not the kind of girl who wears her shoes, you're still a little envious of the girls (and drag queens) who do.


Payless, 110 W. 34th @ Broadway

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Wearable Artist Editions

I'm not a fan of "wearable art" as it generally involves craft store miscellany glued onto sweatshirts. I prefer to keep my art separate from my clothing. This will all change if I am ever able to buy, borrow or steal haute couture. Or if I can decide which one of these to buy:























Gap's Whitney Biennial Artist Editions T's on 34th Street. I finally got a chance to go try them on ($28, l to r: Kiki Smith; Kenny Scharf; Sarah Sze back; Sze front; Marilyn Minter; and Hanna Liden men's T). The women's scoop-neck top fits great and the cotton is soft. It's also gratifying to see the artist name in the tag (above). Poor Pierre. Does he not deserve a tag too?

Online there are only 2 women's and 1 men's style for sale; have the rest sold out? Sizing in store is running low so visit soon. I did overhear a clerk say there could be different styles arriving soon. So far, I'm partial to the very 80's looking Marilyn Minter. You?

Gap, 60 W. 34th @ 6th Avenue

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Foiled in Black

This morning, one of the world's great procrastinators (me) finally realized she needs to get out her spring clothing. Because even though it was wet and looked cold, I put on a short-sleeved turtleneck and felt immediately hot. And not in the good way.

Have you been putting off the dreaded clothing shift this season, too? Because every weekend I swear I'll do it (like my taxes, ha!) and yet now it's almost June. In the future I'm designing a closet that just rotates, like a door to the Bat Cave, and on the other side is next season's wardrobe perfectly stored and wrinkle-free. But I'm also the woman who dreams of a magic laser machine that one steps into and, zap! Gone is your unwanted hair, blemishes, veins, and all other banes of feminine existence.

Back to this morning, which could be the last morning of seasonal indecision: I chose mostly black. Black jeans, said black turtleneck and yellow rainboots. Ha, I couldn't have been more wrong! So I'm now going out to shop sunny and muggy 34th Street and walk the fashion walk of shame. Luckily this is well-populated midtown Manhattan where I'm bound to see not only shorts and gladiators, but also sweaters tied around waists and boots.

Here's what I'm looking for, dresses, which I don't really own because I'm a pants girl. But the forecast for this summer is hot, meaning much hotter than last summer. So I'm going to concede to some dresses like these from Forever 21:


$24.90, $19.80, & $24.90. I'll try them on this week and see how they fit. I'm thinking the shirt dress on the far left will be more of a shirt.
Here's some more from Banana Republic:











$130, $150 & $98. That model makes me want to bleach out my hair. Love these dresses, and I knew the Banana would have a great khaki coat dress, perfect for the office. It is the original safari store, remember?

And finally, a Fashion Herald PSA: Dudes, the pirate look is so last year. Please keep your eye patches and swords at home when you shop Macy's Herald Square. This should also keep you out of jail on beautiful holiday weekends.

Forever 21, 50 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th
Banana Republic, 17 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th
Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th btwn Bdwy & 7th

Friday, May 23, 2008

Fashion Herald Hits the Street

I teamed up with Xmastime for some video shooting on 34th Street a few weeks ago. Naturally it was raining, cold, and raining, until the end of the day and then the sun emerged full force. So please forgive my accessories meltdown. It was all there in the bag, wooden bangles, pretty earrings, fun sunglasses, but I forgot. All I could think about was how the shoes were getting ruined in the rain (Sanfrediano peep-toe wedges with cute bows, anyone? Size 38 1/2?) This is why poor Laura looks a little bare. Remember Laura from our Macy's graduation shopping trip? Well, check this out for more student makeovers and some great 34th Street finds:





Many BIG thanks to 3 Knights Media for shooting and editing (check out their website for more info on all the great production and design work they do), and big kisses to Xmastime, my comedian blogger without whom it would just be a girl talking about fashion, which is what we do all the time anyway. And lots of thanks to my extras, Lindsey, Jeffrey and Laura, who all braved a disgusting outdoors morning to sit in Greeley Square, drink coffee, and let me blather on. Aren't I lucky?

Egads!

I had to show you all this disco romper ($16.99) from Strawberry. The picture of me in it is burning in retro hell right now. Because nothing says roller rink more than this. And if you're young and built like Heather Graham in Boogie Nights and running around a beach town, than yes, have some bright blue fun. For those of you who live in Brooklyn, get prepared to see some version of this in McCarren Park this summer.

But don't let the romper scare you away. Here's some more palatable Strawberry:

like these jeans, very nice, pretty long & wide legged for $19.99;

and a couple skirts ($16.99), short prairie and above-the-knees print. Can someone please send me a bow-tying tutorial? Because I'm struggling here.





Strawberry, 14 W. 34th between 5th & 6th

FIT Senior Fashion Show 2008: Intimate Apparel

All my male readers (well, my one male reader - hey xmastime) will be very disappointed I only have two decent lingerie shots to represent the very sexy FIT senior show's intimate apparel:

Ms. Wilbur is the critic winner, and her black corset w/beaded embroidery, panty & matching robe, left, was pretty jaw-dropping on that runway. Sorry, again, for bad photos, but still I had to add this Jessica Soto (right). Perfect for a wedding night, this champagne charmeuse gown w/lace applique godets & beaded lace bed jacket is just stunning.

Click here because you shouldn't miss Jennifer Ostroski's mauve crinkle chiffon robe w/black lace bra & high-waisted panty. I'm a sucker these days for traditional, high-waisted bottoms, & this color combination is sexy.

To wrap up, I'd never attended an FIT senior show before and was impressed. Nothing was dull except, perhaps, when a few stuck to the mainstream. Eg: a beautiful tuxedo pantsuit that looked blah next to the more innovative designs. Unfair for this lovely tailored piece, yes, but it does help a viewer understand why designs on the runway are generally more over-the-top than run-of-the-mill. Predictable just doesn't communicate vision. See how much students can teach you?

Thursday, May 22, 2008

I Bought The Dress

Would you buy something that's been prominently displayed in The New York Times as possibly one of the world's cheapest dresses? Well, I did. I also bought its less infamous yellow sister seen below. Both from Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line, and both cost $8.98. So for under $18 I got two colorful summer dresses.

Do I care it had its 15 minutes in The New York Times? Nah. Perhaps I'll wear my blue dress like a flag? Look, here it is, and I'm damn proud! Not a penny more than $8.98!

pretty yellow dress front, full-skirted, & backwards (couldn't resist, felt very Westwood) - pretty blue dress front, back and front again - and you can wear chunky heels or flats















Steve & Barry's,
Manhattan Mall level 2, 33rd @ 6th

FIT Senior Fashion Show 2008: Special Occasion

I love a dress that gives good back. Like this, left, from Allison Baldus, an iridescent silk chiffon gown w/leather details (yes, that back strap is leather, way cool).

And this, created by Helene Fastow, a lovely dusty purple and grey fluted chiffon gown. Beautiful (the front is above in the Baldus photo).

For the society lady, a baby Blass from Ashley Mertz. It's ombre charmeuse w/a beaded train & blue cashmere jacket.


And a personal favorite, this black and print sequined dress w/ostrich feather lining by Julia Bergh. I love the lines and how it moves, thanks to that clever lining.


Last, for the party girls, an emerald green ruffled cocktail dress w/Swarovski beaded top by Karina Dookeran.

This is an impressive group. I'm missing the traditional show stopper wedding dresses because the photos were not printable, grrr. But, if you haven't checked it out yet, I found some great photos posted here. I love Minsun Kim's strapless gown covered with cotton voile roses. And Lisa H. Le's blanc chiffon swirl dress w/hand-painted ombre satin ruffles needs to swirl right off that runway and onto an Oscar nominee. Especially if Cate or Tilda are in the limelight again next year.

**disclaimer: I'm pretty sure I got all these names matched with dresses, but I had to usurp a young lady from my seat & lost the program in the process. I picked up a stray post-show, but apologize profusely if I mismatched designers + dresses.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Girl Crush: Chloe Sevigny

Why I love Chloe Sevigny:

"Fashion week makes me feel very self-critical," she explained. "Like I'm not wearing the right thing or looking the right way. It's stressful."

This is an old quote, from WWD Thursday, February 7th, 2008. And I've had it highlighted and tacked on my office wall ever since. I'm one of those who admire Ms. Sevigny's independent style and sartorial risk-taking. But after reading this I now highly esteem her candor, and say "Amen, sister." That's exactly how I feel for any kind of fashion event, let alone fashion week. But isn't it great to hear a style icon express similar insecurities?

Some chloe style: