Monday, April 30, 2012

Fossil for Spring

The Fossil boutique is always perfection on 34th Street, but I am often remiss in posting Fossil stories as I don't do "dressing room" shots theres. So here are some accessory picks from their spring'12 lookbook, all classic and retro with 2012 upgrades. I think the sharply-hued watches are a good place to start.





Fossil 38 West 34th Street

Friday, April 27, 2012

34th Street Weekend Sale Picks: Friends & Family

#1.  Macy's Herald Square
Because it's Friends and Family all weekend. Print up the coupon below and shop!  34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Ave






#2. Daffy's Herald Square
Because you can get 20% off an entire purchase with the coupon below. Print it up and, you know, shop! 34th Street at Broadway in Herald Center






#3. Bebe
Because if you spend $125, you get 15% off, spend $250 and get 20% off. Print up the coupon below and visit 34th Street!  One West 34th Street at Fifth Avenue

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Getting to Spa Grandma

We're off on a plane today to Spa Grandma! But I'm traveling alone with my 2.5 year old, so I'm a little nervous. I stopped by Kmart for a few things.



The squeeze fruit packs and the organic lollipops are from Duane Reade. Thank you, Duane Reade and Kmart, for helping me bribe my way through a (*fingers crossed*) non-screaming plane trip to Iowa. If you need princess sticker birthday cards (no, it's not her birthday, but that is a princess sticker card. I'm going to get a lot of mileage out of that), Dora stickers, Dora sippy cups, Dora lip gloss bracelets (my total ace up the sleeve), or Dora anything, Kmart is your one-stop shop.

Hopefully, Fashion Herald will be sleeping in and getting massages, mani-pedis, etc. while Grandma and Beloved Grandchild have fun next week, and you won't be hearing from me as regularly. Be back in May!


Kmart 34th Street and Seventh Avenue
Duane Reade Herald Square 35th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Fashion Star Episode 7: Sarah is Not Our Fashion Star

Only three episodes left! What are we going to complain about when Fashion Star is gone? I'm starting to get depressed. Sarah was eliminated last night, which normally would make me really depressed, but the whining had to end.

Who's my pick to win? Well, my track record is crap because I was a fan of Sarah's early on, but I'm thinking Kara or Luciana. Ross should have been gone this week, Nzi-me-me has been designing blahs, and Nikki seems unable to produce anything beyond a maxi. She was second in line for most annoying. Really, a mini-skirt is such a wild departure for a designer?



Luciana is more commercial, so Vegas odds would most likely be on her. And her H&M dress this week (above) is a stunner. Lined, well-constructed, nice fabric, this one is a steal at $39.95. Please ignore the fact that I can't zip up the side on the size 10. I'm in total H&M size 12 denial. I AM NOT A 12, I AM AN 8! Or sometimes a 10.


Now on to Macy's, where I'm always an 8. Relief. Ronnie could be the wild card as week after week he's quietly upping his game. Last week's swimsuit was a bold move that resulted in a very cute item. This week's gown really shows off his skill: the detail in the back and the slit in the front are just the right amount of architecture and wow.

I'm expecting the drama to be amped up next week. But I expect that every week and am always left wanting more. Perhaps that's their trick. Next week I'm in Des Moines, Iowa, on vacation (Spa Grandma), so I'm going to track down a Macy's there and see if they carry Fashion Star. If not, see you Week 9!


Macy's Herald Square 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue
H&M Penn Station 34th Street and Seventh Avenue




Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Victoria's Secret Herald Square: The Renovation Update

Victoria's Secret is playing musical stores this summer while they renovate their Herald Square store to make it an even bigger lingerie destination. A 50,000 square foot lingerie destination, to be exact, which means they are more than doubling their current size. The space will now be big enough to "have its own runway for fashion events."

Soon to be even bigger and better.

The Herald Square flagship has acquired 30,000 square feet of lower level parking garage under their store, and obviously need some time to get rid of that parking-garage feel. In the meantime, they will be moving to Manhattan Mall in what was Charlotte Russe. The Herald Square location will close the end of May, and the Manhattan Mall location will open mid-to-late May.

Coming soon!

This will make two Victoria Secrets in the mall*, but we're used to seeing double in the 34th Street district: we've got two Foot Lockers (and one House of Hoops by Foot Locker), two Victoria's Secrets, two H&Ms, two Desiguals, two Paylesses, two AĆ©ropostales ...we've got a lot of twos.

I hope people won't be panicking in front of the Herald Square Victoria's Secret like they are at the temporarily-closed Zara down the street (seriously, daily I see women shaking and pounding on the locked door and peering through the dark glass). With VS you've got an option: walk down Broadway to 33rd Street and look for Manhattan Mall across from Greeley Square. Walk through the doors. Victoria's Secret will be waiting for you at the end of the first floor, or at its permanent location on the second floor.*


*I don't know if the first floor location will become permanent, or if the second floor location will close, as Victoria's Secret could not yet comment on this. Either way, Victoria's Secret will be well-represented in Manhattan Mall!


Victoria's Secret Manhattan Mall level one, 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue
Opening mid-to-late May
Victoria's Secret Herald Square, 34th Street and Sixth Avenue
Closing temporarily for renovations end of May

Monday, April 23, 2012

Express: The Plums, The Oranges, The Blues for Fall '12

Everyone knows Express has nailed the colorful jean, but for Fall '12 they make autumn a bounty of color across the board. Note the orange trench, bag, and most excellent purple and blue tops below.





Photos are all from last week's fall preview, and once again Express impressed me with their direction, particularly with color palettes, new denim, accessories, and tops.


 Then they've got a whole perfect neutral story backing up all the color. Note the lovely bags...

 

...and the plethora of neutral separates, with some polka dots thrown in.


I'll end with the denim. Express is doing a coated denim you're going to love. I'm looking at you, red print jeans. And mustard, and blue, and all the greens...





Express Manhattan Mall lower level 1, 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue
Express 7 West 34th Street just west of Fifth Avenue





Friday, April 20, 2012

34th Street Weekend Sale Picks: The Very Final Esprit Edition

#1.  Esprit
Because this is their last weekend on 34th Street. I'm not sure if there will be much left, as the store felt ransacked and empty on Thursday, but there were still sweaters for $6, T-shirts and tanks for $3 (buy two and get one free), and racks of pants for 80% off. The 34th Street flagship was the final destination of product for all the area stores, so perhaps some lingering product will be sent our way for the last days. The store closes for good on Sunday.
21 West 34th Street


Adieu, Esprit (pre-opening days above). We hope to see you back on 34th Street someday.




#2.  Levi's
Because they've got a clearance section that is further reduced. Also, select straight jeans are 30% off.
45 West 34th Street







#3.  Express
Because the entire weekend the entire store is Buy One Get One 50% Off. WHOA.  
Manhattan Mall, level one, 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue;  7 West 34th Street



I'll take both.


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Game On at bar III



It's game on at Macy's Herald Square for bar III, and it's truly inspired. Who said sports and fashion can't mix?!




I have no idea what sport inspired this, but whatever it is I need to start playing it. I'm buying this one.


Macy's Herald Square 151 West 34th Street

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Fashion Star Episode 6: I Rant a Lot and Rave a Little

It was Nicole Richie's time to shine as a mentor last night and her advice was flawless. Ross doing lingerie was a great fit and I loved the outcome on TV but wasn't as thrilled with it in person at H&M Herald Square. The bra was bulky under my shirt (I'm wearing it below). Also, I couldn't try on the shorts which is great for sanitary purposes but if I loved the fit they would have swung me into the "buy" category. The white set with the green trim will be gone by tomorrow, while there was ample pink with black trim this afternoon.


Meh. And I do really like Nzimiro! But meh.

Nzimiro's dress, many of which were still on the selling floor today, was so infuriatingly difficult to get on that I wanted to tear it off the hangar and stomp it into little pieces on the dressing room floor. Seriously! There is a silky under-dress that has a side-zip and a lining but is attached to the outer "boho" sheer hanging thing, which means three layers of slippery fabric and disappearing armholes. Forget about where to put your head. Once on I found it somewhat charming, cuter than on the runway (the shoulders have been tweaked, I think, to make this more modern and less frumpy), but was too annoyed to buy. Everyone who bought it online won't have these problems as they will immediately detach the two pieces and deal with them separately. Although that means the sheer top piece will now be shifting around your shoulders. Oh, enough already, I'm exhausted just thinking about it! Nzimiro, no more overwrought womenswear, please.

Macy's buy: the swimsuit was so close for me, but this is a bathing suit that needs breasts to look good. The other end of things was perfection; it's such a relief to wear a sexy one-piece that actually covers your ass. Ronnie's cut is beautiful and I like the small design details like the sheer panels. Size selection is still a good in both colors on the floor at Herald Square.



Luciana's jacket is more than quite nice. It looks very vintage and the fabric that I thought would be heavy for spring is actually very lightweight. Upon donning the light pink style I fell madly in love (although in photos the blue (right) really stands out, right?). It's a special little jacket. All three colors are sold-out online but there are still several in store, mostly in larger sizes, but the multi-colored jacket (left) is almost gone.



Macy's Herald Square 151 W. 34th Street between Broadway & Seventh Ave
H&M Herald Square 34th Street and Broadway 


Breaking News: Vince Camuto on 34th Street

Lois Weiss of the New York Post reports in her "Between the Bricks" column that Vince Camuto signed a lease at 30 West 34th Street. This new 1,837 square foot store will go into a currently empty space that once housed a souvenir store.

New Vince Camuto store in SoHo, photo from Racked.

Needless to say, this is great news for the south side of 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The Vince Camuto store will sit between Timberland and Orva Shoes. And the old guard of souvenir stores and the like are now almost completely gone from that end of 34th Street.


Vince Camuto lease signed at 30 West 34th Street


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Catch a Fire: Bob Marley Fashion



Left, inspired by Cedella's father style, and right, inspired by her mother, Rita, and the I Threes.

After seeing Bob Marley's biopic, MARLEY (release date 4/20, natch), you'll be trying to emulate his Jamaican reggae style, much like every other rocker of the Marley era. Keith Richards first vacation estate was in Jamaica, and the influence is evident in his signature look.


Marley's oldest child, Cedella, talked via Skype about her dad's style at a Socialista event held to celebrate the release of the film. Cedella noted the musician's unaffected and natural appearance that's yeah, pretty much the ultimate of cool. She also mentioned the Jamaican crime film "The Harder They Come" as a big style influence. See the movie if you haven't, Jimmy Cliff is great, the soundtrack is classic, and the fashion is seriously bad ass! Ahem, OK, back to the other really great film, MARLEY. You are going to cry, (I did) so be sure to bring tissue. Bob Marley is one seriously accomplished and inspiring musician.

Yes, her skin is that gorgeous! 

Remember how I was raving about Cedella in the film? Well, she's impressive and charming in real life, too. CEO of Tuff Gong International, singer, author of children's books, a mom, and designer of Catch a Fire, Cedella's a great role model for young women. The photo above also nicely captures her beauty and very amiable personality.

Below and above are shots of her clothing featured at the event. Personal favorites are the bathing suits and the jackets. Find a lot it here, at ZionRootswear.com


I need the red satin lion jacket.


Also, here's a 34th Street holla: you can get Bob Marley T's and suits at Billabong Herald Square.




Billabong 112 W. 34th Street just west of Broadway

Monday, April 16, 2012

Spotted at Dr. Jay's

I'd like to dedicate today's post to the adorableness of these tops from Dr. Jay's on 34th Street:




This is peplum enough for me. $39.99 and one of the cutest on-trend tops I've seen all spring. The back is a little revealing (below) but I would wear it in the office with a jacket. And then at night, well, you know, day-into-night...


The red is almost full-on puffy shirt, and it's $14.99. Done. 


Dr. Jay's 17 West 34th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues


Sunday, April 15, 2012

From the Archives: Their Last Voyage

In this post, 34SP's archivist Anne Kumer shares some 34th Street-related history.

Everybody is talking about the Titanic right now, and some are even just learning that yes, it DID actually happen.

One of three sister ships -- the other two being the RMS Olympic, (launched in 1910) and the RMS Britannic (launched in 1914) -- the Titanic was the largest passenger ship afloat. At the time of its maiden voyage from Southhampton England to New York City, US on April 10,1912, the RMS Titanic was guaranteed unsinkable.

Titanic launching from Southhampton. Photo: National Geographic
A few days later the ship collided with an iceberg, and on April 15 sank, taking with it 1,517 passengers and crew members. Among those were co-owner of Macy's department stores Isidor Straus, and his wife Ida, as well as John Jacob Astor IV and his pregnant (and much younger) wife Madeleine Talmadge Force Astor.

The "Macy's corner" at 34th Street and Broadway, [1910-1915]. By this time the store and neighborhood were bustling with activity.

When offered a spot in one of the ship's few lifeboats, Ida Straus said something to the effect of this: "We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go." Or maybe this: “I have lived with him for 50 years - I won’t leave him now." She stayed on board with her husband and they perished together. After their deaths, her fidelity and loyalty were celebrated in the press, as well as with several memorials and positive portrayals in plays, music, and movies. (Ha! You thought I was going to link to the James Cameron movie but I didn't!) Below is one of several piano pieces composed in 1912:

Isador and Ida Straus rendered on this commemorative piano piece from 1912. Image: NYPL
Macy's had a plaque made, dedicated, and placed in the store's entrance on 34th Street, just west of Broadway in 1913. Also, three years to the day after the ship sank, a monument was dedicated to the Strauses at Broadway and 106th Street near their former home in New York City, in a small park named after them one year earlier.  It's still there.
The Straus Memorial on its dedication day, April 15, 1915. Photo: Library of Congress

The Straus Memorial on its dedication day, April 15, 1915. Photo: Library of Congress
Designed by Augustus Lukeman, the monument's female figure was created in the likeness of statue model Audrey Munson, also known as "Miss Manhattan," and who deserves her own blog post, maybe with Evelyn Nesbit. (They're classier Lindsay Lohans of the early 1900s, except with possibly more affairs and less cocaine -- or maybe not!)
Audrey Munson with Buzzer the cat. Photo: Library of Congress
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the crash, and the tributes and books are still coming. The National Geographic has never-before seen photos of the shipwreck taken during a 2010 expedition to the wreckage site.
Bad screen shot from this Before and After slideshow. This image shows the Straus suite.
 Other sources:
-Titanic Historical Society
-Titanic Facts
-National Geographic has never-before seen photos of the wreckage. They are stunning.
-Isador Straus obituary.
-Straus Historical Society in Smithtown, New York 
- A nice little Macy's history slide show called Macy's Milestones and the very long, very detailed wikipedia entry on the department store.
-Macy's history on the department store's website
-New York Times

Friday, April 13, 2012

34th Street Weekend Sale Picks: The DVF ♥ GapKids Edition

#1.  Gap
Because the   DVF ♥ babyGap & DVF ♥ GapKids is 30% off and it is, naturally, freaking irresistible. This sale is for a limited time but may be going into next week, I'll follow-up on Twitter then. The sunglasses! The flip flops! The everything! Oh, and select men's and women's is 30% off also, but good luck getting out of the DVF area.  60 West 34th Street at Broadway




#2.  Old Navy
Because they've got some very tempting and very colorful items in clearance on two.  150 West 34th Street 




#3.  Billabong
Because I haven't met a roller bag that I like, but this one is more than passable and it's 25% off.  112 West 34th Street