Fashion Week Preview Drawings

Have you seen these fashion week preview drawings from Forbes.com?

Click on pics for big view:





























































Digging the Nicholas K, but then I'm a sucker for anyone who names "post-apocalyptic dystopia" as inspiration. And one of my favorites from last season, Thuy, is collaborating with a milliner for a limited-edition hat collection. Then there's my regular favorite, Yigal Azrouel: soft shapes + metal hardware + leather = belted, red and black cobweb dress? Oh yeah.

But did you read the Abaete inspiration? Les Incroyables, a fashionable subculture of the 18th Century. Or, as this website calls it, "...roving bands of angry dandies." Now I'm really looking forward to Fashion Week.

The Payless Spring Revue

I was practically singing and dancing on the second floor of Payless on 34th Street last evening. Across the street and safe from the free makeup queue outside Macy's Herald Square, I was yet again freaking out the sweet Payless salesgirls with my mirror shoe photography.

alice + olivia get best in show:

Patent sling wedge w/ square toe. You can't underestimate the height of alice + olivia wedges.















Sing it, "FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN." Pink leopard sling wedge? FUN. Not yet online.













Also not online are my absolute favorites, this perfect platform-heeled, sling strapped, shoe-boot thing. I was speaking in tongues when I first tried them on.
















Can't forget the Abaete's, the would-be star of the show. I'm afraid they underwhelmed.

The gladiator sandal, see the baggy strap on the left? That was not in Lucky mag. I'd also like to see the light blue version from the runway show, which would be great for spring's ubiquitous pastels.














The following really suffered from bad wardrobe. But I could not take stockings off on the floor of Payless and make the salesgirls run screaming.

Really need to go barefoot with these beige ones, & a mesh mule is no mesh bootie.











Perhaps later in the season we'll see the fabulous mesh boot? I'm just not a mule girl as we've got a bad history. Also, that Abaete heel is 4 inches and it makes a girl teeter. Honestly it doesn't feel like it can hold me up for long.

All in all, definitely a good show at Payless. I'm now going to get all shoe groupie on the hopefully incoming Patricia Field for Payless spring collection. I love how her shoes are released on a totally different schedule from the other designer collections. Obviously the diva of the show.

Payless, 110 W. 34th @ Broadway & 484 8th Avenue @ 34th St.

Full Page Joy

Abaete for Payless $38 "Gabriel" gladiator sandals in February's Lucky Magazine. So deserving of a full-page shot. They're not in store now, but you'll get a review once they set a fabulous, complicated, and strappy foot on 34th Street. And Gabriel darling is just one part of what must be the hottest Payless shoe collaboration yet. Don't forget my ravings about these from the Abaete Spring '09 show:















Double joy. Thank you, Laura Poretzky.


Payless, 110 W. 34th @ Broadway, & 484 8th Avenue @ 34th Street

A Little Afternoon Payless

(Be sure to check out the Comme des Garcons for H&M giveaway)

I must freak out the kids at Payless on 34th Street when the new designer collections hit the store. Like yesterday, when I visited and saw pretty new Lela Roses and Abaetes. I did the usual, gathered them round, had a chat (you're so pretty! no, you're so pretty!), took a walk around the second floor, and posed for a few pictures. It's a miracle security hasn't escorted me back out onto 34th Street.

Just hanging out:
















And one-by-one: Lela Rose, white Abaete, black Abaete (all are $38, and right now it's BOGO 1/2 off):















I think this is my favorite. Although I love the black and white Abaete wedge, this strappy, peep-toe Lela Rose woven wedge is, dare I say, fabulous?











And remember the tall Patricia Field mocassin boot? It's now on sale for $59. Definitely worth a BOGO. I found the purple online. Whoa. I haven't seen it in store on 34th Street, but I'm very intrigued.










But you know I'm still highly anticipating these Abaete's, due out in spring:










Payless, 110 W. 34th @ Broadway

Oh, White Moccasin!

I'm curiously drawn to the Abaete white moc ($30) from her summer Payless collection:

Because all the hipster girls in my hood are rocking the moccasin? Or because this picture is very deja vu, evoking Mom in the '80's or an older hippy sister? Either way, some weird emotional force is demanding that I go to 34th Street and try them on.

Also from the Payless website, some new alice+olivia for summer:

I don't think this 4-inch patent platform sandal ($35) qualifies as an egregious misuse of preppy pink, like that found yesterday on The Preppy Princess. This is more on the hot side of pink, yes?

For those of us less bold, or with an aversion to hot patent pink, here are some sweet Mary Janes and charming sneaks (both $30). Note the stitching along the edge of the sneaker.

And hark, alice+olivia clutches ($25)! I've seen them in store and up close and personal they look good. Ooo, are you feeling the grey, with the Mary Janes and some cropped skinny pants? Or jeans rolled up? Just humor me and say yes.




Payless, 110 W. 34th @ Broadway

Friday Miscellany

New men's ties at Banana Republic; a handsome silk Monogram ($60) in green. Ahhh, color. There's also orange and blue, but it's always refreshing to see the non-blue tie. 34th Street has a good selection of the Monogram line.

Pretty new alice & olivia for Payless wedge in store.
And the black one was $10 the other day!

Please check out the flowered Zara open toe pump. It's beautiful, and I forgot to take a picture, but definitely drop by the store and have a look. It will cheer you up, it's $99 and will go great with all your Dries and Balenciaga.....if only.

New at Foot Locker and irresistible. Oh, baby, it's the Nike Outbreak hi tops ($70). I love me some crazy kick colors. And I have a special affinity for these Gemini-inspired styles, being a June baby myself.

Succumbed to this slightly painterly tunic top at Strawberry, $14.99. Am wearing it today with skinny (paperdenim&cloth) jeans and green Abaete's.


Banana Republic, 17 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th
Payless, 110 W. 34th @ Broadway
Foot Locker, 120 W. 34th @ Broadway
Strawberry, 14 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th

Full Fashion Disclosure: The Shoes

While walking down Fifth Avenue today in my new brown Abaete flats, I could feel a blister forming on the back of my heel. Then back at my desk, I kicked off my shoes to see, gasp, blood. This was no simple, annoying blister on my heel, but a bleeding wound. Why, you ask, did I not feel pain while walking down the street? Because I had just been thoroughly waxed for the upcoming bikini season. Still numb from the torture that is my aesthetician's specialty, I was oblivious to any other nominal, nagging pain such as a torn and bleeding heel.

But isn't this always what happens when one brags, as I did the other day about Abaetes? Like when you talk about how great your significant other is, and then an hour later you're breaking up? So, yes, I buy Payless Abaetes every season because I love Poretzky's styles. And yes, I gush to everyone about how comfortable they are for inexpensive shoes because they are. But full disclosure: these flats (above), which I still love and will of course continue to wear, are A PAINFUL BITCH to break in.

If, like me, you paid $10 for them and love them: do a preemptive strike and layer band aids on those heels before first wearing.

Memories: look! Today I broke out the old Abaete red flats (bought 2, 3 seasons ago?) which are now dirty so they look even better, are so cute I always get compliments, and are a great reminder why I'll always buy her shoes.

Payless, 34th btwn Broadway & 7th
Payless, 34th @ 8th

Anticipating Spring

Arrivals we're looking for on 34th Street in the next couple weeks:

ThreeAsFour collection for Gap. I haven't seen anything from this, but this is from their website (right). Adorable, love the top and wish I could wear those shorts.

Of course, the Pierre Hardy shoes for Gap (the 34th Street staff is so sick of me calling, but I'll piss anyone off for Pierre).

According to Fashionista.com, a GapBody collaboration with Marie-Amelie Sauve will also be arriving soon. Ms. Sauve is a French stylist and consultant for Balenciaga and Paris Vogue. Mmmm, a French-influenced body line at Gap, we have so much to look forward to this spring.

Tara Subkoff for Bebe. Ms. Subkoff calls this collection "'80s feminist meets '40s Hollywood glam." The dresses (right) are lovely; it's interesting how seamless her translation into a mass market is with these designs. Can't wait to see the rest. 34th Street thinks they'll arrive in about three weeks.

More Alice & Olivia shoes at Payless (after seeing the two styles 34th Street managed to sneak in, I'm dying for more). Click here to be notified of arrivals.

The Abaete & Lela Rose lines for Payless are in the store on 34th Street. No mas for the Patricia Field collaboration. Sorry kids!

Gap, 60 W. 34th St @ Broadway
Bebe, 1 W. 34th St at 5th Avenue
Payless, 110 W. 34th St between 6th and 7th

All About Barbie

Who wasn't inspired by Barbie as a young girl? Me. I was more impressed with Ken and Barbie's gymnast cousin Trixie. But doesn't it make sense that Patricia Field has created a Barbie-inspired line for Macy's? Have you seen Sex in the City? Only Patricia Field could convince America that it's perfectly de riguer for Sarah Jessica Parker to be running around Manhattan in little more than a men's shirt or booty shorts and 5 inch heels in the middle of the day. And only Barbie or SJP could pull it off.

The inimitable and talented Ms. Field will be appearing today at Macy's Herald Square to launch her new line of casual wear, accessories, and handbags, all inspired by the blondest she-bot doll in the history of dolldom. Visit the Impulse department on 2 (it's a conspiracy, I swear) today at 6pm, nosh a little and listen to Mickey Boardman of Paper Magazine interview Patricia Field.

Enjoy great people watching at this event, because Patricia Field has a strong New York following and her fans are colorful and bold trendsetters. Proof of this is at the Payless store on 34th Street, where Ms. Field's 5 1/2 inch platform sandals ("Tempura," $40) and boots ("Sushi," $55) are currently almost sold out. Hurry and you may be able to find your size, but PLEASE practice a little platform walking before you take them on the street. Channel drag queen.

And while there look at the Abaete holiday collection. I love the black evening flats named "Betty," $30. They don't look special in the box but are beautiful on the foot. And as usual, her designs never look like anyone else's.

Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th, 212-695-4400
Payless, 110 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th, 212-947-0306