It's a Rock Festival Summer at American Eagle Outfitters

From the AEO Summer '12 press preview last week.

I'm pretty sure that back when I went to rock festivals all (2) of my bras were concert bras. Torn black T's with black bras underneath and those awful black denim shorts was a big grunge look. So naturally I'm a big fan of Concert Bra. I'll totally try to get away with it for summer '12 beach weekends with the yellow bra from the press bag. My daughter's too young to be embarrassed by her mom's dressing yet so I need to enjoy these years.

American Eagle Outfitters Concert Bra girl is definitely less grunge and more fun with lighter colors, girlish layers, cute sandals, and adorable printed bags.

Also in the press bag? World's most cozy terry hoodie. I HAD NO IDEA AEO hoodies felt like this. Intern Craig (whose arm is in a shot above) has been holding back (although not really, he bugs me about AEO's fabulousness all the time. Also, his friends are devoted to Aerie). I wore the hoodie all weekend and slept in it twice. I have this thing about sleeping in really comfortable normal clothes, I find it oddly decadent. If  I'm wildly rich someday I'll buy cashmere jumpsuits to nap in all winter, because when Intern Craig and I are wildly rich we're moving to Minnesota. 

American Eagle Outfitters 40 West 34th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues

BREAKING 34TH STREET NEWS

[The below post has been in our queue for ages (August 2010), waiting for the official word to be published. So long that Intern Craig has moved on to another internship! He couldn't sit around and wait for the press release forever, people.I am supplementing his older, +J mens picks with my +J womens picks.]


Today, Intern Craig does justice to 34th Street retail news excitement...

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is official:

Uniqlo is definitely coming to 34th Street!

While rumors were flying about, this intern was busy planning all the new outfits that he'll be buying on company time.

Craig.

How perfect is this coat? It's from Jil Sander's +J line in the store and it's the perfect mix of a peacoat and trenchcoat. Judging by past Uniqlo experiences, I'm sure it will be priced fantastically. The coat won't be in stores until fall and I'm not 100% sure when our store is opening. I may have to trek down to Soho for this one.

Me.

Very Dad-chic

I can never have enough cardigans. This one looks perfect. I love the buttons and the low-sitting pockets. I'm also intrigued because I don't have any cardigans in this color. I'm also pretty taken with the scarf. Actually, I like the pants too. I can already hear my credit card screaming from the overuse it will endure once Uniqlo gets here.

+J for the girls

Ok, I'll spare you the pain of reading me obsess over every single picture from their lookbook. What you should take away from this post is that I'm terribly excited for Uniqlo to get here, as I'm sure all you are too! However, Tricia and I make claim to most excited in the tri-state area. Maybe in the world.

Uniqlo coming Fall 2011 to 31-33 W. 34th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues

Craig's Last Beauty Post: All About Eyes

It's his last day, and he can rant if he wants to. Adieu, glorious Intern Craig! I miss you already.

Ladies, we need to have a discussion. Stop wearing scary eyeshadows! Today I'm breaking away from my usual love of Sephora and heading across the street to the MAC kiosk in Macy's Herald Square. MAC's reputation obviously precedes it and for good reason: amazing makeup and great prices for the quality of the product. It's no surprise that most makeup artists rely strictly on MAC.

I'm in awe of the new tartan collection just because the shadows are just too much fun to look at. My favorite color is definitely the Golden Crown. This light taupe is a color that every woman (or drag queen) should have in her makeup bag. You can sweep this all over the lid if you're in a hurry or use it as a highlighter along the brow bone if you'll be using other colors for a more dramatic look.











If you like to rock the boat with your eye color, then take a look at the mineralize eye shadow duo in Fresh Green. You can mix the colors together for an awesome mix of greens, golds, blues, and browns, or you can use them separately to create some depth on the lid. Combine with a gold or sheer shimmer to complete the look.

If you're constantly on the go and don't have time to apply and blend, then perhaps you should opt for the shadestick in Shimmersand. It's a light shimmery brown and can be applied directly to the lid and blended with your finger as you ride the train to work. It's not the most ideal makeup situation, but for the woman on the go one must make compromises.

MAC kiosk in Macy's Herald Square
First Floor on 34th Street between Broadway & 7th Avenue

Intern Craig's Picks: Men's Jeans Extravaganza

I will always be on the hunt for the perfect pair of jeans, and until I'm rich enough to afford custom made jeans, I make do with what I find on 34th Street. Join me on this journey for the perfect pant.

A nice screen cap from the site because I refuse to let you watch me shop for jeans

Gap and I have had a very up and down relationship, as I have noted in the past. While I love Gap's shirts, sweaters, and essentially anything else they make for the waist up, I am not in love with their jeans. I find that their pants are either too tight or too baggy for me. I can never find the perfect fit. The 1969 collection is sadly no exception. The skinny is too skinny all over for me, but the straight is too loose in the leg.

At Old Navy everything was far too loose for me, including the regular cut jeans which are supposed to be body hugging. I don't like these for a designer jeans substitute. If you're looking for a cheap pair of jeans to roll around in, Old Navy is your place. If you're looking for a decent pair to wear out, keep looking.

But do not fear, this post isn't all bad news. I found my holy grail at American Eagle! The slim cut jeans are fantastic; snug but not too tight and they last quite a while in between washes. The following is a little disgusting but useful advice: jeans shouldn't be washed after every use. It fades the dye and deteriorates the denim. Only wash once they've become too stretched out to be skinny jeans anymore!

So, there you have it. I will shout my love of American Eagle jeans from the rooftops for all of 34th Street to hear. I hope you'll partake.

Some Borders Lovin'

Update: Below is an Intern Craig Borders review. Thank-you, Intern Craig!

I don't think we give Borders the love and affection it deserves. I'm sure there are plenty of people that hate the chain bookstore but I, for one, am a huge advocate for the mega bookstore. They discount their new releases and I can get a good cup of coffee under the same roof. While I wish there was more sitting space at this Borders so I can relax (and read books for free), I still make it over a couple of times a month just to wander the literature section and see what's on the B2GO free table.

I'm sure you're brimming with extra Christmas money so why not spend it on something productive like a new book for your winter break? If you're one of those lucky folks that are in the work force and don't have a winter break, then why not buy a book to entertain yourself on those days that you're stuck inside because of the treacherous snow?

If you see yourself having a plethora of time to fill, enjoy this fine Russian classic by the master of Russian literature. I first read Crime and Punishment during my senior year in high school and I've been in love with it ever since. If you aren't a strong reader, you may want to get the Spark Notes to fill in any gaps. Russian literature can be incredibly tedious and confusing, but totally worth it at the end.

If you want to pick up some skills this winter, I suggest reading any of Alton Brown's cookbooks. If you aren't a Good Eats fan, I suggest you watch his show immediately. He is a culinary genius and he scares me with the depth of his food knowledge. I can vouch for many of his recipes including his turkey recipe for Thanksgiving, which stands to be the most popular recipe on Foodnetwork.com ever.




If you'd like to take this time to learn about a true American legend, then perhaps you should read...

Justin Bieber's autobiography! Just reading the title "First Step 2 Forever: My Story" lets you know that this is going to be a piece of groundbreaking literature. Just look at the compositional risk Mr Bieber took by substituting the word "to" with the number 2. Truly the J.D. Salinger of our time. I couldn't bring myself to actually open the book but I trust that there are plenty of blogs run by 13-year old girls that contain countless raves on this fine novel.

Don't be fooled by my suggestions. Borders has a great collection of movies and music upstairs, as well as countless other book departments. Stop in soon and check it out for yourself. And sign up for Borders Rewards to get perks like free coffee and extra discounts.

Borders, 2 Penn Plaza at 32nd St & 7th Ave

Best 34th Street Gifts Day 8: Last-Minute Swarovski Bling

Today Intern Craig visits the gorgeous Swarovski boutique on 34th & 7th for some last-minut gift shopping.

In your rush to evacuate the city before Christmas, be sure to stop by the Swarovski store at the entrance to Penn Station on 7th Avenue. While this isn't the most frugal place to grab gifts, the giftee will surely remember it forever.

I think jewelry can be somewhat impersonal unless you absolutely know the person's taste. Yet, Swarovski will certainly have you covered. Enjoy this great wall of rings. There is an assortment from the subtle but classic, to the big and bright. Take your pick.

If you're scared to rock the boat with something as particular as a ring, you can opt for a set like the above, which is perfectly priced at $100. Both pieces are timeless so this is a great present for mom, girlfriend, aunt, and any other female on your list.

I've left the best for last and to say that I squealed like that pig on the right is an understatement: SWAROVSKI ANIMAL FLASH DRIVES. I'm always losing my flash drives but you better believe that I will attach it to my body if I had a Swarovski one. How can you resist that turtle?

Don't be afraid to check out Swarovski even if you're done with your shopping. Sometimes it's nice to just look at something pretty for a while. Enjoy!

Swarovski, 200 W. 34th Street at 7th Avenue

Best 34th Street Gifts, Day Four: Stirrings for Your Host

Stirrings mixers are served on 34th Street at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse, 440 Ninth Avenue, but you can buy Stirrings gift sets online here. Also, check with your local spirits outlet and request some Stirrings if they don't already carry it, because these mixers are delicious and the sets make for a great hostess gift. Stirrings is made with natural ingredients and cane sugar as opposed to corn syrup, which I really like, and which means you can easily make great non-alcoholic drinks for the holidays (have you ever made a virgin margarita with the usual, too-sweet margarita mix? Yugh.). Click here for the Apple-Teany recipe.

Me and Midtown Girl! Click here to see I Spy DIY's great pics. I'm giving my sister the Cocktail Connoisseur set we received as she's hosting Christmas this year.

Amy from Midtown Girl invited me to the Stirrings Naked Bartender Preview Party in the Empire State Building, which is where? 34th Street! Was he really naked? No worries, I immediately confirmed that the bartender was wearing pants. But you don't have to tell your friend that when you send them a Stirrings Naked Cocktail Greeting via Facebook or email. I sent one to Intern Craig as he's finishing up his tenure here at Fashion Herald :( Boohoohoo! I know, I'm still mourning. I thought the photo below would be perfect for his Stirrings Greeting:

Suddenly I want to sing "O, Holy Night."

Chose a photo of your friend and it sits on the Naked Bartender's bar and he talks to you and shows you how to prepare a lovely little something. Craig's enormous snood up there is from Gap Herald Square, and we both snatched them up for $25 back in October. I've been meaning to blog about them since, as they're perfect in this windy, cold weather, while still maintaining one's diva-chic winter look.

Best thing to remember about Stirrings is they make things very easy for your host or hostess, so that means they'll never forget how you helped them out this fabulously busy holiday season.

Intern Craig's Picks: Moisturizers

As the temperature drops, I always manage to ensure that I have 537 different cardigans and scarves to take me through the season. But what about the parts of our body that still have to brave the elements, like our faces? As Fashion Herald's resident beauty junkie, I am bestowing my beauty wisdom on you this holiday season.

Philosophy's Hope in a Jar is probably best known as Oprah's favorite facial moisturizer. If it lives up to Ms. Winfrey's expectations, you can certainly expect it to live up to yours. The scent is a little interesting at first but the moisturizer is just fantastic for all skin types. For those of you with oily skin, it might be a little richer than you're used to, but if you're worried about extra shine, just dab a sheer pressed powder on top.

My skin is horrifyingly dry especially in the winter. The only way I can prevent my elbows and knees from cracking is Korres Body Butter. It's made mostly of Shea Butter which is fantastic because it melts right into the skin without leaving you greasy. Korres gives you a nice selection of scents in its body care like Fig and Japanese Rose. My favorite is the classic Guava.

I could write volumes of my love for Rosebud Salve for the lips. I'm a long time user of the original scent but thanks to a lovely gift from my boss, I recently switched to strawberry. The huge container might be a little too much for some people. Luckily, Rosebud Salve just came out with a tube form of its original scent so there's something for everyone.

As always, all of these products can be found at Sephora on 34th Street or Sephora in JCPenney. Any of these will make great gifts but don't be afraid to pamper yourself. Enjoy!

Sephora, 130 W. 34th Street between Broadway & 7th
Sephora JCPenney Manhattan Mall, lower level 1, 33rd & 6th Avenue

Intern Craig's picks for Black Friday

After proving to myself that I could camp out overnight outside of a store last week, I think I'm going to be one of those crazies that stalks the door busters this Black Friday. A lot of stores are being really hush-hush this year but I utilized my Nancy Drew skills and found my favorite sales this year.

40% off everything until noon

Express and I have an odd relationship. We were best friends in high school. After graduation, Express changed and started acting like an Ed Hardy wannabe. I was heartbroken and shacked up with J. Crew, who is now my true love. Today, Express and I have managed to slowly become friends again. I salivated on all of the men's cardigans this past season. While I will never be 100% comfortable wearing a huge lion on my chest, Express is typically reasonably priced and perfectly sized.

50% off almost everything, midnight to 10am!

Like Express, Gap and I were caught in a tumultuous relationship for most of my adolescent life. Once Patrick Robinson took over, I've been in love. I think he's totally updated the brand without losing its values. And OMG I WANT GAP SWEATERS. If you knew me in real life, you would know that I have a terrible addiction to sweaters. In fact, if the Betty Ford Center offered a program for sweater addiction, I'd check myself in and room with Lindsay Lohan so we can both work on ourselves. I own many Gap sweaters including a fantastic gray striped cowl-necked cardigan from last year that is so unbelievably soft and comfortable. I could live in it but I don't want to neglect my 10,000 other sweaters.

Buy Two, Get One Free

As someone who feels the need to change scents every season (if cologne was cheaper, I'd change it every month), I am a regular at the 34th Street Perfumania. I love their back catalog of fragrances, including those not commonly found in stores. Laugh if you will, but it's incredibly difficult to find Paris Hilton for Men anywhere today! Perfumania is also the only store where you can find all of Britney Spears' perfumes including the special edition ones like Curious in Control and Curious Heart.

As you can tell, I'm probably not going to be staking out for high-priced ticket items like televisions but I am tempted by Kmart's promise of a trampoline that lights up for $225. Do you think my landlord would mind?

Intern Craig Conquers Lanvin for H&M

I did it. I stayed up all night all for the love of Alber Elbaz. I started my evening by comparing both of our H&M stores, Herald Square and Penn Station. The Herald Square line was shorter but the people at Penn Station were so much more fun.

At 3 a.m, I decided to hop on line which was already 30 people long at that point. I quickly made friends with my partners in crime around me as we decided what we were getting. Some wise soul printed out every piece so we could make absolutely sure what to make a bee line for once inside.

The line started to pick up around 4:30 and went all the way around 7th. The next three hours were the worst as the anticipation started to build up. It was at this point that I started asking all our Twitter followers about wearing a bow tie. Clearly the fatigue had gotten to me because you couldn't pay me to wear a bow tie on a good day.

Luckily around 7, we were treated with coffee and croissants. I declined the coffee because it would just get in the way of my main focus, the leopard print tee.

We all got cute tote bags with our wristbands. Enjoy this picture of the fabulous LaDivaSosa, number 1 in line with her tote!

I headed down to the women's section first to investigate the scene but I couldn't get any pictures because I was so overwhelmed. By the time I got to men's, it had been decimated. I was lucky enough to grab the tee and bolt before collapsing into a Lanvin coma for the better part of a day.

If you didn't have a chance to stop by the stores today, keep your eyes peeled around the city. Many shoppers are going to be returning the pieces they don't want, which means you'll have a second chance at Lanvin. Good luck!

H&M Herald Square, 34th & 6th Avenue
H&M 34th & 7th Avenue

Intern Craig's Picks: Where To Buy Fashion Magazines on 34th Street

Although I'd like to believe my wit and charm got me the internship with Fashion Herald, I think my close proximity to 34th Street is what sealed the deal. Since I moved to the city, I've lived in the district and have grown to appreciate it. While I do have to brave a sea of tourists every day, the benefits of living here definitely outweigh the negatives. Where else can I have two multi-level H&M's within walking distance?

Today, we visit my favorite magazine shop ever, Universal News. I accidentally found Universal News while roaming the district for lunch and my life has never been the same. Universal News is a chain of magazine/news shops located in strategic locations around the city. They carry almost every magazine known to man, which came in handy this past September issue season. At the 35th Street location, the staff indulged me every week when I came in demanding to know when the new W hit the stands. Everyone at this location is very helpful, but the greatest part about Universal News isn't even their magazines; it's their 90 cent large coffees that rival Starbucks. I say this with a bias because I don't care for Starbucks coffee, but Universal News' coffee is still fantastic.


Before I wrote this post, I visited my friends at Universal News to pick up the new issue of Pop Magazine with my hero, Ms. Britney Spears, on the cover. While it took a lot to spend $15 on a magazine, I will pay any amount to support her.

If you know of any 34th Street gems, don't hesitate to drop us a comment. We'd love to investigate. Especially if there's food or great coffee or anything Britney involved.




 Universal News
29 W. 35th between 5th & 6th Avenues

Intern Craig Justifies His Constant Use of Facebook.

They all laughed when I wasted countless hours on Facebook. Well, I'm having the last laugh now because Facebook has finally paid off.

With Facebook's new "Places" function, you can check into places much like Foursquare. Until now, it was just the creepy cherry-on-top-of-a-sundae of privacy invasion. However, Facebook just announced a plethora of business partners that will now start offering Places specials.

Lucky for us, most of them have 34th Street locations.

American Eagle Outfitters, 34th Street between 5th & 6th

20% off a purchase

Chipotle, 34th Street between 8th & 9th, & 34th between 5th & 6th

Two entrees for the price of one

Gap Herald Square, 34th Street at Broadway

First 10,000 people to check in will receive a pair of blue jeans

H&M: 34th Street & 6th Avenue at Herald Square, & 34th & 7th Avenue

20% off a purchase

Macy's, 34th Street between Broadway & 7th Avenue

20% off select merchandise


So, go ahead and let your friends know your exact coordinates. They'll be ever so jealous when you're wearing Lanvin <3 H&M at 20% off.

Craig's Picks: Halloween Adventure on 34th Street

Let's visit Halloween Adventure again as many of you may be scrambling for a costume this weekend. Yesterday, Intern Craig did a Halloween edition of his weekly Wednesday 34th Street Twitter picks, and today I'm being lazy posting them for those of you who missed his tweets. Comments above the pictures are printed straight from Craig's tweets. Craig started with Michael Jackson, the old Halloween standby.

"A very illustrious MJ section. If you're trendy, keep the military jacket for the wardrobe."

"I've never seen plus size costumes before but props to costume makers for including everyone! There's also men's."

"My toddler self was very confused by this. An Elmo dress?"

"Of course, a Gaga section. Poker face suit, VMA performance look, and flag bikini from Telephone. Take your pick."

"SUPER MARIO SECTION. MY INNER GAMING NERD IS CRYING TEARS OF JOY."

 

And, last, "Fun fact about intern Craig: I'm secretly obsessed with superheroes." 

 
 I don't really believe Intern Craig has an inner gaming nerd, but if that's true, he needs to visit The Compleat Strategist on 33rd Street between Madison and Fifth. And I have never seen a grown woman dressed as Elmo. I must advise against this as one then runs the risk of being mobbed by toddlers.

Halloween Adventure, temporary pop-up store

35 W. 34th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues

Craig Says: Shop For a Cause!

The only feeling greater than shopping is the feeling you get when donating to a great cause. What happens when you combine these? Macy's Fifth Annual Shop for a Cause Day!

On Saturday, October 16th, shoppers will be given the opportunity to donate $5 in return for a shopping pass that gives them 20% off all regular priced items, 10% off all sale items, and 25% off one regular item of choice.Be sure to stop by the store where Macy's will be giving away a $500 shopping spree to someone. How great is that?

The best part of this event is that every cent from the proceeds of the shopping passes goes straight to charity. If you buy your pass in stores, the money will be donated to Feeding America and The Family Violence Prevention Fund. If you buy the pass online, the proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

This is the perfect opportunity to grab any last minute fall trend pieces your closet is lacking! See you on Saturday!


Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th Street btwn Broadway & 7th Avenue

Intern Craig's Fall Beauty Update: Cleansing and Exfoliating

My favorite time of year is upon us. The weather is slowly changing and I've already taken my sweaters out of storage. The only thing left to do is update our beauty regime.

Travel size starts at $10. Try it out!

Before we get to any make-up, we must make sure our skin is getting the proper attention. As the cold air moves in, our skin's moisture moves out. Use a cream-based cleanser to start the process, like Philosophy's Purity Made Simple. Purity is made with carrot and chamomile which are great for the skin. Carrot rejuvenates while chamomile soothes.

$18 at Sephora or the Clinique Counter at Macy's

If you tend to have oily skin, don't use a harsh gel cleanser as even oily skin needs some moisture. Use a more gentle foaming cleanser to treat the skin like Clinique's Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam. Clinique is a fantastic brand if you're having specific skin issues. I've used it for acne in the past and my mother uses it for Rosacea. This foaming cleanser will treat your acne without completely drying your skin.

$34 but totally worth it.

Are you exfoliating? If not, please start now. Dead skin accumulates and creates that dry, itchy feeling. My favorite exfoliator is the new Boscia Luminizing Black Mask. There is no greater feeling than peeling off my sins at the end of a long day. Beware as this mask may be a little abrasive for some. Before using on the face, apply a little bit of the mask to the back of your hand to see how your skin reacts. 









Stay tuned for our next beauty post when we'll discuss moisturizers in all their moisturizing glory. Stay beautiful!

Sephora 34th Street, 130 W. 34th St btwn Broadway & 7th
and
Sephora JCPenney Manhattan Mall, lower level 1, 33rd & 6th

Fashion Week Wrap-Up: General Idea, Argentina, and LAMB

I had no idea what General Idea was before this Fashion Week, but I attended the show in an attempt to further my horizons. I'm so glad I did. General Idea is at the crossroads of prep and street-style. I died for these sleeveless trench coats (right). I like a menswear designer that takes risks and General Idea didn't disappoint. I could rave about all my favorite pieces but we'd be here for hours. Take it from me, General Idea is brilliance.

My last day at Fashion Week was a roller coaster of emotion. First, the Argentina Group Show blew my mind. As someone with Argentinean ancestry, I was really excited to see how Argentinean culture would come across on a runway. I was blown away.

The first designer, La Dolfina, is a polo lifestyle brand based in Buenos Aires. Horses scare me to death but I would brave a ride just to wear La Dolfina's riding pants. The whole collection was impeccably clean. While the other Argentinian designers brought great shows, it was La Dolfina that stuck with me. Just look at these cuts!

The aforementioned emotional roller coaster took a giant dip at the LAMB show. Getting into the show was a nightmare so I was in a sour mood once the show started. The clothes did nothing to salvage my feelings. While I give kudos to Gwen for keeping the brand relevant for so long, I think this collection was a complete bust with oddly cut clothes and ridiculous prints. Gwen has completely shed her Harajuku Girl days and was channeling some intense African vibes as seen in these prints. I appreciate her attempt to widen her range, but these left me nostalgic for vintage Gwen.



All photos via Getty Images