Thursday the 12th

An interesting 34th Street day today. First up, found this while walking to the district, easily the most interesting outfit seen in days:




Bravo, girl! Colorful and a little kooky, don't you agree? Do you think she's meeting the girls for the Sex and the City movie later? Love the side ponytail. I was desperately trying to catch up with her, dying to know what was going on in the front, but she escaped into a building before I could get a shot.




Then, right after I shot the mint-skirted dress, the Forever 21 top I dissed yesterday walks right past me, looking totally adorable. I was so taken aback I cried out, on the Avenue of Americas to lunchtime midtown Manhattan, "it's cute on her!" Totally humbled, I realize the problem was me, not the top.

Next, on my way to the Max Mara sale, I get sidetracked by one of my favorite discount stores, Joey New York. Unable to resist $1 wife beaters, I also shop this:

A big pile of Havaianas sandals, all with little American flags! All $2! Weird, right?! There's also white and blue. I bought the yellow because all the blogging girls have been talking about yellow lately.





($2 Havaianas update: Unfortunately, when I got back to the office I checked with my Havaianas expert, Jeffrey, who immediately proclaimed "Not real!" What a shopping buzz kill. Oh, well, they were just $2 and they match my yellow-framed aviators from Forever 21.)

Speaking of cheap, someone should notify The New York Times that I have found the world's cheapest dress at the world's greatest store, Macy's. After checking out MaxMara (more on that tomorrow), I visit Macy's and am rewarded with this tag:



Dress sale price, one cent. I found this on a 50% off rack on the junior's floor, but this is more like 99.99% off. I'm assuming someone pulled a fast one and returned a worn dress? It looked perfectly fine, but had a nice, laundered smell about it. God bless Macy's for helping us out during this recession.








And just when you think it's gotten really weird, you see this:

A jacket by Paris Hilton, right next to the one cent dress. Which makes a lot of sense. But check out that lining. Does Paris know she's co-opted Patricia Field's silhouette logo (see logo necklace, above right) for her Macy's Barbie collection? Or vice-versa? And will there be a tussle? I doubt Pat would take the time to give Paris a beat-down, but then again, her new Payless shoes are called "Heiress." It would be some great PR if Pat wore her Heiress shoes while kicking some heiress butt.

Tomorrow, being Friday the 13th, will surely be more normal than today, Thursday the 12th.

Joey New York, 500 8th Ave between 35th & 36th
Macy's Herald Square, 151 34th btwn Broadway & 7th

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

Glam Up Your Grad

My tomboy girlfriend, Laura, who's also a star in our upcoming video, called yesterday in need of shopping assistance. She's in the midst of finals, has graduation this weekend, and is teasing her parents with "I'm going to walk in a T-shirt and jeans," but will surprise them with a dress. She also needs shoes, insists upon flats (diehard tomboy), they have to be red, and they have to be usable for work, too. Oh, and did I mention we only had 45 minutes to shop? Us girls ran to Macy's Herald Square.

She now wanted the adorable dress she had modeled in the video and didn't buy last week. But alas, the small was gone (BCBGeneration, 2nd floor, white pinstripes, strapless). Thus she learned her first, all-important fashion lesson: if you like it, buy it. Hesitation is not rewarded in the world of shopping. So we searched on, till the tomboy found what? A Barbie by Patricia Field dress ($138), girly military with gold Barbie buttons. The power of Barbie strikes again. Now if I can just get her to wear the matching necklace.

Next, we rushed to shoes. She didn't approve the flats in juniors on the 4th floor, although I liked a pair of Mia's. So up to the 5th floor, where I drooled over some platform gladiator sandals and the tomboy picked out a very cute pair of red Biviel flats ($145). Granted, that dress should have black flats (or platform gladiator sandals) but I've got till Sunday to convert her. And the Biviel's are a great choice for work as she'll be spending lots of time outdoors.

We went over our time limit by 5 minutes, thus teaching Laura vital shopping lesson #2: going late to school, work, etc. with Macy's bags in tow never looks good.

Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th

Grow Up, Barbie

Now that we're grown up and no longer play with Barbie (it's time to move on, girl) doesn't mean we can't pay homage to her influence on a young girl's sense of chic. Start with this T-shirt from Patricia Field's Barbie Luxe! line at Macy's:

Flashdance meets Barbie, I can see it on her now (with a ponytail of course). And here's the back: I love the Barbie silhouette logo. The T-shirt is $58. This or this light pink logo T is a perfect holiday gift for your closet Barbie fan.

For those who are out of the closet, here's some full-on Barbie. I can't help it, I'm drawn to the graffiti track jacket ($108); it appeals to every ghetto-fabulous molecule in my body. I want to wear it with this, the Barbie logo necklace, $28 and worth every fake bling-y cent. The long-sleeved T's are $58, and yes, the hot pink one says "I Want My Dream House." Thank you, Ms. Field, for expressing our true inner desires on your Barbie Luxe! T's.



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

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