Levi's 34th Street Boutique: 501s and Neutrals

I could spend a lot of money on Levi's jeans at the boutique on 34th Street, but this past week I focused on the husband's birthday. I found him his favorite 501s in a dark wash on sale for $61, and got him a plaid shirt for 50% off the sale price. While there, I wasn't going to resist trying a few things on for myself, of course.

Jeans are skinny Levi's found back by the 501s, and the tops are by Marine Layer (left) and Alternative Apparel (right). I'll admit I could live out the rest of my life in a great neutral top with a pair of dark wash Levi's, as long as I had a rotating closet of crazy black boots and some serious silver jewelry. Note that Levi's carries brands that don't just look good with their jeans, but also focus on quality fabric and comfort. DUH, it is Levi's! 

Levi's

45 West 34th Street

How to Be Slouchy & Skinny

I went into Banana Republic on 34th Street yesterday to stalk these jeans featured in a Banana email:

I hated them at first, then kept returning to the email to look again, and then couldn't forget them, much like an annoying guy you love to hate. Why? They are the slouchy skinny jeans: relaxed fit on top and skinny on bottom. I decided I had to see what it's like to be skinny and slouchy at once. I can now attest that it is good and really comfortable. They're in store now and on sale for $69.99:

Shirt, left, is the fitted non-iron style on sale for $41.99. Shirt on right is on sale for $51.99.


















But I have to admit, I'm still a little bigger than my pre-Baby Herald weight, so I like the slouchiness on top. I could even fit into a size 28 (before I was a 28/29), but then they weren't slouchy at all, so I guess that was counterproductive to the whole slouchy/skinny thing. Still, I'd recommend trying a size smaller, as the 30 was definitely too baggy in the rear for my liking. The length was just the way I like it: long. I'm not 100% on the light blue, but it's cute for summer.

To compare sizing, I tried this boyfriend cut, which is described as a "relaxed, slouchy fit," and the 29 fit perfectly snug:

So if you want a little more room on top, go with the skinny slouch, not the boyfriend slouch. As for the above, normally I'm against pre-made holes, but these jeans kind of won me over. This is also amazing as I love my jeans long and these are cropped short. More proof that Banana Republic consistently produces a great pair of jeans.

Visit Banana Republic today on 34th Street and take advantage of the last day of 25% off full-priced merchandise. That goes for the boyfriend cut jeans, which are full-price at $89.50.

Banana Republic, 17 W. 34th Street between 5th & 6th

The Lady Hi Tops

Remember the Nike Outbreak hi tops from Lady Foot Locker? Well, they are part of the Zodiac collection and were inspired by the twins, Gemini, and I'm a crazy Gemini and it's my birthday so I'm wearing them today. And I LOVE them. So far my croissant/bagel guy, my office-mate, two other co-workers and some of the guys who work in Bryant Park have complimented them.

And this is not the first time I've worn them. The first time I didn't wear socks with them as I was late for work and possessed only dirty laundry. I'd rather go sockless than wear dirty socks. I was also standing on my feet all day and didn't develop a single blister. Impressive. The Outbreaks ($69.99) are in-store at Lady Foot Locker on 34th Street.

Here a photo I made Husband take just before I made him drive me to the subway station (birthday week demands):

Sorry about the blurry picture but I like it because I am making the exact same face my nephew & almost everyone else in my family makes when taking pictures. That's genes for you.

But aren't the shoes great? The bright colors cheer me up and I literally bounce down steps in them. This is not normal behavior for me, it is the shoes, I swear. And I don't even dislike the huge Nike logo on the side and I'm pretty anti-logo. Speaking of anti-logos, these also come in pink and green, prepsters!

By the way, the tunic/dress is from Daffy's (last year), the belt from Forever 21 (last year), the jeans are pdc from Strawberry (this year) and the gold aviators are from Forever 21 ($5.90, yesterday, love them and they don't dig into your head). This is my favorite "I'm sleeping in because it's my birthday but I've got to get my ass to work sometime so just throw this on" top/dress.

Lady Foot Locker, 120 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th
Daffy's Herald Square, 1311 Broadway @ 34th
Forever 21, 50 W. 34th between 5th 7 6th
Strawberry, 14 W. 34th between 5th & 6th

Weekday Pics for Saturday

This bathing suit caught my eye in the window of Macy's Herald Square after my Jane Seymour excursion. It's Jantzen and sexy. I love the red and the retro style. And although I'm a big fan of a tan belly, it's important to have a good one-piece. Sorry, no prices as I was too lazy to actually walk into the store. But Macy's bathing suit floor is a life-saver. I'll visit next week.

Some more Zara: Here's a perfect high-waisted khaki skirt ($79) in an office-ready, but not dowdy, length. The v-neck tank is $15, and if it can give me cleavage you know it's good;

And some white blouses, pretty and all see-through. Left, $59, right $89. I know it's all about sheer this spring, but I'm going to resent fumbling for underpinnings pre-8am;

A flower print jacket ($149) that I think I like, although it's kind of garden party-ish, but maybe that's why I like it?

While we're on flowers ($79), sorry, bad pic but it's a skirt,

hits me just at the knees, and is much prettier than this;

Zara jeans, $79. I haven't bought their jeans yet as I always want them to be less $$. But these are very soft and have a swingy, wide-leg bottom. I didn't buy them as I went a little crazy with paper denim cloth at Strawberry last week.

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

Zara, 34th just east of 6th

Trust: The Banana's Going Green

Support the green efforts of the Banana and buy a cute tank. I visited 34th Street's Banana Republic today looking for ec0-friendly clothing; WWD wrote of a 50-piece collection to be released on April 8. For now, it's more like a 2-piece collection. There are organic cotton tank tops for women ($18) and shirts for men. The tanks are soft and I love the cut. Nothing like classing up the wife-beater with a rounded V-neck. The black is a medium (fit snugly) and the striped a large (long).

The other 48 pieces? No worries, as it seems more will be arriving by summer 08. And good news is this will be a continuing concept, not just a flash in the eco-friendly pan. So as it gets warmer look for the green elephant logo (above) to buy organic. It makes me so happy to see the Banana get back to its safari roots.

Be sure to shop 34th Street's Banana Republic from April 22 - April 27, as they'll donate 1% of all in-store sales to Trust for Public Lands. And here's more incentive:

• the new, upscale Monogram collection for men and women at the 34th Street store;
  
• a huge petites section for women on the second floor;
• women's jeans: there's always a cute pair on sale (right, $64.99) and the fit is always great.
  

Banana Republic, 17 W. 34th between 5th & 6th