Dr. Quinn on 34th Street

Before Gossip Girl, before The Game (weird Channel 11 addiction) and waaay before The Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (I don't have cable), my guilty pleasure was Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Mom and I were addicted for 3 reasons: we're born suckers for a period drama; Jane Seymour worked some serious Western gear; and Dr. Quinn (Seymour) had a hot mountain man boyfriend. Evidence of the latter two on the right.

So guess who's in town tomorrow at Kay Jeweler's on 34th Street to promote her Open Hearts by Jane Seymour collection? Yes, Jane Seymour! Perfect timing for another Mother's Day gift idea:

Odds are mom is a BIG Dr. Quinn fan. How surprised will she be when you gift her with diamond jewelry from the Dancing With the Stars Medicine Woman herself? Jane's Open Hearts line has more than 40 pieces, including earrings, bracelets and rings from $40 - $1,500. Go to Kay's on 34th Street tomorrow between 12:30 - 1:30pm, shop, see Jane, and maybe get a picture with the luminous Ms. Seymour. Mom will love it! Now if only that mountain man was coming...

Miscellaneous Seymour

• I love this headshot (far right), it's so model/Jane Birkin-ish.
  
• And here she is as Bond girl Solitaire in Live and Let Die. Ok, girl crush!
• Jane Seymour is a stage name & also King Henry VIII's third wife. So much better than Anne Boleyn.
  
• Random Wikipedia info: Radiohead recorded OK Computer in her house in England. Jane is uber hip.

Kay Jewelers, 136 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th

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

It's a Small threeASFOUR

Just got back from Gap on 34th where I saw a Small & XS threeASFOUR Design Editions dress. Quite shocked; overstock from elsewhere? Returns? So now there is just a small as I bought the XS for a friend. 34th Street also has lots of Phillip Lim, some Michael Bastian, 2 threeASFOUR sleeveless tops (larges), and the sold-out-online Pierre Hardy dark brown wooden platforms* (9's) and silver gladiator flats (one 8 + 2 mannequins). I have no idea if these are in other stores.

If you stop by, grab a GapBody black t-shirt on sale for $7.99. It's crazy soft and perfect for the gym, lounging at home, torturing sleeping cats, etc.

Gap True Confessions: I'm now sadly a European Collection snob. Not that I've bought a lot, or think every piece is fabulous, but when I see the "European Fit" label I snatch it up with excitement and haul it off to the dressing room. Call it European and I'm done for.

*Gap True Confessions #2: I am a clomping amazon in my Pierre platforms and love it. They are not difficult to maneuver and are not heel killers. Vive M. Hardy!

Gap, 60 W. 34th at 6th Avenue

Cause She's the Best Mom EVER

I always draw a blank for Mother's Day. Why? Mom is a devoted shopper. TJ Maxx is up there with Wegman's as a favorite, regular haunt. And although I turned her onto Marc Jacobs perfume years ago, you can only get her so many bottles of perfume. Besides, she now beats me to the punch and has taken to sending me the newest Marc scent. Amazing, right? Right! So how to reward years of thoughtful devotion and sweet smells? How about a little Lady Foot Locker? This way you're giving her something cute and something that keeps her motivated on her walks, her regular treadmill workouts, and her visits to the local gym (Mom's looking good). A few ideas:

If Mom didn't hate showing her upper arms (girls, it's inevitable), I'd grab her this tank (LFL, $12);

But she looks good in color so I like this jacket ($58) and pants ($45) with matching shoes ($105), all Nike;

I love these plaid shorts (LFL, $25) as they make me nostalgic for the plaid pants she wore in the 70's (Mom's always been hip);

Finally, always buy her one thing she'd never think of getting for herself, like this bag ($50). Yes, Mom, you can so work this adidas going to the gym, then Wegman's, and on to TJ's....

Lady Foot Locker, W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th

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

Strawberry Alert

Strawberry on 34th Street has some Paper Denim & Cloth jeans for $29.99. Everyone in my office is aghast: "But how?"* Most are skinny jeans and probably at least last season, but who's giving up on skinny jeans yet? There are: low, peg leg blacks (right) in 28, 29 and 32; low, straight blues (far right) in 28 and 31; and a darker blue in 27, 28 and I think 30. Need I say that these are LONG, soft, and fit like a glove?

*Is this rumor that Paper Denim & Cloth has gone under true? That would help clear up the Strawberry mystery, although the Berry does occasionally surprise one with random designer offerings.

Strawberry, 14 W. 34th between 5th & 6th

Billa Who?

Me, in Billabong, and surprisingly OK with it. I've not visited since their opening on 34th Street because: a) I'm pretty sure I'm not their demographic; and b) the one time I tried to surf it was very entertaining for those watching but not so fun for me. However, my first Billabong shopping experience was quite pleasant. The staff is friendly without a hint of annoying aggression. And they don't bat an eye at "older than everyone in the store" types trying on their clothes.

Good finds at Billabong, below: skinny colored jeans ($54), easy summer dresses ($42), sexy windbreakers ($62), and short shorts ($44). Personally, the only place I'll wear short shorts is my favorite vacation destination: tacky beach towns where one finds salt-water taffy, Thrasher fries and boardwalk pizza. This is the fashion Bizarro World where inhabitants, indulging in all of the aforementioned delights, are immune to very white legs and less than perfect bodies.

Back to the Billabong gems:
I'm smitten. This is good city weekend wear. Except for the white pants with the cute, gathered elastic waistband. Keep those for running off the sand to get some fries.







Billabong, 34th & Broadway