Seeing Purple

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Following is a post from her co-worker Katie, who is graciously filling in as guest blogger.

There’s no shortage of shine right now at Bebe on 34th Street. When you walk in, head to the right side of the store for a large selection of blouses and funky tops. I was immediately attracted to everything in the most vibrant shade of purple and grabbed two asymmetrical tops for the fitting room.

The flowing fabric on the first one gave me a Studio 54 vibe, $69.

The second had pretty flower details on the shoulder for $10 more at $79.

Another purple number near the back of the store caught my eye. In my opinion, this ruched dress is a little pricey at $149 considering the quality level at Bebe (I feel like it should line up with Express’ price points).

I used to be scared of ruching, until I found out that when it’s placed correctly it can be really flattering. Alternatively, the wrong fabric gathering in the wrong places can lead to something that ends up looking more like this:

On a side note, I just added “capturing a clear shot of your own back, in a mirror, dim lighting, and five inch heels” to my list of “things that are not easy to do”. Innocently handed to me by the friendly salesgirl to try on with the purple dress, these shoes almost took me down in the dressing room. Look at those heels! And the platform!

Bebe also has a lot of fun, “on-trend” accessories ranging from $20 to $30 on a table at the center of the store. Think big chunky rings, metallic and rhinestone cuffs, and lots of multiple strand chain necklaces in silver and gold. Look closely and you’ll find a few items at half price.

Bebe, 1 W. 34th St. between 5th & 6th Ave.

A Little Color on a Dreary Day

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Following is a post from her co-worker Lindsey who is kindly filling in as guest blogger.

Like most New York women, I have a seemingly endless supply of winter garments in shades of gray and black. But living in a monochromatic world day in and day out can get a little boring. I woke up this morning with the need for a little excitement and adornment in attire. What better way to liven up a dreary day in Manhattan than the richly jeweled hues at Express on 34th Street?

I thought I would start with a more conservative office look with a twist. You can add a bit of glamour to that black pencil skirt with a few top modifications that shine.

Shaker stitch flyaway cardigan, lurex sparkle, $49.50
Sequin tank (comes in a variety of colors), $29.50

Lux stretch sleeveless v-neck top leopard print, $34.50

If you want to go all out (above), you might pair this delightful little sleeveless with one of your black blazers for work and then put on a pair of jeans after work for happy hour. It can be worn a number of ways.

Now onto the fun stuff! This little cocktail dress put me in a great mood and fit like a glove! I even started to dance a little in the dressing room. If this wasn’t enough, the dress had two very welcomed pockets in front.

Add a little romance to the look with a faux fur pull-through scarf and, voila, you are ready to go!

Satin Tube dress (in a variety of colors and textured plaid for work), $79.50
Faux fur pull-thru scarf, $58

On my way back uptown I took a little detour to Meridian and found this similarly appealing empire-waist dress with a bit of color. $70.

Express, 7 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th; Manhattan Mall, 33rd & 6th Avenue
Meridian Ladies Clothing, 6th Ave between 35th & 36th

Maternity Wrap-Up, Part I: 34th Street Picks

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Below is a post she prepared before leave.

Here's a list of my must-hit spots on 34th Street for maternity:

1. H&M Mama. Located on the second floor of H&M on 34th & 6th at Herald Square, this was my go-to maternity pick-me-up. It doesn't look like much at first, but stick around and browse seriously. Nothing is going to make you happier than finding trendy, stylish maternity items like skinny jeans, long leggings (must-have), and yes, even harem pants (left)! I was so ecstatic to find maternity on-trend that I found myself dropping by the store weekly. My maternity addiction. $
2. JCPenney. Located on the two lower levels of Manhattan Mall, this department store's maternity section is tiny (look for it next to the plus size section), but is your resource for, yes, great maternity jeans at very easy-on-wallet prices ($40 right). The cut and comfort will be a pleasant surprise, especially if you've experienced some poorly designed and too-tight, belly-panel jeans. Also be sure to pick up their inexpensive and soft T-shirts. $
3. A Pea in the Pod Maternity in Macy's Herald Square. If you can afford it, go. And if you can't, go anyway to browse their quality underpinnings and maternity accessories: belly bands, books, belly pillows - you must get a wedge - and even Belly Bars. This in-store boutique has a big selection of designer maternity wear, with brands like Seven for All Mankind, Joe's Jeans, ABS by Allen Schwartz, Splendid, Velvet, and Hanky Panky thongs. If it' s too pricey, I'd at least look into getting your quality underpinnings here. You're going to need the good stuff underneath. $$$
4. GapMaternity. The 1969 maternity jeans are great, although I'd compare with JCPenney before spending $60+ at Gap. But for work dresses under $100, Gap can't be beat. You'll find plenty of office-appropriate styles. And I always spotted a good black dress on the sale rack that could usually work for an evening occasion. Be sure to also check the sales racks for t-shirts, pants, sweaters, and cute tunics (right). Gap consistently has maternity on sale, which is difficult to find elsewhere. $$
5. Old Navy Maternity. I didn't shop here as much as I thought I would, as the maternity section was always a bit of a let-down. But I don't fit Old Navy well due to my height. If you're not tall, go here for workout clothes (I bought my sweats at H&M, plenty long). I did get some tanks on sale (left), and would pick up a t-shirt on occasion. And the midwife who did our hospital tour recommended filling the hospital bag with Old Navy. As she wisely pointed out, giving birth is messy, and these are good throw-away clothes for the hospital. $

H&M Mama @ H&M Herald Square, 34th & 6th Avenue
JCPenney, Manhattan Mall, lower levels 1& 2, 33rd & 6th Avenue
A Pea in the Pod Maternity in Macy's Herald Square, 34th between Broadway & 7th
Gap Herald Square, 60 W. 34th Street @ 6th Avenue
Old Navy, 150 W. 34th Street between Broadway & 7th

Bare Escentuals Giveaway: Week Five

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Following is a post from her co-worker Catherine.

The wonderful people from your local 34th Street Bare Escentuals boutique are giving away a free bareMinerals Get Started Kit every week here on Fashion Herald! Check back every Friday for another chance to win.

To be entered, leave a comment and tell us where (store or website) you find the best deals on makeup. We need to alert the winner, so add some sort of contact info (email or Twitter) if it's not on your blog or Blogger profile.

Keep on commenting until noon on Monday, when Kati and I pick the winner from the official Fashion Herald name-drawing bowl. Check back Tuesday morning to see who won!

Bare Escentuals, 44 W. 34th Street between 5th & 6th

Trailblazing Fashion

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Following is a post from her co-worker Barbara who is kindly filling in as guest blogger.

Daffy’s is where this blogger buys almost everything she wears. Daffy's offered Fashion Herald several tickets for a viewing of Amelia at the majestic Ziegfeld, but movies aren’t exactly on Fashion Herald’s mind right now. I jumped at the opportunity to fill in! It is so rare to view a film in the grandeur of an old-fashioned movie palace with over 1,131 seats.

In lieu of previews, there was an interactive advertisement performance showing "The Fitting Dance."



As a Kansan, I didn’t care about the movie’s lackluster reviews; I wanted to see the story of Amelia Earhart! I vividly remember visiting her childhood home in Atchison, Kansas, which is spectacularly located on a bluff overlooking the wide Missouri. How could you not want to know more about a woman whose spirit of adventure compelled her to be the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean? Adventurous women have inspired styles for decades. (Remember that great aviator jacket Lindsey found in JCPenney?)

Another trailblazing Kansan woman who captured my imagination as a child (especially because she grew up in my home town of Chanute, Kansas) was the adventurer, aviator, and naturalist Osa Johnson. She and her husband Martin Johnson explored the then-unknown lands of East and Central Africa and South Pacific islands during the 1920s and 1930s, and through their popular travel books and safari documentary films, introduced Depression-era Americans to the beauty of East Africa. They were the inspiration for store chain Martin + Osa, and American Eagle Outfitters, which you can find right here on 34th Street.


Daffy's Herald Square, 34th St & Broadway
American Eagle, 40 W. 34th Street btwn 5th & 6th

Party Time!

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Following is a post from her co-worker Leah who is graciously filling in as guest blogger.

With the holiday season fast approaching and visions of cocktails and gingerbread men filling my head, there’s really only one thing I’m thinking… Party Dresses! Naturally, I headed to Macy’s in search of some glitz and glam to kick start my favorite season.

First up, a blue bandage dress by French Connection ($168). Normally I avoid anything tight, but this dress feels like a comfortable girdle (how is that possible?) that would allow me to indulge in some hors d’oeuvres and not feel like I immediately needed to run home and put on sweats.




Mmm sequins galore (below). I love love love the 80s vibe and neckline. A note on logistics though: While motor skills have never been my strong point, I found this dress especially hard to zip up. I would suggest bringing reinforcements when you try this one on. French Connection $398.











INC’s Grecian inspired one shoulder dress complete with sequined belt caught my eye right away. I usually don’t like bubble hems, but this one wasn’t overwhelming and gave the skirt some nice movement. Read: hours of fun on the dance floor. $89





This red and black Rachel Roy dress for $109 was a little boxy, and could have used a belt. I definitely enjoyed the shoulder detail however.

This multicolored dress with velvet details by BCBGeneration for $118 was both comfortable and practical (hello pockets) while also being fun enough to make an appearance after 6pm.










Last, a slightly whimsical piece by Walter ($298) was full of great detailing and made me feel like I could be one of the skating winter fairies from Disney’s Fantasia. Maybe I’ll have to give it a test run at The Pond at Bryant Park, opening Nov 6.









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

Fashion Herald Has a Baby Girl (and Rants at New Yorker)

Here I was thinking I was going to do a sweet, benign little baby announcement post. But then, while hooked up to my breast pump sucking the food source dry of whatever was left after my newborn dined almost exclusively from 7am - 12:19pm, I came across these sentences while reading a New Yorker article (Oct. 19th, 2009) about an artist who makes extremely expensive blobs of sculpture:

"Lotti MacLead, Urs [said artist] and Cassandra's baby, was born on July 25th. She was awake when I visited the Bond Street loft a couple of weeks later, calm and lovely in her cushioned carry-cot. One of the three cats paused occasionally to study her. Both parents radiated parenthood."

Upon reading this I went slightly agro and began talking loudly to myself, almost waking up my lovely baby girl who was not in the least bit calm all morning long (thus the marathon breast-feeding).

Dear Calvin Tomkins [writer of said New Yorker article]:

Curses to you! Curses to you for misleading New Yorker readers everywhere by portraying 2-week-old newborns as "calm and lovely" and new parents as "radiating parenthood." I would like a retraction printed in the next issue. Thank you.

Sincerely,

A New Parent Radiating Scary Smells As She Hasn't Bathed In Days

And finally, the benign cute stuff:

Hazel and her daddy, and Hazel in her bunny ear hat. Hard to resist the animal hats.

In these photos I'm trying to show you guys her enormous feet. We won't be starting a college fund, but instead a fund to help pay for the custom-made shoes this girl is going to need. We can't have her wearing sensible size 12's, right? Thanks to Mamalizza for the adorable changing pad and cover, it's Hazel's favorite place to hang.











Hazel Patricia Josephine Lewis, born October 17th, 2009, 9 pounds 1 oz. and 21 inches long. I love her in ways I never knew possible, and she can cry for 24 hours again next Sunday and I'll still love her and give thanks to the baby gods for her blessed existence. Just don't ever tell me I'm radiating parenthood, or Hazel and I are going to have to go kick some smelly reality into you. After a good cry, of course.