Fashion Herald Hits the Gym!

Here's video #2, our foray into the world of New York Sports Club on 34th Street. To light a fire under Xmastime's non-dieting ass, we visited 34th Street's Foot Locker for some clothes and then hit the gym. Because rumor has it (and I think you can find photographic evidence on this blog) that Xmastime has gained weight since we started blogging about his New Year's resolution to trim some poundage. Observe:



Reminder to self: don't stand over subway grates when filming videos.

Many thanks to our great media partner, 3KnightsMedia, Melissa at Foot Locker and Lisa at New York Sports Club.

Thanks also to The Royal Wylds (who will be properly credited next time, promise!) for our theme song, their version of Stayin' Alive written by the Bee Gees.

New York Sports Club, 34th & 6th and 34th & Park
Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th
Foot Locker and Lady Foot Locker, 120 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th
Steve & Barry's, Manhattan Mall level 2, 33rd & 6th Avenue
Smoothie stand, 33rd & 8th Avenue

Cheapo, Even For Pleather

I dropped by the Steve & Barry's in Manhattan Mall yesterday to see if it was still open and selling everything for $8.98. Yes, and yes. There is even some fall merchandise I hadn't seen before, like this Bitten pleather jacket:

Note I again was put in the big handicapped dressing room. Hmm.




















The photos don't really do it justice as I was working with borrowed equipment. But I tested it on my co-workers later back at the office. They said "cute" "it looks vintage" "that cost how much?" and "get me one tomorrow!" It also got a pass from Jeffrey (office's toughest critic), but with a disclaimer "Cheap fabric on cheap fabric means lots of pills." True, unfortunately, the sweater part on the arms will hit the sweater part on the body, and pilling will ensue. And I don't really like it zipped up as the neck strangles me, but I prefer it open anyway. Buy this a little small. Of course, as it's Steve & Barry's, there are lots of XL's, but luckily there were several XS's also.

Any buying hesitation you may experience it mitigated by the $8.98 price. Another plus is how the sleeves are all wrinkled. It is now sitting in my closet in a little ball, as I'm hoping to get that wrinkled effect all over.

Steve & Barry's, Manhattan Mall, level 2, 6th & 33rd

Gerry Cosby & Co. On The Move

Now back to 34th Street. One of our favorite stores in the 34th Street district, Gerry Cosby & Co. Sporting Goods, is on the move. No, Cosby's is not fashion. Instead it's all about the major league sporting apparel and other sporting goods. But Cosby's is worth a visit because every girl needs her team's jersey in her wardrobe (comes in handy for impromptu costume parties and looking irresistible at sporting events when worn w/tights and some death defying shoes). And Cosby's is also worth visiting as it's one of those small stores becoming all too rare in New York City these days: family owned and operated in Manhattan since 1938.

Michael Cosby is Gerry's son, and is still hands on with store operations. This week is Michael's last in Madison Square Garden, home to Gerry Cosby & Co. since the old Garden days in the 1950's. But Michael has found his store a great new home, right across the street from The Garden at 11 Penn Plaza. The entrance will be on 31st between 6th & 7th. Luckily, Michael Cosby is taking all of the fixtures with him to the new store, so it'll have the same old-school feel. He's expecting the new store to open mid-fall.

Here's the store in the Garden. Drop by this week if you're in the area, they're having a sale!

Enter on 7th Avenue side of MSG; they'll probably be out by Friday.

Umm, Michael? We need to talk. I'm not ready for Favre hanging in the window, please! Still in major Chad Pennington mourning.

Cosby's was a featured store in our first video.

Gerry Cosby & Co. Sporting Goods, Madison Square Garden, 3 Penn Plaza, but just for just a few more days. To order sporting goods (ice skates, ladies!) before the new store opens, call 877-563-6464. Cosby's local numbers will not change (212-563-6464), and the website, cosbysports.com, is currently under construction but you can check out the "protective equipment" and "athletic bags. They've even got garment bags! You know which one I want:

Chaos is Back

Although this post is about Bergdorf Goodman, which is unfortunately on 5th Avenue and not 34th Street, it'd just be wrong to not share this fragrance news for fellow adorers: Chaos is back. The following is from Wikipedia, but I first read about it Page 6 magazine:

In August of 2008, Donna Karan relaunched her discontinued fragrance line from the 1990s. These include DK Fuel for Men, Signature, Chaos, and Black Cashmere. They are available exclusively in the United States at Bergdorf Goodman New York and in England at Harrods Knightsbridge.

Why the excitement? I can talk about the spices, woodsy notes and ambery. And I can tell you it became my signature fragrance, no one else wore it and men always complimented me on it. But the real reason why I've been desperate for Chaos years after it was discontinued? What my husband said when I discovered a stray sample and wore it to dinner one night: "That smell reminds me of when we first met."

Holy shit. My man should be a PR king. Of course, I've been scouring the internet ever since to get the fragrance that reminds him of the early days when I was sweet, adoring and aiming to please. But those kind of memories cost a lot on eBay.

Lucky for me, the new smells exactly like the old. My only disappointment? The new bottle. I hate it. The old bottle was a dead ringer for the Superman crystals, yes?

Superman crystals, really, from the superman museum in Illinois!
Old Chaos bottle, or Superman Krypton crystal? Hmmm.












The new bottle, yuk. But this stuff could come in an Old Milwaukee beer can and I'd still spray it all over.

Fit Flop Winners!

OD'd on pink? Here, to atone for all that teenage pinkness, I'll announce the winners of the FitFlop giveaway. My co-worker Kati once again drew names for me, and here are the results:

The fabulous enc of ObservationMode! Yay!

Who's the most entertaining preppy blogger? The Preppy Princess!

And lastly, very new blogger Katt of Love Want. She may have only two posts so far, but one is all about a chicken purse so she's won me over.

Nice draws, Kati! Winners, please email me (see "Call Me" on left) with your address and foot size, and I'll get the FitFlops to you by the end of the week. Visit the FitFlop site here to see sizing FAQs.

Many thanks to Lady Foot Locker on 34th Street between Broadway and 7th for donating the FitFlops. The store on 34th Street is newly renovated, so you all should stop by for a look-see. 34th Street has Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, and the old standby, Foot Locker. Good for all your tennis shoe needs.

And, because I'm just back from vacation, and in my heart I'm still in Iowa playing euchre and dancing contra dances, here's the final word on the sister wedding outfit showdown:

#1 Fan:

Moms is working the modern look well. She was also the first one with wine in her hand. I bow to the master.

"R:"

Nebraska clown, storyteller, former lounge singer, and always the last one on the dance floor. And yes, her dancing boots are to die for.

"E:"

The Dark Horse! While obsessing about R and how much turqoise jewelry she'd wear, we all forgot about E! The oldest sister at 82, E is wearing a fabulous vintage maxi dress she had made in 1968. Bravo, E!

Proof that style never gets old, it just gets better.

Kira Plastinina Week, Day 6

Final Day! Don't be sad, it features some real gems, including this strapless bustle skirt/dress thing ($58):













Which reminds me once again why I ran track and didn't try out for cheerleading. I bet Kira looks mucho mas cute in this dress than Ancient Blogger Lady. But I appeased myself with the best fitting, lace-trimmed tank top ($20) I've ever tried on. It's the best fitting because it gives me cleavage, a near impossible feat:

ouch, everything in this picture is a little too small!












And here's a pseudo-flashdance shirt. It's virtually impossible for me to pass up anything that looks remotely like Jennifer Beals in Flashdance.












And the coup de grace, the Pinky Tuscadero jacket ($50). I may buy it just to be Pinky Tuscadero for Halloween this year. Or to start my own gang of Pinkettes. Because everyone knows Pinky Tuscadero was the baddest, hot-rod driving girl on prime-time TV. Except for her little sister, Leather, of course.













Kira Plastinina, 22 W. 34th between 5th & 6th

Kira Plastinina Week, Day 5

While I'm on vacation this week and away from internet access, I've pre-posted Kira Plastinina Week. So I won't be visiting all my favorite blogs but look forward to catching up next week, when I'll also post the Fit Flop winners.

For Friday, major miscellaneous Plastinina:



























Again, the fit was close for me on most of the pants but I'm just too big. Except for the jodhpurs ($58) and I was tempted to buy them, but I'm waiting to see what other jodhpurs 34th Street has to offer. Which means I'll probably end up missing out on jodhpurs this season. Other favorites are the light grey and pink cowl neck with the abnormally long sleeves, and the cropped 80's turleneck sweater ($38), which I think would be great layered over a dress.

Kira Plastinina, 22 W. 34th between 5th & 6th