A Little 34th Street Retail History

Lately I've been fielding 34th Street retail questions from the press like "What used to be in the new Timberland space?" and "Who was there before Uniqlo?" Sadly, I found myself digging around in my archives because I was coming up blank. This is either a reflection of my compromised brain or a testament to the speed in which the city's landscape is changing. I prefer the latter. Anyway, while frantically struggling with "Who the hell was in the new Levi's space just one year ago?" (Foot Locker, duh), I thought "Video!"

 

My favorite transformations are Victoria's Secret and Old Navy. Many thanks to my video intern, Adrian Nienaber, and Anne Kumer, our archivist, for putting this together. Saying we have a lot of 34th Street photos is a big understatement. If you're interested in district storefronts or building facade photos, we are here for you. Well, Anne is here for you, I'll just be passing your email along.

JCPenney Has It WRAPT Up

Dylan Lauren of Dylan's Candy Bar at the JCPenney WRAPT holiday preview.

Officially, my holiday shopping has begun. I know, I don't even have a Halloween costume yet but I blame it on JCPenney. Today in their Manhattan Mall store they opened WRAPT, a brilliant new in-store gift boutique. What makes WRAPT so special? Their awesome brand amalgamation: Dylan's Candy Bar, Glamour Magazine, MoMA Design Store, X-Treme Geek, The Smile Shop, and Maxim Magazine. Crazy smart, right? All the bases are covered. Well, maybe not all, but if you can't find something here to check off your list I might have to whack you on the head. My cat does this to me all the time. Speaking of animals...

I attended the WRAPT press preview yesterday, and we were given the choice of an item to take home. And thus began my WRAPT torture. How to choose? I really wanted the MoMA owl egg timer, but felt compelled to buy my daughter a toy. I compromised with something we would both love:

Smile Shop Friendship Bracelet kit! When I saw the letter cubes I had to have it. I think we'll make one for Dad, too. Speaking of guys...

 A super tough Maxim Fire Extinguisher Water Bottle. Oh, the tough guys I could give this to, it's a perfect  gift that says so much! While those of us in Manhattan can shop WRAPT now at JCPenney in Manhattan Mall, the rest of you non-Manhattan Mall JCPenney shoppers must wait till October 21st. Hey, it's still before Halloween! 

Dylan Lauren says "Use these boxes for storage after you've scarfed the candy!" That's not really a direct quote, but I did interview her and she does reuse these boxes. Interview coming!

WRAPT Gift Boutique in JCPenney Manhattan Mall 

Lower levels one & two, 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue

Stacy Lomman's Biohazard for Spring 2012

Photos courtesy of Stacy Lomman

I'm so impressed with Stacy Lomman and the evolution of her personal collection that launched a year ago. At the end of this past New York Fashion Week, I again had the honor of viewing her spring collection. Dubbed "Biohazard," (click to view video) the program notes introduced the clothing to come with a provocative quote: "It's a dangerous world...dress accordingly." This all felt right up my alley and Ms. Lomman did not disappoint.

While looking through my photos, I remembered another thing I loved about Stacy's show besides the theme, the fabric, and the sleek modern design: the rear view. So I put together some shots with front and rear views, because Stacy is one of those designers whose clothes look good from every angle.

My favorite shots. Left, a classic "glancing at the floor" runway pose, and right, why this is probably my favorite dress. See the neon color and the netting overlay?! Dying.

Whoops, no rear shot on this one! But I so adored all the pops of neon color in this collection I had to share. Love this dress; it maybe a tie with the black above.

Red vinyl jumpsuit, oh yeah.

High, low, and asymmetrical. It's got it all.

You haven't lived till you've seen the Biohazard wedding dress up close and personal.

Finale shots! These only have one view. Be sure to follow Stacy's blog, Taffeta Darlings, for news about future collections and how/where to buy.

Mango Open on 34th Street

Last week Mango opened on 34th Street, and on my first visit I tried on four dresses and a pair of light pink pointed-toed heels. I left wanting four dresses and a pair of light pink pointed-toed heels.

Yes, I'm looking right at you and thinking "Kate Middleton dress" ($79.90).

Probably not a Duchess of Cambridge dress ($79.90).

 The orange shift is $69.90. Look at the pretty neckline! And the chinoiserie print!

On the right I'm practicing my variation on the Wendy Brandes pose. The blue plaid is $119.90 and the pink shoes (in all photos) were around $100. Unfortunately, there's a 39 and maybe one other size left in the pink shoes.

General store feelings? My pre-opening Mango excitement was well warranted. After trying on clothes I tweeted in response to @MangoPie (no relation to Mango) that I was in dress and accessory heaven. But when I first walked into the store I was getting Ghost of Lane Bryant Past in the surrounding decor. Luckily I was immediately overcome by the surrounding dresses and their price tags and soon could only think MANGO. Also, the bag and shoe selection is pretty fantastic. So yes, a big hoo-rah to have Mango open on 34th Street. It's now top on my list for event shopping, next to Macy's Impulse, Zara, and H&M.

Mango 7 West 34th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues 

34th Street Weekend Sale Picks: Sweaters and Jeans

#1.  Gap 
Because sweaters are 40% off. And we all need a bumblebee sweater.  60 West 34th Street

#2.  American Eagle Outfitters
Because select jeans are $29.99, including these flares, below.  40 West 34th Street

#3.  Aerosoles
Because in addition to some leftover summer seriously reduced, there's a fall sale that includes some tempting lace-ups.  36 West 34th Street

Not the lace-ups obviously, but cute and on sale.

Daffy's 50th Anniversary on Icing

Those hems are buried in icing! Love it.

Last week was Daffy's 50th Anniversary party, and they celebrated in Greeley Square with a runway cake. No joke, the models walked on icing maybe five inches thick, and not a single one slipped and fell. It was still a great show, anyway. What? Please, you know everyone at fashion shows love a good fall! It's the whole long skinny arms and legs flailing thing.

The styling in this show was beautiful. I want this entire outfit.

Those boots are so cute I'd take them post-icing runway walking. Photo courtesy of Daffy's.

Seriously, though, I had a great time at the show. I've done some whack runway shows myself in the past (involving shopping mall food courts, really slobbery giant poodles, Wizard of Oz costumes, sparklers, bunnies, doggie accidents on the runway...the list goes on and on) but I never walked on icing. And I have to admit it, this show made me nostalgic. The Daffy's models worked it even towards the end of the show when the icing was a mess, like sidewalk curbs the day after it snows in New York City mess.

The icing aftermath.

I join many a devoted Daffy's fan when I say "Thank you for everything, Daffy's!" Greeley Square was packed, probably the highest attendance we've ever had for an event there, and that just speaks to the great love us New Yorkers have for Daffy's. Keep bringing us those fabulous shoes, leather vests, dog sweaters and long cashmere cardigans at your ridiculous low prices. Truly, Irving Shulman, the founder of Daffy Dan's Bargain Town, started a beautiful thing 50 years ago.

It was a crush of Daffy's fans in Greeley Square.

Daffy's Herald Square 34th Street and Broadway

Previewing Uniqlo at Bryant Park

This post first appeared today on the Bryant Park blog. I'm repurposing! And I'm anticipating Friday, October 21st, when we on 34th Street will have our very own Uniqlo. See? SwamiLeon has been hard at work. Bless you, SwamiLeon.


As we all eagerly anticipate the grand opening of not just one but two Uniqlos in Midtown (including a three-story space on 34th Street), the Japanese retailer has teased us with pop-ups all over town. Now Bryant Park has one of her own, a formidable space on the southwest corner of 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Yes, this is the same space Target well-utilized to kick-off their Liberty of London and Missoni collaborations. Uniqlo will be in residence here until the 8th of October. I highly recommend a visit to properly ring in the fall season with some packable down coats, vests, cashmere sweaters, and a perfect tapered jean.

Resisting Mickey and Minnie T's is impossible.

It's been years since I tried on Uniqlo in the Soho store, but it was everything I remembered it to be: great fitting, well-cut inexpensive clothing that focus on the basics. Somehow Uniqlo's basics are never boring.

Voila: A great basic to wear with skinny jeans or leggings. Mine above are the Uniqlo skinny fit tapered and they fit like a designer jean. These are $49.90. I'm trying to show off the boat-neck shoulder detail that makes this staple modern and chic. This tunic ($149.90 for 100% cashmere) also comes in a deep red color but only in XS because it's fabulous so all us Midtown shoppers have snatched up the Ss, Ms, Ls, and XLs. Want to see more? Peruse...more photos at the Bryant Park blog, where the jump break isn't broken as mine seems to be...but if I've already convinced you with my one adorable tunic go to 42nd and Sixth pronto before you miss out on other gorgeous colors in your size.

Uniqlo Pop-Up Boutique 1095 Sixth Avenue at 42nd Street

Tricia Lewis of Fashion Herald is our Bryant Park Shopper