So I finally got around to visiting the newishConverse store on Broadway and Spring Street to spend the gift card I received in my Lucky Magazine’s FABB conferencegift bag. Since retiring two pairs of chucks last summer (my beloved black and turquoise pair), I was overdue to replace them. I committed to low-top reds ($45) but wanted to visit their NYC Flagship store to spend the remaining balance on getting them customized.
My customized chucks!
It took three store visits before having the patience to go through with the process –that store is either always busy and/or severely understaffed. After finally coming to terms with there being no busy-free time to go, I sucked up the wait, got my shoes (I was a whole size smaller then I usually am), and headed over to the customize station. There was a table with several iPad’s that allow you to scroll through various fonts, patterns and images to decide what you want put on your shoes and where (price varies depending on which areas you want covered). I opted for the outsides of my shoes, and put a mustache and my name on one side, and had one of my favorite quotes put on the other, “What would you attempt to do it you knew you could not fail”. I filled out
Michelle Obama may have made Jason Wu a household name when she wore his gown to the inaugural ball, but Kate Middleton indirectly took down the Reiss website when she wore a $340 Reiss “Shola” dress in camel earlier today. The occasion? Her and Prince William we’re meeting with the Obama’s in England. Speaking of which, I’m not sure what’s going on with the First Lady’s outfit. I’ll have to investigate the front of it before passing judgment.
A few weeks ago, The Look, a new show on The Pulse Network, asked to interview me for a fashion and beauty segment. Hosted by the fabulous Maggie Rulli, The Look, is all about helping women be their most fabulous self by going behind the scenes and interviewing experts in health, beauty/skincare and the fashion industry.
The first of my two segments just aired! So here’s me talking spring fashion trends!
So what’s spring all about? 70’s, 70’s, 70’s. From the maxi dresses to high wasted pants the 70’s are what’s hot for right now. Platform shoes, cork and wood wedges. Well what am I still writing about, watch the segment! It’s all in there.
Laura & I playing with the jewelry at the Misha Nicole opening
Last night, while The Man Repeller was uptown styling the Bloomingdale’s 59th Street, Lexington Avenue windows and showcasing Tibi’s newest collection (I need to go check that out!), I was downtown for the launch of the Misha Nicole store and APL restaurant pre-opening bash.
Misha Nicole took over a large retail space on Bowery and houses a well curated assortment of unique fashion pieces and accessories. To celebrate the opening the store is hosting a series of events (visit their website to part-take), including art exhibitions, trunk shows and charitable initiatives. Last night, they featured the work of painter MD Tokon. I was somewhat distracted over the amazing assortment on the racks to give the art on the walls their proper attention –although their vibrant hues really lit up the room.
Inside Misha Nicole
I was all about the jewelry and these jackets! I know they don’t scream spring, but I’m in need of good basics.
I then headed over to APL, the new LES restaurant that hasn’t quite opened yet (bar opens tomorrow, full dinner menu begins on Tuesday), despite hosting a few teaser events.
Inside APL
I was curious to check this space out, after reading all that Camille Becerra drama and all this talk of suspended monkey bars. While that was kinda cool (although better left as a surprise, it wasn’t nearly as dramatic as I was imagining), I was all about the walls! They were all different colors and textured and lined with apples.
Monkey Bars!
The bar hosts a long vertical bar and space which then opens into the main dining room –which is where the skylight has the infamous hanging monkey-bars.
Cheers to you APL and the apple decor!
Not to get all Snooki on you, but I was all about the fried pickles.
APL 146 Orchard Street (Rivington Street); (212) 777-8600.
While the world’s been obsessing over Kate’s dress, I’ve been doing a bit of that myself over what to wear to the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) parties. That’s right, I’ll be live from DC! I’ve been in LA all week and I’m flying direct to DC today, so I had some advance planning to do when leaving NY.
I think the winning dress is this lovely Nicole Miller number…
I cover a lot of charities on this site since giving back is important to me and I’m constantly amazed by the amount of press releases I receive with brands showing their support by donating to various causes. So to show my support, I thought I would do a sum up of the recent ones I’ve received.
NYU Annual Premiere Benefit Fashion Show EXPO 2011 – Friday April 29th, 3PM (day show), 7:30PM (evening show). All of the proceeds from the show will benefit Hamilton-Madison House, a nonprofit community center that caters to low-income households in NYC.
If you can’t make the show, you can still get involved. EXPO 2011 has partnered with GoodSearch. Anyone online can download the GoodSearch toolbar, specify “New York University – NYU EXPO – Hamilton Madison House” as the chosen charity, and each time that they use the toolbar to search the internet, Hamilton-Madison House benefits. For more information visit http://www.exponyu.com/
UNICEF Tap Project – Celebrities, including Selena Gomez, Adrian Grenier, Dwight Howard, Rihanna, Robin Williams and Taylor Swift have joined forces with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to engage consumers in a conversation about the lack of access to safe, clean water for nearly 900 million children and adults across the globe. The UNICEF Tap Project is a public service campaign that aims to draw attention to this serious issue and encourage the public to take action to reduce the numbers of children dying daily from waterborne illnesses, the second-highest cause of preventable childhood deaths in the world. Considering $1 provides clean water for a child for 40 days –imagine the difference you can make! Get involved at http://tapproject.org/
Solid Ground Initiative T-Shirt
Solid Ground Initiative – Design Lab NYC, the boutique philanthropic design agency, has partnered with 12 influential Japanese artists located in Japan and NY to create a t-shirt design collection that tells the human side of the recent disaster. All of the proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go to relief organizations working in Japan. Shirts are available in both childrens and unisex adult sizes. For more information visit http://www.solidgroundinitiative.com/
TEMPTU, the worldwide leader in airbrush makeup, announced earlier this month that they will donate $100 from every online sale of their AIRbrush Makeup System and TEMPTU PRO Compressors and Kits through March 31, 2011 to the American Red Cross for Japan relief efforts.
Civic Duty Shoes
Civic Duty Shoes– I recently discovered this awesome new sneaker line that donates 100% of the profits to a social cause benefiting those in the US. They’re made out of Tyvek, which is that same material used for FedEx envelopes, so awesome! Learn more at http://www.civicdutyshoes.com/
Jac Vanek & We The Kings "We Love Japan" Bracelet
Cutting edge clothing and accessories designer, Jac Vanek has teamed up with the band, We The Kings to create a “We Love Japan” bracelet ($10). 100% of all proceeds go towards relief efforts in Japan, Learn more HERE
Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry will auction off a collection of personalized items including items from her latest fragrance campaign, Reveal by Halle Berry in
Jessie J. performing at the Guess Flagship store opening
Jessie J. (you know her, she sings that “it’s not about the money, money, money” song) rocked the house of Guess on Thursday night. In an event hosted by Vanity Fair, Guess celebrated the launch of the store’s new 5th Avenue Flagship store in NYC.
Gilt Groupe has partnered with Gossip Girl stylist, Eric Daman to debut THE GOSSIP GIRL BOUTIQUE sale starting Monday, April 25th at 9PM EST on GILT.com. So whether you’re a Serena or a Blair (or a little bit of both), the sale will replicate some of the show’s best looks.
As many of you know thanks to your countless votes I was the proud winner of the Ferragamo “W List”. The prize was a bag from their Spring/Summer collection (drool).
Last month my mystery bag arrived and to my great disappointment, it was –errr–ahh–not my style (you remember the post I wrote). Unfortunately, when everyone you know and even more people you don’t voted for you, it poses the never-ending chain of emails and Facebook message of “did you get your bag yet?”
Winning a bag out of the support of so many is something I wanted to wear loud and proud, which is why I took a memorable stroll to the counter and exchanged it for what could be the new love of my life. After all of
Checking out the sunglasses at the By Robert James Grand Opening at John Allan's. A shoe shine in the background!
LES menswear designer, Robert James recently opened a pop-up shop of his By Robert James label in John Allan’s in NYC. Have you ever been to John Allan’s? It’s a total club house, complete with billiards, cafe, gallery space and more notably a hair and nail salon complete with shoe shine services.
Prior the the announcement of the two combining forces, I had never even heard of John Allan’s. Possibly because it’s tucked away on a quiet street in TriBeCa and ever since
