Save The Date: The Anti-Depression Session!

If you are in Brooklyn this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3) check out The Anti-Depression Session at the Brooklyn Lyceum ( 227 4th Ave. Park Slope). This craft market is promising handmade crafts $30 and under from over 60 NYC craftsters. Plus food, drinks, and music! Good for the wallet and your soul.

Since I've started on the subject of hipsters....(and yes, this will by my final hipster related post):


How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light bulb?

1. It is a really obscure number and you have probably never heard of it. (or, some obscure number you've never heard of.)

2. Who cares? The light bulb was better before it changed.

3. At least 5 to scrape enough change together to buy the light bulb in the first place.

4. However many Pitchfork says it takes to change a light bulb

5. Who cares? it'll just be another tired rehashing of the way Lou Reed changes light bulbs.

6. Only 3 when they did it at the black cat, but this time through town it took 9 for some reason.

7. Nobody changes lightbulbs since they signed with that major label.

8. Two. One to change it in an ironic fashion and one to get it.

9. Who can tell through these fake hornrims and manicured scruff?

10. (sigh) I have this joke on vinyl.

11. (snotily) You mean you don't knooooow?


Which one is your favorite?

In the Spotlight: LATFH

Hipster bashing.....too much or not enough?


A friend just introduced me to a new website - LATFH. I feel slightly guilty laughing at the expense of others but I can't help it. The images and spot-on captions are hilarious!

Hunting For Handmade: Untamed Menagerie

Mother and daughter duo, Penny and Nikki, are the talents behind Untamed Menagerie. A whimsical and beautiful jewelry collection made from acrylic. While delicate, these pieces create a wonderful and amusing statement. I especially love "Marine Antoinette" pictured at the top. To purchase these affordable creations ($12-$25) visit their Etsy shop.

In The Spotlight: Bumpits

After watching many amusing infomercials about the hairstyling tool Bumpits, I have become obsessed. As cheesy as the ads are, I think this tool could really work at giving my straight hair a lot of volume. I have gone into every Walgreens, and Rickys to find this As Seen on TV product for the past 2 months, but I have come up empty handed. Now I have learned that it will in fact be available in Walgreens and Bed Bath & Beyond this July. And to top it all off, the word around the campfire is that Gossip Girl hairstylist, Jennifer Johnson, uses Bumpits to create the fabulous height behind Blair Waldorf's headbands! I'm so getting one!

Suits, Jackets, Trousers: Structure is Back

I've always preferred pants to skirts. I have a closet full of blazers, button-down shirts. The trend toward boyish looks (cut-offs, worn tees, vests) made me happy, but the recent explosion of suits, jackets, and trousers on runways, front rows and red carpets is thrilling. This is my kind of style. Glam up your structure with gorgeous heels and standout accessories. A well-tailored black suit will take you anywhere, but you can really have some fun with eye-popping colors (my fave is the royal blue and poppy red Gucci ensemble below, but you can easily try this style with affordable pieces from Gap, H&M or Uniqlo).




Gucci's creative director Frida Giannini says:

“I don’t care about the red carpet. At this moment it is much more interesting to have a rock star wear my clothes.”

This is why Gucci has, once again, successfully remade itself.

Adapted from New York Times "The Boyfriend Suit Makes a Comeback" (4/13/09). Photo of Gucci suit from nytimes.com.

Hunting For Handmade: One Hundred Years

Carli King, the designer of the Australian label One Hundred Years, is a girl after my own heart. The romantic pieces are often offset with raw edges and off balanced ruffles. Designs are either one of a kind or made in small runs so you know you are wearing something special. Have a look at more in her Etsy shop or read her blog.

Fashion Makes Me Happy: Cheap Sunglasses

My hand is twitching as I type this because I really really don't want to share this source, but that would be irresponsible and greedy of me (even as my mouse hovers over the delete button).

cheap sunglasses by fashionplaylist on Polyvore.com

I love accessories because you can change up your old outfits a gazillion ways. My weaknesses especially are belts, gloves and sunglasses. I believe I hit the sunglass motherlode at the online shop 80s purple. They have hundreds of styles and colors for $10. 10 freakin' dollars! From classic retro wayfarers to oversized glamazons to mustachioed 70's porn star styles, and even a bunch of clear glasses so you can unleash your inner sexy librarian (or Malcolm X). They also carry an array of high end brands like Cazal and your usual luxury labels like Dior & Gucci. If their stock dwindles because you are buying them out, I will come to your house and hurt you.

April 24-26, 2009Save the Date: Belabunda at Bendel's

I love Belabunda bikinis and once you try one, you'll become a convert too. You can check out their spring 2009 line of handmade swimwear and meet the designer at Henri Bendel from April 24-26.


Don't worry if you can't make it to the trunk show. Belabunda's entire line is available online at unsungdesigners.com as well as a handful of boutiques around the country (disclosure: I'm affiliated with Unsung).

Henri Bendel New York
712 Fifth Avenue
NY, NY

Fri/Sat: 10am-8pm
Sun: 12pm-7pm

Pug-O-Vision

Valentino is holding a "Most Fashionable Pug Contest" during the promotion of his movie Valentino: The Last Emperor (playing at Film Forum). Watch the pug trailer on Pug-O-Vision:


His five pugs are adorable--traveling by private jet, getting their teeth brushed, posing with models in photo shoots--so if you love pugs, Valentino and independent film, go see this and support Film Forum!

Refrigerator Bikini Inspiration, In Verse

Every year when spring, the little tart, teases me
with a warm kiss, through the dingy
snow and smog-stained windows offending
my view of the Chrysler Building, spying
the row of muddy boots lining the hallway by my door, into the woolens and greys filling my winter closet,

I subconsciously "find" a photo (subconscious because I am not looking for a refrigerator bikini inspiration but I always find one) to inspire me to get my bod ready, giving me roughly 2 months until Memorial Day, and plans for weekend getaways and afternoons at McCarren Pool inspire me
to store coats and air out silks,
green, yellow and blue,
even though it's 40 degrees outside and a groundhog was accurate in predicting 6 more weeks 'til Demeter gets her daughter back.

This photo of Gisele in her [2nd] wedding dress is my 2009 refrigerator bikini inspiration, chosen partly for its rate of difficulty=10 for looking svelte and smooth in champagne silk charmeuse (where the rate of difficulty looking good while naked=9).

photo from wwd.com

Just One Note About Michelle Obama's Style

Michelle Obama's fashion choices is not a bandwagon I want to jump on. Everyone is critical or enamored. She looks great in everything; she bucks some traditional ideas about what's 'proper' but she always looks classy and pulled together. Everyone wants to be a critic precisely because our new first lady is so naturally stylish. While stories about past first ladies' sartorial leanings fizzle after their first week in the White House, we can't stop talking about Michelle.

Amid the recent discussions on Obama's responsibility to wear more American designers during the recession (which is hitting the garment district hard), WWD photoshopped the first lady into a shimmering Ralph Lauren dress and cashmere coat ensemble. The effect is stunning and, if this is the likely outcome of going American, she should bring it home immediately.

To be fair, Michelle Obama has given plenty of publicity to small American fashion houses like Jason Wu, Thakoon, Isabel Toledo and Narciso Rodriguez. However, says WWD, it's "the big guns of American fashion" like Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein who are absent from the White House closet.

photo from WWD issue 4/3/09

In the Spotlight: Solange Azagury-Partirdge

In the midst of Topshop mania, I nearly missed the arrival of another British import, Solange Azagury-Partridge. Entirely self-taught, Solange creates bold, eclectic, and innovative jewelry and works of art. The boutique looks equally impressive, decked out with some of her pieces from her recent solo exhibit, "Unwearable Jewels". I can't wait to check out the store!

Solange Azagury-Partridge

809 Madison Ave

(212) 879-9100

Hunting For Handmade: Cookoorikoo

Named after the sound a Russian rooster makes, Cookooriko makes adorable and affordable jewelry out of silks and kimono fabrics. Rolled into "yo-yo" shapes these items are truly unique. Visit the Cookoorikoo shop on Etsy to purchase.