New York City à la Mode » Shopping

Sunny Rainy Days

Ellen Christine — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:59:54 +0000

Madrid’s fair-haired child, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada , brings her happy palette and upbeat designs to her new space in Tribeca/Soho . This is her first New York store, and if ever there was a place to buy an umbrella, this is it. Barcelona, Milan and Paris are fond of her free-wheeling spirit, and now we can add a dress or two to our fashion vocabulary. She brings a sense of the Nicky de St. Phalle to her clothing collections, merging her sense of the haute in the art world, and her practicality for urban Moms.

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Her design technique combines crisp, clean lines and fast colors, and would seem to draw inspiration from the 1960’s. Those of us familiar with a “bracelet length sleeve” will fall in love with her Fall overcoats in her cheerful colors. Reminiscent of a “car coat” from the late ‘50’s, early ‘60’s, her coats are the perfect layering tool for busy us. Simple , classic coats shapes., and beyond: well-thought -out bags, and accessories (she’s got an incredible collection of alpargatas and canvas shoes). Throw in a touch of Keith Karing, a soupcon of Andy Warhol, and a splash of Mary Quant: can you taste the flavor? We used to call it “Pop-Art”, and other designers have forged this trail for her: Stephen Sprouse, to name one.

Prices are pocket-friendly, and this is a store where a Mom, teenager, or a baby can have an eyeful and come away happy. Not over-the-top fashion, but easy, casual, comfort clothing that stays away from the plaids of Fall.

Aristo background, artista in concept, Agatha brings to the commonplace an upbeat interpretation of Spanish Haute Couture. Look closely, and you’ll see a trace of Balenciaga in her fun-loving pieces. Use your imagination, close one eye, and see her pieces are artistic moments in your closet. Broaden your horizons from those signature polo shirts, and other yawningly familiar label sportswear, and put this store on your walking map. Enjoy the find, and the neighborhood. Not to mention your new umbrella.

P.S. the Hudson River Park is one block away, so you can stroll the promenade after , or before you shop!

466 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
http://www.agatharuizdelaprada.com/eng/shops

New Amsterdam Market

Ellen Christine — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:37:22 +0000

New thing for a Sunday treat: walking breakfast/brunch at the New Amsterdam Market, under the overpass at Peck’s slip. Just a few blocks away from the first ever market in New York (founded in 1642), this year-old Sundays’-only marketplace brings a European feel to old New York.

The vendors range from produce, organic, and specialty, to candy, with samples of everything everywhere. Try the bread, try the pies, have some cheese, taste the lobster. Go for a coffee, and take a breath. Local talent from local farms and small producers bring you an unusual and must-see/experience marketplace. With the broad expanse of the Brooklyn Bridge as the landmark vista, and the cobblestones of lower Manhattan underfoot, the Sunday walk -through -the -market may just become the new way to see New York City. With the kids, with the dog, with the bike. Bring bags, because you’ll want to take home one of everything. And this market is indeed trying to be a slow-food, organic, farmer-friendly kind of place.The selection changes on a weekly basis-who knew there were so many varieties of independants all within a reasonable distance from our doors? Should you crave pickles: got ‘em. Kimchi? Yep. Duck bacon: uh-huh. And the chutney girl is just next to the duck farm stand, so load up for those folks at home. What a better souvenir of NYC than a treat from our local produce, done up into a nice little package, for those foodies on your list. Nix the t-shirts, and grab a jar of jam. Strolling needs a plan, so let your eyes feast first, and double back for samples. Maybe a codfish pie? A cookie?

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Photographers are everywhere to shoot the miitake mushrooms (Hannah of the woods), or the herring. Maybe even you, with breakfast dripping down your chin. So photogenic. The week we were there, Do Re Me from New Hampton supplied us with honey, fruit, corn and friendly patter. They also gave us a bag of greens to sauté….never known of them before, something like a ramp. They provided the appetizer for dinner for my niece: sautéed in a drizzle of olive oil, they sweetened up ,so obviously from the onion family. That alone was another enriching experience. The Dutch Diva , Marja Samson, was dishing up tiny pancakes, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Perfect for a cup of decaf, brewed per cup just around the aisle at Blue Bottle Coffee.

The menu for dinner with my niece worked itself out as we walked through the market :

Atkin’s Gold, Italian style cheese, from Narragansett Creamery. This local (Providence, RI) cheese, drizzled with honey is sooo good with a rose, or a chilled white wine. The sautéed greens , of a mysterious name, were a our great first course. Grilled patapan summer squashes, tiny, beautiful, multi shades of gold and white. These were marinated with some herbs from our fire escape (oregano, basil, rosemary), olive oil. Delicious. Fennel with orange salad, with pea shoot sprouts and baby greens Sour cherry crumble, with wheat germ instead of flour. The Morello cherries from Flying Fox fruiterer Maggie Nesciur have a window of one day to be picked. Sprinkled with lemon juice and organic powdered sugar, they made the perfect dish. Get someone to help pit, and make it a party!

The New Amsterdam Market opens with the sound of a time-honored ringing of a bell. Very Old World, with an enthusiasm for the new purveyors, and avid fans of this market. Be there: 11-4, every Sunday. And don’t forget to bring home the bacon (Hudson Valley Duck Farms)!

Barneys Warehouse Sale, Feb. 17 – March 6

Ellen Christine — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 18:30:20 +0000

Get thee to Chelsea, if you’ve not experienced the greatest sale since Loehmann’s first opened in the 1940′s. Every year twice per year, the renowned store Barneys has its sale. Everyone knows about it, believe me. This is the last week, the time to go, to get even greater mark-downs, and fresh goods just brought in for the remainder of the sale.

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In a huge warehouse space that extends from 17th to 18th Street, the sale offers every designer floating around the racks of Barneys, from shoes and handbags to evening gowns. The mission: get it before the person beside you sees it. The object: fill a bag with every possibility and go to a corner where you can try everything on and pray you have enough space on your credit card to take it home. The shoes!!! Last year I scored a pair of knee-high gold Givenchy boots, just put out on the LAST DAY, for $245 (originally $1400). What a way to shop; it’s insane. But you can get a perfect little Spring thing to wear to the Kentucky Derby. Or to your best friend’s wedding. Or maybe even the Royal wedding… If you have your invitation already.

The trick: know the holes in your wardrobe, or you’ll come home with too many yellow cashmere sweaters, just because they were only $20 each. Think about what you wanted in this season’s favorites and go after that with an image in your head, or in your hand, as if it were The Holy Grail. It helps to know the season: which designer fits your proportions, and what color should you add to your vast collection of cocktail dresses. You might pick up a Prada jacket for the Opera. Or for your local Saturday night pub crawling with your buddies.

Photo: Melissa Hom

And send your beau downstairs: the menswear is formidable, with tailors at every rack to assist the poor boys in their hunt. We, the women of fortitude, suffer on with no help, but the men have a stronghold down there. If you want to go help pick out the perfect navy blue blazer with him, this is your chance . Ties, hats, gloves, scarves abound, so it’s the perfect time to shop for Father’s Day.

Right after your big score you can stumble out onto 18th Street, and fall just next door into El Cocotero’s for a sampling of the best sangria in town. And an arepa. If you must, have a salad, but do the calamare salad with its delightful dressing and crisp bits of calamare on top. It feels like you can still fit into that little dress you just got at the Barneys Sale, right?

P.S. Try to go on a weekday. The hordes really descend on the weekend, and on the LAST weekend, it’s a zoo!

http://www.barneys.com/Barneys-New-York-Warehouse-Sale/WAREHOUSE_SALE,default,pg.html

NYC Fashion Week Runway Looks: Hats of Fall 2011

Ellen Christine — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:44:17 +0000

Trend no longer, hats have hit their stride as a major necessity in our wardrobes. At Fashion Week, there was not the proclivity to slap anything on the model’s heads, but throughout a panoply of shows, stand-outs took the limelight. Hats have it in the accessory field, now and forever.

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The Fashion Week Fall 2011 filled Lincoln Center, and the rest of New York City with sidewalks full of attention seeking, and getting, outfits. It’s the time to bring out those studded boots you’ve not worn in public. Or the purple coat. Or those platforms that you can’t walk in. Ah, New York.

For the shopper, the stores are filled with current winter goods, and soon-to-be gone Spring. We had a minute and a half of Spring in the air this week, and now, once again, it’s fur season.

The good thing about Fashion Week is that it comes at a time when the seasons collide. Stores usually have the current weather appropriate looks, but have snuck in some of their not too distant future goods. Shopping, and energy, is at an all time high during Fashion Week, since the wannabees can bump into their idols in salons all over town. How many celebrities did you cite this week? If you stayed downtown, in Soho, you might have seen Fergie and Josh. Michael Kors show was teeming with well-knowns for his 30th anniversary collection. The tents were full, but so was The Metropolitan Pavilion, where Malan Breton had his Kyoto heaven show.

Cognac was seen all over town, video team in tow, interviewing designers as fast as she could point a microphone. There was a crew in the tents at Lincoln Center using the attendees as stars with “postcard” vignettes aimed at on-the-spot fashion reporting. Richard Renda, and his sidekick this year, Sandy Ramirez, kept the visual going and filmed every show at the tents and the Metropolitan Pavilion for fashion posterity.

If you’re a fashion-minded individual, Fashion Week is the time to come to the Apple. Cab drivers are actually happy all week because of the business. Since the tents moved to Lincoln Center, it’s easy access for them and the public as well. Didn’t see many pedi-cabs this year, though. Now, that’s a sweet ride. Grab a friend and cruise down Fifth Avenue in a pedi-cab. It’s a must. Like the buggy rides in Central Park. No visit to NYC is complete without the horses.

Find a wonderful corner to hash out your fashion finds of the week, and sort through all those goody bags. Do it over brunch at La Ripaille, on Hudson in The West Village, for civilized, French comfort food. Do it at Eatily, in the Flatiron district, over pasta. Do it over a great pizza, and a glass of sangria at Gustorganics, at 6th and 14th. Enjoy the afterglow of Fashion Week.

So there’s a recap of the hat looks on the runways this week. Be sure and keep an eye out in stores all over town for pieces that will update your closets, and keep you in style in the hat department.

Pratt’s Paper Dolls

Ellen Christine — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:44:37 +0000

Most of us learned how to make paper doilies at some point in our early childhood. Take a piece of paper: fold it in quarters, cut it this way and that, open it up, and like magic: a thing of beauty. At least to the eyes of a 6 year old. Take that same piece of paper, think on the Zen side of things, and fold, fold, fold. What little bird, or phantasmajorical animal emerges, comes from the art of origami. Paper pleases. Paper gives us tactile reality, and transforms children of all ages into artists-in-making.

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Take that same piece of paper, and an assignment from your teacher at Pratt and voila! You get extraordinary fashion filling the windows of Macy’s Herald Square in this winter of 2011. New York City, snowed, snowy, and white windows: what better?
The series of white paper gowns, ensembles, skirts, and accessories are able interpretations of garments usually seen turned out in silks and warmer surfaces than paper. But paper gives another dimension to the fashion. It allows pure line to emerge. In the Macy’s windows, the designers have used the paper dressed mannequins along side the fashion flashing ones, and create an active, rather than a passive, backdrop for the designs being showcased. Look at both together, and perception becomes a natural flow, taking the eye from design, into appreciation, and back to design. It’s art for the masses, taken from the galleries of museums into the street level point of view of the common man.

Christmas windows are a spectator sport in New York City, but after Christmas, we usually have nothing but white sales. With the white paper backdrops of fantasy fashion in Macy’s windows, we have something to see. It’s a concept. No, it’s a dress. No, it’s a hood. After all, Paco Rabanne made his collection from metal rings. Fabric is sometimes an afterthought. Sometimes it’s the inspiration.
Showing fashion as thought, and the development of that thought, opens up the industry to the public. Some of those people may see fashion and especially haute couture as something to be afraid of. Looking at fashion as process, not unlike planning a meal for your family, or plotting that football play in the locker room, allows everyone to see what the fuss is all about. The planning, the magic, and then, the reveal, is all.
The magic of store windows in New York City brings a dialogue between the public, consumers all at the end of the day, and designer. Sometimes that designer isn’t designing specifically for that public, but it’s all part of the big picture. And the big picture windows.