Back Again: Vintage Shopping In NYC

Picture of Edith Machinist from NyMag.com

Interesting article in the NyTimes today about prospecting for vintage finds in this city--no easy task if your experience has been anything like mine. I found their choices novel and interesting, but felt like maybe they missed out on a few top-notch choices as well. Like, what about Beacon's Closet, which can only be described as a vintage emporium. It may sound stereotypical to you New Yorkers, but c'mon....where else are you going to get such fabulousity at such prices? I've bought cashmere sweaters from TSE ($20.00) and button downs from Theory ($15.00) in addition to choice vintage picks. You can't find good quality stuff for less than that anywhere. Lets give credit where credit is due. Or how 'bout the Lower East Side? I can think of 3 great shops, right off the top of my head. For shoes I always reccommend Edith Machinist on Rivington btw Ludlow and Essex. Her taste is top level and always seems to reflect what's currently on the runway. Ellen (Ludlow btw Delancey and Rivington) is also nice for high-end accessories and sweet dresses. And Narnia (Rivington St. by Clinton) is cool too, more for a girl who wants to take a trend and run with it. Go there for your next ethnic print dress--you won't be sorry. Any other ones that I missed? Put a comment! I would love more vintage suggestions.

Avi Buffalo

New Avi Buffalo video posted on Pitchfork today. I couldn't help but post some photos I took of it. You don't know how much I long to be part of this rainbow fantasy world.

American Woman

Photos from Style.com

I'm really excited about the "American Woman" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I just can't wait to see it. I'm hoping I can squeeze it in next week. In celebration of it many publications have been doing their own take on the American woman. So far my favorites have been in Vogue, May's issue with Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover, and on Style.com. I felt the most excited over these pictures of Anna May Wong from this awesome photo-montage they had, so they are the ones I featured here. But, please, click the link here to check it out the montage for yourselves. Lots of great pics and interesting historical tidbits too. Readers, what do you think makes an iconic American woman?

Street Peeps

Well, well, well, will you looky here at this scene. I happened to walk upon this in Union Square the other day. In front of me there was a mom with her little kid, to which she loudly whispered "This is called STREET ART." I'm hoping some textile artist takes a hint from this and makes me a shirt with this screen printed on it because it's just fab-u-lous! When they talk about getting rid of all the street vendors in the park I hope it's only to make room for more people doing things like this.

Attention: Do NOT Post The Following Image

Offending bloggers will quickly be removed from blogosphere. You've been warned.

Photo From 'A Blog Curated By'

Or so apparently Google said earlier this week when access to Tavi Gevinson's blog Style Rookie was blocked. Crazed fans everywhere lamented the few hours they had to go without her zany style. I mean, I love the girl too, but c'mon! Doesn't everyone think this is a big ta-doo over nothing? And, I do mean on Google's part as well.

A Few Of My Favorite Things....

So many bloggers do post after post (or dedicate whole blogs to!) the whole what I wish for/what I want for thing. Well, Spring is here and I'm a-wanting also. I decided to list some of the things I've been wanting for Spring:

This is from a label called Myne, which I had never seen before until we started to sell it in my store. I'm officially smitten, and want everything.

You would have to be a fool not to love the new Chanel clogs.

Anything Rachel Comey is aw'ight with me. Love the color palette she chose here. I've been especially excited over her collaboration with Anthropologie. This picture from Style.com

I think with a few of these things--or all of them--I would be set for a very cool summer.

Grace Kelly Gets Her Due at Victoria and Albert Museum

If only I lived in London, because if I did I would DEFINITELY be checking out the Grace Kelly exhibit at the Victoria and Albert museum in London. I remember when I was little and couldn't relate to any of the screen sirens from decades past. They seemed like woman who would be my grandmother's role models, not mine. Grace Kelly was one of the few icons from past ages whose style felt relatable to me. I later understood that it was her classic way of dressing. It really makes her impossible to date. I think of her every time I choose a simple cashmere sweater to wear instead of a trendier item. Certain things always look good. We could all learn from her chic ways. I will have more pictures coming up soon, but for now enjoy these pictures I took of her from Hitchcock's "Rear Window".

Let Love Rule

I have already written about Courtney but I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about her impending album "Nobody's Daughter". She has always been one of my biggest fashion icons and probably is the person who single-handedly defined grunge for women. I wanted to to feature these great pictures from her from the NyTimes this weekend. I highly reccomend the accompanying article as well. She may be a train wreck, but she's our very fashionable train wreck. The photos really encapsulate her great style.

Alexander McQueen's first book since his death has gone on sale. Fashionista's everywhere can now celebrate. I have a feeling this one will be a fashion must have.

Heidi Klum Debuts New Haircut

Ok, stop the presses right now because Heidi Klum just got a new haircut. What do you think everyone? Because I think it's a little thick and weird. I know Heidi has good style though, so I'm going to just trust it looks cute on her and that this is a bad pic. Ok, and another note: is it just me, or does this haircut have a sort of Kate Jackson 70's vibe to it? I mean, seriously:

Yeah yeah yeah, I know Heidi's haircut has bangs and stuff, I can see that. What I am talking about is the same weirdly thick layers. Add a bit more feathering to Heidi's hair, and they could be twins. Or at least best girlfriends, stolling the mall together on a Saturday. So, maybe it's safe to conclude that designers weren't the only ones getting a certain 70's vibe as of late? Because that's what I'm seeing here. 'Nuff said.

Andrew and Rose Unleash All-American Pride Through Comedy

America Doesn't Get Any Better Than This. Photo from event by Bryan Derballa . For more photos follow link below to Thirty Days Gallery.

Sometimes you feel ashamed to be an American. Between an unpopular war in Iraq and our failure to curb pollutants we are not poised to win an international popularity contest. Other times you meet people like Andrew Jeffery Wright and Rose Luardo who make you change your mind quickly. Recently they performed comedy at the Thirty Days Gallery in Tribeca. There they opened for Fred Armisen. In between corny zingers thrown at the audience by Andrew and Rose staging interruptions, I at first really didn't know what to think. Then Rose and Andrew began to pass each other homemade signs with all-American iconography on them. I felt like I finally understood what it meant to be an American. Being an American is about self-expression and fun. A favorite sign was a Hamburger holding up a hot-dog centerfold with red-white-and-blue stars blasting around it. Awesome. I started to think: thank-you. It's about time someone has made me proud.

Art Not Ad's

Photo of artist Kori Newkirk's work from the article "Seeing Things: The Art of the Billboard"

"Art not ads" is a concept I've seen repeated on other blogs again and again. Many people seem to be raising the question as blogging grows and advertisers look for new ways to get their messages across. I have thought about the meaning of this in the context of my recent blogging. I mean, do advertisements serve a function? Without advertisers how would someone who wanted to write professionally get paid? And at what point does something stop being a device to get us to spend money and solely becomes a surface to engage us creatively? How important is that? It looks like others in Los Angeles have been exploring these questions as well. For 7 weeks art will be appearing on 21 billboards in Los Angeles rather than the usual ad's. It will be interesting to see how Angelino's quality of life improves. Or will it?

Just What The Doctor Ordered

Has it really been 50 years for this iconic shoe? Apparently, it has been. Dr. Martens have been celebrating by commissioning covers of some classic songs from bands like the Noisettes and Cold War Kids available on its website. Go to drmartens.com to check it out. Photo from NyTimes.com

Buried In Teeth

Mariee Sioux from Cat Stevens photography. I love her dress.

I can't stop listening to Mariee Sioux. She sort of does that Noveau folk thing I've been into but has a Native American flute player, making it sound sort-of haunting. Here's a track if you wanna listen. I've been into the song "Buried in Teeth". I also wanted to show her style, I feel like she has a really cool look that would be appreciated.

I also like her C.D. cover.

Mariee Sioux performing. I love her laid back California style. Found on LucyBurrows.com