Filed under: Shop Talk

Heaven’s Closet

imageA rough ’n tumble hood rife with gangsters, speakeasies and boundless bordellos, Hell’s Kitchen was one of those places I avoided like the plague as a kid during my visits to the Big Apple. Now that I’m grown up and its seedy image has since subsided, I fearlessly frequent the area for off-Broadway theatre, hip bistros and surprisingly, fashionable frocks like the ones found at Lyd.

An off-the-beaten-path boutique that’s easily spotted by its striking blue facade, Lyd is sought out for its choice selection of modern merch coupled with unparalleled service. Owner, Mia Gonzalez, is a designer with such a sharp sense of style and hands-on approach (she’ll personally build your entire wardrobe) that’s she’s earned the distinct reputation as the “neighborhood stylist.” Unpretentious and inviting, Lyd attracts a loyal customer base of busy corporate types (yes, I’m talking about you Ellyn!) and creative characters who don’t have the time or stamina to scour the racks at those snootier uptown stores for seasonal wardrobe staples. Even celebs like Julia Stiles and Rachel McAdams have frequented Lyd for its of-the-moment, multi-purpose labels.

During my last shopping sojourn at Lyd, I was rendered speechless by the bevy of cutting-edge brands including Corey Lynn Calter (the polka dot dress and matching capelet is killer), Ella Moss (billowy striped tops), Amanda Uprichard (silk charmeuse shifts), Myth & Ritual (tunics with an edgy twist), Twig (cozy cashmere sweater dresses), Rachel Mara (an haute swing coat with a detachable hood) and Raven (my fave wide-legged trousers). That’s just for starters. Lyd also carries Deener (a cult denim label), C&C California (tons of tees in a host of hues), Matt Bernson (must-have ballet flats) and Orla Kiely (laminated canvas bags). With daily deliveries and VIP treatment, Mia will make sure you don’t head out the door empty handed.

Exclusive Fashion Junkie Deal For YOU!
Yummy mummies listen up! Isabella Oliver, the luxe London-based maternity label I profiled earlier this week (read the newsletter here) is offering Fashion Junkie subscribers a 15% discount off any items of your choice from Friday, September 28 through Friday, October 5, 2007. Click here to redeem your special offer and make sure to enter the code “FJFIX” upon checkout. Happy shopping!

  • Lyd
  • 405 West 44th Street (btw 9th & 10th Aves.)
  • 212-246-8041
  • Tuesday-Saturday, 12-7:30pm; Sunday 12-6pm; closed Monday
  • lydnyc.com
  • $40-$500
  • exchange or credit note only
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Filed: Shop Talk

Style Social

imageReady to shop like an A-list celebrity? For a mere $25, you can gain entrance to Style Social, New York’s most talked about shopping soirée of the season. Purchase VIP passes for early access to dreamy designer clothing, jewelry and accessories with savings up to 50% off retail, not to mention schmoozing, hors d’oeuvres and an open bar.

From fabulous Fall finds to classy resort collections, this red haute fashion extravaganza offers bargains galore from dozens of heavy hitters including Adrienne Landau, Nieves Lavi, Pink Tartan, Helen Wang, Rafé New York, Catherine Rapetti, Dyanne Belle and more. Plus, Fashion Junkie, your shopping chaperone, will be on hand to offer expert tips and tricks for building your wardrobe.

You can shop without the guilt, knowing your donation is going to a worthy cause. A percentage of the proceeds will go to charities including Rosie’s Broadway Kids and Gilda’s Club Worldwide.

Don’t delay…. RSVP today! Make sure to mention Fashion Junkie at check-in.

  • The Retail Details!

  • What: Style Social Shopping Event
  • When: Thursday, October 4, 2007 from 6pm-9pm
  • Where: Opera Gallery, 115 Spring Street (btw Greene & Mercer Streets)
  • Ticket Price: $25 at the door or $500-$1000 for VIP Pre-Benefit Sale & Cocktail Reception
  • Phone: 800-960-1736
  • Email: rsvp@stylesocial.com
  • Website: stylesocial.com
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Filed: Shop Talk

Fancy Feet

imageLets face it. When it comes to footwear, us girls can never seem to have enough. At last count, my closet was crammed with 118 pairs. And since feet don’t gain weight when the rest of our body does (thank goodness for small favors!), my shoe collection won’t be shrinking anytime soon. Given that I’m in constant need of shoes that suit my many changing outfits and moods, lately I’ve been sprinting over to Iris – an Italian-based, designer footwear Mecca which opened it’s first U.S. outpost in the Meatpacking district this summer.

I know what you’re thinking: “Why try the unknown when that “other” multi-label shoe shrine, Jeffrey New York, is just around the corner. For starters, Iris produces shoes for major European brands like Marc Jacobs, Chloé, John Galliano, Paul Smith, Veronique Branquinho and Viktor & Rolf. But here’s the kicker: Iris carries the complete range of styles from each of these hard-to-find brands, most of which were previously unavailable in New York… that is until now.

A sleek 1,200 square-foot space with minimalist décor and a chic Le Corbusier-style couch, Iris is so inviting you just might want to camp out for the day. Iris’s gallery-like shelves are lined with a luxe assortment of day-to-night looks ranging from pointy-toed patent stilettos, burgundy platform pumps, dove grey wedge booties, buttery suede sandals adorned with rhinestones, ballerina flats with brushed gold buckles and so much more. Thanks to Iris’s well-edited mix of seemingly endless inventory, I’m sure I could find a pair of shoes for every single day of the year. Financing the purchase, well, that’s another story.

  • Iris
  • 827 Washington Street (btw Little West 12th St. & Gansevoort)
  • 212-645-0950
  • Monday-Friday, 11-7pm; Sunday 12-6pm
  • iris-shoes.it
  • $500-$1500
  • 14 days within purchase for returns or store credit
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Filed: Shop Talk

Shop-Hopping

imageThe Lower East Side (L.E.S.) has certainly come a long way to shed its cheap shmatta and old-school tailor image. While performing my weekly shopping reconnaissance missions, I’ve noticed an emergence of hipster clothing boutiques, bars and restos that have recently popped-up in the hood. From one-of-a-kind vintage finds (Tahir Boutique), indie handbags, shoes and baubles (Clarabella) to eco-friendly fashions (Kaight), the L.E.S. offers an undeniably cool collective of shops not found anywhere else in the city.

To celebrate the burgeoning L.E.S. revival, owners from several edgy establishments have banded together to host the ultimate block party. The first of a series of monthly events, next Thursday’s L.E.S. Shop Night will offer exclusive designer trunk shows, special discounts, tasty treats and martinis ‘til midnight.

Get set for guilt-free shopping, as participating stores will donate 10% of the evening’s sales to the L.E.S. Girls Club of New York, an organization dedicated to assisting in the development of girls and young women ages 8-23. The shopping equivalent of a pub-crawl, L.E.S. Shop Night promises to be the swankiest buying and boozing extravaganza of the season. So grab the girls and don your party frocks ‘n flats – you’ll be shopping and hopping ‘til you drop.

  • THE RETAIL DETAILS!

  • When: Thursday, September 20, 2006
  • Time: shops from 6-10pm, bars & restaurants from 9pm-midnight!
  • Where: Lower East Side

Participating Boutiques:

Participating Bars/Restaurants:

Happy Shopping!

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Filed: Shop Talk

Old Is New Again

imageAdmit it. When you think about shopping for vintage clothes, the following images of a Goodwill thrift shop probably come to mind: a musty, moth-balled space with dim lighting, cluttered racks, creaky wooden floors and, dare I say, cobwebs. Well, that perception will instantly change the moment you set foot inside Dear:55 – a surprisingly clean-cut boutique with a beautifully blended assortment of new and pre-loved designer threads, shoes, bags and baubles.

Run by Moon Rhee and designer Hey Ja Do, antique dealers who always dreamt of opening a vintage clothing and accessory shop with a modern twist, Dear:55 is quickly becoming the go-to destination for downtown and uptown shoppers alike. A cutting-edge gallery-like space that’s painted a blinding shade of snow white (from the white walls to the white antique furniture and the white facade), Dear:55 is easily spotted from a mile away.

Eye-catching décor aside, it’s the boutique’s eclectic mix of designer clothing that will lure you inside. Expect a stellar selection of avant-garde labels culled from Europe and Japan, including Vivienne Westwood, Rick Owens, Martin Margiela and Helmut Lang. Vintage junkies will love pawing through the racks for original ‘80’s pieces from Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garçons. Other retro standouts I spotted during last week’s sojourn include a DKNY military jacket, a sequined cardigan, a denim bubble skirt, an ivory tunic adorned with gemstones and a black leather motorcycle jacket. But the real show-stoppers were Hey Ja Do’s reconstructed creations, ranging from one-of-a-kind handbags (fashioned from recycled fabrics), chunky beaded jewelry (handmade from found objects like lace and charms) and futuristic frocks such as an asymmetrical cobalt blue skirt and a tuxedo blouse with tiers of cascading chiffon ruffles (pairs perfectly with my new men’s-inspired wide-legged pants).

No matter what your preference, perhaps the most en-dear-ing thing about Dear:55 – all the garments are so well preserved, you can wear ‘em out the door without first stopping at the dry cleaners. 

  • Dear:55
  • 55 Clinton Street (between Stanton & Rivington)
  • 212-673-3494
  • Monday-Sunday, 1pm-9pm
  • $100-$300
  • store credit or exchange within 7 days of purchase
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Filed: Shop Talk