Chuck The Laces

I'm officially googoo gaga over these laceless oxfords! A nice seasonal update to the classic. It boasts of style and ease. Casual yet classy. Gear up for fall and buy some or if you already own oxfords, just chuck the laces. Easy, done!

Pictured from top to bottom:
"Louie Louie", Joie, Bloomingdales.com $198
Snakeskin "Iva", pourlavictoire.com, $295
"Brookings Cap Toe", Cole Haan, Zappos, $118
"Melanie", Steven, Zappos $99

Shoshanna Partners With Judith Ripka

Clothing designer Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss, better known as Shoshanna has partnered with famous jewelry maven Judith Ripka to create a jewelry line for QVC. Shoshanna is better known for her clothing line of dresses which was later expanded to include swimwear.

Shoshanna's new jewelry line aired last week on QVC and features 13 items, priced from about $20 to $75. The overall reaction was positive and she will be adding new items in the near future. Go to the QVC website and check out "Shoshanna".

iPhone Gagdetry

Tech geeks, iphone hackers and photo/video companies alike have all been working on ways to turn your iphone camera into a DSLR camera. You should see some of the crazy mash up contraptions some of these folks have come up with using duct tape and borrowed lenses! Finally OWLE has come up with this version which doesn't just attach to the top of your iphone like some earlier prototypes but rather, it encases the whole phone. I think this is a more secure way to add a DSLR lens to your iphone, especially if you'll be carrying it around in a bag of some sort. The image pictured above uses the OWLE Bubo iphone mount with a Canon EF lens. It also gives you the feeling of a handheld camera and allows for the use of a tripod. It's not meant to replace a real audio/video device. It won't magically turn you into a professional photographer and your pictures are not of the highest quality but it does allow you to use your iphone in another useful way, especially if you're already carrying your iphone and don't want to carry heavy additional gear. I think it costs about $119.

Take it for what it is.

Cool Stitching from Ligne Roset

Cool stitching on this modern seating from Ligne Roset. Check out their latest collections at www.lignerosetny.com

ENK in NYC again

Some impromptu pictures of jewelry from the ENK Accessories Show at the Jacob Javitz Center

Where is the salvation from the jury selection process??? My second day here, I didn't get called for the first court case and I was too biased for the second one. So now I'm back in the "general assembly" room waiting to be called for yet another court case. Subsequently, yesterday I did get to see all the camera persons and film crew waiting outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Court House to catch a glimpse of the Times Square Bomber. Would I want to be on that jury? On the one hand I want to see the guy fry (the taxicab driver said he wants to see him die!) on the other hand that's gonna be a longass process! Not much excitement is happening otherwise. Though I have spied some interesting characters in here like the guy asleep in the corner chair snoring so loud he woke himself up, and the Asian woman who showed up in high heels and a cleavage revealing dress. She seems to take a liking to older, white haired gentlemen (2 different men, 2 days in a row.) Coincedence? I think not! I did have a fun lunch in Chinatown. Thai Son on Baxter Street has a yummy beef dish called Bo Luc Loc. Served over a salad and white rice on the side, yum. As for fashionable sitings, ain't nothing happening here! Shoot me!

Urgency and Potency

I finally saw this guy in Times Square and let me tell you, this picture doesn't do him justice!

Picture this...I was minding my own business, listening to my ipod walking home from work. I decided to take the Times Square route home and then somewhere around 45th Street and Broadway I see a thin mini-mohawked, sunglass and rolled up baggy jeans wearing guy. Standing on the corner with his head hung low for dramatic posturing, he bore a hustling cup containing loose change and dollar bills in one hand and a large sign that read, "Help! I need money for WEED!"

Now while this isn't a novel assertion, many people can claim they need money for weed and such, it sure is funny to actually see someone proclaming it on poster board in the middle of a bustling crowd in New York when once upon a time you could score some easily in any of the city parks like Central Park, Thomkins Square Park, Washington Square Park and Bryant Park for no more than a couple of dollars. It's also ironically funny because you could get arrested for smoking weed in public in NYC, but you're allowed to bear a sign stating that you need money to get some. One expects to see  a homeless person sitting against a building accompanied by a shaggy looking dog and a sign that says, "Please help me feed my dog." So this new "need weed" imagery cracked me up. I've read that there's another guy out in Cali (and I'm sure a dozen other places in the States) that has this same sign.

The reality is more likely to be that he likes the attention the sign gets him. He's like the tragically hip turned street hustler. After all he makes for great tourist photos and snapshots. My only regret upon seeing him was that I didn't get my camera-phone out fast enough on my brisk walk home to capture it for myself and I didn't think to give him some of my loose change for having gumption and making me laugh. The above photo is actually from Flickr.

James Jeans Sample Sale

WHAT: James Jeans Sample Sale

WHY: Straight, skinny, and legging styles are $80 (originally $180) at the James Jeans sample sale. One-of-a-kind samples are $15 to $50; buy two pairs of jeans for $150.

WHEN: 5/25 - 5/27, T (9–7:30), W (10–5:30), Th (9–7:30), F (10–2).

WHERE: 500 Greenwich St., nr. Spring St. (212-221-4603)

Arctic Elk Runners, Fall/Winter 2010 Preview

So Here's a preview of the new runners by Mor's Footwear, for you fabulous men out there. What makes these unique is that they are made of elk leather and elk suede from the North of Finland making them both durable and soft with a luxurious feel. I don't know about you, but I'm really diggin' the grey ones. Have a looksee at http://www.morsfootwear.com/collection.asp

Barneys X-rated Windows, Hide The Children!

Barney's Has A 'Beautiful Penis' In Their Madison Avenue Window

According to The Post, that is. The NY newspaper did a hard hitting investigative report on the window display on the "offensive" images, only to find that an NY stylist describes them as "fabulous" and that the penis on the gorgeous male model is "beautiful."

Seriously, I laughed out loud when I read this in the New Yorker. Shocked was The Post reporter who viewed the windows that included images of Iman with her breasts exposed. People, keep in mind that it's a collage and you really have to look hard (no pun intended) for the breasts and penis to spot it right away!

Want to see the actual video report click the grey link above. 

Nanette Lepore Sample Sale

The last 2 weeks have been a little chaotic and very frustrating so I'm not going to apologize for not blogging. Instead I'll start this day off with a sample sale in New York...

WHAT: Nanette Lepore Sample Sale

WHY: The beach houses are re-opened and the bar-b-que’s a’fire, now’s the time to add some key pieces to your spring attire. At the Nanette Lepore sample sale, you’ll find just what you need. Picture yourself sipping pinot grigio at a Chelsea gallery while wearing this asymmetrical belted silk minidress (sliced from $348 to $150), topped with a classy-chic trench (nicked from $568 to $230). Other must-buys include linen skirts with exposed zippers and embellished cardigans, both whittled from $248 to $95. Cash and credit cards accepted. No checks, no returns.

WHEN: 5/18 - 5/20, T-Th (9-7).

WHERE: Nanette Lepore showroom. 225 W 35th St (between Seventh and Eighth Aves), fourth floor

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I'm here st the Intermezzo and Circuit trade shows, Piers 92 and 94. It's about 68 degrees and sunny. I'm excited to see what newness us in store for accessories this time around. Will hopefully have pictures up soon.

Giorgio Armani Hotel in Dubai

Armani’s Hotel Opened in Dubai’s Under-Construction (But Tallest!) Skyscraper

I thought this was interesting to share, what with the market being down due to Greece and Portugal's debt being downgraded and the fact that Europeans couldn't fly in and out because of some Icelandic volcanic ash for the past 12 days.

Dubai just keeps on cranking out the over-the-top theme of lux. Giorgio Armani definitely got his two cents in and then some. The first through eight floors, then the 38th and 39th floors of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper are occupied by The Armani Hotel. The price to stay at the hotel starts at $750 a night with you name it amenitites like an overpriced spa, several restaurants, a pool. Or you can stay for $2200 a night because they've got that too! I guess if money is no object....

Otte end of The Season Sample Sale

WHAT: Otte Sample Sale

WHY: Stop by our sample sale between 11am and 7pm Wednesday April 28th Through Friday the 30th to score great deals on clothing, shoes and accessories from designers like:

Elizabeth & James
Alexander Wang
See by Chloe
Vanessa Bruno
Loeffler Randall
Helmut Lang
Rebecca Taylor
Wildfox
…and many, many more! Nothing priced over $110. All major credit cards accepted.

WHEN: 4/28 - 4/30, W-F (11–7)

WHERE: 37 W 26th st Suite#305

IPAD or Apple Stock, What To DO?

I feel a little ill...I just read a headline that said, " If you spent your $499 on Apple stock instead of buying an ipod in 2001, it would be worth $14, 513 today." In 2001 Apple stock was $8 a share, they had just come out with the 1st generation ipod and it was amazing technology for that time. It revolutionized the mp3 player. But who knew that Apple the company would have this much momentum? Who could have guessed that they had so much else up their sleeves?

In 2007, they modified the ipod again for the sixth time! I can't even keep track of what generation they're up to with the nano's, the touch, the IPAD, and now the iphone 4 Gizmodo who's prototype was just recently lost then found.

Today the stock is $263 a share and to be honest I'm not entirely sure the IPAD at $499 starting price is a practical purchase as opposed to buying a laptop computer that has more practical functions. I am however, competely sold on all their other gadgets. Everyone loves having portable music and movie, access to applications and internet on their phones, so I still believe in Apple. This knowledge begs the question: should I spend $829 for a 64 gig IPAD, which is, let's be honest a blown up version of the iphone, or should I just buy the stock? Correction I just realized I own some Apple but trust me, not nearly enough for me to see major gains, but the possibility of owning more is a reality. I suppose it all depends on whether or not you believe that Apple will still continue to be the technology leader in gadgets 10 years from now. Just something to gnaw on for the next couple of weeks.