Deal of the Day: Jeffrey Campbell 'Vee' Rain Boot

Jeffrey Campbell Vee - were $54.95, now $19.90
I actually bought a pair back in March for $50 from Jildor. It was literally the last pair, so I'm surprised to see them for 60% off at nordstrom.com. They have them in in sizes 6-10.

For light showers, these ankle boots are nice dainty option. They look a little sock like on me, but I liked them enough to keep them. They look best with skinny jeans and leggings, and with a rainy forecast ahead, these booties are a great deal.

Now Wearing...

My friend James and I were walking around my neighborhood, and this old abandoned-looking house caught his attention. He suggested I stand next to it for outfit photos. I think you can tell from the photos; I was kind of nervous.

Yay, home sweet home! Back on my doorsteps. I recently moved to a new apartment, which has more space, but no closets. Not a single closet in the whole darn place, so I've been living out of boxes and bags for the past month! I know it might sound dramatic, but I really think I might lose it if I don't resolve this soon. Wish me luck, I'm hitting up Ikea this weekend.

Red rain coat - Target
Black & cream striped top - Zara
Denim skirt - secondhand (I detached it from this old dress)
Black snakeskin flats - Kelsi Dagger
Bow headband - Forever 21

Sample Sale Report: Club Monaco

A friend was visiting from out of town this week and I unexpectedly ended up dropping by the Club Monaco sample sale earlier today. I got there around 2:30pm and had to wait about 20 minutes in line before entering the sale. The sale is in a single room with menswear on the right side and women's gear on the left. The sale wasn't overly packed and there was plenty of room to peruse the merchandise without getting in someone's way.

The best part about this sale was that nothing was over $20 with the majority of items coming in below $10! Pants and sweaters are $10, blazers/jackets are $15 and leather coats/large leather bags will set you back a whopping $20.

Accessories were a steal - scarves, gloves, ties, small leather belts, bracelets, rings, broaches and hats were only $2 a pop. There are no change rooms or mirrors at the sale so your best bet is to go with a friend who can let you know how things fit - or you can guesstimate. The only thing I would note is to look carefully at whatever you're picking out. Quite a few of the items were either damaged or had fabric swatches removed on the hemline or back of the item.

In terms of sizing, for menswear - about 95% of the tops were medium and I only saw size 32 for pants. I didn't get a great look at the women's merchandise due to time constraints but I think most of what I saw was size 6 with some size 4 scattered in the mix.

If I knew beforehand I was going to hit up the sale I would have brought my camera! I ended up taking some pics afterward so here's some of the stuff I grabbed.

Blue plaid scarf - $2

Wool checkered scarf - $2, Navy blue knitted tie with white trim -$2

Indigo blue polo - $6

Cream cashmere zip cardigan with gray trim - $12

Tomorrow is the last day for the sale which ends at noon - so hopefully you get a chance to check it out if your looking for some affordable gear!

Who: Club Monaco Sample Sale
What: Steep discounts on clothing for men and women. Nothing over $20!
When: September 27-30, 2010. Wed 9am-noon, 1pm-5pm. Thurs 9am-noon
Where: 601 West 26th St, (b/n 11th & 12th Ave) Suite 800

NYFW Spring 2011: Sally LaPointe

The last show of an amazing but busy weekend, it was one of the shows in our NYFW itinerary that I was looking forward to the most. I love supporting young designers, and Sally LaPointe is no exception. It’s her debut runway show at NYFW and the buzz and excitement surrounding her show was enormous. Thanks to our friend Tony Wang of Post.Fashionism, we got to have a look backstage before the show began and it’s a busy but surprisingly calm scene. Models are getting hair and make up done while snacking on fruit salad. Looks like it’s all about blush and straight pulled back hair with volume pumped roots.

And then I spot something curious, it’s a light box that is being tested but for what purpose I still do not know.

We scramble back downstairs and grab our seats in a full house that is chock full of anticipation and cinder blocks placed in a grid like pattern. The room goes silent and in the most dramatic show opening I’ve seen this NYFW 2 men open the doors and that light box is shining. The debut runway show of Sally LaPointe begins with mist rising and intrigue growing. The models weave around the room and cinder blocks to create a show that effectively showcases the designs from every angle.

The models no longer look human - all that is left are defiantly tall creatures that command a room with their stork-like proportions. I can only marvel at the incredible height that is only emphasized further by slim column-like silhouettes in maxi lengths, floor skimming trousers and some the most insanely over-the-top shoes I have ever seen firsthand.

In these shoes your legs will go on forever and there is nary an empty surface area to be found.

Actually these shoes were quite the contrast to the flatter textures of the collection that focuses more on clean silhouette, the fabrics themselves and the play between metallic and matte. The color palette was simple in a variety of textures and opacities of black and white, I found that I was able to focus more on the variety of shapes. Iridescent fabrications were key. Soft crinkle fabrics are molded sculptural silhouettes and the shoulder is for most part strong and squared off throughout the collection. Necklines are either focused on sculptural collars or plunging.

There are plenty of graphic abstract prints in iridescent prints that remind me of inkblots throughout the collection. I couldn’t quite figure out what any of the shapes were but I don’t mind that they were mysterious.

As quickly as the show began, the show ended with the models in mist and the doors closing. I am thoroughly impressed and I wonder how this will translate for retail. I hope that her vision doesn’t change too much as I admire her raw, unique point-of-view.

I run backstage to say hello but don’t want to interrupt when her overjoyed and very proud family make the seen and I find myself feeling like I am spying on a very intimate and personal moment for the designer. I quietly make my leave as all things wrap up and silently wish her congratulations for a dramatic, well conceived effort from Ms LaPointe. Undoubtedly one of my fave shows this NYFW, I am glad i got to witness it from A to Z.

Now Wearing…

Metallic Pleated Skirt Dress - Zac Posen for Target
Utility Vest - Polo Jeans Co. (Seriously old closet find, was last worn in 10+ years ago)
Chain & Pearl Necklace - J.Crew
Eagle Ring - Fallon
Pyramid/Tribal Bird Cuff - Fallon
Black Ring - Rubber Band
Leather Satchel - Botkier Tao
Convertible Buckle Boots - Palladiam, gifted from Solestruck.com

Photography by James S. Rand

Cynthia Rowley x Band-Aid Luncheon

After my flustered arrival at the Cynthia Rowley show I was feeling a little tentative about making the trek from Lincoln Center to the Upper East Side. I almost never venture to the UES unless I am headed for a doctor’s appointment or a rare museum visit. However, all my inhibitions melted away upon arrival at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. I was led out towards the garden and with flowers in bloom and the sun shinning, it was an oasis for the weary fashion crowd. The perfect last days of summer event that was thrown in conjunction with Bandaid and Cynthia Rowley celebrating the recent launch of her lovely bejeweled Dress-up Band-Aids.Sipping on cocktails and lemonade while chatting and enjoying a delicious spread of flatbreads, pasta salad, asparagus, grilled chicken, and fresh fruit was just what the doctor ordered. Lani and I had a chance to spend a little time with the lovely ladies Lala Lopez and Wendy Lam of Nitrolicious and re-charge our batteries. I found myself musing that if this was only Day 3, what else will the week ahead bring? Fortunately we had front loaded our schedules, but I push thoughts of Monday and going back to the office out of my head for now and focus on the more important things in life, like cream puffs!Being the dedicated bloggers we are, we found a moment to sneak away and set up a mini work station using our netbook loaners and pound out some notes of everything we’ve seen/experienced so far. Any spare moment we could find, these netbooks were our NYFW lifelines so I really would like to again thank Vivienne Tam/HP and ASUS for helping keep us both stylish and tech savvy this NYFW.

Too bad we couldn’t sit for hours on end or explore the museum, Fashion Week calls and we headed back to midtown for another show. Thankfully Band-Aid kept us well stocked to handle all the running in heels with their Friction Block (formerly known as Blister Block) and some lovely Cynthia Rowley Band-Aids, plus some of the loveliest cookies that I ever did see. As lovely as they were, cookies were meant to be eaten and I was thankful for a sugary pick-me-up when I finally got home and the heels came off.