Stockholm: Window Shopping

Shopping in Stockholm generally means shopping on Drottinggatan – the retail street which is for most part pedestrian is home to countless shops including 4 large H&M’s within walking distance to each other.  As my first day in the city was met with hitting the streets for some retail therapy I thought I would share some of what I saw along the way. What I didn’t realize one my first day was that unlike North American shops most retailers close up shop by 5 or 6pm on a Saturday and by the time I realized this I could only window shop.  Nevertheless I enjoyed what I saw.

The general mood for windows was a bit focused on tailoring for women.  Whether it be sharp and simple clean cut menswear inspired pieces or great coats or vintage inspire pieces paired back to drapey jersey with pops of unexpected color.  And while most displays were typical at H&M, Zara, and PUB – the retailer NK really knocked my socks of with their cat burglars, wacky prison line up and dress made of warning tape.  Click through to see some of my favorites!

Target x Missoni: Pop Up Shop

If you're still deciding what you're going to be doing for this year's Fashion's Night Out - here's one more option for you. Missoni will be holding a pop up store where you can preview and purchase the collection before everything hits the stores on Sept 13. Previously we've covered the Anna Sui and Liberty of London events so stay tuned for an update once the store drops! If you'd like to see what the collection will have to offer, click here.

Who: Target x Missoni Pop Up Shop
What: Preview the collab before it hits the stores
When: Sept 8-10, 2011. Thurs (6pm-11pm), Fri-Sat (9am-8pm).
Where: 1095 6th Ave (at 42nd Street next to Bryant Park)

Now Wearing…

Here are a few pictures that I snapped last weekend when the sun was still shining wearing my brand new DIY project and some shorts that I scored for 85% off on The Outnet clearance!  Hope that everyone had a safe weekend and the Hurricane wasn't as bad as anticipated - as for myself I escaped the city just in the nick of time and while I won't be stalking any sample sales this week I'll be roaming the streets of Stockholm.

Neon Necklace - DIY in the style of Tom Binns
Silk Bow Bodice Blouse - Forever 21
Snake Belt - No Name
Shorts - ADAM
Striped Bow Ballet Flats - Sophie Theallet for Nine West
Metal Cuff - Fallon
Eagle Ring - Fallon

Sample Sales This Week: August 29-September 4th, 2011

Given that NYFW is fast approaching, sample sales seem on the sparse side for this coming week.

Who: Barneys Warehouse Sale
What: 50-75% off designer shoes, accessories, and clothing for men, women and kids
When: Now through September 5, 2011. Mon-Wed Aug 29-31 10am-9pm, Thurs-Fri Sept 1-2 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun Sept 3-4 9am-8pm, Mon Sept 5 9am-7pm
Where: 255 West 17th St (b/n 7th & 8th Ave)

Who: Mary Ping sample sale
What: Up to 80% off womenswear and accessories.
When: Aug 29-31, 2011. 10am-5pm
Where: SSWTR Studio - 189 Franklin St. (near Greenwich St) - Suite 392.

Who: Realm's Summer Sale
What: Discounts on womenswear. Alexis Mabille dresses are $800 (were $2,000), Thierry Mugler blazers are $630 (were $1,575), and Jitrois dresses are $1,350 (were $1,950).
When: Now through Aug 31, 2011. M-S 11am-7pm.
Where: 98 Greene St., nr. Prince St. 212-334-9600

Who: La Vie Ann Rose Vintage Sale
What: over 1,000 items - 1/2 of which are priced below $50. Score pieces from Diane von Furstenberg, Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner, Lillie Rubin, Cacharel, St. John, and more.
When: August 29, 2011. 11am-8pm
Where: 310 West Broadway (b/n Canal & Grand St)

Honor Sale Extended!

Honor's sample sale has been extended (with further price reductions) and is running now until Saturday August 27, 2011. Here's your chance to score in some last minute shopping before the hurricane hits the city! Stock up on dry/canned goods and clothes!

Here's what the sale had to offer earlier this week during Erin's sample sale report.

Who: Honor Sample Sale
What: Up to 75% off silk crepe maxiskirts and shirts, smart leather belts, striped sweaters and crisp white blazers. Camel silk-crepe shirt $195(was $695), white silk-linen blazer $550 (was $1,500), brown silk-cotton Bermuda shorts $195 (was $595)
When: Aug 26-27, 2011. Fri (10am-7pm), Sat (10am-4pm)
Where: 48 West 25th St (b/n 5th & 6th Ave) 12th floor

Perry Ellis: Black is Back

Perry Ellis is launching a capsule collection with....itself. The focus is black - 14 pieces of it to be exact. The collection is set to include short and long sleeved Ts, a cardigan, sports coat, trench, zip-up jacket, denim and dress pants...all in black.

John Crocco, the creative director for Perry Ellis notes, “Black is a versatile and practical shade to wear. There are few colors men can wear head-to-toe and actually look masculine and modern. That insight led us create an edited collection of perfect black pieces that every guy should own.”

If you're in NYC for this upcoming fashion week, Perry Ellis will unveil a fleet of Perry Ellis Black cars in September, which will be available to consumers, editors and influencers. The cars will be free to anyone traveling in New York City, and can be flagged down on the street if spotted. The cars, using #PerfectRide, can also be followed on @PerryEllis twitter profile.

The collection will be available online, at Macy's and Dillards on Sept. 15, 2011 with prices ranging from $45-$185.

DIY: Tom Binns Neon Necklace

I’ve been a fan of Tom Binns for a while and although I had satiated my appetite somewhat with the Saftey Pin & Pearl Necklace DIY, I was still experiencing a Neon Gemstone Necklace hole in my life.  Since owning a necklace that can cost anywhere from between $650-995 does not seem very likely to happen in the near future. I decided to take matters into my own hands and use an ordinary gemstone necklace I happened to own and make it Binns-ified.

Tom Binns Neon Necklaces

I actually picked up the necklace from Forever 21 some time ago but since it was a bit glitzy looking for everyday life I’ve only worn it a handful of times. Something about neon, although it is eye catching makes the piece much more playful and casual. While Forever 21 no longer carries the same necklace, I think this one could make for an interesting variation.

Sample Sale Report: Honor

While the NYC based label Honor by designer Giovanna Randall may not be on your radar yet, it should be.  Since the debut collection in last Spring 2011’s NYFW, Honor has gained industry recognition as a label to watch, and not without good reason – the clothes are elegant, effortless and striking.  Femininity that is never overdone and an easy sense of timelessness are hallmarks of the collection.

As for the sample sale, when I hit it up in the last 10 minutes of last night it was fairly quiet, peaceful and extremely well organized.  The shopping space is well lit and very spacious with plenty or room to look.  Every item has been clearly indicated by price stickers or sample price tags.  Sizes at the range from 0 to a 14.  While prices were already significantly reduced, as of tomorrow morning they will be even further slashed from sample sale pricing!  There are a few other items that will be reduced to 50% off the indicated original sample sale prices.

More Sample Sales This Week!

Who: Behnaz Sarafpour Sample Sale
What: Shop clothing & accesories including one-of-a-kind samples
When: August 24-25, 2011. Wed-Thurs 10am-7pm
Where: 210 West 29th Street, 4th Floor (b/n 7th and 8th Ave)

Who: Yumi Kim Sample Sale
What: All dresses $75, All Tops $50! Up to 80% off retail!
When: August 25-28, 2011. Thurs-Sun noon-7pm
Where: 153 Essex Street (b/n Stanton & Rivington St)

Now Wearing...

This past weekend I went to Cape Cod with my friend Matt. We drove up Friday afternoon. Despite leaving earlier in the day, we didn't actually make it up until dusk with all of the traffic in Connecticut. But it wasn't the worst thing. The bay was quite beautiful at dusk!
For my weekend getaway, I packed the following:
- Timo Weiland landscape print coat
- vintage crop jacket
- Seneca Rising green jersey skirt
- Costello Tagliapietra x Uniqlo gray jersey dress
- white tunic
- tan & brown zebra summer scarf
- A.B.S by Allen Schwartz tribal print swim set

And not pictured, I wore a gray tissue tee, denim shorts and my Melissa jelly flats.
It was a pretty wonderful weekend. My friend's parents live up there, and he has a boat! We spent all day Saturday and Sunday cruising through the bay and even went out to open sea. And after all the rough riding, we camped out on a tiny island and laid in the calm shallow waters. It was a much needed getaway from the city! I'm not sure why it took me so long to realize that weekend trips are key to life in New York City.

Now Wearing…

This gauzy piece is something that my roommate found once upon a time at a Housing Works all you can stuff in a bag sale – I inherited it when she decided to downside her closet for a move cross country. I wonder if it was someone’s sewing project from once upon a time? Nevertheless it is a fun whisper of a piece that can look drastically different depending on what you layer it with. I decided to go for a Six from Blossom sort of look with a flower slip dress and a straw hat.

Floral Babydoll Slip Dress - H&M
Sheer Overlay Dress - Unknown via Housing Works
Zip Front Clogs Wedges - Matt Bernson
Straw Bowler - H&M Men's department
Cameo Necklace - Fallon
Black Leather Satchel - Botkier
Black Snake Bracelet - Marc Jacobs Special Item

All photography courtesy of the wonderful James S. Rand.

Designer to Watch: Kelly Wearstler

Kelly Wearstler is a design powerhouse - she is best known for creating the lifestyle and design experiences for luxe resorts and hotels in addition to product lines which include carpets, furniture, fabrics and trim and dinnerware. In fact if you are into interior design, you probably already know her and her visual eye candy of a blog My Vibe, My Life.

The LA based tastemaker and interior designer just simultaneously launched a ready-to-wear and accessories collection.

Her debut collection features plenty of bold clothing that is playful, wearable and feminine in the same breath. The simple eye catching prints and easy shapes make the pieces easy to love. I’m personally pretty enamored by the little striped blazers.

Her jewelry collection is bold, eye-catching yet simple and elegant. I love the raw simplicity of the pyrite stones that add plenty of attitude to the below pieces.

Click after the jump to see more.

Sample Sales This Week: August 22-28, 2011

Who: Mackage End of Season Sale
What: 50% off the Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Snag super cute rainwear, trench coats & leathers for both Men & Women.
When: Ongoing
Where: Only at Mackage.com and the Mackage Soho boutique in NYC

Who: Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier
What: Up to 80% off retail, normally ranging from $3,200-$8,000. Find samples from internationally known wedding designers Angel Sanchez, Anne Barge, Monique Lhuillier, Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, Peter Langner, Jenny Lee, Rivini, Jenny Packham, and more. Please contact the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier directly to set up an appointment at (212)319-6778.
When: August 23, 2011. Tues 10am-8pm
Where: 110 East 55th St(b/n Park and Lexington Ave), 8th Floor

Who: Honor Sample Sale
What: Up to 75% off silk crepe maxiskirts and shirts, smart leather belts, striped sweaters and crisp white blazers. Camel silk-crepe shirt $195(was $695), white silk-linen blazer $550 (was $1,500), brown silk-cotton Bermuda shorts $195 (was $595)
When: August 23-25, 2011. Tues-Thurs 10am-7pm
Where: 48 West 25th St (b/n 5th & 6th Ave) 12th floor

Who: Morgane Le Fay Sample Sale
What: Bridal and Ballgowns for under $500. Many dresses at $75 and up. Most prices marked at 75-85% off!
When: August 24-28, 2011. Wed-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-3pm
Where: 382 West Broadway (b/n Spring St & Broome St)

Who: Bonobos’ Sample Sale
What: Up to 60% off on Bonobos, a premium men's wear brand who specialize in well fitting pants.
When: August 24-25, 2011. Wed-Thurs 6pm-10pm
Where: 45 West 25 St (b/n 6th Ave & Broadway) 4th Floor

Who: Barneys Warehouse Sale
What: 50-75% off designer shoes, accessories, and clothing for men, women and kids
When: August 25-September 5, 2011. Thurs-Fri Aug 25th-26th 8am-9pm, Sat-Sun Aug 27th-28th 10am-8pm, Mon-Wed Aug 29-31 10am-9pm, Thurs-Fri Sept 1-2 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun Sept 3-4 9am-8pm, Mon Sept 5 9am-7pm
Where: 255 West 17th St (b/n 7th & 8th Ave)

Who: Yeohlee Sample Sale
What: Up to 75% off on dresses, tops, pants, skirts, and coats up plus basics for under $150.
When: August 25-26, 2011. Thurs-Fri 8am-7pm.
Where: BoConcept, 105 Madison Ave (at 30th St)

Ongoing Sales:
Who: Morgenthal Frederics
What: Iconic glasses are marked down to $100-$150. Additional designer glasses are half off, and lenses are 20% off when purchased for sale frames.
When: August 13-28, 2011. Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 11am-7pm, Sun noon-6pm

Who: Bird
What: 25-75% off on Rag & Bone tops, Rachel Comey blouses, Current/Elliott colored denim, Bantu bikinis and Steven Alan dresses and more. Acne crinkle trousers $189 (was $380), JBrand men's walker relaxed straight-leg jeans $99 (as $195), Girl by Band of Outsiders Allegra short floral-print skirt $149 (was $375).
When: Now through August 24, 2011. Mon-Fri noon-8pm, Sat noon-7pm, Sun noon-6pm
Where: Park Slope, Brooklyn - 316 Fifth Ave (b/n 2nd & 3rd Sts)718-768-4940. Williamsburg, Brooklyn - 203 Grand St (b/nBedford & Driggs Ave)718-388-1655. Cobble Hill 220 Smith St (at Butler St) 718-797-3774

Who: A. Turen
What: Discounts on Timo Weiland dresses and sheer cardigans, Current/Elliott cutoffs, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela and Iro blouses and Jarbo basics.
When: Now through August 26, 2011. Tues, Wed & Sun 1pm-8pm, Thurs-Sat 1pm-9pm.
Where: 85 Stanton St (at Allen St )212-533-8200
Where: 399 West Broadway (at Spring St)

Target x Missoni: Lookbook

Last week we showed you a preview up the upcoming Missoni x Target collab - so to follow up on that, here is the entire lookbook (minus kidswear) that Target released earlier this week. The majority of the items come in under $39! Can't wait until the collection drops in stores on Sept 13, 2011.

Click after the jump to see the entire lookbook.

nicole by Nicole Miller Holiday 2011 Look Book

If you are a fan of Nicole Miller’s sophisticated, luxe aesthetic but can’t break the bank this Holiday season  make sure that you check out nicole by Nicole Miller the diffusion line carried exclusively at  JC Penney.  All the nicole by Nicole Miller pieces featured in this look book will retail for way under $100.  There are so many great little pieces that will add plenty of style and sparkle to your wardrobe for a glam night on the town or a festive holiday party.

My personal faves are the perfect sequin tee in look 3 and just about all of look 5. Can’t wait to see the collection in stores starting this November!  What’s your favorite piece?

nicole by Nicole Miller Kaftan |$40.60| November

nicole by Nicole Miller Handbag |$27.99| November

nicole by Nicole Miller leopard print button down | $35.30| November

nicole by Nicole Miller top | $50.40| November

nicole by Nicole Miller sheer lace blouse |$35.00| December

nicole by Nicole Miller Sequin Dress |$39.99| December

nicole by Nicole Miller faux leather jacket|$60.20|December

nicole by Nicole Miller Wristlet |$27.99|November

Wear It Now: Empress by Sean John

So lately the world of celebrity seems to have infiltrated every crevice of our society. From the clothes on our backs, the music we hear, movies we watch to the scents that we wear. And while few have made it into the clothing industry with success the fragrance industry is one where I think that makes a lot more sense.  Sean “Diddy” Combs is one of the few players that seems to have transitioned seamlessly from music to becoming a lifestyle brand.  Following the success of his number-one selling men’s fragrance, I Am King, he decided to introduce a female counterpart.  Honestly I was a little skeptical about trying out this perfume but soon changed my mind.

According to the press release, EMPRESS is “made for the modern woman – this fragrance represents female royalty and feminine strength. EMPRESS is a woman’s secret weapon allowing her to rule over her domain. She is more powerful than a king; she is EMPRESS”.   I’m sure that idea behind the scent will resonate with most modern women.  Everyone desires power in some form and the fragrance offers the promise of an invisible sense of power, confidence and control.

As for the scent itself, it’s a great summer fragrance. It smells light, crisp and fresh as summer itself! I actually tested it out on several ladies at my office and found that although it had slightly different reactions to all of our body chemistries, the end result was universally good.  Even on my friend who cannot wear most perfumes because they can become overpowering found this to be subtly sweet and gentle.  The scent makes me think of going for a cocktail on a rooftop patio.

A blast of citrus hits you immediately thanks to the top notes of Key Lime Pie and Mandarin Imperial while at the heart of the fragrance is the sweet and feminine scent of Starfruit and Imperial French Berry.  The result is both sweet and tart.  Subtle hits of caramel and vanilla keep this feeling warm, relaxed and comfortable.  While I wouldn’t expect all of these scents to work together, they somehow balance to create something rather unique. 

I also love the design of the multi-faceted bottle and lid that are both simple and elegant.  Prices start at $38 for a body cream, $57 for 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum and $74 for a 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum.  EMPRESS debuted this August 2011 at Macy’s department stores nationwide.

More Sample Sales This Week!

Who: The Lake & the Stars Sample Sale

What:Up to 80% off old stock, 30% of Spring 2011
When: August 18-19, 2011, Thurs 1pm-7pm, Fri 9am-7pm
Where: 373 Broadway (at White St) Suite 205

Who: Edun Sample Sale
What: Snag great women's clothing under $50! T-shirts $5, sweaters $20, and outerwear $50.
When: August 16-19, 2011. Tues-Fri 10am-6pm
Where: 107 Grand Street, 3rd Floor (at Mercer St)

Who: DANNIJO Sample Sale
What: Great deals starting at $10. Credit cards accepted, but cash only for purchases under $100.
When: August 18, 2011. Thurs 6-8pm
Where: 423 West 14th St (nr Washington St), Suite #423-3R.

Who: The Shoebox Warehouse Sale
What: For 4 days only enjoy prices starting at $49-$79 (some items may be slightly higher). Shop top designer shoe brands including Sergio Rossi, Guiseppe Zanotti, Cynthia Vincent, Vince Camuto, Delman, KORS, Casadei, Juicy, Kate Spade, DVF, and many more.
When: August 16-18, 2011. Tues-Fri 10am-9pm
Where: Midtown - 537 3rd Avenue, (b/n 35th & 36th St) 212.937.5750 or Uptown 1349 3rd Ave (nr 77th St)212.535.9615

Who: JF & SON Summer Sale
What: Up to 50% off on all summer merch for men and women.
When:Now through Friday, August 19, 2011.
Where: JF & SON, 56 University Place (at E 10th St) 212-343-313

Fall Footwear: Lady Loafers

I'm a fan of menswear-inspired footwear especially for fall. Over the past two years, I've acquired quite a few lace up oxfords. My latest obsession? Slip-on loafers! They're comfortable and easy to wear to skirts or pants.


DV by Dolce Vita "Marcela", $69.00I love the wingtip detals and tassels. I bought these loafers in the natural sand color. It's a bit hard to keep light colored suede and white soles looking fresh, so looking back I kind of wish I had gone with the magenta. I'd imagine they'd hide the dirt better, and they're an affordable way to sport the jewel tone trend happening this fall.


Matiko "Lilo", $114.95These flats are a bit manish, but I'm a sucker for perforated leather and I love how sleek these look. They're black flats; you can't really go wrong.


By Paige Fox "Black Needlepoint", $147.00Needlepoint might seem a bit grandma, but I love how cozy they look. With fitted pants or a pencil skirt, these foxy flats could look great.



Steven by Steve Madden "Madee", $119.00Leopard, love leopard! Pair these with some classics like dark jeans or tapered black pants for perfection.


Jeffrey Campbell "Sunshine", $119.90These vintage-inspired loafers are perfect a preppy black to school look.

Now Wearing…

When the weather get’s hot I think sometimes it’s fun pump up the color and combine some hot/loud colors together for a playful effect.  I combined a red tank top with pink mini skirt for a color block effect and threw on some candy colored fun accessories that I’ve previously worn with a more neutral look.

All photography by the wonderful James S. Rand. Click after the jump to see more pics and to see where everything is from!