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Where To Shop In NYC With Just One Day

June 14, 2007

Q. I love your site! I saw that you are from NYC and was wondering if you could help me… I need some boutique suggestions. I am coming to NYC this weekend and only have really Sat to shop. I was hoping to go to Greenwich or SoHo or anywhere and hit 3 or 4 smaller stores. (Rather than get lost on all the floors of Barney’s or haul up and down 5th Avenue or Madison Avenue looking at $2000 dresses.) I’ve been looking around but can’t seem to find a good guide of cute/hip boutiques in neighborhoods. The brands I like are Nanette Lepore, Juicy Couture, Cynthia Rowley, Ella Moss, James Pearse. I am a 35 year old mom of two — generally a size 8, tall. I went to the Nanette Lepore store last time I was there but then was at a total loss for anywhere else to go after that and ended up getting lost.
-Lost in New York

A. Ooh, you’ll have a great visit. Stick to downtown. The three neighborhoods you want to visit are SoHo, NoLIta (which is just east of SoHo) and the Lower East Side which is farther east of NoLIta and all walkable. There are great shops in all of those areas including Cynthia Rowley, Alice + Olivia, Tory Burch, Tracy Feith, Mayle, Olive & Bette, Calypso, Nanette Lepore, Foley & Corinna and much more. The best way to see it all in one day—and it is completely possible to enjoy a day of shopping and walking—is to do a little mapping out ahead of time. Start in SoHo and break for lunch in NoLIta or the Lower East Side. Get more detailed info by going to citysearch.com and clicking on shopping and the neighborhoods you want and then you can map out your destinations.

Some good lunch or dinner spots:

NoLIta: Café Habana (small Cuban restaurant, always popular), Bar Marche (lovely little restaurant with great food-I love the fish tacos, good salads as well), Rice to Riches (mod designed place for rice pudding in every flavor imaginable—just go and sample a few flavors)

Lower East side: Clinton St. Bakery (on Clinton off of Houston), and a great fun dinner spot is Stanton Social on Stanton St. near Ludlow (yummy food served tapas style—a great chance to try lots of different foods and the drinks and dessert as delicious as well- it can be a little loud though)

Delicate Gold Necklaces

June 14, 2007

Q. I’ve never been a big jewelry wearer, but I realize how much it can pull together an outfit. My style is really classic and casual, and I’d love to find a very delicate, simple gold necklace with a small charm that I can wear with (almost) anything. I don’t have a whole lot to spend, but I want something nice. Any ideas?  -Jewelry-less

A. Well, gold doesn’t come cheap and if you want to wear it with most everything in your wardrobe, it’s worth it to invest in a great necklace that will last you “forever” rather than something that will fade and turn another color. There are plenty of choices that don’t cost your paycheck. Look for a gold chain with a pendant or charm that is delicate and feminine alone on it’s own, but also think of it as a layering piece that you can wear with another gold necklace of another length. I found several lovely choices for you:

left to right: Gorjana Three Petal Necklace, $95 at shopbop.com; Nordstrom 14k Gold Pendant Necklace, $98 at nordstrom.com; Tiffini Dooris Luna Necklace, $180 at tiffinidooris.com; Giles & Brother Small Sparrow Necklace, $200 at shopbop.com; Catherine Weitzman 18k Gold Vermeil Small Lotus Disc Pendant Necklace, $88 at blueluxe.com; Julie Sandlau 18K Gold Plated Sterling Silver Clear Crystal Locket and Leaf Charm Necklace, $180 at blueluxe.com; Pade Vavra 22KT Gold Vermeil Coral Branch Necklace on Double Chain, $99 at blueluxe.com

Are Slips In or Out?

June 14, 2007

Q. I have been searching the web for this answer and came across your website. I am hosting a 50th wedding anniversary party for my parents at a very nice banquet facility. I have purchased a tea length, thin strapped, mauve colored dress, (with jacket), that is very sheer. The dress does have a “slip” of the same color underneath but you can still see my legs right through the dress. I heard about the Spanx brand undergarments and purchased the Higher Power bodysuit in nude color and will also be wearing a strapless bra under this ensemble. My issue is that you can still see my legs and I do not feel comfortable with this at all. Is it appropriate to be seen like that? Do I find/purchase a longer slip to go underneath? Do I go without? Do I wear nude nylons with my strappy sandals?
-Wary of Baring it

A. Slips do tend to be an item of the past. And it seems like you are doing quite a bit of intimate layering already. As long as the most intimate parts of you are covered then you should feel confident to walk around the party.

And nylons with a strappy sandal is generally a no-no unless you wear a peep toe. You don’t want to “scream” that you are wearing hosiery so the less strappy the better.

Jewelry for Bridesmaids

June 14, 2007

Q. I’m getting married in October and my bridesmaids dresses are chocolate brown. My dress is an ivory color with Swarovski crystals that are clear and silver. I will be wearing silver jewelry and other items in the wedding are also silver. I have picked out necklaces for my bridesmaids that are copper/gold and the chain is gold. Will the gold clash with the silver that I will be wearing? If so, what color necklace would you suggest?
-Chain Reaction

A. Just because you are wearing silver jewelry and there is silver in your color scheme does not mean that everything has to be matchy-matchy. You don’t want your wedding to look like a group of girl clones that match the silver and candlesticks. I generally am not a fan of having the bridesmaids wear the same exact thing from head to toe-dresses, sure, but it’s nice to have a little change when it comes to the heels or jewelry. Stick with your original choice of the gold for the girls—the color will keep the dress warm in tone.

Nautical Party Look

June 14, 2007

Q. I am looking for a suggestion on what to wear that is “dressy white and blue” yacht party.
-Boat Bliss

A. Aaahh nautical fancy. I assume you’ll be on a yacht or at a yacht club. I can help with that since I’ve been to several yacht clubs this summer with my beau who sails quite a bit. I love the idea of a white and blue party and definitely believe a dress is the best option. I am clearly obsessed with dresses this summer and they just “work” so well for every occasion. While this is obviously a nautical party in nature, there is no reason you have to succumb to that theme. You will look fresh and stylish in any of the dresses I’ve suggested below or take them as a guide when you shop online or look in your closet.

left to right: Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Dot Halter Dress, $148 at nordstrom.com; Elie Tahari ‘Brielle’ Dress, $468 at nordstrom.com; Shoshanna Strapless Eyelet Dress (replace the white belt with a navy or navy and white ribbon), $360 at nordstrom.com; Strapless Guest of Wedding Dresses by BCBG, $280 at edressme.com; Kay Unger Multi Stripe Dress, $310 at saks.com

Add one of these fun nautical-chic pieces from jcrew.com:

Where To Shop In NYC With Just One Day

Delicate Gold Necklaces

Are Slips In or Out?

Jewelry for Bridesmaids

Nautical Party Look

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Where To Shop In NYC With Just One Day

Delicate Gold Necklaces

Are Slips In or Out?

Jewelry for Bridesmaids

Nautical Party Look

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