Spotlight: Verre by Julie Burton

We just got in a bunch of new stock from one of our favorite brands, Verre by Julie Burton. Verre earrings are delicate & elegant, with every pair handcrafted by Julie herself. Glass droplets in fun seasonal colors with an art deco feel - the perfect final detail for any fall outfit.

Off they go!

School's in! As much as I'm sorry to see the days shortening and our carefree hours slip away, I for one, am happy to reclaim some time for myself.

A rainbow blessing the school bus this morning

And I admit it: I'm happy to see the rich warm colors and textures of fall infiltrating our summer lightweights.

One of a kind Bolivian frasadas add color to your floors, or drape beautifully over beds and couches

Velvet-Tees' cotton gauze plaid top, the perfect transitional piece

Matta's saari silk blouse, and the silk-cotton crowd pleaser: dupatta scarf

Come in and see all the new goodness.

xx Diana

Xirena Summer Essentials

It's so not too late. These beauties came in this past week. Gauzy cotton perfect as a beach cover up, and adding easy elegance to your #ootd. (hahaha, but it's true). Come see the pants and dress too.

I love Xirena, a collection made up of only sexy colorful intimates/swim and pure cotton relaxed elegance. 

Bluma Project for the Win

I've been feeling the love for Bluma Project for a while now. Beth Schaeffer's lovely project utilizes artisans in many countries with strong handicraft traditions while encouraging women-run collectives and fair trade practices. Her design sensibility provides a consistent through line, bringing us gorgeous, chic pieces from all over the world that we can feel great about sporting.

The Capri bag is just the latest offering to land in the store.

It can be yours.

x Diana

early Fall from Velvet

super soft waffled thermal

luxurious and warm cashmere blend

dual sweater knit pant

cashmere blend cobalt blue

All available now.

Good things

Meet Xirena, one of my favorites.  The styles are colorful, chic, and if I may, HOT.

They straddle the space between lingerie and swimsuits. They're made to be seen. (Yes, you count.)
In addition to the fabulous patterns and color-block, Xirena also makes a fantastic cotton poplin button down shirt. And that's just about the extent of the collection. But Oh, what they do they do so well.
All made here in the USA.

Wear 'em, love 'em.

Meet Stephanie Iverson

Stephanie Iverson's work is a welcome new addition to our store. Based in Western Massachusetts, Stephanie creates jewelry that exudes elegance while maintaining a raw edge. 

She makes pieces with a beautiful texture by pressing different knits into bronze and sterling silver. Her hoop earrings and bangles are hand hammered, giving each piece a subtle organic beauty. 

On a simple sterling silver chain or slung on suede, Iverson's use of the quartz-crystal brings a touch of whimsey to her collection.  

We're pleased to have her lovely work represented in the store.

Epicé scarves

From Danish/French designers Bess Nielsen and Jan Machenhauer comes the coveted Epicé collection of scarves. Printed in pleasing colors and patterns, often with contrasting borders, in cotton, silk, linen, wool or blends of those materials, each is stunning. 

This is just a teaser sampling, come into the store and check out the others!

Today...

Is it possible to fall in love with a shirt? 'Cause this new button down from Hartford has stolen my heart*:

It brings to mind Marilyn on the beach, which sounds just about perfect in every way today.  Or, possibly, just the effortless chic of this shirt with black skinny jeans- which is how I'd wear it.

Other noteworthy lovelies in the store right now:
The simple perfection of Alex Lehr's pima cotton tank tops, the one-of-a-kind splendor of 100% wool hand loomed Bolivian frasadas, Auntie Oti's delicate Indian textiles, Only Hearts organic cotton undies, and a slew of perfectly punk belts from California's Calleen Cordero.

I'm notoriously fickle- any one of the above, and probably a combination of a few could have my heart tomorrow.

*I apologize for the vapidity of this statement- but it's ok to get obsessed with inanimate objects every now and then. Really, it is.

Eugene

It's true that I am a sucker for a pun.  I'm also always on the hunt for the right jeans.
Which means I'm doubly pleased to introduce Eugene denim.  They're great jeans: clean, simple, skinny but not too, low rise, but not too, with a sweet pedigree: Italian denim, but made in the USA.  We've got two styles in: deep, dark denim for the purists, and a black that starts that way, but fades to grey below the knee.  Ombre.   Nice.

Come check them out.

Lu Davis!

The work of photographer Lu Davis is going up in the store this week.  Her work makes me ache in the best way.  The images are evocative, emotional, and empathetic... but this is my take- come in and see for yourself.
Teaser below:

Hamptons Heartbreak

Pink Vanessa

Backflip

Sunday Styes

"From here it looks like you could use some new underwear"...

When I first moved to New York a lingerie line, now defunct, scrawled that on the sidewalks.  It was cheeky and clever.

I'm not looking up your skirt, but from the looks of my underwear drawer, I could use some new undies...
So, generous girl that I am, I have brought in some new favorites for all of us.
Herewith I re-introduce Cosabella to the store (with matching bras and bralets):

Retro leopard print? check. 

Sunshine lace hotpants? check.

Lace edged cotton? check.

And from Eberjey, smooth teal lace.

And again, all of them have optional, co-ordinating tops. Happy Spring.

Girl-Crushing

When did this term even come into my vocabulary?
Girl-crushing is more than just the admiration one feels for icons like Audrey Hepburn, it's closer to an "l like you, you're awesome, we should be friends" feeling.

I have quite a few girl crushes going at any given time- perennials on my list are Kate Moss (I know, I know..but really? I love her) Madonna (forever and always) Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, Stella McCartney, Cate Blanchett, Sophia Coppola, Tina Fey... there are a million more, but let's just go with this little taste before it gets any more revealing (read: embarrassing).  

Armour glosses: Lucy (opaque orange) Grace (magenta shimmer) and Kashmir (rosy peach shimmer)

Lately I'm crushing on Theo Kogan, local lovely, lead singer of  bands the Lunachicks and Theo and the Skyscrapers, DJ, momma, tattoo artist, and proprietress of Armour Beauty.  She's creative, colorful, and certainly crush worthy.

Plus, she has exquisite timing.

I'm not exaggerating when I say I've been on a lip gloss quest.

I've been searching for the perfect lip wear for months now, wandering into Sephora every time I pass one, scanning the reviews on Make-Up Alley, googling things like, "Michelle Williams Red Lipstick".  I've bought half a dozen... Lip Sugar from Fresh, a fancy rosy lipstick from Korres, tinted something from Burt's Bees... Nothing was quite right.

In walked Theo.

Her (Armour's) gloss is thick, laquer-like, rich and colorful.  It's a slick that you know you are wearing, and it lasts for hours.  The colors are either shimmery with flecks of glitter, or creamy and opaque.  They're named for her icons (crushes?): rock gods and goddesses, songs, beauties.

I'm contentedly wearing "Diana", a glossy, opaque, rosy neutral, these days, and moonlighting with "Kashmir" a shimmery, soft peachy pink.

They're available now at the store, and crush worthy indeed.

She didn't name it for me, but a girl can dream...

Let me introduce you

to some of the new designers in the store this fall:

The lovely and delightful, and very local, Megan Noonan dropped off pieces from her inaugural collection for Marijn Bennet. I'm particularly taken by the braided scarves in alpaca and wool. Warm necklaces in fetching colors are an original take on a winter staple.

Hikaru Noguchi, is a new gem for us. Japanese by origin, she produces her collection of knit accessories in the UK from the finest Scottish, English and Australian wool. The styles reference vintage knitwear, while updating colors to a thoroughly modern mix. I call it friendly, soft, warm... and definitely cool.



Another new find is Mercy Studio, by a design duo out of Toronto. The rich fabrics, attention to detail and romantic silhouettes drew me in immediately. In the end, though, there is something unique and artful about the collection that I haven't come across before, and that won me over. The digitally printed silk charmeuse, in deep navy with bronzy gold, blue, white and brown is pure luxury, and the washed stars on woven wool are sophisticated delight. Not to mention the gold brocade coat...

This is just a tease, come see what else is on the racks and on the shelves.

Meanwhile, back in Park Slope...

Witness the work of George The Great:

The lights are embedded in wooden dowls- fantastic.

George Awad, truly George the Great, has been transforming the lighting in the store this summer.

It started with an offhand comment from my friend Christine, about her father's mini obsession with LED lighting. LEDs are something I have long championed, but had disappointing experience with. 

They are magical: very energy efficient, long lived and bright, but until recently the color spectrum available to the general public was limited to very white/ blue light- not the best for my warm store.

George's interest has led him to explore the options now available, including warmer tones, and the results are remarkable, as you can see in the before and after photos above.

I'm completely thrilled. 

And, among things that may thrill you: there are lots of good things on SALE in the store now. 

Come in, experience George's magic, and find something magic of your own.

getting into the mood...

Two days before Thanksgiving, and the last dry leaves have fallen and are scuttling along the avenue. The store feels festive: pretty little glass ornaments in many colors, warm winter tights, and lovely new crackled metallic leather cases from Barbara Wiggins adding some sparkle. Seems like a perfect day to start playing our '09 Holiday mix....
Which leads me to my favorite new sounds, a new Holiday album from the Harlem Parlour Music Club. The album features warm acoustic versions of my favorites with a splash of good 'ol funk, and some new ones too, played by an ensemble of incredibly skilled New York musicians... You've heard these guys on millions of recordings, or possibly in the orchestras of the biggest Broadway shows. I'm happy to have a stack of cds in the store... come get 'em, they're hot.