Fun at Carnival

I'm going on vacation - woot! And my vacation started today at Carnival to check out a fashion show fwith a group of Asian fashion designers with the theme circus. Unfortunately I missed a lot of it but was able to catch Cheng-Huai Chuang's clothes which were amazing. I also loved the atmosphere in Carnival because I love street fairs. It really looked like a carnival inside with carnival games such as shooting water guns to make water balloons pop. Really fun!

Noir Sample Sale

I stopped by the Noir Sample Sale (350 W 38th St, (btwn 8th & 9th Ave), 5th Floor) after work today. There were $5, $15, $25, $45 bins of earrings, bracelets, and rings. In addition, there were animal themed rings from $45- $95. If you can't make the sale, I noticed a few Noir rings on clearance at HSN.com that they were selling at equivalent or for less than the sample sale prices. This snake ring was selling at the sample sale for $25 or more and on HSN, it's $19.95 + 4.95 shipping. Probably the best deal is the simulated pearl cluster ring for $12.95 on HSN versus $25 at the sale. The crystal pave goldtone flower rings were going for $45 but are $29.99 + shipping.

Breakfast at Club 21 with André Leon Talley

Not much will get me up before 6am in the morning, but when my friend Melodie invited to the Breakfast at Club 21 with André Leon Talley at 8am this morning, I jumped at the chance. After a delectable breakfast and plenty of coffee, about 150 of us were introduced to Mr. Talley.

Wearing a mustard-hued, custom made robe by Chado Ralph Rucci, André looked very much like a guru, fashion guru that is. Affectionately known as ALT in the blog world, he spoke to us in the intimate setting about the mix of high and low fashion, and what luxury meant for him. He recalled growing up under the influence of his grandmother, aunts, and uncles. Glamour was learned from his grandmother and Mr. Talley reminisced about her fantastic drawers brimming with elegant scarves and gloves. He mentioned his uncle who owned only 2 pairs of dress shoes that were polished to gleaming perfection. Sunday was a happy event for his family when they could dress beautifully to attend church and socialize. His early life had a profound effect on him and luxury to Andre means childhood memories of the scent of freshly laundered white sheets hanging from a clothesline.

After attending college at Brown, he worked for Diana Vreeland in New York. One of his first assignments involved macaroons (the hair style ala Princess Leia, not the pastry). He wanted to make the macaroons stand out and went shopping at Woolworth’s where he spotted hairnets (which reminded him of his grandmother) at a bargain price of 25 cents for 3. He thought that the macaroons wrapped in hairnets would cause the hair to sparkle in different lighting. Diana Vreeland loved it.

Finally in the Q & A session, I told him briefly about RunwayPassport.com and asked him for advice for a new magazine. He said we had a great name which was a good start. As for advice, he could only tell us to follow our dreams.

Other ALT nuggets:

Fashion in airports - is “sad” – He finds it humiliating to take off shoes at security checks. André said he dresses like a homeless person at the airport, because he doesn’t want people to recognize him (but of course they still do). The exception? If he were on a a plane with Karl Lagerfield, he would arrive overdressed because "some people have such high standards". Apparently Karl Lagerfield wears those high collars even in the St. Tropez heat that would make us ordinary humans wilt. “Must take him hours to get dressed”, mused Mr. Talley.

Reality TV: André has never watched American Idol and thinks that reality TV shows are “brutal”. He hated to see people cry when he was judging America’s Next Top Model and said that he wished that reality shows were more uplifting instead of about rejection. And he was horrified by the “potty mouths” of ANTM contestants.

New and notable designer: LaQuan Smith

Worst Fashion Trend: Wearing jeans over underwear – “like your mama didn’t tell you how to keep your pants up”.

On Education: He stressed the value of education and being a well read person. Learning French helped him connect better to different designers. He mention Jackie O who could have conversations in a French and Spanish when on diplomatic trips with President Kennedy.

On his success: When someone asked him how he achieved his dreams, he said he has always been fearless and was never afraid to work hard (e.g. time spent as receptionist for Andy Warhol).

About First Ladies: Jackie O and Michele O are his favorites.

Michelle Obama’s fashion choices: Michelle chooses new and upcoming designers such as Jason Wu and Thakoon because she likes the undiscovered and new. "We don’t tell Michelle Obama what to wear. Michelle tells Michelle what to wear. "

We The People Launch Party & Charming Baker Exhibit

Last Thursday, May 13th, I was invited to the launche party of We the People on 156 Stanton Street. The boutique is a collaborative of new and upcoming designers. The store is a nice space but rather small, so people were overflowing onto the street. I didn't get to take a lot of pictures but managed to squeeze in a few.

I then stopped by the art gallery next door which was showing the work of Charming Baker. His pieces were well executed, but at the same time had a little "twist" to it. For example, some of his paintings had holes in them, which I found out later were gunshot holes. I especially liked the backgrounds that he used that were sort of wallpaper-like but gave his main subject a slightly-off kilter feel. His art is something I would love to own and hang in my future luxury apartment in my mind (too bad Damien Hirst bought this collection).

Designer Cody Sai


Melany B

Charming Baker

Tetsuo Hasegawa at Ward 111

Last night I attended the opening exhibit for Tetsuo Hasegawa at Ward 111 in Tribeca. His work was a series of faces that evoked intense emotion. On one side of the room hung dark and morbid faces that were skeletal and nightmarish, painted in a murky palette. On the other side were happier faces in vibrant, vivid colors. Some of the faces were almost clownish, reminding me of the joker with bright, grinning lips. My friend asked Tetsuo how he got his ideas and he said they came to him while painting or dreaming. Some of his faces are based on actual people he knows. It was a very relatable show that brought to life the positive and negative of the human psyche. A friend of Tetsuo noted that his work his leaning more toward happy these days. I also had a chance to see Lale, an amazing avante garde dancer perform. I've seen her belly dance before and was hooked! Unfortunately the pictures of the dancing was very blurry, but I do have some pictures of the artwork.

Tetsuo and I

Inside Ward 111

Bartender Sean doing magic! They offer bespoke drinks that are yummy.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT EXHIBIT & M2M Nails

Last Friday, I attended the opening exhibit for the Future Development at the Yard. It was an interesting bar with painted wall scenes of an industrial wasteland glowing neon green and purple under the black lights. It was a fun atmosphere and the graffiti was played as a slideshow on the flat screen tvs hanging through out the venue. I almost didn't get in because I forgot my ID, but fortunately (or unfortunately) I don't look 21 anymore. I didn't get to take any pictures because I forgot my camera. but you can check out some pictures on their site or the exhibit.

• EXHIBIT DATE: May 6 – 13, 2010


• LOCATION: Loft 676 – 676 Broadway (b/w Great Jones/W. 3rd St and Bond) SoHo, NYC


• GALLERY HOURS: Sun. May 9 – Thurs. May 13; 10am-4pm

I also had a chance to meet Myrdith from M2M Natural Nails. She was offering manicures with her line of natural nail polish, M2M, and a Minx design on each hand. She did an amazingly quick and neat job (not easy considering the poor lighting in there). But then I learned that Myrdith is also a celebrity nail technician who flies around the world to do fashion shows, as well as photoshoots for magazines such as Elle. I was excited because it was my first time getting Minx done on my nail. The color I chose for my nails were bright cherry red and the Minx was a floral pattern. If you don't know what Minx is, check out my previous post and their website. M2M nail polish is natural and free of formaldehyde and other chemicals. At $11 a pop, pretty reasonably priced. Part of the proceeds from M2M sales also goes toward Haiti. So yes, you can have pretty nails and do good!

Sample Sales this Week

I haven't posted sales in while, but since my good friend is visiting, I decided to do some research for her. There were some brands that were new to me and it was interesting to learn about them. So after much googling. here you go, you lucky people :)

Who: MaxMara - Known for their luxurious coats, their spring 2010 collection had neutral colors - nude, beige and black. Sophisticated looks that are great for work.
What: Spring/Summer clothing and accessories at 60-80% off. Dresses are $199-$299 (was $995).
When: Now through May 14, 2010. Mon-Thurs 9am-6:30pm, Fri 9am-5pm
Where: Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St., b/t Eighth & Ninth Aves.

Picture:Style.com - Maxmara Spring 2010






Who: Herion - "Venerable Apparel Maker"established in Venice 1886
What: Everything is 50-80% off retail ($25-$100).
When: May 11-14, 2010. Tues-Fri 10am-7pm
Where: 542 West 22nd St (b/n 10th & 11th Ave) 3rd floor



Photo: Herion1886.com


Who: Tocca

Why: 60-85% off feminine womenswear, beauty, and baby items.

When: May 12-14, 2010. Wed-Fri 11:30am-7pm

Where: 542 West 22nd St (b/n 10th & 11th Ave)



Photo: Tocca.com



Who: Tibi semiannual sample sale
Why: The Graffiti shift dress in black and white is $90 (originally $345), the Bouvier jersey one-shoulder dress is $75 (originally $288), and the Hummingbirds chiffon halter dress is $125 (originally $478)
When: 5/12–5/15, W (1–6), Th–F (10–6), S (10–4)
Where Coolture Showroom, 409 W. 39th St., nr. Ninth Ave.




Photo: Style.com

Who: Miguelina
What: Tops are $25 to $125 and dresses are $105 to $195 from Spring 2010.
When: Now through May 14, 2010. Mon-Fri 8:30am-8pm
Where: 20 West 36th St (nr 5th Ave) 6th floor (212-290-2996 ext. 307)

Photo: Miguelina.com

Who: The Butter, Tibi, Bettye Muller & Something Bleu Stock/Sample Sale
What: Shop for beautiful sandals, chic skimmers and flats, and gorgeous peep-toes and platforms. Styles that were $250-$650, now available for $60-$100! Sample Shoes $60. Stock Shoes $100.CASH ONLY
When: May 7, 10-13, 2010. Fri 10am-7pm, Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm. (closed on Sat & Sun)
Where: 307 7th Ave.(b/n 27th & 28th St)Suite 2307 (212) 366-1822

Who: Showroom Seven
What: Up to 90% off Orla Kiely, Erickson Beamon, Charlotte Ronson, and more.
When: May 11-21, 2010. Tues-Fri, Mon-Fri 10am-7pm
Where: 263 11th Ave (b/n 27th & 28th St) 3rd floor

Who: Lela Rose
What: Cashmere boyfriend cardigan $195 (was $550) and the ribbon-strip skirt is $250 (was $695)Cashmere Boyfriend Cardigan $195 (was $550) Silk Faille Wave Front Strapless Dress $595 (was $1295)
When: May 12-14, 2010. Wed 9am-7pm, Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-5pm
Where: 224 West 30th St (b/n 7th & 8th Ave) 13th floor

Who: Gant
Why: Spring/summer 2010 clothing and accessories for men and women are up to 80 percent off at the Gant sample sale. Shirts are $25 (originally $99 to $175), blazers are $95 (originally $695), and cardigans are $45 (originally $225).When: 5/12–5/14; W–Th (8:30–6:30), F (8:30–5).Where: 20 W. 55th St., nr. Fifth Ave., eleventh fl (212-230-1949).

Who: Rebecca Minkoff
What: Coveted purses at deep discounts. Morning After bag $327 (was $595), Beloved Mini $217 (was $395), Supernova Stud Devote bag $382 (was $695).
When: May 12-16, 2010. Wed-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Where: 155 5th Ave (b/n 21st & 22nd St)

Who: Isaia & Cortigiani
What: Menswear sample sale on Suits, outerwear, shoes, sportswear, and more
When: May 10-11, 2010. Mon 1pm-7pm, Tues 10am-6pm
Where: 37 West 57th St (nr 6th Ave) (212-920-1211)

Who: Twinkle by Wenlan
What: Printed silk skinny-leg pants are $80 (reg. $214) and a silk drop-waist dress with plunging neckline is $130 (reg. $341).
When: May 13-14, 2010. Thurs-Fri 10am-7pm
Where: 545 8th Ave (b/n 37th & 38th St) 17th floor

Who: Opening Ceremony
What: 60-90% off Rachel Comey, United Bamboo, Vena Cava, Proenza Schouler, and more.
When: May 13-16, 2010. Thurs-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun noon-7pm
Where: 33 Howard St (b/n Broadway & Lafayette St)

Who: Bonpoint Childrenswear Sample Sale
What: Baby, girls and boys from newborn to preteen. Tops, Bottoms, Sleepwear, Outwear, Shoes, Accessories at up to 60% off. Credit card only.No Cash or Checks.
All Sales are final. No Strollers <-this amuses me as it's a children's wear sale! When: VIP Sale May 12, 2010. Wed, 3pm-7pm. Public May 13-14, 2010. Thurs 8am-7pm, Fri 8am-3pm Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18th St (b/n 6th & 7th Ave), 5th Floor