Spend a Couple Minutes »Zac Posen for Target

April 24

Another month, another Target designer collaboration and, despite the fact that I am not a particular fan of Zac Posen‘s main line, I’m surprised to say that this is one of the best Target designer lines yet. I failed the stamina check to stand in line for the late night 24 sale for the pop-up shop, but intend to do my vigil and get up in the earliest hours and go crazy online.

From gold lame, to tuxedo tanks, from ruffled skirts to funky prints there’s just so much to covet! Maybe Posen, who faces major financial issues, should design more affordable all the time and rake it in.

See some shots below/after the jump and more at Fashionista.

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Posted on April 18, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Washlet

The Evolution of Clean

At Soba-ya Jim returned to the table and told me to go to the bathroom with my camera – and that I might encounter an androgynous ghost!

If you’ve seen the Washlet on Found Footage Festival (which, from all the references lately, you can tell I’ve been watching repeatedly), you’ll know what that means.

The seat is heated, which was pleasant (though a friend who encountered the washlet in Japan likened it to sitting on a human body… eww). But I wasn’t sure how I felt about the warm stream of water meant for cleansing.

Fortunately, the restroom isn’t the highlight of the restaurant, so you can test the washlet out while also enjoying a great meal.

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Posted on April 11, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Bellisimo

125 4th Avenue

Clean, kindly, and convenient: Bellissimo, right near Union Square, was the perfect spot for a much needed pampering with an equally frazzled co-worker. We opted for a pedicure with a ten minute foot massage that was heavenly. I loved the selection of colors as well as the funky soft beads your feet soak in. Next time I’ll be sure to partake in one of their back massages.

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Posted on April 4, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »The Bradbury Building

304 South Broadway

Famous for its ornamental iron work and iconic design, The Bradbury Building may not look like much on the outside, but it’s worth a stop if you’re for its stunning first floor (the only floor visitors are allowed on).

Featured in many films, it’s perhaps most famous as the setting for J.F. Sebastien’s apartment in Blade Runner.

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Posted on March 28, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Ivanhoe Books

1618 Silverlake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Right next door to the La Mill Coffee shop is Ivanhoe Books, an art and design specialty store filled with tons of great stuff. We had a lovely time browsing the collection of design, fashion, and art books and, while we were hesitant to bring any over-sized books back in our luggage, the shop introduced me to a book called Handmade Woodstock Houses that I couldn’t get out of my head and ended up finding on eBay.

While some of the books they offer can be purchased for slightly less online if you’re willing to shop around for awhile, others (like the Ossie Clark book that I really want) are priced better than other book sites. You can find some selections from their very select and tasteful collection on their site as well as on their blog which just informed me of a Soho Deborah Tubeville exhibit that I’ll try to swing by on my lunch hour next week.

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Posted on March 14, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Pick Your Oscar Dress

Clearly McQueen

It’s a tradition I adhere to every year. I fantasize and pick the dress I’d wear to the Oscars. It’s usually more fun than watching the thing. Of course, I couldn’t resist delving into the Alexander McQueen archives in light of the tragic loss. This black lace and white peacock frock is just one shining example of the magic he brought to the world of fashion.

Post your fantasy outfit as a comment!

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Posted on March 7, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Gaultier for Target

On Sale March 7th

While my personal list of must-haves from the Gaultier Target collection arriving in stores this Sunday might not be quite as long as some other designer collaborators (Rodarte, Tracy Feith, Anna Sui), there’s still plenty to get excited about starting with that bright yellow dress that will have me up first thing in the morning shopping online. Also like the sailor stripe, but wish there were more of his signature stripes sprinkled throughout the tattoo prints (never my favorite), lovely painted florals, and chic leather. I do hope the fingerless gloves are for sale and not just styling extras.

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Posted on February 28, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Quicktake Rodarte Exhibit

at Cooper Hewitt

Some things just have to be seen in person to be believed and appreciated, and the incredibly intricate and textured work of Rodarte definitely falls under that category. On display in one of my favorite spots in the city, The Cooper Hewitt, the exhibit  Quicktake: Rodarte consists of selected pieces from their recent seasons and each offers another reason to gasp and fawn. The tooled leather, the hidden gems, the dip dyed silk, the knitted tights, the claw belt clasps… sigh.

The only complaint is that they weren’t joking when they called it a “quick take”. There are only three sections of clothes, with about six on display each. I want more, more, more!!

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Posted on February 21, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Metal Mad at Giant Robot

437 East 9th St

Leave it to Giant Robot NY to turn me into a little art collector! The Metal Mad show caught my attention when Paul Lyons, whose work is featured, sent a note out the other day… heavy metal art sounded like something I could not miss out on.

It’s a fun, small collection of skulls, bosoms, swords and beastly animals. I am/am soon to be (the show is up until March 3rd) the proud owner of Paul’s grotesquely awesome marker drawings and a fantastically creepy Audobon-esque painting of headless bat-birds battling in a black sky by Aaron Brown. These three pieces were my personal favorites, but there’s lots of great stuff to see.

Hannah Stouffer‘s dreamy, bloody paintings are lovely, the black and white pen and ink drawings by Louie Cordero call to mind the horrors of a Charles Burns comic and are fab. I was also smitten with the Bear Horde drawing by French and the intricate creations from Jeremiah Maddock. Oh, and Tom Neely‘s Wolves in the Throne rules.

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Posted on February 14, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Eye Candy

329 Lafayette St.

Eye Candy on Lafayette is a peaceful little treasure trove of accessories and, if you know me, you know how I feel about accessories (I love, I adore, I get chills). I particularly loved, adored and got chills from a fantastic, giant swan/crystal claw ring that I spotted a few months back designed by Brooklynite Bora Yasar. I was out to buy gifts for others at the time, so with all the strength I could muster, left it in its place. But now that my birthday draws near(ish), I went back and the ring was still there – so I simply had to have it.

Now it adorns my finger daily. I also grabbed a pair of wonderfully flat, dangly modernist earrings that I get a lot of use out of – but the shop is full of scores of other little beauties I wouldn’t say no to (like a giant pair of tribal hoop earrings)… but restraint is a virtue, right? A calm Tim Gunnesque man runs the place and can offer you gift certificates for the accessory lovers in your life.

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Posted on January 31, 2010