The Arc at Moynihan Station (where NYFW’s The Shows were held this season) was packed to the brim with onlookers ready for the Desigual show. The retail giant adds an extra punch each season to their runway game to bring the audience back for more. Known for their vibrant hues and playful patterns, the brand continued to design with their nonchalant, easy-going woman at mind. A woman that plays many roles on a daily basis– a woman that gleams in the morning and glows in the evening with a unified, authentic and cosmopolitan flow. To me one of the most interesting parts of the show was the eccentric headpieces. Scarves wrapped into mohawk-esque style with feminine dresses and popping prints kept the audience wanting to see more– and more they did (even online!) when models passed around a selfie-stick held iPhone while filming the runway show to online viewers that couldn’t make it. It made for a fun, technology-forward event. Take a peek and watch this fun behind-the-scenes video of what I was able to attend!
Tag Archives: obsessed
Shoe Heaven in the Empire Hotel
Forget diamonds—shoes are a girl’s best friend. Isa Tapia held a presentation of her phenomenal shoe line this afternoon in an intimate setting in the quarters of the Empire Hotel. My fabulous fashion stylist friend, Liz Teich, and I were in shoe heaven. Tapia has created a line for every occasion—whether you need a classic pump, to a statement piece, it’s all there. The shoes are crafted beautifully to such full extent of detail. Absolute perfection. Take a peek at her line and let me know what you think! Shoes will be in stores starting in August.
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Let’s Shop Vintage Manhattan– Throwback Thursday
In all “Throwback Thursday” spirit, I figured my love for vintage stores could come in handy. A haven for both shoppers with big wallets and thrifty budgets—Manhattan is a treasure hunt for vintage fashionistas at many locations. Whether you’re looking for more commercial, mainstream looks or a hipster vibe, each shop creates its own atmosphere and draws different customers to search the serendipitous depths of the stocked shelves. I took the liberty to hunt through these stores for you and report my findings so you can get a head start on your quest for vintage finds.
New York Vintage
Walk into a dimly lit, small space filled to the brim with designer goods and you know you’re at New York Vintage. You’ll feel like a little girl playing dress up when looking at these pieces—the options are endless and some museum-worthy. Fabulous names from the past and present—think Chanel, Balenciaga, Norman Norell, and Dolce and Gabana—filled the clothing racks. Big brimmed hats, dazzling jewels, and tiny shoes stood out amongst the clothes. The associates were super friendly and knowledgeable about the clothing. For a vintage-seeker, this store is a dream-come true! Nothing is mainstream or bottom line. Every piece is hand-selected and stored with care to browse. Featured in many magazine photo shoots, prestigious store windows at flagship stores in NYC—New York Vintage is the ultimate high-end store to discover hard-to-find pieces from names of the past. This store is for big budgets—not the thrifty shopper. Rachel Zoe’s version of heaven.
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Location: 117 West 25th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues
Online: www.NewYorkVintage.com
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The Key to My Sole– Louboutin at Saks
The red sole has been an iconic symbol on the tip-toes of celebrities and fashionistas alike—parading the streets with such sex appeal for glamorous women. Christian Louboutin knows how to make shoes that make a woman feel sexy—and it’s no surprise that Saks is opening a Christian Louboutin ‘salon’ at their stores now.
From the streets of Paris, to my very own New York City backyard—this video is fantastic—enjoy!
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Put Your Best Foot Forward on Monday with Manolo Blahnik
A Foot in the Fashion Industry: Manolo Blahnik on Lifestyle and Inspirations
“Young man, do things. Do accessories. Do shoes,” the legendary Diana Vreeland advised a young Manolo Blahnik in 1971.
Such advice couldn’t have been greater to a creative artist like Manolo Blahnik. He had been going through a more confused time in his life, unsure of what creative direction to move in—and this advice sealed the deal. Anxiously, he moved forward and pursued the shoe-design field and created an entire fashion empire that did not exist before—adding couturier techniques and detail to ready-to-wear, high fashion footwear. Let’s take a peek into the artist’s views and muses.
How did Blahnik become a shoe designer? “It was one of those accidents of life. I could just as well have been a milliner or fashion designer,” he said. Diana Vreeland encouraged him to work on his footwear designs and to make it a reality—which in turn, created a new shoe empire that had never existed before he hit the scene. She told him to dump the costume design path, and to “concentrate on the funny little things on the feet.” And so he did just that.
Techniques behind designing shoes: “I’m not an intellectual,” he confesses, “but I am a voracious observer of people’s movements and attitudes in the past and now. I’m very curious and I belong to that group of people who use what they observe and let it come out through what they do.” Blahnik loves the past, reminiscent and idiosyncratic English style—which is why he claims London as his home base.
His fabulous clientele: “I design for confident women who know what they want.” When creating each individual shoe, Blahnik creates an imaginary scenario of what type of woman would wear the particular shoe. Whether it be a society woman in France that attends charity balls, or a woman that hosts dinner parties for her family on her back porch—he has each scenario dreamed up for the potential buyer.
Fashion mentor: “My aunt acted as a daily fashion mentor. I was so impressed by the way she carried herself.” She taught him how to hold himself as a sophisticated individual, and the ideals of elegance.
Favorite museum: Prado in Madrid
Energy source: Spoons full of sugar, literally. On a mere 4-5 hours of sleep a night on average, Blahnik is not much for food. He’ll open up a bag of sugar and get the energy needed to design such sweet, delicious shoe creations.
Practicality versus whimsicality: “Once in a while I try to design a shoe with an eye to practicality rather than beauty. It is always a failure. Then I do a whimsy, follow my instinct, and make a slipper of silk scraps and crocodile scales—and it sells.”
View of New York City: “I’m always happy in New York because I’m a medieval person and it is a totally medieval city. People live in towers and they come down to fight—for food, for carriages, to sell their wares.”
Well, isn’t that the truth?
blaire brown 