nyc...clogs and overalls

our trip to nyc to visit friends last week was such a welcome break. we still managed to spend a few mornings at the park along riverside drive, and i didn't shop nearly as much as i wanted to, but that's how it goes when you're on leon time.

i bought an undershirt from India at Maryam Nassir Zadeh in a lovely dark forest green. apparently they cost $0.35 in India! i also bought white overalls from the Steven Alan outlet, which i've been coveting every since i saw fanny bostrom's wedding photos. they are so comfortable, and i've really enjoyed the baggier silhouette.

we went to bu and the duck finally, which is conveniently located across the street from steven alan in tribeca. the shop was filled with amazing vintage toys and furniture. i bought leon a pair of linen overalls, which he's modeling with his new shoes from sweet william.

i had less luck with shoes, although what else is new? i fell in love with these golden goose clogs, but the shop was out of my size. stephanie and i went to no. 6 (right next door to built by wendy) to try out their clog heels. my feet are so wide that i had a hard time even putting the T-strap clog on, and stephanie found them to run narrow, too. i'm guessing they'll stretch out a little, but i don't think there's much hope for me. so i ended up buying a pair of sven clogs in black, which were surprisingly sleek and minimalist for clogs. however, after a walk to the park and back, i now have blisters and aching feet. perhaps the 39s are too small, after all. or maybe it's the high heel. not sure what to do about this.

i was deciding between the svens and the boating moccasins by SeaVees, which were as comfortable as a good pair of sneakers, and now i wish i had gone with the latter. and so it goes!

this weekend...

leon and i are taking the morning train to nyc tomorrow. we're looking forward to long rambles with nora, museums and crafts with stephanie, and general december merriment.

oh yes, and shopping.

leon's first nyc trip

this past weekend leon met gus and lena. and then he met valerie and her soon-to-arrive little sprout. he played with jenny, too, and decided he wanted to move to brooklyn soon. i bought my mociun issaran dress, which is so soft and easy to wear. we went to the guggenheim, ps1, and the whitney. leon highly recommends 'afterparty' (a.k.a. woolly mammoths) at ps1 and the dan graham exhibit at the whitney (mirrors and crazy funny films). we walked along diller + scofidio's high line and wondered why boston wasn't able to do something similar with the central artery. there were a few epic meltdowns along the way. staying at the ace made the trip manageable. we stuffed ourselves in koreatown and wished we could have bought even more things at the sale (those corwin+mociun pillows!). and then we took the train home and plotted our next nyc trip. maybe in august for the summer sales.

imaginary outfit for new york--even*cleveland

imaginary outfit: erica (and leon) in NYC by stephanie

i've already professed my love for stephanie's imaginary outfits--this one is for our impending trip to nyc for lena's studio sale.

i also thought her 'how i'd wear it' for camp comfort was pitch perfect.


stephanie featured the red version of these f-troupe sandals in her post on the underrated profession of homemakers. there are black patent leather and tan versions on sale for $87 at creatures of comfort. probably not the best for city walking, but very hard to resist.

going to brooklyn next weekend?

lena just let me know that many of my favorite artists and designers are having a sale next sunday. my baby shower is the day beforehand, but i think i can handle a drive down to brooklyn just for this.

mociun clothing at 50% off? port2port calendars? sian keegan's adorable stuffed animals? i really cannot resist....

new a.p.c. skirt, whirlwind trip to nyc

matthew and i went to nyc on saturday (we drove) to photograph a public housing project for his studio. we went to the new museum to look at the elizabeth peyton exhibition, and then muji for pens and notebooks. i also went to bird in cobble hill, where i found the most perfect [maternity] knit mini skirt. i tried on two of mociun's tulip skirt tie-front dresses, but i looked absolutely terrible in both. i guess if you feel like a beach ball, wearing a bubble skirt is probably a Very Bad Idea. so naturally i grabbed the a.p.c. knit skirt as a consolation prize/purchase.

it was only $120, but now that i've thought more about it, i'm guessing it wouldn't be too hard to knit and piece together my own version: wide waistband of stretchy ribbed knit, slight a-line shape, sturdy wool yarn, and a small decorative hem.

today was a thoroughly a.p.c. day--cape, cashmere pullover, and knit skirt. the striped top is from jcrew, and i also bought new wool leggings. it must be fall when you're dressed from head to toe in knits.

i was also very excited by the black squirrel, although it looks quite feral and unfriendly....

nyc: part two

shop reviews, continued...

mayle
they were marking down the previous season to 60% off. unfortunately, they didn't have anything in my size. mostly 2s and 10s. argh!

a.p.c. surplus store
such a tiny store. i wouldn't have bought most of the clothing full price. they did, however, have those lovely white sandals from last summer for $150.

built by wendy sample sale
so crowded and hectic. matthew thought about buying a sweater, but i was feeling claustrophobic and had to leave. maybe nyc sample sales aren't for me? the brooklyn shop, however, had quite a few pieces from the new collection. i love the hawaiian print dresses and skirts, but i'll have to wait until they go on sale.

curve
i went here with angela, but there wasn't much left in terms of sale items. i loved the isabel marant that they did have, however.

jumelle
another tiny shop, but so many lovely, well-curated items. again, isabel marant was a stand-out for me.

amarcord
i found a tunic dress that reminded me of this dress by jackson, johnston & roe. it was only $95, but i didn't have time to try it on because i had to meet friends at MoMA.



moon river chattel
i did, however, fortify myself with red licorice from this wonderful shop. they have waxed canvas duffel bags, but unfortunately were out of the smaller sized one that matthew wanted. we might have to do a phone order later on.

steven alan
basically, i wanted everything in this store. the buyers could do no wrong this season. mayle, lyell, mociun, ulla johnson, rachel comey, lauren moffat, et al.


so, the shop was closing in 20 minutes, and i was feeling grumpy because i had yet to buy anything. we were leaving on the 8pm chinatown bus, and i 'had' to buy something. the lyell dress was clearly out ($500!?!), but this mociun pocket front zigzag dress was calling my name. the print is beyond awesome, and i'll take sturdy and clever over delicate and elegant pretty much any day of the week. i do, after all, ride my bicycle to school in inclement weather.


oh, did i mention the front pocket? so perfect for hiding a $20 and photo i.d. for summer-time jaunts. mociun zigzag dress, $298. steven alan, in store only.




i also bought matthew this gingham tie. boys should wear ties more often, with their sleeves rolled up. $55, steven alan, in store only.

nyc: part one

forsythia in the Met lobby. the courbet show is amazing.

in god we trust interior. matthew really like the men's clothing. i thought the sailor dresses and tops were cute, but the puffed sleeves were too intense for me.

jackalope at in god we trust.

i tried on these f-troupe lace-ups at bird. the leather is extremely soft, but the shoe runs really small. i usually wear a 39 or 8.5, and the 40s were too small on me.
$185, available on bird's website.

after stephanie posted on the 3.1 tatami collaboration, i kept an eye out for them in the city. i really wanted this pair, which are hard to find online. i tried them on at steven alan, loved them, but i'd rather buy something dressier. as of yesterday, they had them in 38 and 39, at the very least.
$150, steven alan, phone or email order only.

the print is really nice, but it didn't fit me very well. as in, i looked like a sack of potatoes.
$210, a.p.c.



it's true, this tunic top is shapeless. come on, touitou, we all know that jenny does it better.
$190, a.p.c.



it comes in a top, too! was sorely tempted, especially because i love chambray. the dressing room photos did not turn out well. oh, and i can't remember how much it costs, but maybe $155?
a.p.c., in store only.



the top was a little tricky to get into, and somewhat sheer even with the lining, but oh, it is glorious. i was in ruffle heaven.
$390(?), lyell.



i am in love with this dress. it is so comfortable and elegant. the silk georgette is light and stretchy, and the fit is perfection. nipped in the waist, but not too tight, and the sleeves drape beautifully. an effortless dress.
$495, lyell.

built by wendy

ooh, i can't believe i'll be in nyc during a sample sale!

weekend at the hamptons

cooper's beach boardwalk

stuart davis grave, green river cemetery

frank o'hara grave, green river cemetery

cross sound ferry