The Velvet Report

Color Me Tribal

2010-04-20T23:22:00.003-04:00

These clothes demand that you dance—somewhere, soon, and without a care in the world. I say in Rio. Bangles and fringe, tribal tattoos, electric colors that almost clash but don’t: If all that isn't loud enough for you, just add some more beads...and a hot male as an extra accessory while you're at it ;-P

Necklace, $210 at Topshop, 478 Broadway.

Dress, $1,400 and Bangles, from $40 to $60 at Diane Von Furstenberg, 874 Washington St.

Bandeau, $11 at American Apparel, 712 Broadway.
Sandals, $1,605 at Giuseppe Zanotti Design, 806 Madison Ave.

(via nymag.com)

My New Shoes on My New Chair

2010-04-15T23:41:00.002-04:00

Studded Chair: Home Goods, $150

Shoes: Betsey Johnson, $150 (purchased for $37!)

Pin-Up Glamour

2010-04-13T21:57:00.001-04:00

These ads by British lingerie brand Ava Loves actually make me wanna go out and buy myself one of these grandma girdles or two...

It's Got Your Name Written All Over It

2010-04-09T15:20:00.005-04:00

How much do I love these personalized letter-pressed business cards and embossed stationery from Winged Wheel! This Japanese paper and printing company uses a special handmade cotton paper available nowhere else in the world. (but you can get your hands on these here) Why?...because you know you're dying to hand out the most adorable bunny business card that a monkeysuit-wearing professional has ever seen.

Home Away from Home

2010-04-06T21:59:00.005-04:00

Before you book a lackluster hotel room for your next get-away, make sure to check out HomeAway.com first. (Especially if you're traveling with 4 or more people.) I found this 2 BR beauty of a place in Lisbon, Portugal's city center for dirt cheap... Happy Birthday to me!

Doggy Notes

2010-03-29T21:33:00.009-04:00

Love these notecards from Fancy Schmancy! If only for the obvious fact that they're super cute, but you can also have them personalized by choosing your own color, dog silhouette, and typeface. Best of all 50% of the proceeds from the sale will be given to Rescuezilla, a New York City pitbull rescue group, whose goal is to "Foster, Adopt, Save"

Design with a cause, now that's what I'm talkin'bout :-)

NYC March Sample Sales

2010-03-12T16:12:00.004-04:00

Dolce & Gabbana and D&G

Details: Classic black patent pumps are $230 (reg. $575). Silk chiffon leopard-print blouses are $340 (reg. $850).

When: Today & Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St., b/t Sixth & Seventh Aves., 4th flr.

Fenton-Fallon

Details: Studded cuffs, chunky chain necklaces, and ’80s door knockers are priced below wholesale.

When: Today, noon-7 p.m.; Sat., noon-6 p.m.

Where: End of Freeman Alley, b/t Bowery & Chrystie St. (212-477-1315).

Roberta Freymann

Details: Snag globally inspired goods like a Brera suede clutch for $65 (reg. $150) and velvet espadrilles for $125 (reg. $275).

When: Today & Sat., 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.

Where: 153 E. 70th St., b/t Third & Lexington Aves. (212-585-3767).

Multidesigner Sale

Details: You’d think we were curating this roster of discounted past-season items from Mociun; Shabd Simon-Alexander; Samantha Pleet; Nomia;Manimal; Wiksten; Bodkin; Aesa; Jackson, Johnston & Roe; and more.

When: Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: 55-59 Chrystie St., b/t Canal & Hester Sts., ste. 500.

J Rosen Showroom
Details: Things are heating up. Vix and Lisa Curran swimsuits (up to DD) start at $65; cover-ups start at $30; flip-flops start at $10.

When: Mar. 12-26. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Where: 231 W. 39th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., ste. 1101.

Showroom Seven

Details: Kova & T jeans, Andy & Debb blouses, Erickson Beamon jewels, and Tony Cohen dresses at up to 90 percent off.

When: Mar. 15-26. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Where: 263 Eleventh Ave., b/t W. 27th & W. 28th Sts., 3rd flr.

Lauren Merkin

Details: Up to 80 percent off handbags, clutches, and accessories. Makeup bags start at $5.

When: Mar. 16-20. Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: 231 W. 29th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., ste. 201.

Ted Rossi

Details: Python, leather, and Swarovski crystal jewelry and handbags are up to 60 percent off.

When: Mar. 17-19. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Where: 15 E. 30th St., b/t Fifth & Madison Aves., ste. 300.

(via daily candy)

A Spiritual Retreat

2010-03-10T02:55:00.005-04:00

A boy starts his day by giving respect to the Sun God for divine grace.
Powai Lake, Bombay, India (via selvin)

Airport mesa in Sedona, Arizona (via laura travels)

Yoga in South Mountain Park, Arizona (via pickles the firecat)

Meditation on a beach, Greece (via netfalls)

31 Women in Photography

2010-03-08T16:51:00.002-04:00

Ann Woo, Cave 2007

In honor of Women's History Month, catch this exhibit celebrating 31 of the most innovative women in art photography. The show will present an eclectic mix of new artists chosen from open submissions.
Now through April 10th at Affirmation Arts.

14K Golden Delights

2010-03-05T03:41:00.004-04:00

These golden treats are worth their weight in, well, gold.. Whip them up at home following the recipe in the pastry chef’s book ($19).

And gold dessert calls for equally regal utensils! Pick up this flatware set ($60) at the MoMa design store.

A gold bar doorstop ($99) that doubles as a paperweight.

Gotta love these gold wellies!

(via dailycandy)

Max Wanger Photography

2010-03-02T19:57:00.002-04:00

When I get married (if the day comes that I can ever be so still) this will be the guy shooting my engagement photos. Come to think of it, scratch that...this might be an affair I want all to myself ;-P

I absolutely love his composition and use of colorful props...

That sapphire Ring Pop is genius!

Two Heads are Better Than One

2010-02-26T16:49:00.002-04:00

Happy Snow Day Everybody! (even if there's no snow in your town)

P.S. No, they are not siamese dogs, ahahaha

Life Imitates Art

2010-02-24T00:45:00.005-04:00

Look at the image below. It's a painting, right?

WRONG! Look again -- it's actually a photograph of a real-life model outside of a MAC cosmetics store at Ala Moana outdoor shopping center in Hawaii.

Peter Kun Frary, a professor at the University of Hawaii, stumbled across the scene after noticing a "crowd of Japanese tourists gawking and snapping pics." The model was decked out in full body paint and posing in front of a set, emulating a painting. Pretty unbelievable, right?
According to Frary, the model "hardly ever blinked." — via Urlesque

Now that's just crazy!...lol..The only hint of a real person is her eyes and fingertips if you can zoom in that closely...amazing.

Some Very Handy Artwork

2010-02-18T00:07:00.000-04:00

How clever are these designs from Turkish art director Orgut Cayli! I'm especially loving Wisdom the Owl. Which one's your favorite?

Remembering McQueen

2010-02-12T16:37:00.064-04:00

With all the stark black and same silhouettes on the runways this week, the loss of Alexander McQueen becomes even more evident. His designs were truly works of art... below is a sampling of his genius and creativity.

Oyster Dress, Spring 2003 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Fall 2008

Fall 2007

Spring 2007

Fall 2008

Fall, Neiman Marcus

I Heart Myself

2010-02-12T01:21:00.005-04:00

Who says you need someone to celebrate Valentine's with? Love yourself first and pick up a box of cupcakes on the way home, or better yet (for the lazy-asses such as myself) have them delivered right to your door. G'ahead girl... l.o.v.e. yourself into a sweeeet stupor.

(photo nymag.com)

If I Could Live in Color...

2010-02-11T01:48:00.011-04:00

... you'd find me in one of these.

Sydney, Australia (via loveroni)

Chefchaouen, Morocco (via kelly cheng)

Tucson, AZ (via tektsu)

Venice, Italy (via jerry johnson)

Coronado, CA (via 1 blue canoe)

Cool Capitals

2010-02-10T16:39:00.001-04:00

Check out Cool Capitals for the latest on shopping, art, food, entertainment and countless other things to keep you busy in some of the world's best cities.

Deal of the Week

2010-02-08T02:34:00.003-04:00

During the month of February, designer frames such as Furla, Etro, and Givenchy are $25 with the purchase of prescription lenses at any of Optyx by Gruen’s six locations.

(Photo: Hannah Whitaker/New York Magazine)

Street Art in Havana

2010-02-03T16:22:00.004-04:00

El Callejon de Hamel - Centro Habana

Varadero

Centro Habana

La Habana Vieja

Random Post of the Week

2010-02-01T21:43:00.001-04:00

Somebody Get Married Please...
because I must have some of these wedding cakes happily sitting in my stomaaaach already! They're almost too beautiful to eat but I guess I'd just have to make an exception in the name of research.

Someone once upon a time said "never eat anything artificially blue'...wait, that was me. I take it back!

Mmmmmm....Barbie, my old pal, would you like to help me eat this?

Gooblbble, guuullp...Can I have some more please? Thankoo!

I'll refrain from eating this one... I'll just preserve it and put on display forever.

Don't know about all that beading in my belly..but it would make a really cool dress with the right designer!

Ohhh those fruuuits...yuuummy...they must be plastic, those grapes are too perfect. Don't think my stomach will tell the difference though...

photos: nymag.com

Kate Moss and her Bags

2010-01-29T07:05:00.002-04:00

Can Kate do any wrong? (besides the whole coke-sniffing fiasco a few years back, of course). I mean, the woman does not age! Amazing.

And, as if Topshop and her thousand modeling contracts weren't enough, Moss has designed a new line of handbags with her French partners at Longchamp. They're due to hit the flagship store come February 11th.

Go Kate!

Spring Bags Under $100

2010-01-28T21:25:00.002-04:00

Chain Tote by Denna & Ozzy

PRICE: $58
Urban Outfitters, 374 Sixth Ave., West Village, 212-677-9350

Linen Blend Tote by Gap

PRICE: $39.50
Gap, 680 Fifth Ave., Midtown East, 212-977-7023

Maggie Shoulder Bag by Forever 21
PRICE: $29.80

Forever 21, 50 W. 34th St., Midtown West, 212-564-2346

Metallic Suede Cross Body Bag by Topshop

PRICE: $55
Topshop, 478 Broadway, Soho, 212-966-9455

Leather Zip Detail Clutch by Topshop

PRICE: $80
Topshop, 478 Broadway, Soho, 212-966-9455

Roses Underwater Clutch

PRICE: $98

Anthropologie, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown West, 212-246-0386

source:nymag.com

Read Me, Then Hang Me

2010-01-27T01:57:00.006-04:00

How cool is this 'eye-catching' poster by Postal Press? It reads “imagination is more important than knowledge – albert einstein” Each one comes with a letterpress hang tag showing the edition of the print. Look at that...a reading eye exam and a piece of art rolled into one neat little package.

Photographs by Andrew F

2010-01-21T13:39:00.008-04:00

If only I could teleport myself to Manchester to be photographed by Andrew Farrington. His vision and execution go far beyond simple photography...such artistry! It's like Alice in Wonderland meets Requiem for a Dream.