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Shopping in Brooklyn: Vintage Clothing

December 19, 2007 at 4:30 PM | 0 Comments

Though Kings County has its fair share of Salvation Army and other charity shops, the borough's hipster population means the stores are often picked over. Unless you want a pit-stained, size-XL Tweety Bird shirt, we recommend checking out some of Brooklyn's boutique vintage stores.

Though most are concentrated in Williamsburg, Park Slope also hosts some overlooked shops worth a trip. Whether it's a '60s pillbox hat or seasons-old designer dresses, Brooklyn puts most Manhattan vintage shops to shame.

Our Favorite Spots are here...

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Shopping in London: Scouring Spitalfields

December 4, 2007 at 4:05 PM | 0 Comments

We love shopping. And our London correspondent Annabel Ross does too...

When you think about markets in London, Portobello is probably the first that comes to mind, but it's not the only place to spend your pennies. Spitalfields Market, in the trendy East End, play host to an array of tantalising treats for your tastebuds and covetable clothes for your wardrobe, most far more affordable than their Notting Hill counterparts.

Sunday is the busiest day, with over 200 stalls, including an organic-only food market. Fridays are popular with fashionistas as the Young Designers' Market features wares from over 50 aspiring designers, while the first and third Wednesdays of the month are reserved for the Books and Records Market, choc-full of a fantastic selection of literature and music, both new and used.

Located just a short walk from Liverpool Street Station, the Spitalfields vicinity is home to a range of stylish second-hand and vintage clothing boutiques, as well as some newer additions including a Benefit makeup store and swanky-yet-affordable eatery Canteen, for those who prefer comfort food to fresh produce. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for celebrity shoppers among the crowds--Kate Moss and Sienna Miller are big fans of the area, too!

Related Stories:
· Shopping coverage [Jaunted]
· London Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: scheherezade]

Shopping Travel: Carnaby Street Has You Covered

November 27, 2007 at 1:00 PM | 0 Comments

Live from London, our shopping expert Annabel Ross...

Nestled in ultra-fashionable Soho, between bustling Oxford and Regent Streets, Carnaby Street boasts some of the coolest international labels, as well as one-off boutiques for that unique piece that'll be the envy of all your friends back home. It has to be your first port-of-call for serious London shopping.

Designer streetwear junkies can get their fix at 55 DSL, Replay, American Apparel, Diesel and Puma, to name but a few. Local labels in the precinct include Sadie Frost and Jemima French's eponymous FrostFrench boutique, the delightful Harriet's Muse with its bespoke corsets and Beyond the Valley, with pieces from 140 designers from the Royal College of the Arts and prestigious fashion school Central Saint Martins.

Housewares aficionados will adore the range at stores such as Lifestylebazaar, which focuses on new young UK and European design talent, while knitting fans will love what's on offer at All the Fun of the Fair, a haberdashery boutique that's home to glow-in-the-dark yarn and other fun stuff.

In between intensive changing room sessions, you can refuel at one of the surrounding cafes, restaurants or bars. We love Camellia's World Teas, specializing in therapeutic teas and herbs to aid the mind and body, served with snacks to match. The only thing left to recharge will be your credit card.

Related Stories:
· Carnaby Street Shops [Official Site]
· Shopping coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Shht!]

Eco-Friendly Bra is Big in Japan

November 8, 2007 at 9:05 AM | 0 Comments

For all its high technology success and seriously serious culture, Japan certainly has its share of weird experiences for the traveler.

If you're not too busy chasing the latest unusual item for sale in a Japanese vending machine during your travels, you might want to keep an eye out for one of the newest Japanese inventions: the environmentally friendly chopsticks bra, known locally as the "My Hashi Bra".

In an attempt to counteract the country's disposable chopsticks culture, some smart fella invented a bra that women can wear and use to carry around their own chopsticks. Buy one, and when the server in your favorite sushi bar offers you chopsticks, you can reach down inside your shirt and say, "No thanks, I have my own."

Related Stories:
· Chopsticks Bra Lifts and Separates [news.com.au]
· Vending Machines Take Over Japan [Jaunted]
· Japan Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: AFP]

Chic Shanghai Sleepwear

September 22, 2006 at 8:45 AM | 0 Comments


We've already reported about China's attempts to educate Chinese travelers on the kind of etiquette their hosts will expect. Now the Chinese are looking inwards, and the results of a recent Shanghai survey on civilised behaviour give us some interesting insights into this new world power.

In an opinion poll asking about what the respondents considered the most uncivilised things about life in Shanghai, loud and aggressive pets, disregard for the environment and unfriendly neighbors were all mentioned. But top of the list was the wearing of pyjamas. Despite the fact that 25% of people claimed they sometimes wore their nightclothes out in public, it was still reported to be one of the most irritating aspects of daily life in the Chinese metropolis.

For all you travelers out there, the lesson is simple. Don't wear your pyjamas in public in China. And we know you wanted to.

[Image via Previous Pirate/Flickr]

Related stories:
Don't Spit, Don't Litter ... [Jaunted]
Most Annoying Part of Shanghai Life [MSNBC]

Casual Friday, Every Day!

August 25, 2006 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments



At long last, U.S. Air Marshals will be able to wear their favorite "Spooning leads to Forking" t-shirt. In response to internal complaints that the Air Marshal dress code was so strict it made them stand out on flights, the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service announced that the dress code has been more or less eliminated. Marshals are now instructed to "dress at their discretion".

Up until last year, the dress code was serious: Collared shirts, a sport coat, and dress shoes. That, and their propensity for tackling anyone en route to use the first class bathroom made them pretty hard to miss. At least now they'll stand a better chance of blending in. Although, with the way that most Americans dress when they fly, they might want to invest in some tracksuits and flip-flops.

[Image via Beangirl/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   Dress Code Relaxed [WaPo]

Levi's' iPod Compatible Jeans

January 12, 2006 at 7:48 AM | 0 Comments

It was only a matter of time before these came about. Levi's, the king of all things denim, has announced they are coming out with a pair of iPod compatible jeans. They'll be called the RedWire DLX jeans and are due out this fall.

The jeans will have a joystick remote control built into the watch pocket, allowing wearers to play, pause, track forward or back and adjust the volume on their iPods without having to take them out of their pockets.  There will also be a totally separate pocket to keep your iPod in, while a built-in retractable headphone unit is designed to prevent tangled wires.

Sound way too intensely complicated for a pair of damn jeans? We thought so.

Related Stories:
·   Play it again, pants: Levi's introduces iPod-compatible jeans [AFP]