Two is a trend when it's this random. What's up with faux-restaurant sneaker shops? First, Philly starts selling sneakers from an undercover Chinese joint, and now New York's latest sneaker shop is disguised as a soul food counter.
At SoleFood NYC, you can check out rare Nikes or bring in your own sneaks to be customized by local graffiti artists. The sneakers are stored in deli-style display cases, and you can try them on while hanging out at diner-style booths.
SoleFood NYC does one-up the Philly joint: On Sundays, they even operate as a bit of a real restaurant, too. You can take your new kicks home along with a takeout container full of collard greens, candied yams, and other soul food goodies.
This week in Paris, women bearing little resemblance to, uh, women have been strapping on their heels and climbing onto long elevated platforms as top designers unveil their spring 2009 collections at Paris Fashion Week.
Earlier this week, an amalgam of actresses and singers took front from at Christian Dior's Ready to Wear show. The group included one-hit wonders Lily Allen and Katy Perry and Marilyn Manson's ex.
The International Herald Tribune's Henry Alford used his time in Paris a bit more wisely, skipping out on some of the shows to let Jean-Paul Gaultier guide him through his favorite Parisian haunts. Check out a summarized version of what the guy who invented Madonna's cone bra considers Paris' crème de la crème:
It's always a perk to visit a city and have a close friend to show you the best spots to shop. You know, nowhere near the mega-chains, but full of local flavor and artistry. The result is usually a new closetful of pieces (and an empty wallet) that beg the question 'Where did you get that?' and the satisfaction of knowing your look can't be replicated by anyone back home.
We've heard plenty about secret bars hidden behind restaurants and down dark alleys, but secret sneaker shops has got to be a new one.
That's the case with Abakus Takeout, a new footwear mecca in Philadelphia's Chinatown that comes complete with an imitation Chinese takeout joint atmosphere.
Twice a year, the world's best dressed descend on New York, London, Milan and other world couture centers to check out what they can buy--and what we will pick up in knockoff form at H&M. But some rogue organizations are changing the game by assembling "pre-season" shows that give fashionistas an early peek at the fall collections.
Right now, designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Tarina Tarantino and Yigal Azrouel have their wares on display at the Pitti W_Woman Precollection trade show in Florence.
Just like with spring training, pre-season allows die-hard fashion fans to get a jump on what their favorite designers are planning to unroll--and hey, if a trip to Italy is involved, that's just a bonus.
Paris' famed Rue Saint-Honore will be a catwalk of condolences today as fashion's elite gather at the Église Saint-Roch to pay tribute to the late Yves Saint Laurent. Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano and Valentino have RSVP'd to the invite-only funeral service along with celeb friends Claudia Schiffer and model-turned-first-lady, Carla Bruni.
Notably absent will be Karl Lagerfeld who is conveniently "away on business," presumably still underlining the errors in Alice Drake's recent joint biography of Lagerfeld and YSL.
Geeky Philly: What to do once you've seen the lightsabers and droids at the Star Wars show.
True, the reason we skipped down to Philly was for Star Wars. But sneaker junkies and sci-fi shows go hand in hand. Just ask Pharrell and Lupe Fiasco.
So we had to stop at Ubiq on Walnut Street. The spot's in a Victorian townhouse that's been refurbished into a spaceship-sleek footwear boutique. Downstairs, limited edition Nikes and house label kicks line the shelves. Upstairs, an entire room is stocked with Vans. Ubiq also has cool accessories and a selection of street-savvy hipster magazines. (And, yep, the staff to match.)
If all that makes it sound like Ubiq is too hip to be geeky, know this: The shop has a blog.
Our very own Lost Girl Amanda is crashing the tents and sent us this up-to-the-second report.
Shame on us for believing that Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is nothing more than a big sparkly circus of superficial air-kissing, over-inflated editoral egos, psudeo-celebrity photo ops and eating disorders on parade.
As we learned this morning, the organizers of Fashion Week are totally all about raising awareness for women's health issues. That's why they graciously permitted the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to commandeer precious tent space and a prime time catwalking slot to present their The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection Fashion Show.
We managed to nab a decent pair of seats and pretended to look unimpressed by supermodel and "Project Runway" host Heidi Klum as she strutted past us in a custom-made Marc Jacobs shift dress with red and black block panels.
Also walking, among others, were Joss Stone in Max Azaria, Allison Janney in Donna Karan, Ana Ortiz in Badgley Mischka, Ashanti in Tracy Reese, and Cheryl Hines in Catherine Malandrino. Liza Minelli even made an appearance!
Sadly, only Heidi's dress will be making its way around the country in the The Heart Truth Road Show. Unfortunately for the rest of America, she won't be traveling with it.
