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Saada

November 19, 2008 at 4:30 PM | 0 Comments

As Thanksgiving inches ever closer, we are immediately reminded of all the holiday shopping we have yet to tackle--and the budget we are lacking to tackle it with! Not to worry, we're back with this week's recession shopping stop in NYC: Saada, perched cutely on the corner of Second Avenue and 61st Street.

Saada means "happiness" in Arabic, and we have to admit that we feel pretty damn good after shopping here. There's almost always something fun in the window, and the store features tons of stuff for the best girlfriend/sister/co-worker in your life. One of the best parts about Saada is its reasonable prices: Rarely are items over $100 and they often have little-known designer sample sales and will sometimes slash prices if you ask... (You didn't hear it from us!)

Recently we scored two long sweaters, leggings, an offbeat necklace and bag for under $200. If you want to splurge, Saada also carries high-end lines like Sass & Bide, True Religion and Mackage. The two tables in front are usually covered with the items selling out the quickest, so be sure to triple check there before moving to the long racks down the wall.

The shop's salespeople are also very friendly and honest about sizes and fits. We just bought a long skinny sweater which we had an inkling would be snug and Saada called us back in a day to tell us the larger size was in and we could exchange it, no questions asked. That spells true recession retail happiness to us in any language.

Related Stories:
· Saada [NYM]
· Shopping coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Google Maps]

Brooklyn's Dalaga: In Its Prime

November 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM | 0 Comments

Once the weather turns chillier, we inevitably turn from our closets in despair: Where did all the cool clothes we bought last winter disappear to? Hm. Time for some seasonal shopping, although this year's budget is, um, a little bit tighter than last year's. So we're delighted to offer you some Recession Shopping spots to check out worldwide.

If you're sick of shopping for new fall and winter clothes in giant department stores or chains with canned-response sales clerks who tell you everything looks good on you, take a break from them all and head to Greenpoint in Brooklyn to the mecca that is Dalaga. Located "on the sunny side of Franklin Street" Dalaga is what we imagined mom and pop shops were like decades ago.

The staff is friendly, honest and actually helpful. The lighting is just right and the interior, assembled with bits of a Victorian bedroom set found by the owner and friends in the neighborhood, makes you feel as though you've stumbled on an amazing closet of finds. Opened in 2006 by designer Michelle Mangilian, "Dalaga" is a Tagalog word that Michelle interprets as "quintessential woman in her prime." Guys, don't feel left out, there's awesome men's clothing too.

And the racks of clothes? Excellent both in style and in price. We found a very cool Sherlock Holmes-y style fall cape for under $100. Dalaga seems to have something for every day too, from formal dresses and suits, to more casual sweaters, boots, hats and fun tights. The best part? We were eager to step out of the dressing room each time because the staff straight up told us what worked and what didn't. We never felt like they were just trying to make a sale. Dalaga's open from noon-9, Tuesday-Sunday.

Related Stories:
· Dalaga [Official Site]
· Shopping Travel coverage [Jaunted]

The Sneaker-Restaurant Trend Marches On

October 6, 2008 at 11:00 AM | 1 Comment

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.

Related Stories:
· SoleFood NYC [Official Site]
· Secret Sneaker Shopping: The New Speakeasy [Jaunted]
· Sneakers coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jonathan Sloan]

Crime Travel: Give This Mexico Clothing Boutique a Shot

October 6, 2008 at 10:00 AM | 0 Comments

Mexico City likes to break records. The world's largest city is also one of Mexico's wealthiest and one of its most dangerous. After a dip in crime in the early 2000s, misdeeds are back en vogue. Now, the market is responding, with a bulletproof clothing boutique cropping up in Polanco, the Rodeo Drive of the DF.

The store, called Miguel Caballero, takes its name from its Colombian owner. Bulletproof items there range from leather jackets to polo shirts, parkas and white ruffled tuxedo shirts. But before you apply for a sales position, be forewarned:

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Shopping Travel: Slave to Fashion in San Francisco

October 1, 2008 at 9:45 AM | 0 Comments

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.

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Secret Sneaker Shopping: The New Speakeasy

September 22, 2008 at 1:05 PM | 0 Comments

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.

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Fashion Week Travel: Dress Like Justin Timberlake

September 10, 2008 at 8:45 AM | 0 Comments

Justin Timberlake poses with buddy Trace Ayala (right) and two designers for their William Rast label, which made its debut at New York Fashion Week Spring '09 this week.

Just like last week's US Open, it seems like the Fashion Week tents are buzzing with more celebrities than usual supporting their favorite designers, from Renee Zellweger at Carolina Herrera to Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez at Marc Jacobs. Maybe the recession's convincing them to lobby harder for free clothes!

But how are the reviews for William Rast, the upscale jeans line for which Timberlake made a promo video of himself beaten up? Style.com found the women's line surprisingly wearable, and the Hartford Courant said the runway set "conjured Cracker Barrel meets 'Deliverance'" but "went straight for a modern zing lurking in old wardrobe standbys."

But fashion news standard Women's Wear Daily only snarked about guests' disappointment that Timberlake didn't sing at any point during the show.

Related Stories:
· Justin Timberlake Hosts ESPY Awards Shindig At The Standard L.A. [HC]
· Celebrity Restaurants: Justin Timberlake Takes On Harlem Soul Food [Jaunted]
· William Rast Spring 2009 RTW [Style.com]
· New York Fashion Week: Diane Von Furstenberg; William Rast [Courant]
· State of Confusion at William Rast [WWD]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Socialite Life]

Bad Souvenir Travel: Try to Be Trendy in a Lopapeysur

August 22, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 1 Comment

In the past, we've had no qualms about saying we like the blog of budget airline Iceland Express. Who wouldn't be pleased to get tips on getting a date with an Icelander or making your own sock movie?

But now this crazy gang have gone too far. In a recent post, they very strongly recommended that we buy a Lopapeysa to wear while we're visiting Iceland (and to proudly show off at home, too). A Lopapeysa is a traditional Icelandic sweater, but take one look at the picture and you know why this hasn't caught on around the world.

Worse than that, they're usually priced from €100 to €200 (US$150-$300) which we think is kind of a high price to pay to look this out of style.

Related Stories:
· Five Things to Remember When Visiting Iceland [Iceland Express Blog]
· It's Official: Iceland Socks [Jaunted]
· Iceland Express Impresses [Jaunted]

[Photo: jillhudgins]

Yachting Travel: Armani's Summer Vacation

July 25, 2008 at 11:00 AM | 0 Comments

74-year-old designer Giorgio Armani was spotted recently, relaxing on his boat off Sardinia. Not shown: the Speedo he's sunbathing in.

Earlier this summer Armani received the Légion d'honneur from French president Nicolas Sarkozy, for which stars from Tina Turner to Helen Mirren feted him in some of his many creations.

And everyone who saw "The Dark Knight" was treated to a free ad for his menswear as he designed for Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne moments. So all right, maybe he deserves a vacation!

Related Stories:
· Armani to Open 10 Hotels [HC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Socialite Life]

Colette Camps out at the Gap in Midtown NYC

June 25, 2008 at 2:30 PM | 0 Comments

Chic French boutique Colette is teaming with the Gap to bring a pop up store to Midtown Manhattan. Colette's new digs will be open from September 6 to October 5 next to the Gap's Fifth Avenue flagship at 54th Street.

On the style blogs, some of the clotheshorse crowd already seems upset that the high fashion brand would collaborate with a mass market retailer like the Gap, but plans for the pop up store seem tailor-made to silence the non-believers.

The temporary project is called "styledesignartfood," so expect all types of high end goodies to be on sale including several items that will be exclusive to the location. The interior of the pop up shop also promises to impress: It's designed by luxe store specialist Masamichi Katayama who previously created high concept spaces for Bape and Uniqlo.

Related Stories:
· Colette Comes to New York [HighSnobiety]
· Colette Pop Up Shop in NYC [Pedestrian.tv]
· Shopping coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Colette]

What Phil Keoghan Packs

June 16, 2008 at 9:30 AM | 0 Comments

Being the host of a reality show can obviously be a tedious job: Traveling around the world week-to-week and dealing with checked baggage fees is downright criminal. Luckily The New York Times is around to spotlight the infinite packing wisdom of "The Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan.

Phil tells writer Michelle Higgins that he drags around one large suitcase and a backpack to carry all his expedition-ready-to-wear. For the rugged multi-tasker in all of us, Keoghan offers his key to success: He takes pictures of all the different outfits that he wears on set. (He refers to the pictures as "idiot shots.")

It's hard to think of messing up jeans and a T-shirt or even a button down every week, but this is quite the look into the mind of celebrity. And we'll all know if he's giving the production crew grief when we see him in Tangiers wearing a Mickey Mouse ringer T-shirt and a tiara.

Related Stories:
· Checking Baggage? Not at These Prices [NYT]
· Packing Tips coverage [Jaunted]
· Amazing Race 12 coverage [Jaunted]

Fashion Travel: Celebs say RIP to YSL

June 5, 2008 at 12:02 PM | 0 Comments

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.

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