My Top 10 Favorites of 2010

Hey 2010, Thanks for some really great stuff! 
Now let the countdown begin...

10.  The Clutch
The clutch was my wardrobe saving grace this year allowing me to stay sassy and nimble no matter the occasion.  The two featured purses are especially important as they promote reuse and style.  I was fooled by the Kate Spade "Times Journal" clutch made from Tyvek paper and the vintage magazine clutch is the exact same one featured in an episode of Sex and the City, and for good reason.

Kate Spade NY Times











Vintage Magazine Clutch

9.  Zuburbia
No matter what I'm doing I am compelled to put it all down to check out the marvelous VPOD's (Vintage Pick Of the Day).  Great minds think alike and Zuburbia helps to spread the word about the luxuriousness of vintage and reuse.



8.  Whiting and Davis Mesh
The garments made from this futuristic snakeskin brings glamour to whomever is fortunate enough to don it. 

7.  Gruvology
To call them hot is an understatement.  They've trained with the best and have traveled the world, so I feel honored to call them friends and clients.  These guys appreciate vintage and I appreciate them.  Check them out at http://www.gruvologyjazz.com/



6.  Designer John Patrick
He's fun, creative and most importantly compassionate. John Patrick's ORGANIC clothing line is a direct reflection of him which is why his pieces fit just about every personality.

5.  Lincoln Center
Ahhh, NY Fashion Week got a serious dose of breathing room, and it's a good thing since everyone was beginning to suffocate on the high concentration of fabulous while packed inside of the previous venue.

4.  Stylist Ikram Goldman
You have to appreciate a person who fearlessly embraces lesser known designers and vintage so much so that they consciously wrap their most important client (First Lady Michelle Obama) in it whenever possible.

3.  Couture Jewelry Designer Monique Pean

Yeah she's as sweet as she looks!  I'm so glad that I got a chance to chat with her and see her jewelry up close.  She makes archeology look good (literally).

2.  O'Connell's
So important is this shop that New York Times Magazine did a story on them (Buffalo Hunting) which was in the NY Fashion Week issue.  It wasn't until today that I actually discovered the piece while perusing periodicals from 2010 in an effort to write this blog entry.  Here's an excerpt: "The shop’s insistence on details... might be seen as fetishistic or unmanly by the average Joe... the concept of the ‘men’s shop’... O’Connell’s has thrived ."  I am fortunate to live in walking distance of O'Connell's and often do my shopping there.

and the #1 Favorite of 2010 is (drum roll)...
1.  Refashioner
I was hooked from the beginning.  I am a Refashioner addict and I'm not ashamed to admit it!.  This is the best thing to happen to the Internet since the creation of email.  If you've never heard of it, google it.

I've Spread My Wings--Fashion Contributor for The Challenger News in WNY

In the late fall I was selected to serve as a contributor for the Challenger News here in Western New York and what an honor it is.  Visit the Fashion and Beauty content under the Lifestyle section to read additional musings in the world of style.
http://www.challengercn.com/

New Gitz in the New Year, Monique Pean

When the ball drops let the bling pop.  Monique Pean's collection proves that bigger is better.  We should all be so luckyto have an engagement ring designed by Ms. Pean.

Free $20 Gift Cards Available until December 24th



I recently found out that the iPad doesn't support the web-based platform known as FLASH.  And what a pitty, since Apple's Haberdashery as well as tens of millions of other businesses use flash for their website content.  However we have a solution so that my iPad users can get their free $20 gift card before Christmas...  Send us an email before December 24th at 11PM eastern standard time and we'll send you an electronic gift certificate.  Voila!  It's as simple as that.  Merry Christmas from Apple's Haberdashery.
Contact us by email at info@appleshaberdashery.com

Apple's Haberdashery Gift Card ...GET ONE!

As the Holiday season progressed many of my client's expressed their excitement about a holiday sale at Apple's Haberdashery because there are so many fantastic things available.I am pleased that they approve of the 2010 holiday line however, there's only one problem...We don't have discount sales!  Instead We offer those who love our product Apple's Haberdashery Gift Cards.  If you want one just give us a call or visit the site and submit a request in the comment section of the Contact us Section.

(866) 949-3274  or http://www.appleshaberdashery.com/

Rachel Zoe's Hat Attack, Apple's Haberdashery's Cure



Theirs ($595 yikes!?!)



This felted fedora was featured in the Zoe Report and for good reason.  Fedora's are hot even when the weather is not. Although it's a fantastic find (designed by Patricia Underwood) you too may experience Rachel's hat attack when you see the price tag $595.  You can avoid this fashion emergency by visiting the wardrobe specialists at http://www.appleshaberdashery.com/ . Click on the CATALOG button and flip to page 15.  There you will find an equally amazing and luxurious vintage fedora (a Czechoslovakian import) for a mere $110.

Ours ($110 yeah!)

Vintage Whiting and Davis -- Timeless Luxury On Sale this Black Friday

In just a couple of days Apple's Haberdashery will be having its first online holiday shop where you can purchase from an expanded line of high-end vintage accessories.  The "Her Favorite Things" collection makes Christmas shopping simple, memorable and elegant.

Free Gift Wrap with every purchase! 

Be sure to visit http://www.appleshaberdashery.com/ on Black Friday.  Checkout opens at 1:00PM.

Above are Whiting and Davis accessories that are available at the online shop.  If you've ever held a Whiting and Davis product then you know how delicious the mesh material feels as it ripples across your hands and lays gently on what ever it touches.  For more than a century they've made the production of  interlocking fabric an art form...no wonder designers like Catharine Malandrino and Michael Kors have used it in their collections.

Parisian Style Employs Vintage Flare



Photo Credit: Tamu McPherson 

  

Photo Credit: Tamu McPherson


 

Personal style and Paris go hand-in-hand and the photographs, taken by Street Style blogger Tamu McPherson, were the energizing catalyst for this fashion analysis.  

Although very different, these two ladies employed a method that I would encourage others to consider when selecting an ensemble to shine in.  Aside from the frequently touted "be confident," "work with your body type," and the oh-so famous "wear colors that suit you" try updating a favorite era.  Julia (on the left) is not afraid of color and has amalgamated bold pieces from 60's into a free spirited look that gets her noticed (in a good way).  Meanwhile Athena's, Audrey Hepburn meets Betty Boop, puts the flirt in what would otherwise be common replica of 1950's attire.  The uber-short skirt and heeled booties make a contemporary statement for chic street style. 

Parisian style is just a click away when you do your holiday shopping at:  www.appleshaberdashery.com

Julie Lewitzky's Friends and Other Beings at the Burchfield Penny

I am certainly glad that my nieces enjoy life's more traditional luxuries, surprises and imagination centered entertainment.  We spent the early afternoon on this Veteran's Day Holiday at the Burchfield Penny Art Center--a magnificent museum, if ever you get a chance, visit it.  The "Useum" Interactive exhibit greeted us with teams of smiling faces made from old sweaters, buttons and  repurposed textiles.  Artist Julie Lewitzky created a land reminiscent of the archived world of H.R. Puffinstuff.  My sister and I couldn't believe the degree to which every nook and surface was embellished with odds and ends easily found around the house or in a garage.

It is indeed a good sign when museums embrace the luxurious aspects of reuse.

Get a Few of Her Favorite Things From Apple's Haberdashery This Black Friday

Apple's Haberdashery is here to stuff your stockings with Christmas bliss.  Starting November 26, 2010 (black Friday) we'll have posted a few of my favorite things that I know every woman loves too.  Visit: http://www.appleshaberdashery.com/

What a Wonderful World...Historic Architecture Buffalo New York

Explore Buffalo a little more with this book on the Pan American Expo. held in 1900.
I make no apologies for the fact that I love this city watch the video and see why.  Historic reuse all around.  While you are at it, sing the words to What a Wonderful World.

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do

They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow

They'll learn much more than I'll never know

And I think to myself what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

Take the Short Cut

Hilfiger Fall 2010
photo credit: style.com



ORGANIC Fall 2010
photo credit: Allita Lee

 

It's getting pretty chilly outside and I, just like many of you, need to freshin' up my autumn look on a budget. Luckily Fall 2010 collections include closet stapels made chic with a good pair of scissors. This season's must have takes a cue from summer by transforming shorts into street style that is simple yet solid. Check out these wardrobe essentials from ORGANIC, Hilfiger and ADAM. 

ADAM Fall 2010
photo credit: style.com

Although I encourage my clients to purchase at least two designer pieces each season, a modified version of a close fit mini short, baggie knee-length trousers, and a smartly nipped collegiate jersey two piece provide a respite for the financially strapped IF you have the time to re-create the looks at home. This post is not a license to "slash" perfectly good garments, but rather, a nod to reuse by modifying what would otherwise be landfill fodder. 

So go ahead and send those slim fit slacks (with the hole in the knee) to your tailor for shortening and create a classic preppy look. While you are at it, grab the 1940's trouser that your dad no longer fits and then cut 'em and cuff 'em. Finally, breathe new life into your study hall sweats by customizing the neckline and adding dark tights for a sleek new look.



 



 

Ever wonder What Presentation Shows are Like? Sneak Peak Inside ORGANIC's Spring 2011 Line

A previous post, highlighting some of life's more attainable pleasures, reminded me of footage that I shot in NYC for Spring 2011.

My favorite socially conscious designer John Patrick of Organic described the inspiration for his collection as "the water that connects us." John Patrick explained that water is free flowing and is that unifying thing that all of us need and are entitled to. He emphasized that he didn't create the line for money, but rather, he was doing it for the love of design and the need for people to hear his greater message.

Although many of John's travels are to Third World countries, parts of the south remain hidden behind the "cotton curtain" and experience the same kind of life as those in opposite hemispheres. Therefore his global based presentation had a suitable all-American relevance as it mirrored the romantic and unpretentious nature of a beloved Country Time Lemonade commercial...Ahhh refreshing, graceful, chic.  Models sat on crates leisurely mingling about the set in their pale colored, patent leather, wing-tipped shoes. An enormous woven hat and over sized lightly tailored linen took me back to childhood memories south of the Mason-Dixon where folks talked of drinking sweet water (which was nothing more than well water with locally grown sugar cane stirred in).  I can imagine that sweet water provides a universal refreshment across the globe.

This brings me to my final point in this post which is: that I love a presentation style fashion show. I could never have seen the level of detail sitting front row in a runway show as I got mingling the crowd of a presentation. Watch the video above you'll feel like you were right there talking to the designer elbow to elbow with major magazine editors, having the models flirt with YOUR camera. From now on I'm going to every presentation I can, because I know that I'll certainly get my camera's worth.

Halloween Portrait of Josephine Baker and Dorothy Dandridge by Douglas Levere

This weekend Torn Space Theatre Company hosted a Halloween fundraising gala to support the production of avant-garde stage drama here in Buffalo, New York.  That's me on the right dressed as Josephine Baker with the incomparable Dorothy Dandridge (left).  In addition to her clutch "Dorothy" is also clasping a bottle of vodka and a bottle of pills.  Dangerous? Not anymore.  Necessary? Absolutely.  I'm holding a stogie, 'cause every vamp needs one.

Not Just a Gathering of Gobblins...

Guests were asked to come dressed as famous people who had passed to "the other side" in addition to the look we were expected to come in character and tell their stories.  I don't like to brag but I think that we had the most interesting costumes there and we spent not a cent on them... that's what I call making good with what you got.

The super cool photography portraits were done by Mr. Douglas Levere  you can view his other wcostumesork by visiting his site at:  http://www.douglaslevere.com/

Autumn's Simple Things

With all of the glitz and glamour of the past few weeks I decided to bring it down a few notches and post a more attainable autumn treasure. 
In a recent Facebook post someone snapped a picture to poke fun at, and challenge the design aesthetic of, this community when they used antique bed posts in lieu of a more traditional fence to encircle the vegetable beds.  However I, on the other hand, beg to differ. Not only was this a good way for some really decorative pieces to avoid the nearest landfill, it also lent some serious charm and stand out quality to what would otherwise be just another urban garden.  Oh yeah...If there was a person in this picture I'd award them the October Style Watch winner just to show those garden bullies what's what!

That was Then, This is Now --From the tents at Bryant Park to the courtyard at Lincoln Center

It's October which marks the close of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week shows across the globe and makes this the perfect opportunity to reminice a bit about Bryant Park and gush over the new digs at Lincoln Center. Although I'm relatively new to the whole MBFW madness I found that in chatting with some of the regular bloggers and media types that we all agree Lincoln Center is the superior venue to host this biannual event. The Mabelline Lounge served as my living room for the time I spent in NYC giving me a stelth vantage point from which to capture everthing from celebrity entrances to the all-important Free Giveways. It also provided a quiet nook to talk to any and everyone looking to get the scoop on what's what.

In a conversation with a smartly dressed construction crew member I was told that the square footage of the general area was the exact same as that of the Bryant Park location...what a difference set up makes.

Essence.com Interview with Elite Model Damaris Lewis

I just wanted to make sure I kept you all in the know about my fun at Fashion week Spring 2011 in NYC.  Click on the picture above and it will take you to Essence Magazine's website where I gave fashion advice based on the Question of the Day-- Stilettos or Flats?  My response was an emphatic Stilettos! Cuz I'm short... and spend the money on a good pair of shoes so that you can get the height without compromising comfort.

The Beauty that is the Work of Monique Pean

 Talk about multi-function! These stunning bangles are made from assorted woolly mammoth, wave diamond and scrimshaw making their beauty nimble enough to go from being a natural history museum exhibit to being a wardrobe must have when dining at the Powerhouse. I feel fortunate to have had a chance to speak with Monique during her presentation.  We are pictured left.

No Stoppin' My Show Hoppin--Tracy Reese, Bibhu Mohapatra, Luca Luca and Nigel Barker,

Here are a few pics from my adventures in "Manhattan Land" 1) Runway Show for Tracy Reese, 2)Presentation models and designer Bibhu Mohapatra 3) Gettin Ready for the Luca Luca Show 4) Nigel Barker at Barnes and Nobel for a book signing

September Style Watch at Fashion Week

It was a wise decision to hold-off posting a September Style Watch winner until I returned from NYC, because Mercedes Benz Fashion Week for Spring 2011 at its new venue (Lincoln Center) was a breath of fresh air.  Not only was there more space to hang out and hob-knob but there was also more room to snap pics of attendees who have a fantastic sense of personal style.  When I saw this gentleman my first reaction was to scream...brotha you are the truth!  His hat is a reworked vintage piece and can be worn several ways.  Here he sports it like a tribal matador.
Wanna be included on our style watch site? Click on the button to the left. If chosen, you'll receive a gift.

Go "Wilder" at Apple's Online Store

You asked, We listened.  In September, Apple's Haberdashery will provide a virtual shopping experience via our website!  By clicking on the Shop Online button you can view our online catalog entitled
"Pairings" Curated Vintage Collection for the Fall 2010 season.  This collection was inspired by a naturally beautiful African runway model as well as the outfit she doned for ORGANIC. 

You can expect this concept every fall and spring, where we take inspiration from designers and overarching trends in the fashion industry and  "pair" them up with vintage lovelies from the Apple's Haberdashery wardrobe vaults.

The theme for this season is NATURAL BEAUTY.  We also play up references to the song "You Should Be Wilder, You're No Fun At All."  This tune was played during ORGANIC's Fall 2010 NYC fashion week show.  Caution, this song will get stuck in your head and you'll be singing it all day long.

Good News! The Apple's Haberdashery Website is Here.

This should make the cover of every newspaper in North America...Apple's Haberdashery's new website is up and running!  It took some bending over backward (see picture above) but with your help we did it. Now you can visit us at the Wardrobe Salon, at Our Official Website and here at the Blog.
Hurry up and click on the link below, a matter of fact, why don't you save it in your computer's "Favorite" file.

www.appleshaberdashery.com

10 Day Challenge-- Get the Website up and running by August 17th!

I'm sure I can do this.  That's why I've publicly announced the deadline for completion of the Apple's Haberdashery Website on my blog.  We're letting peer pressure ensure that August 17th is the lastest Apple's Haberdashery fans have to wait to see us on the web. 

IT'S A VIRTUAL GARAGE SALE

By having the site up and running there's gonna be a rummage sale of sorts between the Spiced Apple's Blog and the new Site.  You can expect expanded info about Apple's Haberdashery, vintage products, services, and other fun stuff on on the official site the only change will be fewer pages on the blog...Not a bad trade-off huh?

The Steve Miller Band's Joseph Wooten for Apple's Haberdashery

Joseph Wooten, keyboardist for the the world famous Steve Miller Band, provided his smile and swagger to launch the coming men's wear line for Apple's Haberdashery.  Portrait photographer Tim Ho conducted shoot and he was amazing.  I encourage everyone to check out more of  Tim's work at: http://www.timhophoto.com/

August Style Watch

August's winner is cruisin' in ecofriendly style. While her two-wheeled limosine says modern doo-wop, the Tory Berch sunglasses clearly say chic bohemian. Wanna be included on our style watch site? Click on the button to the left. If chosen, you'll receive a gift.

Anything But A Basic Tee

Well it just goes to show that you don't need a lot of money to look great.  The asymmetrical shirt that I wore to the premier of the Just Doin' It video release party was a simple oversized white t-shirt (you know the one you wear to bed) only it was hit with a bit of creativity for instant glama!  While performer Billy Drease gave it a splash of color (like he did with his own for the  Just Doin' it Video) I grabbed my scissors and a touch of satin ribbon and took to my sewing machine for the final product...Not bad if I do say so myself.  Of course I had to style it up with vintage accessories, a bright red evening bag and Kenneth J Lane necklace, to be exact.  Custom couture in your shirt drawer. 

Sometimes I get "Carried" Away

On a windy Sunday evening I put myself together for a friends wedding anniversary party and while adjusting my windswept hair and dress, my sister snapped this photo of the accessories I donned for the evening.  Always mixing in a bit of history, I thought that it would be a good idea to sport this vintage bracelet and vintage magazine clutch purse. These cluches were created with a number of different magazine covers on them but, interestingly enough, my clutch is identical to the vintage clutch sported by Carrie Bradshaw in  "The Big Time" episode of season 3's Sex and the City.  I've included the scene below. 

Jewelry is Art...Cirque du Soleil and Centre du Beaux Arts

The Centre du Beaux Arts hosted exhibits that catered to so many of my interests one being jewelry.  Ever the epitome of luxury, the House of Boucheron had on display fine jewelry inspired by each production of the Cirque du Soleil.  Having recently seen the Beetles "Rain" production I was amazed at how the necklaces whimsically reflected the spirit of the show.  Although I specialize in collecting costume jewelry I can't see why I can't join in the fun and post a pic of my Cirque du Costume pieces.