TO SPLURGE OR TO SAVE - Gifts

I know, I hate it when the holiday season prepping has to come before even Thanksgiving has had its chance, but all the magazines and blogs are putting out gift guides so I figured I would just hop on the bandwagon.

Here are a few gift ideas for this holiday season. Usually I find clothing harder to buy, so I've included mostly accessories and objects in this selection. All objects are listed and linked below, and the collage was made on Polyvore. Happy shopping!

Clockwise from the top center:

Acne Special Edition T-Shirt

Engineered Garments Scarf

Woolrich Shirt

Moncler Vest

Gant Rugby Shirt

Nixon Watch

FujiFilm Polaroid Camera

Vans Sneaker

Property of... Wallet

Tod's Loafer

Super Sunglasses

BILLYKIRK Belt

Oak Fingerless Gloves

Converse by John Varvatos High Top Leather Sneakers

BILLYKIRK Messenger Bag

John Varvatos Boots

Fjallraven Backpack

Oak iPad Case

SHOPPING DIARIES - November 21, 2010

Today I headed downtown to Soho with a friend of mine to get some brunch at Delicatessen (the Texas Eggs Benedict is unreal) and do some shopping

First we headed to the Pop Up Flea Market by A Continuous Lean, and it was a huge success! The place was pretty crowded (see above) and the booths were really well curated and appealing (see below for a photo of one of the vintage stations).

I was most impressed with the L.L. Bean Signature booth which had a great selection of outerwear and knitwear, all under $200! The Aether booth was also sick, with a stunning collection of cold weather outerwear that was simple and sharp. The Oliver Spencer Boutique was definitely my favorite though, as all of the pieces on display were at least 40% off of the regular prices. I scored a beautiful navy wool pea coat for $250 (sorry for the shitty picture below).

The detailing (red wool interior lapels, pinstriped lining, and adjustable waste and cuffs), the fit, and the price made it a no brainer. I would recommend checking this brand out online. Their prices are super reasonable and their design is stellar.

Next we walked down to Acne to see about their new Theo Leather Jacket that I've fallen in love with.

Of course they, along with Oak, had sold out before they even got the jackets to the store. I would say its not meant to be, but they are still available online... Early Christmas present maybe!

Speaking of early Christmas presents, my second (and last) purchase was a pair of the Franklin boots ($198) from J.D. Fisk at 159 and 1/2 Ludlow Street.

The brother brand of Dolce Vita, J.D. Fisk makes great looking shoes at comparably low prices. They also had a fine selection of Shades of Greige and Gant in store and a BILLYKIRK waxed cotton gym bag ($210) I was contemplating procuring for my dad. Alas, I did not have access to the proper funds.

Next we went two doors down to In God We Trust, where my friend purchased a silver "Cheers Mother Fucker" flask for $40. If you're looking for an inexpensive Christmas gift for a friend or family member, this is the place to go. They also have another location (with almost the exact same merchandise) on Lafayette between Prince and Spring right when you get off of the 6 train.

Somewhere in between we stopped by Opening Ceremony because is it really a day of shopping in Soho without it? We were both obsessed with the Racer jackets from the Tron x Opening Ceremony collection ($530), though we never for a second considered actually spending close to $600 on it...

Overall, a beautiful day to go shopping and some great new Fall/Winter merchandise in stores. The only thing that spoiled my day was the 11% sales tax I had to pay on my shoes (the jacket was all cash and tax free!). I later had a discussion with the sales woman at In God We Trust who told me that it was changing again come January (probably going up). I understand that the state needs money, but aren't we supposed to be encouraging shopping in such a economically challenging time?

BRAND PROFILE - Acne

A new (and exciting!) category is making its debut on Natty NYC: Brand Profiles. From now on, I'll be picking my favorite brands and profiling them for you guys, as well as choosing a few of my favorite items and sharing them with you. In honor of their new store opening in London, I decided to dedicate the first post to one of my favorite brands: Acne. I know the joke has been made about the unfortunate name, but don't let that turn you off, because if you do, each season you'll be missing out on an amazing collection of garments that offer incredibly designed and constructed basics, as well as more avant-garde pieces.

If you are unfamiliar with the brand, start with a quick peruse of their online store. It's one of my favorite, not just because of all of the fashion porn on display, but because they truly upload every single piece that is produced. Doesn't it bother you when you see something in an ad or a magazine, and the brand doesn't have it listed on their e-commerce site, even though they clearly sell it? Well it bothers me, and this is just another reason why I love Acne: you see it, they got it. Online. Every time.

Next, lets talk about the clothes. Oh the clothes! They really speak for themselves. Classic pieces reworked with clever details, features, and fabrics, all incredibly comfortable with a modern fit. Examples: A perfecto leather jacket lined with thick shearling, a grey cardigan with fingerless clove inserts, and high-top moccasins with leather panels meant to look like metal plating. Apart from these, there are simple chinos, sweatshirts, turtlenecks, blazers, and tees that would be great additions to any man's wardrobe.

And then there are the jeans. Originally, Acne got its name for their denim, and looking at their selection, it's certainly not hard to see why. There are a variety of interesting washes in addition to the everyday blue, black, white, and grey offerings, as well as a collection of fits.

I know the price point may seem a little "exclusive," but I really believe that the design and construction of these garments makes them worth every penny. So head down to their location on Greene St. in New York and check out the new collection. Below, find a couple of my favorite looks for fall/winter and some shots of their new store, curtesy of Susie Bubble.







Sources: Style Bubble, Acne Studios

SAVE - Spring Sales - up to 60% off

Ah, yes. It is that wonderful time of year. The time for spring sales. It seems so ridiculous, though, that spring/summer is on sale when the season hasn't even ended, right? Well it is. How can stores manage to sell through when seasonal merchandise is only in stores for three months before new merchandise arrives? They can't, that is if they place a normal sized order. To compensate for the ever shortening selling period for each season, and the economic downturn's effect on consumer spending, stores are condensing their orders, effecting designers who rely on the store orders to make make money as well as get their product in the public eye.

The only group that this wacky schedule benefits is the consumer. Not only do we get a rotation of new goods every three months, but we get deep discounts on those items we didn't feel like paying full price for, and we don't even have to wait for the season to end. This means I can buy a chic Steven Alan plaid shirt from Barneys that is meant for spring/summer in July for $99, down from $205, and still get another two months of wear out of it, and if I purchase wisely, maybe even carry it into fall (all of which I did!).

I took a few pictures (taken secretly) of my favorite items on sale this season from Barneys and Bloomingdales. I was mostly on the look out for modern basics that were seasonless. Hope you like. Save.

BARNEYS:

Frank & Eileen Plain Button Down - $79

Chimala Grey Jeans - $169

Chimala Green and Navy Stripe Tee - $59

James Perse Khakis - $129

BLOOMINGDALES:

Ernest Sewn Ripped Jeans - $170 (Modeled by me)

Richard Chai Parka - $250

Acne Plaid Button Down - $135

* All prices listed are sale prices
** Confession: I purchased the Frank & Eileen shirt, as well as a Barneys Co-Op cashmere sweater ($99 people!), the Steven Alan Plaid shirt, and a Save Khaki Green Military Jacket (not on sale, unfortunately), all of which are not pictured. And I'm going back for those Ernest Sewn ripped jeans. Don't Judge me, I still have half of my second pay check.

SUMMER ESSENTIALS

Everything you will need this summer minus the swim suit (we covered that earlier). All available at Barneys and Forward by Revolve.

1. LVH: Levi's Vintage Clothing - 1936 Jacket in Granite Ville

2. Oliver Peoples - Patten Polarized Aviator in Rose Gold/Java

3. Rag & Bone - Marine Jacket in Olive Green
4. Yigal Azrouel - Multiplaid Shirt in Paprika
5. CO-OP Barneys New York - Drawstring Short Light Grey
6. (No longer available, sorry)
7. (No longer available, sorry)
8. Superga - Canvas Court Sneaker Navy
9. A.P.C. - Stripped Tee Multi
10. Surface to Air - Check Shirt in Blue
11. Acne - Mic Jean in Rigid

TO SPLURGE OR TO SAVE - Finding the Perfect T-Shirt

Yes, I acknowledge that T-shirt dressing is more L.A. than New York, but with the summer months ahead, its imperative that one finds a great white (or really any light color) tee to fight the heat. Another challenge is finding a T-shirt that, without being incredibly overpriced, doesn't look like something you would wear to bead.

Below I have compiled a list of my four favorite places to pick up a great white tee.

Numbers Lab ($35-$95) --> Find at Bloomingdales and Saks locations
Numbers Lab makes great tees that feel as if they are draped onto your body. They are tight and loose exactly where they should be, and have the perfect length in the sleeve and in the body.

Acne Jeans ($69-$110) --> Find at their store - 10 Green St., New York, NY
When you are wearing a Acne tee it is easy to forget that you are wearing a shirt at all. Does that sound weird? Well it's true. They are slightly oversized, which I think creates a great silhouette, and although pricey, are easily comparable to say, a Dolce & Gabbana tee that you could easily cost you upwards of $200. So depending which way you look at it, its either a save or a splurge!

James Perse ($45-$95) --> Find at his store - 361 Bleeker St., New York, NY
James Perse is world renowned for his mastery of the T-shirt. He has a series of stores on Bleeker street, each offering a copious selection of tees in different fabrics, textures, and styles.

Uniqlo ($5-$20) --> Find at their store on Broadway btw. Spring and Prince
Despite its international standing as a power chain store, Uniqlo manages to retain quality in its clothing, a fact that is evident in its most basic offering: the tee. You can either opt for a T-shirt pack (better for layering), a fine cotton tee, or one of their anime and manga printed graphic tees, all of which are extremely comfortable and look even better with time.