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?

SPLURGE - Opening Ceremony Blazer - $520

Opening Ceremony's in house collection turns out an interesting group of pieces each season. While a lot of it is a little too avant-garde for my taste, I am obsessed with their Professor Blazer with arm patches available in khaki or brown. This season there inspiration stemmed from both the UK and France, a fact that is evident in this tailored offering.

The proportions are slim and youthful, the color is season-less, and the design is thoughtful and classic. And, it's all made here in the USA. Perfect for a chill Fall day downtown, or a casual dinner out with friends. Splurge.

SAVE - Steve Mono Leather Belt - $75

Steve Mono makes exceptional leather goods. Considering his items can go for as much as $500, let's put this in the save category. The belt is made of beautiful, sturdy leather that will look great with dress pants or a pair of jeans. Available in other colors through Opening Ceremony. Save.

SAVE - Comme des Garcons Zip Wallet - $68

I'm not sure if they carry this model at Opening Ceremony any longer, as I purchased it over a year ago as a present. I just discovered it, and since the recipient still had it in the wrapping, I decided to claim it for my own! Despite the fact that this is essentially a zip-up card holder (less of a wallet), it stays slim in my pocket, even when I stuff it with bills and cards. And no more loosing that loose change on the floor when I pull it out of my back pocket! Save.

UPDATE: I tracked down the same model, for sale online and in-store at Dover Street Market. The new model comes with a glossy black outside and a neon pink or turquoise inside. Probably too feminine for me, but a great looking wallet none the less.

SPLURGE - Weekend Warriors: Saturdays and Warriors of Radness Collaboration

I just realized that I haven't dedicated a post to Saturdays OR Warriors of Radness yet... Well lets knock them both out with one post!

Saturdays is a modern surf company (I say modern to rid your mind of images of below the knee board shorts and over-done graphic tees) based out of Soho. In addition to their own line of swim suits, tees and the like, they also carry great surf and skate inspired brands such as Vans and Lightning Bolt, as well as surf boards, wax, and coffee, in their flagship. Warriors of Radness, for something completely different (not), is a colorful surf brand that tends to crank out collections somewhat resembling what a hipster would wear in an 80's workout video. They have great tees and swim suits, as well as a stamp of approval from the hipster Mecca, Opening Ceremony, where they are carried.

Together, it's pure bliss. Tanks, tees, and swim suits in black, white, blue and red, all with variations of the Weekend Warriors logo. They are perfectly branded, and from what I can say about them only judging by the Saturdays tee I own myself, exceedingly comfortable. The collaboration is available exclusively at the Saturdays Surf location at 31 Crosby St. While I don't know prices just yet, I'm sure you'll want to scoop more than one of these items up, so lets consider it a splurge for now.