BrandHabit

Walter & My Free Friday/Saturday

Friday is my day to just wander around.  I go to a hot yoga class, stop into DSW (which I JUST discovered!  Where have I been???)  and then later in the day I visit Water of Walter – Walter Baker. 

I tell Walter that he is my niece’s favorite designer.  
“ You KNOW Walter???” My niece exclaimed one night when I mentioned I have met him several times.
Walter is flattered and offers her a gift.  He brings out the hippest silver cropped jacket with a side zipper.   Something I could never pull off but will look fantastic on Lindsay. She is going to DIE. 

Later in the evening I meet my Cousin, and her daughter for dinner at Apizz, a long time New York favorite, hidden on the lower east side.  I have completely gone off of my food and exercise routine this week… In fact, I am busting out of my dress as I have been carbo-loading with some of the best epicurean indulgences NY has to offer.  So, for the last night I might as well indulge all the way: I order a butternut squash ravioli dish that is beyond amazing.  It’s rich, sweet and dripping in butter.  It tastes more like a dessert than a main course.   Next week I’ll get back to the healthy routine I am used to.  It’s all been worth it.

Alas, it is my final day in NYC.  I’m tired for no reason at all really.  I didn’t go out and party like a crazy person but with the travel, the time change, the cocktails with dinner every night and the carbo-loading, I needed a good long nights sleep.  I sleep in till 10 then wander out into the spitting rain to my local neighborhood coffee shop: Café Borgia.  I sit with my laptop and listen to at least 5 different languages spoken around me.  The waitress recognizes me and welcomes me back.  I feel like I am at home again in New York.  I am not here as a tourist but as someone who feels the city is my own. 

Despite my desire to be ALONE. (and to some degree I have been), I am now beginning to feel lonely and am craving the demands of my day-to-day life.   It’s time to get back to my routine:  Wake up, get my daughter out of bed, make her breakfast, make her lunch, drive her to school, work, come home, make dinner, shower, go to bed… do it again.

New York will be here for me and I’ll have my time in the city again. 

Back to life. Back to reality.

Editorial Suite

We are set up in a suite at the Bryant Park Hotel.  8 Designers:  Laura James Jewelry

Tucker Paisley,

Baggu, WishWrap.com, 

Red Start Designs

   

,Brilliant Earth

 Sirao,

   

And Tori Richards.

Amy from Big Picture PR has editors booked solid every half hour.   The editors work for every media vehicle from Shape to W, from Parenting to the Today Show.  Laura James and I (both 5’7) comment on how tiny these girls all are.  It seems like a height of 5’2” is a prerequisite for the job.

No other group is a better study on what “look” is happening in New York.  And for this visit, it’s not just the editors but once again, almost every gal you see on the streets is wearing the same look:  Leggings with flat boots (or skinny jeans tucked in), long shirts or short dresses with a long sweater or cropped jacket for the layered look.  Also:  Gray is big.  Lots of Gray. All of the editors wore grey handbags. There is no denying it, the 80s look is not just a passing trend.  I could recycle my New York wardrobe from 1985 and I would be all set. (except for the fact that I finally got rid of my 80’s wardrobe in 2000.) 

Now, you have to imagine that aside from assessing the trends, I had to pick my favorite outfit of the day.   Naria Morales from Lucky Magazine was my favorite.  She had on a gorgeous pair of black patent high-heeled oxfords, beautiful gray tights, a darling short belted flowy gray dress (which she told me she got at Zara!) and a cropped navy military jacket.  She looked darling.  The day is a big success. Each designer seems to capture the attention of at least a few editors. 

Prairie NY, Light by Debra Skyler, Priestess NYC

Wednesday morning, I get up, head out to Café Borgia with my Mac Book Air in hand. 

The Mac Book Air gets more attention than you could imagine. Everyone "oohs and ahhs" when they see it.  People are constantly stopping to say, "Wow, how is it? Do you like it?? Can I feel the weight of it?"  It just kills me however that a NEWER version came out 2 weeks ago. 

After coffee, I walk up through the west village, through the meat packing district and up to 2 showrooms.  I stop in to see Risa , my friend who was previously at Goldenbleu, and is now running PR at Prairie NY.  The Prairie NY Spring collection looks fresh, fun and flirty.  I want to order something but it's always a risk to order off the racks because I can't try anything on. I order a black square necked top with a flowy ruffle that sits on one shoulder and flows down the waist.  Okay: there is my "ruffle" effort for the season.  Let's see if I can pull it off. Black is pretty safe. 

Wednesday afternoon, I stop in another local pub in SoHo and chat with one of the last remaining artists living in SoHo (which is now a mall) and then head back up town to meet with my cousin Debra. 

Debra has come out with a new collection of gorgeous chakra jewelry.  She adorns me with layers of necklaces and bracelets so I can show it off to the press tomorrow at the editorial suite.

Next, I head to the West Village to meet up with Priestess NYC‘s Creative Director, Cody Ross. We meet as his Brownstone-cum-atelier where he gives me a fabulous tour and lets me preview SS’09 styles.

Cody is a study in juxtapositions. He is a totally handsomehipster-boy with spiky-blond Billy Idol hair and talks like a Venice Beach skateboarder. Yet he was educated at the venerable London School of Economics and speaks flawless Mandarin, Chinese (he also has credentials from Central St. Martins!). Despite the economic slowdown, he talked enthusiastically about global retail, NYC’s fashion scene and told me about some of his favorite inspirations including Alexander Wang, Vivienne Westwood and Jeremy Scott.

Now, if you weren‘t already in the know, Cody designs Priestess NYC -- a rockin range of womenswear clothing and accessories (www.priestessnyc.com) that’s garnered the attention of the ‘coolest of the cool girls’ including Tyra, Bjork and an impressive cadre of A-listers from LA to Shanghai.

The clothes are sophisticated, impeccably crafted and come in a wide range of crazy colors with wacky and provocative prints. Cody’s stuff is straight-up fab and captures ‘urban girl whimsy with futuristic accents.

The line sells at upscale, edgy boutiques and department stores around the world and appeals to girls ‘who are a bit radical and totally directional’ (as Cody says)

Keep your eyes peeled for this boy because he is a creative tour de force who understands the market and delivers the goods! ... I'd call him a quadruple-threat: Smart, Ambitious, Charming and Creative. My guess is that Priestess NYC will be a marque to be reckoned with because Cody has the vision, the connections, and a unique blend of international business know-how to make his label stand-out ... even in the toughest of times. Priestess NYC is in it's 3rd season and going strong!

I will be sending out a newsletter all about Priestess NYC this month.

Stay tuned!

Election Night

Upon arrival at JFK, I head straight to an election night party at the home of Peggy Northrop; editor-in-Chief of Readers Digest, formerly of MORE Magazine.  Leave it up to Peggy to have a gaggle of interesting and creative people at her party:  Peggy is so multi-dimensional herself.  In the course of just a few hours I chatted with: Peggy’s darling husband, a wrier (who makes amazing Pozole I must say), a choreographer, a painter, a gilded glass artist, a T.V producer, a few publishing gals, one who shares my experience of being married to a “conservative” man (gasp!)...

I leave Peggy’s house at about 10:30 EST and take a car to SoHo.  Upon arriving at my apartment (that I get to stay in ALONE, I blissfully repeat) I hear the streets erupt with cheers.  Obama must have just taken Ohio. It’s a done deal.  Phew, we don’t need to endure another 4 years of a Republican president.   

I’m exhausted but I can’t possibly sit in an apartment with no TV and celebrate this momentous time in history ALONE, right?   So I make my way to a bar I have walked by a million times. A dive bar that I am determined to go to because I am sick (quite frankly) of the empty vibe and vapid people I tend to meet in “Chic” bar.  This bar in SoHo, is more of a dive than I imagined.  I was in the mood for a good ol’pub scene with a television but this place felt more like the basement of a bad cafeteria.  Someone next to me smelled pretty bad but we chatted about the election regardless.  Funny:  you never know who you are going to meet in a dive bar.   After chatting politics with a young boy standing next to me, I discover he is a window designer for Scoop NYC… (For those of you who don’t know Scoop you should!  It’s a fabulous store that now has 14 locations) Very cool.  My trip to New York , alone and on my own time has only just begun.

Alone in New York

I’m in New York for a business trip.  But this time I am here alone. ALONE. ALONE.  I never realized how much I would appreciate being alone before I had kids and a husband. 
Usually, I travel for business with a colleague.  But this time I am here doing an editorial suite at the Bryant Park Hotel where BrandHabit is presenting a few designers to the press.  Amy Cunha of Big Picture PR has organized the suite so all I have to do is show up at the suite tomorrow and talk to fashion editors. The rest of my time here is my own.  Don’t get me wrong:  I am not here just to wander around on vacation, but I am keeping my schedule fairly loose. 

I fly in to New York on election night on Virgin America, a hip, cool new airlines that tries to feel like a night club with purple lights, house music and hot airline stewardesses.  I am loaded for bear with magazines but stumble upon reality TV show:  Real Housewives of NYC on my personal TV.  Within minutes I’m sucked in and I watch an ENTIRE season… (oh my god. How did I do that?).  The entire time I wonder if I relate to the qualities in any of these women.  I came to one conclusion:  While I do like nice things and I am in the fashion business, and I do go to social events, I could care less about the strategic social climbing or keeping up with the Jones’s like these women do.  I also remind myself of how NOT to dress (at my age).  I posted a blog about this awhile back but hear me out again.  Once you are 40, don’t wear big bold prints, too much bling, too much cleavage (especially if you have big boobs) and don’t wear skirts above your knees without tights, unless you are a supermodel.  I’m sorry… it just looks stupid.  Check out Ramona who repeatedly embarrasses her darling daughter with her trying-to-be-young fashion choices.

Betheny (while she probably isn’t 40 yet) seems to get it right… classy, understated…

Luanne is okay most of the time and she owns her age well and Alex needs a personal stylist. 

Shop for a Cure!

Gosh, with all of the craziness in the financial markets, its welcome news that there is a shining star and discount opportunity for any shopping we may do. 

We all know the Susan G Komen, Pink Ribbon foundation right?

They have brilliantly put together a program that not only raises money for Breast Cancer but also buys us discounts at some of the best designer retailers in the Bay Area! 

It’s so simple:  Buy a tax deductible “Shop for The Cure” card for $50.  Your money goes to help cure breast cancer; and your card then gets you 20% off at some of the best retailers in the Bay Area from October 23rd through November 2nd.

You can get discounts at Bettina, Bottega Veneta, Her, Muse Ten, Stuart Weitzman, Theory, TSE and Yves St Laurent and many others!

Click Here to get your Card!  Help fight Breast Cancer and shop with a little less guilt! 
You can also pick up cards at participating retailers.

High Horse Accessories

I had a chance to step into High Horse Accessories the other day and meet with designer and boutique owner, Paula.

Paula is a beautiful doe eyed Colombian who passion is designing chic handbags with quality leather, at a reasonable price.

In addition to her handbags, Paula's store is packed with wonderful finds, mostly from

South America

... items that are fresh and not available in every local boutique or big chain store

She has fun, unusual jewelry (I picked up a gorgeous shell statement ring),

Coats made of Alpaca, and beaded belts.

I also scored a classic beige structured tote in faux croc that I know will suit me in the fall as well as next spring! 

Check this out!  I just love the circle handle!

Shoe "Problem"

by Carla Morton

Hi,
My name is Carla
and I think I have a....
I think I have a... Um.. shoe "problem".

I don't think I'm a full blown "Shoe Addict" yet but I noticed some behavior the other day that made me realize I might have a problem.

I was walking by Heidi Says on Fillmore and I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted a pair of tortoise patent leather studded and buckled Guiseppi Zanotti Shoes. Price $720. They were turning, on a carosel shoe display, taunting me as I walked by. My knees went weak.

" I WANT those" I thought to myself. What troubled me was that the feeling inside was impulsive. Not at all rational. It was pure want. It had nothing to do with "need". It was kind of like the feeling I get when I see Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall or Geoge Clooney in,,,, well, in anything.
No, not a feeling of wanting the shoes in a biblical sense. I might have a problem but I' m not Kinky.

It didn't use to be this way. Shoes were just Shoes. Things you put on your feet. Things that get scuffed. Things that most people don't look at
I think I made a turn for the worse when about 3 years ago I got the experience of "the good stuff". While in New York, and feeling really full of myself, I bought 3 pair of Italian heels. I went on a total bender. Two of the three pairs of shoes I don't even wear. But you know what? I don't care.
I find myself just getting satisfaction out of just looking at them... alone, in my closet. When no one else is around.

I'm out of control! What's happening to me??

So, luckily when I found myself in this state again the other day, I was able to talk myself out of it.
I knew I would regret it the next day
and the next month when my visa statement arrived.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change: I have a "shoe problem"
The courage to change the things I can: I can choose to not buy shoes I don't really need. I will not become an addict.
And the Wisdom to know the difference: Want, Need, Have to Have... (no, wait the difference isn't clear to me yet!)

An Epiphany

I saw Dave Matthews Band last weekend at the Greek Theater in Berkeley.

It's crazy because Dave Matthews has been one of my all time favorite band for years and this was the first time I saw him live.

It was awesome.  What else can I say?  This isn't going to be a Dave Matthews Band review.
But I will say that I had an epiphany while watching Dave Matthews.

You see, Music is my church.
I have a lot of "ah-ha" moments while dancing and listening to good music.

I was watching how much fun Dave was having with his boys on stage.. jammin, dancing, getting into the music and I thought about how much men love to hang out with other guys and do stuff together.

I realized that men do this in so many ways and really.. most men don't really want women doing the stuff with them.  I don't mean that men don't want women watching them do what they do.. but most men, like to do their thing with the guys and the guys alone: whether it's mountain biking, playing in a band, sailing, drinking, surfing... No women around: Just the guys.

I've heard several of my friend's  husbands and boyfriends tell me lately:  "You know, I don't really want my girlfriend/wife to (fill in the blank) Surf, Bike, Sail with me.  I like to do my thing and have her there when I come home".

Interesting.

I think so many women try to insert themselves into their man's space.. where he really just wants to do his thing. Alone or with the guys..
and I realize that it's probably not a smart thing to do.

In essence women get together and do the same thing.. but we do it by talking. We don't want a man to hear our chittery chattery discussions.. we enter into our own little world and work it all out. 
Men on the other hand, they just want to play.

Let em do their thing, I say!

Fall Fashion Picks

by Carla Morton

While big bold prints and lace are hot for fall, for me, these looks are hard to pull off. 

I'm totally drawn to the rock and roll biker chic look with everything in black this season.
There are just a few items I want to add to my wardrobe which I think should endure the test of time.  The entire look brings me back to my days in NYC in the 80's when my go-to outfit was leggings, with a lycra mini skirt, cropped boots and a leather jacket. 

I tend to avoid looks I did 20 years ago but there is something timeless about a good old biker jacket and black from head to toe.

Here are a few items on my wish list this season!  Click on any of these pictures to purchase these items too!

This dress captured my attention while combing the web.  I have several black dresses but this Vivienne Westwood number is too sexy to pass up!

This Linea Pelle Handbag has just the right amount of edge and polish at the same time.

This Smythe Biker jacket is not over the top.  A good old classic I will keep in my closet for years!

I love the mix of leathers on these Donald J. Pliner cropped boots.  I'll feel like a "bad girl" in the city with these on! Don't mess with me!

While I love all of the layered silver chain looks, I know I have enough chain in my own collection of jewelry parts to throw something together...But this Gold Chain necklace has a fantastic retro look that  is a real statement piece!

Finally, I stumbled across this gorgeous top by Foley and Corinna! I love the mix of ethnic and rock glam!