SDNYC Finds

SDNYC Finds

PRIESTESS NYC x DAA = sassy sexy wear for a good cause

PRIESTESS NYC is the zany avant-garde brand that makes hysterically cool
clothing for a great cause!

CODY ROSS is the cult-proprietor behind PRIESTESS NYC, a unisex fashion
brand that pushes the parameters of artisanal design and champions good
causes. He’s also a stylist, advisor to fashion start-ups and cultural
excavator for i-D, Bullett and China Vogue.  Cody recently combined
efforts with video artists BRITTANY KUBAT and CHARLES BILLOT to make a
short but sweet fashion film for the sake of promoting Designers Against
Aids (DAA),
a wonderful non-profit charity that seeks to put an end to
HIV/AIDS through education and out-reach programs, especially targeting
youth culture in developed and developing countries. This collaborative
fashion vid is possessed of an avant-garde zeal filled with sassy and
seductive clothing and coaxes every detail—visual, sartorial, sound and
ambience—to perfection.  In just under 2 minutes you a get a throttling
vignette with razor sharp synths and pulsating strobe, abrupt tempo
changes and an all-out magnetic mix of unisex gear (styled by Aussie vixen
LISA NGUYEN) boasting dapper proportions, nifty silhouettes and
mesmerizingly sexy models caught up in a flirtatious vortex.  The best
part, however, is that PRIESTESS NYC is seeking to make a B-I-G difference
with proceeds from the clothing going toward DAA’s educational arm.
Peep-out the video here. Pledge your support. Get involved! Word up!

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My puppy is a pornstar!

Everywhere we go, the ladies are after him! And he gives me that soulful look that says “I can’t help it…the bitches love me!” So I recently decided to give him a gift equal to his status: a cashmere turtleneck sweater that spells out exactly what kind of dog he is!

The cleverly backwards Pornstar logo sweater was designed by Yumi Hall, a New Yorker originally from Tokyo. She has applied “full fashion” techniques for her sweaters (vs. “cut and sew”). This makes the sweaters fit smoothly with less seams. She also applied “intarsia” to weave the logo making it look and feel smooth even from inside. In addition there are great little accents like sequins on one sleeve and a little pocket on the other –to store extra doggy treats, no doubt!
In addition to the cashmere turtlenecks Yumi creates t-shirts with original Shijuhatte illustrations on them. They’re off-white with black neck and trim on right sleeve and rhinestones along the left sleeve. If you aren’t familiar with Shijuhatte, a kind of Japanese rendition of the Kama Sutra, you can read about it here. While I admit that it’s a bit odd to our sensibilities to have this kind of illustration on a t-shirt for our pups, it’s also eccentric enough that I find it appealing. And Yumi told me that they’re very big with her customers in Tokyo and Paris but Americans, even New Yorkers get a little uptight. Me, uptight? Ha! Now Nasdaq (pictured above) is not just my accessory but is making his own fashion statement!

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End of Century

Where: 237 Eldridge St, NY, NY
When: Mon – Sat 12 pm – 8 pm, Sun 12 pm – 7 pm
End of Century

End of Century is part store, part art gallery and entirely intriguing! Tucked away on a block  that isn’t wall-to-wall boutiques, walking into End of Century feels like a departure from the everyday. Warm and inviting it feels a little old fashioned despite the fact that it  it showcases newer designers and artists. This juxtaposition of old/new works well as you realize that most everything in here has the possibility of becoming a classic. Forget fast fashion and chasing trends. Here you can find clothes, jewelry and accessories by designers that are truly creating bodies of work rather than searching for instant fame. And that’s not to say they won’t become household names: Titania Inglis, who recently won the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award, is one of the designers you can find here. Others include jewelry designer Collette Ishiyama and bags by 1 Per Diem.

I personally love stores that support emerging designers and what’s more amazing to me is that they also devote part of their limited space to show the work of fine artists as well. Coming up will be a site specific installation by Edouard Nardon that will run this weekend through February 15th.

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First Giveaway of 2012? A Brahmin Mini Anytime Bag!

The holidays are over and the January/February winter doldrums are about to set in. Which is why I decided it’s time to have another giveaway on StyleDefined NYC. This time it’s a croc embossed leather bag by Brahmin. I will admit: I have three Brahmin bags of my own, so clearly I am a fan of this company! Although it’s not as well known as other labels the quality of each bag speaks for itself.

The perfect essential mini bag for anytime. Simple and chic the anytime mini can be worn with shoulder strap for a day out or strap can be worn wristlet style for an evening look. Small enough to tuck into your everyday tote or used for travel.

How to enter?
do ANY of the following:
-comment below
-LIKE the page and comment on the StyleDefined FB page
-follow me on twitter and tweet to @Katya_NYC why you need the bag

Congrats to Dina J who won the Brahmin bag. This contest is officially over.

 

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Annabelle

Artwork pictured by Colton Brown, Ryan Wallace, Elizabeth Tomesetti and Jeremy Wagner. Dress is Bianca Dress – Annabelle.

Where: 105 Stanton St, NY, NY
When: 12 pm – 8 pm daily
http://annabellenyc.com

Walking into Annabelle’s is like entering the personal domain of your very cool best friend. Owned by designer Anna McCraney the vibe is warm and inviting and the walls are hung with an eclectic mix of art created by artists Anna knows and admires. The boutique carries Anna’s own label, Annabelle, which is filled with beautiful basics like silk crepe tank tops and “put it on and your set” dresses like the Bianca Dress, along with other original designer labels such as Gar-De and Spring & Clifton. In addition to the clothing Annabelle carries jewelry by K/LLER COLLECTION. And the great artwork on the wall? That’s for sale too!

The Lower East Side is still one of the more eclectic and interesting neighborhoods in the city and finds like Annabelle is part of the reason why.

Annabelle was *recommended by Cator Sparks.

Cator Sparks is the editor in chief of www.lookbooks.com and met Anna at a rave 16 years ago!

* Every other week we’re going to show you a new NYC “find” recommended by personal friends and trusted tastemakers. Thanks Cator, for introducing us to both Anna and Annabelle!

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Aphrodite Ring by BesoBeso -a perfect holiday gift -giveaway!

How much do we love the holidays? All the glittery, sparkly things…but when it’s time to take down the decorations don’t you still want a little shine in your life? This week I’m giving away this gorgeous cocktail ring by BesoBeso from the Moss Collection created in California by Jacqueline Brown.

Jacqueline’s first ready to wear design, and a BesoBeso essential.  Aphrodite combines ripple effect detailing with sparkling semi-precious brazillian amethyst stones.  Imported Mexican Sterling Silver or 18K Italian Plated gold. One size fits most. It’s both bold and elegant and will become an instant favorite.

Giveaway starts now and winner announced on Sunday!

To enter- Just say why you need/want the Aphrodite ring! Do ANY of the following:
-comment below
-comment on the StyleDefined FB page
-tweet to @Katya_NYC and mention @besobesojewels

Do it all for more chances…and good luck!

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Temple Veil Body Chain by AK Vintage – Midweek Giveaway!

Temple Veil Body Chain

example of body chain

I recently discovered the AK Vintage line designed by Anna Korte, a Portland based jewelry designer. Since 2002, AK Vintage has evolved from limited runs of jewelry made from deconstructed vintage necklaces to full collections made from a mixture of authentic vintage parts, recycled leather and castings made locally from one of a kind vintage findings. Inspired by sustainable solutions, production for all AK Vintage pieces are kept locally, handmade in Portland, OR.

Anna draws inspiration from nature’s geometry, literature and the history and age of the vintage pieces she incorporates into her designs. Every AK Vintage collection is inspired by Anna’s current favorite poet or piece of literature, largely motivating each collection’s design direction and perspective.

This week I’m giving away the Temple Veil body chain shown in the large photo above. It has a great stacked vintage silver bar center-piece on an oxidized brass double-link chain with a  hand cast AK tag and snap clasp. The fluidity of the chain contrasts with the strength of the center bars to create a truly unique and beautiful piece.

For your chance to win do any or all of the following!

WINNER ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY!

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And the winner is…

Bobbi of Lake Worth Florida won the Efva Attling necklace. CONGRATS!

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Make Love, not War! A mid-week jewelry giveaway with Efva Attling


Hey kids, this is the first of what I hope is an ongoing event: giveaways of items that I truly love and think you will too.

If you remember a few weeks ago I featured the Sans Peur ring by Efva Attling. A piece of jewelry that I now wear daily! Efva is all about Beauty with a thought. The former Vogue model and Swedish pop star knows that a beautiful object infused with meaning is made more special. She hopes that you’ll expand on this idea to create your own narrative when you wear her pieces. I’m giving away this necklace MAKE LOVE NOT WAR TAGS. A unisex design, it’s two stamped silver dog tags that read “Make Love Not War” in braille on ballchain.

Efva’s thought: A message of love written in embossed printing. The contrast of the hard element of military badges with peaceful message. Blind for the seeing. Humour mixed with seriousness.

You can see more of her jewelry online or in NYC at her new store in the meatpacking district. For a chance to win this necklace do any of the following (more than one = more than one entry!):

How easy is that? Good luck! Contest through Saturday and winner announced Sunday!

 

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MyWardrobe.com is a great find for fashionable winter wear online

Big cities have always led the way when it comes to fashion and style, and things are no different this season. So, you may wonder what sorts of fashion are hot this fall and winter in a place like New York City. Well, this season it’s all about classy ways to stay warm. You may be familiar with simply throwing on whatever old jacket or sweatshirt you have lying around in order to keep up with the dropping temperatures. However, there are actually a lot of options when it comes to high-end fashion designers and warm outerwear. If you look into fashion in a city like New York, you’ll see that there are plenty of people wearing such outerwear from popular designers such as Burberry.

Using Burberry as an example designer, the fall fashion collection includes a number of different coats that are both classy and warm. For example, trench coats and pea coats (generally in dark colours such as blacks, greys and browns) are very popular this season, and there are a number of them available for your purchase. Additionally, there are a number of different scarves in this collection, which can contribute to keeping you warm and stylish. Scarves seem to be on a constant rise in popularity, and many large cities in colder areas are full of men wearing scarves. Items like these can greatly assist you in fixing yourself up with an appropriate big city wardrobe.

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