Up to 70% off at Pieces in Brooklyn!

Hey Y'all!
I'm in NYC and of course you know that one of my first stops will be Pieces Boutique!
Lucky you, they're offering 70% off your next purchase, with men's and women's tops, dresses, outerwear and more already 30-50% off. I'll be there!
Check the holiday store hours:
Tuesday Dec. 23rd 10 am to 8pm; Wednesday Dec. 24th 10am to 8pm; Friday Dec 26th 10am to 8pm; Saturday Dec 27th 10am to 8pm.
They're located at 671 Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn.
Happy Shopping!

4 Must Stop Shops in New York City

Hey Lovelies!
So I'm off to Paris tomorrow morning!
While the thought of going abroad with nothing but a dream is pretty terrifying, what's really nutso is the thought of packing up all my stuff! All my shoes, coats, bags, and dresses can't go with me..blame New York!
New York has some of the best shopping in the world, and I'm going to miss my 4 favorite must stop shops:
1. Barney's Co-Op:
Barney's is far from cheap, but I go there regularly to be inspired by cutting edge designs by Marc by Marc Jacobs, 3.1. Phillip Lim, Opening Ceremony, Madison Marcus, Alexander Wang and more. I dip in to drool over the displays, but stay shopping on that sale rack! It's gotten so bad, I even made up a system to remember the cross streets (187 for 18th and 7th ave!).Check it out at 236 West 18th Street. 212-716-8816.
2. Fisch for the Hip:
Right down the street from Barney's Coop, you'll find Fisch for the Hip, the only consignment store in New York you need to know. Why? They exclusively carry current season high end designs from Balengiaga, Bottega Veneta , Cavalli, Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci, Hermes and more. And they make it clear: no pleats, no double breasted jackets, or sweaters that aren't the softest cashmere! Ladies listen: this is where you go to buy your Louboutins for less. You'll still pay a pretty penny, but know you're getting quality. Guys, you're covered too. 153 W 18th St. (212) 633-9053
3. Pieces:

If you're in Brooklyn y'all should know by now that Pieces is the only place you have to go! From flirty dresses to more buttoned up fashion week looks, Pieces has everything you need, with prices that go from affordable ($140 for a dress) to pearl clutching ($500 for a see through sheer shirt). No matter what, though, Pieces is the bomb. And trust: I'm taking everything I bought from Pieces with me! 671 Vanderbilt, Brooklyn. www.piecesofbklyn.com.
4. Lounge
Anytime I need that fire pair of boots, or a cute pair of unique sandals, I only go to Lounge in Soho. Bypass the blaring music on the first floor, and go straight to the basement, where you'll find a well edited selection of shoes by United Bamboo, Miss Sixty, Anna Sui, and Report Signature. 593 Broadway. 212-519-5618.
What are you favorite shops in NYC?
Smootches!
*Did I mention how much I'm gonna miss it????
**Check out more New York Shopping here.

Boutique Spotlight: PB & Caviar

Hey!
So the other day I decided to drop into cool new New York boutique called PB & Caviar....
...if you haven't heard, it's a hip shop for women and children owned by none other than Evin Cosby (daughter of Bill Cosby shown below)....
I was scheduled to go to the store opening (last Thursday), but couldn't make it, so stopped in Friday afternoon to take a look around...
...and chat a bit with Evin for the Fashion Bomb.
Regarding her reason for opening a boutique, she said, "I always wanted to have a store. I loved shopping for people and my parents encouraged me to be an entrepreneur."
And what's with the name PB & Caviar? She explained, "I have a five year old daughter who loves peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. And I thought, adults like caviar. So PB & Caviar reflects the affordable & chic, grown up yet young elements of the store."
Carrying women's clothes by Anna Sui, Tracy Reese, and Chelsea Flower as well as kids clothes by Ben Sherman, Diesel, and Scoop, the shop definitely had plenty to offer! I quickly found lots of Fashion Bomb worthy items:
This cute sequined top by my new favorite designer Interlud was $186...
A patterned dress by Odabash was $552....
This Ingwa Malero white dress was gorgeous at $300...
...a classic white shirt dress by Danang is $128...
...and this embellished cocktail was $460.
Ok, so I suffered from a bit of sticker shock. When you go, have your credit card handy, but don't be deterred by the prices; I found an affordable dress/top for under $200 that I'm going to wear to an event tonight! And there are t-shirts and jeans that start at $28.
It's worth a look!
So drop in and say 'hey' to Evin at PB & Caviar, located at 88 Thomas Street off West Broadway in NYC.
Tell her I sent ya!
Smootches!

Real Talk: Shopping for Fashion Week

Hello my lovelies!
So as you probably know, New York Fashion Week starts tomorrow!

Fashionistas from all over the country will convene to view the Fall 2008 collections of designers from Diane von Furstenberg to Herve Leger. It's an exciting time for the Fashion Bomb, as I'll be in the house delivering Real Style, pictures, and interviews.

Even though I swore to temper shopping in the New Year, I knew I just had to get a few special somethings for the occasion.

Keeping my budgetary concerns in mind, I figured $200 was a low, yet reasonable amount to go shopping. I told myself I'd try to find items below $100 each (per my New Years resolution), and truly be a budget fashionista.

With my vision of how fashion week attendees should look....

...I set out last Saturday to find a few diamonds in the rough.

I started local, walking down Flatbush Avenue until I hit one of my favorite boutiques, Harriet's Alter Ego (293 Flatbush Avenue between St. Marks and Prospect Place)...

I was informed that the rack in the back...

...held items for $30.

My eyes immediately settled on this vintage Chanel inspired tweed jacket...
...with a great stand up collar and a short style that was mildly reminiscent of Victoria Beckham's jacket from the Roland Mouret show.
I tried it on...
...and it was a little tight, but for $30, it was definitely a steal! I reasoned I could perhaps get it let out at my trusty tailor. If anything, I'd wear it unbuttoned over a sleeveless dress for shows, then gift it to one of my grubby sisters!
Running tally: $30.
I had a meeting in the city, so I raced off to the East Village where I wandered into a French Connection (700 Broadway at West 4th Street)...
...I was lured in by their promise of 60% off their fashionable wares.

I grabbed *way* too much stuff, and made my way into the dressing room. Turns out all the items were an extra 50% off their sale prices, so dresses normally $200 were marked down to $60-$70--definitely within my budget!
I tried on this wine colored number...
...and though I thought it could maybe work with tights, I felt it was too short and night clubby for an aspiring fashion editor like myself.
This sweater dress was only $70 (marked down from $200)...
...and with a white collared shirt underneath, it could look smart, professional and appropriate. I liked it a lot, but still wasn't convinced.
Then I tried on a wild card, a winter white coat with a stunning fur collar ( I thought for sure it was misplaced on the sale rack). Still, I tried it on.....and was sold! As a sidenote, a little bit of fur is the rule, not the exception for editors. Take Andre Leon Talley, par example...
...fur is just an accent, but it's there. I looked at the tag on my winter white wonder and realized it was only $140 (marked down from $378). Not under $100, but a deal nonetheless, and within my overall $200 budget. It was mine.
Running tally: $170.
With only $30 left, I figured I couldn't really get much. Shoes of quality were out of the option, as were most bags. Walking around 5th Avenue the following day, I came upon Zara (659 Fifth Avenue at 54th street)...
... the perfect place to find affordable yet chic clothes. They advertised a 50% off sale, so I stopped in...
...and it turns out they, too, were slashing everything. I quickly found a rack full of editor-esque dresses for only $30!
I tried on a few...
...but was unimpressed until I tried this one on...
... a slate gray cowl neck sheath, also reminiscent of Madame Beckham. The dress was a little big, but with a belt...
... it worked! And if anything, I could get it tailored in time for the big week!
I ran to the register with my $30, and that's all she wrote!
Total: $200.
So let's review: I purchased a tweed jacket, sheath dress, and a knee-length wool coat for only $200. And the colors are neutral, so they'll fit seamlessly into my wardrobe.
Here's to fashion on a budget!
Now, on to the tents...
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*FYI: I visited my tailor, and it turns out the jacket could not be let out, but the dress could be taken in...for $35! Ok so tailoring costs more than the dress, but I'm sure that that $65 will probably look like $300! And lesson learned: it's easier to take things in than to let them out. If you must buy the wrong size, make sure it's too big, not too small.
*On my fashion plate tomorrow: BCBG Max Azria, Erin Fetherston and Baby Phat! Stay tuned for updates:)
*Fashion Bomb Friend Tia Williams...
... is featured in a New York Times article on Beauty Bloggers! If you haven't yet, check out her dope blog, Shake your Beauty. It's all about makeup for brown skinned babes! Think 'The Beauty Bomb.'
*Another newspaper looks at the absence of color on the runway. [Newsday]
*According to Ruth La Ferla, fashion will harken back to the 50’s and 60’s in Fall shows:
A quote, “Fashion is supposed to be about change,” said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst with NPD Group, a market research firm, “[Once a standard bearer of the vanguard], fashion has become the most conservative of all industries.” [NYTimes]

Boutique Spotlight: Lee Lee's Valise

Hey!
Almost the weekend…
So I received an e-mail yesterday advertising a ‘Plus Size Fashion’ Week taking place at a store in Brooklyn called Lee Lee’s Valise…
Since I’ve been accused in the past of not showing love to big girls, I decided my attendance at the event was mandatory.
I made my way down on the F train, and entered the boutique, only to find that Fashion Week was more of a mix and mingle event with champagne, designers, and lots of clothes. No worries! Lee Lee’s itself provided enough fashion entertainment, and seemed like the perfect place for a plus size diva with a keen sense of style.
The store carries sizes 12 to 28 and features clothes by designers such as Roni Rabl, Anna Scholz, Trentecosta, Tadashi, Elana Miro, and Kiyonna.
I took a look around and found a lot of cool finds with prices that spanned the gamut.
This gold coat by Anna Scholz was a whopping $1,102…
While this cool cropped jacket by Maestro was a more reasonable $39.
This gold and pink dress by Kiyonna is a mid-tier $116...
And this coat, again by Anna Scholz, was $994..
Bring your credit cards!
Of course the ladies who came out were trying things on.
This Lace Boudoir Dress by Kiyonna was very flattering and a reasonable $168…
This ready for work dress by Trentecosta was also $168…
And this showstopper by Roni Rabl was a conservative $200…
Fierce! The young lady wearing it said, “I usually have lots of fit problems. Plus sized clothing usually goes straight down. I never find anything that fits me.”
Thankfully that dress fit the bill…I think she walked out with it on!
Lee Lee's Valise has lots of other must sees.
A wide assortment of Spanx…
Lingerie by companies like Volage with bra sizes that go up to a 46H…

Jeans and t’s…
Accessories…
And bags….
You must stop by!
Plus Size Fashion Week continues tonight and features designers Anna Scholz and Jessica Svoboda. Drop in tonight from 6-9…you won’t be disappointed!
Lee Lee's Valise is at 368 Court Street (at President). Call 718-246-5337 or visit www.leeleesvalise.com for more information and directions.
Smootches!
PS I'm wearing black today to support the Jena 6. Are you?
PSS Can't make NY Plus Size Fashion Week? Check out Pieces Fall Preview...

Click to Enlarge
It's going down tonight at 7:30 at 671 Vanderbilt Avenue at Park Place. See you there!