ART & FASHION SALON: shopping and store profiles

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Extreme Fashion Window Alert: Kate Spade's Art/Fashion Mix!

Art / Fashion mix at Kate Spade! Their new windows in Soho and I believe on Fifth Avenue are full of brushes dripping with paint, (one of my favorite sites.) It's a bit "constructed," it could be a bit more messy for a "true" art vibe, but it is prim/proper Kate Spade afterall, so of course they would never show an "art mess." The theme is awesome and once you see them up close you will really appreciate them. Here are a few scenes below...and also note that Kate Spade will be opening a new store for fall, on upper Madison Avenue. Could Jack Spade be next to head uptown?

Yes, I took to many of these photos....

Next at Anthropologie I found another hot art/fashion mix at the Fifth Ave / 16th St. location. As you head downstairs, of course to the sale section, you will find this cool-cool ceramic dog and surrounding him are (for sale) vases with art flowers. The petals are fabric, the center of the flower(s) are paintbrushes. Why didn't I think of this? Artists: never throw out your used supplies, you can make things! Or, give them to me when dried and I'll make things!

The vases were priced between $148-$300 and up, yes, that's correct. The designer also makes many of their hand painted bags, etc. but I need to repost to get the name correct. It's taking some Leslie Oschmann for Swarm (google that name, you will love what you see), but I need to double check that. They are not on their website, I already checked. Take a look....

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Get Your Fashion/Art U.K. Mix on the Lower East Side! Visit ANY OLD IRON For You New "Go To" Spot!

Looking for something unique that you wont find anywhere else? Especially in menswear for a change you ask? Look no further than one of the coolest boutiques in the city; Any Old Iron located at 149 Orchard, http://www.anyoldiron.net/. I discovered this specialty shop while walking the Lower East Side one afternoon and have been back several times. Their focus is mainly on menswear's, and yet women have plenty to choose from - I love their accessories and browsing the art. (Yes, a great art/fashion mix!) You will feel like you stepped into a London boutique as mostly everything is U.K. designer based (Vivienne Westwood and more), along with many one of a kind, stand out choices you can only find here. The fabulous hand designed t-shirts (see below), are for men and women, again, all hand designed. It's about time to see something truly stylish and affordable for men that's not a mass-produced.

The friendly English-gallery type atmosphere is very welcoming as is the owner/operator/stylist Andrew Claney, (below), a true joy to chat with while shopping. (Also adorable and welcoming is his little Boston Terrier named Monkey who lights up the store!) Clancey has been a stylist on movie and television sets for many years working with some of the hottest designers. His pieces can be styled for casual wear to a full on evening out with prices ranging from $40-$1k depending how eccentric you wish to be. Have a look and start shopping!