My Dead Dad Was in ZZ Top
Last night an enthusiastic crowd of 400+ people packed into The Bell House in Brooklyn to enjoy an evening of “solemnity”, celebrity, and laughter in celebration of comedian and author Jon Glaser’s new book, MY DEAD DAD WAS IN ZZ TOP, published by our friends over at Harper Perennial. In attendance were Ira Kaplan, John Hodgman, Zoe Lister-Jones, Scott Adsit, Jon Hamm, and Paul Rudd, who all (hilariously) reenacted selections from this collection of “100% real” never-before-seen documents from the world of rock and roll.
In his introduction speech, Jon Glaser explained that he was inspired to “organize” this collection of documents after cleaning the attic of his recently deceased father and finding a box labeled “Do Not Show This To My Son”. In the box were dozens of letters written by his father to the fellow members of his band, ZZ TOP. Yes, Jon Glaser’s father was in ZZ TOP (an earlier incarnation of the band, not the one we know today). Jon never knew this fun fact about his father and so he set out to “discover” other important documents from the world of rock and roll, collected for the first time in MY DEAD DAD WAS IN ZZ TOP.
Inspiring.
Below, some highlights from the event!
Jon Glaser makes his opening remarks
John Hodgeman is first up to read from the book
Up next is Scott Adsit
Jon Hamm
Paul Rudd brings it home with The Tonight Show letters
Truly a hilarious evening for a very “real” book!
Whitney Port signs TRUE WHIT in NYC
Last night Whitney Port launched her brand new book, TRUE WHIT: Designing a Life of Style, Beauty, and Fun at the Barnes & Noble Tribeca store in NYC. The 100+ crowd of eager young women were excited to have the MTV reality star and clothing designer sign books and pose for photos. Some pics from the event, below!
Signing books for fans
Posing for photos
The eager crowd
Whitney excited for her first U.S. book signing!
With proud co-editors Jennifer Schulkind and Amy Bendell
If you missed her in NYC, be sure to catch Whitney at one of her next signings!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Bookends
@7:00PM, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Book Revue
@7:00PM, 313 New York Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Mall of America
@1:00PM, 60 E Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Borders
@3:00PM, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067
COVET: What I Want Right Now
Sometimes you just walk into a store and think: “I’m home”. That’s what happened to me yesterday when I visited the playful and creatively designed NYC outpost of SHOE WOO. Every detail- from the plush chairs and couches doting the marble floor, to the glimmering chandeliers hanging overhead, to the unique shoe paintings lining the walls- tells you that this store treats shoes like royalty. Not to mention the giant high heel sculpture hanging from the wall, the velvet swing chair, the rotating display of high heels, and the stunning cascade of white shoes snaking down the center column of the store. This is a sight you need to see to believe! Some photos, below:
Rotating shoe display
GIANT shoe wall sculpture
Cascading shoe sculpture
Located on 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, the store carries a variety of brands within the Jones Apparel Group, including: Nine West, Rachel Roy, Anne Klein, Joan & David, Chelsea Crew, and more. They also stock beautiful bags, purses, and scarves. The selection is well-edited and the staff is extremely friendly. I sincerely recommend checking out this or any of their eight U.S. locations.
And if you’re wondering if I found shoes to take home with me yesterday, I did! I found the perfect black boots in my size AND on sale. Game, set, match.
All About Animals
Animals are also trotting their way onto bathing suits, as evidenced by the “We Are Handsome” one-pieces worn by Diane Kruger and Rihanna recently. Both ladies rocked the Amazon panther-print, but you can also chose from the Arabia horse-print and Yosemite eagle-print styles. All available at Net-A-Porter for about $375. I would personally love to hit the beach with these festive suits.
- arabia horse print
What do you think – will you say “yay” or “neigh” to this animal trend???
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Kateri Benjamin
Favor!te Film: Tie between The Kids Are All Right and The Social Network
Favor!te Album: Vampire Weekend’s Contra 
Favor!te Book: Patti Smith’s Just Kids
Favor!te Designer: Mondo from Project Runway – He deserved to win but Gretchen needed the money more, so I’m ok with how it turned out. 
Favor!te TV show: 30 Rock. Always.
Favor!te Blog/Website: Racked.com posts the most interesting fashion stories
Favor!te Twitterer: @McNallyJackson gives good book tweet
Favor!te You Tube Video: “Many too small boxes and Maru”. This is perhaps the best video demonstration of cat psychology that I have seen in a while:
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? iPad!
COVET: What I Want Right Now
The thing about jewelry is that it is generally only used to embellish one small part of our bodies – ears, neck, wrist, etc. But why think so small? Why not consider jewelry a layering tool? I’ve already gushed over Babette Epaulette’s beautiful shoulder jewelry, but now I’m dying to try the body chains made by 22 year-old Luv Aj designer Amanda Thomas. Handmade from vintage pieces, these delicate chains have been spotted on celebrities like Ashlee Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, and Ashley Tisdale. Drape one on to add a unique sparkle to any tshirt or dress:
The Cross Armor Body Chain, $198
Ashley Tisdale
The Chainmaille Body Chain, $225
The Chandelier Body Chain, $175
The White Body Chain, $150
Amanda Thomas also designs necklaces, rings, and bracelets, but her body chains are truly stunning. What do you think – would you rock this style??
COVET: What I Want Right Now
Lately I’ve been kind of obsessed with the idea of convertible clothing. Why limit your clothes or accessories to just one purpose when they could have more? Saves time and money!
Take, for instance, this fantastic new scarf / bag combo created exclusively for OfaKind by husband-and-wife team Symmetry Goods. Made of contrasting herringbone and ikat fabrics, this limited edition scarf features two detachable straps that help transform it from neck warmer to grocery holder. Perfect for impulse purchases. Get it at the OfaKind site for $225.
COVET: What I Want Right Now
The holiday season is upon us and that means stuffing our faces with food while trying to impress family members we haven’t seen for a while. Remember, nothing says put together like fancy nails! Shock the turkey right off their forks with these jazzy nail polish looks for the holidays:
Deborah Lippman’s “TODAY WAS A FAIRYTALE” - a glitter polish that contains diamond powder ($20):
Deborah Lippman’s ”BOOM BOOM POW“ – a glitter polish that contains 24K Gold Dust ($20):
Sephora by OPI “CHIC PRINTS FOR NAILS“ - sets of 16 instant nail patches from Minx, the nail art beloved by celebrities like Rihanna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry, that cost $15 and come in a wide variety of flashy prints:
OPI Burlesque Nail Polish Collection - Even if you find Cher and Christina Aguilera over the top, you’ll surely enjoy the razzle dazzle of this holiday nail polish collection inspired by the Burlesque movie.
Let Me EntertainYou and Show It & Glow It! are two of my fave colors: 
What about you – will you be dressing up your nails for the holidays???
The Call of the Wild
Celebrities like Khloe Kardashian, Annalynne McCord, Snoop Dogg, and Audrina Patridge have been caught channeling their inner wild animal with the hot new fashion accessory: SpiritHoods. Made entirely of faux fur, these hat / scarf hybrids come in a wide variety of lion, wolf, leopard, and bear styles. According to the website:
“SpiritHoods are more than just a wild accessory, they represent this bond and the connection we have with our wild natures. Whether you love fashion, adventure, animals, music, festivals, nightlife, the outdoors, or are simply wild at heart – SpiritHoods are a NECESSITY for your life style. It’s simply about letting loose, being wild and having a good time.
Wow. How can you argue with a NECESSITY?
Available for both men and women, and priced from $59 – $129, each hood style comes with its own personality description. For instance:
THE RED WOLF ($129):
Loyal » Social » Teacher
Those with a wolf spirit are fiercely loyal creatures. They are team players and work well in groups. The wolf is a social animal and a great communicator, often teaching those around it.
THE FOX (Worn by Khloe Kardashian, $129):
Adaptability » Diplomacy » Wisdom
People with the Fox Spirit are intelligent animals. They are cunning, attentive and masters of disguise. The Fox is adaptable, able to blend into many different circumstances with ease. People with the Fox Spirit are able to observe a situation, acquire a desired outcome and move with swiftness and thought of action in order to obtain this outcome. (more…)
COVET: What I Want Right Now
As the temperatures drop ever lower here in NYC, I’ve been thinking about an affordable way to make my cold weather wardrobe even chicer: patterned tights. There are some really fun styles on the market this season, especially at Urban Outfitters. Here are a few of my favorites:
Urban Outfitters tights with heart bands around the thigh ($14):
Urban Outfitters tights that look like suspenders ($28):
Urban Outfitters tights with a peacock pattern ($14):
At Nordstrom, I like this jazzier version of plain nude tights ($8):
And my standby favorite tights brand, Hue, has these Lacy Herringbone Tights ($18):
What do you think? Will you be busting out the patterned tights this winter?
COVET: What I Want Right Now
At brunch yesterday I spotted my friend Jackie wearing the most adorable classic black flats. But they had a twist: a plastic PVC upper and three buckle straps snaking up the ankle. She told me they were part of the Vivienne Westwood + Melissa collaboration and that there were more styles online. Of course, I had to find out more!
The inspiration
Turns out these cool plastic shoes come in multiple styles and colors. There is an attractive heeled version of the flats:
And a fun buttoned ankle boot:
Not to mention tons of kitschy peep-toe heels for summer:
The best part is that these shoes are very well-priced, ranging from $85 to $200, especially if you find them on Zappos.com.
What do you think, will you pick up a pair of these “rain chic” shoes?
Kat Von D in NYC
Kat Von D wants to meet you! Be sure to catch the busy tattoo artist and star of LA INK over the next few weeks as she travels all over the U.S. to sign copies of her new book, THE TATTOO CHRONICLES. This week she visited the tri-state area and though she was standing on her feet (in six inch sparkly pink heels!) for two to three hours at a time, Kat happily signed books and posed for pictures with every single one of the hundreds of eager fans lined up to meet her. Some highlights below:
Kat Von D and Jeffrey Star sign books for fans
Some window washers tried to sneak a peek into the signing from outside!
Nice to Meat You
Desperate for a humane and hygenic way to replicate the controversial meat dress worn by Lady Gaga at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards? Look no further than the “Meat-Lace” from OnchMovement!
Made of completely animal-free materials, the Meat-Lace stays fresh, juicy, and tender for years, without the pesky spoiling problem that comes with live meat accessories. Featuring an attractive 18 inch black and gold chain, and priced at an affordable $55, this Meat-Lace is sure to add flavor to any outfit. Also perfect for Halloween!
What do you think – will you buy the Meat-Lace?
What was Good…and Bad About the Britney Episode
Why Glee + Britney Spears = Best Thing Ever
1. Brittany and Santana FINALLY get to sing solos. Sure, they won’t be winning Grammys anytime soon, but they have enough skills to pull off Britney and Madonna.
2. Heather Morris is an insane dancer, and she finally gets to show us what she’s got in this episode. BTW, have you seen her do the Single Ladies dance with Beyonce?
3. When Rachel Berry wakes up from her hallucination at the dentist, she says: “is this real life?”, cleverly referencing the hilarious David After Dentist YouTube video.
4. All our favorite Britney Spears jams were packed into one episode (and there are a lot).
5. Even though Britney guest-starred on the episode, and the whole thing was clearly a tribute to the singer, they were not afraid to mention her less-than-flattering moments (“conflicts” with paparazzi, anyone?)
Why Glee + Britney Spears = Not the Best Thing Ever
1. Wait, is Glee on MTV 2 now? Why was this show a series of music videos? Can we at least pretend to have a plot?
2. John Stamos. In the Britney episode. Why?
3. While it was great to see Britney on the show, she didn’t really have enough of a part. We wanted to see her sing and dance alongside the Glee cast.
4. If Kurt was such a big fan of Britney Spears, why didn’t he get to do a Britney solo???
5. The character of Will Schuester is getting ridiculous. He used to be this cool teacher who wanted to help his students sing. Now he is this uptight attention-hog who stands front and center while his glee club performs Toxic? No. Teachers do not perform with students.
Overall, you’d probably enjoy this episode just as much if you simply download the Glee recordings of the songs on your iPod or watch the video clips on YouTube. What did you think??
And That’s What I Call A Situation
Here’s the situation: Mike from the Jersey Shore has taken over the world. Ok, not really, but three recent projects have catapulted him to fame (and fortune) beyond his abs’ wildest imagination. What are they? Let’s take a look:
Project 1: Dancing Queen
Mike has joined this season’s cast of Dancing With the Stars with professional dancing partner Karina Smirnoff. But Jersey Shore obligations in NJ gave him a late start to the show’s rigorous dance rehearsals, which may explain why he tied for last place on the first episode. We’ll have to see if he and Karina can quickstep their way into the top next week!
Project 2: Total App Domination
Since its release last Thursday, “The Situation” has become one of Apple’s top 10 grossing iPhone apps . Retailing for $4.99 on iTunes, the app boasts a “GTL Finder”, which uses your GPS location to find the nearest gyms, tanning salons, and laundromats/dry cleaners. At the gym you can follow The Situation’s photo demonstrations of his workout routine, and in your downtime (perhaps waiting to get in the tanning bed?), play the “Grenade Dodger” game, listen to his recorded catchphrases, and email The situation with your pressing GTL questions.
Oval There!
The Oval Office has a new look! Revamped while the first family was on vacation, updates to the office include new furniture, paint, and wallpaper, all in more neutral, brown and taupe colors. Did you know that most presidents redecorate the Oval Office? Let’s see how the styles of the last three presidents stack up:
CLINTON:
With red-striped couches, gold curtains, and a dark blue rug, Clinton was clearly not afraid of color:
BUSH:
Here we see a lot of yellows and cremes. The furniture is American-classic:
OBAMA:
Our current president has chosen a sleeker, more modern look, with lots of neutral colors and comfy couches:
I think Obama’s office looks the most homey and inviting…which style do you like the best???
Get Your Gleek On
Though Glee snagged only 2 of the 19 Emmys it was nominated for last night, a new clothing line based on the hit show will surely distract disappointed “Gleeksters”. Available exclusively at Macy’s, the line will feature tees and hoodies priced from $20-$35. Find it just in time for back to school shopping in the juniors section or online at Macys.com!
And if memorizing Glee songs and dances and donning clothes based on the show isn’t enough to satisfy your cravings, ShopGlee.com tracks down the exact make and model of the clothes worn on the show and features them alongside video clips of the characters wearing the items. For example, zip into the same track jackets worn by Sue Sylvester here, and pick up Will Schuester’s v-neck sweaters and collared shirts right here.
All this Glee talk makes me very excited for the Britney Spears episode airing in September! Which songs do you want them to sing???
Dangerous Curves Ahead
Do you want to get rid of something in your wardrobe? Do you like free jeans? Are you one of 54% of women who try on an average of 10 pairs of jeans before finding one that fits? Do you like free jeans? If you said yes to any of the above, you should definitely find yourself in NYC’s Bryant Park at 10 am this Friday, August 27th for the Levi’s Wear What Fits event!
Just bring an unwanted garment to the event, and in exchange Levi’s will donate the item to Goodwill and hand you a FREE pair of their new Curve ID jeans. The Wear What Fits event will also feature a live performance by singer Janelle Monáe and a meet and greet with style guide Bobbie Thomas.
Touting Curve ID as a line of custom fit jeans that focus on shape instead of size, Levi’s says the three fits are based on their analysis of over 60,000 3D body scans and 1-on-1 conversations with real women. This entertaining video on their website explains the options:
If your jeans are too tight at the waist – you need the slight curve
If the waist fits but doesn’t flatter - you need the demi curve
If the waist fits but gaps at the back – you need the bold curve
All of these descriptions seem like a thinly-veiled way to ask: how big is your butt??? but we’ll let it go. Free jeans for everyone!
‘Cause We Are Living in a Material World…
Thanking my lucky stars I had avoided this crazy mob from the Aug. 3rd Material Girl opening day ceremony, I dropped by Macy’s in Herald Square this weekend to check out the new clothing line from Madonna and her daughter Lourdes. The spokesmodel for the collection is, of course, Taylor Momsen, and posters of the Gossip Girl sporting looks from the line appeared throughout the 7 floors of the store.
I was surprised to see how much floor-space was dedicated to the line – two whole sections – and how many individual pieces were available – everything from tops to skirts to dresses, vests, shoes, bags, jeans, and leggings. Everything you would need, presumably, to transform yourself into a true Material Girl.
The collection, which is priced from $12.99 to $40, was clearly inspired by Madonna’s wardrobe in the 1980s, though there were some current trend pieces sprinkled in, like chambray button-ups and skinny jeans. Just so I could take my YourItList readers along for the journey, I snapped some photos with my trusty camera phone:
Some cute (albeit short) skirts grabbed my eye, like this black and white-striped mini with exposed zipper, and this white studded one, which also came in black.
A surprising number and variety of vests were on display, yet all of them fell flat, including the washer-studded cowboy vest and the fur look below:
Floral was ubiquitous – turning up on mini skirts, dresses, and tops. But as much as I love floral…these leggings? Too much.
Overall, Material Girl offers lots of cute and fun pieces and the $40 price cap makes the line accessible for their target teenage girl demographic. But it seems to me that the best way to wear these clothes would be to pick up a few items and wear them separately. Like, on different days. Because otherwise, you will definitely end up looking like you just emerged from Madonna’s Hot Tub Time Machine.
An Empire State of Heels
I was walking along 34th street this weekend when I was literally stopped in my tracks by the sequined heels on display in the Geox store window. I thought to myself: “Are those heels in the shape of the Empire State Building???” Indeed they were! Check out the window display below:
I simply had to find out more! After some sleuthing online, I found out I had been looking at the Geox limited edition Empire State Building heels, conveniently for sale right next to the iconic skyscraper itself.
Available in gold or silver, the 5-inch heels are covered with rhinestones to represent the skyscraper windows. The body of the shoe comes in leopard print, purple and blue sequins, or black sequins, and a choice of open or closed-toe.
With a price tag of $230, tourists may not wish to forsake their standard I <3 NY t-shirts for the heels, but they are certainly the most fashionable New York City keepsake I have seen in a while.
Don’t they just put you in an “Empire State of Mind“?
Kate Spade’s New “Book” Bag
We publishing folk may be known to carry books around with us, but Kate Spade is taking the idea to a whole new (and fashionable!) level!
Coming out this August will be an adorablenew line of ”Book of the Month” clutches. The bags will feature completely original “cover art” based on classic novels, including: The Great Gatsby, Emma, The Importance of Being Earnest, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities.
Retailing for $325, one new “book” will debut every month as a kind of fashion “book-of-the-month” club.
Of her inspiration for the bags, creative director Deborah Lloyd said: “We wanted to pretend we had our own publishing house.” She hopes that women will not only wear the bags, but display them around their homes as if they were actual books.
Definitely puts a new spin on the phrase, “required reading”.
Prada for the Budget-Conscious
Pine for a Prada bag but can’t afford the price tag? Good news: Prada has just launched a new handbag collection for fashionistas on a budget. Available this month, the bags retail for $295 and come in nautical, artsy, and summer prints. For a canvas tote, this isn’t exactly a steal, but it’s probably the cheapest Prada bag you’ll find north of Canal street. And it makes for a pretty chic summer look!
Whitney Port + Elle Magazine = Ru La La
Fans of MTV’s The City know that in last week’s episode, Elle magazine recommended Whitney Port’s clothing line, Whitney Eve, for a special collaboration with designer discount site, Ru La La. Well, in an impressive display of TV/mag/online synergy, that promotion, billed the Elle Modern Designers Boutique, went on sale today (May 12th) at 11am EST.
The sale pairs items from the clothing lines of upcoming designers Whitney Port and Brian Reyes, all hand-selected by Elle editors.
Just 10 minutes after the sale opening, this Whitney Eve cream cut-out dress for $79 sold out:
Her colorful vest + shorts combo for $178 is still available, but might be too LA for us New Yorkers (i.e. COLORS):
Brian Reyes has some fun, ruffled pieces in his sale, including this gorgeous Parchment Silk skirt for $299:
And this classic little black dress with asymmetrical ruffles and back cut-out for $299:
To see the rest of the pieces, log in toRuLaLa.com. And to learn more about Whitney Port’s style, stay tuned for her upcoming book, TRUE WHIT, coming out February 2011 from It Books. Can’t wait!
