Countdown to Uniqlo in midtown!
In a short 24 hours, New York Fashion Week (excuse me, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) will begin and Lincoln Center will be abuzz with fashion editors, designers, models, and other artists. However, I believe the less couture-oriented among us will appreciate this other fashion tidbit: Uniqlo’s coming to midtown!
Uniqlo flagship store to come, 5th Ave at 53rd St.
Opening on Friday, October 14, the Fifth Avenue location (at the southwest corner of 53rd St.) will be the Japanese retailer’s largest global flagship store. Yes, Fifth Avenue has plenty of flagship stores, but Uniqlo will be a great addition to It Books’s little stretch of the avenue, saving us from Hollister/Gap/H&M fatigue. Come the holidays, tourists will no doubt choke up the sidewalks even more, but I for one am happy to have another mid-market shop. And it’s always nice to see an empty store front find a new store to call it “home”!
Uniqlo Fifth Avenue: September 9, 2010 Edition
As promised, we’re keeping you apprised of every development in the Uniqlo Fifth Avenue saga. As you can see from the photos below, the official logo is now in place, assuring that this really will be the gigantic Uniqlo store we were promised. Until now, all we could do was hope that this wasn’t just another ruse perpetrated by the mainstream media. Time for a deep sigh of relief.
Uniqlo Fifth Avenue: September 3, 2010 Edition
Ever since the news broke that Uniqlo was taking over the huge former Brooks Brothers flagship store at 666 Fifth Avenue, the Your It List office has been eagerly anticipating any and all progress. Since we’re less than a quarter block away from the new location, we’re all trying to find ways to finagle a big raise before it opens. Running out for a soup at lunch will now turn in to a soup and a pair of selvedge jeans (and probably a pair of HeatTech long johns, too).
There doesn’t seem to be an official opening date set, but at a reported $20 million a year lease, I’m guessing the Uniqlo folks will want to start moving product out the door before too long.
Until then, we promise to bring you all the latest construction developments as soon as we see them (and we’ll be watching closely). For now, enjoy these glamor shots from the corner of Fifth Ave and 55th Street.
Friday Round-up
A couple of things to think about:
At long last, a tutorial on the space shuttle toilet (via VSL). Remember: “Alignment is important.”
Completely unrelated, our friends at Partners & Spade were instrumental in founding th
e new NoHo Design District in Downtown New York. As part of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, the district is throwing a neighborhood kick-off party this Saturday from 7-10 pm. With retailers like The Smile, Billy Reid, Oak and the aforementioned Partners & Spade, NoHo is one of our favorite places to shop.
Here’s how to get there.
Molly Ringwald gets the pretty back
The iconic Molly Ringwald shares intimate stories and candid advice in Getting the Pretty Back, a fun, stylish, and sexy girlfriend’s guide to life.
Buy Getting the Pretty Back today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders or an independent bookseller.
To her millions of fans, Molly Ringwald will forever be sixteen. As the endearing and witty star of the beloved John Hughes classics Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink, Molly defined teenage angst, love, and heartbreak. While remembered eternally as the enviable high school princess Claire, or the shy, vulnerable Samantha, Molly has just celebrated her fortieth birthday. Facing a completely new, angst-inducing time in her life, she is embracing being a woman, wife, mother of three, actress, and best friend with her trademark style, candor, and humor.
In Getting the Pretty Back, Molly encourages every woman to become “the sexiest, funniest, smartest, best-dressed, and most confident woman that you can be.” She shares personal anecdotes and entertaining insights about the struggle to get through the murky milestones and identity issues that crop up long after the prom ends. Whether she’s discussing sex and beauty, personal style, travel and entertaining, motherhood, or friendship, Molly embodies the spirit of being fabulous at every age, and reminds us all that prettiness is a state of mind: it’s “the part of you that knows what you really want, that takes risks.”
Lavishly illustrated by Ruben Toledo, Getting the Pretty Back is sure to charm women of all ages with Molly’s unforgettably personal, refreshingly outspoken take on life, love, and, of course, finding that perfect red lipstick.
Read an excerpt from Getting the Pretty Back, view Molly’s favorite fondu recipe from Artisanal Bistro, read an interview with Molly on Tonic.com and become a fan on Facebook.
How Clean Are Your New Clothes?
Think twice before wearing those new clothes out of the store!
When you go to the store and pick out some new clothes, how often do you wash those items before wearing them? Probably not that often, because they’re clean, right?
Definitely not, says a new study conducted by Good Morning America. The team bought 14 items of new clothing–everything from blouses to pants to underwear from three popular chain clothing stores–and then had them tested for germs by Dr. Philip Tierno, director of microbiology and immunology at New York University.
The results were alarming. There was evidence of extremely high counts of germs and bacteria on several items:
“On this black and tan blouse we found representation of respiratory secretions, skin flora, and some fecal flora,” Tierno said.
On a jacket, Tierno discovered evidence of feces, skin flora and respiratory secretions, especially in the armpit and “close to the buttocks,” Tierno said.
The biggest surprise came when Tierno tested a silk blouse.
There, he said, he found vaginal organisms, yeast and more fecal germs.
Eww!! Tierno said that either many people had tried these clothes on , or someone with heavy contamination had tried them on. Either way, these germs can live on these clothes for weeks, or even months!!
The lesson here is to ALWAYS wash new clothes before wearing them!
Alter-native shopping
These studded gloves are only $24!
Covet: Rodarte for Target
This lace print dress would be great with a cardigan or a belt
This would look great over the first look. A nice layering piece.
This black dress could either be a fabulously less-expensive version of Rodarte's signature whimsical style, or it could be a hot lingerie mess.
Though the clothes look promising in pictures, I’m worried that the Juniors sizing and the Target-quality production may make these clothes less than desirable in real-life. Nevertheless, it’s worth a look.
Lancôme invites you to meet Nina Garcia
Meet Nina Garcia at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City on November 12th and hear her discuss her latest book The Style Strategy and to hear about Lancôme‘s new Genifique Eye Youth Acting Eye Concentrate and Absolue Precious Cells.
The $75 reservation fee is redeemable in Lancôme products and you will receive a free copy of The Style Strategy. Space is limited so RSVP today!
Can’t make it? Stylists from Marie Claire will be making appearances at Lancôme boutiques in Brea, California and Short Hills, New Jersey on October 28th. Details below!
Saks Fifth Avenue New York
Nov. 12th, 5 to 7 p.m.
RSVP: 212-940-2187
Lancôme The Boutique, Short Hills, New Jersey
Oct. 28th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
RSVP: 973-258-0790
Lancôme The Boutique, Brea Mall, Brea, California
Oct. 28th, Noon to 7 p.m.
RSVP: 714-671-0267
Nina Garcia answers some questions
Buy the entire Nina Garcia Collection below:
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Your It List has had the honor of hosting Nina Garcia as she guest blogged about her new book The Style Strategy. If you can’t catch the final episodes of the latest Project Runway season, Nina’s collection of style guides are without a doubt the next best thing. Below, Nina took the time to answer some of our questions about her style, her books and how to look your best and paying less!
Your new book, The Style Strategy, is about shopping while saving money. Is that even possible?
Of course it is! You don’t have to spend a fortune to look fabulous, or sacrifice style when you’re on a budget. The Style Strategy is not about doing without; let’s be clear on that. It’s not about feeling deprived. It’s about realizing that you can get the same euphoria that buying high-end brands may give you by simply reworking the clothes you already have, or finding great bargains and turning these items into the perfect expression of your personal style. This past year has reminded us all that we MUST be conscious of the money we spend. And being practical while remaining stylish is the ultimate chic.
What was the inspiration for this book?
My absolute favorite new mantra is: Shop Smart, Stay Chic, and Make it Last! This mantra has fueled every single page of this book. The sense of accomplishment you get from knowing you’ve truly lived by this mantra, and look great while doing so, is the best feeling in he world. Every shopper should be armed with a strategy. This book guides shoppers through a strategy that works.
Why do you think women will respond to the advice in this book?
If we ladies are anything, we’re resourceful. Long before we earned our own paychecks, we were in charge of stretching pennies for the entire family in order to create and maintain a warm, comfortable home. Through the ages, we’ve seen it all. No era has been without its crisis. And women have always been a tremendous part of the glue that holds everything together while working through such a crisis. Our ingenuity and flair for survival has saved the world many times over. But our ability to beautify the world as we save it is what really makes it all worthwhile. I think women innately know solid advice when they read it, and they will appreciate the fun spirit frugal fun and pampering that line this book.
There are a lot of interesting facts and history in The Style Strategy. What made you decide to include such information?
I want people to know some of the specific moments and ideas throughout history that women have exhibited incredible ingenuity and flair in the name of looking great. When going through a rough economic downturn, sometimes it’s easy to forget how good we have it in comparison to other periods throughout history. I truly admire the women who lived through the American Civil War, the Great Depression, and World Ward II. They were really tough, and so creative. I want to honor them by writing about the great strategies they came up with, and all without the help of huge discount stores and sample sales that we’re so used to.
What is one piece of advice you would impart from the book?
There is so much wonderful information to choose from! But if I had to pick just one, I would say that a good rule to follow when out shopping is to never buy anything unless you have at least three items in your closet that it will go with. A smart shopper always creates options for herself.
You include great quotes from celebrities in this book. Do you have a favorite?
I have the hardest time narrowing down the many quotes I find through my reading. There are so many brilliant people in the world, saying such thought provoking, inspirational things. But if I had to choose one quote that specifically applies to the message I convey in The Style Strategy, I would have to choose one by the legendary designer, Vivienne Westwood, who said “Buy less, choose well, and mix it all”. That pretty much nails it. I simply elaborate on how to do just that.
There’s a real social component in The Style Strategy. On more than one occasion, you encourage readers to gather as often as time allows, share saving tips, clothes, advice on what looks good, and even go so far as to show how to throw a good “swap party”. What’s your aim in including this in the book?
It’s so easy to feel deprived, and even a bit isolated, when you are forced to financially tighten your belt. I want to remind women that community, friends, and family are important, and such a vital part of getting through difficult economic times. And of course I love any excuse to have a party. We’re all in this together, and there are few things more uplifting in life than playing dress up with the girls.
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With her signature eye for style, Nina Garcia is best known for her appearance as the unerring, formidable fashion judge on the hit show Project Runway. An elite authority in the industry, she has worked in fashion houses and in fashion media, with everyone from Marc Jacobs to Elle magazine and Marie Claire. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of The Little Black Book of Style and The One Hundred. Originally from Colombia, she now makes her home in New York City.
Nina Garcia talks Style
We are thrilled to have the amazing Nina Garcia as a guest blogger on Your It List. The new season of Project Runway has just debuted and Nina’s new book The Style Strategy hits stores this week. Her latest book is filled with smart shopping strategies for style on a budget, interesting fashion tidbits and lists of bargain fashion musts.
Photo by Barbara Nitke
I am a working mother and a wife. I am a sister and a daughter. I am a student of fashion and a shopper of everything. Each experience in my life fuels what I do, who I am, and, more important, who I see myself evolving into as tomorrow dawns.
I have goals. For myself, for my son, for my family, and for the people who listen to what I have to say about fashion and style.
Every day I plan, I organize, I schedule, I strategize. And the most important thing I’ve learned is that while no amount of planning fully prepares one for life’s inevitable speed bumps, knowing that I’ve built a strong foundation enables me to negotiate such bumps with assurance. I must problem-solve at a moment’s notice. And sometimes even change course altogether in order to adapt to whatever circumstances are thrown in my path. I have to be quick. I must embrace spontaneity while always keeping my feet on the ground. I must have unwavering trust that I’m making the right decision. If I even begin to doubt myself, I crumble, and nothing gets done. Or rather, nothing gets done correctly.
It is with this goal in mind—of imparting my strategy for achieving this level of self-assurance and confidence, while also economizing—that I decided to write this book. As I look at the women around me—on television, in the news, and throughout the world—I realize that although different circumstances may rule each of our lives, we share the core elements of who we are. We’re survivalists. We’re nurturers. We’re women.
An essential aspect of being a woman is not only taking care of everyone around us, but also taking care of ourselves and each other. We figure out new ways to look and feel gorgeous. Sharing our notso-secret tips with each other is probably the easiest, and definitely the most fun, way we care for ourselves. As women, it is in our nature to reach for perfection. And although perfection may not be 100 percent possible, getting close is. In fact, I see women getting closer to perfection every day.
I witness this striving toward an aesthetic ideal in the wonderful designs I handle as a fashion director. I see it in pristine garments, astute styling, and impeccable tailoring, among many other examples of the craftsmanship I’ve come to adore. But I also see perfection embodied in the women walking down my street. Fearless, creative, stylish women who inspire me.
But getting there is a process. It requires a strategy. Taking command of your style and staying chic is but one step in this process— an important one, mind you, but not the only one. Shopping smart and saving our hard-earned money is another very important step. And although it can be a challenge, being practical while honing your style can also be a damn good time. Trust me.
The Style Strategy by Nina Garcia
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With her signature eye for style, Nina Garcia is best known for her appearance as the unerring, formidable fashion judge on the hit show Project Runway. An elite authority in the industry, she has worked in fashion houses and in fashion media, with everyone from Marc Jacobs to Elle magazine and Marie Claire. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of The Little Black Book of Style and The One Hundred. Originally from Colombia, she now makes her home in New York City.
You got five dollar?
If you have $5 and don’t know what to do with it just go to Urban Outfitters for their $5 and under sale. Where else are you going to find Wildlife Plates ($4.99, Was $8.00), Nature Calls Toilet Deodorizer Drops ($4.99, Was $10.00) and of course, Cupcake flavored dental floss ($2.99, Was $6.00).
Christmas has finally come to July. Peace on earth and all that.
