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Just a few images for you tonight… I need them up on my page for my Wunderbloc shoe post - Shoes Glorious Shoes - Part 3, the Patents:).

The Caminata - Marcello Toshi :

The Pam - Mariana:

The Louise - Mariana:

The Desiree - Faryl Robin:

The Myrna - Kork-Ease:

I just got back from a pretty fantastic musical experience and thought it appropriate to share it with all of you. You may have heard that Paul Simon has been doing a residency at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He started out in early April with Songs from the Capeman. I have to admit, I don’t think I know any of those tunes, which is strange as I consider myself a pretty big Paul Simon fan. A few friends of mine went to that one and really enjoyed it, but I think the next installment was the place to be. In mid-April, Simon brought Under African Skies, an homage to Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints. Now that is a show that I REALLY wanted to be at. I was a huge fan of Graceland even though I was only 9 when it came out. There is actually a line in the title track that says “My traveling companion was 9 years old, he was the child of my first marriage.” My dad and I used to say it was our tune since I was also nine and the child of his first marriage. It was an album for us. One of these days I’ll unearth the video of me lip-syncing to “I Know What I Know” wearing my dad’s blazer, button up shirt, tie and hat. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would find that endlessly entertaining! Rhythm of the Saints was a gorgeous follow-up, one that I’m actually listening to now as I type.

Simon’s last installment in the music series was American Tunes and the last show finished tonight, roughly an hour ago. I got to see The Roches, Grizzly Bear, Gillian Welch, Olu Dara, Amos Lee, and even Josh Groban. (Not actually a huge Groban fan, but he did do a pretty great duet with Paul on Bridge Over Troubled Waters) Simon didn’t sing on all tunes, but all tunes were Simon’s. Each performer added a little personality, made the songs their own. The Roches always get me. The NY-based sisters have been around for ages and I first heard them on an Indigo Girls album recorded back in the early 90s. They did a few cameo harmonies including the super high ones on “Airplane”. I came to them next through my friend Leslie a number of years ago. We sang together a bunch and tried our best to crank out “Runs in the Family” though the sisters’ harmonies are so tight, I’m not sure we ever succeeded in picking each one out.

Grizzly Bear is a relatively new band based out of Brooklyn. I don’t know when they formed, but I do know they have 2 albums out (is there anything I’m missing?) and that I’ve been fairly obsessed with Yellow House which came out in 2006. Rumor has it they’ve got a new EP coming out in early May so you can be sure I’ll be jumping on that one! They did a pretty fantastic version of “Graceland” (listen here at Stereogum) in addition to a gorgeous version of “Mother and Child Reunion.”

Gillian Welch has one of the most distinct female voices out there these days. I love it. She consistently sounds fantastic with that pronounced southern drawl. She and her guitarist, David Rawlings, brought the house down with an amazing version of Gone at Last. Their voices were virtually made to sing in harmony and it was often hard to tell one from the other. Rawlings was absolutely phenomenal. Paul Simon came out to perform with them on The Boxer and I was wowed even further. You can see them singing together on “Sound of Silence” here.

I could go through everything, but let’s just say it was pretty amazing. Simon still sounds great though you can tell that he might not have the same skip in his step as he did in his earlier years. He wasn’t reaching for the high notes, but he made up for that in the best possible way and still sounded fantastic. I feel so lucky that I got to check it out!

Classic “You Can Call Me Al” Video

A few tunes for you: (all available through Myspace)

Grizzly Bear
Gillian Welch
The Roches
Amos Lee

I have no idea how I missed this one… but I did!

NYmag.com has lil’ ol’ Clarabella listed as one of it’s top 5 stores for handbags in their traveler’s guide. I must say, I’m flattered (insert typical Erin blush here).

Check it out!! - New York Magazine - Top 5 Stores for Handbags

Introducing

There is a little back story to this one! Revival is a new line of accessories by designer Stacia Bedford. Stacia uses vintage findings to create her line. She turns old brass pieces into new earrings and uses old secretary shirts to create avant garde collars to be worn under chic blazers or over simple tees. Her pieces are unusual, stylish, and typically one-of-a-kind. They can only be found in a few spots here in the city. The fun part is that Stacia is an old colleague of mine! Back in the day, we shared a cube wall. We both worked in the marketing department, trying to introduce new ideas and change the way artists were presented. Now, you all know how much I love Verve and that I loved working there, but I do think there is a reason that both Stacia and I ended up leaving. I also don’t think it’s any coincidence that we’ve both moved into new creative fields that have a bit of an overlap. Look out for more from Stacia - She’s got far more than a jewelry line up her sleeve;).

See below for a few of her pieces now available at Clarabella.

Have you noticed how gorgeous it is out today? If you’re sitting in a cube, or an office without windows (like I used to!), get up from your desk NOW and take a coffee break. At least 5 minutes… promise me;). My trusty iMac tells me it’s 75 and my walk to the shop this morning confirms that. This new splash of Spring and full on Summer preview has me thinking… Wouldn’t Clarabella benefit from a bench out from and maybe a tree? Right now, I’ve just got a little chalkboard, which is all well and good, but it doesn’t make the front look pretty. There is so much ugliness with the scaffolding on the building next door, I think I need to counteract. So, this weekend is bench and tree weekend. I’m coveting this bench from Pottery Barn:

preferably in the red or blue… but maybe even in a happy yellow?:

It might, however, be more practical (and cost effective) to go with this one:

But it’s just not nearly as cute… Decisions to be made. Thoughts?

AS for the tree… that might be a trip for tomorrow morning. I’m thinking NYC Garden District. Or maybe I’ll hit it up Saturday morning. Exciting times;).

Introducing… KORK-EASE!!

The latest line to hit Clarabella and a staple in the world of sandals since 1953. KORK-EASE isn’t the traditional Clarabella line as it has a long history in the world of shoes. Still, they are comfortable, cute and fantastic for Spring/Summer, so I couldn’t resist giving them a shot. A little background for you:

[from the KORK-EASE website]

The original Kork-Ease sandal was first introduced during the mid 50’s as a comfort sandal. The brand coasted in obscurity as the company built hand-made buffalo sandals out of Brooklyn, NY.  Almost 20 years later, it was hijacked as a fashion item by the counter-culture youth movement in the early ‘70s when suddenly the shoe rocketed to rock-star status faster than Stairway To Heaven went to #1 on the charts. The brand spawned numerous wanabees, as companies such as the likes of Bare-Traps began to introduce similar styles. Then suddenly, almost as quickly as the fad emerged, it disappeared. Blame it on Disco (One knows there was plenty to blame on Disco), or simply a shift in the fashion scene. We can only speculate. The fact of the matter is the Kork-Ease craze died….but the brand did not.

Once designed on the factory floors of Brooklyn; Kork-Ease has stood the true test of time as it now appears once again in the best stores around the world.

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So, they’re back!! No longer made in Brooklyn as they once were, but no less comfortable and the same high class quality. They’re now known for their super wedges, but that’s not quite my styles, so I brought in the slightly more modest styles. Check out the images below and let me know which one I can reserve for you!!

I’ve just posted my third installment at Wunderblog and wanted to send you over that way to check it out!

I’m doing a multiple part series featuring some of my shoe recommendations for the Spring/Summer. It’s hard to not try to direct you to my shop all the time;) but I’m finding other spots as well. I’m also trying to seek out spots other than Anthropologie and Shopbop. Two of my favorites. I’m working on it!

Anyway… Shoes Glorious Shoes, Part 1 - check it out!!

For those of you who came out to help me ring in one whole year of Clarabella this past weekend, THANK YOU!! And thank you to everyone who sent in congratulatory notes. Your support is what has helped me to make it this far:).

One of the ‘thank yous’ that I put out there over the weekend was a little Clarabella contest. All who stopped by the shop over the weekend were offered the opportunity to enter with hope of winning a $100 Clarabella Gift Certificate, a $50 Clarabella Gift Certificate, or one of three third prize grab bags.

Today was the day for the drawing so I made my way over to see my friendly neighbor, Oisin Clancy, at Fieldlines Architecture. Oisin was kind enough to do the drawing for me so that we were assured a non-biased contest;).

This is Oisin drawing names:

[so dramatic!!!!]

Without further pause (drum roll please…..)

The Winners Are:

FIRST PRIZE: Liz Buehler

SECOND PRIZE: Jennifer Doll

THIRD PRIZE: Diana Gasperoni, Mona Asinovski, and Chris Glady

CONGRATULATIONS ALL!!!

Thanks again to everyone that participated and stay tuned for future events and contests.

I’ll be posting more tomorrow about the weekend events with a few key pics as well!

got a little love from Time Out New York and No Good For Me for the Farylrobin event this weekend:). Thanks!!!