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In keeping with my dedication to the men this week, I wanted to draw your attention to a fabulous event happening downtown next Saturday, June 7. My good friends over at 20 Peacocks and Michael Andrews Bespoke have initiated “Savile Row meets NYC”. For those not familiar with Savile Row in London, let me share a little background with you. (don’t worry, I had to look it up… thank you wikipedia and savilerowbespoke.com)

Savile Row is a shopping street in Mayfair, Central London, famous for its traditional men’s bespoke tailoring. The term “bespoke” is understood to have originated in Savile Row when cloth for a suit was said to be spoken for by individual customers. Bespoke tailoring is the Haute Couture of men’s style and Savile Row has dressed every icon of male elegance from Nelson, Valentino and Astaire to Sinatra, Jagger and Jude Law not to mention crowned heads, statesmen and captains of industry that the Row is far too discreet to name. Today Savile Row remains the home of a community of skilled craftsmen and associated artisan businesses that thrives and survives in the heart of London right next door to the big brand luxury flag ships of Old Bond Street. Savile Row’s tailors continue to create simply the best suits in the world, by hand, using skills that the modern world consider archaic or lost.

Now… an area of downtown Manhattan is being dubbed the American Savile Row. Though the spots aren’t contained within one block, there is a resurgence of finely tailored men’s clothing. I’ve seen the suits from Michael Andrews Bespoke and they are truly stunning. This is event is one that the men will NOT want to miss! (Unless, of course, you happen to be cheering for Big Brown out at the Belmont racetrack!)

Check out Savile Row NYC online for more information, maps, participating locations and more… Scroll down for a little synopsis and the event invite.

SAVILE ROW MEETS NYC
Crawl the Men’s Boutiques of Nolita and the Lower East Side
Saturday, June 7 - All Day Event

Explore the custom shops and specialty boutiques of Nolita and the Lower East Side

Discover why this area is now being called “An American Savile Row”

Experience the charm of individualized clothing and individualized service

Hi Men:) I know you’re not often addressed here on this blog. What with all my accessory speak. I did throw you a little bone with the men’s bags the other day and just because I love you all so much, I’m also going to share my latest Wunderblog post with you. Really, I just can’t resist. If you’re not in NY, it might not be as relevant, but I’ll have more for your non-New Yorkers soon… I promise!

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Alright kids, this is a long one, but hopefully worth it. A not oft covered topic… Men and shopping. Not necessarily two words that are often paired. Most of my friends would rather pop out their own eyes than dedicate an afternoon to shopping. That said, even my friends will complain that part of the reason they hate it so much is that they never know where to go. They think that the smaller spots are too expensive and the alternative (chains or *gasp* a crowded, hot, loud department store) is too unappealing. I’ve noticed a similar attitude with some of the men that pop into my shop. They come in to buy gifts for their wives, girlfriends, moms and ask if there is anywhere they could possibly go for themselves. My knowledge of men’s shopping used to be rather limited. Not to say that I’m now an expert, but I’ve made it my business to check out some local spots so that I can accurately direct these poor lost men, and from time to time, send my fabulous guy friends in the right retail direction. A few of my recommendations for you men out there…

BBlessing -181 Orchard Street / an un-intimidating retail experience for all types of men, this spot features an array of up-and-coming and established menswear designers, hand-picked musical and literary selections, and edgy and intriguing art displays. There are lots of things to look at, places to sit and friendly faces to greet you. Check out the row of speakers on the back wall!!

Still Life 77 Orchard Street / a perfect discovery along the new hot strip in the LES – Orchard between Broome and Grand. Frenel Morris offers a selection of hats that will either make a guy feel like a rock star, or better yet, make him feel like Miles Davis before a late night gig.

Alife Rivington Club - 158 Rivington Street / Best known as THE place to get your new kicks. Alife brings in new sneaker styles regularly and often hosts limited editions and hard to find classics. The vibe seems more like an old school club or cigar bar. Even I like cigar bars!

Oak - 28 Bond Street / Features items for both men and women so it’s not quite as man-centric, but they’re still fabulous. With locations in Manhattan, Williamsburg and Park Slope, it’s one of the more convenient names in men’s boutique fashion.

20 Peacocks - 20 Clinton Street / One of my favorite neighborhood spots! Owners Adriane and Medhi are two of the most stylish people I know. And they’re insanely nice, definitely something I look for in a local shop owner. The shop itself features shirts and ties and all of the appropriate accessories (cufflinks, stays, tie clips, etc.) These aren’t just any shirts and ties, however. Guys, start there and you’ll walk out looking more handsome than you ever thought possible!

Michael Andrews Bespoke - 20 Clinton Street/ This spot used to be affiliated with 20 Peacocks and recently went out on their own. You’ve got to know about them to find them as they are located in a residential building. Every single time I’ve met Michael, he’s decked out in a fantastically tailored suit. A good friend of mine wears one to every event he attends. Pair one of these custom suits with a shirt and tie from 20 Peacocks.

(check out my friend Ben as male model!! He also had his photos on display back in Feb/Mar here at the shop!)

Spec. - 62 Clinton Street / I haven’t yet been to this little spot down on Clinton, but hear great things about them. A showroom owner I work with was raving about the spot this morning and tells me they focus on Apparel and have a great selection of menswear. I’ve been sending men there for the past year so I guess I better get my butt down there to say hello!

Freeman’s Sporting Club - 8 Rivington Street / Where else could a guy go for expertly hand-tailored clothing and a fancy razor and shaving brush combo before heading over for a shave and a hair cut. This spot is a Lower East Side staple, born out of a group of NY men who used to meet for drinks over Freeman’s Restaurant and led into retail world by Taavo Somer.

Odin - 328 E. 11th Street / Another spot I’ve never been to, but I’m a fan of a number of the lines they carry, including Rag & Bone, Engineered Garments and the awesome and affordable Cheap Mondays.

[all photos courtesy of the shops they are posted under;)]

So… down to business! St. Barthelemy! French West Indies! If you’ve been reading along, you know I took a short little vacation over the weekend. I am lucky enough to have a very generous sister who offered her temporary St. Barth’s digs up to my cousin and I for a little R&R. We left on Friday morning for a direct flight from NY’s JFK to St. Maarten and promptly jumped in a taxi headed for the Rapid Explorer ferry that would deliver us to our weekend paradise. Upon check in at the ferry, we were told to leave our bags and relax a bit until the ferry departure at 5:00pm. Thanks to a nearby open air bar and a Caribbean happy hour, we started our vacation off right with a few cold brews. The ferry was quick and painless and delivered us from the overly commercial St. Maarten to the smaller, chic-er, St. Barthelemy, or St. Barth’s. It was a gorgeous evening - probably somewhere in the low 80s. Hannah picked us up and we drove on over to the Villa, perched atop a hillside with views overlooking a turtle filled bay. It was truly gorgeous. Hannah assured us that it was even more stunning in the heat of the afternoon, but we couldn’t help but be a little awed by what even the evening light did for the bay before us. The first night was a flurry of activity. From what I’m told, our destinations were the places to be. Le Ti for dinner and the inevitable table dancing and Le Yacht Club for drinks later. Believe me when I tell you that these are not the normal style hang out spots for a gal like me. Give me a dive bar and a cheap basket of fries any day… but we were on vacation. It was a long first night, one which included some fantastic chilled Rosés and a Cuban cigar (maybe not the best of choices, but enjoyable in the moment). Saturday was a day at home… relaxing by the pool, reading, enjoying a dinner cooked by a friend of Hannah’s, cocktails on the deck and a much earlier bed time to facilitate a full day of sunshine on Sunday. Tara and I took the car out on Sunday and checked the island out a bit. We made our way over to Governor’s Beach which was breathtaking (photo below). From there we found a little spot tucked away on the way to Saline Beach and had a fabulous and much more low-key meal (than Le Ti). We shared our deck dining with a large iguana who crawled up a side pole and kept watch over the diners for nearly and hour - maybe longer after we left. We eventually returned to the house to meet up with Hannah again, do a little more pool-side lazing and plan for dinner. Another small place with some great island dining - open air and bopping with local business. Tara and I woke at about 6:45 on Monday to get a few extra hours of sun before having to head out on a 10:30am ferry. The whole thing went by so quickly, but I’m incredibly glad that we went. Thank you so much to Hannah for so graciously sharing her space and giving us the goods on the island. And thank you to my gorgeous cousin Tara for joining me for a little Caribbean adventure. A few shots to show you a little piece of my new paradise:
view from our deck

Governor’s Beach

Weekend Headquarters

Liz Buehler and Mel Russo first came to the shop about a month ago. They came to say hello, flash their gorgeous smiles, make me feel like a rockstar about everything in my store and generally leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling. They were brought to me by a regular customer and equally lovely gal, Diana. From the first moment they walked in, I just knew I was going to love them. They both have this way of making you feel extremely comfortable, like you’ve known them for years even though you’ve only just met. Who are these wonderful women, you ask? The founders and co-owners of Yoga High right around the corner from Clarabella on Clinton Street. If I’m remembering correctly, they just had their grand opening in April. Though I haven’t yet been to a class, everything I’ve heard tells me that the studio is gorgeous and welcoming. Bright, airy, relaxing and serene. Everything you’d want a Yoga studio to be. I’m no expert in yoga. I’ve taken a few classes here and there, but always felt a little intimidated while surrounded by the super flexible folk. I have every belief that intimidation is not something I’ll find with Liz and Mel. I’m planning on taking my first class sometime this week and would encourage you, my faithful readers, to check them out as well. Learn more about the instructors here and check out the class schedule here.

Stay tuned for a special offers for Yoga High students, both new and old. I’ll post details for you later this week!

[photo and logo courtesy of Yoga High]

I’m fully aware that Last.fm has been around for ages… I’m also fully aware that it’s a fantastic forum for music discovery and the sharing of favorite tunes. I’ve been told many a time and I’ve received ‘be my friend’ updates, but as a gal who already has a myspace and a facebook page (ugh, I know…) I was hesitant to sign up for yet another site. Well, today I finally took the plunge. I’ve got a great music library and love the tunes I have, but I’m a sucker for new discoveries and since I’m no longer hooked into Rhapsody, I’ve only been relying on my precious music magazines and friend tips. I wanted something more. I’m not totally versed in the ways of Last.fm, but so far, it seems like a great spot. My profile is minimal, but I did create a little playlist for your listening pleasure (I hope). I think this might actually be the way I can finally share tracks with you all in a legal and artist friendly way;).

Enjoy!!

Okay - apparently, my page doesn’t like the code, so it won’t show you all the songs in the window. If you’re curious, click on Playlist and it will bring you to my page for online streaming. I’ll get this figured out eventually;).

So, I know that St. Barth’s is supposed to be all fancy and sheik and all, but in the spirit of taking a low-budget tropical vacation, I’m keeping my packing list on the less-expensive side. Thankfully I’ve found some pieces that won’t be totally out of style in case I run into Beyonce or Gwyneth Paltrow;). See below for my ‘St. Barth’s Essentials’ along with info on where you can pick everything up!!

Purple Long Tiered Sundress - $54.50 at Gap.com - click here

Green Racer Back Dress - $54.50 at Gap.com - click here

Olivia Sandals - $109 at Clarabella - for online click here
Brown and White Polka Dot Bikini - $29 at Victoria’s Secret online - click here

Baggu Bag - $8 at Clarabella [currently sold out of blue and white stripe - come visit us for available colors!]

Turquoise and Wood Ring by Marcia Moran - $160 in store at Clarabella

Belted Twill Shorts - $22.50 at oldnavy.com - click here

Grey Scoop Neck Ribbed Tank - $22 at American Apparel - click here

Now get out and book that ticket!!

Hello lovely readers! I hope that you’ve all been having a fabulous week!

I’m on the final countdown to my mini vacation… I leave for St. Barth’s in the morning! I’m extremely lucky with this one. My sister is care-taking for a gorgeous Villa down there for May and June. I just couldn’t pass up the chance to head down! The fabulous Michael Robinson will be here to hold down the fort on Friday and Sunday, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find someone for Saturday. All of my regular gals are busy with showers, graduations and things of the sort. That means that Clarabella will be closed on Saturday, May 17. I’m so sorry if this causes any of you an inconvenience!! To make it up to you and show you that Clarabella still loves you, come see Michael on Sunday and she’ll give you 10% off anything in the shop!

I’ll be back in for normal hours on Tuesday with no other unscheduled closed days in the foreseeable future!

Take care all and I hope to see you soon!

This Wednesday, Clarabella will have the distinct pleasure of hosting a very special private sale! Kazumi Nakanishi will be here with her gorgeous line of handbags, Chako. I’m extra excited about this one because Kazumi and I went to college together. She lives in Hong Kong now, so we don’t see each other very often. In fact, the last time we were in the same place was at friend’s wedding in Malaysia, and that was over 5 years ago! Kazumi launched her line a few years back with her mother as business partner and creator. Each one of her bags is handmade from vintage obi and kimono fabric. The perfect accessory for your new summer dress and a night out on the town! See below for all the info and the images and I hope to see you Wednesday!

Chako Private Sale
Wednesday, May 14 from 6 - 9pm
at Clarabella - 279 E. Houston (between Clinton and Suffolk)
Wine and snacks will be served

Lower East Side boutique, Clarabella, will host a private sale for Tokyo based handbag line Chako on May 14, 2008 from 6 – 9pm. Chako was launched in 2004 by mother & daughter team Fusako and Kazumi Nakanishi. It began when Kazumi asked her mother for a small favor - to make a handbag out of a silk obi that she found in an antique market while visiting her home town of Tokyo. After receiving countless compliments and additional special requests, the duo launched their line of handbags and branded it Chako, Fusako’s childhood nickname. Each bag is handmade in Tokyo by Fusako using vintage obi (a thicker woven silk) on the outside and vintage kimono (a more delicate silk) for the lining. They are thrilled with the opportunity to show off these traditional Japanese materials through a stylish and functional medium.

Chako clutches are perfect for a night out on the town, a day or evening event or simply when you need to dress up a pair of jeans. Its versatility is further enhanced by the option to carry the clutch three different ways: over your shoulder with a detachable chain, as a clutch under your arm or as a wrist clutch! Each dumpling clutch has an intricate, one-of-a-kind design. Since the launch of the brand, Chako clutches have been widely popular in NYC, Hong Kong, Miami, Paris and London. They are currently sold in Hong Kong and London and will be featured in the Summer issue of Travel & Leisure South East Asia.

Kazumi Nakanishi will be in attendance at Clarabella for one night only with an assortment of bags from Chako’s line. Wednesday May 14, 2008 from 6 -9pm. Wine and refreshments will be served.

Another Wunderbloc transplant;) I can’t help it!! If I really like what I’m posting over there, I’ve got to share it with all of you too! I’m going to try to do a few in this series… if I’m lucky, it will continue to grow and I’ll turn into a better interviewer. For now, I’m having fun and am thrilled to bring my old world together with my new world. Hope you enjoy!!

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As you all well know, before I opened up Clarabella, I worked in the music business. As with anything, there were ups and downs, but the one constant was my exposure to incredibly talented musicians. Most of the ones I worked with were sweet, caring, talented, and… STYLISH. I miss them, I do! I’m trying to bring a little music back into my job. I’m always listening and searching around for new talent, but like any music junkie, I want more. That said, I’m going to try out a new series… highlighting great musicians and their connections to fashion. With any luck, a few of the ones I love will turn into the ones that you love. Or at least the interviews will be entertaining. Any special requests? Musicians you desperately want me to track down? Let me know… I can’t make any promises, but am dedicated to reaching out to those up and coming independents. Yay for the talented underdogs! Without further pause, please allow me to introduce:

The Bridges

The group consists of siblings Natalie Byrd (piano and guitar), Stacey Byrd (guitar), Isaaca Byrd (bass) and Jeremy Byrd (drums), and cousin Brittany Painter, who provides hauntingly expressive lead vocals and plays acoustic guitar. They hail from North Carolina and are presently based in Oxford, AL. They came together in 2002 to begin the pursuit of music writing, arranging, recording and performing. They present a disarming brand of heartfelt, harmony-laden pop-folk-rock that combines youthful exuberance with surprisingly mature songcraft. Their debut album, Limits of the Sky, won’t hit stores until June 10, but NY-ers can grab a sneak preview on Monday, May 12 at the Knitting Factory. Show starts at 7:30pm! I had the opportunity to ask the band a few questions about their musical influences and their love for fashion.

How long have you all been playing together?
We have been playing “together” as the bridges for about 3 years now. But we have played with each other since we were much younger.

Is your sound something that grew out of ideas from your youth?
No not really. We didn’t listen to much variety of music growing up. When we were in our late teens we started listening to a lot of older records from the 60’s and 70’s and that’s when our music began to take shape.

Do you feel that your roots have a strong influence on your sound?
All the Byrds were raised in Florida and Britt was in North Carolina. We moved to Alabama in 2000 to be involved with a church there and I think a lot of our roots come from singing in church growing up. We were surrounded with that southern gospel sound for years. It can’t help but be an influence.

From what or whom do you draw inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Musically, we let whatever we’re listening to at the moment be an influence. We draw from what we think is good music - it’s not a conscious decision it just happens. It’s basically the same with lyrics. The normal things influence them like life and relationships but when it comes to specific people it gets a little blurry.

Who would you name as your strongest musical influences?
The Beatles, specifically Paul. His sections are amazing. Fleetwood Mac as well.

What role does fashion and individual expression play in your image as a group? Do you have a general style, or does each member bring a little something different?
It’s important for us to stand out individually because we’re all related and can easily look the same and very uniform. It’s also hard because we all share the same clothes. We just have to make sure we wear them differently. We all definitely have our “own style” but we make an effort in styling ourselves differently.

Do you have any favorite designers?
We don’t have enough money to buy “designer clothes” but we look forward to the day we can truly answer this question! ha.

What is the style scene like in your hometown?
haha. There are only a few stores and a small mall. So everyone has the same clothes unless they travel an hour or so out! Just your typical ambercrombie and fitch/american eagle. Sports wear. Body shop. That’s bout it.

How would you describe your personal style?
Natalie - we all shop at the thrift store and usually mix it with a modern item and there you have it! We have a sewing machine so we do some of our own work. At thrift stores you can get one-of-a-kinds and that’s always cool.

Do you have a style icon – from the fashion or music worlds or both?
Britt - Old school Stevie Nicks. Just 70’s clothes in general. We alway are look at fashion magazines and try to figure how to implement it in our style. We love fashion, so I guess our icons are models. Pretty broad but still… they are who tell us what to wear

Who is the biggest fashion junkie in the group?
We all get giddy about fashion. We will just be bored one night and we’ll say “lets go look at some magazines”/”lets go to the thrift store”. ALL of us are fashion junkies.

Describe your perfect performance outfit.
We have a really hard time playing in heels. It’s kind of become this thing that we do or are known for - we wear boots a whole lot because they are flat, durable (for loading out) and they look cool. So it starts with comfortable shoes. Next it’s just something really basic for the bottoms and we spruce it up with a cool top or accessory. Main thing is we like to feel comfortable and not hot and we have to be able to move quickly in it. Jeremy usually has the standard taper jeans, boots and a cool tee. Or a deep v shirt. He must have comfortable shoes or he’ll play without them.

Have you gotten a chance to check out the NY boutique scene and if so, do you have any favorite neighborhoods?
No, not just yet. We haven’t had a lot of down time in the nyc, but hopefully soon we’ll get a taste and I’m sure we’ll love and be a little addicted. Can’t wait!

Any fashion tips for our readers?
Wear stuff that flatters your body. No matter how cool a trend is, don’t do it if it makes you look worse than you do in a simple jean and top! Looking back, you’ll hate yourself and you’ll still be wearing a classic simple jean and top. Simple is better, always.

What music are you listening to right now?
Right this instant we are all listening to our ipods. The Trio, Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Rooney and Locksley! booo to the ya!

Thanks so much to The Bridges for humoring me and answering all of my questions! I’m looking forward to the show on Monday… maybe I’ll see a few of you there! Check out their music here.

[bio info courtesy of Verve Forecast – photos by Noah Culver]

Happy Rainy Friday all;)

As you know, I’ve been posting for a fab little site called Wunderbloc. Today’s post centered around Men’s bags. I’ve been on the hunt for fabulous men’s bags for a while. I don’t currently carry any and get asked on a fairly regular basis. My issue was always ‘how to find a stylish, quality driven bag the retains the ideal of independent design’. I’ve been a longtime fan of Jack Spade, but as it’s a more established brand and already NY staple, I didn’t want to bring the line in. That might change as the shop continues to expand, but for now, I’m still on the hunt. Carrying Contraption was always a great source for men’s bag, but focused mainly on designer brands and then retired back in February. I started poking around again and found some really fantastic designers, most of whom are found right here in the city. If you want to check out my Wunderbloc post, click here. For more on my new favorite men’s bag designers… keep reading!

I can’t help but love Carga. I first saw the line while browsing around on Refinery29 Shops. They design is simple yet fascinating… stylish… classic… innovative. The line was founded by designer Mauro Bianucci. He had been on the hunt for a unique bag to carry his things around in. He began toying with the idea of something assembled rather than sewn. His first prototype was built using left-over felt from another project. Aluminum pop rivets were chosen as a means of holding the bag together and a leather strap was added using a carabiner. On it’s first day of use, the bag attracted quite a bit of attention. One request grew into many and the Carga line was born. There are currently 3 styles available - a Notebook Tote, a Messenger Bag, and a Weekend Bag, retailing between $175 and $685. Styles are available in felt and distressed leather and are all hand assembled in a socially responsible workshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They are available in only a few shops here in the states - for NY, try Still Life or Oak.

[background info and images courtesy of Carga]

Billykirk may have been launched in 1999, but the idea had been brewing for years. Brothers Kirk and Chris had always known they would own a company together and it would be called, “Billykirk.” The name came from their father who often calls Kirk “Billykirk” because his full name is William Kirkland. Kirk was an artist and Chris was a furniture and houseware designer. They moved to LA from Minnesota in ’96 and began frequenting thrift stores and antique shops. A nicely worn 70’s watch strap inspired the two to branch out and make their own. They worked under a 3rd generation leather maker in LA for 3 years. The brother eventually bought some of his antique machinery and opened up their own studio. The initial pieces of the line were hand-crafted by the two artists. They’ve since relocated to the East Coast and entrusted the construction to a group of Amish leather workers in Pennsylvania. The line is focused on emphasizing the understated, keeping the designs simple and fresh. Look for the bags in NY at Unis and Hollander and Lexer.

[images and background info courtesy of Billykirk]