Shen Opens On Court Street: Brooklyn Gets More Beautiful

Beautiful news for Brooklyn! Shen, a new beauty boutique, just opened on Court Street, in the former Ola Baby space. Now no disrespect to the hardworking, always-shlepping (strollers, grocery bags, babies) moms of Brooklyn, but we needed another kids and baby store like Manhattan needs another Starbucks: to say we needed a cosmetics shop is a pretty little understatement.

I stopped by today and learned that Shen is owned by a former Vogue staffer and a former beauty editor, and clearly they know what they're doing, because the bright, airy, welcoming shop stocks hard-to-find beauty products like Melange solid perfumes, Lipstick Queen, Roullier White's Mrs. White's products (Mrs White's Classic Cold Cream is on my must-try list), Becca Cosmetics, Kate Logan skincare, and Lafco Candles.

Shen also has a cute little kid-beauty section in the back, and they'll soon have makeup applications.

Follow Shen on Twitter at @ShenBeauty, and, most importantly, welcome Shen to Brooklyn!

The Total Franklin Street Immersion, Y'all

I am somewhat weirdly excited about what's in store (pun intended!) for me this afternoon. My friend Amy and I, and with any luck our man-friends, will be hitting Greenpoint for the Total Franklin Street Immersion, a come-to-the-neighborhood push that involves a punch card, store discounts, and drink specials.



Drinking and shopping on a sunny Saturday! What could be better? I'm psyched. Read all about it at Brooklyn Based, who planned the whole shebang.



I'm hoping Dalaga has these cute swingy shorts, $58 (with 10 percent off today) and that they look cute on me. (UPDATE: They did, and they do.) I'm also looking for a change purse (didn't find), some new sunglasses (ditto), and maybe a new book at Word (I got Let the Great World Spin and The Girl Who Played With Fire). And it's 30 percent off at Binge enabler Hayden-Harnett (I got a skirt and a dress from their Cheap Thrills Pop-up Shop or whatever it's called for a grand total of $70...cheap thrills indeed!). Wish me luck!

I'm also hoping they don't run out of beer (I only got one mini beer, and even though I filled out my entire card, I didn't get a tote bag of gifts because they ran out.) Free Brooklyn Summer Ale!

See you on Franklin Street! (I'll totally be back.)

Cute New Brooklyn Store Alert! Black Bear Vintage & Handmade

Guys! Yay! Listen, listen! There's a brand-new vintage boutique that just opened in Windsor Terrace. (That's in Brooklyn.) It's called Black Bear, and it's adorable. Now I'm not just writing about it because it's my best friend's store (but it helps). I'm writing about it because it's awesome and it's worth going to Brooklyn for if you don't already live there. (And if you don't live in Brooklyn, you really should). And it's even right off the train! And there's an ice cream place next door! See how easy they make it for you?

Anyway, Black Bear is a brand-new vintage boutique that sells vintage clothes, shoes and accessories at prices that are totally fair and reasonable since someone has actually WORN said clothes before. In other words, it's a great vintage selection at prices that aren't Manhattan's idea of vintage. So most everything's around $20. (!!!)

To prove to you that I'm not making this up, here's what I bought last Sunday on the first day they opened (because I like to stay on top of my vintage):


I got these two tops, a cute little handmade soap (more on that in a second), and a vintage mood ring, and it all came to just under $40.

AND they have super cuters little handmade pillows made by Black Bear's co-owner, Julia. Pillows of dachshunds with cones on their necks! And pillows with centaurs on them. And more locally sourced handmade goods. Like sweet little soaps in the shape of GUINEA PIGS! They're scented (but not like guinea pigs)! Can you even? I'd go on but I'm like braying with excitement and I'm starting to embarrass myself. Oh yeah. And the store, which occupies what used to be an old liquor store, feels like the basement from "That '70s Show." In the good way. (In the no-Ashton-Kutcher way.) And, they buy vintage too! Again, making things easy for you.

Come for the great vintage selection, stay for the bear wearing a party hat in the window.

Black Bear is located at:
469 16th Street @ Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY, 11215

Phone: 718.768.0250

Tues - Sun: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Closed Monday

Black Bear on Facebook.

Seriously.

Jonathan Adler Interviewed By Simon Doonan

Yesterday, on one of my mini, teeny tiny "training" walks for the Avon 3-Day Walk For Breast Cancer, which I'm doing in a few weeks (Wanna sponsor me?), I ended up at the Jonathan Adler store on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn. Please, just bury me there. It's the greatest store in this entire country. It makes me glad capitalism was created and currency was printed so I can spend it there. And, I'm not bullshitting you -- you can get a ton of great stuff there for under $100.

Anyway, watch this hilarious video (boo won't embed) of Jonathan Adler making pots while Simon Doonan asks him questions and discusses poo and fudge. Love.


my musing #3

Posted using ShareThis

Also, PLEASE to enjoy ALL OF THIS AMAZING Jonathan Adler Barbie stuff!!!!!! I die!

I Bought It Files: Pade Vavra Cat Stud Earrings, Other Stuff I'm Wearing In A Weddng This Weekend

($138, Pade Vavre, BlueLuxe.com)

Oops. Accidentally bought these: 22KT gold plated cat stud earrings with sapphire eyeballs. I may or may not wear them to the wedding I'm in this weekend. I WILL not, however, wear them with THIS belt, if I wear it at/ in the wedding:

($136, Moss Mills)

I got it on sale at Epaulet. (Remember when I was losing my mind over this Moss Mills horse bracelet? And, speaking of horses, RIP TRAGIC FLORIDA HORSES!)

BTW, the dress I'm wearing in the wedding is...
... A Christiane Celle fuchsia satin dress -- the bride found it for me on eBay for a song! Can you BELIEVE how great that is! I actually factually WILL wear this again. And I'm wearing these vintage gold heels from Olive's Very Vintage in Brooklyn -- Gorgeous, perfectly curated and preserved dresses, skirts, tops, shoes and jewelry. Definitely vintage and not thrift. you should go. It's great.


That's new kitty, Sim. I adopted her from Beauty Blogging Junkie's Amber! BTW, this completely out-of-sequence, highly unedited post brought to you by Gruner Veltliner!1!!

Stuart & Wright Sample Sale: Feb. 4 - 8

New Yorky-ers, stop by the Stuart & Wright sample sale in beautiful Ft. Greene.

Some of the designers on sale are NO joke -- Shipley & Halmos, Isabel Marant, 3.1 Philip Lim, Loeffler Randall... ROP (as in "read on please...)

WHERE: Stuart & Wright
85 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene Brooklyn, (bwn South Elliott Place & South Portland Avenue)
718.797.0011
C train to Lafayette or G train to Fulton

WHEN: Wednesday, February 4, 10:00am-8pm
Thursday, February 5, 10:00am-8pm
Friday, February 6, 10:00am-8pm
Saturday, February 7, 10:00pm-8:00pm
Sunday, February 8 12:00-6:00


WHAT: 30%-75% OFF
Women: Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno, A.P.C., 3.1 Philip Lim, Loeffler Randall, Jeffrey Monteiro, Shipley & Halmos, Inhabit, Ulla Johnson, In God We Trust, Le Mont St. Michel, Borne, Mina Stone, Samantha Pleet, Myth & Ritual A. Cheng, Lewis Cho, Valentine, A. Lawless, M. Carter, Doucette Duvall

Men: Shipley & Halmos, Engineered Garments, A.P.C., Noah, Gilded Age, wings + horns, Unis, YMC, Obedient Sons, Rogues Gallery, Robert Geller, Chimala, M. Carter

Callalilai By Aoyama Itchome Sale ... Dresses From Mr. Rogers' Land Of Make-Believe!

Good news, all you fans of Callalilai (by Aoyama Itchome). First of all, the shop has finally gone online, so even if you can't hit up the Brooklyn Heights store, you can buy online! Also, they're having a stooooopendioso sale!

A few ejemplos, clase:

($125, Callalilai By Aoyama Itchome)


($71, Callalilai by Aoyama Itchome)


($71, Callalilai By Aoyama Itchome)


($71, Callalilai By Aoyama Itchome)


($159, Callalilai By Aoyama Itchome)

This could actually look really hot with some opaque black tights, black booties, a few long layered chains, and a black blazer.

Callalilai styles definitely aren't for all of you, but they've got a really nice, ethereal feel and their use of bold color and pretty piping kinda remind of the royal garb Queen Sara Saturday and other inhabitants of Mr. Rogers' Land of Make-Believe wore:
Also, not even kidding, you can BUY Land of Make-Believe handpuppets!!!

($12.95, Holgate Toys)

($12.95, Holgate Toys)

Um, this guy had a dream/ fan fic that Barack Obama was Mr. Rogers... It happens.

FashionBinge's News You Can Use: eLuxury Folds, Cavalli Gets His Own Credit Card, Olivia Palmero Still Exists

Fashion news -- and vyoos -- you can USE, y'all!

+ LVMH's eLuxury will be shutting dat shit down sometime within the next six month. My fingers are crossed for a big-ass sale. I will of course then UNcross them and buy the SHIT out of some shit -- specifically this Maison Martin Margiela bracelet that Eye4Style turned me onto and/or some Golden Goose boots. (Racked)

+ Moar Urbn, pls! Urban Outfitters is opening their seventh location in New York -- in an old Deco theater at 99th and Broadway. At least it's not an American Apparel. God knows we need more crotch. (Metromix NY)

+ Brooklyn Flea moved INdoors and to DUMBO -- specifically to 76 Front St., corner of Washington St. from this Saturday, January 10 through the next 13 weekends. (Brownstoner)

+ Olivia Palmero: Oy! STILL SO zaftig! (WWWD)

+ I kinda love how Twilight's Kristen Stewart often looks like she just rolled outta bed (espesh the hairs) but still lands best-dressed list: She's #2 on Teen Vogue's Best Dressed of December 2008.

+ Jack Ryan, dude who designed Barbie, was derty DURRRRRDY! (Page Six)

+ Got a gift card you don't want anymore? Cash that sucker in for... CASH at Giftcardrescue.com. Or... sell it on eBay -- I've had lotsa luck there.

+ Speaking of cash, looks like I accidentally left my ATM receipt in the machine! Silly me, silly me! (Consumerist)

+ Samantha Droke is 21 years old and has a clothing line (read: a couple tee-shirts) and you (and I) don't. (JustJaredJr)

+ Roberto Cavalli has his OWN credit card. And you don't. Unless you're Roberto Cavalli and you're reading this, in which case, WHAT UP? WHAT HAPPNIN'? (FabSugar)

T.I. - New Music - More Music Videos

Beach Towel Most Foul + Cute Mocs!

So, we're off to the beach tomorrow for a whole week! I needed beach towels, so, despite the fact that it was raining like the end of days, I went to the haven of schlocky closeouts that is Conway (it's like a dollar store went on a crazy meth binge and robbed a Sears). I knew I'd find some delightfully tacky misprints, but I had NO clue I'd find something so deliciously foul... Observe:


Go ahead -- click on that shit. The dude's cut-offs are SLIDING OFF, and it looks like he stuffed a potato down what's left of them.

I bought four.

This dude's like a cross between early '80s Michael Jackson and the Unabomber. Amazing. (And speaking of bombs, please try to disregard the fact that my bedroom looks like one detonated seconds before this photo was taken. I think my room couldn't handle the gravity of the towel and shit just started flying toward the door in an attempt to escape.)

On the reals, on my way home, I also bought myself an early birthday present:

($55, Minnetonka, Epaulet)

I'd been wanting a pair of mocs for forEVER, so I stopped in Epaulet on Court Street, where MK got her Melissa + Campana rubber shoes last month. I'd wanted a white pair, but the natural flavor in the middle appealed to me the most, so I went with those. I'd been into Epaulet before, but this is the first time I'd purchased anything. I chatted with the owner, Mike, who's super nice. Great great shop -- you must go!

And speaking of go, so must I! To the gym. Gotta look HOT when draping myself across my King of Pop/ Ted Kaczynski towel. HEEE HEEE!

Totes Purchased!

Thank you, Bunnyshop. Because of you, I bought this Brooklyn map tote. For $12 plus $3 shipping. Seems like the perfect thing when you're wearing a floral printed dress and have no acceptably matching-ish handbags, as befell me yesterday. Comes in lots of cities/boroughs for you nonBrooklynites, too. I kind of want to buy the Portland one, too, in case I move there one day. But maybe I'll just plan a visit instead....