February 26, 2019 at 05:15AM by CWC Despite its reputation for being pricey, New York has a deceptive abundance of thrift stores dotted throughout its five boroughs, making it an ideal spot to secondhand shop. Some of these places are the type where you need to (or should) dedicate at least a couple of hours to sift through the thousands of garments in search of sartorial gold. Others, aware of their space limitations, are a little bit pricier but more curated and easier to sort through—I like to think of them as thrifting lite. Regardless of where you choose to go, you should really save your time and energy for finding gems rather than finding thrift stores. Luckily the city’s best are rounded up below. And before you get shopping a little trade secret: All of the best slip dresses are in fact found in thrift stores. 1. L Train Vintage Finding an L Train Vintage store can be a little bit confusing. Technically it’s a chain of stores but certain locations go by different names—like the one in the East Village, which is called No Relation. But regardless, this is perhaps the most tried and true thrift store experience in New York City. It specializes in basics like shirts and plain dresses, priced at $7. (Things get incrementally for expensive depending on what exactly you’re looking for, though still definitely affordable.) In true thrift store fashion, you should expect to dedicate at least an hour to sifting through the
Category: Jewellery
Oversized blazers are spring’s easiest fashion trend—here are 5 ways to wear one
February 23, 2019 at 12:32PM by CWC What I’m about to say might sound incendiary, but what if you left your leather jacket hanging in your closet this spring and swapped it for another reliable throw-on-and-go: the oversized blazer? With a little more tailored flare, it’s a worthy alternative, especially considering some of the chic styles being released right now. Its relaxed fit will make you feel like Jane Birkin with high-waisted denim, the epitome of Parisian chic when thrown over a little white lace dress, and have you channeling your inner ‘80s working girl when styled with matching trousers or shorts for a full-blown suit. Shopbop Fashion Director Caroline Maguire sums it up best: “There’s something really classic and timeless about a blazer,” she says. “A strong statement blazer in a bold color or print screams power.” When it comes to shape, Maguire is all about those on the larger end of the spectrum. She observes, “We’re seeing a huge ‘80s movement as of late, especially with oversized plaid blazers. Shoulder pads are making a return, and I love to add them in to give tops some extra structure.” And as for styling, there’s a lot of room to play with personal style. Wear a tuxedo blazer by day with denim and by night with a satin mini skirt, use the new topper to add some unexpected color into your look, or streamline the already-bold with a more classic menswear style. Maguire suggests her own twist on tailoring: “If
How to make a chakra bracelet that will balance your look (and possibly, your energy)
February 16, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC Sure, a solid-gold ring stack or a chunky chain necklace can bring balance to your outfit—making, say, your slouchiest sweatpants feel brunch-appropriate. But can they also harmonize your chakras? Doubt it, which is where crystal jewelry comes in. It’s thought that crystals’ molecules vibrate at restorative frequencies that our bodies can pick up on, which is why many people use them for energy healing purposes. “Much like tuning forks, crystals work with the principle of sympathetic resonance,” explains Mariah K. Lyons, the crystal healer, herbalist, and reiki master behind high-vibe gemstone footwear line Astara. “As they hold and radiate a specific harmonic frequency, the body responds and aligns itself to that healing frequency. When we wear or place crystals on our body, our energetic field is able to respond accordingly and realign with balance and harmony.” And since chakras are believed to be vortexes of concentrated energy within us—each one connected to certain aspects of our bodies and lives—crystals are considered a powerful tool in correcting imbalances within these chakras. Not sure if your chakras are out of whack? Hate to break it to you, but if you’re a human living in the world today, they almost definitely are. “Chakras can fall out of balance from stress, fear, neglect, stagnation, [past or present] trauma, accidents, emotional wounds, and environmental triggers,” says Lyons. One way to bring your chakras back into alignment, metaphysical experts claim, is to keep a crystal (or several) on you
6 date night outfits Marie Kondo would approve
February 05, 2019 at 10:07AM by CWC As a typical New Yorker with a strong desire to expand her closet, but the sinking reality that my apartment space just won’t allow for it (or my budget for that matter), there’s one question that, in one way or another, I’ve been asking myself a lot thus far into 2019 and that’s: WWMKD? (What would Marie Kondo do?) What would Marie Kondo do about this extreme weather? What would Marie Kondo do about (another) government shutdown? What would Marie Kondo do with Ariana Grande’s jewelry collection? And while this story isn’t necessarily here to answer any of the above burning questions (although we should still look for their answers!), it does get me wondering how the Tidy Queen herself approaches something a bit more tangible and up her alley, like Valentine’s Day. Regardless of how you celebrate (or don’t celebrate), I think we can all agree, Valentine’s Day comes with its own fair share of consumerism baggage—a quick walk into any local CVS will confirm this, with a never-ending variety of stuffed animals that play ting-y sounding renditions of “My Girl,” “You Sexy Thing,” and, my favorite left-field option, Toto’s “Africa.” Of course, once you factor in candy or flowers, dinner reservations, and possibly a gift that isn’t of the stuffed animal variety, Valentine’s Day starts to resemble a collection of things veering into the “no longer sparking joy” pile. Throw in a pink sequin cocktail dress that doesn’t quite fold well using the
Fine jewelry buying tips that are worth their weight in gold
January 04, 2019 at 12:32PM Embracing costume jewelry trends like statement earrings or big chains can be fun and an easy way to update your wardrobe without spending a lot of money. But there’s something to be said for investment pieces like diamond studs, bangle bracelets, and pendant necklaces that’ll last a lifetime. And as conscientious consumption begins to catch on—and people become more interested in acquiring accessible luxuries as a means of living a more sustainable lifestyle—fine jewelers say they’re starting to see an uptick in interest from millennials looking for forever pieces. “It’s amazing to see more young women invest in quality over quantity—opting for sustainable and enduring purchases, as opposed to multiple small, fast fashion items which quickly add up to the same dollar amount in the end,” says Vanessa Stofenmacher, founder and creative director of Vrai & Oro, a direct to consumer jewelry brand. For first-time fine jewelry buyers, Stofenmacher recommends buying with longevity in mind as a way to lessen your impact on the environment and suggests diamond hoops as a casual, minimal, everyday investment item. She also loves an infinity or signet ring as a symbol of modern energy which will outlast any trend cycle. Similarly, Elizabeth Doyle, a GIA-certified gemologist and the co-founder of Doyle & Doyle, a New York boutique and website that specializes in estate and antique jewelry, thinks earrings are a good initial fine jewelry purchase. Specifically, she believes that no collection should be without a classic pair of studs and a pair of hoop earrings. “These are
I’m more Tasmanian Devil than Marie Kondo, and I couldn’t be happier about it
January 03, 2019 at 12:37PM On Thursday, The New York Times published a story entitled “The Unbearable Heaviness of Clutter,” and I feel personally attacked. The piece cites several studies, one of them new, about the negative psychological and emotional effects of a cluttered or messy space. This is all part of the propaganda machine that says having a messy desk means (or at least makes people think) you’re “cranky” and “neurotic.” When did we as a society designate neat-freak levels of organization and cleanliness the only socially acceptable predilection? Personally, I’ve tried Muji-esque routines and created pristinely clean environments, and all it did was make me sad. My apartment looked like the front of a brochure for a new high-rise condominium, but I felt irritable—maybe even a little unhinged. I can’t remember where anything is and I spend an insane amount of time rifling through little boxes, attempting to remember which is supposed to contain the shoes I’m looking for. It just also seems like I could be doing so many other things in the time it would take to work Marie Kondo’s magic on my home. My inclination toward organized chaos is the reason I’ve had time to read and to teach myself embroidery. Growing up with four siblings in a seven-person household, if I had spend all my time tidying, I wouldn’t have had time to do anything else. Personal spaces should look and feel lived-in and say something about your personality. My home pretty accurately reflects that I am, in some
Proof now’s the best time to shop online for summer staples
December 29, 2018 at 02:54AM Right now you’ve reached that winter point where all the holiday gifts have been opened and the new year is mere days away. In all likelihood, you’re freezing and the idea of sunny days and balmy nights seems like a far cry from reality at the moment but there is a way in which you can (almost) manifest yourself poolside with a piña colada: the post-holiday sales. Sure, it’s tempting to scoop up the winter items you sadly weren’t gifted, but the more strategic move is to shop for the types of warm-weather essentials you reach for on a tropical holiday and in the summer months like swimsuits, sandals, and shoulder-baring dresses at steep discounts. Michelle LeBlanc, founder and owner of the online boutique MILLE says, “It can be super tempting to dive headfirst into the new resort arrivals” this time of year, but “if you take a look at the sale sections online you can typically find a few good pieces at steep discounts leftover from summer.” “If you take a look at the sale sections online you can typically find a few good pieces at steep discounts leftover from summer.” —Michelle LeBlanc, founder and owner of the online boutique MILLE The shop owner recommends stocking up on swimsuits (duh), skirts, flat sandals, statement sunglasses, hats, and bright accessories (especially earrings) to wear with basics as well as sun-worthy dresses in certain fabrics. “Indulging in one splashy silk dress can be a good investment—you do need
I’ve worn the same $12 tacky Christmas sweater to bed every night for the last year
December 25, 2018 at 05:00AM December 25, 2015, was the first Christmas my mom and her boyfriend were dating, so naturally, two-families worth of uncomfortable adults spent the day making small chat about what vehemently felt like our sole common denominator: the splendid job my mom did on the ham (pineapple-glazed, if you must know). Eager to cut the awkwardness by at least 50 percent, in 2016 it was decided that we’d spend the holiday painting the unfinished basement floor—which led to a poorly painted floor and eight adults with back pain. Determined (read: stubborn), in 2017, the couple doubled-down and planned an outing to the bowling alley. But my mom never does anything halfway, so she surprised our Brady Bunch with matching tacky Christmas sweaters. She walked in the alley with eight matching holiday sweaters draped over her arm. Like she’d been gifted the collection by Mrs. Claus herself. So as the alley speakers belted Michael Bublé’s holiday album, we adults, between the ages of 24 and 60, ponied (err, reindeer-ed?) up in our sweaters. Ahh, blended families partaking in #festivities. To be clear, these aren’t put-the-cash-in cashmere tunics or chunky cable knits. These are hooded, 100-percent polyester, practically neon red pullovers. And the design on these holi-yay articles of clothing? A sheep literally wrapped in Christmas lights with the trying-too-hard-to-be-punny phrase, “Fleece Navidad.” (Fashion is in the details, all.) Photo: Well+Good Alas, we bowled. We took a family photo donning our matching sweats and posted evidence of our togetherness on the internet,
Pinterest’s top fashion trends for 2019 show that wellness is on the rise
December 11, 2018 at 09:12AM In 2018, leggings stopped being doubted as pants, sneakers proved they can be rocked with gym clothes and girly dresses, and once-dusty fanny packs basically became a wardrobe staple… again. So it’s no wonder why some of Pinterest’s top fashion searches feature plenty of activewear and streetwear, proving just how hot wellness is right now—and how its popularity is only going to increase in the new year. In the just-released Pinterest 100—the platform’s fifth annual round-up of what its hundreds of millions of users are searching for—many potential top new fashion trends emerged for 2019. Sure, bamboo bags, tortoise earrings, and oval sunglasses made an appearance. But there was also plenty of room for athleisure, starting with something Kim Kardashian single-handedly brought back from the ’90s: Spandex bike shorts. According to Pinterest, the searches for “biker shorts” increased by 1,323 percent with pins that proved people love rocking them in workouts just as often as they do out and about as a statement piece. (Obvi paired with some high socks and sneakers.) Speaking of sneakers, it’s time to venture beyond the classic plain white style: The searches for “statement sneakers” have increased by 2,211 percent with users looking for more eye-catching and colorful options. From pastel to sparkles, the options are endless. It’s not just specific pieces people are interested in, though—it’s also how they’re made. Over the past year, some of the biggest designers have put in the effort to become more sustainable and socially responsible—so much so that
Lily-Rose Depp just used a clip-on earring as a hair accessory and I’m mad I never thought of it before
December 10, 2018 at 11:40AM Is it just me, or is it really easy to fall into a rut with your hairstyle? Sure, the low pony is universally flattering and such a timesaver for those days when you accidentally spend, like, 20 minutes on just your eyebrows. But if you want a little upgrade to your signature lewk for the holidays without trying too hard (because who has time for that), Lily-Rose Depp has the lazy-girl hack for you. In a recent Vogue video featuring the actress and model prepping for Chanel’s Métiers d’Art show in New York City, she skipped reaching for a barrette or bejeweled hairband in favor of (genius!) a clip-on earring. (Skip to around 1:00 in the video.) “I thought with this ’60s, half-up thing, it might be cute to have a little sparkle in the hair and something to kind of catch the eye,” Depp said. Her stylist simply clamped a Chanel Camélia earring around the elastic of the hair-tie. And voilà! Sparkle. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4UAfC53FDA?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] Since dropping ten grand on a pair of earrings doesn’t exactly fit into the everywoman’s budget, remember that you could replicate this styling hack with any pair of clip-ons you have lying around (or any you shop on Etsy). Personally, I have a few pairs that I inherited when my grandmother passed away that I plan on removing from their velvet boxes and pinning them in pulled-back Dutch braids this holiday season. How have I not thought of this before?! Easy, right? If you’re curious about other ways to