Tales from New York Part Three

The shopping, as expected in pretty good in New York, It's a lot like London but a little more spread out when looking for something really special. The weekends are best for markets which I managed to miss but will keep saved for next time!

My favourtites had to be 'Edith Machinist' (above) for the vast but finely selected vintage collection of designer labels and stunning shoes. Another gorgeous shop was 'some old rubies' where they reconstruct incredibly pretty tea dresses and garments from vintage pieces. Both in the Lower East Side where you'll also find Katz's diner where they filmed When Harry met Sally! There's lots of gorgeous independent shops and the diner's hot dog is a treat for the end of the day.

 

For some inspiration we visited the Fashion Insitute in the garment district and they have a fabulous exhibition on American design which is a stunning display. A no glass so you can see every dress perfectly! The area is wonderful for fabrics especially B&J fabrics which is a heavenly selection of all the most beautiful fabrics imaginable.

My favourite places in New York

Angelika Film Centre, Greenwich Village...... cafe serving cakes after your film, yum!

Chelsea Cinema, Chelsea ......big seats and slightly grimey in a cool way, great in the middle of the day

Lower East Side St Marks Place to Orchard Street ......gorgeous vintage shops and independent designers

Coney Island .......... when you're feeling in the mood for grunge and lost boys 

Greenwich Village for bars and Jazz, Monday nights are bargainous! The lower main street isn't so in your face as Fith Avenue etc 

MoMA on Friday nights, free entry including the amazing Tim Burton exhibition.

Brooklyn Bridge for the best view of New York.

Coco Avant Chanel

Well, I got to see Coco Avant Chanel at 11.50 this morning and have been reignited with inspiration ever since.
My husband has offered a romantic evening of film watching and dinner and I just want to lock myself in my studio and make more dresses! (I won't, because I do that most nights)

The film was beautiful, subtle and had some really stunning scenes. At the beach with Boy Capel was just incredible and there were tears flowing as she made her first little black dress and captured inspiration from the fishermen in striped sweaters.

These scenes of her designing evoked so much emotion, I just wish there had been another hour of her work in the 20's where she really (in my eyes) became the strong, inspiring woman that was Chanel and her beloved work. Maybe there will be another beautifully shot film documenting her life after love?

The final scenes with her later collections as a mature, Solitude Chanel were a perfect finish and took a while for the overwhelming tears to stop. (please note I cry at all good films, sometimes just out of happiness that someone made such an incredible, worthwhile effort)

As a huge Gabrielle Chanel fan, the designer I really first fell in love with from a young age, I adored pouring over any type of books on her, I couldn't afford to even look at a real Chanel piece. Solitaire is one of my favourite books by Claude Baillen and is a wonderful insight into the woman that is Chanel in the last ten years of her life.





Above is my favourite ensemble from the film, a mans suit with the ankles rolled up, a white dinner waistcoat and collarless mans shirt. This look was incredibly sexy on screen and so, so chic. The playful, androgynous image is perfect.