Wendy Nichol’s Of The Moment Bags

Wendy Nichol is famous for her exceptional leather bags and cool-girl jewelry.  The luxurious leather bags are made by hand in Nichol’s almost magical looking Soho studio, where a small team of designer’s construct one-off bags and small collections of her classic designs.  This season could almost be called the season of the Wendy Nichols bag, with her Bullet Tassled Leather Bucket Bag and Large Carriage Tassled Bucket Bag being some of the coolest bags around this winter.

Along with the must-have bags, the store is packed with her line of jewelry which includes delicate pieces like her Black Diamond Victorian Eye Ring and her signature Gold Pyramid Hoop Earings. Her line of etherial clothing feels a little gothic Victorian and a little Downtown bohemian and is draped around the Soho store, making Wendy Nichol one of those rare original New York stores, where you can always find something truly original and unique.

Wendy Nichol. 147 Sullivan Street. 10012 & 252 Mott Street. NY. 10012

 

Photos courtesy Wendy Nichols Instagram

Concrete + Water In Williamsburg

Concrete + Water is a new boutique in Williamsburg that opened it’s doors just last week.  The brainchild of stylist Hannah Dilworth and JD Gluckstern, who as well as stocking the best in local and international design, have also managed to create a store where couples can shop comfortably at the same time.  With a menswear section that is equally as impressive as their womenswear (and their women’s collection is amazing), they sell well-loved lines from New York based designers like Cardigan and Whit as well as foreign brands that are hard to find Stateside.  Hannah’s background as a stylist is apparent, here you’ll find the perfect sweater of the season, styled alongside the just-right bag to wear it with.

The shoe selection for both men and women is fantastic.  It’s carefully selected, well priced and includes super cool Australian line Beau Coops and British shoe designer F Troupe. The store itself is a former flower store and in the back half of the large airy shop, there’s a homeware space filled with beautiful items including locally crafted rugs and cushions, Mazama ceramics (discovered by Hannah and JD on a road trip to Portland) as well as a well stocked apothecary section.

This is the kind of one-stop shop where you can pick up a great outfit, a gift for a friend, something for your home and a killer pair of shoes that you won’t find anywhere else in New York.

Concrete + Water. 485 Driggs Avenue. Williamburg. Brooklyn. 11211

 

 

And Other Stories Opens

The much-anticipated opening of & Other Stories first US store finally took place on Friday in Soho. The upmarket sister of Swedish retailer H&M, & Other Stories has taken Europe by storm over the past year with its high fashion basics, often made using luxury materials such as pure cashmere, wool and silk.  The new store is right next door to Prada’s flagship store in Soho and just like Prada, can be entered via both Mercer Street or Broadway.  A little less fast fashion than Zara, their focus is on fashionably designed basics as well as an impressive selection of well-priced shoes, bags and jewelry.  Almost like a small department store, there’s a huge beauty department which includes nail polish in up-to-the-minute hues, make-up, bath and body products as well as scented candles.

& Other Stories. 575 Broadway / 146 Mercer Street. Soho. NY. 10013

 

Coclico’s Sustainable Shoes

Despite the temperatures soaring to an almost summery 74 degrees today, there’s only a few weeks left until we’ll find ourselves wearing boots almost daily.  Coclico on Mott Street in NoLita is a New York gem when it comes to buying winter boots. Not only do they make the kind of stylish yet comfortable shoes perfect for running around New York, but they are made to rigorous ethical and environmental standards.

Coclico’s shoes are produced in a small family owned factory in Mallorca where staff are paid a decent wage and work with high safety and quality standards.  The beautiful European leathers are also sourced from ethical and sustainable producers.  When we last visited the Coclico store we spotted a bottle of olive oil amongst the shoes bearing the Coclico name and were told that the factory that produces the footwear also has an olive grove on the land and bottles this small batch olive oil.  Sadly the olive oil is not for sale, but the shoes are and they are a perfect for the winter months ahead.

Coclico. 275 Mott Street. NoLita. Tel: 212 965 5462

 

VFiles Fabulous Fashion

Need a Moschino Cereal dress, an Ashish Sequined USA sweatshirt, a vintage Chanel bag or a mad cool pair of sneakers, then VFiles is the store for you.  Owned by Julie Anne Quay, the former studio manager for fashion photographer Steven Meisel, this Soho store is just as much a cool hang out as it is a retail destination.  Think Patricia Field’s store on 8th Street in the 90s or innovative clubs like Area in the 80s, people come to VFiles to see and be seen (as well as shop of course).  If you are an authentic slave to fashion then VFiles is your holy grail with famous fashion fans like Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott, Katy Perry and Rihanna who are all just as obsessed as the cool kids who populate the store.

VFiles has a cult social media following and has even launched its own online tv channel with shows like Intern Files, where models and gorgeous club kids vie to become the next VFiles intern.

So popular is the brand that they’ve even opened a summer pop-up store this season in the Hamptons, where you can nab your very own VFiles t-shirt or sweatshirt with the name of your favorite Hamptons destination, thus maintaining your super cool NYC street cred even on the beach.

VFiles 12 Mercer Street. Soho. NY. 10013. Tel: 212 804 6400.

VFiles Summer Pop Up In The Hamptons. 137 Main Street. Amagansett

 

Holiday Shopping At Michele Varian

Michele Varian’s store on Howard Street in South Soho is a store we find ourselves in whenever we need a gift for someone with great taste or just want to splurge on something lovely for ourselves. Curated by Michele Varian (pictured above) a former fashion designer, Michele scours the City and in fact the world, to find beautiful jewelry, furniture and home goods to sell at her infamous store.

Michele first gained a cult following for her own super cool textiles, in fact her first store (a much smaller location in Soho) was originally a showcase for her own designs.  Her good taste and love of all things stylish quickly saw that tiny store grow in to the emporium that it is today.  She still sells her textiles, but her line has now expanded to wallpaper, upholstered furniture and exquisite copper pendant lights crafted in Serajevo.

Nestled next door to Opening Ceremony in Soho, we stop by Michele Varian whenever we are in the neighborhood.  On our visit this week, Michele showed us around and we found oodles of gifts for literally everyone in our life.  The I Love NY neon light ($420) is perfect for our office and we think we’ll give every naughty boy we know a brightly painted Slingshot ($38) and Wooden Ammo ($7 for 20 pieces).  For the wine lovers in our life we’ll grab a Wood Handled Bottle Opener ($18) and for our best friend a Two-person Swing for their New York apartment ($244 ).  For anyone who likes jewelry, any piece from the incredible selection of New York designer’s carried in store will be a sure-fire hit.

Michel Varian. 27 Howard Street. South Soho. New York. 10013. Tel:212 343 0033

Winter Blues

Charlotte Simone’s Winter Popsicles

Grab a Cardigan

Beau Coops Boots

Wendy Nichol’s Of The Moment Bags

Chris Ofili At The New Museum

Zero: Countdown To Tomorrow At the Guggenheim

Nick Cave’s Two Amazing Chelsea Shows

Art At Lincoln Centre

We LIKE It First – Heather Taylor, Houseware Designer

We LIKE It First – Alyson Eastman

WE LIKE IT FIRST – Meghan Farrell, Jewelry Designer