Hamptons Hot-Shops

Memorial Day marks the beginning of Hampton’s Fever – that time when New Yorkers jump on the Jitney, flee the city for the summer, and become chic beach bums.  To wit, the country offers all the shopping delights one has access to in Manhattan, but in extra-petite boutique form.

Last season looked a bit bleak with the loss of Gucci in East Hampton, but this summer things are bright again, with a slew of new shops offering the promise of purchase.

Balenciaga is a prime example, opening the East Hampton doors of a brand new 1,000 square foot boutique on Main Street.  Designer Nicolas Ghesquiere and contemporary artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster collaborated on the design of the space, creating a mod/modern experience with spacecraftlike fixtures, lime green felt carpets, mirrors and white lacquered wood.

As reported in WWD, “[The East Hampton store's] seasonal opening is our way to bring a special service to our clients (especially the ones spending time in the Hamptons), and anticipating their summer expectations.  They will be able to discover, at the same time as New York or Los Angeles, our new accessory collections,”  says Isabelle Guichot, President and CEO of Balenciaga.

Vacationers can also enjoy the benefits of other East Hampton Main Street staples like HB Home, Juicy Couture, Intermix, Hugo Boss, and Scoop.

Cynthia Rowley has decided on a residence in Montauk and Michael Kors has switched to a South Hampton spot.  And don’t even get us started on the pop-up phenom.

See you on the Jitney!

Trina Turk Pops Up in East Hampton

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend and the start of summer Fridays (woo-hoo!), Trina Turk is opening her second annual pop-up shop in East Hampton.

All 1,085 square feet of the whimsical boutique, located at 79 Main Street, encapsulates the theme “chic beach shack,” a term coined by Turk. Men’s and women’s collections, swimwear, jewelry, home accessories, printed beach towels and beach bags will all add some colorful fun to your East End weekends.

Not only will the boutique carry some items exclusive to the location, but you can also pick up limited edition ‘50s and ‘60s silkscreen prints by artist David Weidman.

It’s definitely worth popping in…

Cupcakes and Cosmos: SATC 2 Pops Up in Paris

In anticipation of Sex and the City 2 hitting Paris theaters on June 2, a new must-see café has popped up on the Paris fashion scene.  In the spirit of the movie, the café is hosting events that promise to be “100% Manhattan, 100% Sex and the City, and 100% free.”  Days at the café are just for the ladies, with hosted breakfast discussions on topics like initiating dates, being thirtysomething and single, fighting fears of commitment, and the importance of great girlfriends.

Afterwards, stop by the nail, hair, and makeup bar for a sexy look then pose for a photoshoot to document the transformation! Next, perfect your stiletto skills at “Heel Academy” or learn to make spiced, violet, and rose cupcakes à la Charlotte, learn how to customize your own clothes and accessories, or get personal shopping tips about chic boutiques and trends in Paris.

In the evenings, look out for special events like tomorrow night’s Milow concert and readings by popular Anglophone authors.  On Thursday, Mireille Guiliano–author of the sensational French Women Don’t Get Fat–was on hand to sign books for fans.

Starting at happy hour and extending through the night, choose from the menu of Glamorous Girl, Fabulous Flirt, Busy Beauty, Pretty Princess, and Mr. New York cocktails or learn to make them at one of the “mixology” sessions held throughout the week.  DJs are on hand to make sure the party lasts until closing time.

A few treats created during one of this week’s cupcake workshops

It’s all the same Sex, but in a brand new (and still fabulous) city. Download the schedule here.

Where: Café Sex and the City 2

32 rue Etienne Marcel

When: Until June 6

Fabulous pictures courtesy of Play Like a Girl and Chic and Geek

A Connoiseur’s Guide to Israel

Planning a trip to the Holy Land? In between getting a full body mud masque in the Dead Sea and swimming with dolphins in Eilat, make sure to schedule in some spending time.  Here is the best Israel has to offer in terms of clothes, accessories, shoes, cosmetics and food.

Left: From the catalog of Mika Bashan; right: aerial view of State Square

To score the latest international designer apparel, don’t miss out on visiting the famous State Square ( “Kikar Ha’Medina”) in Tel Aviv.  Amongst big names like Gucci, Versace, Escada and Ralph Lauren, you’ll find a number of high end Israeli designers, including leatherwear genius Mika Bashan.

Address: 48 Heh B’Iyar Street, Kikar Ha’Medina, Tel Aviv

Top: Michal Negrin store; bottom: Michal Negrin choker

With stores in almost 20 countries, including the US, the UK, France, Japan and Australia, jewelry designer Michal Negrin needs no introduction.  Established in 1988, Michal Negrin carries unique multi-color crystal jewelry.  Recently, the designer took to spreading her incomparable aesthetic to clothes, shoes, handbags, bedding and even stationery.  Negrin has stores throughout Israel, but you’ll get the best prices at the duty-free store in Eilat, Israel’s vacation capital.

Address: 1 Ha’Palmach Street, Mul Ha’Yam Mall, Eilat

Sako-Or store on Mamilla Boulevard, Jerusalem

Jerusalem is known for its cobblestone roads and steep hills, making it essential for you to wear practical, well made shoes during your visit.  Luckily, those criteria don’t have to equal ‘dowdy’:  Stop by shoe experts Sako-Or, located at the Mamilla center, at the heart of Jerusalem.  They carry amazing footwear designed in-house and made of the finest leathers available.

Address: Mamilla Boulevard, Jerusalem

Ahava body care series

No trip to Israel is ever complete without stocking up on all the wonderful products the Dead Sea has to offer.  Internationally acclaimed cosmetics company Ahava manufactures their mud and salt basted line right next to the source, so stop by and enjoy their factory prices on masques, scrubs, creams and much, much more.

Address: Ein Ha’Tchelet Mall, Ein Bokek Beach, The Dead Sea, Israel

Top: typical Rosh Ha’Nikra cove, bottom: Rosh Ha’Nikra restaurant

Doing so much damage, one tends to get a little hungry.  When this happens, look for authentic Israeli food restaurants, without compromising that authentic Israeli view.  Virtually any restaurant you choose to dine in during your visit to the Israeli North, will be equipped with a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea – one such tourist favorite is Rosh Ha’Nikra restaurant, sitting atop a cliff overlooking the crystal blue water near the shore of Rosh Ha’Nikra.  Hope you like fish!

Address: Rosh Ha’Nikra beach, Western Galilee

The aforementioned are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to experiencing all that Israel has to offer.  If you have any more recommendations, share them in the comments below!

Sex and the City 2 Cocktail Hour(s)

Today marks a very special holiday for NYC ladies — the premiere of Sex and the City 2! Our friends are back and wait till you see (and taste) the cocktails they’re sipping.  SKYY vodka has teamed up with the chick flick (we say that with total love and devotion) to create five fabulous signature drinks for five of our favorite characters.  Costume designer Patricia Fields has even extended her stylish touch to the custom-designed, limited edition SATC 2 SKYY vodka bottle for posh pouring.

Here, the recipes to get you in the mood.  We’ll let you guess which drinks match up with each sexy lady and one very sexy gentleman.  Viva la Sex!

Glamour Girl

2 oz.   SKYY Vodka

.5 oz.  Fresh Lemon Juice

.5 oz.  Fresh Lime Juice

.5 oz.  Simple Syrup or 1 tsp. Sugar

Rim a crystallized Swarovski martini glass with Creme de Cassis and sugar*.  Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into the martini glass.  Finish the cocktail with a drop of Creme de Cassis on top.

*To rim the martini glass, first dip rim of glass in a shallow dish filled with Creme de Cassis and immediately place rim in another shallow dish with sugar, rotating the glass to ensure the whole rim is covered.

CHECK OUT OUR EDITOR IN CHIEF, KATRINA SZISH, CHATTING ABOUT THE GLAMOUR GIRL ON “THE EARLY SHOW”

Blonde Ambition

2 oz.     SKYY Infusions Pineapple

1 oz.     Fresh Lime Juice

.75 oz.  Triple Sec

.75 oz.  Creme de Cacao

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with a lime wedge.

Park Avenue Princess

1.5 oz.  SKYY Infusions Grape

3 oz.     7UP

.25 oz.  Fresh Lemon Juice

.25 oz.  Red Wine

Squeeze and drop half a lemon into a cocktail shaker.  Add SKYY Infusions Grape and 7UP with ice and stir.  Strain into a tall collins glass with fresh ice and float red wine over top of drink.

Red Over Heels

2 oz.     SKYY Infusions Ginger

1 oz.     Honey Syrup*

.75 oz.  Fresh Lemon Juice

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass.  Lay lemon peel twirl across the rim of the glass with cocktail pick.

*To create Honey Syrup combine .5 oz. of water with .5 oz. of Honey.

Mr. Manhattan

2 oz.    SKYY Infusions Cherry

.5 oz.   Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

.75 oz. Cola

Combine SKYY Infusions Cherry Vodka, Wild Turkey Bourbon and Cola in a cocktail shaker with ice and stir.  Pour into a double rocks glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

A Parisian Garden Party

Summers in Paris are synonymous with gardens.  Visitors can find acres of rambling woods in Bois de Boulogne and quiet, intimate urban oases like Jardin de la Vallée Suisse and Jardin Tino Rossi.  The city itself boasts over 400 “green spaces” with distinct personalities ranging from the royal Jardin de Tuileries and Jardin de Luxembourg to the sprawling greens of Les Invalides and the botanical gardens of Jardin des Plantes.  As if all of that weren’t enough, last weekend the Champs Elysees was transformed into a large pedestrian garden–a striking blend of street art and educational space–to illuminate the connection between man and nature and between country and urban environments.

Over 900,000 visitors turned out for the first day of Nature-Capitale on the Champs Elysees

In that spirit, lovely odes to plants and nature are sprouting all over the luxe Parisian landscape just in time for the warm weather.  Taking Paris by storm is the new Pivoine Collection of scents, bodycare, and cosmetics dedicated to the peony from L’Occitane.  Every product contains softening and fragrant peony extract from the South of France.  Highlights include Blush Like a Peony Lip & Cheek Tinted Water and Peony Beauty Powder.

One of the most cutting-edge skincare companies of late is organic, paraben-free, and fragrance-free company Odacité, founded by two Parisians.  Like many skincare products, theirs are packed with antioxidants and other skin-enhancing and age-defying ingredients that begin to decompose after just six months.  Unfortunately, skincare products found on shelves are often there for up to a year before making it into your home.  Not available in stores, Odacité products are made to order and comes to you stamped with a “Freshiency Date” on the bottom.  Products will arrive in a mini-fridge to guarantee that freshness is maximized and that your skin earns the maximum benefit from its high-powered ingredients.  According to their philosophy, freshness is akin to effectiveness.

Finally, try Chloe’s three-part Eau de Fleurs, new for Spring 2010.  Each scent is inspired by a classic flower–neroli, lavender, and capucine.  The lavender scent with its feminine yet herbal smell is flying off Parisian shelves.  With a powerful lavender top note, the fragrance turns nicely powdery and intoxicating with a blend of bergamot, violet leaf, and almond.  All three gorgeous scents are sophisticated interpretations of Chloe’s signature fragrance.  With just a spritz, you’ll be ready to turn your favorite urban haunt into a garden for the day.

SCORE! Some Goods at Pop Up Swap

Bring your unwanted clothes, accessories, music, books and more to BKLYN Yard for its opening weekend of Score! Pop Up Swap.  The event is sometimes referred to as a “pop up free store,” where you can take as many items as you can carry!  Fashion photographers will be there to snap pictures of attendees in the clothes they “scored.”  Grab more freebies like custom silkscreen tote bags, food and drinks.  Curators from Market Publique, NY Bike Jumble, Desk Set, Showpaper, AlphaOne and Etsy will be there to help run the different departments.  As you sift through the items and shop, listen to DJs and meet fellow New Yorkers.

What:

SCORE! Pop Up Swap

When:

Saturday May 29th, 12pm-6pm

Where:

Brooklyn Yard

400 Carroll Street between Bond and Nevins

RSVP:

$3 cover charge, RSVP here

Fashion Institute of Technology Presents the Evolution of “Going Green”

Finding clothes that are both environmentally conscious and fashionable can sometimes be a hard task, but the Museum at FIT shows how it is possible to be eco-chic in the 21st century.  The exhibit, entitled Eco-Fashion: Going Green, will feature over 100 clothes and accessories as it traces sustainable fashion throughout history.  The display will feature two centuries of garments, focusing on the environmental and ethical practices used to produce them.  It will also highlight the recycling of materials, quality of couture and textile dying before showing some of the most popular “green” garb of today from labels like Alabama Chanin, Ciel, Edun, FIN and NOIR.  It will make you want to go green with your wardrobe.

What:

Eco-Chic: Going Green Exhibit

Where:

The Museum at FIT

Seventh Avenue at 27th Street

Exhibit located in the Fashion and Textile History Gallery

When:

May 26th 2010 – November 13th 2010

Tuesday-Friday 12pm-8pm

Saturday 10am – 5pm

Smart Sweatpants

Isabel Marant has been on a roll in recent years, churning out must-haves left and right.  Recall the ‘09 slouchy chain boots worn by all, the coveted studded ankle booties no fashionista went without in ‘08, and the smart rolled up sweatpants she presented in ‘08 and ‘09, sparking a million reinterpretations by the best designers worldwide.

Sweatpants + trench coat + high heel boots at Isabel Marant S/S 2009

If you think about it, workout gear makes sense for everyday: it’s made in the most comfortable shapes and of the most comfortable fabrics, allowing you to worry only about business.  The key is coming to that groundbreaking realization - looking at those boxing shorts and thinking, “Sure, that works for cocktails!”

Once you’ve made the necessary cognitive shift, search for pieces in solid, basic colors and interesting details drawn from the office dress code, such as pleating, draping and sash belts.  You’re in luck: countless brands are currently offering flattering, on-trend training attire that works outside the bedroom and/or the gym.  The best high-end picks are  Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang, McQ by Alexander McQueen and Yves Saint Laurent.

Left to right: Helmut Lang cropped sweatpants, $275;  Alexander Wang jersey drawstring playsuit, $420;

Yves Saint Laurent 80’s revival harem pants, $460; McQ Dhoti cotton blend harem pants, $100

Not everyone is OK with spending upwards of $100 for such basics; fortunately, there’s plenty of active goods to go around at your favorite stores, like Topshop and Adidas.

Clockwise from top left: Splendid jersey harem knee shorts, $81;  Adidas shorts, $35;

byCORPUS sweatpant, $58; Topshop drape harem shorts, $36

Warning: adopting this trend may lead to impromptu relaxation!

Veronica Brett For Breast Cancer

Life never looked sexier now that Veronica Brett has entered the fashion universe with a luxury collection of swimwear fashioned especially for breast cancer survivors and women who have had risk-reducing surgery.  And who better to partner with to launch this slice of fabulousness than designer extraordinaire Elie Tahari and The Ellen Hermanson Foundation.  Together with their help, you’re invited to the launch of this incredibly chic swim collection.  A portion of the sales from this event will be donated to aid The Ellen Hermanson Foundation keep its commitment to helping breast cancer patients and their families cope with the changing nature of the physical and emotional aspects of breast cancer.

When: Saturday, May 29^th, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Elie Tahari Boutique

1 Main Street

East Hampton, NY 11937

Contact: 212.763.2017 or events@elietahari.com