Mar 3, 2010 | Fashion
metalliferous is a jewelry supply store located near Bryant Park in New York City. It’s a little hard to find, the outside being so nondescript and such, but it is indeed a gem in the rough.
The list of tenants inside the doors to the building, on the wall. The store is located on the second floor.
The place is as well-organized as it can be, considering, but it’s still a virtual rabbit’s warren of jewelry components, beads, findings, tools, chemicals, and raw materials.
Boxes upon boxes…shelves upon shelves…selving unit upon shelving unit…stuff crammed in any available space…you get the idea.
I had a flashback to that library opening sequence from Ghostbusters.
How do you find anything here? Well, you gotta look. I wouldn’t term the staff particularly pleasant, but they are certainly knowledgeable when asked. Is it possible to be unpleasant but helpful?
I wish I had had more time to truly browse, because even in my quick perusal I spotted many components that I had seen in other jewelry (selling on Etsy, in affordable small boutiques – even in Justin Giunta’s line Subversive!!), and my mind was beginning to get overcrowded with ideas both to DIY and original creations.
If you are in the New York area, I really hope you guys have a chance to go – it truly is a haven for those who like to make jewelry or craft pieces.
They also have an online store (and mail order available) if you are not able to make the trip to their brick-and-mortar location.
metalliferous, 34 W 46th St, New York, NY (212) 944-0909 map it
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Definitely check it out if you have the chance!
xoxox
Carly
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Feb 27, 2010 | Fashion
clockwise, from upper left black boot:
More photos of the gorgeous Jeffrey Campbell X-On shoe…
At a mere $98 (!!!) I am itching to add these to my Spring wardrobe. Pure hotness on a stick. Karmaloop, you are killing me!
Luuuuuuust.
(I actually ordered the Percy Boot from Alloy in the beautiful light gray canvas [$39.90 was a great price + you can take $20 off any order over $75 with code 20DISCA!]…can’t wait to post a piccy of it when it arrives!)
xoxox
Carly
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Feb 22, 2010 | Fashion
It just so happens that STEPS is a few steps away from the tens at Bryant Park. I checked in there last year, and though their stuff was cute and affordable, I didn’t feel like it much differed from what was sold at places like Jeans Warehouse or Forever21. This year – HUGE difference.
New buyer, new brands – and just stocked with some great stuff. Bright atmosphere – and ton of clothes to look through and squeal over. (Though I can’t say the staff is the most friendly or helpful; my one caveat.)
I almost bought this double-layered tank, but it only came in brown – apparently the gray had sold out. Super-cute for summer!
I could literally buy the whole front half of the store. Piece after piece: tops, dresses, jackets for Spring, had incredible details, unique (albeit a little flimsy) construction – and it was stuff I had seen nowhere else. And so affordable! Tops and jackets ranged from $39.99 (sale) to at the highest $69.99; with dresses and pants somewhere in the middle. Accessories clocked in from $9 – $40. drooooool
Here are a few fabulous pieces I found:
Loved the embellishment hanging off of this – and ended up buying it for $19.99.
White leather zipper skirt – $59.99.
Ombre-dyed crochet-back tank-and-cardigan combo.
Pleated dress for $59.99.
Velvet lavender Western-style shirt with studded pocket flaps.
Studded tank dress under sheer pocket vest/dress.
I bought this coat too – a lovely waffle-knit convertible front cropped jacket. So warm – and the front flaps can be buttoned down in various ways! (Only $39.99 on sale!)
I also managed to swing by AlphabetsNYC [their website has been COMING SOON for a year now] on the Lower East Side, one of the few boutiques I had visited last year, where I bought my Ryu double-hood tunic top for a steal (that I’m wearing here in the photo with Yigal Azrouel). AlphabtsNYC is divided – one store is a music/CD store, the other, a knicknacks/gifts/clothing boutique. Both store sides are crowded and crammed with items – kind of kitschy; a little vintage-looking and tongue-in-cheek…but the clothes are a whole ‘nother story!
This is what the left-hand part of the store looks like if you’ve never been there.
You head to the lefthand storefront and way into the back, and there are racks for both women’s and men’s clothing and accessories. (The sales staff is pretty indifferent, so I just leave them alone.) My male friend oohed and aahed over a cracquel-grain leather briefcase with flap pockets for $150, and turned over hat after hat rendered in tweeds and dandy-ish pinstripes. I concerned myself with the women’s clothing racks on the right – in the far back; both top and bottom racks are a whopping 70% off [unmarked, so you have to ask and make sure!] and I could barely contain myself at the fabulosity – AND the prices.
Sweet little owl-print tank.
Ark & Co chiffon blouse with trim detailing for $39.99. What a great use of trim around the neckline!
A gorgeous windowpane lasercut A-line silk dress for only $25.50???? (Marked down from $86.)
I ended up with the sweetest little sheath constructed of wide ribbon fringes in graduating colors, for only $25! Truly a chic steal!
A close-up of the fabulous square-cut fringe piecing on the front of the dress.
If you are ever in the area you MUST check these boutiques out:
STEPS 1040 6th Ave map it
AlphabetsNYC 115 Avenue A (12 pm – 8 pm daily) map it
Have any of you ever been to these boutiques?
xoxo
Carly
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Feb 21, 2010 | Fashion
Finally, a chance to visit Century 21! I hadn’t been able to last year when I was in town, but this year I firmly avowed (on Valentine’s Day, no less) to stop by.
If you’ve never been inside Century 21 – this is what it looks like.
Racks upon racks of clothing, in some areas separated by designer, in some, marked just “Skirts 0-6”, and in some “SALE – European Designers” or something like that.
The jewelry I wasn’t too impressed with.
But you come for the clothing. And ohmigosh what alot of it! You literally need hours to sort through everything, and even then there will be racks you’ve overlooked and missed. There’s so much in the wrong section, on the floor, or two things shoved onto the same hanger – so you’ve really, really got to look.
But when you do – gaspworthy finds.
A $1910 Pringle of Scotland nubby silk and brushstroked dress marked down to $129.99???? Swoon. (Sorry I forgot to snap a photo of the dress. Assured it was amazing. Now I’m sorry I didn’t buy it…even though the fabric and hem were quite worn and had some damage.)
A $640 Iodice dress on sale for $49.99? (You can see how the bodice has been ripped and pulled in the photo above, which is why it was marked with the red SALE sticker.)
$1045 Lanvin t-shirt on sale for $119.99. You can see how the ribbon detailing is frayed at the bottom.
$385 Galliano beaded tee on sale for $58.99. This was in pretty good condition.
But- a huge caveat to many would-be bargain-hunters: much of the clothing was dirty, torn, or had been trampled. I agonized over a $355 Vivienne Westwood Red Label puff-sleeve top that had literally been ripped in half, having my friend hold up both sides as I tried it on and tried to determine if I could fix it well-enough to be worn. It was marked down to $25.99, but considering the significant damage and the fact that fixing it would alter the fit of the body, I demurred. But it was so hard! $25.99 for a Vivienne Westwood!!! (But it was made of fabric that felt cheaper and more flimsy than the worst Forever21 piece…so common sense dictated letting it go.)
After only about 20 minutes of browsing, what with the people, the noise, the crowds, etc. I started to feel light-headed and had to leave. I was not feeling physically able to even visit the shoe section, though I saw they had some Vince Camuto booties that I wanted to try on. Oh well, another time! One definitely needs stamina to go here!
If you have never gone – definitely put aside at least a couple hours – and some PowerBars! – to fully take in the designer discount awesomeness.
Century 21 (Cortlandt St. store in the Financial District) – map it on Google
xoxox
Carly
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Feb 19, 2010 | Fashion
Crumbs Bake Shop cupcakes r da bomb!! [You can drool over all their flavors here.] I’ve limited myself to one per year – which is what it will take me to work off all the calories.:-)
White Hot Chocolate Cupcake: Vanilla Cake filled with white chocolate mousse topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting edged with mini white chocolate chips and topped with marshmallows and white chocolate drizzle.
Yup. Heaven in cake form.
As a side note: What do you think of my Gickr animation? It’s my first using this site’s feature – I thought it was pretty neat!
xoxox
Carly
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