Rima Suqi

Nexcare band aids (also in neon colors)

If you have to ask, you clearly haven’t been trying out new summer shoes in the summery weather. Might as well go crazy and colorful while in pain. These bandaids (by Nexcare) are the only ones I’ve used that stay on no matter what, and they come in neon colors.  Buy them here.

Both on Thursday and Friday, December 10th and 11th.

My favorite linen sheets come from Area (they make plenty of non-linen varieties as well, plus blankets, etc). Their sale is at a new location this year, the Fleurs Bella space at 55 East 11th Street. Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.    They’re asking that you bring your own BAG. I suggest BAGS (plural) because at 75% off you’ll want to stock up.

Second sale:

Lutz & Patmos cashmere, everything is under $150. You read that correctly. It’s a modern day miracle. And it will be a madhouse, so be prepared.  425 W. 13th Street, #401. Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

They look like odd-shaped pillows but Innies are really a sachet/shape holder for your boots. Here’s one in action:

I’ve been testing these out – as I usually use plastic forms instead – and find them actually easier to use, less hard on the leather, and they have a nice light lavender scent which I am imagining also helps absorb odors.

They make a version for handbags, too. I haven’t used that one yet.

$21.95/pair, check them out here.

Forgive me but this is going to be a chattier blog post than the usual “here’s a picture, isn’t this cool, see ya” sorta thing.

My history with L.L. Bean began in college with their catalog. I ordered blucher mocs (loafers not lace-ups), spent four years breaking them in, and then somebody walked off with them, breaking my heart and obviously sole. I ordered ragg wool sweaters and socks. I loved that catalog and because of it has a whole Maine fantasy that revolved around this quirky store that was open 24 hours, 365 days a year.

And then two years ago – which admittedly is many years post college – I went. What a disappointment. Bottom line: LL Bean, for all the romance, is corporate. I barely made it through the entire, poorly lit store, and left. It was like my version of “there’s no Santa.”

So, when LL Bean hires someone to do a new, more fashionable, upscale line for them, you have to take this with a grain of salt. First of all, what’s more fashionable for them is not necessarily mind-boggling to the rest of the world.Even if it is a HUGE departure for their company. Which, this new collection by Alex Carleton of Rogues Gallery, definitely is.

Second, since (and I am guessing here, I have no inside information) it is corporate, there are probably a lot of opinions involved. Any designer is only good as his employers will allow him to be. Autonomy usually equals success, design-wise.

That’s the prelude to the intro. The party was great. Good looking crowd (hello Anderson Cooper!), lots of booze and food, and surprisingly nice space considering its physical location, near the decidedly unglam Javits Center.

The presentation was very well styled. Alex Carleton is a really smart, stylish, low-key guy who doesn’t seem to buy into the fashion bullshit (I mean, he’s been known to take classes at a wooden boat school in summer). The way he was dressed today was the way I’ve always seen him dressed. Not a trendy bone in his body, although ironically his style is very trendy right now.

Anyway, the ultimate point of these pieces, I believe, is how you make them your own. The question is – especially for women (because I felt, as did many others there, that the mens was more interesting) – do you want to buy it?  See for yourself. In stores/catalog/online March/April.

(sorry about the crappy scans/photos)

Cruiser backpack, by lulu lemon

My grandmother used to say “there’s a place for everything, and everything in its place.” Of course, she said it in French so it sounded better than that. But her point was well taken, and in many ways I am that girl who wants everything in its place.

Especially when I travel. I do not have the right backpack for my outdoorsy trips. Or I should say I didn’t (past tense) have one – because today I found the perfect backpack at Lulu Lemon. There are zipper pockets for everything from sunglasses to a camera to wet swim gear to your hydration pouch. And a padded laptop section.  Also a hidden holder for your yoga mat.

It is super well designed, and just $89.

Buy it here.

I spied this tote (the weathervane one) at a friend’s house in the Catskills this weekend. And while I don’t think the world needs another tote, especially one with a Rogues-gallery-esque image on it, I did love this one. Why? It’s got a leather bottom (or suede) and a zipper pocket inside so it not only looks good but is functional.

Truth be told, canvas totes of this type get dirty pretty easily, and have to be replaced every couple years anyway – so maybe the world DOES need another tote after all.

These are made by Charles Fradin, who is better known as a furniture designer, and can be bought here for $119 each.

If you want to stay warm and dry without looking like the Michelin Man, then Outdoor Research’s Chaos jacket is the one for you. I’ve been wearing this for several months now and I can tell you that I have been toasty warm even in this ridiculous cold. And I don’t look fat. That, to me, is the key. Not only are puffy coats, well, PUFFY, those puffs are HORIZONTAL and every woman knows that horizontal stripes make us look wider than we are. No thank you.

Instead, buy this jacket. It was designed by women who climb things like frozen waterfalls and it’s got a lot of features that I frankly have no idea how to use. All I can say is this – the jacket is really lightweight but it works. It costs $250 but that’s a small price to pay to be warm and look skinny.

I’m listing features taken from the Outdoor Research website below.

+ PrimaLoft® ECO Sport insulation: 150 g torso, 133 g sleeves, 60 g hood
+ Highly weather-resistant/breathable WindStopper® Insulated Shells fabric; micro-polyester lining
+ Dual-pull adjustable hood fits over helmet
+ Deep front collar
+ Double-separating front zipper with external stormflap
+ Two zippered handwarmer pockets
+ Zippered napoleon pocket
+ Internal mesh water bottle pocket; zippered internal pocket with media port
+ Elastic cuffs with hook/loop tabs
+ Snap and hook/loop closure at hem
+ Dual drawcord waist and hem adjustments

I’ve been looking for a training shoe that has good support, because I pronate pretty heavily, but one that also has a decent design (meaning not pink or lavender or any other ridiculously girlie color). A friend at Shape magazine recommended a few shoes including the Asics Gel Intensity, which I bought online since I couldn’t find it anywhere in NYC.

Normally when I use a new shoe my feet kill me and I inevitably end up with shin splints for a few weeks until the shoes are finally broken in. Today, I took a Cardio Strength class at Chelsea Piers, which combines elements of step aerobics (around-the-world anyone?) with a ton of squats and lunges and other exercises with light weights. We’re basically all over the place. Anyway, I wore the shoe for the first time. I was worried because it is much lighter than my usual shoes and to me heavier seems to indicate more support.

Bottom line – my feet didn’t hurt, my knees didn’t hurt and I had no shin splits. It’s a miracle. Buy this shoe. It happens to be on sale for $79.95 (normally $99) at Road Runner Sports. Order a half size larger than what you normally wear.

PS To all you new-years-resolution exercisers — give it up already and let those of us who actually work out year-round have our gyms back.

19th street between 7th and 8th avenues is an odd block. The oldest store that I can think of is called Nasty Pig, there’s a men’s spa with the unfortunate but memorable name “Why Not?”, a not-bad men’s clothing store called Behaviour, a women’s lingerie shop (and no, it’s not for drag queens) and of course, the infamous gay lounge G.

And now there’s also a store selling gorgeous, sunny, beach-house-ready fabrics. It’s aptly called Les Toiles du Soleil, and the bulk of the fabric they sell is from a 150 year-old French company that was known for making fabric for espadrilles. You can buy the fabric by the yard (prices start at $35/yard for solids and $70 for stripes), or you can buy a variety of accessories like notebooks, napkins, placemats, hand towels, beach bags, etc. The accessories are really well-priced (a bit underpriced if you ask me).
The cool thing is that they make all those accessories right in the store, and will custom make just about anything you want.

Wall o’ cheery fabrics -

accessories -

Any woman who has tried to find board shorts will find herself on the short end of the style stick. Literally. Womens styles today are all Daisy Dukes, super short, showing lots of ass and, worse yet, pink. Lots and lots of pink. Please. Anyone seriously (or even not-so-seriously) into water sports needs something of a more practical length which is shockingly hard to find. I couldn’t find normal length, not pink, board shorts on the big island of Hawaii or in Costa Rica. Even my sports-gear-writer-friends suggested I buy men’s styles instead. No thank you.
Last week I found the answer to my board shorts prayers. It’s called Carve Designs.
They have not one, but FIVE women’s board short styles, with inseams ranging from 6″ – 14″ and colors that include olive green and – thank you god! – black. They have an online shop with all styles shown here.
A few pics below: