Blazin' Grace

There are certain rules to fashion that are unspoken and understood. Purple and red don't go together. Pleat-front anything is always a no. This gal makes fashion eat her words. I honestly could not believe my eyes when I saw Grace walking one day on the Lower East Side - she was so fly (just like that Blondie song). Purple socks plus red sneakers - rad. Pleated shorts? Looks good to me. To top it all off, she finishes the look with crazy shiny metallic Oakley sunglasses that no style mortal could ever pull off.

Name: Grace
Occupation: Documentary Filmmaker "I'm working on a documentary about the evolution of fixed gear bikes."
Hometown: London
What do you like the best about your outfit? "My shirt. I got it at Buffalo Exchange if you can believe it."
What have you been listening to? "This demo from Amazing Baby. They're this band from Brooklyn who are signed onto the same label as MGMT."
Where do you shop in NYC? "Thrift shops in Brooklyn. The Valley on LES and Reed Space."
What's the best night to go out? "Bembe in Williamsburg on their Reggae nights on Tuesdays. It's a good balance of old and young people."
Tell me a secret. "My best friend's having a baby."

Bespoken for at Robert James

This past sunny Saturday afternoon, a gentleman friend of mine dragged me into this men's boutique on LES that I've often passed but never bothered to go into being the self-interested shopper that I am. Che sorpresa! By Robert James is a gem of a store that is immaculately curated both in offered merchandise and interior design. Working with an outside tailor, the owner custom creates much of the clothing for its clientele. While my pal was trying on three men's jackets about forty-two times on rotation trying to decide on which to purchase, I subjected Mr. James and his bad ass 'stache to my line of questioning.

Name: Robert James
Occupation: Owner and Designer of men's fashion boutique By Robert James
Hometown: Ohio "Ohio runs deep."
What would your last meal on earth be? "My mom's lasagna. The secret is cottage cheese instead of ricotta. It stands up better."
How long did it take you to grow that moustache? "About 5 minutes because it was a compromise of a beard between me and my girlfriend. She got me a haircut and shave."
What's your favorite item in the store? "This counter because it's the last thing I made and it makes me feel like my store's complete."
If you were a stripper, what would be your signature song? "'Me and My Motorcycle' by Love and Rockets"

An Underground Spring Bouquet

I can't help it if I sweat my friend's style. As soon as I walked up to my pal Tina in front of Bowery Ballroom for the White Lies/Friendly Fires show, I knew I had to take her picture. This lady has managed to combine tough girl leather with soft floral without looking like a grungey extra from the movie "Singles".

Name: Tina
Occupation: Freelance Designer
Hometown: Berkeley, California
Where did you buy that dress? "Monk Vintage Store in Park Slope."
Who is the most underrated designer? "Julie Wilkins of Future Classics. I love her use of feminine drapes and structural elements."
Tell me some of your style influences. "Shapes, contours, colors, contrast, monochrome, and moods. I love to use colors, patterns and/or textures that one wouldn't normally match together and make it work."
What's the best bar in brooklyn? "Well, the best bar in Park Slope is The Great Lakes on the corner of 5th ave and 1st street. Always has great music."

All Tied Up

Suspenders. Braces. Call them what you want but they are just so retro-cool. This guy's nostalgic t shirt and suspenders combo would inspire any player to crush a lot.

Name: Ross
Occupation: Musician
Hometown: New Castle, PA (The next town over from the Amish)
What do you like best about your outfit? "My Suspenders because they can be weapons if needed."
What would you eat for your last meal? "Mom's lasagna."
If you were a stripper, what would be your song? "'I'm a Player' by Too $hort."
What's on repeat on your ipod? "Kings of Leon's 'Use Somebody'."

Modern Nu Wave

It's like this girl fused all the best things about the 80s and 90's - Beetlejuice, black lace, Doc Martins - to create one tasty two tone spring roll that anyone would want to take a bite out of. With such genius style, no wonder she has such great taste in music too! (I spotted her at GBH's The Courteeners Show at Tribeca Grand Hotel this past Saturday.)

Name: Linda
Occupation: Student at FIT/Intern at Allure's fashion closet
Hometown: PA
What's your favorite part of your outfit? "The lacy shirt. It's a very nipple moment kind of top."
What do you listen to when getting ready to go out? "80's pop. Donna Summer. Joy Division. New Order."
Song you can't get out of your head: "Every 1's a Winner by this 70s band called Hot Chocolate."
Tell me about the best perk you got from the fashion closet. "Once I got this amazing Christian Dior velvet turban with a faux mohawk. I wore it at fashion week and it caused quite a stir."

Le Geek So Chic

Like a character straight out of a Wes Anderson film, this guy has the geek chic look down from the frames to the checkered shirt. He was nice enough to humor my questions and pictures before he hopped into a taxi with his equally styling pals.

Name: Ross
Occupation: Freelance Designer/Drummer
Hometown: Nashville, TN
What do you like best about your outfit? "My crumbling old Northface jacket from the 70's. I got it off ebay for about $100."
What's your tune of the moment? "Born to Be with You by Dion."

Here's lookin' at ya

Sometimes the right accessory can really make an outfit. This gal's feistiness combined with her scarf packs more flavor than a bag of Poppin' Jalapeño Doritos.

Name: Jen
Occupation: Legal Assistant
Hometown: Philly
What's your favorite part of your outfit? "My boots. I got them at Head Start Shoes in Philly. George should give me a discount for that." (Note: Boots not pictured as Jen wanted readers to be curious about what they looked like.)
What's on repeat on your ipod? "'Killing in the Name of' by Rage Against the Machine."
My favorite...color is yellow.

East Coast, West Coast, Worldwiiiiiiiiide

The word "transplant" always invokes negative images of hair plugs for me until I met this LA transplant who fuses the Cali 'tude with the slickness of a New Yorker.

Name: Leroy aka Frijoles (Beans)
Occupation: Art Director
Dream Occupation: Monopolizing the New York City fish taco market.
Hometown: LA
What does your nickname mean? Because I'm Mexican. It's a racially motivated term of endearment.
Who's your favorite graphic designer right now? Stephen Sagmeister.
Best meal under $15 in the city? The Delta Grill in Hell's Kitchen. Pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries for $10. It's called the Po' boy.
LA v. NY - Who would win in a fight? New York hands down. When I first moved here I got cussed out by an old lady on the subway. Even the elderly here are vicious.

Winter Chic South of Delancey

It's a fact that lawyers and other professionals have inundated Chinatown in search of adult beverage fueled fun. After encountering this duo, I guess a touch of gentrification isn't so bad.

Names: Paul/Danny
Occupation: Lawyer/Humanitarian in television
Hometown: New York
Favorite part of your outfit: "My boots." (Not pictured)/"My old Levi's shirt."
Best music venue: "Mercury Lounge or Bowery Ballroom." "Mercury Lounge."

These Boots Were Made for Rockin'

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I spotted this accessorized fellow who looked just so of the moment.
Name: Rick Starr
Occupation : Photography Student/Barista at Roasting Plant
Hometown: California
Where did you get the boots? "Mondini on 8th Street."
Coffee beverage of choice? "Nothing beats a good espresso."
What are you listening to now? "Lately I've been into jazz, especially Charlie Parker."
Do people tell you that your name sounds like a porno name? "That's only happened like once."

Beanie cap in your ass! Nolita

Is it cheating to include my own friends on this site? I honestly couldn't resist featuring Chau, one of my best friends, when he came up to visit. To be fair, I won't sing his praises.

Name: Chau
Occupation: QA Manager
Hometown: Philly
Last meal on earth? "Soba noodle pork omelet from Go because it's so unhealthy and you're dying anyway. Japanese mayo...mmmmm."
Do people think you're Japanese? "Yes. All the time."
Tell me a secret. "I was afraid of the dark until I went to college."
How did you get over that? "I preoccupied myself with drinking."

Rock n Roll on Ludlow

A friend and I were about to step into the Monday night chaos that is Pianos on Ludlow and Stanton when I sighted this girl having a quick cigarette. Embodying a Parisian chic meets St. Marks NYC 80s rock sentiment, her look strikes a perfect note of feminine softness and tough punk.

Name: Mila
Occupation: Model
Dream Occupation: None for now
Hometown: Holland
What song defines you? "'Baby Bitch' by Ween or 'Do You Think I'm Sexy?' by Rod Stewart"
Where was your longest day of shooting? "I was on a shoot in Athens from 1pm until 3am in the morning."
How did you find yourself at Pianos tonight? "We were gonna check out the Mötley Crüe show but saw that it started at 6:30pm. We didn't think that was very rock and roll so we decided to come here."
What's your drink of choice? Jameson.
Where do you usually hang out on Monday nights? "Mama's at 3rd and Avenue B. Next to the fried chicken place."

Laid back cool at B.East - East Broadway and Essex

BBlessing is the type of men's boutique that any girl from NY walks into and wishes her man would shop there. Flawlessly curated, the store features masculine yet well tailored pieces. The shop hosts a monthly party at the subterranean lounge B.East where employees spin a nostalgic mix of feel good music from The Cure's "Close to Me" to Ghost Town DJ's "My Boo." I chatted with the creative director of BBlessing in between tracks.


Name: Daniel
Occupation: Creative Director at BBlessing and Jewelry Designer for Surface to Air
(Daniel@BBlessing.com)
Hometown: Seattle
What are you listening to right now? "New Mogwai and the new Melvins record."
What would your last meal on earth be? "Pho from this shop on Orchard and Broome. I'd be eating my last meal with chopsticks."
Tell me a secret. "Come by the store and ask. I give out one a day."

Still Life at Orchard Street

After having a yummy soy cappucino with a friend near 1st and 1st, we decided to head south cross the great divide that is E. Houston and Delancey Street where I peeped this guy on his iPhone.
Name: chaseBRANDON
Occupation: Shop clerk at Still Life. "Most people have big ass heads. We custom make hats here."
Dream Occupation: Personal stylist.
Where did you buy the shoes? "Somewhere on Broadway. I collect sneakers."
Tell me about your ideal footwear. "Something with a high top. Comfortable and that I could tuck my jeans into."
What's on your ipod? "DJ Raedawn Quixote."
What's good? "Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights at 205."

Nolita - Spring & Mott

Last night I was standing outside of Shebeen, a favorite Nolita bar of mine when I spotted this gentleman leaving his store. I mustered up the courage (i.e. had consumed a ginger martini and two basil gimlets ) to ask him if I could snap his pic before he sped off on his Vespa.
Name: Victor
Occupation: Director of Design at Roberto da Carrara
Dream Occupation: Livin' it
Hometown: New York
What's the last thing you put in your mouth? A glass of red wine. Negromaro specifically.
My favorite...thing to drink is wine.

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