Jeans on Notice

Don’t fret; I’m not going to talk about yet another trendy denim brand, just the best one. Notify jeans are quickly becoming the go-to brand of highbrow designers and fashion insiders worldwide for straightforward, fabulously fitting jeans.

This coming season designer bigwigs Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld are respectively teaming up with Paris-based denim label for their signature jean collections.

But there’s nothing new about Notify. In fact, I’ve often seen these jeans humbly hanging in some of my favorite boutiques but never gave them a try. Why? Perhaps the concept of trying “another” pair of jeans was daunting or perhaps I’m just too obsessed with J Brands right now to think about another label. (I have been toying with idea of going flare, but after retesting my ultra-ripped True Religions I had a horrifying awakening of my public image just a year ago.)

Still, with enough jeans to sustain a ranch in New Mexico, my next step is to scoop up a pair of Notifys. You truly cannot go wrong with these trousers. They are straight cut, tailored and classic- perhaps the perfect solution to an inundated market of skinny and stovepipe jeans.

Final Word: If Karl and Stella choose them as their best denim, it’s time I do the same for my wardrobe’s sake. After all, a girl never has enough jeans. Available at Ludivine, NYC or www.notify.com

The Buzz from B and b

If you need to get your mop trimmed or rather, completely re-styled, have I got the guy for you.

Book Aaron Pursell at Bumble and bumble Downtown. He is young, talented, a total up-and-comer, and still charges less than $100 for a haircut (pretty unheard of in this town).

He has consistently given myself and several friends "the best haircut of our lives." I strongly suggest you get on his client roster before it books up completely.

And for any of our hipster readers, there's a special bonus: free bang trims.

Final Word: Bumble and bumble, 415 W 13th Street, 8th Floor. 212.521.6500.

So Soleil

A friend of mine is an eyewear designer in Paris and I just received these shades from him today. With their delivery conveniently coinciding with this absolutely gorgeous weather, I am pretty pumped to rock them.

Perfect for me with a pair of short, biker-short-esque leggings, a loose white t-shirt and my bright red patent-leather flats. Yes.

The designer is Thierry Lasry and he sells his collection here in New York at Gruen Optika, a chain of chic optical stores located throughout the city.

Unlike the “designer” sunglasses we are all familiar with—licensed eyewear lines having nothing to do with fashion houses like Chanel, Dior and Gucci---these shades are not mass produced in China. These are real deal handmade in France beauties and everyone should own a pair.

Final Word: View the collection on his website or dip into Gruen and check them out for yourselves.

If You Can't Save the World, Just Save Friday Nights

The tone amongst all of our girls has been the same lately, we want to go out, but we don’t know where to go. We are very much over our existing options, but at the moment no one seems to be bringing any new ones to the table.

I had a post about the dismal state of New York nightlife kicking around in my brain for a while, but knowing me, it was bound to become too long-winded, intense and hater-ious for anyone’s blog-reading pleasure, so I will do you the favor and spare you.

As another weekend approaches, the landscape looked bleak. Then I received the invitation above.

It just so happens that one of our friends is throwing a Villains & Heroes-themed birthday party at Arena on Friday, and I am all over it.

Normally, I would also hate on Arena (even though I have never been), but I am feeling particularly positive today, so I won’t. Plus, our boy DJ Berrie will be spinning so its bound to be a crazy dance party.

I should probably mention that back in the college days, The Blackberrie first made a name for ourselves by consistently hosting the craziest theme parties Boston had even seen, so we have a particular fondness for them.

Theme parties work for a few simple reasons:

In the too-cool-for-school society where kids constantly think they have somewhere better to be, theme parties keep the crowd focused, stationary. I mean, if your rocking devil horns and a cape (at the VERY least) chances are you are not going anywhere else.

In addition, putting on a costume only heightens the notion of escaping yourself and your daily life, which is pretty much the reason people go out and get drunk in the first place.

A foolproof approach in my book. Bravo to Will for stepping it up.

Final Word: One costume party will hardly cure New York of its slump. But there’s something to be said for creativity, however silly.

Our First Event Ever!

Hope y'all can make it!

Everyone Loves Aniston

On April 14th, Jennifer Aniston will be presented the Vanguard Award, the highest accolade given by The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

The award, to be presented at the 18th annual GLAAD Media Awards, comes to the actress after her much-talked about on-screen kiss with Courteney Cox in the season finale of Dirt, the defunct drama both starring and executive produced by Cox.

I am sure the kiss—which drew over 2.4 million viewers—had everything to do with Aniston’s dedication to a fair depiction of gays and lesbians in the media, and nothing at all to do with snatching some ratings for the offensively awful drama, or the re-positioning of Aniston as a sex symbol while her ex-hubby is off playing house with the most smoldering woman alive.

I thought two hot girls pretending to be lesbians to garner some attention was defamation against the gay community? But what do I know.

Final Word: And to think, J. Lo has been dancing her little heart out at the Gay Pride Parade for all these years. Some girls have all the luck.

Bowie, Beauty, Culture come to Meat Market

I live in West Chelsea and work on Little W12th Street. My walk to work down 10th Avenue consists of parking garages, gas stations and the morning outpouring of New Jersey into Manhattan. When I reach Washington Street, blood-covered butchers shout “hey pretty mamaaaa” as I dodge the parade of pig carcasses passing through the street.

So, needless to say, I am all about the beautification of the way West Side. Thankfully, a ton of celebrities are too, so things are actually getting done.

Last spring, when the High Line Project was unveiled—the city’s plan to turn 1.45 miles of abandoned elevated rail structure into a park—Kevin Bacon was there to cut the ribbon.

This spring, David Bowie will curate the first installment of the The High Line Festival.

Taking place May 9-19th in venues throughout the city, The High Line Festival is a “ten-day mash-up of music, film, comedy, visual art and performances.” Ticket sales will benefit Friends of The High Line.

As the curator and event co-founder, Bowie has been asked to choose acts that he would go out of his way to see. Arcade Fire, Deerhoof and stand-up by Ricky Gervais are just a few to appear on the line-up.

Each year, a different “world-class artist” will curate the event. The High Line is slated to open in 2008.

Final Word: As the downtown Whitney Museum continues to go up on the corner of Gansevoort and Washington, will the clubs subside as the culture moves in? Perhaps the neighborhood that’s been ruining our lives will actually enrich them.

Revealed! Kate Moss for Topshop

We're convinced.








































Final Word: In Barney's early May...better start camping out now.

The (un)Fashionable Man

Sweater vest? Check. $300 jeans? Check. Tweed jacket and slanted fedora? Check, check.

The wardrobe of today’s urban male is as predictable as Sanjaya’s vocal performance on American Idol. These days, guys have 2 choices: Dapper Dan or Hip Hop Harry. Thanks to style icons (or rather their stylists) Justin Timberlake and Pharell Williams…men have uniforms for each tendency. But just as these celebrities’ styles have become tired, seeing it on the streets is almost unbearable. Truth be told, if I see one more lower east sider with a printed handkerchief worn around his neck with a brand new fitted Braves hat, I may hurl my Momofuku noodles..like the last guy I saw in that look, I think he was 9.




It seems that men (the American sort) simply do not know how to dress without plagiarizing the pages of GQ, Details or Justin Timberlake’s latest video. It’s sad really. Especially when you see that their Parisan counterparts (who look no older than their early 20s in pics) have a fresh sense of fashion and innate style that retains its masculinity and simultaneously rivals a majority of girls in NYC.


I’m not saying guys should start emulating David Beckham, but a little ingenuity would be nice. Especially when we girls make such an effort. Perhaps Mr. Gwen Stefani provides an ideal example, mixing streetwear and fashion in perfect proportion.

Final Word: With stores like Nom de Guerre, Reed Space and Dave’s Quality Meats churning out the same kicks, chains and clothing they've been for years, the future of menswear looks bleak…that is until Tom Ford reveals his homme-inspired line later this Spring. Come on Tom, show us what you got. (Photos Courtesy of ELLE.com)

Good Night

We all have our own version of the nightcap. For me, its 4 a.m. avocado sandwiches from Moonstruck (wait, that’s not a nightcap). But typically, your last drink of the evening should put you to bed without further ruining your morning.

InnLW12—the most recent venture from the owners of Double Seven and newest resident of Little W12th St—believes they have created such a cocktail.

The Maple Leaf.

1 and ½ ounce Whiskey, ½ ounce fresh lemon juice and ½ ounce maple syrup. Shake, serve rocks and garnish with a lemon.

The whiskey will ease you into REM while the maple syrup makes you long for a morning you actually want to wake up to.

Final Word: With such close proximity to Tenjune, take home a Maple Leaf rather than that flirty 21-year-old. We’ll all feel better in the morning.