Boot-y Call

Edited by Ann Marie Trietley, Factory Girl

There is always one particular item that I’m lusting over, and it sends me off  on an endless search to find just the “right” one. Right now, it’s a pair of badass ankle combat/ military boots. The perfectly battered and beaten pair, in just the right shade and material, can be hard to find. Hey, I’m picky! I browsed the Doc Martin Web site, but all of the patterns and textures seemed a bit too much to me, even though they are the originals.

 I mean, I already own  more than enough pairs of boots, but when I caught a glimpse of these by Bess,

Bess boots, $407

 I gasped in delight. The studs! The worn-in vintage leather! The roll-down tops that would pair well with jeans and tights! I picture myself sporting them with just about everything, until they become the perfect extension of myself and my signature footwear. Plus, they are unisex – ideal for a rock n’ roll couple to share.

SHOP Bess: Thigh Tights, $396

Edited by Kirby Marzec

My leather binge strikes again! Leather leggings are all the rage right now, and leave it up to the designers at Bess to make a pair worth every penny. Bess’ thigh tights are a cotton lycra pant with stretch lambskin leather, thigh high legs. The stretch stitching and seems at the knees make these leggings not only fashionable, but comfortable and resilient!

Get it at: Ssense

SHOP: Bess x Converse At Aloha Rag

Edited by Corey Moran

Bess is really good at taking your every common day product, adding some well planned out studs, and making it totally badass. I’ve never been a big Converse guy (they really hurt my feet), but I would totally rock these.

LOOKBOOK: Bess Fall 2009

Edited by Kirby Marzec

Even though my style is slowly digressing from that grungy rocker look, I still find myself drooling over the items from Bess. Although the lookbook for Fall 2009 is nothing terribly new, (leather, studs, zippers and skin) these high quality items never fail to impress me. Check out what Bess has in store for this season:

THE TEN: Best NYC Stores You Might Not Know About

Edited by Hillary Frazier

Sick of waiting in long lines only to find that generic store in SoHo has ran out of your size?  We’ve made a list on stores we love, and that you may have missed.  We’re sure that some of you fashion peeps already know about these wonders, but we want to let everyone else in on the secrets:

Cry Wolf- Located in St. Marks (111), this boutique features goods for men and women from awesome designers such as: 80%20, Chronicles of Never, Creative Recreation, S2Vs, Jeffrey Campbell, Gram, and Nudie.  Find the best shoes, accessories, and clothing from your favorite indie designers worldwide, without having to scour through tons of internet sites.

Inven.tory- Located at Lafayette and Spring, get GREAT deals (outlet pricing) on emerging designers, and catch up on the latest trends! Inven.tory’s inventory changes weekly, so stop in frequently to make sure you get the best stuff! They don’t have a site quite yet, but you can check out their blog for all the latest news about the store, and what you should be wearing.

Gargyle- Located on Orchard near Canal (16A), this store is aiming to revitalize the country club lifestyle, and features designers like Vena Cava, Fred Perry, Karen Walker, and Surface to Air (among others).  They claim to love ‘golf, tennis, concerts, and parties,’ so if you fit into any or all of the above, or just enjoy ‘anything that lets us have fun with our family and friends,’ check out Gargyle.  Shop online if you must, but to get the full country club party experience, you have to stop in!

In God We Trust- They’ve got three stores in town, 265 Lafayette, Ludlow btwn. Stanton and Rivington, and 135 Wythe in Brooklyn.  Stop in for the sickest jewelry, antique and new, as well as fun, adventurous clothing that brings out the vintage nature in everyone.  Check out their site for previews, and stop in to get the real treasures.

Tokyo 7- Located on 7th St. btwn. 2nd and 3rd Ave, this consignment store offers limitless designer goods, everything from Prada, Gucci, D&G, Miu Miu, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Heatherette, and 5Preview.  Save on anything you could possibly want, and enjoy the ever-changing stock. No site available, sorry to all of you non-NYC natives.

Love Brigade- Located at 230 Grand Street, you’ve probably heard us talk about Love Brigade, but we want you to love them as much as we do.  They sell their original line Love Brigade, a diffusion line (ex.oh), as well as an experimental line (As We Are), as well as selected pieces from other great indie designers.  Stop in and say hi to our friends, and get some awesome clothes while you’re at it!

Assembly- Located on Ludlow btwn. Stanton and Houston, this store is just for the boys (with the occasional women’s accessory filtering through).  Get new and vintage clothing and accessories from the greatest collector in town, with tons of foreign labels and indie stuff, too.  There’s even a vinyl section in the back, so you can get your music and fashion all in once place!

Valley- Located on Elizabeth btwn. Prince and Spring, the ultimate experience in one-stop shopping.  Enjoy looking through clothing from avant-guard designers, and favorites like Grey Ant, Lady Leisure, and Caroline K, and also enjoy the skin, nail, and waxing salon, and a cafe.  This store really has it all, check it out as soon as you can!

Kiosk- Located on Spring St. btwn. Broadway and Mercer, this isn’t exactly a clothing or accessories store, but they sell a bunch of random trinkets and other goodies that would be great for a DIY project.  If you’re in one of those moods to look for something, but you aren’t exactly sure what, head over to Kiosk.  Plus, they’re right next to that window that sells the mini cupcakes, which is awesome.

First Among Equals- Located at 177 Orchard, this store sells 0044, Bess, Dunlin, Michel Berandi, and more (just for guys).  First Among Equals has recently opened a dark downstairs that you enter through a narrow spiral staircase, and enjoy a private shopping feel with handpicked clothes from designers, offering a rare flair that you won’t find anywhere else. Check out their site for up-to-date sales, but don’t miss out on this unique shopping experience.

What’s your favorite store in New York City?

SALES THIS WEEK

Edited by Saynt

The Who: Save Fashion – Men’s Week