Lifes Rich Pageant

Ridiculous

As the fiasco that is NY Fashion Week draws to a close we are offerred a new Chanel bicycle for $12,000. Envorinmentally friendly maybe, fugly definitely. Although I can imagine some I know will be very desirous, and that is sad for them.

Number (N)ine

Japanese designers seem to currently have a passion for Americana.

Yesterday ambling around Tribeca after visiting the disheveled perfection of Stevan Alan, the ultra cool Thom Browne and the surprisingly cutting edge preppy of the new J Crew Mens store (in the old Liquor Store ala CBGB's), we arrived at Number (N)ine hidden away like a gem in North Tribeca.

Here Japanese designer Takahiro Miyashita has drawn inspiration from the Pacific Northwest - infact Portland Oregon. Previously his creativity has been driven from many iconic American sources. Curt Cobain and Johnny Cash were cited as inspiration for a recent collection of grunge layered texture and print in black and white (that looked like 80s Japanese meets Boy George run through a plaid wringer).

His fall 08 collection now in the store “My Own Private Portland,” (hello Gus Van Sant ala Curt Cobain) draws specifically on the fantastic Ace Hotel in Portland. In fact his Paris show opened with an Ace Hotel voicemail message and Portland-made Pendleton wool blankets (the same ones found in the Aces Hotel rooms with the Thompson elk motif) were folded on each seat at the show. They are also available at the Number (N)ine NYC store.  See the entire collection here.

Miyashita incorporates many American classics like distressed leather jackets, suede coats, letterman jackets, 70s cardigans, all layered wonderfully in mix-n-match glee with vests, zip-cardigans (the suede-front cardigans are killer), and yes, the grunge classic plaid shirts but only in context of an assortment of print shirts. And every piece has been updated and detailed to make it completely contemporary.

I especially love the sneakers and the wooden glasses frames.

Ever since this highly cultish, street-inspired Japanese men's line opened shop on a quiet back street in Harajuku, a youth-catering district of Tokyo equivalent to the Lower East Side, Takahiro Miyashita has set his sights on one thing and one thing only—going west. So much so that only months after its western debut in Paris six months ago, the label has opened up the gorgeous Tribeca store based on century-old carriage houses, the kind used to house horse-drawn coaches on their way to distant outposts. Complete with a wood interior and conspicuous displays of velvet, all I can say is Miyashita and Number (N)ine is somewhere I want to spend my money this fall. Check it out.

Gen Art New Garde

Fashion Week comes around again, wher's the year goin? Started the week of frivolous air-headedness with the Gen Art event held at Chelsea venue Waterfront - typical raw brick and polished concrete former warehouse.

No runway show, just three static performances of just so so collections - no realk "New Garde" here.

So we hit the vodka cocktails and started to relax a bit, enjoying the crassness of new york's fashionista's. We looked very drunk by the time Joonbug got to shoot us.