Fashion At Her Fingertips

Yuna Park is the only Nail Technician on the prestigious creative management agency Streeters New York roster. A few years ago manicurists began gaining credit for their work in magazines and at fashion shows, listed in editorial features right alongside the photographers, models, makeup artists, and hairstylists. Even among the limited number of name-brand nail painters in the fashion industry, Yuna's portfolio is a clear standout. She works with the top photogrpahers for all the top publications and while perusing her pics, I realized that any of the shots I've admired in the last few years simply for their manicures have been done by Park.

Christina Ricci's yellow paint job for Another Magazine? The black tips on Guinevere van Seenus in that Mert & Marcus shoot for W? Julianne Moore's inches-long red talons? It's all Park's work and it all adds something vital to the final product.

Head on over the the Streeters website to view the images above and Park's full portfolio.

In a While, Crocodile

As we walked down flashy 5th Avenue last night and ogled recession/reality-proof window displays, my friend Rosangela said that her one pie-in-the-sky fashion purchase would be a Hermes crocodile handbag. It turns out that a Hermes bag is no point and purchase item. Each bag is handcrafted skin to final stitch by the same skilled craftsperson. With hundreds of man hours required and only the most precious materials used, the bags are slow to arrive to any purchaser. Wait lists are notoriously long and prices are super-pricey. The luxury bags are serious business.

Well, at least Rosangela will have plenty of wait time to save up the few thousand the bag will cost her. Good things come to those who wait. And save.

All of the Things Fit To Knit

There's a new crafty, indie kid in my neck of the woods (that's Jersey City, y'all) and it's a Knitting Cafe called Stockinette. They offer great coffee, home-baked pies, knitting classes, and all the yarn you could ever yearn for.

While virtually contemplating beginning a knitting class, I came across a few items that people have knitted that step way outside of the bounds of the scarf, sock, sweater circle.

Knitted chairs.


Soft ice cream.


A sweet sugar-free cupcake.


Knitted poo. Well, what do you think happens when you eat knitted ice cream and knitted cupckaes?

I bet I can convince the super-cool owner to teach me how to knit cupcakes and chairs. I won't even ask about the other stuff. I'll let you know when the class is...

Get Schooled: Holiday Makeup Lesson

There is literally no excuse for not knowing how to do anything anymore. You can YouTube tutorial your way through sewing on a button, shaping your eyebrows, learning French, or Cha Cha-ing in heels, which are all essential fashionista skills.

You can also teach yourself how to do a pretty face of makeup just in time for Holiday parties. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a little old-school glamour. A red pout with some cleanly lined eyes is the most gorgeous makeup look a girl can go with. It creates a classic face that flatters anyone, and it's simple. Ok, well it may not be that simple if you don't know how to do it. Here's a makeup lesson from the Makeup Geek. She goes a little heavier than I may recommend, but she still covers the basics:

See, you have a computer? You have makeup? You can be glammy too. And you can save yourself the sinus trouble of breathing in huge gulps of perfumed air at the makeup counter if you learn how to DIY this face. Godspeed and remember, less is always more (unless we're talking about fresh baked bread. mmmmm)

Deep Cut

The Knife is one of my favorite Swedish electronic music duos (what? There's a lot of them out there!). I love the brother and sister's techy, atmospheric sound. I love songs I feel like I could live inside; songs that create a certain environment, a sonic landscape. Karin Dreijer Andersson's vocals definitely bring me to another place.

While the lead singer and her brother tend to disguise themselves as otherworldly creatures and crazy characters for photo shoots, they definitely enjoy making videos. In a solo collaboration with the group Royksopp, Karin lent her unmistakable vocals to the song "What Else is There?". She also lent her angelic beauty to the song's video:


I love the platinum locks and the untied tie. She looks like a hip Nordic snow fairy taking a detour through the dark alleys of the netherworld. Yep, that what she looks like. The Knife are currently on hiatus, but when they come back I'm sure crazy costumes and great videos will again flourish.

Model Citizen: Helena Christensen

If I were the type to make overreaching superlative statements, I'd definitely say that Helena Christensen is the most dynamic model to have emerged out of the supermodel-saturated '90s. With a Danish father and a Peruvian mother, Helena's integrated genes produced some seriously sexy, exotic features. Her dark complexion, green eyes, and full figure were enough to propel her into the spotlight and keep her there for nearly 20 years.

Christensen has always been more than a pretty face, which makes her even more beautiful. She was a photographer before she was a model and started posing to pay for her photo trips. In 1999 she co-founded Nylon and served as the indie mag's original creative director. She's opened Butik, a Chelsea-based housewares and clothing shop with a vintage focus. She's friends and creative collaborators with Michael Stipe and Bono, and co-designs an eponymous clothing line. Simply put: She's a talented lady.

Today Christensen's latest photographic works go on display at the Dactyl Foundation. The show is called "Far, From Close" and features a wide array of the model-snapper's landscapes and abstractions. With an eye for angle and a penchant for perspective, the images share an isolationist vibe and get a heavy dose of texture from Helena's blurred aesthetic.

One/One-Thousand: Hedi Slimane

Hedi Slimane shows the January Dazed and Confused readers that he's a talented man. On stands December 18th, the mag will feature the clothing designer/photographer's incredible photos as well as essays, and covers created by and focused on young Londoners. Silmane's portfolio, is pure energy and beauty.

























Youth in all its glory. These photos are the filmic love child of Bruce Weber and Inez & Vinoodh.

Kitties Got the Beat

You can't wear this post, but you can watch it over and over again like I have and feel better about the world.

I actually find the gray and white kitties on their black and white couch to be purrrrfectly gorgeous.

Play With Your Fashion

Visionaire is a quarterly fashion publication that changes themes, formats, and contributors with every issue. There is a core team of editors and creative directors, including the fabulous Cecila Dean, who conceive of each issue and choose collaborators. Always featuring the work of brilliant established and upcoming artists with a fashion focus, Visionaire has managed to stay innovative and current even after 17 years and over 50 issues. Although I can't afford the $675 annual subscription cost, exploring back issues in their online gallery is a free taste of the couture mag's conceptual, cool fun. Lucky NYC'ers can also get their hands on the real issues at the Visionaire Gallery located at 11 Mercer St which houses back issues and stages exhibits related to the current issue.

Their latest issue is entitled Surprise! and is composed of a limited edition series of pop-up books from various artists and fashion world luminaries, including Sophie Calle , Solve Sundsbo, and Cai Guo Qiang.

The coolest thing about Visionaire, in my humble opinion, is their constant embrace of the new and their innovation. They've had issues you can taste, smell, light up, and wear. They play it so cool.

Wake and Bake

Freshly baked, warm bread straight from the oven is one of those pleasures that can't be overstated. Schmeared with some softened, salted butter? Yes, please! In an effort to be resourceful and thrifty my friend Jenny and I decided to teach ourselves the basics of bread making. Yesterday we got up extra early and got our bake on. We did some recipe testing and baked four different batches of bread. My arms are actually sore from all of the kneading that was required, but we now have eight delicious loaves of bread between us for less than we would have spent on one and a half at the store. We also have a new title to put on our CV's: Domestic Divas.

All of the kitchen time (and the fifth batch of bread we could have baked straight off of my flour/water/dough dirtied jeans) made me crave a sweet little apron to rock the next time we get all domestic. I found a great site called Ballyhoo Vintage that has the cutest little aprons at perfect prices for budgetistas.

Ok, so getting messy in pretty, little, lacy, cute vintage fabrics might not be so practical, but there's enough practicality in bread making. Aprons add a little pretty to the nitty gritty!

Click any pic for ordering information.

Bust Out the Jams

Baby, it's cold outside. Or, at least it was cold outside until weird global warming weather returned. For the sake of the polar bears, I can only hope that the thermostat dips again and normal winter makes a come back. When the frost does return, you'll need some comfy sleepwear. Pajamas are one of life's little luxuries. Sure, you could slumber in that old "Brooke's Susperstar Bat Mitzvah!" tee and those old gym shorts, but puffy paint can be terribly itchy and you deserve a little comfort in these tough times. Here's a few PJ options to help sweeten your dreams on the cheap...

When I was younger there was a television commercial for laundry detergent that featured a woman trading in her own nightie for her husband's flannel pajamas. Ever since then, I've bee-lined for the men's section when I need a new sleepwear option. Cozy, over-sized, and soft (but not too soft! Are we not men?), sleeping in a men's flannel set is warm and a little hot all at the same time. These ones are $18 from Bill Blass and can be found at CrazyForBargains.com.


Slippers are pajamas for your feet. Keep the tooties toasty pre-sleep with these candy-striped booties from Old Navy, $15


One piece sleepwear is a personal favorite. I'm a tosser-and-turner and sometimes my PJ's turn straitjacket in the middle of the night. A onesie keeps things in place. Also makes me feel like I'm in Never Never Land and adulthood is an option, not an obligation. Get this union suit from Target, $19.99.

One/One-Thousand: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot

Mert & Marcus are a fashion photo team that make highly stylized, perfected images. Their work is always tinged with a hint of darkness, something a bit unsettling, or just too much. The images are always that strange brand of beautiful with an edge.















With backgrounds in classical music and graphic design, Mert & Marcus met on chance years ago to the betterment of fashionistas' lives everywhere. I love a dynamic duo.

Frog Shooting

I just found this video of Kermit the Frog's model moment in front of Terry Richardson's lens for a Supreme ad photoshoot.

I hope Kermie kept his pants on. We all know how a Richardson shoot can get. Does Kermit even wear pants? Well, whatever he has on, I hope he kept it on.

Because you can't have one without the other, here's Kermie's lusty lover Miss Piggy in one of my favorite makeup counter movie scenes of all time. Joan Rivers gives the golden-locked pig a touch-up. Well, it's more like a smack-up.

She actually does smack her while applying blush. Oh, dear.

Sales Pitch: Alice + Olivia, Prairie New York, Joey's Showroom

Penny pinching means many things to many people. Ask ten people to define a bargain, and you'll get twenty answers. For me a bargain generally requires a deep, deep discount off of already inexpensive items, but cheap is my favorite color. For others, a bargain is a dress formerly selling for $675 now going for $235. Still too rich for my blood, but who am I to judge? Sales Pitch tells you the stats, and leaves it up to you to decide what qualifies as a deal. Here's a round-up of what's on markdown tomorrow:







Get your less-than-wholsale shop on. Click a femme for more details.

New Feature: Sales Pitch

Here's the scoop: I'm going to surf the internets (golden every time!) in search of sales. Then, I'm going to pitch them to you. So get ready to catch some great deals and steals. Have some tips on where to get things below cost? Know any discounts other than the traditional five-fingered ones? Let me in on your secrets! I'm all eyes and ears...