NYFW: Day 2

Since most of my time was taken up with work matters on Day 2, the party didn't figuratively (and literally) start until I hit Robert Verdi's The Future of Fashion Twitter soirée yesterday at 5 p.m., which I tweeted for Honey Magazine (@HoneyMagazine on the Tweets).

In the morning, I had designs on trying out the new Mariah Carey "Forever" perfume at the special fragrance bar set up in the tents for it but my schedule and writing up the post on Day 1 got the better of me. The homie @ThisThatBeauty, who did go, reported that she was pleasantly surprised and found the perfume to be fairly good quality ("nice hints of tuberose"). I'm still working on getting a sample to try for myself . (Hey. It's Mimi, it's fragrance, it's a retro-fab, Elizabeth Taylor perfume-like bottle. What's not to try?)

Back to Robert Verdi's. You probably know Robert from all his styling and television credits (his new Robert Verdi Show on the Logo Network is a haute mess in the very best way: sharp yet whimsical, and utterly Robert), but he is also a leading and savvy brand ambassador with impeccable taste. I participate in his product launches because he himself vets everything, and genuinely believes in what he backs. Even if a product may not really be your thing, you don't feel as if it's being pushed on you.

What I also enjoy about working with Robert is that he's attracted to quality, period, whether it's a global company or a small, one-person operation. He exposes you to wonderfully innovative art and interior design ventures, in particular, such as 20x200, an online art gallery dedicated to connecting art and art lovers of all budget sizes. Founder Jen Bekman, who was on-hand last night to talk about 20x200, puts it this way on their site:

As we see it, there are a lot of people out there who want to sell their art and a lot of people who'd like to buy it. They just have a hard time finding each other.

Enter 20x200, which features museum-quality archival prints and original works for between $20 and $2,000. The walls of Robert's Luxe Laboratory space are a tasteful shrine to the variety of beautiful works available, and the quality is indeed top-notch. Here's a sample of their wares:

#51 by Kent Rogowski (A stuffed teddy bear turned inside out. Really inspired).

iSketch084 by Jorge Colombo

(Per the artist, "iSketches are drawn on location using an iPhone application called Brushes. No photo references, no tablets, no brushes to wash: just my finger on the tiny touch-screen." The light and subject feel like a gauzy take on Hopper, although the corner of Katz's Deli wishes it looked that sleekly noir.).

The Overachievers by Clare Grill

Hank Williams' Bed, Georgiana, Alabama by Scott Eiden

(From the artist: "I took this picture at the childhood home of Hank Williams, Sr. This was his boyhood bed, though the curtains were posthumously donated to the home [it's now a little museum/shrine]. The curtains were handmade and show the lyrics and music to the song "Your Cheatin' Heart." There's a really wonderful lady who tends to the home and the souvenirs and things. Also, once a year out back, they have a concert of people singing like Hank Sr.")

For much of the art world's posturing about freedom of expression and bohemian laissez-faire, it can feel incredibly restricting and elitist to the gen. pop. That's why 20x200 seems such a smart, sustainable way to connect artists and art lovers, especially for people who believe that owning quality art is beyond them in terms of means and access.

All of the above works are available online at 20x200. Thanks, again, Robert and Jen.

On to a fun, superficial little mention: I've brought out a war horse to haul my mobile office this NYFW. "The Gooch,"as she's known, was one of my very first luxury brand purchases after I graduated college in the very early 2000s. By 2009, I'd pounded her into near oblivion with all of the wear and tear I had inflicted: her corners were open wider than Paris Hilton's legs exiting an Escalade, the seams in her straps dangled in the wind, and her bottom had hit more floor than a Jersey Shore night of "beating up the beat." It was time to send her to a bag spa.

The good folks at Fordham Bag Repair (not in the Bronx - they're at W. 33rd bet. 6th & 7th in Manhattan) inflicted a handbag high colonic on The Gooch, and when I picked her up, I hardly knew her. Shiny new corners and straps, and a lining that no longer ate my spare change and hand lotion had taken years off of her. The repair took a bit over two weeks and cost about $200, but for a bag that I've had (and will continue to have) for years to come, it was one of the best investments I made in '09. I ended up bringing them my Louis Vuitton Speedy for similar repairs and it's now also fabulously refreshed and refurbished.

I highly recommend Fordham Bag Repair to anyone in need of major or minor bag/luggage fixing by a trusted, proven expert. They've also been mentioned in The New York Times, New York Magazine (how I found out about them), and Instyle. This Louis Vuitton rummage sale find ($25!) on the left is the next item on my list to take in. I'll do "before" and "after" shots so you all can see the difference. Visit Fordham Bag Repair online for their contact information.

The Shows
No show report for Day 2, unfortunately, as I'm running now to catch Vivienne Tam, the ARISE African Collective show, and the big NYFW Mixer for bloggers later tonight. I'll include some of yesterday's looks tomorrow with my Day 3 roundup.

As always, follow us in real-time on Twitter @realcurbappeal.

Image Sources: BellaSugar, Elizabeth Arden, 20x200

Classics: The Remix

At a moment in which many of us are focused on getting the best bang for our buck, classic pieces become even more treasured for their tried-and-true mileage and ability to come through in a pinch. Like blue chip stock, wrap dresses, LBDs, statement bags, trench coats, and go-to pumps are long-term investments that almost always pay off.

That said, classics are rarely impulse purchases, and normally take time and planning to successfully add to one's wardrobe. I know I'm making it sound like chess, but trust: when you're left staring helplessly at a pair of $300 lemon yellow suede keyhole booties you somehow convinced yourself at the time of purchase would be *the* shoe to cinch all the gaps in your wardrobe, you come to understand the value of strategic thinking.

We've all had our lemon yellow suede bootie moments, and I think what often leads us to them is not so much the desire to own a citrus-hued boot, but the shake-up from the routine that it offers. Much as we know that classics are a smart investment, let's face it: rarely does the appeal of picking up a sensible black blazer match that of buying something with a little bit of daring in its design. It's that daring that we're attracted to, and the idea that this piece will differentiate us from the Aldo and H&M-wearing masses.

To achieve a happy medium, start combining your twin desires for practicality and pizazz, and take some calculated risks on your basics. The trick is to find clothes and accessories with distinguishing details whose functionality isn't impeded by their flash. I find the "Can it go with a skirt and a blouse, as well as a pair of jeans and t-shirt?" litmus test extremely helpful in gauging many pieces' versatility and potential for outfit enhancement.

Add a satin lapel here, a patent leather finish there; a flash of animal print, a dash of ruffle. Folds, tucks, and asymmetrical hems can also add a flourish of difference. What's appropriate for daywear has now changed to include sequins, lace, and well-placed sheer panels--so take advantage of them in modified doses, too. Switch the color of your day-to-day bag from black to a rich navy, emerald, or chocolate. The possibilities for changing up your routine are out there in a wide variety.

The below slideshow is meant as a guide but there are some fantastic finds in there I'd cop in a heartbeat for my classics cache (the Vivienne Tam dress and Vivier flats are toying with my emotions in a very good way...).

Image Source: Shopstyle

Khirma Eliazov Mignonne Pouch

My recent piece on StyleHive about former Vogue market editor and up-and-coming handbag designer Khirma Eliazov featured one item that I have to shout-out again here on the Curb: this sweet little Mignonne pouch.

Erma, the fabu designer, was wearing it when I attended K.E.'s trunk show last Fashion Week, and it packs a pretty style punch. The entire line is made of some of the richest leather I've touched in ages, and the attention to detail is top-notch. This pouch is perfect to switch up your evening clutch game and it's easier to carry than the usual envelope silhouette.

Über-model Behati Prinsloo wore a Khirma Eliazov clutch to this year's CFDA Awards, and the label's been cited by Women's Wear Daily as one to watch. The Mignonne ain't dirt cheap at $495 but if you're in the mood to contribute to the economy stylishly, I highly recommend it. Hit up Khirma Eliazov online to cop.