On the corner of Bedford and N7

Here's an experiment for you, granted it's probably easier if you life in a fashionable neighborhood like Williamsburg, but I'm pretty sure it can work just about anywhere.

You will need:
A camera (even a cellphone one will do)
10 free minutes

Pick a crowded spot, like a busy cross streets or a square or even a shopping mall exit.
Stand in the spot for 10 minutes taking photos of people and what they wear.
Go home and look at the photos, and figure out what of people's personal style you like and dislike and what can be incorporated in your own personal style.

It was a very cold day, and 10 minutes was all I could spend outside without freezing, I was surprised at how many interesting shots I manage to take in 10 minutes!

I love those boots, but don't think I could personally pull this off, however, the balance of loose boots and skinny jeans is very inspiring.

Smile is the best accessory. Also, casual vest over dress shirt looks effortlessly chic! 

Love the reverse fur trim jacket, and the subtle color trimming. It looks warm without having that all over fur jacket look. What I especially love is the combo of olive green + caramel + a little bit of red.

Strange but cool bulky leather and fur jacket,  army boots and tight.  love how funky this outfit is. 

Very clever way to look formal and keep warm, and still comfortable enough to carry equipment around. Sneakers + corduroy pants + dress shirt and tie + scarf and a big puffy jacket worn OPEN!

I love the way she broke the frumpy potential of a fur coat with washed out jeans, beanie and heavy boots. 

Those 2 are just so Brooklyn.

Love the reversed shearling vest over a simple T-shirt and under a wool coat. Good way to layer without looking bulky or feeling trapped in one's coat. 

Great boots, which balance the bulkiness of winter cloths. 

All is fair in love and war

And in keeping stylish through a long cold NYC winter.

what to wear to a fashion shoot?

The obvious choice would be to answer "Something fashionable", however that is mostly wrong, shoot days are often very long, working and running non-stop, eating on the go and trying to get twice as many shots done in about half the time. So the answer is, wear something comfortable, but if you manage to allso look stylish, you get extra points...
 

Winter Prints

Are you as sick of winter as I am? Not only the weather is cold and I can't really go anywhere or do anything outside, and not only I had the flu and not only I'm cold all the time, I'm truly and utterly hate all the cloths I own and can wear at the moment.

It has to be heavy denim and it has to be a parka and layers and boots. And the worst thing is that winter colors seem to end at Black, Gray, brown and Navy blue (with some maroon and hunter green for the brave).

What's the solution? Prints prints and prints!

I got to go shopping real soon.

Keeping stylish in the cold

With a very cold front last week and an upcoming blizzard this weekend. Most of us just go for parka-jeans-Sorel boots every single day. But there are some pure souls New Yorkers out there finding creative ways to dress up stylishly and creatively to keep the rest of us from dying of fashion boredom.

RASP

One more (and last) favorite vender from the Project NYC trade show is RASP, a couple of weeks ago. This is a couple designers working from DUMBO in Brooklyn - again, double score for being local and tripple score for being a couple. 

The jewelry they make, mostly rings, is very dark middle ages fantasy inspired, and have a wonderful roughly handmade quality, as if made in days before technology. It reminded me of Game of Thrones 

Bellocq Tea

One of the nicest thing about my Project NYC experience was that usually those shows have just cloths in them, but this one had a couple of stalls with more lifestyle brands - a hair salon, a company that makes glasses, a nice girl who makes sketchbooks and this handsome gentlemen from Bellocq tea.

Since we love tea, and this display was so inviting, we went over and talked for a bit. This company's based out of Greenpoint (I love supporting small artisans who lives in my area), they started in London and moved to NY, and been going pretty strong since.

Since then I've been trying to place a tea order 3 times, one for us and one as a special gift, however, I got overwhelmed with their selection and never managed to complete my order.

Business as usual

One of my favorite cafes for both working and people watching. for many of the residents of Williamsburg, Toby's Estate is a cross between a meeting room, and office and a leisure time spot. The dress code is somewhat like a casual Friday - some people dress for work, and some dress for fun with any variation in between.

Cool Chino, workman boots and a leather bomber jacket, for a casual yet sharp look  

Stripped long T-shirt and a knit gray blazer - perfect no effort work look

Cute pleet polkadot skirt and a preppy cardigan  

Oversize Sweater and what might ave been a writer block. This guy looks very artistic to me.

Rolled up loose jeans and no sock booties is one of my favorite sharp yet effortless outfit tricks.