Fashion Night Out, Anyone?

My partner-in-crime & bad influence of a best friend (and by bad, I mean really good), Miss Alex D., and I are taking on NYC Fashion Night Out tonight.

Street cred: This is Glamorous

This is the 3rd year this event has been going on (exactly how long I've lived here), and I am shamed to admit, I have never gone. UNTIL NOW! This is because (and only because) the event seems to always fall on my damn birthday. But today is September 8th (not the 10th), so I'm venturing to do it right . . . with Alex.


Hopefully we'll see you on the road, but if you don't live in NYC, I will do my best to document our journey. Stay tuned . . .

If you'd like to take the Venessa/Alex route
[At Your Own Risk]
Here's where we're going:

1. JCREW
99 Prince Street

{6-9 PM}

Jenna Lyons will be there?? Oh, be still my heart. And there will be cocktails, very very nice. Apparently, if you spend $150 (basically a pair of panties there), you'll receive a free FNO tote.


2. ADAM by Adam Lippes
211 Elizabeth Street

{6-10 PM}

I think someone I went to school with is hosting this event (Tracy Antonopolous) . . . hm . . . that might be reason enough to go. Also, there will be music by The Knocks and custom-made charm bracelets given out to guests.


3. Marc Jacobs
163 Mercer Street

{6-10 PM}

It's a Marc Jacobs carnival! Shoppers will receive a limited-edition MJ Tote, there will be special appearances (perhaps by him??) and Sofia Mini champagne cans served. Need I say more??


4. Zara
580 Broadway

{7-10 PM}

There will be a celebrity DJ, a decadent champagne bar, and Polaroid fun. I'm there.


5. Michael Kors
101 Prince Street

{6-11 PM}

Music, champagne, shopping (I'm sensing a pattern here . . . )


6. Kenneth Cole
595 Broadway

{6-11 PM}

In-store performance by Parachute, and Kenneth himself will be there! And it says (and I quote): "DJ M.O.S. gets the room jumping!" Well, that's reason enough, right? We'll see. I just want a free customized T-Shirt. More cocktails too.


7. Express
584 Broadway

{6-11 PM}

Supposedly, the cast members of America's Next Top Model are going to be there from 7-10 PM. Do I smell a disastrous catwalk? MAYBE! "Light bites and mocktails will be served." What the hell is a mocktail? Better not be what I think it is . . .


8. DFV Soho
135 Wooster Street

{6-11 PM}

Cocktails and hor d' oeuvres Because at this point, the girls gotta eat! And if that's not enough, there's a custom Flipbook Photobooth. Dangerous.


9. Chanel
139 Spring Street

{6-11 PM}

Chanel has created a nail polish exclusively for this event. So if you buy it ($25), you get a free mani on site. Niiice.


10. Banana Republic
550 Broadway

{6-11}

Enjoy refreshments some more and peruse the Fall collection.


Oh boy.

Two Words . . .

Eyes + Lips

street cred: Fashion Filth

street cred: pixiwoo.com (Check out their video tutorial)

when it rains, it pours . . .

I don't hate the rain.

And not just because I get use out of my Hunter Wellies,

but I really love the calm that comes with the storm.

I just wasn't as prepared for the storm that hit me today

(and this had nothing to do with the weather).

I would tell you about it but I haven't sorted it all out yet in my head yet.

I haven't talked about it because I don't know how I feel. Well, I feel like shit. So that's not true.

Anyway . . .

Right as I was about to step off of the subway at Franklin Ave.,

I finished the last pages of ONE DAY by David Nicholls

(no, I haven't seen the movie yet but the book is one of my all time favorites. Thank you, Laura)

and I came across the right passage at the right time.

This, I will share with you:

She began walking again, south towards The Mound. 'Live each day as if it's your last', that was the conventional advice, but really, who had the energy for that? What if it rained or you felt a bit glandy? It just wasn't practical. Better by far to simply try and be good and courageous and bold and to make a difference. Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you. Go out there with your passion and your electric typewriter and work hard

at . . . something. Change lives through art maybe. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things.

Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance.

(pg. 433 in case you were interested)

Chin up.

Found Object : An Old Windowpane

I think I'll start a section on the site entitled Found Objects, since I have found my calling: collecting junk and turning it into gold (OK, maybe I'm getting excited). This is also to prove (to a couple friends of mine and Paul) that I am not a hoarder and I do, in fact, make something out of the "treasures" I find outside.

Point in case:

It's a . . . distressed picture frame/chalkboard/shelf thing. ha.

Here's what I used to make this:

1. a found windowpane

2. sandpaper

3. a paintbrush

4. a shelf of some sort

(in my case, a wood plank I found outside)

5. screws/ screwdriver (or you can use a drill)

6. a sample size of multi-surface paint

7. chalk board spray paint

8. a bottle of champagne (it's a special ingredient)

Here's what I did:

Step 1: Clean the dirty window

(I'll let you figure out how you want to do that one)

Step 2: Sand every surface you'd like to paint over

(first with 60 grit-paper and then with 80)

Step 3: Spray the glass with the chalkboard spray

(you can find this at any hardware store)

I chose to designate two squares for the chalkboard.

You're call.

Note:Let it dry before you continue.

Step 4: You get your distressin' on.

To do this, you have to water down your paint

before lightly coating the wood. Get it as light

or dark as you want it. And let it dry.

Oh! I almost forgot the most important part!

Use the sandpaper to make the frame look worn.

Use your artistic license here.

Step 5: To add a shelf in the middle of the windowpane, secure brackets on either side to hold your wooden plank.

Hang it up as you would a picture frame.

Tada!

And there you have a much cooler way to keep a grocery list and hold . . . pretty things.