I’m very proud to have Alex and Simon from the “The Real Housewives of New York” as friends, and I don’t think people have an opportunity to see just how wonderful, warm and real they are. I created this art-piece using lo-fi photography to give people a Real Day with a Real Family of New York.

Click here for some closeups of some of the photos used in this piece.

Recently, I read a newspaper article by Andrea Peyser (New York Post) regarding this year’s Fashion Week.

I didn’t really take issue with her caterwauling regarding the “good ol’ days”, as we expect to hear from the elderly. Nor did I take issue with the antiquated opinions regarding fashion, how the writer found it hard to adapt to the evolution of what is celebrity,  nor the fact that anything that wasn’t outrageously expensive was simply too jejune for her.

Rather, I took issue with the group of people that she calls “the Dregs”, those people who need to stand and wait for a seat at a fashion show. She regards them as losers, but in her dotage, she has overlooked exactly who these people are. “The Dregs”, as she calls them, consist of fashion students, budding stylists, and young, new designers that don’t happen to have the money nor the fame to be blessed with a designated seat. These are the people that have a true and real passion for fashion. These are the people who are driving the industry. These are the people that might one day become people whom she will need to kowtow to.

Let us not forget that Coco Chanel once tried to become a cabaret singer (it didn’t work out), worked in a tailoring shop, and the first store that she opened failed. Tom Ford dropped out of NYU and originally concentrated on acting in television commercials. And Thom Brown started off as a salesman in a Giorgio Armani showroom. These are the people that, in their early beginnings, she would have called “the Dregs”.

As she blithely dismisses “the Dregs”, she also dismisses the actual future of fashion. I wonder where, exactly, she thinks designers and stylists come from?

Chic Unique New York, in collaboration with Derek Warburton of Dereklovesshopping.com, will be co-hosting a cocktail party/shopping event at New London Luxe on Thursday December 10th. 20% of all proceeds from the evening will be donated to Housing Works charity!

Thursday, December 10th
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

246 8th Avenue
2nd Floor
between 22nd and 23rd street
212.414.9750
info@newlondonluxe.com

Housing Works recently had its ultra-fabulous Fashion for Action gala, co-chaired by Derek Lam, which Joseph and I, of course, attended! The VIP list was extensive, and included John Bartlett, John Esty, Derek Warburton, Simon Van Kempen, Richie Rich, Marisol Deluna, Loris Diran, Jeffrey Costello, Robert Tagliapietra, Jack Mackenroth and Peyman Umay.

The event was catered by The Works Catering, and the buffet they provided was superb! But the shopping, of course, was the best of all!

Designer treasures from Burberry to John Varvatos filled the aisles at supremely deep discounts. Shopping was intense, to say the least! The special silent auction items met with a lot of intense bidding. A few of the items up for auction were a Rod Keenan custom hat design experience, a Kara Ross ultra-luxe python clutch, an Arlene Carenio necklace, and a Christian Dior handbag.

We’re looking forward to next year’s Fashion for Action, and the upcoming Design on a Dime in 2010!

More pictures can be found by clicking here.

Last week, Joseph and I had the opportunity to attend the opening for the second Second Time Around in New York at its new Upper East Side location. The event was hosted by Alex McCord of the Real Housewives of New York, and was attended by Derek Warburton of DerekLovesShopping.com, as well as the other Housewives of New York.

The event itself was marvelous, and we were pleased to see the very chic VOGA Wines sponsoring the event. (I myself am a fan of their sparkling pinot grigio.) We were impressed by the designer fashions as well as the great bargains to be had, and highly recommend that you pay a visit to Second Time Around!

Click here for more pictures!

Yesterday, we had an opportunity to attend a live auction of Early American prints at Housing Works. It was pretty exciting, and a number of items quickly went for well over $1000! Here are a couple highlights of the bidding.

You wouldn’t normally think of a thrift store as a place to find fine art, but then again, Housing Works Thrift Stores aren’t your ordinary thrift stores!

The auctioneer for the event was Kathleen Guzman, and special thanks go to Daile Kaplan, Nicholas Lowry of Swann Galleries, Eric Silver of Lillian Nassau, Joyce Jonas, and the entire staff of the 23rd street store for making this event a success! Thanks to everyone’s work, Housing Works raised about $40,000!

This is our very first venture into video for Chic Unique New York, and we look forward to bringing you even more video of upcoming events, fascinating people, and everything else that’s chic in New York!

Last week, Housing Works hosted their kick-off party for Fashion for Action.

Numerous designers were there, including Derek Lam, Marisol Deluna and Rod Keenan.

The full set of pictures can be viewed here, and below are some of our favorites!

We recently had the opportunity to view Kara Ross‘ latest collection of accessories, jewelry, purses and clutches. It was, as always, a delightful experience! What I particularly love about her designs are the rich textures that she uses. Every piece seems to have an organic lovliness about it!

You can see more pictures by clicking here, but below are some of our favorites from the collection!

Ever focused on improving the lives of others, designer John Bartlett and his partner John Esty hosted an intimate charity sale at their home in the West Village. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Trevor Project, a suicide outreach program for LGBTQ youths.

The event featured countless beautiful items from his collection, including a number of gorgeous one-of-a-kind runway items. With prices cut up to 80% off, the event was perfect for the budget fashionista with a heart!

Adding to the festive spirit of the event was a generous donation of gin from Bulldog Gin. This particularly smooth gin was expertly served with lemonade to make a refreshing summer drink to match the shopping frenzy.

They opened their hearts and their home, and we happily opened our wallets in reply!