Yet another fabulous NYC opening!

Alex McCord, of “Housewives of New York” fame, hosted a celebrity-packed cocktail party yesterday evening celebrating the opening of “Second Time Around” at their new Nolita location. “Second Time Around” is a designer consignment shop selling luxury goods that run the gamut from Ralph Lauren bags for around $30, to Yves Saint Laurent shoes for around $270, to Chanel coats for around $5000. Indeed, there was fashion and luxury to be had in every shape, size and price-range! The company is originally from Boston, but Alex, as their consultant, has brought them to our New York City doorstep. In an economy where luxury goods are becoming less and less affordable, stores such as “Second Time Around” are a blessing to the New York budget-conscious fashionistas

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As always, Alex was absolutely charming to all her guests, who were eagerly purchasing treasures left and right. And if fashion wasn’t enough, there was also Voga Sparkling Pinot Grigio, Salontea, and sweets from the Cupcake Stop truck on hand to gratify everyone’s sweet tooth. By the end of the evening, all the guests found themselves well-refreshed and absolutely glowing from the nirvana of shopper’s bliss!

Celebrity guests were in abundance for this event. John Bartlett, head of menswear for Liz Claiborne, fellow “Housewife” Kelly Killoren Bensimon, “Project Runway” vet Kevin Christiana, and celebrity stylist Derek Warburton from “Derek Loves Shopping”, among others, all came by to view the merchandise and lend their support.

In addition, Derek Warburton collaborated with “Second Time Around” owner Jeff Casler and Alex McCord in featuring his own line of clothing in the store, with a portion of the sales from that evening’s event being donated to “The Bottomless Closet”. “The Bottomless Closet” is a New York charity that helps disadvantaged women gain economic self-sufficiency by providing career development, training, and business clothing. But Derek is more than just a donor to “The Bottomless Closet”. This prêtre de mode is also the host of “How to be Derek Fabulous”, where 20 underprivileged women are given beauty and style makeovers with Derek and guest celebrity artists from the fashion world. They also receive gift bags containing products that will help them after the event is long over. He is truly proof that fashion cares, and can be both life-enhancing and empowering.

More pictures from the event:

On Sunday June 21st,  Mr. Garou and I were invited to attend S.O.S. (Shopping on Sunday), celebrity stylist and fashion correspondent Hal Rubenstein’s first annual charity sample sale, on Fire Island. Benefiting the Fire Island Pines Arts Project & Fund, this celebrity packed sale was a spectacular success. Among the stars at Mr. Rubenstein’s event was not one, not two but THREE Project Runway veterans, who were showing snippets of their collections to the shoppers at hand. Many people will remember Stella, whose hard edge leather creations caused quite a stir on the show. She brought to the Island something rare for the summer season (although not really), leather and metal studding. Her sexually charged runway showing brought roaring applause! The detail in the stitching and the metal studding made her pieces wearable works of art. The other Project Runway-er, Malan Brenton, wowed the audience with his chic, feminine creations suitable for the closets of the many socialites attending. Again, the attention to detail was not lost on anyone in attendance. Soft fabrics, combined with elegant tailoring, equaled fabulous results. The third designer was Emmett McCarthy, whose hot men’s bathing suits and elegant ladies’ cocktail creations also brought a round of applause. These three emerging designers are going to hit the world of fashion hard!

Other attendees worthy of mention were designers John Bartlett, accompanied by his partner John Esty, and Ron Chereskin. Both artists generously donated to the cause and graced the event with their presence. The list of donors ran from A to Z in the fashion and design world, and included such worthies as Jonathan Adler, Calvin Klein, Fendi and Carolina Herrera, to mention a few. It was huge success and I look forward to next year’s sale.

Having arrived to the Island on Saturday afternoon, Edward and I did a little exploring, being that this was the first time we had ever been to Fire Island. In the town of Cherry Grove where we were staying, we found a truly unique “green” shop. “It’s simply Green”  is the first and only true “green” shop on the island, and is located at 160 Main Walk. The purveyors of this brilliant idea are Patrick Fratellone, MD, developer of G Force (a green tea dietary supplement), and Rick Byrd, PhD. They offer everything from soaps and lotions to “green” sex products and pet supplies. This couple also owns a vitamin and nutrition shop in Manhattan on 57th street called Longevity Nutritionals, Inc.

Having a “green” shop on the Island is exceptional, but the fact that this couple also runs the Elmer A. Lindsay Memorial Medical Center is truly amazing. This center offers donation-based medical assistance on the island to anyone regardless of their ability to pay or lack of medical insurance. Although there is a medical facility in the Pines, this charity is run solely by a group of physicians who volunteer a week of their time working at the center, and rotate throughout the summer. Dr. Fratellone found it alarming that many of the people visiting the island didn’t have medical insurance, so he and his partner strive to make this center function with the nominal donations they receive. Just recently, in fact, Dr. Fratellone saved a man’s life who was experiencing heart issues. Without this center, the man would have quickly perished. Of course, most serious medical cases have to be helicoptered to the mainland, but these two heroes have been able to obtain major medical equipment at the center, which can give a patient a fighting chance, and can mean the difference between life and death. These are two truly amazing people! They’ve also come up with some truly ingenious ways to offset the costs of the center. Last year, they were able to get over 50 drag queens to donate recipes. Combined, these recipes were sold as “Drag Queens Can Cook, Recipes To Sync Your Lips Around”, a whimsical cookbook. All the proceeds from the sales of this book go to the running of the medical center. This year’s project is said to be a “Fire Island Pets” book featuring the many pets that are brought to the Island every season. I would like to thank Patrick and Rick for generously giving us a copy of the cookbook, and for the amazing work that they do on the Island. They truly are unique individuals!

Some of the shopping at S.O.S.:

The fashions of the runway show:

What do you get when you mix one part classic menswear designer, one part generic menswear line, recession proof pricing and beautiful tailoring? A superbly elegant concoction that is “Claiborne by John Bartlett”!

On Wednesday June 17th, legendary New York based menswear designer John Bartlett celebrated the launch of his new Claiborne line by hosting an intimate cocktail party at his Seventh Avenue boutique. His personal retail space, where one can normally purchase his eponymous collection, was revamped into a “Claiborne by John Bartlett” Pop-up shop just in time for Father’s Day. Here, savvy shoppers can purchase stylish, well-tailored clothing in bright summer colors for recession proof prices. This ain’t your dad’s Claiborne in standard beige poly-blend! John has infused his brand of clean, deconstructed tailoring into a line of clothing that once induced a collective yawn in the fashion community. For years, Claiborne menswear built its reputation (and has since lost it) on clothing that was generic, standard issue department store menswear in generic, standard issue colors. Now, bright colors and rich textures are par for the course. I believe, though, that the best way to describe this collection is a quote by John Bartlett himself taken directly from the tags of his merchandise: “A breakfast meeting, contract signing, movie date, dinner date, ‘take the Mustang out for a spin’ date, get a haircut, get a girlfriend, get a compliment, woo your wife, give the kids a piggyback ride, dress with a bit of genuine refinement.” ‘Nuf said!

Being compulsive shopaholics, Ed and I could not leave the party unless we purchased something, therefore, we each purchased a beautifully tailored white summer chintz blazer priced at $188.00. A STEAL!!!! Bright colored polos in stunning orange, pink, blue and green will set you back $39.50. Bright pink, blue and green dress shirts with stylish white colors will cost you $69.50. The clothing is true to size, and some pieces in the collection are very democratic in cut and go up to an XXL. This is just a small selection of the incredible merchandise available at his shop until June 22nd, and coming soon to a department store near you.

On hand to show their support (and shop) was John Bartlett’s partner John Esty of ‘Esty Framing’, one of NYC’s premiere framing studios. New York based clothing designer Peter Som. Hand bag designers Rafe Totengo of Rafe and John Truex of Lambertson Truex fame (one of my favs!!), both New York based designers. Menswear designer Jeffrey Banks. Former president of the Counsel of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and design legend Stan Herman. Senior Vice President of Production and Programming at the Bravo cable television network, Andy Cohen. “Project Runway” season 4 veterans Kevin Christiana and Jack Mackenroth. “The Housewives of New York” power couple Alex McCord and Simon VanKempen and fiery “Housewife” Ramona Singer. Celebrity stylist Derek Warburton, and a host of other fashionistas and celebrities. And last, but certainly not least, John Bartlett himself, whose genuinely sweet disposition makes purchasing any of his merchandise that much more satisfying.

For further information on the Claiborne by John Bartlett line please visit claibornebyjohnbartlett.com.

On June 3rd, 2009, celebrity stylist and television personality Robert Verdi joined forces with Housing Works for the filming of an upcoming episode of Robert’s reality show, which is scheduled to air in the Fall of 2009 on LOGO. “The Robert Verdi and Friends Event”, in which Robert generously donated over 30 cases of his personal clothing (about 500 pieces) to the charity, was kicked off with a celebrity packed cocktail party

at the Chelsea location of the Housing Works Thrift Shops. In addition to Robert’s personal donations, his celebrity friends, menswear designers John Bartlett and Steven Alan, hat designer Rod Keenan, home design guru Jonathan Adler, Barney’s New York emperor in residence Simon Doonan and celebrity stylists and designers Bobby Derek, Brian Boye, Collin Cowie, Patrick Doddy, Jamie Drake, Carson Kreesley and Nathan Thomas, also donated from their extensive closets and personal collections. The end result: A store filled with designer clothing and accessories to drool over.

Rod Keenan, Eddie Garou, Marisol Deluna, John Bartlett

The event raised over $12,000.00 in sales that evening, which is phenomenal for a Wednesday at a thrift shop in this bleak economy. But Housing Works isn’t just any thrift shop, it’s a savvy shopper’s paradise! At any given time, a person could walk out with an armful of designer clothing and vintage

delights. The joy is in the hunt! On this night though, the select few invitees didn’t have to hunt very hard. Racks upon racks were filled with unique designer garments and accessories. I personally walked out with a pair of Valentino black patten leather and brown suede wingtip boots!! (swoon!) The invitation to the event was a mask of Robert Verdi’s face, and is truly one of the most unique invitations I have ever seen (see picture). It was quite an enjoyable evening and Housing Works and all parties were delighted!

Invitation from the Robert Verdi Event

Although this could be viewed as just another celebrity shindig in the metropolis of New York (surely these events happen every night, right?) I was especially proud of this particular evening’s soiree. It was a combined effort on my part and Robert’s marketing director, Patrick Clayton, to bring this to Housing Works in the first place. Robert admired Housing Works’ achievements in supplying housing, medication and job training for men, women and children who are homeless and living with AIDS and HIV in New York. I, having admired Robert’s ability to be everywhere at all times and look flawless while doing so, desired to have Robert somehow lend his fame and prestige to my charity, being that I’m on the Board of Directors of the Housing Works Thrift Shops.

The beginnings of this event came out of the realm of the truly jaded. I was originally introduced to Robert Verdi and Patrick Clayton by our mutual friends John Bartlett and John Esty (of Esty Framing) earlier in the year at an event for Bailey House, another one of Gotham’s prestigious charities. I was the third wheel of the Bartlett/Esty party that evening, as they had graciously allowed me to accompany them being that my cohort Mr. Garou was under the weather. As most people will do upon introduction to each other at such events (although no one will EVER admit to this… tee hee) Patrick and I

Housing Works display window for the Robert Verdi event

nodded, assessed each other and turned our heads to feign indifference (both Patrick and I would laugh about this eventually). A week later, I ran into Patrick at a mutual friend’s bacon themed birthday party (don’t ask!), and being in a less stressful environment, we were able to chat amicably and an impromptu brunch was planned for the next day. This brunch at Elmo (and the copious number of Kir Royals on my part) was the incubator in which the idea for the event was hatched. I could not have asked for a better end result! I will forever be indebted to Robert Verdi for helping Housing Works, and to Patrick for being a true friend!

For more information on Housing Works Thrift Shops please visit Shophousingworks.com for their store locations and online shopping. To learn more about the charity and its mission please visit Housingworks.org.

Looks like New York nightlife promoter Matt Tratner is taking the party to a whole different country!

This August 31st through September 7th, Matt will be hosting a getaway / party week in beautiful Mykonos, Greece!

Check it out at Steele Luxury Travel!

Having been to Mykonos personally, I can say that it’s DEFINITELY beautiful, DEFINITELY a party island and DEFINITELY worth every penny!

So check it out, and if you can, GO! Mykonos will not disappoint you!

I like this bag. I mean, I REALLY like this bag! Why? Because it’s the most useful bag that I’ve ever bought!

This bag, designed by John Bartlett, is the one that I use every day.

I can’t help but use it, because it’s so well designed! First, the bag has a flat base, which is great for keeping the things you put inside of it stable and flat. Things don’t tend to spill in it. In addition to that, it’s styled after a doctor’s bag, and has a very wide opening, which makes putting things into and taking things out of the bag very easy.

The flat base and wide opening also helps to maximize the usable space in the bag itself. So although the bag is very compact, as you can see in the pictures below, I can fit my mail, t-shirt and shorts, lunch, digital SLR and bag of random stuff easily inside of it!

Another nice thing about the bag is that since it’s designed to look like a doctor’s bag, it has a very masculine feel to it. It’s a really nice change from bags designed for men that are either messenger bags, or feminine looking murses.

I hope that he’ll make more of these bags, because I would DEFINITELY buy more of them without hesitation!

Matt Tratner has been hosting some amazing brunches at Ono in their back garden. Not only is the setting absolutely lovely, with cozy nooks and plenty of relaxed outdoor seating, but the unlimited mimosas and bloody marys until 1 pm don’t hurt either! The environment is definitely relaxed, and the french toast is quite good. I would definitely recommend a stop by to check it out!

In the Garden of Ono, Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm!