Month: February 2012

The Little Museum That Could – South Street Seaport Museum

Signs in the window in case you forgot where you were.

If you’re not familiar with the Seaport Museum, you should be familiar with the drama about it’s tragic story and eventual rescue by the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY). To sum it up, the Seaport Museum is one of the many museums in NYC, but the only one that explores its nautical trade history.
Friday I decided to check it out and I was blown away. First of all, I had heard about the museum being shut down due to money issues and lack of funds. Not to mention the rumors about it being sold for prime realty. And I was ecstatic as the rest of New York when the Museum of the City of New York took over.

Metal baits hanging like artwork.

For model boat lovers they have plenty of ships in bottles and larger replicas on display.

It wouldn’t be a Seaport Museum without ships in bottles.
Close-up of one of them

What impressed me the most was how MCNY treated the museum. As far as my knowledge and pre-MCNY, the museum could not afford renovations much less upkeep.  Post-MCNY they decided to take its Miss Havisham’s appearance and make it part of the museum itself. You go and notice the walls, the doors, the windows, and the glass paneling (to preserve the old construction), in addition to the exhibits on display.

Graffiti protected behind glass.
One of many doors that no longer serve function.
Local designers work

This is selection is out of 2500 in the Seaport’s collection.

Photography by local artists.

They even include designers’ work on display.

Reminds me alot like h. Naoto Gramm
Original building work intact with a ghostly mannequin.

The museum itself is made of 3 floors where each one feels like a maze, zigzagging in rooms like a kid exploring the attic with a flashlight.  The exhibits were a mix of the Seaport’s relics and collections, there artifacts from the Fulton Fish Market, a room with a “small” selection of tools used by workers when the port was bustling with ships.

Some of the many tools used in shipbuilding.

Old-fashioned dryer.

Antiques of the tea trade.
Relics from the Fulton Fish Market.

There is also a photo gallery on the 5th floor of a selection of photos taken during Occupy Wall Street when it was at Zucotti Park.

I could just be fangirl over the organic curation of the museum or it was really just that cool to know it was originally a hotel built in 1850. The best part? Admission is only $5 and can be used at the Museum of the City of New York (within 7 days of course).

The Seaport Museum
12 Fulton Street
New York, NY 10038

Cupcake of the Week: Georgetown Cupcake

I did manage to see a notecard that said “New York Cheesecake” flavor.

My original intent was the show you actual Georgetown Cupcakes and report back on how good it was. However judging by the line it was probably good, if not popular. 

For inquiring minds, Georgetown Cupcakes is a DC-based cupcake shop that opened up a New York location in SoHo. If you like lines then head to 111 Mercer Street (between Spring and Prince Street) and report back.

Runway Looks, Lolita Style – Ralph Lauren

Images via NYMAG

Ralph Lauren is sophisticated, clean, and European. So I suppose it’s know no wonder why he decided to use the theme to Downtown Abbey for his runway music (which I’m now desperately trying to find the video of).

Even without the video I can imagine the collection fitting with the music nicely what with the tweed and wool and lots of use of hats.

Anachronistic motorcyle outfits make a periodic outfit modern.

And I do love his use of menswear as womenswear.

A night at the opera or smoking lounge?

Periodic fashion is one of the core inspirations for Lolita.  Plus I love vintage, so this coordinate is inspired by a growing collection of vintage items.

Cloche from Strawberry – $25
Vintage jacket – $20
Vintage scarf – $10
Victorian Maiden blouse – $209
Metamorphose Tweed skirt – $100

Runway Looks, Lolita Style – Zac Posen

Images via NYMAG

Asian inspirations seems to be an ongoing theme. Zac Posen focused on Japan with dresses with stiff styled obis, folds and incorporated it into the more fitted looks he’s known for.

I’m a big sucker for Asian styled prints, and Posen uses peonies a bit.

Peonies symbolizes riches.

With the model’s hair styled in a slick bun with stiff swallowtail-like feather accents, Zac Posen made you feel like it was pre-war Japan.

Peekaboo shoulder sleeves suit her.

 
Unlike Jason Wu, I’m not going straight to a Wa-Lolita outfit. Instead I took kimono-like tops and layered them with a Chained Bouquet skirt.  The emerald green jacket plays off the jewel-tone colors I’m seeing in a lot of the collections.

Emerald Green Jacket – $10
Kimono shirt – $10
Kimono black sheer blouse – $60
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Chained Bouquet Skirt (red) – $80

Cupcake of the Week: Butch Bakery

Cupcakes gone commando

Sometimes dudes want cupcakes too.  However I doubt you can find a macho man going into Magnolia Bakery solo to order a baker’s dozen. 

Butch Bakery solves this problem by spiking the batter and dubbing his creations “Jackhammer”, “Big Papi”, and “Beer Run” to name a few. 

Butch Bakery is NYC-based, and currently taking online orders only. 

What Lies Beneath: Victorian Unmentionables 2/18

There’s a lot that goes into a Lolita outfit, but the things that make or break an outfit is the bloomers and petticoats. And a good petticoat can make your Lolita

“What Lies Beneath” takes a look at what was actually underneath the bustles and the skirts and possibly why men were attracted to table legs.

On Saturday, February 18th, Christine Scott will be speaking about Victorian ladies other wardrobe and the actually process of dressing. There’ll be tea and cakes and lots of talk about underwear.

What Lies Beneath: Victorian Unmentionables
Saturday, February 18th, 2012
7-9PM
Our Savior’s Atonement Lutheran Church
78 Bennett Ave, New York, NY

(212) 923-5757

Runway Looks, Lolita Style – Ruffian

Images via NY Mag

Lolitas should look towards Ruffian. There design concept is very Victoriana and very vintage (not retro) chic. And lots of tweed and wool.

I like this collection because it harkens to Sam Spade movies and the mysterious woman looking for a detective to solve her mystery.

Leather and tweed really sells the outfit. But the blue fedora takes the cake.

I’ll be honest Ruffian’s fall collection is an excuse for me to post outfits with fedoras.  However the outfits are stunning and I’m attracted to ready-to-wear that fits my personal style (not neccessarily Lolita, but works both way the same).

This coordinate was inspired by Ruffian’s ability to use one item to make the whole outfit pop – whether it is a gold belt on a all blue outfit or bright blue fedora on an all black outfit.

Bodyline heart jacket – $50
Mastina Blouse (from Hong Kong) – $10

Metamorphose Tweed skirt – $100
Angora fedora – $20

Runway Looks, Lolita Style – Jason Wu

Fu (Wu)Manchu – Images via New York Magazine.

If you are unfamiliar with Jason Wu, he is one of the designers that Michelle Obama often wears. Also his collaboration collection with Target just came out and sold out (to the extent that a Florida couple bought the entire stock).

His designs are often very simple, but statement-worthy.  Originally I had planned to do a piece on Rag and Bone with their gradient hues, but I was blown away by Wu’s designs and the strong influence of Chinese royal regalia and Forbidden City (the entrance doors were inspired by palace doors!).

While most people may not understand the history symbolism behind it all, people can harken back to the pop culture archetypes of Fu Manchu (played by Christopher Lee no less!) and the infamous “dragon lady” (a sexy but fiesty Asian woman).

Wu’s power suit for the typical dragon lady.

As an Asian-American, it’s hard to embrace your culture without being a typical stereotype. It’s often like going uphill on a down escalator. Eventually you just have to accept your culture and incorporate it into your life.  Wu’s designs are solely him as a fashion designer and him showing his Chinese pride.

Maroon is definitely a color to use for fall.

Lolita fashion is all about breaking stereotypes, as well as embracing them. Qi-Lolita is a style that is influenced by the Chinese cheongsaam. A cheongsaam is a fitted silk dress with slits at the side with a mandarin-styled collar. It was developed in the 1920s and has become iconic with Chinese culture. 

Cheongsaam/Qi Pao whatever you call it, it’s still fashion

Incoporating cultural elements and Lolita is very difficult. Done right, Qi-Lolita (based on the qipao; not to be confused with Wa-Lolita, which is based on the kimono) can be very cute.  Kidsyoyo’s design one of the tasteful versions I’ve seen that’s wearable as fashion, and not totally seen as a costume. This style comes in red and black (a popular color combo in general for the original style) or pink and brown.

Always Lolita.

Runway Looks, Lolita Style – Richard Chai

via NY Magazine

New York Fashion week started today. And like a fashionable New Yorker I’m ecstatic to know the trends for fall be. Unfortunately since I’m not one of the elite, I’ll be watching via Youtube, NYTimes Style section, and New York Magazine. 

Taking it one step further, expect to see recreated looks from collections that could easily be translated into Lolita fashion.

First up Richard Chai. Sleek, Sophisticated with a corporate, but playful touch.

Outfit could be easily incorporated in Lolita

Chai’s collection featured alot of stripes and toned down colors (gray, blue, blacks, and maroon, lots of maroon) – both of I’m a big fan of and what stood out for me.  Most of all, all of it looks like you could walk off the runway with a good portion of the collection.

Favorite out of the fall collection

“I didn’t want to create looks that were just for the show. I wanted it to be approachable and believable, but also be really aspirational. At the end of the day, it’s pieces that I want people to wear.”

And here’s my own take on the first picture.

Rundown:
Angelic Pretty Classic Regimental (black) pants $180
Gray shirt from TJ Maxx $15
Eggplant corduroy jacket from JCPenney $30

If you’re big into Fashion Week and love creating coordinates feel free to email me at lolitaandthecity (at) gmail (dot) com.  Include a picture of the collection you’re trying to model along with a picture and description of your coordinate (at least one item should be Lolita-related). Also why you chose the designer.

Who knows, it could be featured here!

Anne Rice Signing The Wolf Gift 2/16!

Anne Rice is one of my favorite authors. One of the greats before the Twilight phenomenon. And while I was one of the skeptics when she wrote her last Vampire Chronicles book, “Blood Canticle,” and swore she would never write about them again.

She then wrote about the life of Jesus, a memoir, and then about Angels.

Now she’s taking the next step into werewolf territory with The Wolf Gift.

It arrives on Valentine’s Day for all the lonely hearts who need to curl up with a good book. And if you’re in the Tri-State area, Anne Rice will be signing her latest book on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the Barnes & Noble in Midtown Manhattan at 12:30PM.

I recommend calling ahead to see how B&N will structure the signing – whether they will have wristbands for guarantees or if there is a set number they’ll give out.

Either way, you will be reading a good book.

Anne Rice’s The Wolf Gift Book Signing
February 16th, 2012
12:30PM
555 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-697-3048