Bronx Fashion is Red Hot

Hot Town, Summer in the City

Darren Wallace: Handbags & Subway Signs (?)

I just visited the incredible secret lair of Darren Wallace: handbag designer, interior decorator, industrial artist, and who knows what else he's got up his sleeves. If you want one of his bags - some pictured here - or if you're in the market for old subway signs that have been revitalized and fierce-ified with hundreds - nay THOUSANDS - of individual, hand-affixed crystals DW is your man. Check here for other items and contact info.

Subway Fashion: Sunday

Whilst trekking back uptown on the subway on Sunday, after visiting my real apt., which is about 85% rebuilt, I noticed a high level of interesting fashion going on around me. I wondered why....and then realizing that it was the Sunday after Thanksgiving, decided that it was probably full of actual New Yorkers. I.e. the tourists had all gone home and the NYers were all just returning from whence they came. Sorry to all of those out-of-towners who are offended by my NYC fashion snobbery, but 99 out of 100 times, it's the truth. I use the Sex and the City "scrunchy episode" as an example.


Anyway, the best spotting was a trio of young, very thin Asian girls who were each wearing tight stretchy jeans, Converse low tops or leather Airwalk high tops, and many layers of tops, jackets, and/or hoodies. The most interesting thing about their get-ups was that they were each wearing (real) fur "scarves" around their necks. To me, they were the epitome of modern urban street fashion. And no I don't have a photo, which is why I do this for free.

Unfashionable: Dowtown 6 during morning rush

If I have no other reason to move back downtown this would be it. The 6 train running downtown from the upper east side is one of the worst experiences of my life.

I made the grave error in judgment this morning when I decided to catch it at 77th St. Not only is it about 150 degrees down there, not only is the platform PACKED, but also each train that meanders its way down from 86th St. is 98% full - and nobody gets off the train at 77th St. during morning rush-hour to allow for more space.

So, today, I arrived at the platform at 8:31 a.m. and had to let FIVE trains go by before I could shove my way onto the sixth at about 8:53 a.m. Glad I didn't have to be at work at any specific time, because the old "trains weren't running" excuse is not readily accepted by those who don't take them. Especially from the UES.

Let us pray: Please God. Please let Laura move back downtown as soon as possible.