ODD Kofta Screaming Backpack

KOFTA SCREAMING BACKPACK, designed by Konstantin Kofta, is hand crafted using modeled lambskin leather and features a screaming face emerging from the bag.

RETAIL:
$957.00

AVAILABILITY:
The KOFTA SCREAMING BACKPACK is available for purchase EXCLUSIVELY at ØDD

ØDD
164 Ludlow Street (at Stanton)
New York, NY 10002
646.559.0406
http://www.odd-style.com/

@ODD_NYC
@JUDSONHARMON
#ODDNYC

Preview from the Front: Sweetheart V-Day Deals at Wendy Mink

72 Orchard St.
Feb 10:  6-8p;
Feb 11 & 12: 12-7p;
Feb 13: 12-6p.

Pale pink bracelets from $8; photo-shoot worthy empress earrings for $95 reduced from $250 at this Valentines sale.

/nancy brenner

Narnia: An Oldie But Goodie Vintage / Resale

At 161 Rivington St. resides Narnia, a vintage/resale shop of utmost quality that I had not visited for eons.  While there's something earthy and almost Southwestern about it, it works in the big City.  They're having a super mega sale at 129 Rivington right now, but I'd skip it if I were you and go to the mothership, (with your bank account healthy and strong).

Also, on a sidenote, the guys at Change of Season in the East Village have closed up shop, gone to Italy and will be back in action on January 22 with a whole new monster load of last quarter's high-end couture for less.  Mark your calendars!

Now thru Dec. 12: Sample Sale at Wendy Mink

Gift givers packed this gem of a jewelry store for a preview of the sample sale at 72 Orchard St., which runs today through Sunday, December 12th. Tip - hustle your tray to the back room for treasures. Say hi to Cerena and tell them the Guerilla sent you.

~nancy brenner

Bijoux Box: Preview Wendy Mink Report From the Front

Need a break from mirror hoggers, nudity and prices that can send you back to Ramen noodle fare for lunch? The Wendy Mink sample sale proffers a dizzying array of baubles at this Orchard Street block beknown for bars rather than bargains of high-end necklaces and earrings. One-of-a-kind pieces crafted for production are mixed in with previous collections at prices as low as $5. Pace yourself as your tray of collectibles will quickly fill - smart shoppers should take advantage of this shopportunity to stock up on holiday gifts now.

Where: 72 Orchard between Broom and Grand
When: Starts Thursday 12-7 through Sunday.
 
~Nancy Brenner

LES: Every nook and cranny has a tailor...

...and I found one on a block better known for it's Streit's Matzo factory.  But this tailor could probably alter the shift on the Statue of Liberty, if she needed an adjustment. His name is Mustafa and I entrusted him with my sample sale finds - pegging a hem, raising shoulders, fixing an errant lining, all on one frock for a custom-made fit. He also fashioned a form-fitting top to slip under a wedding dress - a solution for cold-shouldered brides or those who don't have time to hit the gym to banish upper arm jiggle. Embrace your visions for a catwalk strut at Laura and Melinda (named after his two daughters). You can even drop by after work - open until 8 p.m. six nights a week, open 7 days.


137 Rivington St
(between Norfolk St & Suffolk St)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 228-4500

~Nancy Brenner

Klurk: 70% off pea coat

Jutta Neumann Closes Retail Location

So I had the sale card sitting right there on top of my microwave, and didn't realize that the reason for the "buy 1, get second 80% off" sale was due to the fact that Jutta Neumann is CLOSING the retail store on 158 Allen St. And now the sale is over. I am sad but not surprised as the last time I was in there we had a discussion about how oppressive retail rents are...

Anyway, it looks as though you can still buy the iconic handmade goods online. So do that instead.

Restaurant Review: The Stanton ANTI-Social

Located on Stanton Street on the Lower East Side of New York dwells The Stanton Social, a popular restaurant that serves a variety of "small plates" to everyone's delight. The theory is that sharing dishes, which arrive throughout the duration of the meal, makes for a very "social" experience, and thus the name of the restaurant, I suspect.

This sounds like a beautiful notion.

Except that my experience there this weekend was unbelievably anti-social, thus the clever little name I have rebranded this place with (The Stanton ANTI-Social).

My friend and her fiance invited me to meet them there, so that we could have a drink and catch up. When I got to the restaurant, they were about finished with their meal, so I sat next to my friend on the "booth side" of the table. Suddenly some guy with short, wavy brown hair, who we later learned is the manager, came over and said, "this is NOT a three-person table, you can NOT all sit here." So my friend's fiance agreed and we all nodded along as the manager-boy ran off. We then quickly started to complain amongst ourselves about what an uptight freak this guy was (and is, everyday of his life, I suspect). Not ones to stay where we aren't wanted, we asked the waitress for the check and continued on with our conversation while we waited for it. About 7.2 minutes later, the manager-lad returned to the table demanding, "ONE OF YOU HAS GOT TO GO." Again, my friend's fiance agreed, explaining that we were waiting for the check.

The check came, we paid, and got up to leave. As I was walking out the same manager-dude said, "thank you, gooodniiight!" To which I responded, "um, yeah, right." Then my friend stopped him and explained how that was the rudest most uncalled for experience she had ever had in a restaurant in her entire life and that we would make sure never to return and recommend the same to all of our friends.

Bummer that this guy didn't realize who he was unceremoniously kicking out of his joint.

A Very Sacco Birthday

I really like the store Sacco. Problem is, it's a little bit too pricey for me. However, they have some really spot-on shoes and accessories, two of which I treated myself to for my birthday this weekend (I went to the one near Union Square). Additionally, they a running a little promo right now; if you buy one item you get 10% off, two items 15% off, and three items 20% off. It's not a complete windfall, but it provides you that little bit of encouragement you need to say, "oh what the heck!?"

The first, as you can see, is a pair of black suede sandals. They look a little bit dowdy, I agree. Until you put them on! Then they transform into this comfy solution to all of your seasonal shoe issues. You can wear them with anything and well into the early fall. A score indeed.

Then, I purchased this leather backpack - mainly because my Chiropractor told me to. But also because it turned out to be about $300 cheaper than the one I was considering having Jutta Neumann make for me. (Jutta's handcrafted leathers are really wonderful, but the price tags are just too much for me to justify. If you can stomach them, I suggest you check out her store on Allen St.) Anyway back to the pack - I also do really like it. It's simple and goes with everything and doesn't make me feel like a dork for wearing it.

See what happens? You get a year older and start wearing "health-conscious" apparel. Sigh...

"Racked" Jabs Steve Madden

Racked, one of my favorite fellow shopping/retail blogs, has appropriately jabbed Steve Madden, and his (its?) new store on Ludlow Street: http://racked.com/archives/2007/10/01/now_open_steve_madden_on_rivin.php#more

I am not a fan of Steve Madden shoes. In fact, they annoy me almost as much as Skechers. Why? Because create and pimp cheesy "trend-of-the-moment" shoes in a low budget way that I feel cheapens the women who wear them. I also can't stand the word "Skechers" and will not allow anyone I know to purchase them.

There are a lot of stores downtown

A quick pontification generated in an email that I sent to a fellow shopping blogger in the New England area today: "I am stunned when I go downtown (Soho, Lower East Side) with the scores of stores. They seem to open up every other day! However, lots of them are not cheap and potentially a bit young for my mid-30-ness...but I guess I can't really judge until I go and check them out myself, live and in person."

And I shall do so.