Fall 2011 Fashion and Accessory Alert: Peter Pan Collars

In versions ranging from oversized, prim, embellished, and even detachable, Peter Pan collars are popping up everywhere this fall. For a precious, good-girl look, style yours peeking out from a cute little cardi. Wear one embellished with beads, sequins, and jewels to go glam. Or, pair with black (see below) to give this darling detail a bit of an edge.

Peter Pan collars turned up all over the Fall 2011 runways. Here, versions from DKNY (right), Giambattista Valli (center), and Louis Vuitton. Source: WireImage

Here are a few of our favorite Peter Pan options available this fall! Hope you enjoy!

What could be more ladylike than this Alice + Olivia blouse, which pairs a Peter Pan collar with a peplum skirt:

We love how the volume of the peplum skirt perfectly balances the on-trend and oversized Peter Pan collar. Both these details make the piece over-the-top feminine. Finish with a metallic skinny belt (the belt is not included with the top) for a decidedly modern yet dainty look. The blouse is available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman for $198.

Replace your go-to black t-shirt with this Oasis top to add some sparkle to your wardrobe this fall:

At $64, this top will cost a little more than your basic black tee, but we think the versatility it will bring to your wardrobe is worth the extra cash. For example, you can wear it with black cigarette jeans for a more casual day-time look, or pair it with a flirty skirt and opaque black tights for a polished evening ensemble; the beaded Peter Pan collar will add that perfect pop of glamor to any look.

Speaking of versatility, a detachable Peter Pan collar is a great way to embrace this trend and incorporate it into your wardrobe without spending a lot of money.There are lots of beautiful and affordable options available on Etsy, including this lovely piece with purple sequined wings, $24, from artist IWillFly:

Another one we love (especially as styled here, with nautical stripes) is this black lace collar, $20 USD, from UK artist luminia:

Now, if you want to go in the opposite direction, and drop a ton of cash for a detachable Peter Pan accessory, Lanvin, Isaac Mizrahi, and Louis Vuitton all sent dazzling versions down the runway–but our favorite was this dreamy diamante style Chanel debuted for Resort 2012:

Sigh…a girl can dream, right?

Finally, we love the pointed Peter Pan collar in this cream and black dress from ASOS:

The sharper collar execution and sexy black mesh panels balance the soft color, pleated skirt and ladylike silhouette very nicely; what you end up with is a very sweet dress with an irresistible edge. Originally $82, this dress is now on sale for $45.

Lobster Roll “Research”: Best Lobster Roll in NYC

Trusty and I have some VIPs coming to town next week, and to adequately prepare for their visit we’ve been doing some lobster roll “research.” Our attempt to share the best lobster roll in NYC with our out-of-town gourmets led us to Grand Central Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station and Luke’s Lobster Shack’s new location on the Upper West Side.

First up was Grand Central Oyster Bar’s Lobster Roll Lunch:

Lobster Roll Lunch at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station

For $24 this lunch includes a giant lobster roll with two sides of sweet potato chips and coleslaw. If you’re a fan of the old school lobster roll (this approach tends to favor shredded lobster meat instead of big hunks, the lobster salad pays homage to Helman’s Classic Mayo, and it’s served room temp rather than chilled) than this is the roll for you.  The price is a little steep, but the serving size is generous (Trusty and I attempted to split it and still had left overs) and, what you’re paying for in part is the atmosphere. With it’s red and white checked table cloths, vaulted tile ceiling, dim lighting and no-nonsense wait staff, the dining room feels as though it’s frozen in the 1960’s. But it’s actually filled with the hustle and bustle of Grand Central terminal–you’ll see business men and women indulging in a cocktail at lunch, some tourists taking a break from being on their feet, and, appropriately, some old school New Yorkers who look like they dine there everyday. So, bring your wallet and your appetite and expect to enjoy a creamy, delicious roll as well as some excellent people-watching.

Our next stop was Luke’s Lobster on 426 Amsterdam (between 80th and 81st).

Luke's Lobster Roll

Luke’s serves their rolls Maine style, which is chilled with a swipe of mayo, a sprinkle of lemon butter, and a dash of seasoned salt (though you can order your roll without any of these, if you want). The other major characteristic of the roll is that it features large, meaty hunks of lobster, rather than a shredded lobster salad. Trusty and I agreed we preferred this approach, but I understand that this is a matter of personal preference.  I didn’t really go for the seasoned salt–for me, a good lobster roll is all about the lobster, and when it’s nice and fresh it has its own succulent flavor and sweetness that had to fight against the savory and salty seasoning to come through. However, Luke’s scored big points for chilling their lobster meat–not only does this help lock in the flavor of the meat, but it provides for a great contrast between the chilled lobster and the toasted bun. The other competitive advantage for Luke’s was their price; for $15 their roll was just as filling and much more affordable.

So what’s the verdict on the Best Lobster Roll in New York City? So far Luke’s and Red Hook’s lobster rolls are in the lead, but stay tuned as we complete our “research”–after all, this kind of project requires a thorough approach!

Maybe the Only Good Reason for this Hot and Humid Summer Weather

Dear Readers, I hope you’re staying cool during this particularly hot, muggy stretch of summer!

I wanted to share this photo with you, of a New Yorker in Union Square this morning creating a marriage proposal with beautiful, brightly colored bags of sand.

Sand Art Proposal

It occurred to me that on a windy, or even breezy day, this wouldn’t be possible–the sand would completely blow away.

Lindsey, wherever you are, we hope you say YES. This is may be the only good reason for this hot and humid summer weather!

It’s Personal: Target’s Proenza Schouler Knock-Off

Fashion blogs are buzzing this morning with knockoff accusations against retail giant Target.

Designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler are “disappointed”  with Target after learning about a Mossimo bag currently on the sales floor at Target that bears an uncanny resemblance to their own PS1 messenger bag.

Here's the original PS1, which retails for $1995 at Net-a-Porter.

This is the Mossimo version.

Hernandez and McCollough have dealt with knockoff and copyright cases in the past, but they’re taking this situation personally because of the collaborative relationship PS has built with Target. In the past, Hernandez and McCollogh created a Go International collection for the store, and, because of the recent Go International anniversary reissue, part of the collection is being sold now.

“So our product is in Target right now, and then this bag comes out,” Shirley Cook, Proenza Schouler’s CEO said in a statement to Cathy Horyn, author of the New York Time’s On the Runway blog. “It’s just disappointing, especially from someone we worked with.”

Here are the two bags again in brown:

The PS1 in brown.

Here is the Target version in brown.

As Horyn notes in her post: “To be sure, the bags are not 100 percent identical. The Mossimo bag ($34.99) is made of fake leather, while the PS1 ($1,595 for the medium-size version) is of genuine leather. The placement of the straps is slightly different, and the PS1 utilizes a distinctive fold-down closure in antiqued brass whereas the Target model has an ordinary turn-key closure. But other design parallels are hard to ignore.”

What do you think? Let us know–take our poll or post a comment!

Spring 2011 Trend Alert: Linen Shoes

Linen shoes are on our radar for spring 2011, and it’s no wonder–linen offers both sophisticated simplicity and versatility. Whether cream, navy, or black, linen is a crisp neutral that adds understated polish to any warm weather outfit, and as one of the lightest, most wearable materials it’s the perfect fabric for feet suffering from sweltering summer heat.

These vintage pumps from the 1940s, available on Etsy, capture the timeless charm of linen:

For an update on this classic design, check out these Nina Calhoun SS Linen D’Orsay pumps, on sale for $30.

These peep-toe Stuart Weitzman Lace-Up Booties, featuring adorable tweed linen with frayed edges, offer vampy schoolgirl style:

With sleek patent leather details, these black linen Manolo Blahnik heels have real elegance. Check out the tapered toe and the sophisticated Mary Jane strap. (They’re now 20% off on Bluefly.com!)

Finally, you can’t beat the sweet simplicity of these Stella McCartney flats, on sale for $178 at Outnet.com:

We love the gold flecks in the sand-linen blend and the sweet bows that make these casual flats girly and very chic.

What do you think?

 

Quick and Easy Plum Tarte

I’ve mentioned previously why I think of Ina Garten, better known as the Barefoot Contessa, as my kitchen fairy godmother–basically it’s because her recipes are quick, easy, and delicious. What better combination is there?

Anna Pump, who once worked with Garten and now owns the wonderful bakery, Loaves and Fishes, creates wonderful food following Garten’s no-fuss philosophy. Lucky me, Trusty’s mom and dad always stop by Loaves and Fishes when they go out to the Hamptons and bring us one of Pump’s amazing Plum Tartes…which I promptly eat in one sitting.

Unable to track Pump’s recipe down, I’ve devised my own, inspired by hers–it’s quick and easy to prepare (partially because I buy the crust, frozen)–and not to brag, but this tarte tastes as good as the original! Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 2 pounds of firm, ripe Plums
• 1/2 cup of creme de cassis liqueur (this is the secret ingredient!)
• a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Pit and slice the plums into wedges.
3. In a large bowl, mix the plum slices together with the sugar, cassis, and the squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Let the fruit sit in the bowl for about 10 minutes; it will begin to macerate.
   
4. Pour the plums into a frozen pie crust (or, extra points if you prepare your own!)
   

   Nothing wrong with taking a little shortcut...

5. Arrange the slices so they are skin-side down. If you are entertaining, you can arrange the plums in a “flower” pattern by beginning at the outside and working your way in. Or, just go with an organic arrangement–it’ll taste just as good.
   

   Go with a fancy pants flower pattern...

   

   ...or take the no-fuss route (just make sure the plum wedges are skin-side down).

6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the the crust is lightly browned and the plum juices are bubbling.
7. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature–enjoy!
   

   Sweet, juicy, and so easy to make!

Get Kate Middleton’s Issa Engagement Dress for Less

“Fetching.” It’s that elusive, slightly archaic adjective that, once upon a time, was used to describe young ladies with an ineffable beauty and charm. These days, fetching seems to almost exclusively apply to Kate Middleton–or should we say Catherine–who has become a bit of an “it” girl since her engagement to Britain’s dreamy-despite-balding Prince William.

The happy couple posing for photographs following the announcement of their engagement on November 16th.

For the royal announcement Kate wore an understated silk jersey Issa dress the same color as her beautiful new engagement ring, and we’ve been swooning over this fetching number–and the switch to her proper name–ever since. The dress was said to have sold out internationally only 24 hours after the announcement, back in November, and only now are stores receiving new inventory. If you’ve gone Issa-mad too, here’s some info on where to find the dress, and, a few places where you can get the look for less!

Always reliable Net-A-Porter recently added The Dress to its clothing line-up, where you can buy it (before it sells out again) for $535:

The Kate Middleton Effect (a statistical term) means this dress can "fetch" a steep price: $535!

British brand Tesco has made a much less expensive knock-off they’re calling the Pepita Dress, for 99 pounds (about $150 US). This viscose version captures the look of Kate’s silk Issa by featuring a deep V-neck, draping, and a wrap waistband:

the Pepita knock-off

BCBG’s version is available on Neiman Marcus’ Last Call site, where it’s marked down from $148 to $89 (sale goes through January 26th):

BCBG's version

For a flirty version of Miss Catherine’s dress, check out this shorter sapphire blue silk jersey wrap dress, featuring asymmetric draping–it’s on sale at FoleyandCorinna.com for $238 (originally $340):

If you have royal fever, check out this edgier version of Kate's dress. Hot!

For something more ladylike, consider this Calvin Klein stretch knit sheath dress, in the same stunning sapphire blue as Kate’s. It’s on sale at Bluefly.com for $80.10 (originally $128). The ruffle at the waist and pleating at the neckline are two details that make the dress very fetching:

Another Bluefly.com frock that looks Kate-worthy is this Wyatt royal blue jersey dress with a great twisted knot detail. It’s on sale now for $79.20 (originally $125):

We love the flattering pleating of this twist knot design.

If you want the easy elegance of an Issa dress without looking like you’re completely obsessed with Kate Middleton, try this slate gray one, which features a similar length and draping style to Kate’s.  It’s available at MyTheresa.com for $650.05:

Another dress that’s similar in silhouette and features flattering draping (but, differs in color) is this Sinclaire 10 Pleated Knit dress, on sale at Saks for $136.49 (originally $325):

 

This Sinclaire 10 knit dress has a gently pleated bodice and skirt that capture the elegance of Kate's look.

This Tibi dress is another Issa look-alike, in a deep jewel-tone purple, on sale at TheOutNet.com for $177.75 (originally $395):

We love the wrap effect of this Tibi dress.

It’s no wonder Kate’s style is spawning look-alikes left and right–what woman doesn’t want a dress that delivers her easy elegance. Miss Middleton, if being a fashion icon becomes one of your royal “duties”, we’re on board.

Spicy, Satisfying, and Inexpensive Korean at The Mill in Morningside Heights

Lately it seems like everyone in New York City has the sniffles, including me. A stubborn cold is going around, and I’ve been trying to shake it for over a week. When DayQuil and NyQuil fail, it’s time to bring out the big guns; it’s time to head to The Mill for some spicy and satisfying Korean food.

I think of The Mill as a little gem in Morningside Heights. It’s really the only authentic Korean food around on the UWS, unless you want to hike down to K-Town.  My Trusty Sidekick and I love coming here (even when I’m not under the weather) because the food is fresh, the portions are huge, and the service is fast. Best of all, it’s cheap. For a quick, inexpensive dinner, it’s hard to beat The Mill.

In one word: Qauthentic (quick + authentic)

Location: 2895 Broadway (between 111th St & 112th St)

 

The four complementary Banchan (small dishes) at The Mill are always fresh and constantly changing.

Food: As soon as you sit down four bowls of complimentary side dishes, called Banchan, will arrive, followed by a small bowl of miso soup. These dishes always make me smile–they’re fresh and constantly rotating. Trusty loved the spicy kim chi, while my favorite was the chilled, spicy and silky tofu. It was a great way to start the sinus-clearing meal.

Nothing like a rich, comforting Miso soup when you're sick--especially when it's free!

Trusty and I always order our favorite, go-to Bibimbap dishes. (Quick aside on Bibimbap–if you haven’t had Korean before, this dish is a must-try. The word means “mixed meal” and that’s literally what it is–a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned veggies) and paired with a raw or fried egg and/or sliced meat. On top of it all, you add gochujnag, a very spicy chili pepper paste, or chogochujang, a delicious, addictive Korean version of ketchup.  The dish can be served hot or cold, but usually comes in a very hot stone pot, and the ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating.)

 

Magical, addictive chogochujang, a thick, sweet and very spicy sauce that's like a Korean version of ketchup.

I usually order Hwae Bibimbap ($12), which is a cold bibimbap (served in a stainless steel bowl instead of a hot stone pot) with assorted julianne vegetables and pea shoots, strips of slightly salty and sweet dried seaweed, julianne Fuji apple slices, and chunks of fresh, raw, sweet tuna or tilapia, all over warm white rice.

 

I love all the flavors and textures in this dish!

This dish combines all my favorite flavors and textures–I love the cold, sweet, raw tuna and tilapia with the warm white rice and the sweet and crunchy Fuji apples with the veggies–crispy lettuce and pea shoots dressed in nutty sesame oil–with the salty and slightly sweet seaweed–mmm. Tons of fresh, delicious ingredients that only get better with the spicy, sweet and vinegary chogochujang sauce.

 

Yum. I love the huge portions. The bowl is always way too big for me to finish!

Trusty always orders his favorite bibimbap, which is Mushroom Dolsot Bibimbap with Beef. It’s loaded with mushrooms, other veggies like bean sprouts, carrots, and zucchini, and strips of seared beef. 

Trusty’s bibimbap arrives in a piping hot stone pot, and when he mixes all the ingredients together the heat of the pot scrambles the fresh uncooked egg. The bowl is so hot that anything that touches it sizzles for minutes.  Before the rice is added to the pot, the bottom is coated with a yummy, nutty sesame oil, which makes the rice at the bottom of the pot deliciously golden brown and crispy–one of Trusty’s favorite parts of the dish.

 

Even Trusty can't finish his whole pot.

 

Drink: We usually order tea, which is a basic, but delicious jasmine. For my sick throat, it was especially good. If you’re in the mood for something else, The Mill also offers soft drinks, a selection of Asian brand beers, and cold sake. 

Service: The service here is fast, but impersonal; the no-fuss service here takes a back seat to the food. Expect to be seated immediately and expect your food to arrive within five minutes after you’ve placed your ordered. But, don’t expect any chit chat from your waiter. You may find the staff to be practically wordless–often food arrives without any explanation–but (I think) the food speaks for itself.

Scene: The restaurant is a small, simply decorated space. Framed Korean prints and old scrolls hanging on the walls give the interior a cozy, authentic ambiance. If there’s an open table in the back, asked to be seated there–you can peek into the kitchen and watch the kitchen crew roll dumplings by hand.

 

Interior of The Mill.

Dress: The Mill is pretty firmly in Columbia University territory, so casual dress code is more than appropriate. Jeans, t-shirt, whatever.

Cost: Our check came to $30 with tax and tip. A great price, and for the amount of food we got, it was especially reasonable.

Delivery: Delivery available from 95th to 125th St Riverside Dr. to Morningside Dr. $8 minimum.

If you like, try: Hangawi Grill in Korea Town NYC, Kang Nam in Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago

Did Katy Perry Nail It with her new OPI Black Shatter Nail Polish?

Given Katy Perry’s wild nail style (remember her Russel Brand manicure ?) it makes sense that OPI would ask her to collaborate on a new nail polish line.

The highlight of the limited-edition collection is the Black Shatter top coat that’s generating buzz as the next nail trend. Once applied to the dried base coat of any nail polish, the black top coat begins to disappear, leaving behind a crackled, sort of leopard print pattern on each nail and transforming your manicure into nail art, Katy Perry style.

Here's what each color is supposed to look like with the Black Shatter top coat. From L-R the colors are: Last Friday Night, Not Like the Movies, The One that Got Away, and Teenage Dream.

How does it work? Two incompatible solvents in the black shatter top coat cause uneven drying, so as the top coat sets it results in the crackled pattern.

After test-driving the new shatter coat, here are some of our tips:

• This may seem obvious, but be sure to only apply the Black Shatter top coat over completely dry nail polish–otherwise, there are gloopy consequences.
• Because the shattering effect is almost instantaneous, you need to apply the top coat fairly quickly–as in, a once over. If you double back for a second coat then you’ll get black shatters on top of black shatters.
• A thinner coat of Black Shatter will result in a look with smaller shards, while a thicker coat will make the crackled look more chunky.
• The shatter top coat dries matte–really matte–with the look of old, dried-out asphalt. So, for a more “polished” look, add a top coat for a glossy finish that will make the black look more liquid.

Black Shatter top coat over Not Like the Movies, a silvery metallic shade, with a clear top coat.

What do you think?

Eating the Seasons: Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes (a.k.a. Sunchokes)

There’s nothing like having a new food experience. When you find a new ingredient you really love, you want to eat it all day, everyday, for an entire week; you can’t get enough. You ask, “sunchokes, where have you been all my life?!?” Or at least, that’s what I did.

So yummy!

 

I was introduced to sunchokes for the first time over Thanksgiving break, when I got a chance to eat at Heartland, the new James Beard nominated restaurant in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Heartland’s philosophy is that local, sustainable ingredients make the most delicious meals, and I believed them more with every bite. Roasted sunchokes were the highlight of my dish, walleye with kale and chanterelle mushrooms in a tomato broth. They had the rich, nutty sweetness of an artichoke heart crossed with the creamy texture of roasted fingerling potatoes.  YUM!

Because they have such a similar flavor to artichokes, I was surprised to find out that sunchokes, which are also known as Jerusalem artichokes, aren’t actually related to their namesake vegetable. Sunchokes are actually a type of sunflower, and their root, which is a tuber that actually looks a lot like ginger root, is what you eat. I love the flavor you get from roasting them like a root vegetable–and I also love that, as you can see from the recipe below, it makes for a quick and easy meal–but you can also shave them very thinly and eat them raw on a salad. Best of all, sunchokes are packed with potassium (650 mg per cup) and iron, which makes them a yummy, nutritious alternative to potatoes.

Directions:

1. Scrub the tubers and remove any black “eyes”, just like you would clean a potato. You don’t need to peel the skin off of the chokes–it contains a lot of nutrients, and has a delicious flavor and texture after you roast them.
   

   Don't sunchokes look just like ginger root?

2. Slice them up into medallion-sized pieces.
   
3. Place the pieces onto a roasting sheet covered with aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder.
   
4. Roast in the oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the pieces become deliciously golden brown.
5. Enjoy!