My friend called me at some point last week screaming something along the lines of:
“I just tried to go ice skating at Bryant Park and there are tents and anorexic waifs everywhere. What the *&^$ is going on?”
The answer: Fashion Week.
Everyone I ask claims it’s only twice a year for seven days but that’s a dirty lie since fashion week feels like it’s in motion for 70% of my Manhattan life. I think promoters and events coordinators lure people out with the promise of a “fashion week party” a week before and after the fact, implying that your chances of scoring free stuff or banging a model are statistically higher. Unlike previous years, I managed to stay away from all the trendy chaos and focus entirely on the fashion. On the whole, I understood nothing since I’m developmentally challenged when it comes to high fashion, its leather, lace and ridiculousness and jaw-dropping prices. I did however, find two things I truly liked amongst all the madness.
1. Bold, multi-layered necklaces by Marie-Lise Lachapelle.
This New York-based jewelry designer shook things up in terms of accessories at the Walter Baker show. She created jewelry incorporating feathers and leaves with layered chains. Everything’s adjustable to hang loosely around the chest, higher on the bust or even combined with connecting pieces to be worn as a vest of chains.
Vest of chains? Cool!
Ever since my style conversion to what I pretend is BoHo chic, but others call ‘dressing like a homeless person,’ I’m more dependent on jewelry than ever to add some glam to my look.
Let’s face it: when you’re consistently wearing leggings and Ashley Olsen-esque baggy sweaters on a daily basis you need some hot jewelry to illustrate that fact that you’re actually female. Marie-Lise’s pieces are edgy, bold and cheerful – for me, the perfect pairing to dress up a more laid-back look.
Below are two of my favorite pieces, but you can check them all out here.
2. Proper Attire Condoms by Yigal Azrouël
With more than three million unintended pregnancies a year and approximately 19 million sexually transmitted infections, condoms are more important than ever. Yet a lot of women feel that carrying condoms in their purse or even keeping them in their home defines them as a ‘slut.’
Younger girls often feel too embarrassed to even buy condoms in drug stores. Duane Reade is a scary place when you’re in 10th grade. I could never face a male clerk if I were purchasing tampons.
For the reasons above, I wanted to help publicize a new effort to prettify condoms, hopefully making women and girls less self-conscious about toting them around.
The packaging’s gorgeous and makes the condoms look…well, not like condoms at all, which is exactly the point. Designer Yigal Azrouël’s transformed them into a true fashion statement in the hope that carrying condoms could be stylish instead of shameful.
For now, you can get them online here.
The best part is that 100% of the profits go to Planned Parenthood – and anyone who was ever in high school knows what an invaluably fantastic organization that is.
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
My friend used to be so embarrassed because she had to buy extra large condoms for her boyfriend (lucky her), but then once she realized that she was getting jealousy looks from women in the store, she stopped getting so embarrassed.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I try not to buy condoms only because they’re not exactly cheap and there are a lot of occasions where people hand them out for free, including some bars, and the NYU women’s health center (which I bet I could still sneak into, though I’ve officially graduated.) They’re free for the taking!!