STUNNING VINTAGE STYLES at JILL STUART POP UP

 Amazing stitch detail on a Jill Stuart archive piece

Just as Diane Von Furstenberg is known for wrap dresses and Chanel for wool suits, flirty frocks span Jill Stuart's signature style. Having founded her namesake brand in 1993, Stuart's fame flourishes post-Clueless (think Alicia Silverstone's yellow plaid suit). Twenty four years later, Stuart's archives have hit a storage limit. In a rare open-to-the public opportunity, Jill Stuart is cleaning house via pop-up paradise in the heart of Soho, NYC. Keep reading for a look inside...

#ELEVATESUMMER WITH EVERLANE at SHOE PARK

Everlane's Shoe Park, a 10-day pop up in Soho featuring #ElevateSummer shoes and sandals

Shoes off. Try On. Fall in Love. Walk Out. The rules are rudimentary at Everlane's makeshift 'stomping ground' (some may opt to purchase and "Bring Home" their favorites as a last action). Over 10 days (from May 13-22nd), Everlane invites the public to partake in Shoe Park-- an interactive pop-up designed by London-based Robert Storey. Complementing minimalist shoe design, the Storey Studios team instills an equally unassuming 'play' theme through "sculptural installations that both display and engage" [source]. Keep reading for a look inside...

ZOLA TOWNHOUSE POP UP

#ZolaTownhouse Pop Up, 43 Crosby St. 

Stepping into the sunlit Soho space at 43 Crosby, the raging reds of Le Creuset cookware, bold blues of SMEG kitchen accessories and cutesy kitsch of Kate Spade dinnerware greet guests with home goods happiness. Popping up until April 25th, Zola invites couples to start their registry on-site,and finish culling choices online (after being inspired by the elegantly arranged rooms of decorative decisions). Singles can shop shamelessly alone, or fastidiously with friends. Stop by weekdays 10AM to 8PM and weekends from 10AM to 6PM. Keep reading for a look inside...

WIRED HOLIDAY POP-UP : YOUR LIFE. BETTER.

 Wired Pop Up, YOUR LIFE. BETTER at 459 West 14th Street [photo credit: Bryan Derballa/Wired, source]

Tourists and townies alike test out on-trend tech wearables and other digitally incentivized gizmos at the Wired Holiday Shop. Your Life. Better. is the theme of this year's pop up, highlighting a tightly curated selection of the latest and greatest in conceptual creativity. In honor of Wired Magazine's 10th anniversary, the Holiday Shop is open 10 days from Dec. 11th to the 21st. Entering into electronic ecstasy, visitors can play with the product, however purchases are completed online. I had a chance to stop by on the last day--have a look at a sampling of innovative items for the upcoming year... 

SENSE THROUGH SCENTS @ GLADE BOUTIQUE

A mysterious outer entryway to the Glade Boutique, 408 W. 14th St. ; a pop-up that sells feelings

A medley of Orange + Green Tea + Marine Water + Fresh Greens + Crisp Ozone mixes with hints of Rose, Violet, Jasmine, Muguet and Magnolia to make Sunshine Showers, a scent capturing "the essence of an invigorating day under the sun" [source: Glade promotional materials]. Created to evoke feelings of "limitless," Sunshine Showers joins Poppy Groove, Honeybee Rhythm and a host of other fragrances at Glade's pop-up scent boutique. While exhibits traditionally emphasize the visual, Glade's #FEELGLADE popup departs from the norm, offering visitors a truly sense-sational experience. Keep reading for details...

#KIPLINGHOLIDAY SOHO POP UP

Backlit sign at the #KIPLINGHOLIDAY pop-up shop; Greene St., Soho 

With an affinity for "cute," Kipling's candy colored monkeys appeal to customers young and old, serving as the coveted component of the spirited bags. Just shy of celebrating 3 decades in business, Antwerp-based Kipling expands its product offerings and advances its silhouettes to be be notably trend-worthy, covering the spectrum of consumers from kiddie chic to work-appropriate. Steady success speaks volumes--within the last 5 years, the brand's sales doubled! Before being invited to the brand's #Kiplingholiday 3-day Soho pop-up, I had forgotten about my Heather Rose colored, crinkled nylon duffel which currently warms the top shelf of my closet. Keep reading for some of this season's surprises...

#FENDISOHO

3 Jours bag (croc + Calfskin) and 'Buggy"

A fresh take on old roots, Fendi transforms Wolford's former apartment-style space on the corner of Prince and Greene streets in Soho. Like the fur and leather goods shop opened by Edoardo Fendi and Adele Casagrande in 1925, the 630 square foot #fendisoho is filled with fabulous fur-trimmed furnishings and Fendi exclusives. Opening its doors July 5th, #fendisoho will spend 6 months re-introducing its brand through few-of-a-kind offerings merchandised in thematic spurts. Have a look inside… 

EXCLUSIVELY EVERLANE

Everlane promotes radical transparency in its 2 week pop-up. Everything inside contains a breakdown of elements and cost!

There's a fine line between partial truths and complete nonchalance when it comes to corporate responsibility in the fashion industry. Self-disclosure is a touchy topic; pique public interest beyond the "Made in [insert country here]" label and customers may become dissuaded by the hefty profit margin or questionable ethics over waste and wages. Fortunately for many brands, the average consumer is so far removed from the production process that the normalcy of what caused the catastrophe in Bangladesh or the child labor situation in Australia strikes as an unexpected surprise. So why is internet retailer Everlane taking to the City of New York with a campaign of conscience?

WALLPAPER* HANDMADE WITH JAGUAR POP-UP

Wallpaper Mag + Wallpaper* Handmade exhibit press release 

In a marriage of lavish consumerism and industrial ingenuity, Wallpaper* and Jaguar present Wallpaper* Handmade, a pop-up exhibit at 345 Meatpacking. Featuring leading designers in fashion, furniture and architecture, each item exhibited is carefully curated--with all 40+ pieces specially commissioned--by Wallpaper* editors. Between the partially deconstructed Jaguar F-Type, Todd Bracher's cork jacket and Fiona Barratt-Campbell's valet supporting Alexander McQueen oxfords, the menagerie of high time artistry is thematically diverse and unequivocally exclusive. Arriving from Milan's annual Salone del Mobile, Wallpaper* Handmade reaches NYC in time for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF).  

SHOES + SHRIEKS + SARAH JESSICA PARKER

Sara Jessica Parker welcoming guests and encouraging them to shop

Sex and The City star Sarah Jessica Parker cut a pale pink ribbon amidst shrieks of excitement Friday morning, signaling the debut of her SJP shoe line. The signature grosgrain covering the back seam of SJP shoes may one day be synonymous to the red sole on Louboutins. Until then, it affords each customer a piece of Parker's rags to riches story. Growing up in a low-income setting, there was always an ample supply of ribbons (for hair ties); this Parker wanted to carry through to her shoe line. Available exclusively at Nordstrom, the entire collection of SJP shoes, bags and a trench (in 2 colors) is featured in Nordstrom's 3-day West Soho pop-up. 

Looking Back at 2013

Excerpts from: Shoe Obsession at FIT, Gatsby at Prada, Punk: Chaos to Couture at the MET, Jean Paul Gaultier at the Brooklyn Museum

2013 was a memorable year for exhibiting fashion in NYC. A sizeable shoe exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Shoe Obsession in February was followed by a seemingly endless stream of publicity around The Great Gatsby in April/May and an unprecedented number of displays emphasizing queer fashion throughout the year. Punk had a banner year, with a hefty Chaos to Couture exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum and an impressive Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum. Rounding out the category of "fashion," jewelry was the main feature at the MAD's Fashion Jewelry: The Collection of Barbara Berger exhibit and the MET's Jewels by JAR show. Keep reading to view my top picks for 2013...

LINDA FARROW + BOFFO

Linda Farrow + Neiheiser & Valle at the BOFFO space, Pier 54

Bright lights, sunglasses and lightweight gold beams complete an indoor mirrored beach--the handiwork of BOFFO's latest pairing of Linda Farrow and architects Neiheiser & Valle. Protesting the dark and snowy days of winter, the exquisite sunglass designer and innovative architects have created an artistic installation that tests the boundaries of minimalism and balance. Part artistic installation, part eyewear boutique, the pop up--inside a shipping container parked at Pier 54--showcases Farrow's current line as well as collaborations with Oscar de la Renta, Jeremy Scott, Alexander Wang and others. Take your pick from the vast selection, poised delicately on beams held in place by piles of loose gravel. Hurry by, as the temporary retail space will fold on Christmas eve.

LIVE ART @ ANTHROPOLOGIE

Live Art Pop-Up at Anthropologie, Chelsea Market; London Audrey by Ashley Longshore 

Tucked in an aromatic back corner, world renowned painter Ashley Longshore blends acrylics as comfortably as her paintings blend into the post-modernist milieu of Anthropologie, Chelsea Market. Spanning the length of an entire sunset, Longshore paints in-store, under the watchful eye of an enquiring public. Works from her signature Audrey Hepburn series serve as a suitable backdrop to the collection of travel bags, pouches and hat boxes that bear their likeness.     

GAGA + ARTPOP POP UP

Lady Gaga costumes on display

Starting Monday, Alexander McQueen's recently vacated Meatpacking space plays host to Lady Gaga's 3-day ARTPOP pop-up. Regularly connecting with her fans and wowing the world with chic (and unique) costumes, it's only natural for Lady Gaga's camp to erect a shrine to promote her new album. Despite the interactive elements and props for purchase, I'm a bit disappointed--I left, wanting a little more, done a little better. I guess art is subjective and, according to Gaga's banner phrase, "My Artpop could mean anything." 

BOFFO PRESENTS MICHAEL BASTIAN + BITTERTANG

The centerpiece of the main room featuring Michael Bastian shoes and George Frost jewelry 

Surrounded by a mound of hay and walls of wax, BOFFO presents Building Fashion 2013 featuring Bittertang and Michael Bastian. A bit off the beaten path, design farm (yes farm!) Bittertang has crafted a 2-room lair furnished with Little Red-Ridinghood-esque oddities at 15th Street's SuperPier 59. Patterned off painter Andrew Wyeth's melancholy fields, the 3-week pop-up is the 11th in a series of creative crossroads where culture, clothes and customized curiosity meet. From November 1st to 21st, the public is welcome to partake in the experience and purchase the goods. 

POPPPING UP IN SOHO : DAILY CANDY HOLIDAY BAZAAR

DailyCandy presents Sugarfina, Friday evening

Kicking off the holiday season, Daily Candy's weekend pop-up is skillfully stocked with a of smörgasbord of indie vendor favorites. Friday evening, champagne gummi-bears, Cuba Libre gummies and martini olive almonds were piled and passed during "happy hour" with Rosie O'Neill, founder of Sugarfina. From sweets to short skirts and a vendor roster of 30--from Matt Bernson and Chasing Paper to Yosh and Jung Lee--there's certainly something for everyone (even kids, pets and plushes!). Swing by Soho Saturday or Sunday for special events and sensational shopping! [More Info: Here] 

MM LAFLEUR, POPPING UP and WOWING WOMEN in NYC

MM LaFleur Pop-up in Soho

Class, competence and coffee (substitute with tea or green juice as desired) are three imperatives for conquering the corporate lanscape. Likewise, sophisticated style has a way of conjuring up the compliments and confidence that become a realistic measure of success. To help add clout to your corporate casual collection, NY-based internet retailer MM LaFleur has set up camp at 91 Grand Street, until November 4. A new name in corporate/corporate casual clothing, MM LaFleur enters the market offering a hybrid of Barney's quality and Zara's price-point. Showcasing sassy silhouettes of stylish workwear for the "purposeful woman," the pop-up invites shoppers to don MM La Fleur dresses and wave goodbye to dry cleaning bills and ill fitting clothes. 

BE BRASIL POP-UP : IMMERSE IN BRAZILIAN INNOVATION

Be Brasil Welcome Signage

Strolling through Soho on a sunny Sunday afternoon, my honey and I stop by the Be Brasil pop-up. Samples of açai smoothie, coconut water and savory toasts greet guests as an interactive experience begins. Formerly the site of Tommy Hilfiger's Soho flagship, ApexBrasil has transformed the 11,000 square foot space at the corner of style and sophistication into a diorama of Brazil-themed fashion, innovation and culture. The weeklong festival is free and open to the public from October 15-22. Keep reading to have a peek at what's inside!

BHLDN BRIDAL POP-UP

 This way to the BHLDN pop up

Sparkles, sequins and stitched satin aren't new to Anthropologie, though bridal has been an experimental endeavor since the conception of BHLDN on Valentine's Day, 2011. For one week--from October 14 to 21--BHLDN pops up in Anthropologie's Upper East Side location (72nd St. and 3rd Ave.), bringing the online shopping experience to the sales floor. Somewhere between vintage, modern and situationally relevant, brides-to-be can experience a thoughtfully curated selection of bridal dresses, headpieces, accessories and jewelry. More pictures after the jump...

H&M BRINGS PARIS TO NY

Stoically Stylish Mannequins at H&M's NYC's 2-Day Pop-Up

Heavy Wool vs. Tissue weight. Opaque vs. Sheer. Delicate vs. Rugged. Contradictory materials feed into one cohesive collection, currently available for mixing and matching at H&M's NYC 3-day pop-up. Situated at Gavensvoort Plaza, H&M is promoting its newly launched ecommerce site. Sample upcoming Fall looks in the Try-On Lab and then shop via iPad to preorder any of the Paris Collection in advance of the September 5th store debut!