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The Skinny On Belts
Thin little belts—big bold colors: it’s the fashion statement of the season. Wear them over shirts and tees, with jeans and skirts. Get them while they’re hot—in every color under the sun.
photography by john o’donnell
Cole Haan red patent belt $95 Bloomingdale’s
Hobo citron patent belt $48 Etcetera
Prada mint-green leather belt $285 Neiman Marcus
Turqoise patent-leather belt with large buckle $130 Neiman Marcus
Pink patent-leather belt $18 E.B. Barrett
newstores
INDUSTRY
50 Livingstone Ave
Dobbs Ferry
(914) 478-8200
This trendy women’s clothing boutique specializes in high-end casual wear. You’ll find lots of denim—including hot new must-have Raven wide-leg jeans—plus T’s from Junkfood, Velvet, Splendid, etc. ($24+), and dresses by Ella Moss, LaPok, Alice and Olivia, Rebecca Taylor, Clu, etc. ($88+). “We hand-pick only the very best of the best lines,” declares owner Barbara Jacobowitz. The shop is located in a new shopping center anchored by New York Sports Club.
SZENT & COMPANY
1969 Palmer Ave
Larchmont, (914) 834-1515
Owners Janet Robinson and Barbara Truesdale describe their tiny shop—the only one of its kind outside of NYC—
as an “apothecary and fragrance bar.” Szent custom-makes products for hair, bath, and body. Choose from more than 90 scented oils and a variety of unscented creams, lotions, and potions. Unscented offerings range from $10 to $45 and the oils, which can be worn by themselves, cost between $20 and $60 for amounts ranging between one-third ounce to one ounce. // Laurie Yarnell
shoptalk //
British Beauty Invasion
SPACE.NK.apothecary, 24 Harwood Ct, Scarsdale, (914) 472-1214, spacenk.com
Want to discover the beauty secrets of Cate Blanchette, Keira Knightly, and Renee Zellweger? These red-carpet regulars admit to getting a little help from Space NK, the British luxury beauty boutique, which recently opened its fourth stateside branch in downtown Scarsdale.
Head here for the latest buzzed-about products, potions, and lotions. The shop’s sleek and serene spa-like space showcases more than 50 specialty beauty lines, including under-the-radar niche brands, the well-established best-of-the-best, and its signature NK label. Worthy of mention is the SheerinO’kho skincare collection developed by a French biochemist to combat the effects of environmental irritants, like tiresome Trans-Atlantic travel (First Class Flight face cream; $105) and skin-stressing cigarette smoke (Evening Dress moisturizer; $120). What makes Space NK so special? “You can’t just offer new for newness sake,” says Nicky Kinnaird, the shop’s founder, who says she personally scouts and samples the products Space NK shops carry. // LY
Shopping In// Armonk
Armonk is small—Main Street is barely a mile long—but it sports a great, Old World charm. Its residents also happen to be among the county’s wealthiest, which means lots of high-end brands and designer duds in its boutiques. Thirty-three-year-old Sheep Shack (#418, 914-273-3832) is a must-stop for dresses—from a sundress for a backyard BBQ to a sexy cocktail-party number. (You also can find lots of tops, pants, accessories.) Star Spangled Carousel (#462, 914-273-9702) has three floors of fashionable kids’ clothes: mini Burberry coats, Diesel jeans, and Splendid hoodies. Just beware: an Ella Moss tanktop for a five-year-old, for example, can set you back $65. If you’re stocking up on clothing for next year’s ski trip or need gear for biking this summer, Hickory & Tweed (#410, 914-273-3452), in business 47 years, is a good spot to pick up sports wear. But don’t take our word for it—in 2005, it was named National Ski Shop of the year by Ski magazine. Our advice: don’t go into Lilies & Lace (#480, 914-273-2253) if you’re a neat freak. Otherwise, by all means enter this teeny lingerie (and much more) shop and rummage through piles and piles of goods. The high-end lingerie alone—Cosabella, La Perla, Eres—is worth the trip. Pink Tea Boutique (#480, 914-730-0195) serves fashionable women who want to look stylish, but not as if they’ve raided their teen’s closet. Fun tops by Language will run you between $100 and $130 and summer sweaters by Charlotte Tarantola $130 and $150. Vettore (#495, 914-273-2483) is a two-floor clothing shop with a well-edited collection of everything from trendy dresses to classic belts. Designers showcased run the gamut from Vera Wang to Milly to Betsey Johnson.
Upstairs you’ll find a variety of bathing suits. If you need help making shopping decisions, head to Ruthie’Z (#495, 914-219-5462). Owner Ruthie Zeide will be happy to put a full outfit together for you from her collection of designer staples. Zeide’s daughter is a buyer for Henri Bendel as well as her mom’s shop, so expect pretty, sophisticated items.
TIP: For a break, stop by Tazza (#283, 914-273-0788), a coffee shop, for a sandwich or a
scone with a latte or a cup of Tazo tea.
Never-Again Fashions
Often in fashion, what’s old becomes new again. But some trends should become extinct. We asked local fashion gurus for the fashions trends they’re glad are gone (and hope stay that way).
Overpowering Shoulder Pads. “Anything padded where it shouldn’t naturally be padded just scares me. I think it looks unnatural and cartoonish at best.” —Maria DiLeonardo, Siren Boutique, Mamaroneck
Denim Overalls. “Don’t get me wrong, denim overalls are extremely cute on little ones, but they do not have a place in a woman’s wardrobe. I’m sorry, but we should all pass up denim overalls—even if they are by Seven jeans.” —Jill Heller, On the One, Mount Kisco
Stirrup Pants. “I don’t think they belong on anyone; I don’t care what shape your body is in. Stirrups might be OK for equestrians, but not for fashion. —Maria DiLeonardo, owner, Siren Boutique, Mamaroneck
Low-Rise Pants. “Really low-waist pants, the type with maybe a seven-and-a-half-inch rise, were really a nightmare for most women. They were completely unflattering for most women over the age of thirty-five. They just sit so low and the abdominal area is, as we know, very difficult to keep really flat and lean.” —Eric Newland, Designer One, Larchmont
Retail Roundup
CATHI LOCATI GALLERI
36 Park Ave, Ossining
(914) 432-7439
cathilocati.com
This fine art gallery moved to its current location a few months ago. Customers may select from work on display or commission owner/artist Cathi Locati to create an original. Paintings range from $3,000-$38,000; signed, limited-edition reproductions from $700-$13,000.
FIAMOR
50 Cedar St, Dobbs Ferry
(914) 478-3898
Fiamor, which recently moved across the street from its previous location, is more than a trendy, Euro-centric fashion boutique. It’s a school, too. Owner Mimi Filipov offers an on-site clothing design course ($165 for six one-hour sessions) for fashion
lovers of all ages.
MICHOU
1934 Palmer Ave,
Larchmont, (914) 833-8888
Needing more space, Parisian Renee Powell moved her gift boutique to this twice-as-big location late last year. She presents an enticing array of French country-chic items including soaps, herbs, and tablecloths
imported from Provence ($95+), in addition to her own jewelry designs ($45+) and handcrafted mosaic glass mirrors ($195+).
// LY