Note the missing numbers. But still $10.

There is a thrift store in a certain Brooklyn neighborhood that specializes in the most aesthetically-displeasing objects from the worst periods in design. Their offerings are largely from the 70s; however, other decades are represented as well. Each item is such a specific assault on the eyes that I thought, half-way through the store, this was no accident.

They were purposely specializing in failed design.

There were rows upon rows of ripped/dusty/rusty gold, brown, burnt orange velvet, veneer and more, and not the good kind. What's more, each item was so overpriced, it was comical. For some reason, their favorite two prices were $2.99 and $49.99, perhaps due to a defective tagging gun that could only print orange stickers in one of these two amounts. This Brooklyn neighborhood being steeped in detached irony as it is, I decided this thrift store was some sort of art installation, and not the good kind.

The final joke was the Super Sale section of only broken items, and each $10. (These signs were all hand-written. You see? My defective tagging gun hypothesis holds up.) Broken items! For $10! Oh yes, their detached irony was not lost on me.

Take the 7 Train to 82nd Street/Jackson Heights
and pay a visit to La Delicia en Pandebono. The whole street is filled
with great food shops, bakeries and small restaurants.


All sorts of delicious freshly baked Colombian breads in the case.
Yes, I could camp out here all day and try them all.


You can get two pandebono and two cafe con leche for under $5.

My hubby and I shared a delicious treat on our anniversaire weekend: pandebono and cafe con leche at our favorite place in Queens, La Delicia en Pandebono. We discovered this place a few years ago when it was still a check-cashing place with a little pandebono stand on the side. Recently, they eliminated check-cashing altogether and devoted themselves to baking the most delicious Colombian breads and treats full-time. Their pandebono are always fresh and hot and chewy and delicious.

You must pay them a visit if you like the sound of yucca flour and a hint of cheese all mixed up together and cooked into an otherworldly delight. Prices are extremely reasonable. La Delicia pandebono, the largest on 82nd Street (believe me, we have sampled widely), are $1.25 each.


La Delicia en Pandebono
40-23 82nd Street
Jackson Heights, Queens
347.448.8020

In my opinion, you have to have good basics.
These Express tanks fit so well. Body hugging. Long. Beautiful shades.
I am deaccessioning some older tanks to make room for these.
Buy one, get one half off at $19.50 per tank. I got these 4 yesterday.

Since it suddenly became SUMMER! with temps in the eighties in NYC, I have been studying colorful outfits walking down the street. And making notes on Twitter with the hashtag, #colorpalette. I will do this everyday, because there are so many great ideas to be noted and remembered.

I think all this noting has paid off. I have shed my black. Well not totally. Let's be real here. I mean I do rely heavily on black and silver. But I have actually purchased color! And plan to wear actual color-on-color with no black to set it off. Can I do it? Or is this all lip service? Who can tell. I will let you know when I do it.

Express, as I noted in the previous post has the kind of jewel tones that I love. I don't really like off-shades as it turns out. But then again, I did buy some olive-colored cargos from Esprit yesterday (not pictured on their site, too bad). Olive counts as an off-shade. I have plans to wear the olive with magenta and royal blue. Yum. I am even going to try to work in some tan with blue and magenta. Crazy. Well if you know me, it's crazy. My mom would be shocked, I'll tell you that much.

I have so many colored shoes (that I have been stockpiling, don't ask why, it's just what I do), and I can't wait to wear the perfect shoe with these outfits. At last, all my random purchases are coming together. In my defense, if I may, they are not random. I shop by item, just as I design. If an item is ideal in itself, I buy it. Or if it is totally versatile and will set off my other pieces in a new and exciting way, I buy it. Sometimes it takes a year for these items to be tied together, and yes, I feel like a nut owning all these great items that don't come together. I console myself with the thought that someday soon I am going to have a bunch of amazing outfits with all the details coordinated in a creative mix-match way. Yes I do get disgusted with myself at times for owning too much, and then I promote the values of minimalism to myself, hoping I will hear it. Please read this post from February if you want to learn more.

Now the weather is warm, and I'm feeling expansive. And colorful. And hopeful. Tomorrow I am planning a color-on-color ensemble with no black for miles. I think it's going to rain though. I might just wear it anyway. We shall see!


P.S.
Do you write your outfit combos on index cards? (like every piece -- top, tank, pants, tights, barette, bangle, shoe, etc.) I do! Saves time in the AM. I am thinking of switching to photos. Just photographing the good outfit combos (elements arranged on a white background). I might judge myself too harshly as a nut half way through the project and abandon it. But really, it's a good time-saving idea. It would force me to wear more of my wardrobe, rather than going to default black-with-black.

V-Neck Zebra Burnout Tee at Express, in hot orange! $24.50

Express is doing something so very right now. Unless it's just that I haven't shopped there in so long, that I am very open to the newness. Their colors are very bright, rich and saturated. Perfect tones for spring/summer. I keep buying more things everytime I go, which has been rather often lately. The zebra-like top above is one of those expensive "burn-out" treatments, but for a much better price than Shopbop. I guess I am just fascinated by the opaque and sheer combo in the cotton. Totally cool. And I love the zebra, as you may know. (It was part of my collection for a long time.)

And then there's this zebra sweater below. A must-have, if you ask me! It so happens, I have yellow shoes to wear with this cut lil' number. I can't wait. Should I get the white belt too? It looks like a very polished ensemble. I am loving yellow with grey lately. Yellow with navy is also lovely and Spring-like. Yellow with magenta could be bold and rich. Will have to try some tanks...

And below, my Payless shoe obsession, which I am still avoiding, due to the fact that I bought some Payless three-inchers last year and darn near destroyed the ball of my foot. Payless=Paynfull. Sorry for the punny spelling. It had to be done. But the style is oh-so-cute. What to do?

Elbow-Length Sleeve Zebra Cardigan at Express, in yellow, $19.99 on sale



Ashland Mary Jane Wedge by Lela Rose for Payless, in navy/grey, $24.99 on sale

Especially me. So forgive me for not posting this until I returned from Chop't with my free salad, but I found out about this offer just minutes before the start time of 11:30am. They'll be serving until 1:30 today, or until the food runs out, at their newest location on Broadway in Midtown: 1460 Broadway (btwn 41st & 42nd Streets). No limits on toppings. Very very nice.

I got my usual, mesclun with tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas, broccoli, smoked tofu with dijon vinaigrette. I added artichokes, since they were offering. Why not. Will have pics in a moment. The line is kinda long now.

The line @ 11:30. I'm in!


The line when I left (11:45). Wow. Big difference.


The Chop't choppers


The mezza luna decor.


My salad is almost next on the chopping block. Mmmm smoked tofu.


My salad in motion.

This year's best value at Modell's! Just $27.99.
Ask for "American Athletic 522 Ladies Figure Skates"

Attention all you ice skating enthusiasts! The Pond at Bryant Park is open again, and the ice is glorious. I skated Monday (November 9) in the 70 degree weather, and pretty much giggled with joy the whole time.

I feel it is my duty to pass along my research, so I hope you will click

Skate!

my step-by-step guide to truly free ice skating at Bryant Park. (Note: last year's post, so last year's prices). Pics to follow after I skate! I have my camera today, and although they prohibit photography on the ice, I will attempt to sneak some for you. Shhh.

***
Here they are. It was a crazy crowded scene today due to Veteran's Day. Wall-to-wall kids off from school. Oh yeah. I think I'll come back tomorrow.

The hut.


This gives you an idea of the size of the lockers.


Crowded ice.

Me!

Coffee Cookie Special at Cucina & Co.

I have been meaning to post about this since last week! Very sorry. Since June 9, there has been a fantastic afternoon cookie/coffee deal going on at Cucina & Company on 45th between Park and Lex. I feel very remiss not letting you know right away. I mean, 95 cents for a cookie and a coffee. For both! Now that is a deal. By the way their salad bar is very delicious with poached salmon, lentil salad, couscous, asparagus, artichoke, and more. $9.95 a pound. Expensive, yes. But very good quality. In the late afternoon, you get 25% off.

Cucina & Co. (to go) in the MetLife Building. Enter on 45th Street. On the left.

This post is featured on Midtown Lunch for June 19, 2009

Sweet Tee Deals on elaineperlov.com. Tweet Tweet!

I am pretty excited about the reaction to the new Twitter Promo Code I posted yesterday! So much so that I changed the index page to elaineperlov.com this morning! Shop the tees to your heart's content! Please tell everyone you know! I will do the same. gee

Hayden-Harnett for Target Brown Clutch, on sale, $4.98

By the way, have you checked out Hayden-Harnett's line for Target? I have not seen the merchandise in person yet, but for $4.98, I might make the gamble. Hayden-Harnett for Target here.

Special Insider Sneak Peak:
The Hayden-Harnett Showroom in the Garment District

There were slim but quality pickin's at the Hayden-Harnett sample sale today. I was there promptly at noon. Covetable handbags, wallets and a few sexy bikinis. No clothes, contrary to the TimeOut listing, but oh well. I was there for the bags. Note: if you like gold hardware, you are in luck! Every bag at the sale has gold hardware. Like this classic, available for only $200. Another note: yes, the elevator does work. It just takes awhile. Luckily there were no lines or crazed mobs.* It was a very civilized shopping experience, actually.

Hayden-Harnett Sample Sale
16 W36th Street (5th & 6th Avenues)
Suite 506
April 2, 11am-7pm
April 3, 11am-7pm


*Unlike at Topshop in SoHo, which opened today.

Scarlet Fringe Sandal from Payless, on sale, $19.99

And part of me says, don't stockpile! What to do? Aren't these fringey gladiator-style sandals from Payless pretty cute? I think yes. Just $19.99. I feel like running right over there now, and stockpiling! (Just to clarify, I don't mean that I would buy mulitple pairs of this one style. Just one, and one of these, in black.

American Eagle Karter Wedge from Payless, on sale for $19.99

Let's face it, Payless has some good things sometimes. I am not sure about these canvas cork-heel wedge shoes by American Eagle. I mean, I am sure about them. I love them. But I am not sure if I could walk in them. Probably not... In my defense, see previous post.

I thought about buying the ones in black. Only $19.99! But then I thought, aren't I just duplicating these? I get into a shopping doubt-loop sometimes that ends in no purchase. Then again, the espadrilles I have are navy and these are black, so it wouldn't exactly be duplicating...

Sad really, this shopping doubt-loop.

I don't often speak of Old Navy at all, but for some reason, I found myself on their site for the first time ever today. Look at these shoes. What do you think of them? Not bad really, for $29.50. I would wear them with black pants. Food for thought.

Dress by BCBG, available on My Designer Closet

How cute is this? A BCBG dress for only $42? Yes, and there is more where that came from on My Designer Closet, a shopping site which specializes in selling and consigning new and pre-owned designer clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, and jewelry -- all at a nice price, I might add. Like this Marc by Marc Jacobs dress for $40, and this Marni Gold Trench for $90. Hurry and shop because there is only one of each piece in a specific size. This site could be your Cinderella story.


Please note: My Designer Closet is currently having a BLOWOUT SALE, with huge discounts up to 90% off retail. According to owner, Renee, "I am trying to make some room in my closet for new items that will arrive very soon."

I have been determined to skate ever since The Pond at Bryant Park opened on October 27. I checked out the scene the other day. Skate rental is a rather steep $12. Lockers are free. But make sure to bring your own lock! Otherwise it will cost you $9 there. Entry is free. Another fee: bag check is $7-10, so make sure to leave your bag at home.

So I thought, why not own, rather than rent? I found a pair of great figure skates at Modell's, just a short jaunt from the rink, at 42nd between 7th and 8th Avenues. The cost with tax was $32.50. I am so excited to skate today, I can hardly contain myself. FYI, Modell's is the only place I found which sells ice skates in-store. I investigated Kmart (same price) and Target ($10 more expensive), and found that they only sell ice skates online. I didn't want to wait that long. See you on the ice!

***
2009 Link Update:
Check out Modell's current selection of figure skates here. I see they have a pair for only $27.99!!

I can imagine these earrings with a number of great sweaters in my closet.

If you are in the mood to shop a great online sale, delight.com has some visually pleasing jewelry that you (and I) may want to acquire. Let's think about it, shall we? I have my eye on the above Crimson Enamel Earrings by Kiln Studio. $33.95 is not a bad price, now is it.

A lunch that costs only $4 in Midtown? And is on the healthy balanced meal side of things? And is vegetarian? Yup. I found it. Go to the cart on the NW corner of 39th & Broadway, right next to the fruit guy. Ask for the $4 vegetarian lunch, which includes 6 falafel, roasted eggplant (roasted to perfection), salad, beans, rice, yogurt sauce and hot sauce. Tell them I sent you. They don't know me by name, but tell them I sent you anyway.



This post is featured on Midtown Lunch for July 28, 2008

I have a permanent locker at the Y now. It is actually a wire basket with a lock, and it only costs $5 per month. I thought that saving my shoulder was worth the money. But as a result, I have to maintain a double supply of products for home and locker. It's actually not that bad. I use them up half as quickly, so it all evens out. When I found this Wide Tooth Comb today at Sephora for $4, I bought two. Even when you factor in these additional product costs, the monthly locker is still worth saving my shoulder.

You can ask my husband. I am very thrilled to find graphically-pleasing tissue boxes at the Dollar Store, to the point of buying them in quantity. Why not. They are only 99 cents each.

My local Dollar Store on Manhattan Avenue just received this delightful shipment from 'Petals' this week. I love the fluffy white marigolds; and I especially love that the flowers are divorced from their context. No stems. No garden scene. Just marigold pom-poms floating in the ether. They almost take on an abstract Duchampian quality.

I bought a box in lavender [pictured above] and a few in royal blue. As I write this, I am thinking that I should have also bought the dark brown, to match my bath towels. Excuse me while I quickly run to the Dollar Store.

I wanted to share with you another 'secret haunt' of mine. Dave's on the west side of 6th Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets proved to be an endless source of fascination and inspiration for me one day last Fall.

My experience at Dave's that day gave me the Special Shopping Feeling, which I would define as the following: the Special Shopping Feeling hits you when you least expect it; but when it does, everything suddenly looks great on you, and is in a price range that suits you at that moment. You are thus inspired to try new shapes, new fabrics, new colors, and basically reinvent yourself (whereas before you were feeling so cautious, so formulaic, so in a fashion rut).

As you can see from the photo above, Dave's carries basic workwear labels (which I utterly love; but my fascination with menswear tailoring, and the simple yet bold details found in workwear and uniforms is a story for another post). What you will find when you walk through the doors of Dave's are oodles of Levi's, Carhartt and Dickies. And curious amounts of plaid too. You will probably wonder why a fashion designer would recommend this place to you.

I will tell you. I was looking for some good basic everyday pants. Nothing fancy. Just a good basic everyday worker uniform of my own. (I should add here too that I am obsessed with Communism for the clothes. I love the idea that everyday, one wears the same thing. I also love the stunning visual effect created by that same singular outfit, replicated in the thousands when you and all of your comrades assemble for parades. You must admit it's true. It is visually stunning. I hope I don't get blacklisted for this comment. Anyway, when I work in my studio, I prefer a uniform. My item of choice: Style 2102 in black by American Apparel. In fact, I own more than 10 Fine Jersey Short Sleeve Tees in black, which I wear with minor variations. It is all about the minor variations for me though. But that too is a post for another day.)

Back to the Special Shopping Feeling and my great find at Dave's. I tried some Levi's cords in a shape that was new to my closet. I am not a jeans person at all. I am a cords person (which I would define as a much friendlier down-to-earth type, looking to wear just plain pants, not a flashy pocket stitching. I hope I am not alienating any jeans people out there. I admire your jeans-wearing-ness. It is just not my personal style.)

The cut of these cords was so flattering. I loved the lower-but-not-too-low waist, the flaps on the back pockets, the cut of the leg. All super. I bought a color I never buy. Slate Grey. And then I purchased the same style in a second color. Chocolate Brown. Not black! Not trouser-style! I broke out of my holding pattern. Oh that Special Shopping Feeling.