A Store Is Born: Fivestory

Claire Distenfeld and her father, Fred, cite an impressive list of old-school family-run retailers—i.e. Rowland Hussey Macy, Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale, Herman Bergdorf and Edwin Goodman, Barney Pressman—as the inspiration for their tony new Upper East Side boutique, Fivestory.

Never mind that it's actually two stories and those two stories combined could barely fill out one corner of Barneys, or that its already-famed shoe garden isn't a garden at all but a back room with an as-yet-waterless fountain. It's still a very noble start, especially when you consider they managed to get Comme des Garçons on their men's racks, evening out an otherwise uptown-y roster. Plus we're suckers for circular entryways, green velvet walls and the promise of "couture tailoring."

Last night's small and suitably civilized launch party drew a discerning crowd of editors, stylists, and the usual sauced scenesters who had plenty of high walls with which to steady themselves. They probably felt more at home at the comparatively freewheeling dinner at Mr. Chow, the original on 57th Street, that followed. That's where the DJ, living up to the restaurant's 70s heyday, put on Bryan Ferry and we, too, became "slave to Veuve."

Visit Fivestory

• Posted Apr 19, 2012
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A Store Is Born: American Two Shot

Taking a shot of coffee and a gamble at reinventing the somewhat moribund model of a concept store, two childhood friends originally from Miami—artist Olivia Wolfe and Steph Krasnoff, formerly of Theory—have opened American Two Shot, Soho's newest retail space and teenage hangout.

"We carry whatever we love," Wolfe told Hint, "which seems to be a lot of young New York designers, many of whom are our friends." Hanging from walls and along racks, stacked in antique display cases, and dotted all around the store are those lovingly acquired items, everything from Timo Weiland and J. Lindeberg’s BLK DNM to Porter Grey and vintage Vans. All of which is mixed in with vintage pieces, stationery, jewelry, and books, including a limited-edition Ryan McGinley find.

ATS takes its name from the term "two shot," a photographic technique of "capturing two subjects in one frame," explains Wolfe. "One is closer to and one is further from the camera. It's called a two shot, and it reflects our attempt to bring different styles, elements and ideas into one space." Living up to that concept, they've invited Nicaraguan coffee enthusiast César Vèga, who used to bike-deliver his special roasts around town, to man a coffee bar inside the store, the Café Integral.

With easily removable furnishings and rearrangeable stock, the store is perfect for holding parties and events. "Now that we're open, we're taking the focus beyond just product," Wolfe continued. "We want to open the space up as often as possible, whether that's a film screening, trunk show, a drawing class or anything in between."

Visit American Two Shot

• Posted Apr 16, 2012
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Hooked: Jil Sander Veil Beanie

Jil Sander’s spring beanie perfectly sums up designer Raf Simons’ dual aesthetic. Now at Dior, Simons is known for taking inspiration from youth subcultures as well as couture. An example of this, the knit cap made famous in the 90s by grunge-listening, flannel-loving slackers becomes modern and fresh with a couture twist: a net veil.

We can thank master milliner Stephen Jones for the self-contradicting creation, which also comes in white, navy and pale blue. The little beauty is elegant and irreverent all at once.

Around $460 at Jil Sander stores

• Posted Apr 16, 2012
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Money Where Your Mouse Is: re.porter

As the period-punctuated, lower-case name suggests, re.porter is an online consignment store for men of the avant-garde persuasion. And here's how you know you're dealing with a very specific sliver of the avant-garde. When founder Graham Newmarch selects items to resell, "People either email me pictures of their items," he says, "or simply describe the item to me. They'll say things like 'Julius gun holster lamb-leather jacket' and I'll know exactly what it is." If you, too, know exactly what that is, you may have found your bliss.

Other designers on the calm, quiet e-store include Rick Owens, Carol Christian Poell (apparently very difficult to acquire), Obscur, Label Under Construction, Damir Doma, Undercover, and Helmut Lang (the original, as if you had to ask). Prices are approximately half off retail, and since most of these items are meant to look worn-in and/or deconstructed anyway, it's like buying new.

Visit re.porter

• Posted Apr 12, 2012
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Hooked: LEE KRISVANASSCHE

Out of all the daunting denim choices out there today, it's the old tried-and-true, been-around-forever brands that still have the most cachet. Case in point: men's designer Kris Van Assche's new collaboration with Lee. For LEE KRISVANASSCHE, the Dior Homme creative director teamed up with the heritage denim company to revisit the worker-style timelessness of Lee's most-beloved hits—i.e. jacket, shirt, five-pocket jeans—to reflect the essence of modern masculinity.

Available this summer in two colorways—workwear blue and dark brown—the pieces combine the once-ubiquitous, logo-embossed leather label with tone-on-tone layering to achieve Van Assche's signature minimal elegance. Say bonjour to your newest must-have.

• Posted Apr 11, 2012
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Sale Alert! Raf Simons

We have no idea if these phenomenal fall '11 coats will be included in Raf Simons' "exclusive archive sale" next week. What will be in the sale is a mystery, as with most things pertaining to the Belgian designer and Dior's new couturier. So you may want to go and find out for yourself, and you'll probably want to call ahead first—better safe than sorry...

Raf Simons Archive Sale
Schuttershofstraat 9, 1st floor, Antwerp 2000
Wed, April 18, 10-7
Thu, April 19, 10-7
Fri, April 20, 10-6
Sat, April 21, 10-6
contact: +32 (0)3 233 11 23

And more!! ...

Dries Van Noten Clothing & Fabrics
Apr 18-20, 1-6
Apr 21-22, 10-5
Godefriduskaai 36, Antwerp

Ann Demeulemeester & Haider Ackermann
Apr 18, 10-7
Apr 19-20, 10-6
Apr 21, 10-5
BVBA, unit 14, Oude Baan 55, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp

• Posted Apr 10, 2012
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Sponsored: Lindsey Calla for TJ Maxx

Check out the new video from fashion blogger Lindsey Calla, who goes rack diving in search of spring looks...

• Posted Mar 02, 2012
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Hooked: Ann Demeulemeester Hats

You might have thought Ann Demeulemeester's awning-sized black hats for spring—looking part Salem witch, part Huckleberry Finn, part Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood—were made only for effect on the runway (which, by the way, was strewn with sand). But here they are, produced and ready to shield you from whatever an angry, Global Warming-emboldened sun might throw your way. But you'll need to find a way to turn some of that sand into diamonds because these topstitched, calf-leather Sirio Western hats start at $1400. At Ann Demeulemeester boutiques and LN-CC in London.

• Posted Apr 09, 2012
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Hooked: Men's Sandals

Men, if you're going to insist on wearing sandals this summer, please don't call them mandals and please make sure your talons are clipped and/or filed down. And when it comes to choosing a style, please keep it simple. Jil Sander has a low strappy leather number in pure-energy yellow (around $600), while Acne goes even simpler with what amounts to a toe-flossing flip-flop ($315). Maison Martin Margiela found salvation in an artisanal Jesus-like style ($420), and Bernhard Willhelm has again teamed up with Camper on a hazmat-inspired Velcro option ($175). Any of these would make a fine choice, and they're all available at Oki-Ni.

• Posted Apr 03, 2012
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Hooked: Robert Clergerie for Carven

Are these espadrilles? Wedges? Lace-up baskets? Yes, yes, and maybe yes. Carven designer Guillaume Henry collaborated with celebrated French shoemaker Robert Clergerie to create this strange yet spring-appropriate hybrid of shoe styles made entirely of woven raffia. Available in various combinations of natural, black or mint. $560 at Barneys New York and Colette in Paris.

• Posted Apr 01, 2012
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