Dolce and Gabbana windows at Saks Fifth Avenue NYC

Let's see if you can see this short video I took with my iPhone.  I've never put a video in my blog before so this may not work.

I hope you can see and enjoy it, the windows were so magical.

Autumn in New York

There's no place like New York City.  Yeah, you've heard that before but it's so true.  A week is both not enough and plenty.  I'm exhausted like I just got back from space!

I met my husband, Joe, for a week of music, food, art and shopping.  He'd been there for a week to rehearse his musical that was having a concert reading in Queens so he was totally preoccupied for the first few days of my visit and that turned out to be a good thing.  I got most of my must see shopping out of the way without torturing him.  

I had to hit the Garment District and only went to two places. Mood first.  I have visited the Los Angeles branch twice but had never seen home base.  It was fun because it was Halloween and all the sales people had made their own costumes.  I don't want any more fabric right now but a few buttons never hurt and I got some cool black rubber ones with large holes.

Then I stopped at Botani.  I'd heard about it from Marcy Tilton.  It is worth a visit because it has a huge stock of buttons, zippers and findings.  I bought several pairs of purse findings.  I've been working on a new painted canvas creel shaped purse.  This is the first go-round.  I wore it in NYC and it worked out fine.  It turned out a little bigger than the size I need and the shape is a bit wonky so it needs some fine tuning.  My sewing pal,  Janet, thinks it looks like a frog.  After she said that I couldn't look at it any other way.

I used the handle from an old brief case.  It was brown so I stained it with Jacquard silver fabric paint.

Janet, helped me with the binding which is a stretch woven I overpainted after it was sewn on.

I made three tops for the trip.  I needed ones that were shorter than the tunics I usually make because I planned to wear this jacket by Katherine Tilton B5891 most of the time and it's too short for my usual tunics.

It worked out so well because of the pockets.  They're like two extra purses, making it really easy to grab my phone/camera and glasses.  I'm going to remember this for future travel.  They are not original to the pattern.  I learned them from Shams.

I also brought this coat and I'm glad I did, it got really cold one day.  It's Marcy Tilton's V8934.  I made it out of rainwear and lined it with a thin Polartec.

This top is from Katherine Tilton's V8817.  I cut the hem between the shorter and longer versions.  The weird thing is that I think this is the NYC skyline...or a composite of several city skylines.  But Joe's relatives immediately pointed to it which made me feel like such a tourist!  I didn't wear it again.  But it'll be fine here on the West Coast.

This top is a TNT.  I drafted it from a RTW and make it often.

It's a simple tshirt but it has an asymmetrical hem that adds so much style.  I sew several pin tucks in it to give it a little texture and makes it stand out a bit from the rest of the garment.

And this one was a no brainer because I'd already cut it out the front and back due to a major goof made on a tunic a year ago.

Once again, I'm using fabrics I have on hand.   I'm not exactly on the fabric fast thing but I'm cutting back.  I make no promises.

The wardrobe, all black and grey with touches of color in the purse, scarves and necklaces, worked out well.  The last thing I want to do when I'm on vacation is think too much about what to pick out of the closet.

Now for some pics of what I saw.  

 The lines of this coat are a bit extreme but I like the idea.

Went to The Met to see the kimono exhibit (see below) but stopped several times along the way.

Here's a sculpture by Sam Gilliam.  You know how I love painted canvas and this one is magical.

This was right next to it.  It didn't say what it is but I liked it.

We were walking past Saks Fifth Avenue on our last day and they had just put in their holiday windows.  Dolce and Gabbana created fans that all moved, swaying back and forth behind their dresses and purses.  I took several videos on my camera but for reasons (you don't need to know the details) I can't get them in this post.  I will try to send another post right after this.  In the meantime, click on this link for stills.  http://www.architecturaldigest.com/shop/2014-10/dolce-gabbana-saks-windows

 I'm closing with a few images of the Kimono show.  I took photos of the descriptions but I think that's a bit TMI.

This kimono fabric design reminded me of the Matisse paper cuts we had just seen at MOMA.  If you get a chance to see that exhibit!

This is an under kimono.  They were more risqué or personal.  This one has the popular sheet music from the '20's.

This one was described as a peasant work kimono. 

I was surprised but pleased to see they included two of my favorite contemporary designers.  This is Yohji Yamamoto.

And this is Issey Miyake.

Home now with lots of inspiration.