Downtown Fashion Safari
by Laurel PinsonPage 2 of 5
1:45pm I’m a sucker for advertising. If you’re an ad executive and you make a commercial and I don’t want to buy what you’re selling, you’re a failure. Currently, I’m lusting after Boston Terriers because ‘Baxter’ looks so cutely annoyed with his sneezing owner in that Zyrtec ad. So it should come as no surprise that I hustled into the pale pink frosting fairyland that is Rebecca Taylor after I saw a white lace bolero in the window over a flouncy peasant dress. It should come as no surprise as well that about 50 other women had the exact same idea. That day. “Omigod we totally got these in last night and they were, like, gone by noon,” pronounced the salesgirl. Slightly relieved to walk out without dropping the $295 for the bolero (though they’ll probably re-stock), I felt even better as I passed two women lamenting having taken a day to think about a dress, only to find it gone. “You were a fool!” said one. Indeed, Taylor’s managed to create the “it” spring look by pairing cropped, fitted jackets with flowing peasant tops and skirts, not to mention the $315 peasant dress that’s been featured in every fashion spread this month.
2:02pm I can’t ever walk past Only Hearts without stopping in to grab one of their lace-trimmed tanks or Ts. At about $70, they’re expensive, but delicate without being too sheer, and perfect for layering under a light sweater for cool spring evenings. I picked up two long cream-colored bead necklaces and a longer bronze beaded strand ($15 - $50).
2:25pm Passed a well-dressed woman walking a small dog sporting a hot pink sweater with a black skull and crossbones on the back. This to me is the essence of this neighborhood.
2:40pm I’ve now seen three vintage Vespas in the last three blocks. I don’t think I’ve seen even one Vespa in the last three weeks. Is this a fundamental part of the Nolita dress code, along with riding boots over jeans and shag haircuts?
