BIO + PRESS - BUDGET TRAVEL ONLINE - JULY 2006

A DIY Project Runway Tour: 10 New York Fashion Favorites

Adrien Glover Thursday, July 27, 2006;

10 New York Fashion Favorites

1. Fashion Walk of Fame Walk on the east side of Seventh Avenue (aka Fashion Avenue) between 35th to 41st streets, look down, and you'll see a series of white bronze plaques honoring fashion's greatest stars, 212/398-7943, fashioncenter.com In 2000, some 75 industry leaders voted to feature eight great designers--Geoffrey Beene, Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Rudy Gernreich, Halston, Claire McCardell, and Norman Norell. Today, there are 24 plaques in all, each featuring a sketch by the designer and his or her contribution to fashion.

2. Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute 1000 Fifth Ave., 212/570-3908, metmuseum.org, $20 recommended admission The Met has an extraordinary collection of more than 80,000 costumes and accessories from five continents and centuries--the largest collection of its kind in the world. Items range from an intricate early 1620s French doublet to a 1927 House of Chanel coat to Miguel Adrover's "I Love New York" dress (2000). Pieces from the permanent collection are incorporated into several exhibitions each year. While the Institute was founded in 1937, it was legendary fashion maven Diana Vreeland who brought vision to its exhibitions, creating such important shows as "Hollywood Design" (1974) during her tenure as a special consultant (1972-1989). Check out the "Trends of the Times: Fashion and Fine Art" tour on Aug. 11 at noon, which marries fashion history with the rest of the Met's permanent collection.

3. Prada Flagship Store 575 Broadway, 212/334-8888 A high-tech pricey, 25,000-square-foot fashion temple that's been likened to a museum. Opened in 2001 in the same SoHo building that housed the Guggenheim Museum's downtown annex, the Rem Koolhaas-designed space is anchored by a round elevator, a giant zebrawood half-pipe wave, and a rotating stage. Even if you can't afford a $400 Prada belt, take a gander at the magical, sliding glass changing-room doors, which act like two way mirrors, frosting over from the outside while remaining clear from the inside.

4. The Point 37a Bedford St., 212/929-0800, thepointnyc.com At this West Village yarn boutique, you can learn how to make your own gorgeous soft creations, like scarves. More advanced classes will teach you about cable stitches and more. No time for a class? Then peruse the beautiful nubbly skeins of hand-dyed yarn and enjoy tea and cupcakes at The Point Knitting Café. Small class, $75; includes yarn and needles.

5. Girls Love Shoes 85 Hester St., 917/250-3268, glsnewyork.com, Thurs.-Sun. 12-7 P.M. Heaven in heels. Zia Ziprin's vintage shoe store is stocked with over 2,000 pairs, a thousand of which are for sale. The other 1,000 she rents to designers and photographers. Her shoe archive, featuring features fabulous footwear from 1800 to the 1990s, will make any shoelover swoon. An appreciation of classics runs in the family--Ziprin's hippie mom had a vintage store in the same neighborhood in the 1960s.

6. Garment Center Walking Tour 212-209-3370, 866/795-4200, shopgotham.com, Wed. and Fri., 10 A.M.-1 P.M., Sept.-June, $75 Since the 1930s, the bustling Garment Center (generally between W. 35th and W. 41th Sts., between Fifth and Ninth Aves.) has been the center of the women's clothing industry in the U.S. It's full of factories, designer showrooms, and wholesale fabric and trimming stores. Shop Gotham's friendly, informative tour takes you behind the scenes of wholesale showrooms, sample sales, hidden fragrance importers, and handbags designers; savings can reach as high as 80 percent off retail prices. The shopping-heavy tours, which top out at 12 people, last about three hours.

7. Juvenex Spa 25 W. 32nd St., 646/733-1330, juvenexspa.com When you feel fantastic you look fantastic, and this hidden Koreatown oasis is just the spot for some affordable pampering. Rejuvenation remedies from around the globe are administered 24/7. Even world-weary spa vets get slack-jawed over its Jade Igloo sauna. Just $65 buys four-hour access to the sauna and tubs, a diamond-shaped glass steam room with Chinese herbal infusions, a detox sauna made of yellow clay, and a soaking saturated with ginseng, seaweed, or tea. Massages from $75 for 30 minutes.

8. New and Almost New 166 Elizabeth St., 212/226-6677, Tues.-Sat. 12-6:30 P.M., Sun. 1-5 P.M. Maggie Chan handpicks every accessory and piece of "slightly used" clothing she sells in her NoLita designer consignment and resale boutique. She refuses to stock trendy items and focuses solely on well-made classic formal and casual wear that's affordable (there's nothing over $300) and that never goes out of style. The shop's popularity ensures a constantly changing inventory. Look for sales, when Chan reduces her already low prices by 20-50 percent.

9. Femmegems 280 Mulberry St., 212/625-1611, femmegems.com It's fun to flash fabulous baubles, but it's even more satisfying if you've made the jewelry yourself. In late 2002, Lindsay Cain, who used to make her own versions of designer jewelry, opened a cute store where other DIY types could unleash their own mix and match styles. Cain supplies everything you need, including unique beads and semi-precious stones, and sells designer creations too. Necklaces from $35, earrings from $10, individual stones from $4.

10. Bar 89 89 Mercer St., 212/274-0989 Still cool after all these years. A long-time model hangout that's worked hard to earn its reputation as one of SoHo's best bars and bistros. The black and white minimalist décor is accented by eclectic art, fruity cocktails, and heaping plates of yummy nachos (proof that models do eat!). The kitchen stays open daily to 1 A.M. Its see-through unisex bathroom doors are a must-see.