Jeepers Kreepers!

Last week I was spending some quality girly-time with my dear friend Krickie of Razzmatazz Vintage (see a few posts back) in her wonderfully quirky, yet (for some) slightly over-the-top apartment in the East Village of NYC. Sipping a beer and chatting about possible plans for the night, I turned to my right to notice the strangest and awesomely hand-crafted creature I had ever laid eyes on. His name was Hurtty Turdy (pictured at left) and for me, it was love at first frightening sight. That is, until Krickie introduced me to the Kreepy Doll Factory, the creature-creating company from which she bought little Hurtty. She had met doll maker Daniel Baxter at the Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg, Brooklyn where she and Hayley were working their Razzmatazz booth. It was clear how she couldn't resist snatching up not only this particular little guy, but simply any one of Daniel's one-of-a-kind "Kreepy Dolls". Their hilarious names and descriptions along with their endearingly haphazard yet detailed construction, paired with brilliant color choices and amazing fabrics, make for the coolest toys in town. Below are some of my (hilarious) favorites from the website, I know I'm already thinking about which one I want as my own little creepy companion!
(Left to right: Charlie the Gigolo, Lary Grant, Hanalaya, Morocco Maboo, and Turd on the Floor)

Any-who?

A few months ago, I started following a great Scandinavian fashion blog called Anywho. Created and run by three (adorable) twenty-somethings, Ingrid, Elise, and Stephanie, it has the perfect combination of streetstyle photographs (often of the great outfits that the girls themselves wear), photos and info about new designers, as well as great shots behind and on the scenes of fashion shows. AND the posts are written in Swedish AND English! I have always had a soft spot for Swedish fashion because of its (in my opinion) more daring, quirky, and overall modern point of view. The collections always seem less trend-driven, and although I wouldn't call them "timeless" (because of the connotation that word usually has) I do feel that the clothes always look like they were simply the product of their creator, as if they can't be placed in a certain time or place.

So I check the blog pretty much daily now, (another thing I love about it, there are new posts almost every day) and I was surprised and pleased to see a video (a Vimeo video!) of backstage footage from Copenhagen Fashion week. First and foremost, the video is shot b-e-a-u-tifully. And the music and editing make it such a pleasure to watch, while providing you with wonderful backstage and runway footage of the collections and brief interviews with the lovely down-to-earth and inspiring designers. My favorite designers featured in the video would have to be Minimarket (check out the AMAZING shoes), Stine Goya (adorning the heads of models with floral wreaths? slightly distracting, yet it somehow works), and Henrik Vibskov. Fashion and film lovers alike, you will enjoy this I promise.




And here's an interview with the Anywho girls (the sound is kind of bad)!
 

If I Were a Boy...

...I would be wearing only Cole Haan shoes from this Fall 2010 ad campaign. Is it strange that I get jealous of guys? Because they get to wear cool, comfortable, beautifully and effortlessly designed shoes like these?

P.S. this ad campaign was shot by Todd Selby (of The Selby), that's why it looks so dang good!

Marc by Marc by Marc by Marc...

Well Mr. Jacobs, you've done it again. Just when we all thought perhaps you had taken a break from your overwhelmingly cute, severely quirky, and brilliantly merchandised global takeover you pull THIS fast one on us. The just-opened Marc Jacobs bookstore adorably, appropriately, (and somewhat predictably) named, "Bookmarc", became phase four (yes, four) of Jacobs' takeover of the west end of Bleecker St. in the West Village of NYC. Allow me to refresh your memory:

Phase 1: 403 Bleecker St., Marc by Marc Jacobs Womenswear
Phase 2: 385 Bleecker St., Marc Jacobs Collection Accessories (as of last week)
Phase 3: 382 Bleecker St., Little Marc Jacobs (childrenswear)
Phase 4: 400 Bleecker St., Bookmarc (books...maybe?)

So, in case this is the first you're hearing of the most recent acquisition of the MJ empire, here's the DL. Marc Jacobs has taken over the corner spot which previously belonged to Biography Books (a neighborhood staple for over 20 years) to open Bookmarc. Bookmarc will now sell the fun, quirky, and (most importantly) inexpensive accessories once sold at the Marc by Marc accessories store down the street, as well as (can you believe it?) actual books! (mainly of the art/design/coffee table variety) Now, I'll be honest, I was just as much a sucker as everyone else who found the cheap knick knacks splattered with ironic words/pictures and the "Marc by Marc Jacobs" logo somewhat irresistible. Marc by Marc wallets, keychains, t-shirts, tote bags? All under $30? Bring it! Eventually the excitement of a small, cheap piece of "designer" merchandise wore off (for a time at least), but I did however realize the genius of Jacobs' marketing plan. By making the Marc Jacobs name available to people (like broke college students) who may not be able to afford the clothes or shoes or handbags, Jacobs is not only making lots of extra money, but perhaps creating a sort of brand loyalty with people who love his work, but simply can't afford it... right now at least. But when the time comes, they will buy their first $1,000 purse from Marc Jacobs... and maybe a $3 keychain to go with it.

Which arises some questions: Is MJ only interested in making tons (and tons and tons) of money whether it be from 500 $2 keychains or 1 $1,000 purse? Is he not interested in who the MJ customer is as long as he/she is buying his merchandise? Or is he simply interested in making everyone a Marc Jacobs customer? I suppose we'll just have to sit back and where the Jacobian empire expands to next.

A quick word about the Biography Books. They haven't closed but simply moved to another location further East on Bleecker. After being a neighborhood staple for nearly 25 years, I find it sad that rents are being raised so high that important local joints characteristic of the neighborhood can't keep up. Leaving only multi-million dollar companies to snatch up the space. Can we be angry with companies such as Marc Jacobs for small more special business being forced to relocate or even worse, close down completely? (don't remind me of Florent, may it rest in peace) Or are they simply taking advantage of real estate no one else can afford? After all, they aren't responsible for the rise in rent prices, they're just the only ones who can pay it ... right? Apparently the Observer was quoted as saying "the new tenants at the former Biography Bookshop can look forward to paying eight times the lease owners Chuck and Carolyn Epstein signed ten years ago," on a street where some retailers are paying $80,000 per month. For a more, shall we say... negative take on the situation (but with some good points) read this.

Although I may be a little hesitant about the idea of Bookmarc based off principle, that doesn't mean to say that some of the merchandise I've seen thus far is, well, quite cheeky and quite irresistible (see pictures below). I agree with the Racked NY article in saying "well, I don't hate it".

Trees are Green Explosions Trapped in Time.

Wonderful. Found it under "Staff Picks" on Vimeo (which I finally created an account for). Enjoy.

Your New BFF.

I will start this post with a sort of disclaimer: on Oh My Goodness, I will never write about or promote the work or doings of friends simply because, well, they're friends. You will only see and read things here that I find inspiring and amazing, and if those things happened to be the product of some inspiring and amazing people whom just happened to be friends of mine? Then so be it.

So here we go. Today I shall introduce you to your new best friends: Razzmatazz Vintage and it's founders the Pisaturo sisters, Krickie and Hayley. A little history: I met the girls back in 2006, when Krickie and I were freshman at FIT and lived directly across the hall from one another, and Hayley was studying at Parsons. After countless nights of getting ready to go out together and hours of "does this outfit go?", I came to admire Krickie and Hayley's open-minded, yet clearly educated fashion sense. They seemed to approach dressing in such a fun and effortless way which I had never seen before, and on more than one occasion, have convinced me to try something I may have otherwise dismissed (I'm not just talking clothes) as "not my style".

With Razzmatazz, Krickie and Hayley have demonstrated their eye for fun, quirky, but well-made and interesting pieces, and to the benefit to all us vintage/bargain lovers! Upon meeting the sisters, it is impossible to ignore not only their amazing personal style, but their contagious laid-back yet fun and hilarious personalities (for example, don't be surprised if you see Hayley walking around sporting a pair of these bad boys), and I promise that you will not regret paying them a visit (at the Artists and Fleas flea market in Williamsburg) and checking out their awesome vintage finds! The prices are suuuper reasonable, and seeing the stash of clothes firsthand at their apartment I can promise you that the condition of the pieces is perfect. You can email the girls and ask for a private showing if you're interested in buying anything you see on the site, but I would highly suggest checking out their booth at the flea market! I've posted some pics of my favorite pieces below, but you can check out the Razzmatazz Vintage blog for more. I can't promise however that the clothes shown haven't been snatched up already!

Into the Forest Dress $25Grandpa Sweater $35

Sweatshirt $25 SOLD!Two Piece Crop Top and Shorts $25
Splatter Print Denim Shirt $20