Dame Lori at the Thrift Shop
August 24, 2009, 4:10 PM
By Lori Sutherland
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Hello Shoppers!
It's the Dame here, your personal soul stylist reporting from my favorite thrift shop in NYC, (described by Vogue magazine as “the highest quality thrift shop in New York”)... City Opera Thrift Shop, where Opera is Ultra Chic and Thrift is Très Cheap! Shopping and styling with soul is what keeps me alive with the drive for the next great find. Please join me on this quest...
There is so much going on here. First off,the Annual Pre-Season Coat Sale is in full swing in the ‘Orchestra’ & ‘Balcony’ sections, where I have seized a BRAND NEW brown suede shearling car coat from Barneys New York for a steal of $124! As I try it on in the 95 degree weather, I flash upon my mom buying me my first when I was 16 for braving cold Ohio winters.
Clutching the coat madly, I head downstairs to the ‘Orchestra Pit’ to meet Jay Thompson, the store’s brilliant manager, where the donations are received, reviewed, relished (or rejected) and then rushed up to the ‘Orchestra & Balcony’ levels for sale.
Today is the day to capture the essence of their upcoming Fall Preview on Thursday, September 10th, as a participating retailer in Fashion’s Night Out 2009, a global retail initiative to promote retail and restore consumer confidence. This is going to be happening all over the world and it is quite the event to honor retailers and their recent journey.
Jay has lovingly set aside a rack of must-sees for the season. As I am flipping through, he is declaring with arms spread out that "There are no seasons!" Aha...the perfect direction for keeping in mind the fall theme: Thrift is the New Black. I ask Iola Latman, the mistress of merchandising and Lauren Bridgeman, the store's genius stylist, where the stashes of scarves, hats and belts are tucked away....oh my heavens, the high stack of accessory boxes are parties of joy waiting to be worn.
As I am scouring the pit searching for more inspiration, I realize what my true source is: George Steele, NYCO's new General Manager and Artistic Director, and the amazing selection of operas he is offering for the 2009 – 2010 season. I have had the delight of chatting with him twice already, the first at Isabel Toledo's F.I.T. retrospective where George was with his charming, stylish wife, Sarah, and recently when shooting a styling segment at the shop with Fox & Friends’ Alyson Camarata and he was riffing on the fascinating unity between Opera & Fashion. It was divine!
And I started thinking about how to celebrate this collaboration come Fall...what soulful finds will best represent an evening at the Opera, what looks are inspired by the extraordinary Opera Divas live on stage...all the while showing off the fall must-have trends on sale at the shop. So with that in mind, I came up with 6 ensembles that are available to you this fall:
1. Okay, I adore this look....and if there is ever an opera inspired by Joan Collins in Dynasty, this is THE LOOK!
Vintage Metallic Gold & Ivory Velvet Leopard Print Dress, $75
2. This is dedicated to our most faithful geisha girl, Madama Butterfly....
Bisou Bisou Black Floor Length Tank Dress w/ metallic star studded & diamond galaxy, $35
Neon Green & Reversible Black Silk Jacquard Evening Jacket, $50
3. I think this outfit definitely has that revolutionary Queen Esther look to it...
Brown Leather Coach Coat with shearling fur collar,$150
Brown Escada Twin Sweater Set with black metallic thread, $75
Brown skinny leather & cold coin belt, $15
Faux python skinny pants, $25
4. This symbolizes high ranking splendor...which Donna in Don Giovanni would wear this, Anna or Elvira?
Rusty Red Ferragamo Opera Cape, $125
Black scarf with black embroidered flowered pockets, $20
White vintage chiffon evening blouse, $25
Black & Silver studded wide leather belt, $15
Black leather Michael Kors jeans, $150
5. I love a great disguise and so does Rosmira in Partenope....
Suede Embroidered Vest w/ Tibetan Lamb Collar, $49
Ivory pointelle long sleeve mini dress, brand new, $50
Vintage Coach brown leather belt, $25
Anime wool hat, $8
Ivory aviator fringed scarf, $8
Ivory pointelle long sleeve mini dress, brand new, $50
Vintage Coach brown leather belt, $25
Anime wool hat, $8
Ivory aviator fringed scarf, $8
6. This is very noblle-like and powerful...perhaps for Laoula in L'Étoile?
Christian Dior Dawn Mink Coat, princess style with full length flair, appraised: $25,000, sale: $4,000
Gold long oblong scarf, $45
Henry Bendel ivory cashmere sweater with self tie, $35
Marc Jacobs purple shantung silk evening trousers, $75
Gold double braided necklace w/ tassel, $20
Gold long oblong scarf, $45
Henry Bendel ivory cashmere sweater with self tie, $35
Marc Jacobs purple shantung silk evening trousers, $75
Gold double braided necklace w/ tassel, $20
Dear Men, although I did not highlight any men's looks....there is always a nice big section of great finds for you--so please come!
See you all Thursday, September 10th. Shop and style with me and the crew to the great vibrations and arias from NYCO’s mezzo-soprano Heather Johnson. It's amazing what we dare to wear when soaring with sound into the wee hours, too....11:00 PM.
My next post will be about the Costume Event on October 14th....Jay & Eric, the major domo Director of Retail Operations, are going to transform the store into a downtown costume institute selling over 100 costumes donated from the archives of New York City Opera. Also on hand, will be some saucy merry maidens modeling for you.
After that, it is all about the much anticipated Vintage Event on October 28th...oh the goodies galore...
May your days be filled with fun finds, music to fill your heart and style to feed your soul,
The Dame, Lori Sutherland www.damelori.com
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