Eva
Neighborhood: East Village
Type of Place: Women's Clothing
Jewelry
Description:
Maybe, just maybe, an upside to the economic downturn will be a
resugence of art and artists in NYC. For a while, when brokers and
bankers were flocking into small studios (for big rents) on Avenue C,
I despaired of artists being able to continue here at all. But perhaps
with times a-changing, there will be room for the arts, symbolically
and literally, once more. These thoughts came to me when, walking down
the Bowery, I spotted a very unusual necklace on a manequin in the
window. Could that be...human hair? (Yes it could, and it was, as it
turned out.) Not exactly my taste, but certainly interesting--and it
was great to spot something flat-out weird in the now-poshed-up area
where CBGBs used to be.
So yes, the necklace was human hair. (It was designed by Victoria
Simes for her Saltalamacchia line; price available on request; and
there are horse-hair models, too.) Once inside, I found lots of pieces
that *were* to my taste--and nothing that failed to interest (my notes
say, "Everything here is write-able!"). All the clothes and
accessories are from emerging, small-label designers.
The shop assistant asked me if I had any requests for music to browse
by--certainly a promising sign of a business that values creativity.
We agreed that she'd continue with the Talking Heads cd she'd been
listening to, and I dove in.
Yes, everything was write-able; but the pieces I jotted down include:
a spicy hot pink flapper dress from Blaque Label ($252); a
one-shouldered white silk blouse with graceful fabric "petals" ($185);
a grey polyester crepe trapeze dress ($309, from Stylein); a white
linen blouse with a pleated front and button collar, from Christopher
Blanken ($242); Samantha Pleet's black linen spaghetti-strap dress
with geometric gold buttons ($278); a sheer black polyester
sleeveless blouse with pleats and cowl neck, elegant and beautifully
constructed (I remember examining the delicate work on the pleats but
apparently forgot to examine the price); and t-shirts from the
amusingly named line Emotionally Unavailable.
I wasn't wrong in guessing that this shop is a genuine supporter of
arts at large: It also hosts art events. All are welcome; so bring a sketchbook
or a good read for the subway ride over and come prepared to be
inspired.
- Pamela Grossman; April 28, 2009
Eva
355 Bowery
New York, NY 10003
(212) 925-3890
Map
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