Opening Ceremony
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Type of Place: Women's Clothing
Description:
There are over 90 designers represented at SoHo's Opening Ceremony, and
an interesting, eclectic retail diversion lies in wait--once you find
the shop. It took 3 native New Yorkers (not including myself), one map,
and one Palm Pilot to get me there--Howard Street being, apparently,
one of those streets we've all passed but can't easily recall. But the
range of merchandise and the cutting-edge finds make the shop well worth
the search.
Indie star Chlo=C3=AB Sevigny has worked with OC to bring out her own
clothing line, now on sale. I have always liked Chlo=C3=AB's smart,
creative style and so was a little surprised to find that her line is
pretty traditional. That said, her sleek black "Halter Party Dress" ($345)
and "Tight Sweetheart Dress" ($275) would work well for evening parties,
and her green-and-white-plaid "Mini Ruffle Dress" ($345) would get any
style-loving girl through an afternoon celebration.=20
Also on display now on the store's main level are t-shirts featuring
stills from filmmaker Wong Kar Wai's latest, "My Blueberry Nights" ($95),
and the CD of the film's soundtrack ($18.98). And among the vintage
wares are a cotton tea gown ($425), which a girl could get married in
and then wear at garden parties for years to come, and cute cotton eyelet
bloomers ($125).
Downstairs there are shoes, accessories, more artist-designed t-shirts,
art books, and magazines (including the fed-up title "F*ck This
Life"--asterisk mine--for $10). I loved Alexander Wong's "Coconut Dress,"
made of a funky combination of white silk and white terry cloth ($895);
Wren's slinky "silk dip-dye cami" ($225) and "raw ruffle cami" ($215);
and Miki Fukai's black jersey pleated dress ($215). Menswear's available
here too, though compared with the women's clothes, it seems quite
standard (a plaid oxford shirt is $175).
Upstairs, Kate Moss' line for Top Shop is available. I view Ms. Moss as
a model of moping and so was shocked to see what she's offering: not
the clothing version of "F*ck This Life" but, for example, a frankly
pretty white tunic dress with blue embroidery and a drawstring waist
($175) and a charming and sweet yellow sundress ($125). Katie, is this the
real you? Who knew?!
Questions to ponder as one browses the racks here. You'll have to dig
to find bargains, but style and artistry are readily apparent,
and--perhaps unlike the exact location of Howard Street--they make an indellible
impression.
- Pamela Grossman; May 4, 1008
Opening Ceremony
35 Howard Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 219-2688
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