Color, Do It!

She'll Wake You UP!
Let's start the new year with color. Why not? One of my go-to designers is Alpana Bawa, who absolutely lives, drinks and dreams color. She's a fashion artist and master of color and shape who has been a fixture in Lower Manhattan for years in one shop or another, and now has opened a colorful den of design on Elizabeth Street in NoLita (that's north of Little Italy).

Dresses designed by Alpana Bawa hang in her
Elizabeth Street Shop.

I'm posing on the path at Seward Park, my apartment building,

in my wool/cashmere Alpana coat. The hood is a great touch,

no need for a hat!

 In a Lower East Side Gallery with the perfect art for Alpana-wear.

Yet another of my Alpana coats this time in Soho.

The purple is divine. Philip Treacy fedora.

 Alpana's loft, where she had a sample sale last year.

Alpana is from India and came to the United States

to study fashion design at Parson's School of Design.

 Some dresses have intricate embroidery patterns.

 The whole dress with color-blocked sleeves and a Nehru collar.

A jacket with multiple colors and fabric types.

No matter how many colors she puts together,

the whole piece always works and ends up

looking wonderful on the edge of wild.

 A painting or a jacket?

Alpana uses natural fabrics like cotton, silk and cashmere.

The clothing is made in India.

 Alpana also designs accessories.

Her bangle bracelets use wood and color for a unique combination.

Wonderful silk scarves.

 A canine visitor to Alpana's shop.

 You can buy beautiful pillows and bags in her shop.

Alpana had a chrome Mies van der Rohe chair and 

added rock-climbing straps for a seat.

Alpana's  clothes and accessories are a joy to see and wear.

Let's get intoxicated with color in 2013!

Absolutely no morning-after hangover, I promise.