A Walk to Soho on the Edge of Spring

A Downtown Flâneur
Today is the first day of Spring. It's sunny and chilly here in New York. Yesterday was the day before the first day of Spring. Rainy and cold. Under the gray sky, I decided to walk to Soho, perhaps to relieve the sameness of the apartment and to perk myself before tackling an essay for French class.

This arresting painting is on the wall

outside of a restaurant at Broome and Allen Streets.

I like the color-block style

coupled with the grotesque.

Connecting the dots, or blocks, as it were,
I came across this 1990's Todd Oldham dress
at pinkclouds for a grey day
a vintage shop...

A funny mural on Broome Street.
Hope she can run in those platforms.

Mr. Rabbit would like to greet Spring.

The perfect shop for my rainy day walk.
Vintage!

At pinkclouds - a scrumptious gown by Valentino.
A Spring green, the color of crocus shoots, with a delicate print of shells.

 An Oscar de la Renta blazer
on a pinkclouds hanger.

 Decor at pinkclouds.

A fabulous, giant brooch.
It's not vintage, just looks like it.

Blue enamel stars at pinkclouds...

Such a wonderfully curated shop. 
My thanks to Kylie Peterson of pinkclouds.

If you had time, you could have tea
at The Cafe on Broome Street:

But I must press on. I turn on West Broadway 
and head up to Uniqlo,
There I find Ines de la Fressange installed.
She has created a special line for the 
Japanese casual wear brand.

The color palette for the clothes is red, white and blue.
I sort of like the flower-patterned dress, but I think
it would look like a schmatta on me.

In general, I don't like dainty patterns.

Ines is the former muse of Karl Lagerfeld and modelled for his brand, Chanel. She grew up in an 18th c. mill outside of Paris, and is the granddaugther of Suzanne Lazard, the heiress to the Lazard banking fortune. She now has her own chain of clothing stores.

 Of course anything would look good on Ines.

 I have Ines' book, Parisian Chic.
In it she tell us that "a Parisian breathes the
air du temps and puts it to good use...
She is somewhere between rocker and
ho-hum bourgeois."
À mon avis, these clothes lean more to the ho-hum.

I prefer this graphic nuit et blanc look
from Marimekko.

And this Marimekko tunic and scarf as well.

Here's a better view of my tunic -- 
I'm here with Alice Carey at a tea party at
Debra Rapoport's apartment.
Photo by Nonnie Balcer

 Back to my rainy day walk.
I end up at Dean & Deluca, the splendid gourmet shop.
Could those be peonies?
Yes, Yes!

 Cakes at Dean & Deluca --
so beautiful...

And finally -- a little off the beaten path, but so interesting.
A collaboration between Isaac Mizrahi
and Kleenex for those darling little
tissue boxes ...
Vous avez du style!

À Bientôt!