Quick Read
To my surprise, I wandering into INA Chelsea and quickly found myself lost in a book. A plethora of consigned fashion books are currently lining the shelves in Chelsea, the clothing featured on the glossed pages appearing within the racks, side by side.
First, I picked up a book written by Patrick Mauries called Jewelry by Chanel, featuring jewelry by Gabrielle Chanel, known for experimenting with lacquered wood and rococo mirrors. She is quoted in saying, her jewelry should be appreciated “with innocence, with naivety, like enjoying an apple tree in blossom along the road as we speed by in a car.”
Then I thumbed through Walking Dreams: Salvatore Ferragamo (1898 – 1960), distributed by D.A.P., discussing the cork wedge made from Italian wine stoppers and the stiletto heel, both invented by Ferragamo.
As a survey of fabrics, The New Textiles: Trends and Tradition by Chloe Colchester, follows the new technological advances of "intelligent fabrics", such as I found in the intelligent designs of Hermes penguin patterns and burlesque ladies decorating Dolce and Gabbana mens' ties.
Missonologlia: The World of Missoni, edited by Isa Tutino, restaged for my imagination an early runway show of the Missoni house. In 1967, the sheerness of lamé fabrics revealed itself under runway spotlights, causing a sensation and cementing Missoni's position as an expert design house. The enigmatic geometric zig-zag was everywhere to be found in INA Chelsea.
The last book I happened upon, Wild: Fashion Untamed by Andrew Bolton, documented a past exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The timeline of feathers and plumage traced, this book contains photographs from the Renaissance to hip-hop: bird-like adornment has not only been used for warmth, but as feminized decoration.
From top: Vintage Chanel ivory silk suit from the 1980s, lined in fluorescent green sequins; Giuseppe Zanotti beaded patchwork kitten heel; Dolce & Gabbana silk mens' tie with lady collage and Hermes silk mens' tie with kaleidoscopic penguins; Missoni multi-colored woven button-down sweater; Kirna Zabete plumage ankle strap heel.
20th Anniversary Gift Card Winner - Emile Askey
Emilie Askey, Head Technician in the Photography Program at the New School, was the April $500 Anniversary Gift Card Winner!
After visiting INA MEN in Nolita, he chose a Paul Smith
bag and a denim shirt by April 77.
INA NYC is giving away $500 Gift Cards on the 20th of each month this year in celebration of our 20 year Anniversary. How do you win one? LIKE the INA Facebook page for starters. Then be on the look out for the monthly contest announcement,"Like" the post and you could be next!
Ships in the Night
New York is a city known for its chance encounters, this line from a book describing it best:
Lynn Tillman writes, "Usually when I think about someone, he or she eventually turns up. In a train station, in a bookstore, crossing an alley, around a corner, that face presents itself, stamped onto the present like postage. I have sometimes thought, overdue postage."
I walk past a boy regularly on the street and underground, too. He is always wearing the same thing. Approaching the doorway to a store, I see the boy sitting at the entrance. He sits, collecting thoughts, and glancing at the approaching line of people. I pass through unnoticed, as he looks in the other direction wearing his uniform, the oddity of which lies in the noted influence of Japanese style on top of athletic style. And in his extremely slow way of walking through the crowded street. Antiquity mixed with sport.
His ensemble is comprised of a number of characters. Scrutinized in detail, these are:
One part, Victorian patient, in a crinkled straightjacket.
I look down at his shoes. The loafers have holes, maybe perforation, decorating them.
Another part, detective, suspicious in a high collared and loose trench coat.
The last part, a dandy, with a touch of magic realism – striped chinos and a button-down, rainforest printed jacket, the leaves changing from green to darker green.
From top: INA Nolita, Prada black, cotton cuffed crinkled jacket with tie front and open back; INA Nolita, Rochas white leather loafers; INA Nolita, Chloe olive trench coat with brown leather details; INA Noho, Bottega Veneta men's khaki belted pants; INA Noho, men's Marc by Marc Jacobs striped salmon & chocolate pants; INA Nolita, Dries Van Noten jacket with palm tree print.