stylish finds...shelter island and greenport

If you fancy the seaside but not the crazy hammy Hamptons I'd give Shelter Island and the little fishing village of Greenport a try. Here are some of the gems I have discovered there...

...Shelter Island...

Marie Eiffel is officially taking over the island...pop in for coffee/ croissants/ lunch/ ice cream and sit outside on the pontoon at Reddings

Her boutiques up the road stock kaftans, dresses, sandals, jewels and home wares to die for
A drink at Sunset Beach is worth it for the people watching and Vine Street Cafe is apparently the best foodie spot on Shelter

...Greenport...

Jump on the ferry and enjoy chocolate croissants and very strong coffee at Aldo's (put the kids on the carousel opposite)

Do not miss Beall and Bell antiques, some amazing finds and really good prices (open Thursday and through the weekend)

Pop in for a chat with the lovely Elizabeth at her store The Times Vintage, I picked up some great vintage tops and just missed an epic lace dress

Try Goldy and Mac for well priced dresses and tops in stylish prints and Lido for stylish beach bags, linens and throws
Book dinner at the Frisky Oyster or the famous Noah's
Make sure you try the tacos and tequila at Lucharitos and the Fork and Anchor for yummy sandwiches

Enjoy x

new york sample sale...beyond vintage

Going with the girls to this on Monday...mark your diaries...got some great tops last year...see their collections here x

new york and london events and sales you must not miss...

Lots going on in New York and London...

The Manhattan Vintage Clothing Sale - well worth a visit this Friday and Saturday, Warby Parker (great glasses and shades + they donate a 2nd pair to people in need) are parking their school bus around town this weekend...it is the last chance to experience Farm Yoga to Table Dinner ...and Theory appear to be offering scratch cards with great discounts, wander in to grab one, they're valid until mid-November, plus The Outnet friends and family 20% off discount starts today! 

In London French Sole are hosting a warehouse sale you shouldn't miss,  Lulu Frost (amazing jewels - stocked in J.Crew over here and on Net-A-Porter) launches a collection at Whistles next week (Whistles are also on mid-season sale at the moment), and Feather & Stitch are having an autumn event, offering 10% off and personal styling. KJ's Laundry kicked off their sale this week as well. Enjoy x

vintage handbags by nula thanhauser

My friend Kaitlin has been working with her magpie Mother, Nula Thanhauser, to unveil her extensive collection of vintage bags. She's been collecting for thirty years and is known as an expert in vintage circles. I might keel over when I see the Art Deco originals and the custom collection, which are made from vintage frames and antique fabrics. The show opens today (11-7.30pm) at The Park Avenue Armory until Monday 24 Sept (11-5.30pm). 

new york flea markets

The one thing I love about being here is the access to incredible flea markets. While my dear husband calls them jumbles sales, to me they are heaven. I popped along to the Brooklyn flea on Saturday which is currently held in the old Williamsburg Bank Building (stunning inside) and spied a gorgeous Stella McCartney at Sweet Ps' stall, a really cool giant bulb lamp (which we bought) from millie and corina, a gorgeous powder blue maxi dress (and lots more) from Papushka Vintage...and then I got dragged home.

happy christmas...

I am hibernating in deepest darkest Surrey

...I will be instagraming pretty things as secretstylist...

Wishing you have a very Happy Christmas and a rocking 2012!

*image via the vogue vibes

new york shopping: what's inside...the beyond vintage sample sale

I spent a good chunk of yesterday trying on 75 million things at the Beyond Vintage sample sale, met the lovely owner Elizabeth and chatted styling dilemmas with girls in the changing room. I picked up two glamorous tops and a lace dress, each for around USD 60. There were still some goodies left (so much better than waiting in line at Jil Sander)...the sample sale finishes at 7pm today, details here. For more sample sale alerts follow me on twitter, James Perse coming soon...

online vintage shopping: lovely's vintage emporium

In keeping with the theme, I was reading about Lovely's Vintage Emporium, checked it out and really liked the look of the site. Pretty, simple and clean (which is refreshing for vintage websites), great picks and reasonable prices. They also deliver worldwide for a flat fee of GBP 12. Funny that she is married to Nasty Nick, my friend went out with him many moons ago. Small world. I spied...

new york shopping: beyond vintage sample sale

Don't forget tomorrow is the...

new york: upper east side treasure

I have actually been loving living temporarily on the Upper East Side. If you dodge the plastic surgery then its actually a really nice area to wander and I have found some great places for lunch, coffee, pedi/manis and a fair few good shops (which I will soon add to the New York Guide tab above). One of those, which I dragged my West Village addict to, was jewellery treasure trove Jennifer Miller (70th-71st and Lex). Well priced, sparkly or colourful, with a million styles available, this place is worth a trip uptown. We were hunting for her wedding rehearsal dinner earrings - a serious mission.

These are the front runner, they look totally stunning on

These are second choice, along with some vintage ones we found

I love these, they come in pearl, grey and turquoise too

portobello

I was hanging out with Ginge last Friday, the sun was shining (for once) so I was able to remove my thermals and sit outside for coffee, lunch and drinks. Bliss. I am sure you've all been to Portobello market, or have heard of it, so you will know that the best time to go is on Friday morning, rather than the hectic tourist-tastic Saturday version. Start with a coffee at Kitchen & Pantry and then work your way left along the stalls, check out Appletree Boutique for great tops and dresses, and Darimeya for more pretty dresses. Wander until you discover to the brilliant vintage stalls under the westway. Potter around there and then wander back the way you came and hang a right to lunch outside at the pretty Italian Osteria Basilico. Check out Couverture & The Garbstore then back onto the market walking through the antiques area until you reach Westbourne Grove, head left and discover designer goodies at Joseph, Maje, Sandro, Les Petites and my fave Heidi Klein (which is now on sale). Don't miss the Mary’s Living & Giving shop at number 177. Then treat yourself to scones and elderflower water (wild) at Daylesford Organic. A pretty perfect London day.

vintage photos

Scott over at The Sartorialist had the genius idea of asking people to submit their vintage family photos for his blog. The results are pretty fascinating. I am in the UK at the moment and popped into see secretstylist senior senior. We were having a look at some albums and I found these pics below...terribly self-indulgent of me to post them but I do love looking back at old photos and seeing how stylish people were back then. I also found out that my Grandmother often made her own clothes for herself and for my Mother, for about 1p (GBP pence) veryresourceful.com...

My Grandmother and my Mother on the beach in Scotland

My Mother in the outfit my Grandmother made for her in 1949 out of "a long remnant which cost 3d" that's the equivalent of 1.5 pence/0.72 of an HK cent (my maths could be hideously wrong though!)

My Grandmother in her own design,  made in 1934 from remnants again! It cost about 18 pence/ 2.16 HK cents

There they are again, a few years later in 1964, looking very chic!

a little gem on sai street

I love Sai Street in Sheung Wan, I think it is one of the few remaining spots perfect for wandering around. I found a great little vintage store at No.51 ages ago and went back last week to discover even more gems (see below). Vintage hats, jewels, dresses, bags....all sorts. You saw the shoes on Facebook, you loved them but I was so well behaved and didn't purchase, size 39, Camilla Skovgaard...a bargain at HKD1380. They will be having a little Sai Street sale on Sunday 14th, give Ann Hung a call on 9028 9797 for more details. While you are there pop to Sin Sin, then walk to nearby Tung Street and check out Loveramics and the gorgeous flower shop, which unfort I can't recall the name of...useless blogger x

hong kong shopping: artek at horizon plaza

I popped into the black hole that is Horizon Plaza the other day. I'm pretty disciplined when I go there now...use the stairs/don't wander/only buy coffee in Tree/stay calm in the Lane Crawford outlet. I did, however, stray from my chosen path and stumble upon a very cool vintage furniture store which I thought you might like. Artek is on the same floor as Inside (another danger zone) at unit 1208-1209, they have stunning vintage leather chairs, art deco lamps, cool artworks and a lot of random knick-knacks, which remind me of when my mother used to drag me around smelly antique shops, Artek doesn't smell though. Have a peek at what they have in store....

Artek, 12th floor Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, tel 2515 2333 / email artek@biznetvigator.com

spotted at the vintage sale...

Spotted at the Vintage sale...stunning long green Louis Féraud dress (check Lady Lav rocking it below), gorg Ossie Clark red skirt, awesome sparkly gold gloves and more. All the good stuff is going quick so get down there! The Jacksons are at the sale too, making their first appearance in Hong Kong with their gorgeous bags and stylish wedges...sale details here...it is on until Saturday.