Back in June we reported the news that everyone’s favorite fashionable foodie, Queer Eye‘s Antoni Porowski, was working on opening his very first restaurant right here in NYC. Well, fans of both the Netflix series and strict diet plans, can now rejoice – The Village Den is officially open for business (and it’s as adorable as Antoni himself).
The fast-casual spot serving up veggie and protein bowls a step above Dig Inn or Sweetgreen is particularly catered to the health-conscious set, with a menu that marks whether a meal is Whole30, Paleo, ketogenic, plant-based, vegetarian, dairy, or gluten-free. Porowski, along with partners Lisle Richards and Eric Marx (New York hospitality vets behind hot spots such as Gilded Lily) decided to keep the name The Village Den in homage to the space’s former identity, a diner considered a West Village institution.
But while the name may recall the past, the interiors are decidedly modern. With the help of architect firm Buro Koray Duman, the space has been transformed into an airy, Instagrammable haven for fit chicks with fun graphic art and a 3-D latticework structure that steals the show. #OOTD anyone?
The menu also includes plenty of smoothie options, with specialty add-ins like MCT oil, spirulina, matcha, and even a detox supplement. Unsurprisingly, avocados make plenty of appearances – they are practically Antoni’s primary food group.
Brunch. It’s the most important meal of the week. While you’ve likely your go-to spots, and must-orders, what’s the harm in shaking things up once in a while?
Bluebird London
From its mainstay location in Chelsea London to its brand new digs at Columbus Circle, Bluebird’s modern brasserie vibes are a transatlantic crowd pleaser. Nothing on the menu of classics disappoints, but that being said, don’t you dare leave without ordering the Triple Cooked Fries.
You’ve got to love a restaurant that features an item named, “THIS IS NOT AVOCADO TOAST.” Brimming with vegan and gluten free dishes and swaps, this slightly Mexican spot works for pretty much everyone (AKA, for you non-plant based humans, they’ve got plenty of bacon and braised pork to choose from).
Ever since its grand opening, The Freehand Hotel has made a veritable hotspot of Flatiron. But the buzzy place is more than just its rooftop bar, Broken Shaker. Restaurant Simon & The Whale may just be the piece de resistance of Gabriel Stulman’s portfolio (which includes other heavenly brunch spots as Joseph Leonard, Bar Sardine, and Fedora). Pumpkin Butter Liege Waffles, anyone?
Natura Cafe just opened inside The Dream Downtown, and already it’s a destination for health-minded-ish people just looking to get down over a plate of Cottage Cheese and Peach Toast, topped with pistachios and drizzled with wild flower honey. Add on their wide range of sandwiches, salads, and a mean Baked Huevos Rancheros, and this place is a clear hit.
Feel like spicing things up a bit? That regular old egg scramble can wait until next weekend. Hit up Soho’s newest hotspot (with an 8os-retro vibe), specializing in Indian street food that may be carb-heavy, but is also gluten-free – so you win some you lose some.
I say Tagliatelle, you say Tortellini…whichever pasta you crave, you can find it all this Pasta Day! From Greek style orzo to gluten free dishes, your dinner options have never looked so pasta-tively perfect!
Don Angie
Don’t miss Don Angie’s modern takes on Italian classics, especially their infamously Insta-worthy lasagna. It’s technically made for two, but we won’t judge.
You might spot some models or celebs at downtown hot spot Bar Pitti, but more importantly, you’ll definitely spot some mouthwatering pastas! This casual yet chic space boasts some of the best ravioli and homemade pasta dishes in the city.
They might have moved to the James Hotel but Scarpetta is still going to be your favorite spaghetti spot! For homemade pastas, from the tomato sauce and basil to tagliatelle with crabmeat, this is the best pasta you’ll get without taking a plane to Italy! With five star service in a trendy setting and staff that makes you feel like family – from Enzo’s greetings to server Nas’s recommendations – make a reservation now for girls night or date night this pasta day!
For a stylish pasta experience, it doesn’t get any classier than Sant Ambroeus! The chic fave will make you feel like you’re having pasta for the very first time with dishes including their Acquarello risotto with 36-month aged parmigiano or prosciutto filled ravioli. Don’t forget to pose with your food, wink wink.
Serving house-made pastas with a hip vibe, La Pecora Bianca in Nomad or Midtown East has the perfect dishes for even the most discerning pasta lover! Their extensive menu features everything from seafood linguine to garganelli, tagliattelle, gnudi and gramigna. Pretty legit.
For food that’s just as fun as the atmosphere, head to Bagatelle where Executive Chef Andrew Riccatelli will serve up a lobster tagliatelle comprised of house-made pasta, pomodoro sauce and roasted garlic. The dish has a price tag of $85 but you’re worth it!
For pasta day Greek style, head to celeb chef Maria Loi’s Loi Estiatorio which will have you saying opa with every bite! You’ll definitely want to try the Loi Orzo with wild shrimp, tomato, onion and garlic, or the Loi Macaroni – her orzo is so good it’s even available in stores around the country!
From farfalle to lobster-filled ravioli, you’ll find any type of pasta you want at Serafina! This cult favorite which now has spots around the world, is still our go-to for tasty Italian favorites in oh so stylish surroundings.
Homemade Garganelli, anyone? If it’s at Morini, yes please! This place knows how to do serious pasta plates and even offers low gluten pasta. Whether you order the Tortellini or Tagliatelle, you can’t go wrong!
Trendy fast-casual spot The Sosta is serving up great pasta with girl power as they continue their all-female guest chef series with Colu Henry, culinary writer, recipe developer, and cookbook author. ‘Colu’s Spaghetti alla Norma’ features eggplant, oregano, basil, garlic, chili flakes, tomato, and ricotta salata, and is available throughout the month.
Celeb Chef David Burke’s latest spot, Woodpecker, will be dishing out squid ink rigatoni and cavatelli, along with wine perfectly paired with each dish. Don’t miss the $5 pasta happy hour at the bar (3-7 pm, 9 pm-close) so you can enjoy all the Pocono Spaghetti made with zucchini, garlic and pecorino cheese you can handle!
No pasta day would be complete without chowing down at Il Mulino, the old school staple for classic pasta dishes at their original Greenwich spot or Uptown location. Try the rigatoni Bolognese or Bucatini for the perfect pasta day experience!
It’s hard walking through Little Italy as someone who’s dairy-free. Whether it’s a diet or lifestyle choice, seeing people spooning scoops on scoops of creamy gelato can give you major foodie FOMO.
But now, even vegans can get in on the sweet dessert action!
Downtown gelato, coffee, and pastry shop Polosud has just launched some limited edition treats that are both guilt-free and majorly Insta-worthy. The brainchild of Polosud’s Pastry Chef Giacomo D’Alessandro, the avocado gelato is made using fresh avocados sorted out directly at the market. Scooped in a real avocado shell, the gelato can be personalized with any flavor, making it the ideal indulgence for any type of eater. For non-vegans Chef D’Alessandro suggests combining it with Nocciola for its nice salty taste; vegans can opt for Chef D’Alessandro’s award winning Dark Chocolate Surprise topping.
Only 40 are being made daily, so stop by and snap a pic (before devouring it) ASAP!
As nice as receiving a bouquet of beautiful flowers may be, we’d choose a box of these floral cookie creations by Chef Lori A. Stern any day!
The perfect sweet addition to any soiree, each one of Chef Lori’s signature cookies is uniquely designed and handmade. A Vanilla shortbread base pressed with gorgeous, handpicked edible flowers and herbs picked straight from her organic garden, these too-pretty-to-eat treats taste as good as they look.
Available to purchase online, cookies stay fresh for up to 3 weeks!
The woman, the myth, the legend. Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor lived every aspect of her fascinating life stylishly. She was known for her captivating glamour, exorbitant jewelry collection, and unmatched passion for life, both onscreen and off. Of course, this joie de vivreled her to quite the jet-set lifestyle – but you wouldn’t ever find her roughing it, even at 30,000 feet.
Tim Mendelson, who worked as Taylor’s chief of staff for more than 20 years and is currently a trustee for the House of Taylor, gave us some insider insight into the actress’s travel secrets. How did she stay looking fabulous up in the air? How did she manage to transport her jewels? Click through for the very inspiring answers. Let’s just say you’ll think twice before boarding a plane in sweatpants ever again.
[Photo Frank Worth, Courtesy of Capital Art/Getty Images]
What were Elizabeth’s favorite destinations for each season?
Elizabeth spent much of her adult life traveling the globe. Whether on location making a film, promoting her stunning fragrances, or helping to save millions of lives from the devastation of HIV/AIDS, she was always working, always a mother, always on the go, and always in love.
Elizabeth’s favorite vacation destinations were warm and tropical. She spent much of her downtime in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where she and Richard Burton owned a home. Acapulco, Africa, the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, the South of France, and Thailand were amongst her other favorite vacation spots as well.
Did she have any must-stay hotels?
Elizabeth, being one of the most photographed and sought after women on the planet, would usually stay in villas and private homes while on vacation. Elizabeth traveled with a large entourage—comprised mostly of her children, assistants, nannies, pets and hairdresser—therefore she needed the extra space to accommodate everyone. A hotel didn’t allow her much privacy, and privacy was of paramount importance for relaxation.
What were her in-flight essentials?
Elizabeth traveled in style and had quite a few bags containing various in-flight necessities. In her handbag, she carried lipstick, lip gloss and a lipliner all in the same color; a small Judith Lieber metal comb; Kleenex; a small magnifying mirror; eyeshadow; eyedrops; and sunglasses.
Elizabeth’s Louis Vuitton Train Case held her perfumes – once Elizabeth started her fragrance line she was loyal only to those in her collection. White Diamonds was her favorite, but at other times in her life she would bring and wear whichever fragrances she was most enchanted with and combined them to create her own unique scent. Along with perfume, the case contained a manicure set, a Cartier Travel Clock, earplugs and sunscreen. Also, baby shampoo was very important for cleaning her Krupp Diamond (The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond) and Elizabeth wore that huge, 33-carat stone every day—no matter where she was on the planet.
Elizabeth also traveled with two Bottega Veneta duffel bags while in flight. One was specifically designated for jewelry. The other contained a good book or two, a luscious cashmere throw and cardigan, her address book, a pair of fluffy socks, and two super soft Porthault boudoir pillows that she affectionately called “baby pillows.”
What was her go-to luggage?
During her marriages to Mike Todd and to Richard Burton, Elizabeth had custom floral pattern carpet bag luggage with matching oversized trunks. The trunks were important because she traveled with a huge entourage of children, animals, secretaries, nannies, and hairdresser. Starting from the 1980s, Elizabeth used Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta luggage exclusively. What made Elizabeth’s luggage stand out were the purple “MINE” tags attached to every piece – they represented her signature color and unique sense of humor.
What were her rules for vacation dressing?
Since most of Elizabeth’s vacation spots were warm and tropical, she wore caftans primarily, both for their comfort and easy glamour. Elizabeth frequently wore scarves in her hair, gold hoop earrings and bangle bracelets, sunglasses, and a good tan.
How did she pack/organize her jewelry when traveling?
When traveling, Elizabeth’s important jewels were kept in their original boxes and Cartier, Bulgari and Van Cleef and Arpels primarily. The more casual jewelry was organized into soft cases separated by style, stone colors, etc. Elizabeth had regular favorites, along with her newest pieces which were always included.
She also traveled with jewelry basics (so to speak), that worked with almost every outfit and were included just in case. The basics were things like gold chains of different lengths, bangle bracelets, and other pieces that worked together. She loved to layer her jewelry and most importantly, Elizabeth needed to have choices.
What were her jet-set secrets?
Elizabeth frequently took a nap on the plane depending on the travel distance. She drank tons of water and wore jewelry throughout the journey: boarding, departing, arriving and obviously, in flight.
Tracee Ellis Ross’s voluminous Valentino gown looked fabulous on the red carpet last night at the 2018 Emmys, but, it turns out, wearing it was even more fun. “I felt like I was floating in fashion heaven,” shared Ross postshow, and one glimpse at the look makes it easy to understand why. With its layers of fuchsia taffeta plissé and lengthy train, the piece was a standout in the house’s sumptuous Fall 2018 couture show, which took place in July at the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild in Paris. Ross, who sat front row with stylist Karla Welch, even got emotional. “[Designer] Pierpaolo Piccioli is an artist of the highest caliber,” she said. “I cried when I saw this collection at couture week in Paris, and it was truly an honor to wear this gown.”
Both Ross and Welch made their mental selections, as models breezed down the runway. “I think Tracee and I kept hitting each other [saying] this one, this one,” said Welch, who compared the collection with a religious experience. Though there were several arresting looks, it was the fuchsia number on model Felice Noordhoff that made the strongest impression. Ross and Welch chose to forgo the matching floral headdress to create a beachy vibe, inspired by the surfers of Dakar, Senegal. “[I] thought, It’s easy to just add big bling and be so extravagant,” Welch said. Instead, they skipped the megawatt jewels in favor of understated earrings from Repossi and a tie-dye Edie Parker clutch that pulled it all together. “It just clicked,” added Welch. “Everything felt personal.”
That vibe carried over into the beauty look: a flash of orange Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow courtesy of makeup artist Lisa Storey paired with slicked-back curls by hairstylist Johnnie Sapong. “My lids were inspired by the zinc sticks that surfers use to protect their skin,” said Ross, who considered the hair and makeup among her favorite parts of the total look.
Ross was nominated for the third consecutive year for her performance on Black-ish, and she handled her big night with humor. Though she admitted to preshow nerves, they were overshadowed by her epic fashion moment and signature joie de vivre. “I have a desire to utilize the moment when nominated, but no matter what, at an event like the Emmys, I like to create a look that I’m not gonna laugh at in 10 years,” said Ross. “Although, that might be inevitable!” Even a decade from now, Ross’s Valentino moment is sure to register as another fashion win, a fact Welch credits to their friendship and shared love of exceptional clothes. “We have fun together—that’s the goal,” said Welch. “We both eat up fashion. [It’s] sort of a match made in heaven. This time, heaven was a beach in Dakar!”
As someone who’s rubbed elbows in the realm of fashion for years, I have met countless editors, bloggers, influencers, and street style stars. Contrary to popular belief, many of them are totally cool. But of all the people I religiously Insta stalk, no one has proven nicer, more relatable, or more fabulous than Caroline Vazzana.
A fashion editor turned fashion celeb, Caroline made the scary jump from working full-time at InStyle to focusing on her own creative brand. With over 180,000 Insta followers, features in top glossies, and a must-read website, I’d say she’s doing pretty well. And while her colorful approach to style certainly stands out, what makes Caroline truly unique in a sea of influencers is how eager she is to share her success.
Her site, Making It in Manhattan, not only features fun fashion and shopping stories, but also tons of practical advice for anyone looking to establish a real career in the industry. From behind-the-scenes stories of the #hustle, to tips for networking and interning, it’s a valuable resource for those looking to land their dream job – or dream life, in Caroline’s case.
And, if her penchant for shoes and showstopping outfit choices weren’t enough to compare her to Carrie Bradshaw, she has now broken through to the publishing world. Seriously, between running around from runways to red carpets, girl wrote a freakin’ book! Never say there aren’t enough hours in the day, people.
Inspired by her blog (or was it the other way around? – more on that later), Making It in Manhattan,THE BOOK, is a “beginner’s guide to surviving and thriving in the world of fashion.” In it, Caroline sheds some light on her journey, shares funny stories from the scene, and, most importantly, provides useful tips for fashion industry hopefuls. It’s a must-read – one that will make you laugh one minute, and want to take extensive notes the next.
Ahead of the book’s release on August 21 (pre-order it HERE),
There’s no better way to be fashion-forward than by looking back in time – that’s why so many style stars can thank thrifting for their unique ensembles. However, the practice can be exhausting. Having to dig through piles and racks of clothes in hopes of finding that one great piece. The Break, a contemporary boutique based in Greenpoint, wants to change the way people shop for vintage.
Founded in 2014 by a fellow vintage shopper, Hannah Richtman, The Break started online as a way to sell fun finds. In 2016, it became a full-fledged brick-and-mortar that values sustainability, inclusivity, and diversity. No wonder the cool girls flock.
Truly unlike any other vintage or thrift shop in NYC, The Break is more than just a store. It’s an event space, community center, and place for fashion-lovers to truly come together. Founder Richtman and COO Sarah Frey spend every Monday sourcing new items, so they’re always offering up new treasures for their customers.
Vintage pieces from brands like Ralph Laurenand Jennifer Moore are sold at the fraction of the price. They’ve also expanded to sell contemporary brands like Hara the Labeland TUZA, which are sustainable brands that use natural materials and value safe manufacturing.
The Break makes it even more convenient to browse with an online shop and a chance to buy from their Instagram story. They also occasionally feature items from their shop for final sales and they can be bought on demand through Instagram.
When you step in the store you’re met with a chill, minimalist atmosphere – nothing like the chaotic vintage stores you’re used to. Curated racks of vintage and contemporary clothes, shoes and accessories fill the space. It’s oddly…calming? With velvety curtains for the dressing rooms and the occasional trays of rosé that may greet you, it’s really a place you want to hang out (and Instagram) in.
More than just stylish clothes and accessories, The Break hosts some pretty stellar events that are always open to the public and offer a great time with great people. They recently held their very own fashion show for NYFW aptly titled “Break NYFW.” Spotlighting models of all shapes, sizes, and shades, their runway certainly broke the mold of what we’re unfortunately too used to at Fashion Week. Their shows also feature fashion brands that are just as diverse – women-owned, sustainable, and inclusive. Not to mention chic AF.
On a more regular basis, The Break hosts events in collaboration with brands to celebrate new designers in the store, film previews, and special occasions like Earth Day. In the past, they’ve collaborated with Milk Studios and coffee brand Written Coffee to create fun and immersive party experiences. Expect trays of rosé or mimosas to enjoy and interactive activities from complimentary makeup applications to conversations on the implementation of sustainability in everyday fashion. Follow them on Insta to see what’s coming up!
First impressions sure do last. And these days, with Instagram and Facebook, the way you present yourself is plastered about the internet for all to see. Own your style and put your best foot forward with these five tips from founder of KHPR, Kiara Horwitz.
Follow the trends, but don’t forget what you love…
I love researching trends and constantly being in the know of “what’s hot right now,” but I always try to stick to who I am by throwing in a dash of my own personal flare, whether it’s a cute piece from the past or a bolder statement color.
Be loud and bold, I always try to add in an additional touch, maybe its a pair of wild new earrings or a combination of necklaces around my neck. If you’re into all black everything, which, as New Yorker’s we often like – I try to incorporate a red bag or heel with a pop of color!
No matter your dress size, cup size or height, don’t be afraid to be who you are. I have always been the “little one” among my peers, however I’m not afraid to rock a pair of flats day to night. Especially a sexy pair of Manolos or sneakers that show off my legs in a short dress!
I am a huge fan of natural beauty for any day to night look. I’m a firm believer in “less is more” makeup – my go to is some natural tinted moisturizer (Ilia is my new fave), bronzer and a touch of blush. My lashes are always on point and then lastly, yep, I’m a lipstick girl. My favorite fall lip color is an Oxblood color aptly named “Charlotte” by Nars! With this face, doesn’t matter the time of day, it just works!
Hair is your biggest asset, so rock it! My stylist Kieran McKenna of Kieran McKenna Salon has helped my hair have its own personality. From beachy waves to sleek ballerina buns, my hair shows off who I am as an individual – and for me, sometimes that means being a wild lioness…
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