Opening Ceremony is a great concept shop that has proven wildly successful over a relatively short period of time. In 2002 Humberto Leon and Carol Lim first opened their clothing shop on Howard Street in New York. The idea for the shop being, to provide customers with the experience of visiting a new country each season (similar to the Olympics, hence the name). Every year, the country that Opening Ceremony selects to feature, is introduced to customers by design, through the hand-picked, imported clothing and products that are sold.
From selling out of almost all their stock literally within the first few weeks of opening, to collaborating with other brands to develop unique, limited-edition products, and finally selling their designs to other stockists, Humberto and Carol are full of innovative ideas in shopping and hardest of all, make it all look so easy.
In this video interview for VBS (part 1 of 2), Humberto and Carol speak with Spike Jonze about the shop as an extension of their sensibility: from beginning, to present.
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aside: last time I was there, I had major eye contact with josh hartnett. just saying,
could be worth a visit…
One of my favorite fruits is the pomelo. If you’ve never had one, they look like a big green and yellow grapefruit but taste sweet. They take a lot of work, like pomegranates, but are totally worth it. Since they kind of take a while to get through (a good thing), I think I’m on my third of the season.
This Saturday is Purim. Back when I was in grad school, my mother came to visit for a weekend, and we passed by the Harbord Bakery. When she spotted the hamantaschen, she decided we simply must get some.
I didn’t really know much about Purim, but when I heard it was a celebration of the story of Esther, I was pretty excited about it. The book of Esther is an inspiring – kind of feminist story in the Bible – and it’s a pretty quick read.
This week I picked up some hamantaschen from the Harbord Bakery for the second time (after visiting Sam James for a coffee – a delicious day!)
I took these back at my grandmother’s old apartment.
This type of hardwood floor design always reminds me of tap class from when I was in elementary school.
Last summer I had a little get together with some great friends at a really sweet restaurant on Harbord. The pink walls make it perfect for getting together with the ladies.
Quiet afternoon
This past family/valentine’s/new years day weekend was pretty amazing. I visited one of my favorite restaurants with my parents, had a delicious brunch with my dad, and got a rose from my brother.
Taking pictures of chocolate might be one of my favorite things. Aside from well, tasting it of course. After reading about the Mast brothers online and in magazines, I decided that I must experience this chocolate in real life.Thankfully, a friend was going to New York and I printed out a list of every place in Manhattan that carries them. These were purchased at Murray’s Cheese Shop on Bleecker, and they did not disappoint.
Rick and Michael Mast’s chocolate factory is located in Williamsburg and the packaging is so beautiful.
He had been one of my favorite designers for a very long time. I remember how Isabella Blow bought his entire student collection, and when he gave television interviews with his back facing the camera. He was just an amazing talent and made very creative, beautiful, and forward pieces.
I remember talking on the phone with my friend just after seeing his spring 2010 ready-to-wear collection, about how this is the first collection I’ve seen in a long time that really had me excited and hopeful for the future and present of fashion.
He will be missed.
