Seasame Street's Got Style

There's no doubt about it, Harper's Bazaar editor Laura Brown makes a habit of interviewing  fashion royalty like Rachel Zoe and Michelle Dockery.  But for her latest webisode of The Look, it's goodbye Garment District, and hello Seasame Street.  With everybody's favorite monsterista, she dives inside the many looks of Elmo's closet.  From his impressive collections of hats to the little guys tiny Viktor and Rolf tux, she sees it all!  And as for the little guy, well he gets some schooling in the world of famous designers. 

One Busy Week!

I'm sure you've heard the expression a picture's worth a thousand words.  It's been a whole week since I last posted, but instead of writing one long piece, I've decided to trade in the words with a few fun photos.  Enjoy!  

Join the Mayhews Maybe?  This Sunday marks my next building-wide program for 80 Lafayette.  We'll be taking eight residents to the swanky Tribeca Grill, so I ditched the normal banner for a barbecue.  From the Coleman insignia to the face made from sausage links, chicken wings, and a chargrilled hamburger, I'd say that's one good piece of advertisement.

It's Bread Baking Baby!  Fall is officially here.  The leaves are changing, and Starbucks has changed its menu to include Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  That can only mean one thing...it's back to the kitchen for me.  For Sunday's 11t Floor program it was all about the carb overload.  I made banana bread, gluten-free banana bread, chocolate buttermilk bread, and a pizza crust baguette.

Cat Got Your Tongue?  As I was walking the streets of NYC,  I came across a store where every product is emblazoned with the face of Hello Kitty.  From posters and PJs to neck rest and luggage, our favorite furry friend couldn't be missed. 

I Scream for Ice Cream!  Cold Stone's cake batter ice cream drizzled with caramel and mashed Reese's peanut cups sounds like a perfect dinner to me.  So much for trying to be healthy, but at least I had carrot sticks and celery for lunch.  

I Have Such Sweet Friends!  After my trip to Cold Stone, it was back to Lafayette.  I went to my staff mailbox and discovered the most adorable dish towel with a sweet note from my friends.  I've had such a rough week, and just seeing how much they care instantly melts away some of the stress.  

Bread Baking With the Best of Them

I've discovered the best tension relieving technique…bread baking. 

Between the Chicago Teachers Strike and the one year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, yesterday's early morning NBC shift was four straight hours of updating galleries and pulling videos. Add to it 150 pages of reading and a way too long journalism class, and you've found the equation for my typical freakout.  But, yesterday I traded in my Manic Monday for some good old fashion carbs.

 In an effort to ease their transition to NYU, 80 Laf hosted a pizza making session specifically for new students at Le Pain Quotidien. Being the amateur baker that I am, of course I volunteered to go too. 

With just four simple ingredients-bread flour, water, salt, and yeast-we made our pizza dough. Just like the chef from my favorite pizzeria, I kneaded the crust and attempted to toss it in the air. Add to it the homemade tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, diced red peppers, and favorable artichoke hearts and you've got my delicious dinner. 

And, the best part is I brought home enough dough to make four more pizzas;
it looks like I know what I'll be eating for dinner the rest of this week! 

For NYC Museums, it's Prep vs. Punk

Look at all those wonderful fashions from the past!

Turns out preppy blazers and penny loafers have quite a history.

The Museum at FIT's latest exhibit will feature more than 60 ivy league looks, reports a recent WWD article. In the mostly menswear collection, oxford button-downs, navy blazers and other collegiate essentials will all be on display from classic madras providers like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Brooks Brothers.

The exhibit is divided into three time frames: the years following WWI, the post-WWII era, and its revival period from the '80s to today, says WWD. 

But, New York museums aren't devoted to just chinos and tweeds.

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, "Punk: Chaos to Couture" will showcase about 100 designs, juxtaposing original DIY looks with designer creations that were inspired by the punk era, writes WWD.

Unfortunately, the battle between preppy and punk aren't running at the same time. Bow ties are showing at the Museum at FIT throughl January 5, while the mohawk and safety-pin-loving loving looks don't open until May.

Daring Designer Duds from Lincoln Center

It's one of the biggest weeks of fashion, so of course I've been spending my time in Lincoln Center. No, I'm not attending the shows, but I am checking out the daring designer duds your not-so-average fashionistas are wearing. Here are a few of the best looks, minus the runway. 

So chic! The neutral dress and sky high heels create an effortless look that I'd love to mimic.
Plus, I feel like she's channeling the Anna Wintour look with the oversized shades and shoulder-length, straight bob. 

I love this look because it reminds me of an updated Dorothy look.
With her ruby red slippers,  gingham top, and wicker basket complete with fresh pedals, how can you not love this look? 

I'm not quite sure what the pattern's called, but it's certainly show stopping.
And the blue hairs, well it creates quite the statement. 

My hat goes off to this fashiongoer.

So many polkadots, yet somehow it works! Plus, the perfect updo finishes  off the look. 

 These designers-in-training have the perfect accessory.
Nothing completes a stylish outfit quite like a coffee from Starbucks.

Here's the Scoop from Fashion's Night Out

Rollerena, "The Queen of Studio 54," didn't disappoint
when it came to dressing for the stylish affairs. 

For Fashion's Night Out, Saks Fifth Avenue transformed into the most stylish of affairs, where free treat, celebrity sightings, and glitzy gowns were plenty. And, I was there to catch all the action.

The fashionista-studded event kicked off with an appearance from Oscar de la Renta, who launched his new Essential Luxuries fragrance collection last night. And, cocktail dress designer Erin Fetherstone made camp on the fourth floor, co-hosting a bang trimming session with hair stylist Edward Tricomi. The fashionable lady says "hair is such an important part of the whole look," and she wanted to give her clients "the whole package" during FNO. There was even an appearance from fashion royalty Anna Wintour who signed copies of the latest September issue, and Fern Mallis broadcast her Siriux XM program live from the lux department store. Even the Blue Man Group made made an appearance.

It looks like this DJ lost control once their performance began. 

As for their free giveaways, shoppers received free Suno-print nail art by designers Max Osterweiss and Erin Beatty. And, John Hardy offered one-of-a-kind henna tats inspired by the jewelry line's latest collection. Rounding out the freebies, artist Ian Sklarsky drew portraits from 7 to 9pm. 

But to me the greatest part of the evening came when I got to  interview Knick's forward/center Amare Stoudemire.  For the 6'10" pro baller, dressing well has always been important. " My mom was the first to introduce me to fashion," he said, "I grew up watching her style." As for the one fashion item he can't live without, well Stoudemire named "a fresh pair of kicks." Donned in a Calvin Klein jacket and Tom Ford shoes, he also said George Clooney's his style icon. 

Want to see my complete coverage? Then, check out this Thread NY post! 

Want to See Your Pictures on NBC?

Karlie Kloss walks the runway during the
Jean-Paul Gaultier haute-couture show in Paris.

Since returning from my too short GA getaway, I've started my senior year at NYU.  But really, fashion week's been on the brain.  Here's the curtain raiser piece that's posted to Thread:  

New York Fashion Week is upon us again. And as the biggest and brightest designers descend on Lincoln Center and various other corners of the city, Thread NY will be there to bring you behind-the-scenes interviews and insider scoops.

We'll be tweeting from the tents, compiling photos from the scene, and updating our Pinterest page with the most exciting trends to emerge for Spring 2013.

But there's more to this week than runway looks and parties, and that's where you come in.

If you see a great outfit on the street, spot a boldfaced name, or catch a model doing something model-y, send us your Instagram photos to #threadny, and we may feature them in a gallery on our site. So click away (and remember our hashtag!), and keep talking to us on Twitter too.

Now let the madness begin.