A Tale of Three Hats

There's nothing like outfitting yourself for outdoorsy adventures to make you feel like a stupid fashion twat. I have tried in vain (literally) to find cute stuff that is also functionalfor my upcoming Yosemite hiking adventure. In talking with my hiking-expert friend Leanne, I learned that "a hat is a must." And so: A search for a hat was born!

I began last Friday, randomly, when I had some time to kill on Smith Street. One of my favorite stores is Exit 9, a gifty-novelty store that also carries Tano bags and some other accessories. They have cute mittens in the winter, and paper party cups with noses on them so when you drink, you can look like you have a hairy old-man schnoz. Lots of fun stuff, see? They also have cool hats. I bought one, since it had a brim and would keep the sun off my face.


San Diego Hat Co. "Lacie" linen buckle hat, $35. I brought it home to my husband, Carl, who replied, "That's not a hiking hat. That is a fashion hat." I considered. Perhaps. Could return, but lost receipt. Argh. Well, I like it. My only concern is that it has kind of an urban-dancer vibe about it? Like maybe Janet Jackson circa Rhythm Nation would approve?

The following day I hit the Brooklyn Flea. It was hot out. Like what-am-I-doing-here-on-this-blacktop hot. And so, when I found the Lento hat rack, I was a sitting duck. I was intrigued by this one hat with a really exaggerated brim that the seller said was supposed to be worn to the back, but that cool Brooklynites have been wearing in the front. It was kind of amazing.


Lento "Maxi" hat, $30. Hand-made, hand-dyed, organic, all that good stuff. And reversible! It seemed like this was definitely "fashion," though, so I went with the more reasonable (and still sun-protectively functional) regular version:


Lento "Medium" hat, $25. (It was $20 at the Flea, in case any locals want to pick one up). I got it in purple. Or gray. Reversible rules! However, as I walked to my next appointment at the beer garden, a slight breeze kept threatening to lift the fucker right off my head. Not cool. Not functional. FASHION. Shit.

So today I finally went to return the hiking boots that I bought at EMS and then found cheaper online, and I noticed their hat section. SCORE!


I found a perfectly cute-enough gray hat, the EMS Chelan II with a UPF (that's SPF for clothes, I think) of 30 and wicking capability. Take that, head sweat! It was $16.80. Done and (PHEW) done!

Now let's hope I can find occasion to wear the other two hats, too....

Sustainable AND Stylish: Frei Designs

I went to Designers & Agents New York this past February, and seriously, for me, it was more exciting than Fashion Week. I could've easily spent a month looking at all of the amazing designs and talking to the designers. But, meanwhile, back in realityville, I only had about an hour to spend there. Thankfully though, I made it count since I met Annie Novotny, who's the Chicago designer behind Frei Designs -- an eco-friendly label that's actually stylish. Seriously. Annie, who's incredibly cool, showed me Frei Designs' Fall 2009 collection. Everything -- down to the buttons -- is made with pesticide-free fibers and natural dyes. Annie also supports U.S. mills and manufacturers and fair trade.

And while her Fall 2009 collection includes fabrics hand-woven in India and organic wool from Vermont, Frei is NOT what you'd wear to the Phish reunion. (Shudder.) This is high-end, high-style organic gear, and yes, I KNOW that sounds like an oxy moron and that usually you (and by you, I mean I) equate organic clothing with the type of chick who'll chew your ear off about how you suck for not joining the local veggie co-op, but I swear -- you won't even KNOW Frei's organic! You don't even have to tell people if you don't want them to know! (Helping the environment can be YOUR little secret!) Check out the slightly-Goth/Victorian-inspired reversible cape jacket above. It's way more Anna Sui than String Cheese Incident.

+ Read an interview with Frei Designs' Annie Novotny check out Frei Designs and the Frei Designs blog.

Bridal Beauty Binge: PLEASE Get Yourself A Wedding-Day Facial From Joanna Vargas. Please.

I'm getting married in February 2010, which means I have approximately 340 days to engage in almost a year's worth of trial and error, which is basically the way I like to do things. Already I've looked at seven different venues, purchased and returned one wedding dress, tried on and rejected several more wedding dresses from one of New York's "premiere" wedding salons, attended countless wedding workshops, and had a body wrap I definitely wouldn't recommend to brides-to-be or anyone else for that matter. But the one thing I did right so far (besides say yes to my "boyfiance") was getting a facial from Joanna Vargas (that's her on the right) at her flagship salon here in New York.

Joanna Vargas looks about 12 (she's not, but she could easily pass for 22), and has the luminous skin of a just-bathed toddler who's never seen the light of the sun. So right there, you know she's doing something right. But it turns out she does EVERYTHING right; A few weeks ago, I visited her salon on Fifth Avenue and 42nd (right across from the Bryant Park tents -- she treats a lot of the famous fashion faces inside) for a customized 60-minute Red Rose Purifying Facial, and truly, my skin has never looked better.

Joanna's treatment started off with a Diamond Peel -- a form of microdermabrasion that uses a diamond-tipped wand to remove the top layer of dead skin, and while I like to think I do a decent job of cleansing and moisturizing, it is winter in New York, so I'm sure Joanna had more than enough unpleasantries to deal with. Despite the fact that I have rosacea and my skin gets hot and flares up at the mere opening of a jar of unfamiliar moisturizer, the Diamond Peel felt great, and I had no negative reaction to it or any of the treatments or organic products Joanna applied.

Next up was a vitamin-packed red rose cream cleanser, followed by an exfoliation, an herbal oil facial massage, some extractions (it happens -- don't hate), and a mask made of red rose petals, honey, and beetroot extract. One of the last steps was the oxygen process, with combines 98% oxygen with a serum made from green tea, vitamins and aloe. She sent me home covered in Eminence's Sweet Red Rose Moisturizer. And honestly, when I got home, I passed out for SEVEN HOURS because I was so relaxed. That was more than three weeks ago, and still my skin look healthier, less red, and, miraculously, the odd, slightly lumpy/ bumpy patches -- just little, not-major-but-still-annoying inconsistencies that I figured were just part of getting older -- are completely gone.

Also, I need to note that Joanna Vargas' salon is small yet totally clean and super cozy and extremely relaxing (like I said: I was so zoned out, I passed out from 5 - 12pm). And Joanna is unbelievably intelligent, down-to-earth, and easy to talk to about everything from organic products (I REALLLY need to get on that... I knew it before and she only helped convince me -- not in a scary brainwashy way -- why) to Abaete. And she didn't do any of that steam machine stuff that's absolutely made me nearly choke to death when I've gotten facials in the past. Also, another thing that makes me choke: blatant upselling. None of that here. (Thanks again, Joanna.)

Now, here's the catch, but let me explain to you why it's not really a catch. A 60-minute purifying facial with oxygen with Joanna is about $325. But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, brides. If you're spending $3-, $4-, even up to $5,000 if not more on your entire head-to-toe bridal suite -- dress, alterations, shoes, hair and makeup, jewelry, WTFever -- do me a favor and DO NOT skimp on your face. People are going to be kissing you, hugging you, taking photos of you, cooing and gooing all over you. Your face is WORTH $325, is it not? Same goes for you, non-engaged women who just got a new job, promoted, laid off, turned 30, turned 31, woke up on a Saturday. Whatever. Trust me when I tell you that my skin has never looked better.

And though so far I have little else than a groom, a venue, and a wedding date, I at least know that I'll be back to Joanna Vargas before I walk down the aisle.

Joanna Vargas
501 Fifth Avenue, Suite 707
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: 212-949-2350