Tuesday, April 13, 2010

A Day in the Garment District

On my birthday trip to the Garment District, Jeff followed me around with the camera like my own personal photographer! Now I know what it's like to be famous. Here are a few highlights of the day.

We started at Mood, where I looked at summer cottons and was recognized by a lovely reader! Talk about a brush with fame! (Jocelyn, it was nice to meet you.)

Next up was Pacific Trim, where I checked out laces.

No trip is complete without a jaunt to Spandex House!

Did you know they have a shrine set up on the upper floor? One of the employees explained to Jeff that if you leave money on the shrine, it will bring you luck. So he did. (What do you think becomes of that money?)

There's also a really weird poster. (Click to enlarge.) What does it mean? Mystifying indeed.

I had a frozen yogurt craving, so we went to my favorite candy shop. But get this: they don't sell frozen yogurt on the weekends! Only Monday through Friday. Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous? Can you see the anger behind my smile here?

I made do with a milkshake. Mmmm.


Next up: B&J! I'm kind of digging this huge teal and white polka dot.

We headed down to the Museum at FIT in Chelsea. There were two awesome exhibits. Some highlights? A Claire McCardell gingham romper and several Dior New Look day suits. Heaven!

We finished up at an Italian joint for dinner. Oh hey! Here's the celebrated photographer and author Jeff Hirsch!
In the end, I only came away with a couple yards of milliskin Spandex and some stretch lace. (I'm going to attempt my own DIY Spanx; we'll see how that goes.) And of course some lovely memories!

35 comments:

  1. What kind of a business model is THAT? FroYo Monday through Friday only. HRMPH!

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  2. What a lovely way to spend your birthday! And I'm jealous of Jeff's willingness to go with you. I even MENTION going to a fabric store and my honey clears the room.

    You'll have to let us know how the Spanx come out! I'd be interested in making a pair or 12, too.

    And, as ALWAYS, your hair looks fab!

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  3. I'm interested about the spanx. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess that you would never dream of sewing them unless you thought you could improve upon them. So what is it about you spanx that will be better then the ones you can find in a store?

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  4. OK, I want one of those body-behind-bars bodysuits!

    Light in weight (it IS an apparition after all) but profound in metaphoric meaning.

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  6. Second attempt ! Just writing to say I like your blog.

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  7. I'm quite envious of the Garment District. We have nothing of the kind here in Stockholm, Sweden.

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  8. What a perfect way to spend your birthday. And what a wonderful husband to go with you. My husband would do the same. We are so lucky. Aren't we? The teal and white polka dot was lovely. And I am as shocked as you that they don't sell fro yo on weekends. Really odd.

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  9. Looks like a happy birthday. Sorry to hear about the fro-yo incident.

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  10. I'm curious, too. Why sew spanx when you could be sewing dresses?

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  11. How fun! This is my idea of the perfect way to spend one's birthday: fabric shopping. lol. Just too bad the frozen yogurt place wasn't serving--that is just the weirdest thing I've ever heard of! :p

    You look so cute in all these photos! :)

    ♥ Casey
    blog | elegantmusings.com

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  12. More to come on the Spanx, but here's the low down - you can make them 1) quickly, 2) for about $25 less PER PAIR than they cost in stores, and 3) in cute colors, with lace. I'll write a post soon!

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  13. Do you have a pattern or just from an existing pair?

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  14. Happy Birtrhday, Gertie!

    Looks like you had a great time. I'm really gidding that teal and white polka-dot, too.

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  15. gidding? Apparently that's digging when you are using only one hand to touch-type.

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  16. You are so cute, and what a cute couple you two make. Thank you for your blog, love it.

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  17. What a fun day. Don't think my husband would put up with a whole afternoon of fabric shopping, but he has been known to enjoy the odd visit to a fabric store, even on occasion encouraging me to buy fabric for him!

    Looking forward to the Spanx tutorial!

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  18. Happy Birthday hun!!!

    I did a very similar route on my last b-day but not round anywhere as fab as your garment distict.

    The frozen yoghurt has be very confused. Surely more folk want it on a weekend?!?!?!

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  19. What fun! If I ever get to the Garment District I am sure I would faint from delight.

    How on earth did you show such restraint in your shopping? The spanx intrigue me too. Haven't purchased any cause I never quite know what size to get my actual size or the size I wish I was. ;)

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  20. Happy belated Birthday Gertie, sounds like a great day. This is the first time I have seen Jeff, he has very kind eyes.

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  21. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Teal and white polka dot fabric your found! So cute!

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  22. What a great day - a perfect birthday treat. I love Mood and Pacific Trim, I wish I lived a bit nearer to the garment district! The photos are lovely - Jeff did an excellent job.

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  23. That is so Great! I am going to the LA Garment Dist tomorrow for My 49th birthday! I thought it would be fun, but I won't have a photographer. I will have to just get someone there.
    Thanks for your blog, its lovely.
    Happy Birthday to you, and me too.

    www.timewithtracey.com

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  24. Ok.... trying to stop hyperventilating here. That looks like fabric heaven ( I want, I want, I want...), and the perfect way to spend a birthday.


    Happy birthday!

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  25. Happy birthday! That is some great fella you got there--going fabric shopping with you!!

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  26. Aaawww the garment district looks incredible - it's on my "to-visit" list when I finally get to NYC!! Hope you had a lovely birthday Xx

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  27. Aww... What a cute couple you two make, and I'm so jealous of how your hair holds a style!
    Wow, what a place. I must make a pilgrimage someday. Looks like the kind of place I could spend even more money that I don't have.

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  28. Re: the homemade "Spanx-a-like's", I think Jalie has a pattern Jalie Pattern #2572 Women's Shapewear

    But, I cannot see any reviews on
    PatternReview.com, so if that's the pattern you are using it will be very interesting to see how you get on & what the results are :)

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  29. You really look darlig on your birthday, Gertie! Looks like you had a fab day also - what a great way to celebrate! Spanx will be interesting!

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  30. Yes I have to say I am with everybody else. I could never convince my husband to go with me fabric shopping. Not his thing.
    I gotta know how you make anything with spandex. I can't imagine it's easy to sew...

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  31. don't forget the gummy sticky band on the faux-spanx! I bought an el-cheapo pair that didn't have it and they were super pinchy tight and kept trying to roll down on me!

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  32. Loved reading about your adventure.

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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