Goodbye, 2008 Holiday Shops!

Till next year! I hope everyone had a chance to check out The Holiday Shops in Bryant Park this year. If not, do a little reading here and click on the links. Many vendors have retail on their websites, so you can get their fabulous goods all year long. And be sure to email me any questions or inquiries you may have regarding the shops.

And vendors, please contact me at fashionherald.gmail.com if you'd like an off-season post, particularly if you'll be doing any shows in New York City through the year. I think everyone wants to know where to find you all year round. If you're a prospective vendor interested in the Bryant Park holiday market, email me and I can put you in touch with the company that produces the shops.

Best, and Happy New Year to all!

Last Chance

Hopefully today you are running through The Holiday Shops in Bryant Park, snatching up fabulous jewelry, clothing, or skincare. Or maybe buying gifts for next year? Because today is the last day of the shops and you'll find some great deals on great items, like the beautiful wooden bowls at James Young/Joy Oh Boutique:




















Or exotic housewares, some decorated with the evil eye to keep you safe for the new year, or a hookah, all found at Boutique of Sultans:


















Or stylish eye wear, including sunglasses and prescription frames from The Eye Store:
















Or stunning, one-of-a-kind handcrafted watches made of copper, sterling silver, and brass, from Kaisa and Paternoster Designs:

















Or the coolest t-shirts to be found in midtown, hand printed and hand dyed at Severyn:


















Aren't you going to miss all this fabulous shopping in Bryant Park?

James Young/Joy Oh Boutique, B04 on the venue guide (the fountain terrace of Bryant Park)
Boutique of Sultans, B21 on the venue guide (the fountain terrace of BP)
The Eye Store, G04 on the venue guide (the southern, 40th Street side of BP)
Kaisa and Paternoster Designs, B19 on the venue guide (the fountain terrace of BP) Severyn, B16 on the venue guide (the fountain terrace of BP)

Stock Up

This is the time to go to Bryant Park and stock up on beauty products. The Holiday Shops have the best in natural skincare, and an impressive variety of product to choose from. I've bought up some lotion from Nubian Heritage (their hand lotions are 3 for $25, a great deal), and soaps from splash! organics, but let's check out a couple other options in the shops:

Onurth Organic Skincare, all their products are synthetic-free and mixed by hand in small batches. Look for: the cold & expeller pressed oils, all nutrients are kept intact and no chemical residue is left behind; and the sumptuous bathrobes and socks.

Pri-El, product made from the pure salts & minerals of the Dead Sea, olive oil from the Galilee Mountains, and healing plants & blossoms from the Jordan Valley. Be sure to try their natural, hand-made soaps and the luxury bath products.

Sabon, the Israeli -based store popular with New Yorkers. Try their body scrubs and look for gift sets for men.

Onurth Organic Skincare, B08 on the venue guide (the fountain terrace of Bryant Park)
Pri-El USA, F18 on the venue guide (the upper terrace of Bryant Park)

Sabon, E01 on the venue guide (the upper terrace of BP)

Home Field Advantage

Did you get a feeling he wasn't too thrilled with his gift? It's not too late to change it up. Go to Home Fields in the holiday shops and find your sports fan the most perfect gift ever: 3D replica stadiums, perfect for his office or his room at home.

Home Fields has baseball, football, and even Nascar motor speedways, all in different sizes. If he (or she) is really going to miss Shea Stadium, or if they're a big fan of Yankee Stadium, buy one of these:

And help keep your sports fan's memory alive.

Home Fields, B13 on the venue guide (the fountain terrace of Bryant Park)

True Jewelry

Friction Jewelry & Grace Oliver has the special sort of jewelry a girl gets really attached to. Stop by for these very striking, dipped organic pieces:

Called "true leaf," or "true rock," these necklaces are just stunning. And Friction also has a wide variety of other well-edited and memorable jewelry:

Drop by before the holiday shops close on Sunday, because this is jewelry you'll fall in love with on first sight.

Friction Jewelry & Grace Oliver, B2 on the venue guide (the fountain terrace of Bryant Park)

The Great, Last-Minute Gift

For quick, no-brainer gifts today, go to Bryant Park and shop:

Anna Sabino for all the cute jewelry trends at affordable prices:

Dekco Art Gallery for great prints and antique signs:

Lanablu for adorable hats (thanks to my gracious volunteer model):

And G&N NY for these gorgeous silk scarves (and be sure to ask the owner about her lovely handknit hats):

The best in one-stop shopping. And with gifts like these, they'll think you agonized over each and every decision.

Anna Sabino, C04 on the venue guide (the fountain terrace of Bryant Park)

Dekco Art Gallery, A10 on the venue guide (BP fountain terrace)

Lanablu, B03 on the venue guide (BP fountain terrace)
G&N NY, F11 on the venue guide (the upper terrace of Bryant Park)

Must Stop Shop: Lolabean

Please don't kick yourself at the end of the year because you didn't go to Lolabean for these gorgeous, delicate necklaces:





























Many of the charm necklaces are one-of-a-kind, as Tiffany Bean, the New York based designer, changes up the charms, gemstones and metal so each one is special. You can often see her at work in her kiosk, as each piece is handmade by the artisan herself. I'm also a big fan of her gold and silver bangles (around $75) and her resin rings ($65-$85):












And you have to get the sparrow earrings, the first piece of jewelry she ever designed:

In store now, and a close-up example:













Lolabean also carries one of my favorite bags in the shops, the eggroll bag:


See? Don't be kicking yourself, just go to Lolabean and stock up on some fabulous accessories.












Lola Bean, F24 on the venue guide (the upper terrace of Bryant Park)

Walk Right In

Are you a discerning holiday shopper with empty walls? Or perhaps you're looking for an original and timeless holiday gift? The Walking Art is your destination kiosk in the holiday shops. Fill your apartment or home with any of these:









































All by Brooklyn artists, and all inspired by the city they live in. Etchings, unframed, run $25 - $275, and framed are $45 - $475. Multimedia paintings are $60 - $400, and the original photography is $20 - $60. The photography collages are $60 - $320. Really great prices for the real art thing.


The Walking Art, D17 on the venue guide (along 42nd on the north side of Bryant Park)

'Tis the Season to Decorate! Part II

It wouldn't be a holiday season without a stop by Adornaments to stock up on:

Really adorable personalized ornaments ($10-$25);



























Christmas stockings ($15-$25);
















Table toppers ($10-$25);










And ceramic piggy banks ($25-$60) and room signs ($10-$25, they complement the banks).






















A full package of gifts that will satisfy multiple holiday needs. Adornaments is based in Queens, and all of their products can be customized. Even the felt stockings have small wooden nameplates. Perfect for kids, and a great gift for nieces & nephews or grandchildren. Also a perfect house-warming gift for your host any season of the year.

Adornaments, F08 on the venue guide (the upper terrace of Bryant Park)