In Memory of Zelda Kaplan - A Life Well Lived

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New York City lost its Dowager Icon of Style and women of a certain age everywhere lost a great champion when 95 year old Zelda Kaplan died on Wednesday, at a fashion show (or défilé, for our friends in haute couture), during Fashion Week. The photo above shows Zelda at the Joanna Mastroianni show (photo by Jason Kempin for Getty Images), where she collapsed just moments later.

We met Zelda only fleetingly. Perhaps we were too young for her. Or perhaps - considering the company and the hours she kept - we were already too old. So we don't, unfortunately, have any illuminating personal anecdotes to tell. When we did meet last year, at StyleLikeU's book launch party, she was both charming and lovely. (See our April 24, 2011 posting "Look Us Up, We're In the Book" for our photo of Zelda.)

But this is not the place for a biography. Her fabulous story has already been told many times by legions of admirers.

Instead, to pay tribute to Zelda the Iconoclast, we wrote an irreverent little song. Not so much in mourning for her death, although we do that too, but in celebration of her vibrant life, which she literally kept full right up until the end. The song should be sung to the tune of Cabaret.


Song for Zelda Kaplan

What good is sitting alone in your room
Come, see the mannequins play
Life is a défilé oh gran
Walk in the défilé

Put down the knitting
The book and the broom
Time for a holiday
Life is a défilé oh gran
Walk in the défilé

Come drink the eau,
Come see the show
And wear your hat
Start celebrating
Right this way
Your swag is waiting

No use permitting
Some prophet of doom
To say “beige is here to stay”
Life is a défilé, oh gran
Walk in the défilé

I used to know a lady known as Zelda
It finally was a fashion show that kelda
She dressed up in her favorite black and red
And the next thing you know she’s on the floor and
Gone

Though all agreed it really was quite shocking
You must admit her exit was quite rocking
And when I see her now in my mind’s eye
I think that's gotta be the perfect way to
Pass

I think of Zelda in the fondest way
‘Cause you could see she relished every day

I bet she said -
"What good is sitting alone in your room?
Let’s go - see some mannequins play.
Life is a défilé, oh gran
Walk in the défilé."

And as for us
And as for us
All of us who once behelda
Said
I wanna be like Zelda

Start by admitting
From cradle to tomb
Isn't that long a stay.
Life is a défilé, oh gran
A great gorgeous défilé, oh gran
Let’s STRUT in the défilé!


We will miss you, Zelda. Thanks for everything you did!


© The Idiosyncratic Fashionistas. All rights reserved.


(Cabaret: original music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb)

StyleLikeU & Brooklyn Industries Fashion Week Parties

Brooklyn Industries' Crash Bash Fashion Week - Friday, 2/10/12






















To celebrate the launch of its Spring 2012 collection based on J. G. Ballard's 1973 novel "Crash", Brooklyn Industries threw a cocktail party on Friday night at its Broadway store. The downstairs was turned into a disco with music by Los Angeles DJ SoSuperSam. Brooklyn Industries has 6 locations in Brooklyn, 5 in Manhattan and locations in Philadelphia, Chicago and Portland, OR. We posed with stylist and photographer Eugene Del Mundo on the first floor of the store.






















Recognized by Con Edison as one of the city's "Green Power Pioneers", Brooklyn Industries powers its warehouse and 7 of its NY stores with 100% wind power and powers 3 of its stores by a combination of wind and hydro power. Laurie and Erin were our lovely hosts. Laurie, who works in public relations, stopped on the stairway for a photo with Valerie. We regret not having a shot of Erin to share.






















The downstairs party featured signature Solstice cocktails which were made with gin, agave nectar, lemon juice, and pear puree. Delish! Unfortunately, we did not work our way back through the crowd to sample the doughnuts by Brooklyn-based Dough. We were told that the chocolate and the cafe latte were divine. Back on the main floor, Jean tried on one of the Sunshine bags for size.























Valerie took a liking to a tee shirt with the image of a telephone operator, back when switchboards, not iphones, were the order of the day.























This very stylish lady named Soull has an identical twin who is a designer. Imagine the possibilities.


















Soull's wrist is covered with tattoos of musical notes. We loved her bracelets and ring.






















Jonathan stopped at the top of the stairs for a photo op.























This young man carried a hard-to-miss bag that we just loved.






















Another example of Brooklyn Industries' emphasis on self-sustainability was its gift bag choice of Red Rose & Lavender's self-contained paper white package. This Williamsburg-based florist provided a mason jar with pebbles to which you simply add water, position the paper white bulb and surround it with the thoughtfully supplied moss. All you have to do is let nature run its course.

StyleLikeU

Fans will remember that we were invited to show off our closets and talk about our dressing philosophy for StyleLikeU - the website and the book. For Fashion Week, StyleLikeU cannily held a big bash in the East Village .

Below, Jean and none other than Marja Samsom, the Dumpling Diva, outflank one of the chic partygoers.






















Valeie says: You young 'uns with your iPods and iPhones and other iThings you stick in your ears and then turn the sound way up to listen to - take heed. If you get tinnitus, like I did, you will no longer enjoy VERY LOUD SOUNDS. You will flee from them the way animals flee from the first hint of the veterinarian. So while I was sorely tempted to attend this party (and judging from Jean's photos I missed a very good time), the very thought of contending with elevated eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees in my ears for the next three weeks was enough to make me see the wisdom of staying home. It looked like Jean would have to do the job of two people.

Jean says: Left to my own devices, I recruited Marja Samsom, dressed for success in her neon blue hat, to be my "wingman" for the evening.

Because snow was falling as everyone made their way to the East Houston Street venue, hats were the order of the day.

StyleLikeU's co-founder Lily Mandelbaum in pink turban with Mona Canino (left) and two friends posed for a photo before returning to the dance floor.




















StyleLikeU co-founder Elisa Goodkind in signature vintage and Marja strike a pose for me.






















Hats:

The lady on the left designed her hat, decorated with an Egyptian eye.






















Loved her jewel-colored velvet green beret and her partner's slick haircut and graphic jacket.























The fur Elmer Fudd hat was the most popular headgear of the evening.





















This young man eschewed fur and warmth altogether in favor of feathers and all-out glamour.























Cat Women:

These ladies rated their own category.

































































Cute Couples:

This couple sat down the banquette from us, so we simply had to take their photo.






















Loved this young woman's black and white jacket.




















Ladies Night Out:

The lady on the right sported some great bracelets.






















Marja and Jean joined up with two lovely ladies.



















The fur hat and sequins were a great combo.























These two ladies were colorfully coordinated.























Trios:

Jean and pal Brandon Acton-Bond and Maggie, whom we met at the door.




















The lady in the middle was channeling her inner (and more youthful) Sinead O'Connor.























Marja and Jean and another be-hatted gent.



















This merry trio was enjoying the festivities.























Closing Solo Shots:

Loved this photographer's Union Jack t-shirt.























This handsome gent posed for a picture.
























Don't you just love her colorful Art Nouveau-style scarf?

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center

Everyone in New York City knows when it's Fashion Week. This year, we decided to go to photograph and interview interesting looking grey haired women of a certain age. Well! There weren't any, interesting looking or otherwise. Much to our surprise, when we got to Lincoln Center, we could see we were - as we so often are - among the oldest people there. We're only half way through the week, so stay tuned. Our luck could always change ...






















photo courtesy of Andi Bakos

On the bright side, Fashion Week at Lincoln Center was a lot like old home week (so to speak). We ran into people we'd first met last fall at the Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB) Conference and Fashion's Night Out (FNO).

Jared

Jean says: I knew things were looking up when I no sooner emerged from the subway station at Lincoln Center than I heard someone yelling "Idiosyncratic Fashionista" as heads on the crowded street corner swiveled in concert. (Okay, okay, I confess. I loved it!) It was none other than Jared, whom we'd met at If Boutique on Fashion's Night Out in September. Looking about 7 feet tall, he managed to wear an impossible combination of all of the latest fashion trends, and do so flawlessly. No small feat for any woman, so it was all the more daunting a challenge for a guy: turban, aviator shades, sky-high platforms worn with socks, fur vest and clutch bag - all in shades of winter white and cream. We posed for a photo before dashing off in opposite directions.























Later in the afternoon, Jared and his friend Pat who is visiting from LA, stopped to reconnect with Valerie on the plaza.
























Ryo

We ran into Ryo Miyamoto, whom we first met at the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference last spring and saw him again at If in Soho during Fashion's Night Out. We're big fans of his street style blog and his eye for detail. His cold weather look was uniquely his.






















Wataru

We also ran into fellow blogger Wataru (aka "Bob") Shimosato, whom we'd also met at If on Fashion's Night Out. Valerie had just seen him earlier this week at a fabulous insider sale at one of our favorite boutiques. His blog, An Unknown Quantity is also one of our faves.






















Check out Wataru's fabulous shoes and bag. The leather and metal studded ball looks more like a medieval weapon than a fashion accessory.























Prutha

The fourth person we encountered was Prutha Raithatha, whom we'd also met in September 2011 at the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference. What are the chances of that? She is a triple threat: She blogs (donotshoeme.blogspot.com), works for Vogue India, and likes to dress in unconventional ways -- her look combines a traditional large bindi on her forehead with giant print platform shoes! Despite the chill, she did the big reveal to show us her colorful fashion choices of the day. We really liked her shoes!






















For more fun photos of us and these four fellow stylish New Yorkers, check out our 9/11/11 "Double Whammy" posting of September's Fashion's Night Out and the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference.

Not ones to rest on our laurels, we did what we do best - meet new and interesting people. Case in point: this Japanese photographer was dressed for the elements, but managed to add notes of color (blue) to spice up his look. The blue lenses on his aviators were a perfect counterpoint to Valerie's blue hat.






















Andi

We also met Andi. Andi has her own blog, called Andi Belle. Click here to see an eclectic selection of interesting visuals, including some shots taken at Lincoln Center. Andi emailed us this photo below, and took the photo at the top of today’s IF entry. She was taking the pictures, but makes a great subject for the camera as well.
























We pursued this woman to get a closer look at her very interesting long grey coat. (We also thought her hair was grey, but on closer inspection, saw that it was blond.) She said she'd seen something like it in Italy (where she was working as a hair stylist) and decided to try to make one herself. Her husband revealed that she made the pattern for the coat and worked it out all on their dining room table. (Jean was totally blown away. Having no sewing skills of her own, that would have been the equivalent of seeing a helicopter and deciding she'd make one of her own. It's guaranteed that her results would have been nowhere near as successful as this lady's. One senses a crash and burn scenario there somewhere.)






















The coat is made of grey sweatshirt material, quite reminiscent of our favorite Norma Kamali collections, and looked just as good going as coming. The seaming in the back was quite figure flattering.























Continuing on the grey theme - we liked these grey flannel high heeled oxfords worn with grey ribbed tights. The heels looked like clear plexiglass painted black except for the last inch at the bottom.























A gentleman wore this terrific vintage 1980's pin on his vest.






















We encountered these two young lovelies who were really not dressed for the cold weather.























It's hard to tell in the photo, but the gridwork at the hem of this woman's shirt stood away from her body, as if it were modeled on the hoop skirt. Way cool!






















Another woman braves the elements, and suffers for her art.






















Remember the 1970s Ralph Lauren print ads? This woman looks like she stepped out of one.






















This young woman had very cool braids and a vintage hat and wore fabulous shoes.
























Is this a new trend? We saw two people with little dark argyle socks over their dark stockings. She did it best.
























Some of the photographers at Lincoln Center looked as chic as the people they were shooting. This woman is a terrific example.























Valerie is trying to adopt a 'strike while the iron is hot' approach to photography, which with her often means photographing people while their backs are turned. Hopefully there'll be a better shot to come, but if not, at least get a photo of the clothing. This is an Ivan Grundhal skirt. Check out the woman in orange shoes that she's photographing in the distance.






















Here's a closer view of the woman in the orange shoes, as well as her friend.






















So in this instance, patience paid off. Eventually the woman in the architectural skirt turned around. She looks great either way!























These two, probably young enough to be our grandchildren, asked to photograph us, so we returned the compliment and photographed them right back.






















You can see by the photos that we didn't have much luck finding People of a Certain Age. Must be true what they say - this is not an old person's business. So we're seeing what we can do to change that.

There's more to see. Join us later in the week for other peacockian delights.

Valerie is wearing: blue shearling hat by Owen Barry, black felt coat by Tiiti Tolonen and blue suede shoes by Arche. Sure, there's other stuff underneath, but you can't see any of them, so why name them?

Jean is wearing a vintage 1980s Norma Kamali leopard hat, coat by High Use, scarf by Banana Republic (from the early 1990s), pants by Zara, bag by Lux De Ville, and boots by Doc Marten.