Odd Twin Trading Company

So, I finally checked out the over-hyped Topshop and to be honest, I was dissapointed. I had always loved the Topshop in Oxford Circus in London, but for some reason it didn't feel the same in New York. I had picked up a shirt that I originally thought was cute and decided to try it on. I entered the dressing room and a teenager was admiring herself in the same blouse. I was immedietly turned off. I decided to get in line at the register anyway, hoping they'd surprise me and tell me it was on sale. As I waited in line to pay for the over-priced blouse, I noticed a middle age women holding the same shirt getting ready to swipe her credit card. I dropped the shirt and left. I am so sick of over paying for the same clothing I end up seeing every other person wearing.

A few days later, I was walking along 5th Avenue in Park Slope and came across a new vintage store called Odd Twin Trading Company. A bit higher end than the nearby Beacon's Closet, Odd Twin has unique pieces, with even some designer wear. Housing both women, men, housewares, and stunning jewlery, Odd Twin is smaller and carries more selective pieces than Beacon's Closet. It is much easier to rummage through there selection of vintage purses, summery day dresses, 50's style bathing suits, riding boots, silk scarves, and flapper-esque attire, as there's just enough selection to keep you occupied, but not too much where you end up wasting away the entire afternoon ::ahem:: Beacon's Closet. Plus, the prices are recession-friendly. I walked out with a vintage Jordache long sleeve body suit for $18. Now that's a steal. Plus, I can almost be sure I be matching someone else on the subway. So long Topshop, hello Odd Twin!

Odd Twin Trading Company

105 Fifth Ave (at Degraw St.)

Park Slope, Brooklyn

http://www.oddtwin.com/

The Laptop Case Debacle

Ok, so I need your help! I take the subway to work each morning, but I cannot stand the commute knowing that I will be lugging ,what feels like, a dead-body on my shoulder, aka: my computer bag. Honestly, that clunky, black, shoulder-ache-inducing brick sets me behind like 7 minutes each morning. It’s horrible, but I just have to bring my laptop to work each day. I was talking to my boss today about how insanely heavy our laptops are and he suggested that I get a rollaway laptop case. I just gave him a look signaling “hah! In you’re dreams will I be caught dead with a rollaway computer bag.” I was made fun of in grade school for carrying a bright metallic purple rolly backpack from the GAP and that was enough humiliation for me, thank-you-very-much.
But, now that I think about it…it would be reallllly nice not to have to lug that bag over my shoulder. I mean, I’ve seen older-men wheeling their computers to work, but is that socially acceptable for a young professional like me? Be honest, would I look like a complete geek if I showed up to work with, basically, a rollaway backpack? I don’t want to reenact my middle-school years, but I want to save myself from back problems, too! So, what do you all think? Should I invest in a rollaway laptop case? Or should I suck up the pain and carry a bag like everyone else? Let me know!
Oh, and this is the one I was thinking of getting, below.

www.AllBriefcases.com/Rolling

Pippin Vintage Jewelry

Whenever a birthday rolls around the task of choosing a birthday present for my close friends becomes more stressful than a day’s worth of work at the office. The criteria for what I want in a gift seem to pile up and make it next-to impossible to actually find this ‘idea’ gift that I have fixated upon buying for weeks. It usually includes the prerequisites of:

a. uniqueness
b. Budget friendly, aka: less than $50
c. something that she would actually wear for once.

Lucky for me, I found a perfect solution to all female-based birthday gift dilemmas: Pippin Vintage Jewelry. Located on the side street of 17th street between 6th and 7th Avenue, Pippin is overflowing with fabulous gift ideas for any girl (fabulous vintage gift ideas to be exact). Earrings! Rings! Necklaces! Cuff links! Bracelets! It’s vintage costume jewelry heaven. Pippin has drawers upon drawers of vintage jewelry that the stores owners purchase weekly at auctions throughout New York, therefore are new necklaces and accessories that appear in the windows each week. Not only is the jewelry all unique, but the prices are what have me going back over and over again! With earrings starting at $5.00, you can find a gift for every friend; with each one recognizing the time and thought that went into buying the gift, while also making them think you must have paid at least $45 for those 1950’s clip ons. But, if it is $45 that you truly want to spend, there is some fine-antique jewelry cased off too that will make for an extra-special Mother’s Day gift. So, pop on into Pippin this weekend and I can assure your anxiety over buying a birthday gift will be ::poof:: Gone!

Pippin Vintage Jewelry
112 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011
212.505.5159

http://www.pippinvintage.com/