Earlier this afternoon - like almost every Saturday - I stopped by a church in my neighborhood that operates a thrift shop that's open once a week for three hours. It's sort of odd as a business model, as new things appear but most of the stock doesn't really move. Luckily, I can always go back for things the next time and fresh gems are always waiting to be discovered. Most of it is kind of generic, but as with almost every charity shop uptown, stylish people have often been quite generous with their giving.
Today I stopped in to nab a quirkily charming vintage textile that I had passed on but adored in retrospect. It's not extraordinary - Ikea, from the '80s it looks like - but the design is clean, sharp, and modern, with full white buds and branches against a gently worn, baby blue cotton background. I'm going to drop it off at the dry cleaners on my way out tonight, and we'll see what comes of it. It's a twin duvet (not the right size for my bed), but I think it may make a fine throw or an even better tablecloth.
While I was making my way to the checkout counter, a brilliantly patterned design on the dress rack caught my eye. I took a closer look - it was made in Greece for the late, great B. Altman & Co. (which holds a fond place in my heart, due to the two fabulous art parties I helped throw at the Altman Building with Emerging Arts in 2003). The designer's name, which is also scattered across the pattern, Pucci-style, is Tseklenis. It's wool, long-sleeve, and knee-length, with a collar and several buttons down the front, and looks like a perfect fit. The best part is the hidden snaps, so you can keep it buttoned way down low. I wavered for a moment, thought better of my hesitation, and snapped it up, as it were.
Related from the LL Archives: Hello, Zandra (sheer, black & gold, with a ruffled collar covered in pearls; I wore it over a black silk nightgown to my birthday party last year); Hello, Calvin (perfect to wear this summer with my black & white Marimekko hat, the one with the floppy brim that I found at the divine outpost on 3rd Ave); and, of course, It's Psychedelic, Baby.
i'm totally in love with Greece and Athens, but i didn't know this designer so thank you very much, i'm gonna search on the web for his work right now!(i'm not quite sure i'm speaking english ....so please excuse my many"fautes"!)
Posted by: poppy | May 09, 2006 at 07:28 PM