Style Stories - When I met Premda in Nolita, it was instantly apparent that she gets it and I just had to get her hit list. Along with a great eye, she has a knack for mixing high/low and vintage/modern. She’s also an expert on local vintage and has great shopping tips (like buying boy’s blazers for their small fit and short sleeves). Below, and continued after the jump, this fashion designer shares her NYC faves for vintage, shopping and weekend hangs – plus those unique style tips.
The image below was originally posted on Racked New York and she’s wearing a Hudson Bay coat, vintage camouflage shirt, Uniqlo jeans, Balenciaga bag, vintage key necklace, her mother’s scarf, plus shoes from Opening Ceremony. I’ll let Premda take it from here…
Premda’s Style
My style philosophy is to stay true to yourself. I believe that great style appears effortless even if it isn’t! Only you should know how long it actually took to look like you spend no time at all to get ready.
My personal style is always a mix of different pieces from different places. Designer with vintage, new with old, expensive and inexpensive. I grew up living in Germany, India and Woodstock. My wardrobe reflects that bipolar mix of different influences.
Shopping Faves
Isabel Marant in Soho is my favorite retail store. Her clothes best capture effortless style to me. I also like Love, Adorned in Nolita for beautiful jewelry and eclectic pieces. Another great store is Creatures of Comfort in Nolita. They carry a lot of great lines.
My all time favorite vintage shop is Narnia in the LES. I also love Edith Machinist in the LES for vintage shoes. They often have great vintage Stubbs & Wootton slippers there.
I also love picking up pieces from unexpected places to incorporate into my wardrobe. One place you’ll often find me digging around is Uncle Sam’s Army Navy Store on 8th Street. Last Spring, I found great pin up girl lapel pins there and I always pick up a pair of fingerless gloves for the winter.
A great place for lots of vintage under one roof is the Manhattan Vintage Show at the Metropolitan Pavilion. I shop there for work, but always end up buying something for myself as well! I got the Hudson Bay Jacket (I’m wearing in the picture) there. I often buy boy’s blazers because I like the small fit and short sleeves for spring. They are also a great piece for layering under coats and wool ponchos. That show offers great people watching, too. It’s a mix of industry insiders and eccentric vintage collectors. A place like the Manhattan Vintage Show, and vintage shopping in general can be intimidating… Therefore, when I shop I let the clothes speak to me.
Favorite Weekend Hangs
The Garage in Chelsea is fun to check out. It’s a parking garage that is turned into an indoor flea market on the weekends. It’s hit or miss, with occasional finds for the home.
On weekends in the spring and fall, I like going to the Williamsburg flea market on N. 6th Street by the East River Waterfront. The food there is great, too. I usually end up eating more than shopping.
When I leave the City and head up to Woodstock for the weekend, I check out the Woodstock Flea market and I like going to Melet Mercantile in Montauck.
For restaurants, I like Torrisi in Nolita for lunch and Il Buco on Bond Street for dinner when I want to feel special.
Style Tips
A great place to find interesting pieces is your parents, or better yet, grandparents’ closets! I found a pair of elastic sleeve garters in my grandfather’s closet. The kind card dealers wear. I wear them to push up the sleeves of oversized vintage men’s shirts. Vintage ones can be found online.
Aside from wearing a lot of men’s/boy’s clothing and layering, I also tend to wear hats a lot. A great place to get a hat that you’ll have for the rest of your life is the J.J. Hat Center.
