Anya Ponorovskaya- Fashion On Elizabeth Street

I love NYC's Elizabeth Street and not just because of Le Labo. It's full of indie designers and retro stores and I always manage to find something special to wear. Last weekend it was a gorgeous dress by Anya Ponorovskaya. The tiny boutique feels like Wonderland for those of us who likes exquisitely cut feminine dresses. There's a vintage vibe there, but Ponorovskaya's designs are timeless and very sexy and the fabrics- cotton and silk- are modern and crisp.

There are also shoes and accessories, but it were the dresses that mesmerized me. They are so well-made and have no other purpose than to make you feel pretty. The dress I got has a similar shape to the one above, but is made of a lace overlay and a red silk slip. It's figure-friendly and made me feel like I just stepped out of the Mad Men set.

Just call me Joanie.

Anya Ponorovskaya has four boutiques- the one on 235 Elizabeth street as well as a bridal store on 167 Elizabeth (there's a gorgeous white version of my dress), and two other locations: in Brooklyn and in Miami. If you're in the area, check out Caffe Falai on  265 Lafayette Street. It's a great Italian place, as authentic as they come. I love their poached pigs with ricotta cheese and their crepe cake is dreamy- layers of thin delicate crepes with perfect creme patissier. Seriously- don't miss the desserts.

Photos:
examiner.com
cherrypatter.com

J. Crew wants your bridesmaids to hate you

Aptly named the O'Hara gown, this embossed organza dress ($2200) is the best tool to make your bridesmaids weep, just as the J. Crew model is about to do in the photo.

Photo: jcrew.com

Lace

I'm enough of a girly girl to like lace in theory, though I tend to restrict it to a camisole picking under a jacket or to lingerie. I didn't have any lace on my wedding dress, so I doubt I'll ever have a use for a gown of this kind (from Life & Style magazine). As always, Angelina Jolie is perfection, while Vanessa Minnillo isn't doing herself much of a favor in this oddly-proportioned frock (and since when do I take fashion cues from someone who's claim to fame is posing with Lindsay Lohan and from having sex in public with Nick Lachey?). Charlize Theron is gorgeous, but I could live with seeing less of her torso and more of her legs. As for Uma the Ethereal, wearing such a dress must be her reward for wearing size 11 shoes. No one else can pull off a dress like that (and, please, don't even try).


My consolation will be cute lacy accessories, that can be worn with more pedestrian outfits. I'm not sold on the lace pumps: Wearing them with jeans would be just a little too Jersey for my comfort level. But the rest of these, especially the clutch are lovely.

Images from the latest issue of Life & Style magazine.