fashion week in nyc: or, "always drink your coffee black"

well, we've taken new york by storm.

or, perhaps it's more accurate to say that new york has taken us by storm.

either way, we've returned from our week in nyc, and are exhausted, elated, and inspired.

in our opinion, fashion never has looked so good (and here we thought fall 2010 was amazing).

our existing designers have blown us away with their spring/summer 2011 collections: jerome dreyfuss, raquel allegra, alc, veronica beard, yigal azrouel, hamilton paris, l'agence, harvey faircloth, chris benz, current/elliot + marni, tre, faliero sarti . . . the list goes on. and we still have paris next week for other currently rostered favorites.

equally exciting, though, are the new lines we've picked up. we can't tell you who, just yet, but trust us: if you thought our line-up had it going on, you ain't seen nuthin' yet. some of these additions are newcomers to the scene, while others are pre-existing lines that have found themselves infused with fresh energy and talent.

takeaways from the season?

• just a little bit lady, just a little bit rock-n-roll
• silk does a body good
• all that glitters is gold
• be at ease in your skin
• high-low, low-high: ever the twain shall meet

and, as one wise fashionista quipped (quoting her father):

"always drink your coffee black."

think about it: simple, classic, with an edge; nothing fussy, nothing overblown, and always hot; high, low, or in-between, true fundamentals never will fail you.

paris, here we come!

normally, we're not romantics

but this holiday season has given us pause.

numerous men and women shopped at chalk for their significant others:

"would he like it in this color, or the other?"

"does she look good in leather? cause i think she does!"

"i know she really covets that clutch. could we build a whole look around it?"

we even heard from the younger set:

"da-ad! i think she'd like red instead of black. you should get it for her."

whether the black or the red, in leather or silk, on its own or part of an entire ensemble, it wasn't the actual purchases that surprised us. instead, it was the care and thought that went into each and every selection.

and perhaps that's one of the greatest assets of being an independent boutique, and a small one at that; we've gotten to know our clients pretty well, and have rediscovered the power of the personal touch. to be honest, our favorite part of our job is helping someone to find that perfect piece--the one that makes the client (or the client's significant other) feel special.

so thank you to all of you who took the time to brave the traffic, the rain and snow, and the blanket headache that can envelop all things holiday, in order to find that perfect gift at chalk. thank you for choosing us to assist you; in so doing, we were reminded why we love what we do. and that was your gift to us.

we hope that 2010 brings you and yours health, happiness, and security!

the ladies at chalk