NY NOWs Surprises
This market was the real-time trends definer
I go to NY NOW for a few reasons, the biggest one this summer was for my former boss and good friend’s launch of her new platform, “The Home Influencers”. More on that below.
I also attend because while the Javits is cavernous, the food options are incredibly limited, and the bathrooms are old, I like their management and marketing staff, and I find it a good place for unexpected surprises. Like cherries and lemons and flour sacks’ return to clothing. Discover my best loved finds below.
Cherries
Cherries are everywhere. At NY NOW, I found them on purses from Tiana Designs, a sweater set from Knit Bon Bon, even these darling baby clothes from Viverano.
How do I know cherries are a trend beyond the markets? Exhibit A: Rosalía on this month’s cover of Elle. I hate her IG font, but I am loving that Lele Sadoughi cherry velvet bow. And the Delano Dubai’s Rose Bar as seen in Interior Design Magazine this month. She’s a chocolate-covered cherry if ever I saw one.
Exhibit B: All the things everywhere.
Whether it’s one of the Muma World dresses or this precious Boden sweater, or these stunning glass cherry earrings I found at Obligato, cherries are it.
Let’s Talk About … Lemons!
Clearly trending across both NY summer markets were lemons. I adored this flour sack jacket from Evergreen, and it may be getting added to cart when back in stock. Fun Fact: Flour was once packaged in cotton sacks. Americans would use them as rags, towels, etc. When the Great Depression hit, we started using them for clothing. When flour manufacturers learned of this practice, they began creating flour sacks with colorful patterns. It served Americans and stands as a brilliant, organic marketing move.
I also discovered a new-to-me brand, WE ARE CHIMMI. While there, I got to speak to one of the owners, who shared that the name stands for “We Are Children of Immigrants”. Insert tears and hearts. She was lovely, and their product was “of the moment”. Lemon hair clips? Yes please! And Tiana Designs popped up again as a winner for her beaded lemon clutch.
Now you must be asking, was there anything without fruit? Surprise! There was, but it was subtle; my beloved Chinoiserie-inspired pieces. Whether the hair clips from WE ARE CHIMMI, the clutch from Tiana Designs (I KNOW, but she legit has so many good things), or Josil Paperie’s Ginger Jar Gift Wrap, blue and white gorgeousness is here to stay.
Now for the surprise find. My most favorite product discovery at NY NOW was (captivated pause) Parasols. Whether this lacy number from Droog or one of Crown Inspired’s authentic Ankara parasols, they are a game-changer in personal style. Another fun fact: Ankara is also known as African Wax Cloth, the cloth is produced in Holland and called wax print for its “wax and soak” process. There are varying levels of qualities, and they are often batik-inspired.
Cultivated and fairly priced they evoke Chic Peek.
Last but not least, my smart, savvy, lovely former boss and good friend Monika McCommon launched The Home Influencers with a hosted cocktail at the end of the day at NY NOW. The Home Influencers is a disruptor to the design market. Created to connect vetted creators and vetted brands to produce valuable content and more, The Home Influencers and Monika are ones to watch.
Check back in next week when I share upcoming style events and my newest discoveries in design showrooms.