Top Fashion Finds: NY Fashion House

Now Pingod residents have no excuse to not look fashionable. The just opened NY Fashion House -- the manager tells us "NY" stands for "New You," not "New York" -- offers a range of services to help you revamp your look, including name-brand apparel at discounted prices, bespoke tailoring and image consulting services.

But we're here to talk about the clothes, which run the gamut from up-and-coming to high-end labels. A quick preview of the racks turned up names like Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Ann Demeulemeester, Levi's, Yohji Yamamoto, Viktor & Rolf, even (unfortunately) Ed Hardy. Japanese brands we're less familiar with dominate the menswear section, though the selection of denim, graphic tees and sneakers sporting their tags seems top-notch.

Our top fashion finds for this week, however, are for the ladies.

1. Phillip Lim leather skirt with real lamb skin (RMB 3,850)

Formerly considered a winter fabric, leather has now branched out into all-weather forms, most notably shorts, dresses and skirts. Designers from Karl Lagerfeld to Phoebe Philo featured this trend in their spring/summer 2010 runways, reworking the studded rocker version of the winter to become simple and classic for the warmer months.

(Sources: Celine S/S 10--courtorture.com, cheapalicious.net)

Like American reality TV show star Whitney Port, team your buttery fabric with simple colors such as white or nude, leaving the emphasis on the leather.

2. bhd denim vest (RMB 1,200)

Last month, we spotlighted the jean jacket trend; this month, we're refocusing the attention on the sleeveless version, the denim vest. Denim in general conveys a wholesome, all-American vibe, which looks great for most casual occasions. It can toughen up a feminine skirt or dress, and add dimension to the standard tee and tank top.

(Sources: jessicahart.net/blog, collegefashion.net)

Don't be afraid of coming off as grungy. Denim vests are meant to make you look a little unkempt and rugged, which is why they are so interesting when paired with floral prints and ankle boots (a la model/blogger Jessica Hart and actress Sienna Miller).

3. Nude silk blouse with pockets (price TBD)

A handy item for your wardrobe, as it's perfectly thin and light for summer, plus unobtrusive enough to wear with nearly anything -- but especially denim, khaki or black shorts.

(Sources: thesartorialist.blogspot.com, songofstyle.blogspot.com)

As depicted by the two outfits above, the blouse can look either work-appropriate or more day casual, depending on what accessories and bottoms you pair it with. If NY Fashion House's prices don't suit you, you can find plenty of substitutes at your local chain stores Zara and H&M.

4. Givenchy lace-up peep toe ankle boots (RMB 4,999)

Last but not least are these beautiful textured booties, once priced at RMB 8,631 on Net-a-porter.com. This pair provides just a taste for the other shoes and bags that await, all equally tantalizing deals. Certainly, most of the pieces shown above sport hefty price tags, but you're getting name brand items for a fraction of their original price. If you pay attention to labels, love a good deal or simply prioritize quality, then NY Fashion House could serve as a useful new shopping spot.

NY Fashion Studio. Daily 11am-10pm. Unit 59-61, Bldg 6, 22 International Art Plaza, Pingod, 32 Baiziwan Lu (east of Today Art Museum), Chaoyang District (139 1006 6661) NY 时尚工作室, 朝阳区百子湾路32号苹果社区今日美术馆22街区6号楼59-61