I trek to NY way too much for my own good, and one of my favorite Manhattanites is Julia Frakes whose infectuous enthusiasm for fashion and sharp wit and discerning eye are beyond inspiring in this black-and-biting world of fashion commentary. Julia’s doing a little series for her blog over at Paper Magazine where your favorite fashion-people complete a “Spring Cleaning” survey (previously, Bonnie Morrison, Aya Kanai and more). Julia was kind enough to fill one out herself. A word beforehand: Julia’s tastes are reffiinnnneed so for anyone planning on visiting NYC, consider this the best edited guide to the city, ever. Read the bunny’s answers below.
xoConnie
Name: Julia Frakes
Age: March 31, 1990
Location: New York
Chosen occupation: fashion writer, PAPER Magazine
Unchosen occupation: Prima Ballerina Assoluta, second grade teacher, political commentator, museum curator
Side-gig: blogger, bunny BISOUS
Best spring of my life thus far: 2000
Spring in NYC:
Park for picnicking: Gramercy Park
Stroll route: Greenwich Village… especially the historic nooks of West Village
Facial: Dr. Alkaitis Organic Skin Food Facial by Shannon Rose at Great Jones Spa (29 Great Jones Street)
Wax: non, merci!
Massage: A deep tissue massage with Christy at Great Jones Spa; in a pinch, the wicked chair massage at Aspa & Nails on 53 Irving Place
Haircut: Laurie Foley at L’Atelier de Laurie (124 East 4th Street)
Upcoming event: the Costume Institute Ball
Upcoming exhibitions: The Model as Muse at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, Kaleidoscope Quilts: The Art of Paula Nadelstern at the American Folk Art Museum, Jane Austen at The Morgan Library & Museum, Kandinsky and pre-WWI Expressionism at The Guggenheim, Alias Man Ray at the Jewish Museum, Francis Bacon:A Centenary Retrospective at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spring salad: The Spring Salad with extra Dr. Cow’s tea-soaked tree nut “cheese” at One Lucky Duck/Pure Juice and Takeaway (126 East 17th St.)
Outdoor café: garden dining at Pure Food and Wine (54 Irving Place)
Farmers market: Union Square, Abingdon Sqaure
Staycation hotel: Gramercy Park Hotel (2 Lexington Avenue). Although I admittedly have a mild Ian Schrager and Julian Schnabel obsession… but thankfully burning Le Labo’s Cade 26 at home can at least evoke the illustrious scent!
Spring flower: Hydrangeas and daisies from Spruce (222 Eighth Avenue)
Spring (Replacement) Essentials
Jeans: J Brand 910, Current/Elliott 1989, Oak trashed jean
Underwear: Stella McCartney Fruit Knickers of the Week, VPL, Avanti Organics
Basic t-shirt: L’Agence, Acne, Boy by Band of Outsiders, Clu, The Row, Deer Dana, Rag & Bone
Soap: Dr. Alkaitis Organic Body Wash or Skinnyskinny organic rose and almond soap bars
Lipstick: RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Smile
Mascara: Larénim
Shampoo: John Masters Organics zinc & sage shampoo with conditioner
Moisturizer: Simply Divine Botanicals How Now Brown Cacao for body; Dr. Alkaitis Organic Day Cream for face
Hair product: John Masters Organics hair pomade
Springtime fragrance: L’Artisan Parfumeur Bois Farine, Le Labo Ambrette 9 (alcohol-free)
Springtime candle: Astier de Villatte’s Mantes-la-Jolie, Diptyque’s Mousses or Coriander
Sheets: The third floor at ABC Carpet & Home, Taylor Linens, antique lace
Stationary: D.L. & Co., John Derian post cards, Giles Deacon stationary from Smythson of Bond Street
Dinnerware: Laura Zindel, Donna McGee
Table linens: vintage Jane Leslie Alperin & Co., Côté Bastide, antique lace
New episodes of: Rachel Maddow (nightly!), Law & Order SVU, Real Time with Bill Maher, 30 Rock, The Office, Little Dorrit
Film release: Bart Got a Room, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Where the Wild Things Are, Away We Go, and The Edge of Love
Spring escape: White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine
Spa weekend: The Treehouse at Winvian, Canyon Ranch Lenox
Image credit
Hôtel Le Bristol
Haute Couture Week S/S 2009
Mark Hunter, thecobrasnake.com
lovely!!