Confessions of a Fashion Fanatic: You Can't A-Ford Me

The countdown is on.

In less than two weeks, Mister Tom Ford himself is opening his first flagship store in NYC!

Unfortunately for me, I don't live in the Big Apple -- which means I don't get to be in the mass mob that will most likely line up for opening day. Gosh darn it.

The new space -- housed at the old Gianfranco Ferre boutique at 845 Madison -- is going to be a sweeping 3,500 square feet of pure Ford magic and surrounded by fellow designer boutiques Yves Saint Laurent (an ex-fashion house of his), Prada, Chloe, Gucci and Cartier. It will no doubt be filled with his expolsively popular sunglasses line, accessories, his collaboration collection with Ermenegildo Zegna and, of course, his own long-awaited menswear line.

With the Phillips Group overseeing the design and architecture -- Barneys New York, Bottega Venetta, Donna Karan, YSL and Gucci are former/current clients -- the flagship store will absolutely reek of Tom Ford upon completion. Not a bad thing, either.

Now if only the man were straight...

I'm Lovin' it: Girl days! Went shopping with Stephie D. -- and future downtown roomie come June --yesterday in the gorgeous, aviator sunglasses-worthy sunshine and managed to:

a) Have a celebrity sighting of Michael Buble and his fabulous GF Emma Blunt, who was the uber-bitchy, red-headed assistant in the Devil Wears Prada.

b) Snag a sea-green and white printed sheer blouse -- very Guccci-esque (under current designer Frida Giannini) -- for $13. Brand new, too!

c) Do some mad people-watching while trolling the shops downtown.

d) Find the wicked-est art piece I need, need, need to buy from Urban Outfitters. It's this print of a DJ's hand spinning decks, all black painted on a wood canvas. And only $30!

e) Ooh and aah over the light denim shortalls at Aritzia that will be mine this summer.

f) Snag this deep royal blue suede tote that I had been eyeing at Aldo for the past two months, which I bought yesterday for $15, originally priced at $40.

g) Make it through the entire day, considering my long weekend kicked off with a 7 am Friday morning return home from a Thursday night that was not really supposed to include a major dance session at Lotus Sound Lounge and an ensuing after-party with a select bunch at Hugo B.'s tricked out Coal Harbor apartment. And who knew texting wars with someone in the same room as you could be so much fun? Best night of my life.

I'm Over it: All I want to do is run, Forest, run outside -- perhaps on the dreaded Tolmie hill? -- but it's already begun to sprinkle.

Artist of the Day: My new sound obsession Dean & Britta. The single, coolest thing about this duo is that Britta Phillips used to be the voice of Jem from my personal favorite 80s cartoon Jem And The Holograms. Both formerly of the band Luna, Dean Wareham and Phillips married during the recording of their latest album Back Numbers and are quite honestly a super-adorable couple in that indie, artsy kind of way. Their tracks are a bit folksy and dreamy, but with more kick -- meaning not too accoustic-y that you feel as if you were attending singing hour at the nearest hippie commune. Check out "Words You Used To Say" and "Ginger Snaps".

www.myspace.com/deanandbritta