The Good The Bad and The Ugly

New York Fashion Week ended last friday, giving us time this week to contemplate on the collections we really loved…and those not so much. Fall 2010 RTW brought us a lot of great pieces from designers like Christian Siriano, Diane Von Furstenberg and Isaac Mizrahi. Metallics, colored tights, cowl necklines, neutrals, and feathers all made appearances on the runways for fall. Here’s our Fall 2010 picks for the good, the bad and the ugly:

The Good: Mackage

Well played, Mackage. We’re big fans of the blouse, belt, pencil skirt combination. We love how the neutrals in this outfit really complement each other.

The Bad: Davidelfin

Davidelfin, why are you putting men in tights? Especially bright yellow ones. We don’t see a reason for this outfit to ever be worn in public. Individually, the pieces could be salvageable for the average man, specifically the blazer, dress shirt and perhaps the yellow turtle neck. The rest of it, however, best be left to the daring or confined to the comforts of your own home!

The Ugly: Thom Browne

No. That pretty much sums up our feelings on this one. Thom Browne, how many raccoons were harmed in the making of this individual outfit? We’re hoping no retailers have purchased it for mass production. The shirt, scarf and pants all individually have their own collection of tails and we’re not sure that this would bring extra warmth on a brisk fall day, but we are certain that you would get a lot of unfavorable looks in your direction. If shock factor in your everyday wardrobe is what you’re going for, perhaps this is for you. Just keep it out of our sight.

Love it or Loathe it?

Are you a fan of Cupid or have you been silently (or maybe not so silently?) cursing this Hallmark holiday to Hell? Either way, there’s no avoiding the fact that Valentine’s Day is just a mere two days away. Although it’s on the bottom of our list of holidays worth celebrating, we mustered up enough sap to compile a list of fun, non gag-inducing activities this weekend that everyone can enjoy… no matter what your relationship status.

Whether you’ll be going out with your significant other, or heading out with friends for a first class pity party, here are our picks for partaking in the best of what Boston has to offer this weekend. As for us? We’ll be saddling up to a nice big bottle of Veuve Clicquot Rosé ….


Friday Night: February Romance Package at the Ames Hotel
Stay overnight at Boston’s sexiest hotel, the newly opened Ames, and enjoy a $150 dining credit that can be used towards Woodward’s Valentine’s Day three course pre-fixe dinner.

http://www.morganshotelgroup.com/special-offers-ames.aspx

Saturday Night: “Local Love” at Channel Cafe
Enjoy a pre fixe menu focusing on locally grown, sustainable sustenance, perfect for those lovebirds looking to avoid the cliché masses with an alternative Saturday Valentine’s dining experience. For $30, the 4-course menu includes an Organic Vegetable and Local Cheese Pizette and a Narragansett Lager to start, followed by a choice from 3 options for each of the remaining three courses. Highlights include a New England Pork Rillette, served with grilled garlic crostini, roasted apple, red leaf lettuce, and apple cider vinaigrette, Horseradish Crusted Maine Haddock, with pan roasted wild mushrooms and house-made grain mustard beurre blanc, and a Patron Affogato.

http://www.enterpriseproduce.com//
http://www.narragansettbeer.com/home
http://www.channel-cafe.com//

Sunday Night: “Love it or Forget it” at the Savant Project
Head to the Savant Project on Tremont Street to enjoy two amazing options. “Love it”: wine, steak and pasta or “Forget it”: baked macaroni and cheese, chicken and a pint. It’s a fun and creative way to have a Valentine’s Day night out with friends or a significant other.

http://www.thesavantproject.com//

Monday: Hearts for Haiti Fundraiser
Do something special to help other’s this Valentine ’s Day. “Heart’s for Haiti” at River Gods in Cambridge Restaurant in Cambridge is hosting a fundraiser with lots of amazing food, drinks and prizes. Suggested donation $10.

http://www.rivergodsonline.com//

Local Love

Eating "green" has long-been a way of life for Yogis and Flower-children, but with the newly coined "Localvore" movement, eating sustainable food has become mainstream, with locally sourced menus popping up at even the most posh of restaurants. Everyone, it seems, has jumped on the train and is healthier as a result of it! Personally, we couldn't support it more, and try to eat locally as much as possible. With Boston's great open air markets, local vendors and CSA programs, it's pretty easy to to access fresh, local, and delicious produce, meats and dairy products.

We're especially looking forward to "Local Love", a dinner to support local farmers that is being hosted by one of our favorite Fort Point restaurants, Channel Café. Consider it an "anti-Valentine's Day" if you will... :)

The special V-day dinner menu will consist of a pre fixe menu focusing on locally grown, sustainable sustenance, perfect for those lovebirds looking to avoid the cliché masses with an alternative Saturday Valentine’s dining experience.

For $30, the 4-course menu includes an Organic Vegetable and Local Cheese Pizette and a Narragansett Lager to start, followed by a choice from 3 options for each of the remaining three courses. Highlights include a New England Pork Rillette, served with grilled garlic crostini, roasted apple, red leaf lettuce, and apple cider vinaigrette, Horseradish Crusted Gloucester Cod, with pan roasted wild mushrooms and house-made grain mustard beurre blanc, and a Patron Affogato.

Each menu item has been carefully selected and sourced from local purveyors including Enterprise Farm produce, River-Wild Mushrooms and Gordon’s Fold Cattle to name a few, to ensure an entirely sustainable menu for Boston’s devout localvores.

Don't Be Tardy for the Party

Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean the festivities have to stop! Cocktail parties are the perfect way to have some fun with your friends without breaking the bank after all of that holiday spending. We're all about hosting a January get-together in order to bypass the mid-winter blues, and have created a list of helpful tips to help you host your own.

1. Prepare an assortment of tasty hors d'oeuvres:

Make a small selection hors d’oeuvres that you know your guests will like. Not sure what to make? Epicurious.com has a huge selection to choose from to match everyone’s individual tastes and preferences. Here are a few recipes we love:

Caviar Blinis

French Fries with Three Dips

Quiche in Prosciutto Cups

Crostini with Beef Tartare & White Truffle Oil

2. Pick a few signature cocktails:

Pick a few signature cocktails made with different spirits for your party. We really like the expansive list at cocktailtimes.com. In addition to signature cocktails, be sure to have beer or other cocktail alternatives for those who would prefer something non-alcoholic.

3. Play up the season when decorating:

Your party doesn’t need to have a theme. A simple color scheme will work just fine. Decorate your home with tea candles, white floral arrangements or glittered branches to create a “winter wonderland” effect.

4. Make a playlist ahead of time that creates a social atmosphere:

The 5s team compiled some of our favorite artists, along with suggestions from Bon Appetit & Apartment Therapy for your go-to cocktail party playlist. Crossing many genres and eras, this eclectic list ensures your ranking as the domestic goddess.

FRANK SINATRA
FEIST
TALKING HEADS (staff favorite: "This Must Be the Place")
MGMT
MICHAEL JACKSON (Thriller is a sure-shot dance party starter)
AMY WINEHOUSE
JONI MITCHELL
THE BEATLES
THIEVERY CORPORATION
MC SOLAAR (French hip-hop artist, songs featured on Sex & the City)

Our Home Away from Home

We're in the midst of remodeling here at 5s, and have spent the last few months scouring magazines, books and blogs in search of inspiration for creating a chic office space. Let's face it- most of us are workaholics and if we had to wager, we'd put our money on the fact that most people we know spend as much... if not more time in their office than they do at home.

For us, it was really important to decorate our office/gallery space with items and furniture that reflected our personality, but also maintained a sense of professionalism. Your space should foster creativity, not stifle it with boring surroundings!

Luckily, we're very fortunate to have some amazing architectural aspects to work with: Exposed whitewashed brick, concrete floors and high ceilings. BUT- renovating on a budget is always tricky...no matter how great your existing surroundings are, so it's important to get creative.

Our tricks: Double-duty furniture like a hutch that can be used for storage, floor-to-ceiling curtains that add a stylish element while also separating space and most importantly... flowers. No matter how dreary a space is, a floral arrangement will always kick it up a notch. It's a small investment that really packs a punch.

Check out a few of our favorite office spaces courtesy of DecorPad:

As for us? We're not quite there yet, but getting closer every day :) Check back soon for pics of the final result!

Stylish Standouts of '09

As we get closer to bidding adieu to 2009 and gear up to welcome 2010, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year...the good, the bad and the ugly. In terms of this year's trends in fashion, there are several we welcomed wholeheartedly, and a few that we tried desperately to forget (We just can't bring ourselves to warm up to Men's Skinny Jeans. Sorry.)

Luckily, there were plenty of fantastic fashion trends that we hope will stick around in the new year. Here are a few of our favs:

1. The Boyfriend Jean

2. Statement Jewelry

3. Military Jackets

4. Sequins (Preferably only at night though ladies...)

5. Exposed Zippers

6. The Jumpsuit (Although tricky...can be oh-so-chic)

Bring on the Booze!

It's no secret that we all tend to throw a few too many back around the holidays. Still trying to forget about your booze-fueled display at last year's office party huh? Well not to worry, because this year the team at 5s is arming you with tricks & tips to ensure you're just tipsy...not toppling over. During this year's festivities...focus on an old standby that never lets us down: Quality over quantity.Chances are you're not in college anymore....and even if you are, it's never cute to be the one at the party slinging back shots like your life depended on it! Rather, go for creative cocktails that combine good ingredients (Tip to avoiding a hangover ) that you can sip and savor. We've rounded up a few of our favorites courtesy of the Food Network, and of course....Martha. If you're hosting this year's get together, these are sure to impress. Going as a guest? Remember what we've talked about ;)



Pear & Cranberry Bellini

Ingredients:
1 cup pear nectar
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 bottle Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine



Directions:
In a small pitcher or large liquid measuring cup, combine pear nectar and cranberry juice cocktail. Pour 1/4 cup juice mixture into each of eight champagne glasses. Dividing evenly, top with Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine.

Pear & Sparkling Cider Cocktail

Ingredients:
2 cups pear nectar, chilled
2 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled
2 cups seltzer, chilled
4 ounces (1/2 cup) bourbon whiskey, such as Knob Creek
1 Bosc pear, unpeeled, cored, and cut lengthwise into 8 wedges

Directions:
Stir together pear nectar, cider, seltzer, and whiskey in a pitcher. Divide pear wedges among glasses, and pour in cocktail. Serve immediately.

Poinsettia Cocktail


Ingredients:
1/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup Champagne
1/2 cup cranberry juice
Crushed ice
2 strips orange zest, each about 1/4-inch wide and 2 inches long

Directions:
Combine the vodka, Champagne and juice in a large-stemmed red wine glass. Add crushed ice and stir until the mixture is well chilled. Twist the orange strips over the glass, drop them in, and serve.

Cherry Gin-gria

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
2 ounces cherry syrup (recommended: Giammona)
2 ounces gin
5 to 6 ounces club soda
1 ounce red wine
Maraschino cherries
Fresh or frozen raspberries

Directions:
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in the cherry syrup and the gin; stir to mix together. Lighten the drink with a generous splash of soda. Float a layer of red wine on top by pouring it over the back of a wide, flat spoon. (Don't worry if it doesn't float; it tastes great either way.) Drop a few maraschino cherries and raspberries into the glass. Drink.