Jen Mankins, the fantabulous proprietress of Brooklyn’s boutique chainlet Bird, is one of my favorite shop owners in New York: she has not one speck of fashion person attitude—as in not one speck. And she has—quietly and without making it all about her—become the borough’s most influential retailer by far. She’s also deeply charming and super-funny, and takes her sartorial cues from no one. You haven’t seen a person layer prints on prints on prints until you’ve seen Jen Mankins do it.
Now everyone can experience the Universe of of Jen just by visiting the freshly redone Bird website. There’s a blog with many and varied fun little departments—including the quite engaging Jen’s Journal. One entry includes snaps from Bird’s first-ever lookbook shoot; another features ten outfits Mankins has styled with her favorite fall pieces from the store—including this one, which breaks pretty much every leopard print rule I’ve ever invented for myself and turns out fifty kinds of awesome in the process.
There are also recipes by Friend of Bird Anna Harrington, who runs a cooking school for kids (which means they might be simple enough for even me to follow); quickie Q&A’s with random Bird shoppers, and a studio visit with the guys from Shipley and Halmos. There might possibly be an interview with me somewhere in there too.
Most importantly, Bird’s website redesign has rendered the shopping pages brighter and bigger just generally more spiffed. Making it so very much easier for me to locate items I need desperately and immediately to buy.
Were I a different kind of person—the kind who was less prone to spilling, scuffing, and staining her posessions—I would not hesitate to buy this white Tsumori Chisato Yeti wallet, because it is too awesome and weird and wonderful for words. And I have been talking myself out of buying one awesome, weird and wonderful Tsumori Chisato wallet or another for years now.
Also: this Alasdair tuxedo jacket is just about as solid an argument as you could hope to find in favor of the exceedingly pressing nature of buying a perfectly-cut tuxedo jacket .
In addition to which: have you ever seen a chicer two-inch heel in your life? Seriously, how did they swing that?
I have been looking for a pair of black pumps just. like. that. Classic but not Queen of England-ish. Which should be cause for celebration. But alas, for those of us in the Big Footed Clan (size 42 & up) the search continues.
I have a tuxedo jacket just like that! Bought it in the Junior Dept. of Nordstrom. I had frog closures sewn on. I like those shoes a lot also,but have trouble getting fitted.
Sorry to be dense, but do you mean the boys’ department, or Brass Plum …?
Love your interview!
I wish I loved Bird. I always think their window displays are great and the website redesign is lovely. But the last time I went in the Cobble Hill store, I got the sneer-y up-and-down and no one spoke to me. I looked around and felt so awkward – especially after the person who entered after me, who was tiny and cute (I’m 5’10″ and a size 10, a relative giant in the world of Brooklyn boutiques – but I’ve got favorites that don’t treat me like one), was gushed over. I won’t go back.
I’m so sorry that happened to you. Women can be such b******. I’ve seen all the excuses about fashion and plus size and I think they’re cr*p. It’s just prejudice.
Oh, and you’re not even large. Not that it would be okay for someone to be rude if you were, but, you aren’t.
Ha, thanks. I’m actually quite happy with my body, but it’s not the easiest to fit and I get frustrated when I can’t even get a chance to try.
Sorry that happened to you at Bird! Everyone’s always seemed pretty nice there to me—and believe me it’s not because they knew I was a mag editor or knew Jen; I can be pretty slobbed out when I go shopping.
But I know how annoying that can be; there are stores in NYC where I inevitably get ignored and see other customers get fussed over, and it can make me nuts.
I’d give Bird another chance, though. Jen’s good people. She’d be mortified if she felt like her customers were being made to feel unwelcome.
Thanks for the reply, Kim. I will give them another shot, I promise – for you! And Jen.
For the record, I’ve always found Bird in CobbleHill to be snobby; the Williamsburg location not at all. When I’m on Smith Street, I’ve learned to blow past Bird and stick to Dear Fieldbinder. LOVE this blog, btw.
I think I’d need some convincing on the shoes. They look kind of ordinary to me (ie, not pointy enough).
But the picture of the woman in all the leopard is fab. (I tried to look at some others but my Firefox crashed…)
Cute stuff! I have shoes that look very much like that…that are from (gasp) Banana Republic.
What a great site. I like the trend of stores and catalogues making the effort to put up some content and make it more personal.
I love Bird and I’m glad to hear the owner is so down to earth. I don’t live in NYC so it’s a must-go when I visit, but the site has always lacked the visual punch of the shops. I’m going to check out the new site right now!