CITYist

Tomorrow kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness month, so I, of course, wanted to get some awesome brands on your radar that are working hard to support the cause!

Until someone can figure out how to turn down the frat boy vibe of flip flops, we’re deeming espadrilles the perfect summer shoe for guys. See what makes them an instant classic with our top five pairs featured after the jump.

Vacations are always intended to be a time to relax. But sometimes with travel arrangements, and the urge to indulge in more cocktail hours than you are used to, you really do need a vacation, from your vacation. Not so with the Grand Velas Resort in the Mayan Rivera.

We all love giving and receiving gifts—but fighting with crowds isn’t for us. Our kind of Black Friday experience is more about personal shoppers, luxury items, and individual attention. Most of all, why should gift giving just be limited to the holidays? For constant shoppers like me, VISA Black Card likes to reward me for all my plastic swiping.

Vacheron Constantin, the leader in luxury watches has something new for the female world traveler that is not only chic and elegant but very versatile. Check after the jump for more details.

Free People has recruited intimate line, Zinke, to bring some soft sexiness to their stores.

Odd Molly, best known for their comfortable yet feminine clothes, have just signed the extremely feminine Charlotte Kemp Muhl as the face of their Spring/Summer 2012 campaign.

Lako Bukia is a womenswear brand, which is trying to redefine the way the world sees femininity and sexuality. Due to a decade long pressure from the fashion world and show business representatives, femininity and sexuality are now widely perceived as being equal to wearing tight and revealing clothes. The women of the world forgot that there is something more exciting in the about the mystery of those type of garments which do not stress one’s body shape, and thus pointing to a more important side of a woman.

It’s my hope that anyone reading CITYist.com isn’t the type to run around town in a tacky green and white top hat with a beer helmet on March 17—but I do hope that our savvy and fun readers will grab one of these bright green looks from adidas Originals.

Youthful innovation meets heritage charm? What could be better than this “best of both worlds” combo? The latest installment of Levi’s and Opening Ceremony’s recent collaboration has us asking that very same question. The answer? Nothing!

Fashion and art are happily married, again, in the latest lookbook for 23 year-old, fantastically feminine Australian brand Scanlan & Theodore. Known for their collaborations with famed photographers, and muses alike (such as Bill Henson and Lagerfeld muse Joanna Priess), they do it yet again with their latest lookbook for Spring ’11, which features Erin Wasson, shot by Nan Goldin.

Upon hearing of “Downtown from Behind,” many thoughts surface about what it could be. While sounding a tiny bit on the scandalous side, it’s actually not, unless a penchant, borderlining a full-fledged fetish for people on bikes in NYC gets you all hot and bothered. Downtown from Behind is the latest project by photographer Bridget Fleming, showcasing a truly eclectic mix of NYC tastemakers, as well as general influencers’ backsides, while on wheels.

With a stunning Fifth Avenue entrance only rivaled by its swanky front lobby and bar area, we expect The Setai to be a new hotspot in NYC.

Tweed and gingham are the first to come to mind when thinking of iconic brand, Fred Perry. For years the sportswear brand has been a favorite of many, including legendary musicians like Paul Weller, Terry Hall and Damon Albarn. Now, keeping with their classic approach to sportswear and the Fred Perry aesthetic, the collection has a bit more edge, and grit thanks to their collaboration with the always-sassy Amy Winehouse.

It would be understandable to assume that it is virtually impossible for anything else relating to the empire of Sex and The City to exist, since it seems like everything has been done. But, with the release of the Sex and the City 2 DVD, hitting shelves on October 26, there is one more thing, and it is a makeover Web series courtesy of Warner Brothers Entertainment and digital network DBG. The web series brings an answer to the age-old question many magazines, online and print, have pondered ever since the show came into existence: Which Sex and the City character are you?

While we can’t imagine having such high regard for anything hanging in the New York subway, these posters from London’s tube stations between the two world wars are nothing short of fascinating. Back then, walking through the underground railway stations was akin to walking through an art gallery, with colorful, modern lithograph posters. These ranged from PR for the railway system itself (“Quickly Away, Thanks To Pneumatic Doors!”) to war-time PSA’s (“In The Blackout, Wear or Carry Something White”). On top of being visually stunning, the images offer a glimpse of London’s every day existence from this historically significant period. Underground Gallery: London Transport Posters, 1920s–1940s is on view now at MoMA through February of next year.

Cynthia Rowley is setting up shop in the Hamptons this summer—but you might not be able to tell. The womenswear designer’s store will be marked by a neon blue sign stating, simply, Shop. At 696 Montauk Highway, the boutique is right near the Memory Motel (where it will be hosting a concert series) and will provide Cynthia Rowley’s complete line, as well as, luckily, the mod surf wear line for Roxy. And the brand is certainly sticking with a theme: all items come in a bag screened with a retro print evoking Mad Men-style advertising as well as the laid back beach vibe of Montauk. The inconspicuous shop’s exterior intends to blend in with this aesthetic as well—though we have a feeling the clothes might make you stand out.

Walking into Sex and the City 2, you have to know your only going to get the shallow end of the swimming pool. The diving section was left behind when the long-running show was first adapted into a feature film two years ago. It might look like a Carrie and walk like a Carrie, but these characters have become caricatures of themselves—the complex motivations and deep development of the brilliant HBO vignettes replaced by diamonds, one-liners and contrived plot points.

While she may be a makeup artist and singer by profession, Sara Strand could probably double as a tour guide with all the information she has to share on the city of Los Angeles. Need a healthy selection of bars and boutiques? Sara’s got you covered. Read on to see her picks.

To read more about Sara, click here.

In a smart twist of events, Rag & Bone has procured a series of photographs that, shockingly, aren’t overtly part of an ad campaign. Shot by Brooklyn-based photographer Mark Borthwick, the photos are a kaleidoscopic sunshine-filled dream complete with flowers, frolicking figures and girls lounging in the grass that may or may not resemble an acid trip, or at least a very pleasant picnic. Also featured, of course, are Rag & Bone’s spring clothes, styled by Vanessa Reid and looking quite at home amidst a background of beautiful bodies and beautiful scenery. See more after the jump—or stop by the Soho store sometime over the next three months to check them out in person.