We've Got the Beat: Jack Kerouac's Jacket

Hogan's Jack Kerouac bomber jacket.

By Nandita Khanna

Earlier this spring, Italian luxury leather purveyor Hogan launched the "Jack Kerouac Project"--a capsule collection of six well-worn, buttery-soft leather pieces from bags to sneakers--at Colette in Paris. The collection also marks Hogan's first foray into outerwear. Hogan's launch is timed with the 50-year anniversary of Kerouac's iconic novel On the Road, which embodies the essence of the Beat movement.

The line bows at boutiques in U.S. this month and will be on sale through January. The standout piece is by far the bomber jacket, which is fashioned after Kerouac's own, and is most certainly a nod to the writer's own rumpled, urban nomad style with its ribbed wool banding and double front pockets ($1,590). A fifties-style high-top sneaker and work boot would make excellent shoes for pounding the city pavement (shoes from $295 to $475). For modern adventurers out to emulate Kerouac, the caramel-hued travel bag ($1,290) is clearly priced beyond Kerouac's means but manages to evoke that "this-old-thing" feeling that makes it so darn cool looking. And, hey, it might just inspire you to pack your bags and set off on your own cross-country adventure.

Westward Bound

White Haute: Smythson's Nancy Bag, which is an L.A. store exclusive through October.

By Nandita Khanna

Having spent a large part of my formative years in Southern California before moving to Atlanta for college, Washington, DC for my first job, and now, to New York City, I am often hesitant to answer the straightforward question: "Where are you from?" While my allegiance often vacillates between both coasts--most often depending on season--I'm quite territorial about all that is to be savored in New York from its culture to its restaurants and shopping. California has my wholehearted fidelity when it comes to beaches--not even Southampton or Fire Island come close in my eyes. So when Deputy News Editor Debi Dunn (a loyal Californian, might I add), who edited our September L.A. Insert, posed the question "Is L.A. becoming more like New York, or is New York becoming more like L.A.?" I did some poking around when I was out there this spring.

Much to my rather selfish delight, I was pleased to see that many of the boutiques that have become institutions in New York are broadening their reach and tapping the starlet-pounded pavement of Rodeo Drive and North Robertson. West Third Street is becoming real destination for fashionistas in search of smaller-name designers and international labels, while even heavily trafficked North Robertson--made famous most notably by its appearances on the pages of US Weekly--is getting quite a facelift with Chanel and Scoop rumored to be shopping for retail space. Even the girls at Foley + Corinna are purportedly poking around looking for a perch, and Helmut Lang is opening on Melrose.

Herewith, some of the newest boutiques--all of whom have flagships in New York--to hold court in La-la land.

Local Intelligence: Robertson Boulevard, Los Angeles

Jean Therapy: Paige Premium Denim is just
one of the celebrity haunts on Robertson
Boulevard in Los Angeles.

By Nandita Khanna

When I'm traveling it's not the guidebooks that I turn to, or even the area magazines (but I do buy them)-- it's the locals. Who knows where to eat, sleep, and hang out better than those who call the city home? Earlier this spring I headed to Los Angeles on assignment for the magazine's 20th anniversary issue. While I'd like to think I know the city well--I grew up there-- much like New York, things change in the blink of an eye. And while I insist that In and Out Burger is still the best place in town to grab a bite, I invited these three trend-setting women below--all of whom have taken up post on perpetually packed Robertson Boulevard--to share their favorite secrets and tips in the City of Angels.

From Runway to Room Key

Short Story: A sketch from Tadashi Shoji's outfits for the Ivy Hotel.

By Nandita Khanna

From the look of things, stylish hotel-goers aren't the only ones upping the ante these days with their ultraluxe Goyard luggage and effortless separates from YSL's new 24 Hour collection. Crimes of fashion are no longer de rigueur in the hotel industry as fashion designers like Michael Kors, Tadashi Shoji, and Jenni Kayne are reworking runway pieces and applying a pragmatic, day-to-day aesthetic to hotel uniforms. Black and white frilly maid uniforms? Let the underage collegiate set have 'em. In their place come jersey, wool, and lace fabics cut in modern, tailored styles--that are both surprisingly chic and, well frankly, long overdue.

A Real Gem

By Nandita Khanna

World on a String: A multi-strand tourmaline necklace from Hornig's collection.

More so recently there has been a heightened awareness in fashion about giving back to the local community, sustainability, and smart consumerism. When I came across New York-based jeweler Joan Hornig, who donates 100 percent of the profits from her line to a charity of the buyers' choice (drawn from a list of more than 160 organizations), I'll admit, I was flat out stunned. It then dawned on me that Hornig truly embodies this forward-thinking movement with her delicate, but show-stopping nascent collection.

Tee Time

By Nandita Khanna

Height of fashion: Diane von Furstenberg's T-shirt for the cause.

It's an undeniable fashion truth: the little white T-shirt permeates our wardrobe day in and out. And why shouldn't it? T-shirts are comfortable, easy to wear, and can be paired with just about anything. In fact, I've amassed quite a collection of tissue tees from some of my favorite designers (adampluseve, Splendid, J.Crew, James Perse). But what happens on those days when you don't really want your T-shirt to play second fiddle to the rest of your outfit? Or you want to look chic on the plane, but more effortless than dolled-up?

As it turns out an event called Limited Editions New York (L.E.N.Y.) speaks to our sartorial woes. L.E.N.Y. is a twice-yearly exhibition during New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week that will call upon the design talent of some of fashion's boldest names to create limited-edition pieces made available at only the hippest boutiques around the globe (Colette in Paris, Harvey Nichols in the UK, Milk in Los Angeles, and Intermix in New York).

Taking a holiday (in my mind, at least)

Bathing beauty: A look from Milly's cabana collection.

By Nandita Khanna

Every time I tell someone I work at a travel magazine inevitably first question is always, "Oh wow, do you get to travel all the time?" Forgive me for quashing any dreams, but unfortunately it's not all travel, all the time, as one is (understandbly) be led to believe.

Don't get me wrong, I've had the chance to go to far-flung places like Hoi An, Vietnam to work on a fashion shoot and I've taken a jaunt down to St. Lucia to check out new hotels for our Hot List. But I have plenty to do each and every day that keeps my feet firmly planted here at 4 Times Square. And to think, we have a coterie of brilliant contributing editors who've made traveling on the magazine's dime their livelihood. It's certainly enviable. I'm quickly realizing I have much to learn about this business. Last Tuesday night I headed downtown to preview Milly's resort collection with my friend Jessica Flint in tow.   Jess has never been to a fashion show, so I thought I'd ease her into the veritable mayhem that is attending fashion shows but taking her to a fete for the resort collection. I told Jess that while I might not be able to actually plan a vacation to a warm locale at this very moment to put these pieces to good use, we can pretend we are--for the duration of the 8-minute fashion show.

Strap Happy

Sure-footed: The Ginger, one of Bernson's
favorite summer styles.

By Nandita Khanna

During the work week, my practicality when it comes to sensible footwear is pretty close to nonexistent.

It's true, I faithfully (and often painfully) wear high heels nearly every day. Yesterday I hobbled around in these too-tight cobalt blue Celine sandals just because I hadn't worn them recently.

However, when I travel it's the complete opposite. My travels up until now haven't taken me to Paris or Milan for Fashion Week, where one could assume wearing Jimmy Choos or Dior on your feet is de rigueur, however, when I'm traveling I tend to be the opposite of my work self--meaning I am all about the comfort. Eschewing heels for flat boots, on ski trips out west I pack a pair of wedge snow boots and ski boots. No stilettos in the snow (I leave that to J.Lo, and the like, thanks).

The same could be said for the summer months in New York. Weekends spent traipsing through the West Village or Central Park are done so in the most practical fashion.

This season I'm loving Matt Bernson's gladiator sandal and snakeskin flats in green. I discovered Matt Bernson's Indian-inspired sandals more than a year ago thanks to one of my best friends entrepreneur/Vanity Fair editorial associate Jessica Flint who mentioned that his shoes were the talk of her office. And after buying one pair I was hooked. They're lightweight, flexible, comfortable, and easy to pack. Plus they don't take up nearly as much room as some of my clunky wedges, so I can still pack smart and look pulled  together. I'll bring these with me on weekend trips out to Fire Island, and even on winter jaunts to much warmer destinations. Read on for the scoop on how Matt started the line and some of his favorite pieces for summer.

Phillip Lim takes on Uniqlo

By Nandita Khanna

Japanese casual wear empire Uniqlo made quite a entrance earlier this year here in New York's SoHo with the arrival of its first U.S. post by positioning numerous advertisments throughout the city showing impeccably folded cashmere sweaters for under $75 (it's true). In a smart move, Uniqlo also announced that they'd launch a Designer Invitation Project in which they'd enlist designers like Lutz & Patmos, Alice Roi, and Phillip Lim to design women's capsule collections that would be rolled out each month during the spring. Yesterday morning Uniqlo debuted New York-based Lim's brilliant capsule collection (his belted mindress is pictured at left) to much fanfare by hosting a group of lucky fashionistas and magazine editors to pre-shop the collection before the store opened their doors to the general public. Upon arriving at 9:15 a.m., to my surprise there was already a long line of women (and some men) outside the store ready to snatch up the collection before it opened at 10 a.m. The charming collection featured a few linen minidresses (black, off-white, plaid), high-waisted shorts, and jersey dresses (in gray and green) that brilliantly capture much of what Lim's 3.1 collection is all about: maintaining an easy elegance and freshness regardless of your personal style. Here, Phillip Lim weighs in on the collection and his favorite pieces.

Green is the New Black (really!)

By Nandita Khanna

Like many other eco-conscious, but equally style savvy counterparts of mine I never realized the sheer number of forward-thinking designers that have turned their attention to producing socially conscious clothing. I'll admit, I had always thought that clothes made from organic cotton were rather hippy-dippy for my personal taste. Breaking through that stereotype is Brit designer Stella McCartney, who has always churned out stylish PETA-approved pieces and accessories made from synthetic materials (even the shoes, which are outfitted from a leather-like plant derivative and stamped with the Suitable for Vegetarians slogan). But it appears, Stella isn't alone, and there are plenty of other designers who are stepping up to bat for the cause, or simply developing their lines based on sustainable practices.