Most stylish New Yorkers: Binki Shapiro
The Little Joy vocalist models her effortless, '70s-inspired ensembles; we show you how to crib her relaxed style.
Fri Sep 30 2011
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
Shapiro sandwiches a vintage T-shirt between wide-legged pants and an edgy leather jacket, both by Phillip Lim. "He's one of my favorite designers," she enthuses.
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
In addition to her signature Meghan Farrell ring, Shapiro sports a series of gold rings that she's collected through the years. "I actually found one of them when I was about eight years old, in some clay at school," she recalls. "That was an exciting day!" The beaded ring was a gift from a friend in Mexico, who gave it to her on her last Little Joy tour.
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
This simple onyx ring was a flea market find that Shapiro scored for $60. "Best $60 I ever spent!" she gushes. "I never take it off."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
"I've had at least one pair of white Converse for as long as I can remember," says Shapiro, who currently sports a weathered-looking pair. "I bring them everywhere with me."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
To transition this vintage summer dress into cooler fall days, Shapiro tops it with a structured blazer from Rag & Bone. "I bought the dress for my sister and ended up stealing it back because I loved it so much!" she admits.
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
"I found these dagger earrings a couple of months ago at an antiques store I randomly stopped into on my way to lunch," says Shapiro. "I thought they were the coolest earrings I'd ever seen. A few weeks later, my boyfriend surprised me with them on my birthday."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
This pendant necklace from ABC Carpet & Home makes a subtle statement.
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
A woven belt from Shapiro's repertoire ("it's one I've had for ages") not only defines her waist but makes her floaty dress look like complementary separates.
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
Thick-soled Vena Cava shoes allow Shapiro to gain a few inches of height without sacrificing comfort.
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
Shapiro tucks a form-fitting Vena Cava top into J Brand skinny jeans for a casual, streamlined look.
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
This chunky turquoise ring was an eBay find. "For better or worse, I am an avid late-night eBayer," confesses Shapiro. "I love looking for cool old jewelry on there; I can get lost for hours."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
Vintage Via Spiga ankle boots add just the right amount of edge to Shapiro's downtown-ready ensemble. "My mom used to wear a pair of ankle boots just like these when I was growing up," she recalls. "I still can't tell if I actually like the ones I own or if I wear them because they remind me of her."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
"My mom collects vintage clothes and dresses, so every time I visit her, I go shopping in her closet," admits Shapiro. "This dress was one of those [discoveries]."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
These delicate vintage arrow earrings were another eBay find. "I think I paid less than $5 for them?" guesses Shapiro. "Crazy."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
"I'm not the kind of person who can wear heels that kill me," declares Shapiro, who swears that these Phillip Lim platforms "are as comfortable as heels that high can get. If I'm gonna go for it, I have to be able to dance in 'em."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
A Phillip Lim jumpsuit lends a gamine touch to a graphic Acne bodysuit.
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
Shapiro's pal Jenny gave her this "B" pin as a 23rd birthday gift. "I commented on it one day when she was wearing it, and she surprised me by sticking it in the bow of my birthday present a few weeks later," remembers Shapiro. "I have very thoughtful friends."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
"I wear this jacket all the time," Shapiro says of her Phillip Lim jacket, which she pairs with A.P.C. pants. "It's the first leather jacket I haven't felt like a fraud wearing. They usually make me feel like I'm a little kid posing for a photo at the Hard Rock Cafe in the Fonz's jacket."
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Photograph: Ilenia Martini
"My friends Adam [Tullie] and Angeline [Rivas] have a clothing line called Cavern (caverncollection.com), and they make the softest, most wonderful shirts with incredible artwork by the two of them," enthuses Shapiro. "I live in their shirts; this one is one of my favorites."
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SPIN HER STYLE
Cheap Monday Glamazon floral skirt, $45, at karmaloop.com
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SPIN HER STYLE
Material Girl faux-leather jacket, $90, at Macy's, 151 W 34th St at Seventh Ave (212-695-4400)
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SPIN HER STYLE
Marais USA two-tone flats, $64, at maraisusa.com
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SPIN HER STYLE
Zara braided belt, $15, at Zara, locations throughout the city; visit zara.com
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SPIN HER STYLE
Warehouse Paperbag belted trousers, $40, at warehouse.co.uk
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SPIN HER STYLE
Mango relaxed-fit knit sweater, $60, at shop.mango.com
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SPIN HER STYLE
J.Crew Schoolboy blazer, $188, at jcrew.com
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SPIN HER STYLE
Bensimon Lacet sneakers, $55, at endless.com
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SPIN HER STYLE
Brooklyn Industries Devonshire blazer, $88, at Brooklyn Industries, locations throughout the city; visit brooklynindustries.com
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SPIN HER STYLE
French Connection Jackie Jacquard long-sleeved crew-neck sweater, $148, at French Connection, 435 W Broadway at Prince St (212-219-1197, frenchconnection.com)
Binki Shapiro, 25, musician (myspace.com/littlejoymusic), Lower East Side
Her personal style: "Simple and easy. When I was a kid, I would change my outfit 50 times before school every morning and I'd get so stressed if everything wasn't perfect. These days I try not to try so hard."
Her inspirations: "It's really in all the little things that surround me every day: people, places, music, magazines."
Her signature accessory: "I love my silver crisscross ring by Meghan Farrell (meghanfarrell.blogspot.com). I wear it all the time."
Favorite stores: "One of my favorite places to buy jewelry is ABC Carpet & Home (888 Broadway at 19th St; 212-473-3000, abchome.com). It always has really simple and unique pieces. I also like Stock Vintage (143 E 13th St between Third and Fourth Aves, 212-505-2505). It's not the cheapest store, but it usually has really great old T-shirts, belts and boots."
Favorite designer: "I'm way into Vena Cava (venacava.com) right now. They make beautiful clothes for women—very feminine with a tough vibe. When I saw [the label's] last runway show on Style.com, I was blown away at how each look was more elegant than the last."
How she describes New York style: "I love that people really go for it here. They're not afraid to look nice, like that '50s vibe where looking decent was just a way of life—that's how it feels here. Living in New York has really changed my perception on the way I dress. Looking nice feels like a nice treat to myself, and it's not necessarily about wearing expensive clothes or anything, but just putting a bit more effort into how I present myself to the world."
