Living Social Deal for Mood Fabrics Ends Today

Reader Arlette just alerted me to Living Social's coupon for Mood Fabrics: Pay $15 for $30 to spend on merchandise at Mood. Hurry, the offer ends today.

And don't forget to support the merchants of the Garment District on Small Business Saturday by shopping there on 11/26. Many stores are open on Saturdays and would welcome your patronage. Happy Thanksgiving!

Shop Small and Support the Garment District on 11/26

Forget Black Friday and think Small Business Saturday on November 26. Sponsored by American Express, the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday® is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. There are enough stores open in NYC's Garment District to make shopping here on Small Business Saturday worthwhile to you and the small businesses located here. These are some of the merchants I know are open on Saturdays, in no particular order:

• Prime Fabrics (W. 35th)
• Mood Fabrics (W. 37th)
• Most of the stores on W. 39th
• NY Elegant Fabrics (W. 40th)
• Paron Fabrics (W. 40th)
• Rosen & Chadick Fabrics (W. 40th)
• B&J Fabrics (W. 38th at Seventh)
• Spandex House (W. 38th)
• Pacific Trimming and the other trim stores on W. 38th
• SIL Thread and Panda Zipper on W. 38th
• Daytona Braids and Trims (W. 39th)
• M&J Trims (Sixth Ave. at W. 38th)

Now seriously, wouldn't you rather spend a morning shopping in New York City's historic Garment District than at the mall? When you're done you can walk over to Bryant Park for some hot chocolate and a visit to the holiday shops of Bryant Park (more small businesses needing your support). Make your plans today!

Make Your Own Winter Coat This Season

Fur Collar Trench by Boy by Band of Outsiders. Trench style wool coat with removable fur collar and self tie belt. $2,240 at La Garconne.

A winter coat is one of the most satisfying and cost-effective things you can sew for yourself: You can build it exactly to your specifications, and not skimp on linings like even some of the better RTW companies do. And you can save lots of money when you make your own coat, because even on sale winter coats are still pricey.

This season I am really taken with the above Boy by Band of Outsiders winter coat and am hankering to make one like it. First, I can repurpose a fur collar from an old coat that's been languishing in my closet. Second, how great is it that it has a quilted lining. Our NYC winters have been cold lately and this winter I'll be prepared with a quilted lining.

Lucky for us wool coatings abound in the Garment District. Shop around, trying W. 39th Street first for bargains before heading to standbys like Mood, B&J's, Paron's, Rosen & Chadick, Elliott Berman Textiles, Lace Star and NY Elegant. You can find quilted lining fabric at Mood, B&J's, A.K. Fabrics and NY Elegant. Now get sewing and finish that coat before the first snowflake falls in the tri-state region. (Oops, too late.)

Quilted fabrics at NY Elegant...

...and at Mood Fabrics.

Make Your Own Sequin Dress for the Holidays

DKNY Sequin Dress, $345, Bloomingdales

Sequins, sequins, sequins! Holiday Fashion 2011 is one big sparkly mess. You, you smart little sewist you, can whip up your own little one-of-a-kind sequin number for far less than you'd pay in the better stores. Just head over to NYC's Garment District, specifically the north side of W. 39th Street. Most of the stores there have loads of sparkly sequin fabric priced between $10 and $30 a yard; feel free to negotiate your way to a lower price with the sales staff. The stores I'd start with are G&R, Gate 232 (this store keeps changing owners and names; just look for lots of tacky signs in the window and on the street), and Logo. And if you have any tips for sewing sequin fabric, please comment here. I may be sewing my first sequin dress and I could use some help!

G&R Fabrics

G&R Fabrics

West 34th Street is My New Favorite Shopping Hub

Uniqlo opens on W. 34th Street this Friday. Yay! (photo from Uniqlo)

Ok, so you already know this part of New York City is the best place in the world to shop for fabrics, notions and trims. But did you know the perimeter of the Garment District also features some of the best clothes shopping around? West 34th Street is the destination if you're looking up-to-the-minute fashions at wallet-friendly prices. Cool Japanese retailer Uniqlo opens this Friday at 31 W. 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, and I'll be picking up some of their fantastic cashmere sweaters. If you're looking for chic but affordable clothes that look great on women of all ages, try Mango, Zara, H&M and Macy's Impulse (second floor). And a DSW shoe store is currently under construction at Seventh and 34th. Be still my heart.

My itinerary for a great day of shopping: Spend the morning buying fabric and trim in the Garment District. Break for lunch; indulge yourself in some macarons or mini cupcakes. Devote the afternoon to shopping on W. 34th Street, buying stylish pieces to go with the clothes you're planning to sew.

For the very latest news on sales, trends and great deals in the 200+ stores in the 34th Street District, check out the fun and clever blog Fashion Herald.

7th Annual Fashion District Arts Festival: October 13-15

And you thought the Garment District was just about fabric and fashion!

"The Fashion Center Business Improvement District will host its 7th annual Fashion District Arts Festival, a district-wide celebration of the artists, crafters, galleries, and theatres that contribute to the creative energy that fuels America’s fashion capital. Don’t miss local open artist studios, concerts, gallery receptions, and performances. All events are open to the public, almost all are free." Click here for a complete program guide.

I hope to catch a live performance or two on my lunch hour. Hope to see you there!

Your Target Store May Be Out of Missoni But You Can Find It Here

Missoni wool/mohair knits at Elliott Berman Textiles, 225 W. 35th Street, NYC

Don't fret that you missed out on the Missoni merch at Target, because you can make your own Missoni garments! Hurry over to Elliott Berman Textiles NOW while they still have Missoni fabric in stock and tell 'em Shop the Garment District sent you. Better yet, call first to check availability (212-764-0180). Just don't wait because this stuff is yummy and is going almost as fast as Missoni did at Target. I grabbed two yards to sew up a cardigan for moi, moi, moi.

Even if Missoni is not your thing, do head over to EBT because they have so many new fabrics in from Europe: beautiful brocades, jacquards, wools, silks, knits from the finest fabric houses. The only downside is that they have so much fabric in-house I am afraid Mathew and Eugenia may get trapped in a fabric avalanche. Let's all encourage them to look for more space, shall we?

This Missoni knit comes in several different colorways and is so soft.

This Missoni fabric is a little heavier and would make a great sweater-coat or jacket.