A Fashionable Guide to The Big Apple - Street Smart to High Fashion in New York City

From the ‘infamous’ kati rolls on 33rd Avenue to Armani Ristorante on 5th Avenue, New York City aka The Big Apple has something for everybody. As a vivid traveler to the city, mostly during the Fashion Week I was compelled to dig into some of the hot spots without blowing my budget. I was eager to as always explore the fashionable can dos within means, or as i say the balancing act.

I have never been a back packing kinda a girl and looking fashionable and chic is a must for me. So the first thing I try to find in a city is a reliable salon that I can trust and walk in looking messy and walk out camera ready.

Texas Big Hair in the Big Apple: Trained by the very best in the industry, Gary Levin has all the tricks and tools to achieve any look. He started working with hair and skin experts Redken and Aveda and from there kept working his way up to eventually opening his own salon – Arco in Brooklyn, New York. This beautiful and sleek salon is this 19 year old’s dream child. Blessed with good looks and even better style sense, Gary knew from a young age that fashion was the route for him.

But it wasn’t a straight path from beauty school to salon. First he went into fashion journalism and spent time learning and writing about trends and styles. His specialties are women’s hair and men’s grooming and fashion. His editorials covered celebrity red carpet appearances and fashion pieces. Eventually Gary decided it was time to get back on the stylist scene and actually working with people and so he opened up his own high end salon and spa in Brooklyn, where he is currently doing quite well. He hopes to continue to revolutionize the industry and glam out as many patrons as possible.

At Arco I was pampered with unlimited mimosas, chocolates, and strawberries at the beautiful cozy cottage like patio while the stylist gave me the perfect hair color for summer and the cut I always wanted. Walking out looking glamorous and ready to check out the new Baccarat Hotel.

High Life: Starwood Capital Group, the private equity real estate firm, announced on March 18th the opening of Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York. Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York is the first hotel and global flagship for the 250 year-old Baccarat crystal brand. Directly across the street from the Museum of Modern Art and steps away from Fifth Avenue’s legendary shopping, the hotel occupies the first 12 floors of the split level tower that rises 550 feet above West 53rd Street. Glowing inside and out, the lower levels of the hotel are veiled by a 125-foot wide corrugated crystal like curtain.

Paris-based interior design firm Gilles & Boissier led the creation of the hotel’s interiors, which combine Baccarat’s French classic aesthetics with a fanciful modern sensibility. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill served as architects for the 50-story tower, while New York-based designer and member of the Architectural Digest 100, Tony Ingrao, led the residential design.

After a drink at the fabulous display of luxury living, a short walk down to Fifth Avenue checking out discounts at Ted Baker London, Chanel, Louis Vulton, I finally pictured my next big must have bag: The Giorgio Armani Classic Tote and dined at the quaint Armani Ristorante for the celeb sightings and a glimpse of vogue fashionistas. The food was delicious, grilled scallops appetizer to quail egg ravioli. It is certainly one of the spots for the fashion elite.

Street Smart: After all the shopping and fine dinning it was now time to tone down a bit with some casual fun and that’s one of my favorite things about cities like New York and Paris that one can have all the fun with any budget. I had lined up a few work and social meetings at the Bryant Park neighborhood. The perfect way to enjoy my stay – stylish yet enjoy some street food. When in New York I have to have the Kati Rolls, an Indian street food delicacy. I picked the lamb rolls and enjoyed them in the park with friends and conversations not to mention plenty of fashionista sightings.

Need an expresso and an Alice & Olivia deal? Hop across the boutique shop and next door grab the some French delights from Le Pain Quotidian Sixth Avenue. Then walk down to Herald Square to check out some of your favorite stores and of course do the other must dos like: Central Park carriage ride, check out the new Freedom Tower for a breath taking view and the two and a half hour cruise sailing through Manhattan.

Brunching: It’s very hard to miss this place as it is one of New York’s hidden brunch secrets. Inside Bloomingdale’s which was built in the 1872 on the sixth floor is Le Train Bleu which resembles an old fashioned train car. A true hidden gem, the restaurant is named after the French express train that gained international fame as the preferred train of wealthy and famous passengers. It is a must go with excellent brunch food and the second you enter the restaurant it was like stepping into an ancient train.

Another restaurant very popular for its excellent brunch and lively evenings is Barbounia Restaurant in Park Avenue South. I managed to go grab dessert and wine on a beautiful New York evening. While the list for amazing hot spots can go on and on, my trip concluded very quickly shuffling between work and catching up with friends. The city truly does not sleep and it truly stands tall for its cosmopolitan vibes, various cuisines and restaurants that embraces all cultures and ages.

This journey concluded over a business lunch discussing media coverage for the United Nations with my friend and TV Asia New Director Rohit Vyas at the Brasserie Ruhlmann overlooking the Rockefeller Center – displaying over 200 flags from different countries reminding us once again about peace and harmony.

Thank You to our generous sponsors NAN & Co Properties for sponsoring this segment of Raasthe With Ruchi! (Raasthe is the Hindi word for on the road). Lights Camera Action is pleased to bring to you hidden treasures from around the world!