Inspirationale: Lia Cinquegrano Learns From Brooklyn’s Finest
Lia Cinquegrano of Thomas IV is the kind of gal who solved the problem of finding the perfect bag by developing her own line—so it makes total sense that she’d turn to fellow hustler and Brooklynite Jay-Z to fuel her creative fire. More on that below. —keely thomas-menter 
“Jay-Z has been an inspiration to me since I rented my first studio. I would go there at night to work on my bags and play only Jay-Z. His lyrics motivate me. One of my favorites: “Far from a Harvard student / Just had the balls to do it.” I say that in my head a lot. My most recent moment of Jay-Z inspiration came from reading Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office by Zack O’Malley Greenburg. It links together many people and events that helped Jay-Z become a lifestyle brand—a man who describes himself not as a businessman, but as a business, man!” —lia cinquegrano
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Come Sale Away: Ilana Kohn, Dusen Dusen, Fay Andrada, Cold Picnic, Thomas IV, and Fischer Wanna Make Your Holidays Happy
Whatcha doing tomorrow night? Oh, sitting on your couch watching Homeland? WELL! If you’re in NYC, get your rear over to the Textile Arts Center to shop/drink Brooklyn Lager with some of our all-star local designers: Cold Picnic! Dusen Dusen! Thomas IV! Fischer! Ilana Kohn! Fay Andrada! RSVP right over here. —erica
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Alumni Sunday: Joanie Mini Bag by Thomas IV
Thomas IV makes some of the sickest bags on the block, and when these two guys showed up at our office, we would not shut up about them—there was lots of gasping and SHUT UP-ing spewing from our mouths, I’m telling you. Is it bad that we all really want both of them, the blue-and-brown take to bring a little sophistication to the most preppy getups and the neon wonder to deliver major ‘tude to, well, everything else? —erica
Read more about Lia Cinquegrano, the lady behind Thomas IV:
+ On making the sort of bags she could never find.
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Next Level: Souped-Up Totes
If you don’t have the luxury of a car’s backseat to store your gym gear, reading materials, and shoe changes, a tote is (sad to say) your next best thing. Instead of carrying around the mucked-up freebies lying all over your apartment, invest in a bag that actually adds to your look, like these four winners. —erica
LEVEL I: Simple and clean, this apricot leather creation could be Céline but is actually Baggu.
LEVEL II: The top of this Chester Wallace bag folds over so you can sling that red strap across your body and carry the thing like a messenger if you so desire.
LEVEL III: With its black leather handles and graphic, hand-dyed design, the tote Cook & Gates made just for Of a Kind adds legit oomph to any get-up.
LEVEL IV: If you worry about losing track of your stuff in a bottomless pit of a bag, this appealingly loud version from Thomas IV is like a 2-for-1: The black leather pocket is like a tote all its own.
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Filtered: That’s a Wrap
It’s barely been scarf weather in NYC (well, until today), but yesterday I busted out our Symmetry Goods edition—and shocked myself with how much I liked it with a faux fur jacket from Thomas Sires. I mean, who knew. The rest of the get-up: J.Crew baseball tee, Vince pants, Thomas IV bag (for Of a Kind), and Gap boots that are as comfy as sneakers. —erica
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Filtered: Couch Potatoes
Claire Mazur is not one to let an Instagram opportunity slip by. Waiting for a meeting on a bright orange lobby couch the other day, she snapped this sucker, and it’s crazy how well the colors work together. There’s the blue of the lining of Claire’s bag by Of a Kind designer Rachel Nasvik and of her skirt (she shame spirals about the fact that it’s Zara on the reg). There’s the way the sofa picks up the warm hues of my Thomas IV bag. And then the grays of the concrete floor, Claire’s Belle by Sigerson Morrison boots, and my tweedy Benetton coat round things out. Ok, that’s all. —erica
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Of a Kind
I think the title of the Thomas IV spring collection should be “Bring It.” —erica
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Alumni News: A Holiday Sale You’re Gonna Want to Hit
If you’re (like us) getting nervous about that impending holiday gift season, don’t fret—we’ve got you covered. First, there’s this thing called ofakind.com. And this Saturday, eight of our featured designers (Thomas IV! Collina Strada! Erin Considine! Dusen Dusen!) are teaming up with a slew of other impressive up-and-comers to create a holiday sale so spectacular we almost can’t stand it. 11a to 5:30p, 508 W. 26th St., 5th Floor—go! —jiayi
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Filtered: Two Girls, One Shirt.
Sometimes this happens: Claire and I show up somewhere in the same goddamn piece of clothing. But we can’t help that the shirt that Thomas Sires made us is just so tremendously versatile, and we got tired of texting things like, “U wearing T. Sires?” every morning. So instead, we’re turning this into a teachable moment, with the help of our pal Instagram. I’m wearing mine with Jeffrey Campbell wedge booties, a Gap leather jacket and black skirt, a Levi’s denim vest, our Thomas IV Marilynn Mini Duffle, and a scarfy thing from the Etsy seller White Moth. Claire’s rocking hers with a college-days Theory blazer, Mother jeans, and Belle by Sigerson Morrison boots. And there’s a jangle of bracelets under those sleeves, I’m sure of it. —erica
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Of a Kind
Having officially transitioned to a normal-size bag—the sort that allows you to wear teetering heels without zigzagging all over the sidewalk—I am even more in love with the little number that Thomas IV made for us. The suede is velvety and rich—and contrasts nicely with the colorful (but not nutso) made-in-Guatemala fabric—and the classic shape gives the sucker staying power. It’s the sort of thing you see photographed on Jak & Jil and say, “Where the eff do I get that?!” —erica
Read more about Lia Cinquegrano, the woman behind Thomas IV:
+ On her aesthetically minded inner circle.
