ANIMAL INSTINCTS: ZEBRA, LEOPARD & LION SKINS

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Row 1: ADIDAS ORIGINALS Jeremy Scott Leopard Track Top $220; BURTON Emerald Snowboard Boots $199.95; CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Calf Hair Farida Bowler Tote $2195; Row 2: J.CREW Calf Hair Wide Belt $59; RALPH LAUREN Animal Stripe Sunglasses $160; NIKE Dunk High Skinny $85; Row 3: UGGS Classic Short Exotic $240; PRADA Stamped Leopard Print Mary Jane Pump $990; THAKOON ADDITION Angry Leopard Stretch Cotton Shorts $350; Row 4: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Classic Skull Leopard Print Clutch $1450; ADIDAS ORIGINALS Superstar $75; DKNY Animal Print Faux Fur Jacket $295

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ITS A WRAP... KINESIOLOGY TAPE

KATRIN HOLTWICK OF GERMANY DURING OLYMPIC WOMENS BEACH VOLLEYBALL MATCH, LONDON 2012

A few years ago, at the Beijing Olympics, I noticed Beach Volleyball Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh's shoulder covered in very badass-looking colorful tape. It was applied with an intricate criss-crossing pattern and I was intrigued to find out more. As an recreational athlete who tends to overdo it with a fair amount of frequency, I am always interested in what professional athletes do to treat their injuries. Since its their job to get back on the field or court as quickly as possible, they usually have access to the most progressive therapies. It turns out the latest thing is Kenisio Tape and in the London Olympic Games it was everywhere.

Kinesiology tape has a comprehensive array of therapeutic benefits. It is applied to reduce pain and inflammation, and support muscles in movement. The lifting action of the tape relives pressure on pain receptors under the skin, allowing for quick relief from acute injuries. Developed in the mid-1970s by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a well-known Japanese practitioner in chiropractics and acupuncture, the tape was designed in response to the limitations he encountered working with traditional sports tape. Kenisio tape has a texture and elasticity very close to human skin. It is non-restrictive and allows for full range of motion, in contrast to traditional sports tape. 

A few weeks ago, I found a doctor in NYC, Dr. Vladimir Friedman, DC, CCSP,CKTP, a chiropractor who uses the Kinesiology Tape as a post-treatment therapy. Nursing a hamstring strain going into a half-marathon, it seemed like the perfect time to see if Kenisio Tape worked. I felt I had come full circle when there on his wall was a picture of Kerri Walsh! While the jury is out as to whether Kinesiology Tape really works, I shaved 5 minutes off my time and broke that elsuive 2hr mark. You be the judge.

For more information on Kinesiology Tape, watch the segment from CBS This Morning below.

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GOGGLES GALORE!

Aspen, Jackson Hole, Squaw Valley and more are open for the season. Its time to start planning those ski and snowboard trips and with the Holidays upon us what better gift to get or give than a new hot pair of goggles! There are hundreds of colorful styles to choose from and what a fun way to add a little burst of flavor to your slopestyle attire.  But besides looking good your goggles need to protect you from the elements and anti-fog, scratch resistant, UV filtering, form fitting, no distortion lenses are a MUST. Click below to shop my season's picks. All are available with inter-changable or adaptive lenses for varying light conditions.

Clockwise from top left: SPY OPTIC Marshall'12 $109.95; OAKLEY Splice $150; SMITH OPTICS I/OX $175; JULBO Orbiter Zebra Light Lens (Photochromatic) $180; CHURCH AND STATE The Polka $169; ARNETTE Skylight $139.95; VON ZIPPER Chakra $100; ANON Hawkeye $129.95

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QUILTED: SHOP IT NOW!

Love to see a trend manifest itself on everything from a Lanvin iPad case to a classic Sebago loafer, and a backpack look as elegant as an evening bag. From flip flops to a leather mini skirt, the quilted stitching gives everything that chic touch... especially in black! As the holiday shopping season is upon us, I present the first of many gift ideas features to come. CLICK BELOW TO SHOP!

Row 1: BELSTAFF Anysley Jacket $695; LANVIN Amalia iPad Case $927; SPERRY TOP-SIDER Shearwater Boot $98; Row 2: BALMAIN Quilted Leather Mini Skirt $6870; SEBAGO Coast Two-Eye $89.99; MARC JACOBS Quilted Stam Bag $1395; Row 3: GIVENCHY Quilted Leather Clutch $1563; MOSCHINO Quilted Leather Jacket $4220; BARNEYS NEW YORK Quilted Cap $195; Row 4: CHANEL Quilted Lambskin Ankle Boot (price available upon request); H BY HARRIS Q3 Quilted Leather Rucksack $795 REEF Dreams $34

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FROM SOREL TO CHANEL... SNOWBOOTS!

Lots of ski and snowboard resorts are opening this week and snow will soon be coming to a city near you. To keep your tootsies toasty out there, here are 7 rubber soled, fur lined, warm and cozy options your feet will thank you for all winter long.

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1. TORY BURCH Alma Leather & Shearling Lace-Up boots $375 2. MERRELL Taiga Buckle $175 3. SOREL Joan of Arctic $150 4. CHANEL Nubuck Calfskin Lace-Up Snowboot $1595 (available at Barneys) 5. BURBERRY Weather Storm Boots $450 6. MONTCLER Breuil Fur-Trim Lace-Up Boot $995 7. L.L.BEAN 10' Shearling Lined $179  

JEFF CURTES: 20 YEARS OF SNOWBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

THIS YEAR Jeff Curtes, Burton Snowboards' primary lensman, marks his 20th year as a professional snowboard photographer. He calls himself a snowboarder first, a photographer second, and his pictures give an insiders view into the life of the professional snowboarder both on and off the mountain.

POWER TO THE PURPLE: THE COLOR OF THE MONTH

Lavender, burgundy, plum, violet, eggplant... purple is a hue of many colors. As we move from the fall to winter months, purple feels like a perfect segway color for November. It's still fun and poppy, but with a tone of elegance. So be it a bike, a snowboot, an evening bag or a pump, its time to work a little purple into the rotation.

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Row 1: TECNICA MOON BOOT $100; BIG SHOT CUSTOM FIXED GEAR BIKE ; SKULLCANDY LOWRIDER HEADPHONE $34.99; Row 2: ARC'TERYX APACHE CARDIGAN $175; HERMES KELLY DOUBLE TOUR $455; CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN DAFFODILE $1075; Row 3: ONITSUKA TIGER BY ASICS MEXICO 66 $80; CASIO BABY-G LIMITED EDITON $99; NIKE BOYCUT SHORTS $28; Row 4: BOTTEGA VENETA SATIN KNOT CLUTCH $1380; SMITH OPTICS PARRALEL $129; JCREW CASHMERE LONG GLOVES $68

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PUMP UP THE JAM: THE SPORTOLOGY MIX

A little mix of old and new, below are a few of the tunes powering me through workouts these days. Run it, spin it, rock it, pump it, dance it, move it.... other ideas I leave up to you. Apologies in advance for any explicit lyrics. It's more about the beat and the groove than the words. Click song name for a little preview. 

1. CLIQUE  Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean
2. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE  David Guetta, Chris Brown & Lil Wayne 
3. PHENOMENON LL Cool J 
4. DOPE CHICK The-Dream (feat. Pusha T) 
5. WANNA BE STARTIN' SOMETHING Michael Jackson 
6. KASHMIR Led Zeppelin 
7. LOVE YOU CAN'T BORROW M-1 
8. STAY David Bowie 
9. DISCO NIGHTS ROCK FREAK GQ 
10. I WON'T GO W.E.E.D (ft. Adele) 
11. THE MOTTO Drake (feat. Lil Wayne) 
12. GET INVOLVED Raphael Saadiq And Q-Tip 
13. FUTURE LOVE PARADISE Seal 
14. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE  Chris Brown 
15. WHEN THE WORLD IS RUNNING DOWN The Police 
16. HOW DO YOU WANT IT 2Pac 
17. SO IN LOVE  Jill Scott (feat. Anthony Hamilton) 
18. DO ITAGAIN Steely Dan 
19. ALL THAT YOU ARE The Foreign Exchange 
20. LOVE WILL SAVE THE DAY Whitney Houston

THE SPORTOLOGY INTERVIEW: GABBY REECE TALKS TO SOULCYCLE'S STACEY GRIFFITH

LEFT: COURTESY OF GABBY REECE, RIGHT: DEBBY HYMOWITZ

I STARTED GOING to SoulCycle about four years ago, beaten up and kind of broken by my first NYC Marathon. Unable to run, having finished with a stress fracture in my femur, I was looking for a replacement to give me those running endorphins and keep my marathon physique. I’d heard the buzz about SoulCycle, but really the only thing I cared about in a spinning class was good music played loud--which was surprisingly hard to find in NYC. Give me that and I could pedal forever.

Conveniently, SoulCycle had just opened on the Upper East Side in Manhattan near my house and so off I went to my first class. What I found was much more than I expected. It had the hip vibe of a cool club, but one where everybody was welcome. The whole look of the place-- the candles burning in the spinning rooms, inspirational graphics on the wall, the cheerful albeit insanely crowded waiting area--drew me in. The teacher, who didn’t even know me, called out my name in class, and I instantly felt like a regular. Yes, there was great music, but there was other motivation too. There was a roomful of people having fun, and I was hooked.

It wasn’t until about a year ago that everything really started to change. Stacey Griffth, one of the founding SoulCycle instructors, began teaching a regular 7:30 am class, a perfect time for my schedule. Beaten up by my second NYC Marathon, and again desperate to keep that runners high and body, I started going about three times a week. I knew of Stacey’s cult-like following, and her classes were legendary. Getting in was tough. Class sign-up for the week opened Monday at noon, and her classes were usually sold out by 12:01. 

STYLE OF SPORT HURRICANE RELIEF COAT DRIVE

We all love to shop, but to lighten the frivolity of the "PUFF PIECE" I posted yesterday, I have started a Hurricane Sandy Coat Drive. It's gotten quite cold outside and there are a lot of people in the hardest hit regions like Staten Island, Breezy Point, The Rockaways, and Jersey Shore who are going to need warm coats and blankets in the days and nights ahead.

As of right now, I have organized a number of drop off spots and times with a few friends pitching in to help. Here is the most up-to-date info:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Nov 5, 6, 7)
10am-2pm
Read Residence
90 Grove St (bet.Waverly & W.4th)

Thursday & Friday  (Nov 5, 6)
10am-2pm
Kelly Ryerson
67 Hudson Street, #2A
Cross street is Jay Street (near Thomas and Harrison in TriBeCa)

Saturday (Nov 9)
10am-10:45 at 83rd & Lexington.
11:30-12:15 on Warren & West St
I will be in my car parked in front of SoulCycle in both locations waiting for you all!

For every coat you give away, you have my permission to buy a new one. Blankets are really needed too! Will keep you posted on any updates.

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PUFF PIECE

There is a definitely a chill in the air and its time to pull out those fun puffers. There are so many different styles and colors to choose from this season, from both fashion and sport brands alike. Some are crazy expensive and others are super cheap. So whatever your budget or puffy style may be, here are some great options in stores now.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Click below to shop

HELMUT LANG QUILTED COAT $550. This trendy puffer with its funnel neck and asymterical zipper is one of the hot styles for the season, yet it's still ultra warm to defy the elements.

MONTCLER QUILTED BADY JACKET $975. This chic shiny puffer has become the staple for those for who can drop a thousand bucks on a down jacket. It is gorgeous though and super warm, so if you have the cash, its a great way to spend it. If you don't, may I suggest below...

UNIQLO PREMIUM DOWN ULTRA LIGHT JACKET $69.90. For the price, you absolutely can't beat this jacket. It comes 8 different colors and you could buy them all for the price of one of some others. Its made with ultra light down and provides lots of warmth without the bulk. There are other hooded styles to choose from as well.

NORTHFACE SUPERHOODED DIEZ JACKET $399. Made with the best down available, this 900-fill down hooded jacket provides lightweight protection that packs a thermal punch. From the tech-laden Summit Series line, the jacket has a resilient durable shell, and comes in sophisticated slick colors rivaling any of the other shiny competitors.

PATAGONIA ULTRALIGHT DOWN JACKET $279. This technical jacket is Patagonia's lightest-weight insulating down layer. It features top-notch 800-fill-power premium European goose down and a special edition nylon ripstop shell fabric. The design of channel construction stabilizes insulation and makes for a cool looking jacket on the street or the slopes.

JOE FRESH FUNNEL NECK DOWN PUFFA $89. Another steal of a puffer, this jacket features the season's funnel neck trend with a double breasted closure. There are other great "Puffa" styles in store as well, definitely worth checking out at these low prices.

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BILL CUNNINGHAM ON THE STREET

This image of Bill Cunningham came through the Twitter feed this morning. It put a big smile on my face to
see him going about his normal routine on a wet, leaf-filled post-Sandy street. There he was on his bike as usual, taking pictures of NYC's most fashionable for the New York Times Style section, wearing his LL Bean
boots and a blue rain poncho, instead of his usual blue workmans jacket. Truly there is no one more "Style of Sport" than Bill Cunningham!

Now if you have never seen "BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK", which is a charming, funny and touching portrait of this wonderful fashion icon, it's available on DVD. Here is a little preview below.

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