Year: 2019

Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel on Sixth Avenue

Sandwiched!

My first commercial print modeling gig has born fruit on Sixth Avenue on the Juice and Joy sandwich board! Lots of friends have mentioned seeing me on the TV screen inside the cozy juice bar on Sixth. Now I’m out on the sidewalk as well. Minor fame in the West Village! Many thanks to Mo […]

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West Village Model Karen Rempel - Karen's Quirky Style - Alexis Bittar Jewelry

Karen’s Kinky Christmas

Having trouble getting in the spirit this holiday season? I hope that Karen’s Kinky Christmas outfit, complete with Grinch-green wig, will put you in the mood for some holiday hijinks. Come on, tell Karen, have you been naughty or nice? I have a holiday gift for you if you can guess what I am holding […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Post-Mortem of Vogue Cover Shoot

Post-Mortem Vogue

The dearly awaited December issue of Vogue came out, and there was Phoebe Waller-Bridge on the cover. OMG, this was the issue I might be in! Even though, as I wrote previously, it seemed chances were very slim that I was in the shot, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL. When my friend Simitra sent me a text […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Anna Wintour's Master Class inspires West Village model Karen Rempel

Master Class – Anna Wintour! Lessons Learned…

So inspiring! I just finished Anna Wintour’s Master Class on Creativity and Leadership, and my heart is bursting with creative ideas. There were so many inspiring photographs of fantastical scenes in the class, and style tableaux that my eyes literally wanted to drink up. So many details—such richness and beauty—that I wanted to keep looking […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel - With goat!

West Village Hoedown

With apple-picking season flying by and Thanksgiving fast approaching, I brought out my cowboy boots for this month’s adventure on Bleecker Street. The weather was still so warm on the day of the shoot that I decided to pair the boots with flared black shorts and fishnet stockings. (Think Beyoncé at Coachella! Love this incredible […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel transformed into Kris Jenner

New Face – Kris J!

I never thought I would be the mother of a gorgeous group of Kardashian stunners! But last week I got an email asking if I was available to do a shoot with The Face magazine. Of course I said yes, and a couple of days later, there I was on a set in mid-town. You […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel's singing debut in Bowie blue suit

Quirky Singing in 70’s Style

You might have guessed based on my personality and love of unique expression that I am a big fan of David Bowie. He’s definitely an influencer on my quirky style. I’ve previously mentioned conducting the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra dressed as Bowie. You may not know that I also ran the New York Marathon dressed as […]

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KQS - West Village Model Karen Rempel in award-winning photo Playing Statues on Bleecker by Dusty Berke - square

Award-Winning Style

My friend Dusty Berke received an award for her arresting photograph Playing Statues on Bleecker on October 16 at the prestigious Salmagundi Club. The photograph of West Village model and photojournalist Karen Rempel (moi) originally appeared in the “Karen’s Quirky Style” column in the May 2019 issue of WestView News. You might recall my blog […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model - Simrita Dhillon and Karen Rempel in the shot that never was

Inside the Vogue Cover Shoot

The Shot That Never Was… Being Discovered… It was like a fairytale. I was walking up 6th Avenue after Barre3 class, a bag of groceries slung over my shoulder, on my way to meet my friend Robin Hirsch for a glass of wine at Spain Restaurant on W. 13th Street. It was raining fairly heavily, […]

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West Village New York Model Karen Rempel on Bleecker Street - Dress by Engineered by Andrea T

Bleecker Runway Show

I had a fantasy dream come true on a recent Sunday, modeling couture designer Engineered by Andrea T’s gorgeous creations on Bleecker Street. Which is your favorite? Red dress with purple accents – eye-popping color! Mod winter-white dress with “grass” vinyl print on hem and straight black stripe down the front center line Garnet red […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Pierre Cardin Red and White Parabolas

Pierre Cardin Futures

I saw the Pierre Cardin Future Fashion exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, and loved his fascinating future-forward clothes.   Cocktails at the Norm The exhibit was very dimly lit, to protect the fabric, so unfortunately these photos are all somewhat dark. Anyway, I thought it was worth the trip to Brooklyn, because it’s a fun […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - New York Model Karen Rempel at Pace Opening

Pounced at Pace

I attended the opening of the new Pace Gallery in Chelsea this week, and had a great time checking out the 7 floors, including outdoor terrace with great views of Chelsea and downtown Manhattan. The event was covered in the New York Social Diary, in a fantastic article by Jill Krementz. Patron of the arts […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Everett Raymond Kinstler portrait of Linda Zagaria

Hats On to Linda Zagaria

With her dark hair curving against her alabaster cheek in a 1920s bob, and her signature hat, Linda Zagaria is instantly recognizable. Influenced by the stars of the silver screen, her elegant dresses and constant pearls evoke the era between the wars. Her passion for the Art Deco period led her to assume the role […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Diana Broussard - West Village Style New York

Diana Broussard’s Genius Designs

Diana Broussard is a creative force of nature. She’s a true pioneer in fashion design, from Calvin Klein’s eponymous underwear for women to the latest in wearable tech—exclusive, sleek handbags with customizable video displays. She has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, including Dior and Gucci, and started her own line […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Proud as a Peacock in Quirky Colors

Quirky Color – Peacock Pride

Karen’s Quirky Style is all about expressing our inner joie de vivre through color and fun combinations of clothing and accessories from different sources and time periods. I love walking down the street and seeing people’s faces light up with delight at the unexpected sight before their eyes. (Namely, moi. Haha.) The outfit I’m wearing […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Camp at the Met - Fashion Mashup New York Style

Outrageous Camp at the Met

The Met has a new exhibit in The Costume Institute‘s “Fashion Wing,” called Camp: Notes on Fashion. The above was my favorite quirky look in the exhibit. I like the mashup of elements: Mannequin holding baby Mannequin wearing glasses Plastic rainhat Chiffon ballgown with yellow birds on it

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Balmain dress on Rue St. Fauborg-Honore - Karen's Quirky Style

Favorite Paris Dress

Check out this stunning dress at Balmain on Rue Saint-Honoré. The pleats and folds in this ivory satin asymmetrical number are exquisite. That’s me in the mirror in a magenta raincoat and fantastic pink satin sneakers by Diana Broussard. (A French designer in New York.) Style Notes My colorful tote is by Tiziano Zorzan, an […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Chanel display window in Paris

Chanel Bites

So exciting to see the Chanel shop in Paris. You know I love quirky style, but this look says Chanel is past it. That white dress under the classic Chanel suit is ugly, I’m sorry! Adding expensive accessories doesn’t redeem the ugliness. IMHO. But the make-up “glasses” on the mannequin is a cool touch… How did […]

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New York Fashion Model Karen Yvonne Rempel on Karen's Quirky Style uses KQS Purse Pals

Style Notes: Mini Handbags

Everything old is new again, but the newest introduced at Paris Fashion Week this year is Le Petit Chiquito by French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus. It’s beyond the tiniest handbag you’ve ever seen, with room for ONE of these items: a single mint or piece of gum a housekey a folded-up twenty for cabfare Now […]

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New York Model Karen Rempel - Karen's Quirky Style - Dominion Day Dress 2 by Engineered by Andrea T

Rubies on Bleecker

Fall is in the air—my favorite time of year. What a great opportunity to wear this delicious jewel-toned dress by Andrea Thurlow of Engineered by Andrea T. You may recall the story about the “Dominion Day” dress in the July issue of WestView. Andrea made this dress using extra yardage of the “Dominion Day” custom […]

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West Village Model Karen Rempel with Fuschia and Turquoise Hair

Ballgowns in the West Village

The drag queens and fashionistas in the West Village will laugh when you hear about my awkwardness with ballgowns. I may have worn a ballgown when I was seven years old and playing dress-up with my neighbor friend’s lovely box of treasures. Certainly I dressed my Barbie in lovely floor-length gowns when I was a […]

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Stylin’ with Statues

This guy is carrying the opposite of a mini handbag! Hobo pants and carpetbag evoke an early quirky era. But is that a Patek Phillipe watch? Quirk-o-rama! Photo by Rosanna Magarelli. On location in Geneva with my gal pal Rosanna, we are staying at Hotel N’vy, which is stuffed with quirky artwork from European and […]

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West Village Model Karen Rempel on swing at Bleecker playground

Swinging in a Vintage Garden Dress

Confession time. I’m a shoe fanatic! I have a friend who decides what she’s going to wear on a given day based on which pieces in her remarkable jewelry collection she feels like displaying. For me, it’s all about the shoes. I will often pull together an outfit based on which of my dearest pair […]

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KQS - West Village Model Karen Rempel in award-winning photo Playing Statues on Bleecker by Dusty Berke - square

OM OMG Bill Blass

For me, having fun with fashion is about finding pieces I love at the most unexpected moments, and then combining them with old favorites to come up with an entirely new, unique look. I call this “Karen’s Quirky Style”: You won’t find these ensembles in Vogue They don’t cost a mint No one else wears […]

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Karen Yvonne Rempel New York fashion model Karen's Quirky Style

Leopards a Leaping

The National Arts Club celebrated Jo Weldon’s new book, Fierce: The History of Leopard Print, in March, with a leopard-spotted event that had stylish New Yorkers turning out in truck-loads of faux pelts adorning every imaginable garment from boots to hats. Touted as a “neutral,” leopard prints might have been invented as nature’s camo, but […]

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New York fashion model Karen Yvonne Rempel with actress Bettina Schwabe at VNYL night club in the East Village

Party at VNYL – Bowie Earrings!

I met actress Bettina Schwabe at a party for an investor club at VNYL in the East Village. She asked me where I got my jewelry, so I’m dishing a few secrets here to share with you… Style Tip Style doesn’t have to be expensive. One of the signatures of Karen’s Quirky Style is to […]

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Karen Yvonne Rempel New York fashion model at VNYL in the East Village

Quirky Style at VNYL Party

I saw Advanced Style at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2014, right before my first trip to New York, and writer Ari and writer-director Lina were there to talk to the audience. All the women in the audience showed up wearing their couture and outlandish rigs, and it was a celebration of our unique […]

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