Year: 2020

West Village Model Karen Rempel Is Jumpin' for Joe - Karen's Quirky Style

Jumpin’ for Joe

I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt like flying since we got the news on November 7 that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been elected the leaders of our country. The cheers, honks, and bells ringing through the streets of the Village made New York seem like herself again—electric and alive. And now […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - KQS Nov - West Villager Model Karen Rempel in Chains

Macker Wacker

This column is for all of you who have a favorite old sweater that you want to hang onto, even though your main squeeze pressures you to get rid of it and has tried three times to donate it to Goodwill. This quirky look is a real mash-up of styles and periods, but my vintage […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel wearing Dominion Day dress

Dominion Day

Mask and dress art by Engineered by Andrea T. Photograph by Philip Maier. A while ago I told you about a stop-you-in-your-tracks dress by Engineered by Andrea T, based on a painting called Dominion Day by James Kerr. Recently when Andrea told me she was making couture face masks, I immediately asked her if she […]

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West Village Model Karen Rempel and Fearless Girl Statue - Karen's Quirky Style

Fearless from EAT to ERA

West Village model Karen Rempel in bespoke dress and mask by Engineered by Andrea T. Fearless Girl also wears mask with bow by EAT. Photo by Tess Malone. You might wonder how a simple dress relates to women’s empowerment. This month’s photo series is an all-woman effort, featuring this stunningly simple bespoke dress by Engineered […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Engineered by Andrea T "Dominion Day" dress and painting

EAT Dominion Day

Engineered by Andrea T is the design studio of transformation artist Andrea Thurlow, a designer and bespoke tailor with a flair for the dramatic. She creates striking evening wear, day wear, and Broadway costumes with a personal aesthetic using top-quality natural fabrics and an engineer’s precision methodology. My favorite piece by Andrea T is a […]

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

From Apfel to Zorzan

A killer look often starts with one piece to build on. I put this style together around these luscious cherry wine trousers, which I found for a luxe change-of-season steal at Tiziano Zorzan on 8th Avenue. Tiziano has 3 locations in the West Village, where you can find exclusive capsule collections designed and made in […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel drapes New York City for virtual Met Gala

Wearing My City

The First Monday in May Everyone who loves fashion knows that The First Monday in May is the highlight of the year, when the glitterati put on their most fantabulous creations and head up the red carpeted steps into the Met. (Check out the wonderful film Ocean’s 8—which premiered at Alice Tully Hall in 2018—to […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel incognito

Corona Couture

In these days of social distancing, I couldn’t get my dear friend Dusty to take my picture. So this month’s column is my first selfie, taken using a mirrored elevator. And of course with all clothing stores closed, I needed to call on the contents of my fab four closets to put together my Corona […]

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West Village model Karen Rempel

Billy Goat on Bleecker

Dear reader, I hope that you and your loved ones (both skinny and furry) are home safe, and enjoying some close time together, catching up on some of those things you’ve been meaning to do. This home time is a time for reflection, and a pause to look at the changes in NYC. This is […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - Pink Party

Playtime in The Pause

Remember a year ago when we could all decide to wear the same color and have a pink party? Those days are on pause, together with the city of New York and much of the world, but we can still party together (Zoom stock is skyrocketing) and it’s almost as good. Party On… Line, That […]

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West Village model Karen Rempel - Karen's Quirky Style - April 2020 Feature

Pink Plaid and Banana Pudding

This Easter promises to be bleak, and nothing is bleaker than an un-peopled Bleecker Street. When Dusty and I headed over to Bleecker for this month’s shoot, we were doing our best to put a bright face on Easter. I chose a soothing fifties-reminiscent outfit in chick-and-bunny colors with ironic white gloves in brave pandemic […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - March 2020 - West Village Model Karen Rempel in Black Forest Hoodie

PVC Velvet Mash-Up

This month’s look is a mixture of old and new, with contrasting textures and colors. The centerpiece is the striking, shiny black PVC pants by Andrea Thurlow of Engineered by Andrea T. I love their sleek edginess. The next step in putting this outfit together was to hunt through my closets for the perfect shoes […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village model Karen Rempel on Bleecker Street in electric red and violet dress by Engineered by Andrea T. Photograph by Norberto Bana.

Electric Reds Beat Winter Blues

With spring still a distant wisp of hope, bright colors can help us bridge the gap in the dead of winter. What a great opportunity to wear this delicious electric-toned dress by Andrea Thurlow of Engineered by Andrea T. Notched cap sleeves and slim pencil skirt bring a hint of Forties elegance to Andrea’s modern […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - B-Word - 2019 headshot

The B-Word

A friend recently told me about a new book by Sofia Din MD, Do We Really Need Botox? Handbook of Anti-Aging. I read the book, and I am flummoxed about what to tell you. The book offers overviews of various “anti-aging” options, including eating right and exercising. But the premise itself is questionable to me. […]

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Karen's Quirky Style - West Village Model Karen Rempel on Hudson Street, West Village

Jimi Meets Joni

You might not recognize me this month with my new hair color. Even though the color has changed with each month of this column, this time it is a real surprise. Brunette! When she first saw it, my friend Rhonda at LifeThyme said, “Karen, what happened, your hair is normal!” She was shocked. The brunette […]

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