Table Of Content“I love the book. If only I’d had it for the past ten years—it would’ve saved me lots “City Chic is constantly inventive, amazingly granular, and a blast to read.”
of heartache, bad furniture, and most importantly, money… It gives you license to
—Dany Levy, founder/chairman, Daily Candy, Inc.
scrimp and pinch—and makes you feel more empowered to do so.”
—Gigi Guerra, brand marketing director of Madewell, former editor of Lucky magazine
Live the luxe life on less
You’re a Modern Girl embarking on a fabulous life in the city,
working hard and playing even harder. Money may be
* B ig idea decorating an object, but you refuse to let it be an obstacle.
for small spaces
* Cash-saving culinary tips That’s because what you may lack in funds you c
city
* T he best websites for scoring make up for in daring and desire.
deals Completely revised with more tips and tricks
* G o green: save the environment
and your checking account than ever, City Chic is your practical insiders’
* M aximize your iPod for full primer on how to creatively cheat at being chic.
* pE astratyb lpisoht eynotuiarl perfect From fod and drink to personal maintenance, chic
signature cocktail and from fashion to home décor, City Chic covers
* A nd so much more! everything a Modern Girl needs to know.
t h e m o d e r n g i r l ’ s g u i d e
the
t o l i v i n g l a r g e o n l e s s
Nina Willdorf is the editor in chief of Budget Travel magazine. She has worked at modern
Travel + Leisure and Worth, and has served as an on-air expert on E!, CNN, and Inside
girl’s
Edition. She lives in New York. Her website is www.ninawilldorf.com.
chic
guide
“City chicks no longer need to turn tricks or
to living
sell dope in order to have a glamorous lifestyle—
just read Nina’s brilliant book.” large
—Simon Doonan, creative director for Barneys New York www.sourcebooks.com on less
and author of Confessions of a Window Dresser
Self-Help
“Being an ‘it’ girl has never been about how much cash $14.99 U.S./$15.99 CAN/£7.99 UK
you had in the bank, and now is the time to embrace ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-1785-2 wil ldorf
your inner recessionista. Wildorf’s book proves ISBN-10: 1-4022-1785-4 n i n a w i l l d o r f
that being frugal and being fabulous are not
mutually exclusive.”
—Lara Cohen, news director, Us Weekly
CityChic_CVR.indd 1 12/8/08 4:55:59 PM
c i ty ch ic
GPahvoi tno Sbt ye v e n s
EAN
the praise
“City Chic is an absolute joy to read! It is chock full of
clever, unconventional tips about how to cheat your way
to a stylish life without spending a lot of money.”
—Barbara Corcoran, author of Use What You’ve Got, and Other
Business Lessons I Learned From My Mom
“Who needs self-help books? With Nina Willdorf’s tips for living
(well) on less, you’re guaranteed to dress better, have a nicer
apartment, learn how to cook and dumpster dive, and probably
be happier, too. Essential reading for the ‘poverty elite.’”
—Lucinda Rosenfeld, author of What She Saw…
“Living in New York on a budget has been a long-time focus
of mine. This book is key to survival in the Big Apple, and
no woman should leave home without it.”
—Lucy Barnes, fashion designer
“I love the book. If only I’d had it for the past ten
years—it would’ve saved me lots of heartache, bad furniture,
and most importantly, money…It gives you license to scrimp and
pinch—and makes you feel more empowered to do so.”
—Gigi Guerra, brand marketing director of Madewell,
former editor of Lucky magazine
“Willdorf elevates penny pinching to an art form. City Chic is
constantly inventive, amazingly granular, and a blast to read.”
—Dany Levy, founder/chairman, DailyCandy, Inc.
City_Chic_2e_FINAL_INT.indd i 12/8/08 4:35:52 PM
“City chicks no longer need to turn tricks or sell dope in order to
have a glamourous lifestyle—just read Nina’s brilliant book.”
—Simon Doonan, creative director for Barneys New York
and author of Confessions of a Window Dresser
“City Chic—fun, gossipy, and loaded with great advice—
is the ultimate handbook for urban girls who want to
have it all. Read it and you’ll have a balanced checkbook
and the three Cs (cable, clothing and cocktails).”
—Jill A. Davis, author of Ask Again Later and Girls’ Poker Night
“Being an ‘it’ girl has never been about how much cash you had
in the bank, and now is the time to embrace your inner recessionista.
Willdorf’s book proves that being frugal and being fabulous
are not mutually exclusive.”
—Lara Cohen, news director, Us Weekly
City_Chic_2e_FINAL_INT.indd i 12/8/08 4:35:53 PM
city
chic
the modern girl’s guide
to living large on less
City_Chic_2e_FINAL_INT.indd i 12/8/08 4:35:53 PM
City_Chic_2e_FINAL_INT.indd iv 12/8/08 4:35:53 PM
city
chic
the modern girl’s guide
to living large on less
n i n a w i l l d o r f
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Copyright © 2003, 2009 by Nina Willdorf
Cover and internal design © 2003, 2009 by Sourcebooks, Inc.
Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without
permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in
regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the pub-
lisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If
legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent pro-
fessional person should be sought.—From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted
by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and
Associations
All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered
trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc., is not
associated with any product or vendor in this book.
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.
P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567–4410
(630) 961–3900
Fax: (630) 961–2168
www.sourcebooks.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Willdorf, Nina.
City chic : the modern girl’s guide to living large on less / Nina Willdorf.
p. cm.
Includes index.
1. Young women—Life skills guides. 2. Young women—Finance, Personal. I. Title.
HQ1229.W73 2009
646.70084’22—dc22
2008038831
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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the thanks
A Modern Girl is nothing without her cheerleaders, her mentors, her fam-
ily, and her friends. From the pals who provided nuggets of inspiration
to the patient folks who fielded panicky phone calls to the corps who
devoted much time and red ink to the cause, I am genuinely indebted; this
book has been a true team effort.
First off, I must thank Michael Endelman, without whose tireless sup-
port, enthusiasm, and delicious dinners I would be a sad sack of a girl.
Seth Gitell must be credited for planting the germ of an idea for this book,
on a late afternoon session of career talk over bad coffee. And yes, for
introducing me to the best agent a girl could ever hope for, Andrew Stuart,
who has acted above and beyond as an editor, champion, and friend. Sari
Lehrer, for being my constant confidant, editor, pep-talk giver, and the
surest friend a girl could have. Jennifer Fusco and the Sourcebooks team,
for taking a leap of faith and believing in me back in the day. My original
publicist extraordinaire, Vicky Lynch, who took on the project with an
extraordinary, infectious enthusiasm. And Shana Drehs and Sara Kase for
continuing to keep the flame alive five years later.
Girls (and a few boys) who originally generously permitted me to sift
through the contents of their brains and share their ingenious methods
include the alarmingly talented Jane Ko, Tracie Egan, Debbie Stoller, Lisa
Keys, Jeannie Christensen, Dina Cheney, the Wish girls in Boston, Moxie’s
Karen, Sandra Kang, Summer McClinton, the indomitable Douglas Fitch,
Caroline Pam, and Sarah Lydon, among many others who know who they
are. The most sincere of thanks to Jill Davis, for getting it and sharing
priceless pieces of advice; the inspiringly inquisitive Susan Orlean, and
the warmest of the warm, Wendy Wasserstein—for generously sharing
City_Chic_2e_FINAL_INT.indd vi 12/8/08 4:35:53 PM
her stories and reminiscences. Years later, the new generation of Modern
Girls has stepped up to contribute fresh anecdotes and thoughts: Flora
Endelman, Sarah Kantrowitz, Robin Henry, Nicole Davis, Sarah Palmer,
and many more. You all inspire me!
Then there are the experts who make this whole enterprise legit: the
boundlessly delightful Sheryl Julian; textile geniuses Katherine Hatch
and Janice Stone; plant and flower guru Bill Epstein of Nurseryman’s
Exchange; beauty pro Karmen Butterer; Color Association of the United
States’ Margaret Walch; Boston Sports Club’s Danielle Abrams; super
sweet and stylish Elisabeth Hasselbeck; and the smart, sassy, stylish
Louis Boston’s Debi Greenberg, whose passion for the cause I can only
hope to approximate in the future.
Finally, to Lisa Gerson and Emily Parker, for devoting hours of their
precious time reading the roughest of drafts—and whom I trust com-
pletely to be mercifully honest—merci.
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the modern girl’s
cheat sheet
introduction xi
section one: home
chapter one: lighten up 3
Small apartment color choices • Room-by-room wise color guide •
Thinking beyond the four walls in paint • Big ideas for small spaces •
Basic lighting primer • Room-by-room lighting vibe guide
chapter two: furnish for less 19
Settling on a scheme • Know when to negotiate • Honing in on
deals • Quality furniture markers • Already-in-place furnishing
alternatives • Furniture garnishes
chapter three: f ree finds you can pick up on the street 35
Reimagining trash as treasure • Knowing when to pass and when
to pounce • Seasonal curbside shopping • Room-by-room free
furnishing options • Found art • Sprucing up found furniture
chapter four: final touches with flowers and plants 49
F lora and fauna for the fast-paced lifestyle • Low-maintenance
high-yield options • Picking the plant most likely to succeed •
Problem-free potting and watering • Last-ditch deathbed plant
rescue • Hardy flowers • Coaxing the longest life out of cut flowers
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