Happy Birthday Paper! Revenge of the Nerds Turns 25!….Plus Ones to Watch

Artist Eric Adolfsen and provocateuse Kyle DeWoody

(All text and photos by Susan M. Kirschbaum)

Last evening Paper Magazine celebrated it’s 25th anniversary with a swanky shin dig at the Bryant Park Library. Paper could be deemed the band of outsiders, the ultimate fringe kids growing up, who got revenge. Under the guise of two unlikely parents– shy, bespeckled but opinionated David Hershkovits and earth mamma Kim Hastreiter — Paper decided to dub who, south of Union Square,  made the cool list and got away with it. They noticed people who stood out –like designers Richie Rich and jeweler Waris — when they  pranced around pre runways gaining general inspiration in dark places after midnight. They turned all kinds of folks into downtown stars, much like the premise of Andy Warhol.

Who knows if that kind of thing can survive in this day and age of internet kids posting their own picks on MySpace, FACEBOOK, and others. They don’t want filters — even under  a second coming of  cool downtown press–  to tell them what’s hot.

But until that day comes, I’ll be casting my own  picks of the season this fashion week, starting with two gals a guy: graphic artist Eric Adolfsen, who last weekend transformed his dad’s space in the ground floor of Wall Street’s Woolworth building into a boho 1920’s lounge. (This spot will unfold, under Eric’s guise, as a secret party spot….shh!) Eric’s girlfriend, Lisa Tobias, whose birthday we toasted, toils as stylist on Gossip Girl. I’m just dying for her to lend her top shop gold glitter leggings ($60!)  and Pierre Hardy platforms to Taylor Momsem. (Note: For GG junkies, the neo romantic  artist that Serena dated last year, was based, at least style wise on her  beau, Adolfsen.) Finally, check out gal about town, art enthusiast Kyle DeWoody, above. She reminds me that designer Jill Stuart is not dead in this little glitter dress, topped with chandelier Missoni earrings found in Florence. La dolce vita viva ancora!

Lisa Tobias rocks Top Shop leggings and Pierre Hardy heels