COLE’S NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY: Kenneth Cole is getting into the spirit of his new neighborhood. On Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m., he has invited shoppers to check out his new concept shop at Bond Street and Bowery in New York and enjoy cocktails, gourmet popcorn and free piercings with the purchase of jewelry by Venus by Maria Tash. Tash specializes in the design and sale of fine body jewelry such as earrings and nostril jewelry and has a store at 653 Broadway. She will be setting up a point of sale at the store for the day. Saxon and Parole — which has a store at 316 Bowery — will be on hand to serve their signature cocktail, the “Celery Gimlet,” and PopKarma, located at 95 Orchard Street, will be serving up their all-natural gourmet popcorn.
“They’re our neighbor, and our aesthetic and price points are compatible,” said Tash on Wednesday. She said they’ll be selling earrings for the lobe, cartilage and nostril. “We expect most of the demand to be in ear work,” she said. Retail prices range from $50 to $1,200 per piece, and she will have two piercers on hand, as well as her staff “to guide and style.” Tash said they haven’t discussed whether Kenneth Cole will carry her collection going forward. “We’re neighbors, so he’ll probably send people our way.”