New York Post

FASHION IS ON A HAUTE LUNCH

'Food cart' is in style

- By ASIA GRACE

Fashionist­as, eat your heart out! Hamburgers. Hot Dogs. Gyros. There’s a food cart with an LED marquee flashing the menu items on nearly every corner in the city. Now, avant-garde designer Edna St. Louis is transformi­ng the hot lunch list into Halal-inspired haute couture.

“I wanted to make a reference to something real New Yorkers experience,” St. Louis, 26, told The Post of her $295 “Halal Cart Bandeau Top.” “A lot of people like the freedom of self-expression that NYC provides,” she continued. “And wearing something as out-there as that Halal Cart top is kind of like the ultimate expression of that freedom.”

The designer, who is based in Midtown’s Garment District, first introduced the illuminate­d number to online fans during New York Fashion Week in February. Her eye-catching creation debuted just as lucent-wear began taking off like wildfire. St. Louis’ radiant regalia features a scrolling, wraparound LED display promoting good eats such as “Lamb,” “Kebab,” “Rice” and “Muffin.”

The wearable cart art — available in sizes ranging from extra small to doubleextr­a large — comes with a corset-like, compressio­n fit across the chest and boasts an adjustable Velcro closure.

Battery-operated

It’s lined with leather and houses an integrated rechargeab­le battery as well as a power switch.

However, while folks donning the digitized design can control when it’s on, they’re not able to ditch the dishes on its screen.

“The words can’t be changed after purchase, since it would defeat the point of it being a Halal Cart top,” said St. Louis, adding that she’s always been “mesmerized” by the moving signs.

“It can’t hurt that it features beloved NYC foods.”

Fashionist­as from Gotham and beyond have virally fawned over the finery since the brunette shared a viral snippet of herself wearing the piece on the subway Tuesday.

“As a native New Yorker this is so iconic,” one chimed.

St. Louis tells The Post the cyber buzz has translated into a boost in sales and has “nearly tripled our order queue.”

“I owe a ton to NYC,” St. Louis said. “It’s a huge source of inspiratio­n for me.”

 ?? ??
 ?? ?? YUM! Avant-garde designer Edna St. Louis models her LED tops on the subway and in front of her food-cart inspiratio­n.
YUM! Avant-garde designer Edna St. Louis models her LED tops on the subway and in front of her food-cart inspiratio­n.
 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States