Someone please put me on a plane to San Francisco!

I can think of nothing more exciting than the debut of "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" exhibit that opened Saturday at the De Young Museum in San Francisco (except for maybe the Valentino exhibit I went to in Rome the Fall of 2007). If for some reason you find yourself in the Bay Area, you absolutely must visit and take tons of photos then post them on Facebook so I can  shamelessly stalk every single one while simultaneously drooling all over my Macbook in envy.

Check out the article in the LA Times: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/25/image/la-ig-gaultier-20120325

Happy Birthday Marilyn Monroe

As I'm sure most of you know, tomorrow is the iconic Marilyn Monroe's birthday. The fashion maven and famed starlet  has left an indelible mark on American pop culture. Her figure, classic features, and enviable talent epitomized a generation's view of femininity that's resonated for decades. Thankfully, her preeminent spirit lives on in the hearts of those of us who still watch her many films and adorn our walls with images that capture her impeccable grace and timeless beauty. So let's raise our glasses to honor this incredible woman, a born and bread Angeleno...Cheers to you Miss Marilyn!!! You are eternally beloved.

Slackin

It's safe to say that I have been more than a slacker...I could blame Coachella and the fact that my sister got engaged, but I'd rather avoid the excuses and just get better at this whole blogging thing.

On to the important stuff...I was driving home from a delicious lunch at Alcove, one of my favorite restaurants in Los Feliz (see below), and I found The Warehouse a retro treasure trove nestled amid rows of deserted buildings and pupuserias on Sunset in Echo Park. The impressive collection of vintage clothing, accessories, and eclectic antiques are all thanks to the blood and sweat of owner, Justin, who hand selects the majority of the merchandise. There is no question that this hilly pocket of LA is an up-and-coming hood with lots of growth opportunity for local businesses, and this amazing shop is certainly representative of the exciting momentum underway. Stop by, and while you're there go to Origami Vinyl for some old school records and live musica. 

1929 Hillhurst Ave. 90027

NOMNONOM 

1197 West Sunset Blvd. 90026

1816 West Sunset Blvd. 90026 

Congrats Raf Simons

Dior has just announced that designer, Raf Simons, will replace former artistic director, Galliano. There is no question that Simons has some very large shoes (or in this case, high heels) to fill. Despite his abhorrent antisemitism, Galliano was an integral part of transforming the label into the fashion empire it is today (it's a pity his provincial and hateful worldview not only destroyed his coveted eminence as a true sartorial savant, more to the point, it tainted the fashion industry's long-standing reputation for upholding a culture of tolerance that has historically been a profound public medium that advocates for, and in many ways, embodies sexual, cultural and racial acceptance) All that aside, Dior has acquired a level of haute-couture-status that's akin to major leaguers like Gucci and Valentino...In other words, Mr. Simons certainly has his work cut out for him! I'm excited to see what the future holds and I feel confident that his progressive artistic vision will be the perfect guiding light for the Dior name.

Read about Raf:
http://fashionologyv2.weebly.com/raf-simons.html

 

I had to include a couple photos of pieces from Bill Gaytten's Garden Party Collection

Wedges and lemonade

Happy April! Spring is finally here...the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and my obsession with impractical footwear and wholesome food is in a seasonally induced tailspin. It's about that time when we Angelenos start to think about packing up our coats and boots (you know, that we have on call for when it drops below 50) and replacing them with lightweight sweaters and less restrictive shoes. It's also when we replace heartier meals with lighter more "figure friendly" foods given the fast approaching summer months that will ideally be spent in a bikini at the beach sans self-consciousness. I may have gotten ahead of myself with my preemptive shopping spree and addiction to fresh veggies but alas I must share my three latest purchases and also encourage you to try one of LAs yummiest spots for nutritious grub. 

For the next 6 months my out-of-office wardrobe will rely heavily on these three beautiful pairs of wedges, each created by designers with a similar funky chic aesthetic and a fairly reasonable price-point.

These Dolce Vitas are the perfect "go-to" shoe because of their neutral color. They match any outfit and look especially glam with crocheted pieces, maxi skirts or wide-leg pants.

I adore these Sam Edelman's because of the beautiful salmon color however there are a variety of options in this simple, 70's inspired style. As described in Sam's Blog (http://www.samedelman.com/?community) they are the perfect option for those of you who share my love for the recent color blocking trend

Last but not least are these Jeffrey Campbell printed wedges. They are a fantastic way to spice up an otherwise plain outfit...think a solid color maxi dress or plain tank with a black band-aid skirt, add these shoes plus chunky ethnic accessories and voilà...an easy and eye-catching look!

Now on to the food! If you haven't been to Lemonade yet, you absolutely must go! There are locations all over Southern California and I promise you won't be disappointed. If you are a sucker for fresh, creative cuisine that you don't feel guilty about eating, then you will love this place. They have all manner of salads, sandwiches, stews, and  sweets. Oh, and of course, different kinds of refreshing lemonade! It's the perfect place to enjoy a springtime meal! http://lemonadela.com/

YUM!!!!!

Spring cleaning

It's that time of the year when I go through my embarrassingly extensive collection of clothing and get rid of the things I haven't worn in at least two years. This time around I decided to divide my items into Goodwill and resale. Upon the recommendation of my fellow apparel obsessed friend Emily, I took the resale items to my local Crossroads (side note: I love the name cus it reminds me of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony) It was such a fantastic experience. I unloaded 4 trash bags of clothes (don't judge) at the front desk where the friendly and fashionable staff graciously accepted my once cherished hand-me-downs. As the buyers meticulously sifted through my stuff, I scanned the floor and was pleasantly surprised to discover a really eclectic selection of clothes, shoes and accessories (including designer pieces like an LV bag and a gorgeous braided leather Fendi belt) I happily found a funky pair of earrings, a neon yellow silk blouse, a printed maxi dress and a pair Sam Edelman sandals I'd really wanted to get last summer. The best part of the whole experience was that in addition to my new finds for the spring, I still had 10 bucks left over. As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. It's worth mentioning that the buyers donate the pieces they don't want to charity so you can feel good about that. There are Crossroads all over LA, and I highly recommend exploring what they have to offer in exchange for your wardrobe rejects.

FYI, go to Blogger Market in WeHo today where bloggers like Cheyenne Meets Chanel (one of my personal favorites) get together to sell their clothes etc. Check out the flyer at the bottom of this post!

 Big fan of the uneven hemline...

 and the adorable print 

 Love me some nike high tops 

 Not crazy about this floral print, but the dress underneath is gorgeous on

 Fantastic selection of accessories 

Perfect spring dress

A great way to spend a rainy day

It's not very often that we Angelenos are faced with the challenge of figuring out what to do on a rainy day. Yesterday's unusual down pour was the perfect excuse to spend the morning drinking champagne and lunching in South Pasadena, a charming suburb located right off the 110 Freeway headed North from downtown. After sharing a delicious meal at Mike and Anne's, where the ambiance is lovely and the food is amazing, my mom and I passed by an adorable storefront and were drawn inside like moths to light. The boutique, Eleven8, has a fresh feminine feel. The walls are adorned with artwork and lined with dozens of adorable pieces in all different styles, cuts, fabrics and prints. Not to mention, there is an entire wall dedicated to scarves in every color you can imagine. After selecting the items I was taking home with me, I had the chance to briefly chat with employee/beautiful fashionista, Kristen Wolfe, and she was kind enough to let me photograph her (see below) Finding that perfect look is all about experimentation, and you'll never believe it, but that's her boyfriend's shirt she has on...kudos for taking a risk and pulling off a killer outfit (she also works for Redlight PR in Hollywood, an up and coming firm with clout in the fashion industry) So the next time it rains, whether it's tomorrow or two months from now, I definitely recommend a yummy meal at Mike and Anne's and some retail therapy at Eleven8 to make up for all that Vitamin D you're not getting.

http://www.eleven8.com/Eleven8/Welcome.html
http://www.mikeandannes.com/index.html
http://www.redlightpr.com/Mission.php

The gorgeous Miss Kristen Wolfe

 I want everything!

I regret not getting this skirt...I'm obsessed with polka dots right now

It looks really cute paired with this top

They also have lots of great accessories 

 Mike and Anne's

I had the Red Flannel...so.freakin.good.

My mom had the Albacore Tuna Melt...carbs, yum!