Yard Sale 5/23/10

I'm having a yard sale tomorrow! Come on over bright & early for some shopping. I'll also have a basket of fresh eggs... while supplies last!

6:00 AM to 12 NOON

Details here: FANTASTIC YARD SALE! May 23, 2010 ... - Malibu, CA 90265

- PennySaverUSA

Dior Debuts "Lady Blue Shanghai" Directed by David Lynch

The French fashion house debuted its latest short film, "Lady Blue Shanghai", today, which centers around the mysterious appearance of a Lady Dior handbag in a hotel room. Written and directed by David Lynch, the short stars Marion Cotillard and features the art direction of John Galliano.

Though this is essentially a 16 minute advertisement for a purse, the Lady Dior itself has very little screentime, and in fact, I found my attention drawn more toward Cotillard's tailored skirt-suit, the old-timey tune blaring from the record player, and the gorgeous peek at Shanghai furnishings of a bygone era. I'm not sure that I would call this a "successful" ad, as, other than a potential purchase from iTunes, it didn't spur an acquisitive impulse in me. I am still thinking about it, though, but probably not for the reasons intended.

I initially wanted to post the videos just to share them, but after letting them sink in a while, I realized there is more to say about the film, in terms of what it says about our society. While I can appreciate the foray into film as an effective form of advertising and a beautiful art form at that, I'm wary of art that glorifies an object, especially one as subject to fleeting fashions as a handbag. I can only think of all the energy, talent, and resources that went into the making of this film (not to mention the purse!), and I can't help but think it a tremendous waste: all that to sell a purse? One that will be out of fashion in 6 months? I don't mean to single out the Lady Dior or demonize luxury goods altogether; I just think that for Marion Cotillard, John Galliano and David Lynch to all get together on a project, I expect it to result in something a little more meaningful than a drive for consumerism. (Though I guess they've got to eat, too).

Consumerism in America has often been lauded as a saving grace - helping the country to bounce back after World War II and encouraged by President Bush after the attacks of September 11th. No doubt our current economy is in dire need of a little saving, but so much of what I've been reading recently indicates that what has worked in the past is no longer a viable, sustainable option.

The fashion industry is primarily an economy fueled by consumer purchases, so what happens to the creation of beautiful, awe-inspiring wearable art when people reconsider their purchasing impulses and buy vintage or heaven forbid, keep wearing the same clothes? Perhaps someday in the near future, visionary artists will come up with news ways to showcase the tremendous talents of the fashion industry without feeding into the mania of perceived obsolescence and retail shopping as "therapy". Until then, beneath Parts 1 & 2 of "Lady Blue Shanghai" I've included "The Story of Stuff" which explains exactly why shopping is no longer a solution to our economic problems and how it actually contributes to many of our current crises: health, environmental, financial, and others. You can learn more about The Story of Stuff Project here.

ReVamp Your Wardrobe

I just discovered ReVamp in Downtown Los Angeles, while on a quest to find a vintage card case. I am so excited to spend more time perusing the website, and I am definitely booking a 1930's hair and makeup how-to class for my friend and myself this summer. In the meantime, for all you vintage style lovers out there, feast your peepers on this:

Acapulco Nights, St. Tropez Mornings After

Cointreau and Chanel are channeling the glamorous festivity and indulgence of by-gone eras in their recent promotional films. One thing is constant - summer dance parties never go out of style.

Check out Cointreau's "Original Margarita Story" below starring Dita von Teese looking glorious as ever in bakelite bangles, and reminding us that the classic drink recipe always includes Cointreau. Karl Lagerfeld's "Remember Now" features Baptiste Giabiconi and Freja Beha in Chanel's 2011 Cruise Collection.

Spotlight on SurfMonk (and Tiger Lily)

Today, as summer is slowly extending the daylight (if not the warmth!) of the days, I'd like to highlight SurfMonk, a beach apparel line started by a pair of locals. I initially heard about SurfMonk from my mother, who is friends with the owner, Claudia Taylor. It wasn't until I came across the SurfMonk twitter account that I realized it was all eco-friendly and locally manufactured! That certainly got my attention.

Here's the SurfMonk philosophy:

SurfMonk is 100% committed to sustainable and local manufacturing. Made in Los Angeles, all goods are sweatshop-free, organically dyed and made of raw materials developed without the use of chemicals. We believe in the use of natural resources without destroying the ecological balance of our world.

So, not only can I feel good about buying these products, but they are super cute!! Some of my favorites are below, all of which you can order online here.

SurfMonk also features cool accessories from other brands - my favorite of which is Tiger Lily. My neighbor, Heather Gardner, designs all of Tiger Lily's exquisite, nature-inspired pieces, and I love her stuff. Her feather earrings are featured on the SurfMonk website, but you can also see her whole collection here. Heather was on of the boutique vendors at the Tribute to the Human Spirit Awards gala that I produced last week, and she lent me a beautiful gold/blue Swarovski crystal set of necklaces and earrings for the evening!

Perfect Red Lips

Just discovered Lisa Eldridge, and I love her refined take on the Youtube makeup How-To. I had had a bit of trouble with my Ruby Woo lipstick, mainly due to a careless lack of lip balm or liner, and sought out the best technique online. Here it is:

Isn't she gorgeous? Her prettiness supercedes any imperfections. That's the beauty of well-applied makeup!

Eco-Friendly Swimwear

I recently discovered the clothing line LOYALE, and am so excited to have found it! It's ecologically-conscious clothing that is actually chic. I so applaud its designer Jenny Hwa for her philosophy and community-outreach. Did I mention that this line includes swimwear? I am not talking generic bikinis here; the Hermosa suit is so cute, eco or not, I want it! It has a flirty, retro vibe without looking like a costume. According to the website, the S and M sizes have sold out, (no word on larger sizes), so all that is currently available is size XS. Also, after having seen $100+ swim suits set the standard for years, I'm happy to report that this one retails for $84. What a steal!

I also love that the collection galleries are preceded by a blurb about the inspiration for the look, and followed by the mood soundtrack. Happy to see Goldfrapp's Seventh Tree featured in the Fall 2009 gallery.

Addendum: Apparently I don't keep well enough tabs on Vogue, because this very suit was featured in the March 2009 issue. That was a year ago! Oh, well.

Oh, so apparently I'm REALLY not alone on this one. Wow, I'm usually not so aligned with other fashion weighers-in. Here LUCKY magazine declares it their "obsession":

Gorgeous Jewelry from Carlee Santarelli

A few months back I met Carlee Santarelli, a Los Angeles-based jewelry designer, through a mutual friend while at Royal/T Cafe. She was wearing some of her own designs, which incorporate vintage fabric and lace, and unique bits and pieces she finds downtown. Her rings, in particular, are her signature pieces, overlaying the lace and fabrics with cabochon to magnify the patterns. Each of her pieces are hand-made and unique, and available at several local boutiques. Check her website for specific locations.

First Vintage Fashion Expo of the Year

This weekend marks the first of three vintage fashion expositions at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. (Two other dates are scheduled for San Francisco). Vintage lovers from all over alight on Santa Monica for this spectacular event, paying extra for the early morning exclusivity of first pick. Burlesque star and fashionista Dita von Teese has been known to peruse the sale, joining the serious early bird crowd for prime shopping.

Here are this year's details:

Saturday, February 6, 2010 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium at Pico & Main

• Early Buying: 9-10:30 am | tickets $20 at the door | Saturday only
• Regular hours: 10:30am-6pm | tickets $10 at the door

Sunday, February 7, 2010 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium at Pico & Main

• Regular hours: 11am-5pm | tickets $10 at the door
• Students admitted free with student I.D. | Sunday only

"World's Most Stylist Cities" according to Forbes

Here's a piece of an article written in Forbes detailing the world's most stylist cities. (Los Angeles was deemed #6.)

"Why the rush of talent flowing out of Los Angeles? The same could be said of all the other cities on the list, actually. Style-conscious cities, in general, benefit from the disruptive innovation a financial downturn often conjures. While the recession has undoubtedly hurt all of these cities' economies, it's also allowed creative types to take chances and chase their dreams simply because there's less to lose.

What's bad for the economy, it seems, is good for style. And every city on the list--whether it's geared more toward architecture, fashion, or product design--has something the Parisians understand better than anyone: je ne sais quoi."

This falls in line with the idea behind 'creative as savior' that I mention in "Detroit, the new Brooklyn?". Creative-type/Creator creates Something where there once was nothing. Artist conceives design that attracts attention, attention begets buzz, buzz generates revenue, revenue attracts other artists, and the process continues and evolves, constantly filling vacuums.

If a void (absence of money, restrictions, occupation) paradoxically creates space for Creation, this is good news for our economy. If artists are the creators who renew society and generate intellectual and economic momentum, then there is all the more reason to fund the Arts.

Here's the complete list:

10. Barcelona

9. San Francisco

8. Madrid

7. Tokyo

6. Los Angeles

5. Rome

4. London

3. New York

2. Milan

1. Paris

From Paris With Shoulder Pads

Love these!!! Not quite local fashion, but I like to be cosmopolitan. I think the first one is totally wearable...

Check out the whole Balmain collection here.

Cool For School

Someone going by the name 'sparkle' has proposed a new class for The Public School called "A Space For Fashion" that I think sounds like an interesting concept to explore...

Sparkle describes it thus:

Fashion and style, the solidification of both mundane and extraordinary social performances. A handshake, a hug, the kiss on the the cheek, the kiss on the lips and the cheek. Punk rock attitude and the clothes to match. This class looks at theory and examples of the way in which our cultures create specific relational aesthetics based on the ways we dress. 1 class, maybe two. Reading, intelligent discussion.

How The Public School works is, someone proposes an idea for a class, people browse through proposed classes and mark which ones they are interested in, then when a certain quota is met, a teacher is found and the class is scheduled! Sort of like a create-your-own/community forum think space that results in a group of interested individuals meeting to explore/discuss/create. Any topic you can think of can be proposed... neat idea, huh?

Fashionably Late

I love wearing hats, I love this pretty pink color and I totally dig the notion of a house coat! Right on!

I don't follow fashion, except, of course, to notice the spreads in the various fashion magazines I occasionally peruse. I love fashion, but I don't keep up with trends, and I try not to follow them. I am more of an appreciator of creativity and proportion and flattering colors. (I'm sure on some very real level I'm influenced by trends, but I don't pay attention to "rules"... I do what makes me happy.)

Apparently I am pretty out of the loop, though, because I saw photos of Jason Wu's spring and fall 09 collections and really, really adored some of his pieces! Little did I know he is the designer du jour, what with his frocking ladies of the moment - Michelle Obama and Freida Pinto.

So, damn.

These are my favorite pieces. To be honest, I don't really like any of the others much because I think some of the hemlines and waistlines obscure the figure too much and look a little frumpy. These, though, are spectacular!

Killer shoes all around. (Plus, these models don't look ill, which is always a good thing.)

Glossy! Glossy! Easter: The Remix

So! Silver Lake's own GhettoGloss gallery is hosting LIVE AT LA CITA on Wednesday starting at 9. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros will be there, along with Project Runway's Santino.

Cocktails and chocolate bunnies? How can you go wrong??

Grocery Bags

Last week I bought a re-usable grocery bag from How's. It's royal blue and nondescript otherwise, but I have gotten a lot of use out of it already.

My mom has a bunch that my brother and sister's school was giving out for free and I used them shopping at Ralph's today. While I was there I noticed that Ralph's was selling bags of its own, as well. It's nice to know that so many people are incorporating easy changes into their lifestyles that can really make a difference.

In fact, the City of San Francisco recently banned the use of plastic grocery bags altogether, and I think that's a great idea. Hopefully Los Angeles is soon to follow.

Of course this has now turned into a sort of fashion trend with high fashion designers producing pricey bags for all one's shopping needs. That seems a bit silly to me, like, shopping for packaging. Do something else with your money, people. Plant a tree. I saw a report on TV about these bags, and some of them were quite cute and inexpensive, as well. In fact, some company, I forget which, was giving them away for free. I believe the one I got from How's was 99 cents.

So, another easy way to live consciously... just don't be like my mom and forget the bags in the car every time.

Bamboo-Ya!

So, bamboo is the newest fiber of choice for those with aspirations toward green living. Apparently there are a lot of good things about it, none of which I knew until now:

1. it's renewable and sustainable
2. it's naturally resistant to bacteria, which means no pesticides --heck yes, organic!
3. it's breathable and cool as a fiber
4. it's anti-bacterial which means it doesn't need to be treated during manufactuing --> no harmful irritants
5. it's versatile as a material and can be used as food, shelter, fuel and, evidently, clothing

I'm not sure how many companies are utilizing the material, but one called Panda Snack (get it? Panda's eat bamboo...) has started an environmentally conscious line of clothing that seems fairly fashionable. The image above is from their website. http://pandasnack.com/ Pieces from the summer collection are sold at many locations throughout Los Angeles.
Hopefully more companies with incorporate this fiber into their repertoire.

"The Kings" are King

Some things I'm interested in right now:


Dan Flavin at LACMA. I studied this artist in my Contemporary art history class at Notre Dame and loved the simplicity of his light sculptures. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is exhibiting a retrospective now through August, I believe. I definitely want to check this out. http://www.lacma.org/art/ExhibFlavin.aspx

Mandy Moore's new album. Though I'm not a fan of her previous work, I have heard that she collaborated with Rachael Yamagata on this album, and I'm intrigued.


The Kings of Leon, especially their new album Because of the Times. It's awesome. I can't get enough. Favorite tracks: On Call, the Runner, Knocked Up, Arizona, Black Thumbnail. The first three are so powerful and Caleb's voice is very transportive. Black Thumbnail is rough and wild. Off their previous albums I enjoy: Molly's Chambers, Wasted Time, Milk, Soft, the Bucket, King of the Rodeo, Trani, & California Waiting. Good British video interviews of Caleb Folowill are somewhere on the web. I'll try to post a link.

Kite surfing. Kites + surfing = whimsical exhilaration.

Surfing with a paddle? Saw this at the beach the other day. Looks very Polynesian. Probably trickier than they made it seem.


Moroccan Mint Green Tea. So refreshing! I love this brewed with boiling hot water and then poured over ice. A great summer sipper. http://www.stashtea.com/index.shtml (I noticed that How's Market carries just about every flavor of Stash Tea, including organic varieties, except the Moroccan Mint! I'll speak to them about this.)


The color lavender. I painted my toes lavender and I'm liking a dusty shade of violet on my eye lids. It looks good with a fresh bit of sun on your skin.

Elizabeth Gilbert. I read her book Eat, Pray, Love over Christmas break and it was stunningly beautiful. She's coming to Diesel June 10th, I believe. I'll be sure to be there.

W. Somerset Maugham. I read the Moon & Sixpence and adored the tight writing and the descriptive characterization. Saw the Painted Veil on the plane ride home last week and thoroughly enjoyed the love story. Moving performance by Ed Norton. Naomi Watts was great, as well. I've picked up the Razor's Edge and am finding it a pleasant, thought-provoking read. Brilliant writer.

Horizon plain yogurt with PomWonderful pomegranate juice spritzed in. Delicious!


Old Navy's summer palette. Lots of deep colors that are exotic rather than suburban. Bravo! I'm loving my new striped shorts and wine-colored bikini.

Green cars. That's eco-friendly, not grassy. I'm in the market for a car, and I am looking at the options available to me. Too bad they don't sell those tiny European cars here in the States... I don't really like the look of them that much, but they certainly do save on energy. I'm thinking I'd prefer shiny white paint with lots of chrome and a camel-colored interior.

Malibu Yogurt. A bit overpriced, but a fun splurge now and then with my brother and sister. I had the vanilla with strawberries and it was delish! Too bad they don't take credit cards. I am so bad about carrying cash.