Jewelry: Part I

I titled this "Part I" because the discovery that I love jewelry is actually a new one.  So I predict I will have a lot more to say about this in the future.

For the longest time, I didn't wear any type of jewelry outside of watches (which is a staple item for me), or earrings and facial piercings (back when that was a thing).   I just never got into jewelry.  I preferred to make statements with bags, sunglasses, or shoes.

Then slowly, I started paying attention to rings, necklaces, and higher-end earrings more. I think it may have started with a neat pair of diamond earrings my mom gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago.  Then it graduated to a Tiffany necklace that my BF Steve gave me for a birthday.  Then I started scoping out pieces on  my own.

My artist friend recently had an exhibition of his work at a cool little bar/lounge in West L.A.  All can be found at   http://www.neivz.com/ .  I think his work is quintessentially L.A.- lots of personality, unapologetically eccentric, and inherently cool.  The show was pretty rad:

[50% of my friends in this pic are lawyers.  If you have a problem with your image being used on this blog, send me a Cease & Desist.  :)   Note:  My friend also designed and built the furniture displays.]

[The layering pieces on the bottom leftish are modeled by my lovely friend Regina below.]

[Kinda blurry, but cute, subtle pieces.  Perfectly accented with a wine glass.]

[The missing space is where I picked up the wavy-faced ring.]

[Please excuse my chippy mani.  Thinking of getting this item.  Delicate, barely-there jewelry items are the thing again.  But I am really all about statement pieces.]

Fashion Blooper: Floral Tights

While I appreciate risky fashion, sometimes bloopers happen with things that are seemingly on the safe side.  Floral pants were the go-to last season for both soccer moms and hipster chicks. I love the look of floral pants, and thought that a great alternative with a twist would be floral tights.  The reason for this, is that I think floral pants are on the way out, and that it will not be the look anymore come winter time (basically now).

Well, I should've just gotten the damn pants.

[There are shorts under there, I swear.]

I wore this to work, and amongst some of the comments I received during the course of the day were: "Did your legs get run over by a truck?"  "Wow, those are....interesting."  and "Jesus, I thought you were involved in a domestic incident."

I don't think these were improperly executed.  I think that they are an inherent fail by design, because the blush coloring blends in too closely with skin color.  They were tossed so fast after work that day!  

Winter Wonderland

I think I've written before about my utter disdain for cold weather.  It took forever this year, but it finally looks like winter in L.A. By that, I mean it's not consistent 80-degree weather anymore.

I was hanging out at the Grove yesterday, and this is what it looked like.  The white stuff is fake snow that the mall turned on.  The machines were shooting it out left and right, from the rooftops of Nordstrom, J.Crew, and the Italian restaurant.  Yes, that is the only way this city produce a winter- fake it til you make it!  I with a friend who went to school in Boston, and I'm from Colorado.  So we had to laugh at the fact that this place has to fake something that makes life a living (cold) hell in other parts of the country. 

Anyway, here's my best impression of a cold person in L.A.:

[Coat and Bag- Marciano, Gloves- Vintage, Shoes- Express, Necklace (it is actually a hair band) -Bloomingdale's]

Style Envy: Gwen Stefani

My friend Jen and I were just talking about this last night, so I think this post is fitting.  When I was a kid and No Doubt blew up, I found one of my first fashion icons in Gwen Stefani.  The bindis, the long burgundy nails, the baggy camo pants or adidas track pants paired with crop tops, jeweled bra straps under white tanks or tube tops, lace up boots, rasta wristbands; the lady had style!  Everything she wore was very her.

I later read an interview in which she confessed that her style is not original at all, that she draws inspiration from a mishmosh of things that inspire her, such as the chola girl style in Long Beach when she was in high school, the punk rockers, and old Hollywood style.  I still think that she has a superb eye for arranging her inspirations in a way that works on her.  While it may not be completely original, what is nowadays?  She makes her numerous style inspirations work for her, which I think ends up being unique in its own way.  And that is the kind of fashion philosophy I try to adopt as well.

Liberty Ross

Why do I know so much about the whole Twilight cheating scandal??  Even though brain cells were lost after gaining that useless knowledge, at least now the world knows that the director dude is obviously brain damaged.  I mean, look at this lady!  She has flawless style.  Those Alaia boots!  The Balmain button up!  The fur!  It’s perfection!!

Paris BDay Gift

This is the stuff I adore more than anything.  I’ve gotten more than one complaint from loved ones over the years that I am hard to shop for, because when there is something I want, I just get it myself.  So my usual response is to donate to charity, or to make me something.  The handmade gifts are always my favorites.    

My BFF Danette has taken up both options over the years, which is so rad.  This year, she put together this thoughtful gift set:

[Including handmade jewelry and candle, notebooks, beauty products.  My friends are the best!  They know of my  Frenchy obsession.]

Cute Cute Cute

I think this image again reinforces my theory that untalented people happen to have more time and effort to put into clothes.

Checked Blazer

I love blazers.  I have them in prob every professional color there is.  Does anyone know where I can get this one?  It's Alice & Olivia.  It's not on their website anymore, and I've tried searching everywhere.  Bergdorf Goodman looks like the last retailer to carry it, and it looks like even they are out.

[This entire outfit is such an excellent combo.]

Summer Whites

It’s late August in L.A., and it has been HOT.  Like mid-90s hot every single day.  Naturally, I revert to summer whites for as long as I can before Labor Day.  Although, I suspect it will remain hot for quite a bit into September, in which case I will make an exception to the rule of No White After Labor Day.  Who made up that rule anyway?  Whoever did it must have done it way before global warming starting rearing its ugly head.

I like spicing up an entire white outfit with cool shoes or accessories.  Here are some random examples which I think are great combos:

[I got this from an old InStyle I found while cleaning out my room at my parent's house.  Guess which year this is from.  I think this could still work today, and would look great.  This is some soap actress from 1997.]

[Oh Tori Spelling.  Did anyone else used to watch her show NoTORIous?  I thought is was hysterical.  This is another one that I think would work very well today.  Most of this looks vintage to begin with though, save for the obviously late 90's-era platform sandals.]

[This one's more recent.  I LOVE the tan wedge/cross-body bag/ long white blazer combo.]

Ode to LA

             If you know me, it is no secret that I am absolutely in love with this city.  In fact, on a worldwide scale of cities I have been fortunate enough to visit, LA takes a backseat only to my no. 1- Paris, but is still ahead of San Francisco, Beijing, and London.  LA is wonderful in part for the same reason as any of these cities: endless resources and culture right at your fingertips.  It falls in line that the shopping is amazing here!

            One of my fave shopping spots here is Westfield Topanga.  This is up in the Valley, Woodland Hills.  Although I love Hollywood too, the Valley is not exactly the 7^th ring of hell as Ari Gold would often describe it to be.  It’s actually got some amazing restaurants and shopping.  And you don’t have to worry about parking! 

[So rich, so pretty!  I'm sure Mickey Avalon wasn't talking about these, but it applies!]

              It's a massive space filled with high to low end and everywhere in between.  My personal faves- H&M, Zara, Burberry, BCBG, Marciano, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus. There is also a macaroon kiosk that serves up my most sought-after French dessert in the world!

  

              The boutiques on Melrose- Lots and lots of cute, reasonably priced boutiques that usually contain unique items.  There’s the high end shops in between too.  I love popping into Alexander McQueen and looking at the amazing clothing artwork, or going across the street and perusing Marc Jacobs, and also the more affordable but still cute off brand, MARC by Marc Jacobs.  Fun bonus: a great little bar is just around the corner, on La Cienaga called the Roger Room. 

                Beverly Center- WAY more built for actual shopping than the nearby Grove.  Even the Wet Seal looks upscale inside the Bev Center.  Lots of variety just like the Westfield Topanga. 

                Third Street Promenade- Santa Monica.  This recently renovated space has two of my faves: AllSaints and Ever.  Really pretty, open air space a stone's throw from the beach:

[I mean this AllSaints...]

[...not this one.]

Vintage

I was watching Shahs of Sunset recently (don’t judge), and the rat-faced girl who screams at everyone made some comment about how “you just can’t get the stink out of used clothes.  It’s always there.”

As rat-faced as she is, I can’t help but agree to an extent.  I can’t go thrifting, even though I think some cute hipster pieces can be found if you look for it, because I just can’t get over the weird smells and second-handness. 

On the flipside, I think I have written before about how I love a great mix of high and low end.  When high-end pieces transcend into “vintage,” it is glorious!  The piece can be worked in with modern pieces, it is one of a kind, and truly shows off a person’s eye for fashion.

[Seen at a couture consignment shop in Beverly Hills.  Cute!  The vintage 70's closure bugs me, but thinking about it.]

Tattoos & High Fashion

[Not a lot of things are hotter than tattoos peeking out of a well-tailored suit. I'm not talking about a Fall Out Boy-esque suit with a stupid hat and Chuck Taylors.  A real suit.]

I love tattoos. I have since I was a kid, and saw my first punk rocker.  I remember tugging on my mom’s dress and saying I want “that”- the skull tattoo on the woman’s arm.  I could imagine my mom’s expression was like, “Oh boy.” 

            I know tattoos are not everyone’s cup of tea.  But I imagine people who don’t like them have never liked them, and thus illogically assume people who do like them will regret having them in the long term.  These people are entitled to their wrong opinions. haha

Moving away from the full-on rock aesthetic of my younger days, as an adult I appreciate tattoos in the high fashion context.  A lot of what makes fashion exciting is contrast.  Such as the contrast of high fashion against a rock sensibility.  

Jean Paul Gaultier Tribute: In Bad Taste?

I saw pics from this show recently, and instantly thought that they were beautiful!  Then I read that a lot of people thought that the tribute was inappropriate (most notably, Papa Winehouse).  What do you think?

Espadrilles- First Edition of Fashion Mess or Fashion Yes?

Espadrilles.  I have seen them often, every summer, since about 2005.  Every summer, I have resisted the urge to buy them.  I think they look like they belong on a frumpy soccer mom from the Midwest who is wearing them with a Michael Kors bag and flared jeans. 

Why won’t they just go away?  They were built to be a fly-by-night trend:  the weird raffia wedge, the impractical straps.  I’ll never understand why this shoe has lingered for so long.  However…. I do see them every so often and think they look cute on the person wearing them.  What do you think?

[I think they look cute here, but only because they are tempered with the fact that Annalynne McCord is wearing them (someone who is so gorg that a burlap sack would look great on her).  And also her pants are half-covering them.  If a shoe needs all that to look good, then I say they are bad news!]

Boots, Boots, Boots, Part II

One of my BFFs, Danette, has asked me to scout a pair of perfect riding boots for her.  She gave me a general color/budget/shape guideline; which I will address separately.
Riding boots are classic footwear staples.  Although to achieve staple status, over-the-knee styles, the "scrunch" look, excessive buckles/zippers/weird details, and flimsy materials must be avoided.

[This actually knocks out all 4.  Over-the-knee, especially combined with a heel, is more "Pretty Woman" than Park Avenue.  The scrunch and the extraneous buckles are simply terrible.  And if the material looks shiny, flimsy, and cheap just from a picture, imagine how it would be in person.]

1.) Color-Taupe.  This neutral grayish hue is a great substitute for black.  Unfortunately, the Taupe riding boot is a rarity this season; for the fashion gods have given the trump card to Cognac and Black for the time being.

[Joan & David, $200 on Piperlime.com.  The material is beautiful, the toe is tapered for a more feminine look, and the buckle detail is perfect.]

2.)  Budget.  Come on gal, by now you should know that I can't follow a budget to save my life!  Material should be a prime factor with most clothing and footwear items, and this is especially true when it comes to boots.  Riding boots should be comprised of "hard" leather, which can be either real or faux.  Cheaper materials tend to have an unnatural sheen (unless it's supposed to be patent leather, which will be tackled in a later post), stretch easily, and fray easily.  High quality leather can be kept for years, and maintains its quality over time.

[Vince Camuto, $209 at Nordstrom.  The toe is not as femininely tailored, but they are similar to the Tory Burch "Selma" model- except the logo buckle is not as imposing, and there is no weird lining at the opening.   This is the "hard" leather material I am talking about.]

3.)  Shape- Tapered toe.  The riding boot can have a more rounded toe, which is appropriate for an edgier look.  The tapered toe is more sleek and timeless:

[Marciano, on sale for $230.  Similar to the Vince Camuto, but with a more tapered toe.]

The Blazer

 I wasn’t quite old enough to notice back then, but I would have loved to see all of the over-the-top shoulder-padded couture blazer creations from the 80’s.  I was so happy when this clothing item came back full force.

The two breeds currently on the scene are “boyfriend” cut, and a much more streamlined version.
The hipsters love the “boyfriend” cut.  I thought it was a bit sloppy and unflattering at first glance, but I have to admit this look has grown on me.

[Well done, Bosworth, well done.]


[My good friend Veron.  The white fitted blazer is a summer staple- I have the exact same one from Zara.  This is a streamlined, versatile, sophisticated piece that can be dressed up or down.]


[I love the raised shoulders, color, and clean lines on this one.  The shoes add a great color complement as well.]

Miami Vice?

I used to think all white outfits would be reminiscent of Miami Vice no matter what.  But this is fabulous!  Maybe the accessories make it. 

Red & Leopard

I think that each could be done correctly if worn sparingly, and if the fit and material are both of high quality.  But I can’t bring myself to get over my fashion phobia of the two.

I think it’s really hard to pull off red, especially in formal wear, in a way that does not look cheap.  However, use of red in casual wear can look fantastic when done right:

[My friend Christine, who has impeccably paired a red pant w/ contrasting white striped top and staple belt.]

My leopard phobia comes from years of witnessing atrocities such as this:

[Images like this are the reason I generally recoil at the sight of leopard.]

However, sometimes there are beacons of hope, such as the below:

[This works because the dress design is not too busy.  Atwood maryjane pumps are beautiful.  This almost makes up for the Snooki/Deena leopard assault on my eyes. Almost.]