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.