This is amazing in about 47 different ways. Yes Sonia Rykiel is a fashion icon, and yes the clothes are stunning, but what I can’t get enough of is that the entire video feels like a caricature of the industry on awhole other level. It’s like a freaking SNL skit – amazing! Watch and listen for; the names of those being interviewed, what they actually say (or lack thereof), what Sonia herself says, the fact that models in general have never more desperately needed a sandwich, and the over-the-top nature of the collection itself. I could watch it on a loop.
Clothing and accessories inspired by a Disney movie? I was skeptical, even though I loved “Alice in Wonderland” as a child and love that Tim Burton made an updated movie version, because you never know what rabbit hole designers will fall into when creating pieces based on a film. But after seeing some of the Alice in Wonderland Disney Couture items at the W Hollywood hotel’s party last week, I was pleasantly surprised — impressed, even.
When I saw this statement necklace by Tom Binns, I wanted to rip it off the mannequin and wear it right then and there. Who could resist these red candy-like hearts, safety pins and crystal chains? It’s cute and edgy at the same time. I want, want, want! Too bad it costs more than $1,000…
Tom Binns ‘All Heart’ Necklace
There’s more: a broken tea cup necklace inspired by the Mad Hatter tea party and a chain-and-charm necklace featuring all kinds of images from the movie.
Tom Binns ‘Smashing Time’ Necklace
(There’s a simpler version of the Charmed Adventure necklace available from Bloomingdale’s for $175.) See more Tom Binns Alice in Wonderland jewelry on Luxist.
Tom Binns ‘Charmed Adventure’ Necklace
I also really liked the Charlotte Tarantola cardigans inspired by the film. Once again, the cute-yet-edgy look is prevalent with ruffles on the placket, a Tarantola signature. The black-and-white lace printed cardigan was my favorite.
Charlotte Tarantola Black & White Lace Print Cardigan
And check out the lobby of the W Hollywood. It’s very open and modern, though I question the use of British terms such as “lifts” for elevators and “WC” (i.e. “water closets”) for restrooms. I bet the hotel will change that WC to restrooms soon enough. Anyway, a walk through the hotel’s Delphine restaurant yielded a modern take on art deco decor that I liked a lot. Too bad they were full (supposedly, with reservations, despite having many empty tables) and couldn’t seat us. Maybe another time.
The Lobby at The W Hollywood
Maya Meinert is the editor of ShopEatSleep.com. She covers retail, dining and hospitality in Los Angeles, as well as contributing her own personal picks. She was most recently the Marketplace reporter at The Los Angeles Business Journal, and has contributed to The Los Angeles Daily Journal, Santa Monica Daily Press, Los Angeles magazine and Giant Robot magazine. Maya can be contacted at shopeatsleepblog@gmail.com.
I bought an engagement ring for this jumpsuit. It is stunning in all of its feminine, modern simplicity, and surprisingly constructed from 100% organic linen (the jumpsuit not the ring, obvy). It features a gorgeous sculpted neckline and deep pockets (which I completely dig, even though I have never once put anything in them – what’s up with that), along with a flattering tie-neck halter and deep back.
Designer Kristina Lenss says that “Kristinet’s mission has always been to design with more than just style in mind. The line uses innovative organic fabrics, local manufacturing and fair trade practices, and continues to donate a percentage of each sale to One Percent For The Planet, as well as the Pachamama Alliance.”
Do-gooding aside, I think she designed a kick-ass jumpsuit that I cannot wait to call my own. You can too, since they’ll be available at Petro Zilia (love) in Los Angeles, and Purdy Girl in New York City at the end of this month. But wait! If you order yours by e mailing kristina@kristinit.com between now and March 15th, you’ll receive 30% off when you mention coupon code LA30 at the time of check out. Go. Because everyone else is, too.
One of the things that has always been a huge drag about H&M, is that you can’t shop online (unless you speak German). You can however, check out their stuff, and with the addition of their Fashion Studio, you can now waste hours of your precious time mixing and matching various outfits on an underwear-clad model (think paper dolls for big girls). You can even choose a ‘head’ for your model in order to emulate ‘your’ coloring, to perhaps get a better idea of what the outfits might in fact look like on you. I’ve taken the liberty of putting together this little ensemble, which is a most reasonable two hundred bucks for everything. It’s also a good transitional outfit from winter to spring. That is all. (Price of jeans estimated at $39.95)
I have a dog. A really big dog. I love him very much, but…he is not a person – he is a dog. This is why I do not a) put clothing on him b) push him around in a stroller or c) take him to a mall, outdoors or otherwise. This past weekend I met a friend for lunch at The Grove. For those of you unfamiliar with The Grove, it is an outdoor mall that is packed on the weekends, usually with a slew of families and your requisite L.A. ‘It Girls,’ many with tiny pups in tow. Most of these mini-pooches are tucked neatly into a Louis Vuitton doggie purse, or nestled into the aforementioned stroller…usually.
My friend E and I couldn’t help but notice what seems to be a new phenomenon; people with their big ass dogs at the mall. Upon exiting the parking structure, we stepped off the elevator literally almost into a steaming pile of dog crap, Boxer crap mind you, that an embarrassed (and rightfully so) young lady was scooping up off the main thoroughfare. With an “Ew” and an eye roll, we headed to the shoe department in Nordstrom, where in my peripheral vision I spotted what I was sure was a seeing eye dog. It wasn’t. It was some dude’s hefty black lab, on a leash, in a department store. For the love of God, why…? This certainly can’t be fun for the dog, and as a grown man you’re unable leave him at home for the two hours that you’re shopping? Baffling, but not as baffling as…Anthropolgie.
INT. ANTHROPOLOGIE – DAY
Lots of skinny cuties scarfing up over-priced Etsy designs. I move adeptly through accessories to check out the perfumes.
CUT TO
Another ginormous dog in my path. A GOLDEN F*CKING RETRIEVER. I dodge him and proceed to the line to purchase a tin of Smith’s Rosebud Salve. I strike up a conversation with the sales girl.
ME
What’s up with all the huge dogs in the stores?
SALES GIRL
(Stiffens. Apparently I’ve touched a nerve.)
I know. It’s disgusting. I stepped in a huge pile of poop the other day…INSIDE THE STORE.
ME
(Blinks)
FADE TO BLACK
Now I’m going to wager a guess and say that not a lot of people are stepping in prodigious piles of dog crap in retail stores across the nation. *SIGH* Again? Only in L.A.
Cover Girl Queen Collection 3-in-1 Nail Polish in 'Copper Penny' $3.09
Marc Bouwer Copper Swimsuit (Image via: WWD.com/Photographed by Tom Concordia)
Inspired by Nine West’s Spring Collection, I am now obsessed with the copper. Spring Blues may the most popular upcoming trend, but wouldn’t copper make an excellent accent color? Think about this: an Alice and Wonderland dusty blue dress paired with a layered copper chain necklace; a blue denim shirt worn with giant copper earrings; or a bright turquoise romper worn with metallic copper heels. These looks could steal the show! Are you interested now?
Above are a few of my favorite copper picks for Spring 2010. I drool over this copper swimsuit by Marc Bouwer; it’s just so fashion forward and bold. More than likely, I will sport my love for copper with jewelry, including the Fiona Paxton Copper ‘Sofi’ Long Necklace from Asos, Candy Heart Earrings from AUNALI Artisan Metal, at Etsy.com and Copper Tone Wood Bangles from Target. If you’re hesitant to give copper a try, you can experiment with the look in a small dose with this Cover Girl Queen Collection Nail Polish, available at Target. So…are you in?
You can find copywriter and editor Laura Coronado at her her blog, Lollie Shopping, or contact her at lollieshoppingblog@gmail.com.
You don’t know it yet, but you worship Amanda Fries. She has single handedly made it significantly easier for you to shop online. The biggest hesitancy that many of us face when doing so is, “What freaking size am I supposed to buy?!” And let’s face it, nothing is more of a pain in the ass than the old return by snail mail; finding a box (because if you’re like me, you’ve already hastily thrown the original one away), paying for shipping, schlepping to the post office, blah, blah, blah. It’s enough to make me want to hoof it to The Grove on a Saturday, and if you live in L.A, you know that that’s about as appealing as eating light bulb. Never fear ladies because SizeWize.com is in the hizzay…WOOT WOOT!
The concept behind SizeWize is simple. The website tells online shoppers their correct size for nearly every women’s clothing brand and retailer, from Abercrombie and Fitch to Zumiez. One of their most unique features is the ability to enter one’s clothing size in one brand, and then search for the correct size in any other brand (HI!).“If someone wears a size 6 petite pants in Ann Taylor, and they want to know what their size is in Banana Republic, now they can find out,” explains Amanda Fries, the goddess behind SizeWize. Customers can also enter their measurements to find out their correct size in almost any brand, as well.
Better still SizeWize is free! Fries goes on to say that “I created this site because so many of my friends were complaining about the exact same problem that I had. Shopping for clothes online is supposed to save you time and money, because you don’t have to spend the gas money and take the time to drive to the mall, find a parking space, and then wait in line for the waiting room, and then wait in line again to pay for your clothing. But in reality, we waste more time and money returning or exchanging items because we have to guess at what size to buy. Any woman who’s ever shopped for clothing knows that you can be a size six in one brand and a twelve in another brand!” And so, SizeWize was born. Because Fries knows that women like to shop for their children online as well, she currently has a children’s version in development. Could we love her any more…?
Yeah they are, and not just from Free People either. Designers like Alexander Wang, See By Chloé, and 7 For All Mankind (just to name a few) have all hopped on the overall tractor, er…bandwagon. I’m 99% sure I have a pair not dissimilar to these, leftover from art school, at the bottom of a drawer somewhere. I also have a somewhat cleaner pair that I wore more than I’d like to admit during my pregnancy with Z. I guess what I’m not doing a very good job of saying, is that overalls have a place, I’m just not positive that it’s on a rack with a $350 price tag. She sure does makes them look cute though, but then again she’d look cute in a grill and a mullet. Tell the truth – are you on board…?
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