Los Angeles in Pieces & Parts

Images from Culver City gallery walk on Washington Blvd between Helms Walk and Fairfax Ave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deer at Getty Villa the Italy in LA

The calm and serenity of this recreated Pompeii Villa is easy understand, when in  Disneyland-style a deer frolics so near!

LACMA is always an iconic art stop

and bright experience especially when you start our day in the neighborhood with pastries and beyond from Republique.

HAMMER!!!

This museum is so potent and dynamic that my experience fell into two distinct categories. The Armand Hammer Collection revitalized my love of some long life favorites, mainly Gustave Moreau. There is always so much to learn from the skill of these traditional masters. The beauty of these compositions and my, clearly bias, love of bouquets translated elegantly into "The Stories Of Almost Everyone" exhibit. Every object has a story. What does it mean when you place that object and that story in an institutional setting and burden it with a canon of higher meaning? Some of these works were pure cheek, while others were heartbreaking records of human history. 

Indulgences:

The pop up shop at Hammer (Rat Bastards), GUCCI (another theme park moment waiting in the long Rodeo Drive line to get into the storefront) Laduree Salon de Tea (the height of French decadence, eventually I’ll patron every Laudree in the world)

The End

at the Castle in the Rain - Greystone Mansion and Park

An icon in the film industry. It was worth winding up into the Beverly Hills as this epic house made for a great last look at the L.A. cityscape, even through a rainstorm.

On Fashionable PDX Thursday

It has been my zietgeist lately to support all the creative people in my life. This has been leading me to many different places ranging from Folk music at "Dr. Who" theme dive bars to the white tents of PortlandNXT Fashion Show on Thursday evening.

It was a fabulous time, with micro local celeb sightings (Project Runway Stars), confusion and  Pinot Grigio NOT Chardonnay and wonderful INSPIRING runway shows.

It is not surprising that the show I liked the most was that of Myriam Marcela, who happens to be a striking acquaintance I met at an art opening, and who I was there to support. Her vision is all about vintage made current or as she describes, "Vintage Revival".  Everything that walked the runway seemed new but had well edited vintage spirit as well as a strong since of print with a bit of Spanish flair (her homeland).

The other stand out designers that made the evening amazing were:

ATIZ who wowed with a cleaver mixture of fabric textures and prints. Ranging from light and airy to luxuriously thick.

"The inspiration and scope behind the Àtiz collection is rich and wide, but each piece contains the blending of Eastern sophistication with Western originality. Though her Indian heritage informs all of her looks, Padmaraj nonetheless translates this historical and cultural legacy into a refined, timeless international look."

Sonia Kasparin "Bespoke Couture" stunned the audience with this simmer full length simmer gold number!!!

Wendy Ohlendorf gave the audience fantasy and whimsey with headdress in and dramatic defined shapes.




White as Winter White as Paper

The following looks are all about the trendiest of non-colors 
to wear for winter, the clean the fresh white. 
The article below is about using paper techniques, such as origami,
to create structured dimension in clothing. 
It come out via Vogue a few season before the resurgence of minimalism dressing
 which still makes use of strong angles edges and detail much like the crisp folding of a paper.









The Green and Grey of It




In keeping with the style theme of the "new neutral" these wardrobe building piece are even better in alternative greens and greys. The clean and polish is there but with a bit more of a tomboy, masculine twist, army green is the ultimate modern girl neutral.

Mood Board #7 The Cinematic 40's





So Cinematic
Taking inspiration from the 1940's, the era of the cinematic Film Noir, these looks are iconic and timeless in there glamour, polish and refinement. I find it's just the right mix of femme fatale and serious suiting. It's the season to layer up in the mystery.

The Soceity Slouch Vogue 10/10







“LOVE THE SLOUCH”
This fashion shoot comes entirely from Vogue. The joining article (HERE) is all about “The Society Slouch” – the new cocktail dressing.  “The Slouch” refers to a looseness, an ease to clothing and life. It is a style about the lux sex appealed of  fabric, draping, and mystery as appose to the body-con dress and stiletto look. These women show case their style more than their cleavage. What you get in place of vulgarity  are looks that tell you a story. A narrative not necessarily of this time and place but one that brings together classic literature and cocktail notions.





The Old Hipster or Vintage Dressing

This is an article about hipster fashion as defined by the vintage, Western, distress clothing phenomenon. News flash, to the fun fashion hipsters of Portland Or. and beyond, because this trend has hit the main stream (high fashion like in a Vogue publication, see artical) then it is no longer a "hipster style." So has the hipster look died with H&M and thick rimmed glasses on everyone, or will it morph into something new? 
I am waiting to see what the freaks and geeks on the street come up with. 
Come on hipster's show me what you got!!! 
Definition of Hipster




 

Print Riot






Print Riot 
In the joyous sun-soaked days, at the height of summer, all you need is print on top of print. Some prints are vintage, some prints are whimsically "animally" (for this you need Charlotte Taylor) and the print of the most importance, almost a wardrobe staple is the TRIBAL PRINT! 
                                      

Mood Board #4 Prints


                                   


This mood board is all about the prints. Some of my absolute favorites! Notice the origami cat print by Piamita* in the head to toe look and the reptile-esque print on the Anthropologie dress. Adding a whimsical playfulness to the spirit of summer, the looks stay polished by keeping the palates monotone and the silhouettes structured. If the other style elements stay refined then the thoughtful prints really stand out!
  
-This post goes out to my friend Felicity, a true master of print and design. I always imaged her being able to pull of the hot pant striped blazer ensemble!
 More about Piamita


Bijoux #2





This is another great jewelery design mood board. Different shapes and trends all inspired by the deep green of the emerald. Not only a redheads best friend but it remains a classic amongst the color craze of late. Think emerald is the new navy. This color is so rich that even the fine cut dresses (one the most refined by Jil Sander Spring 12 line) seem to act like full body jewelery. Confident, daring and mouth watering. Just like the redheads who wear it well!

-I am dedicating this post to my sister, as this is her favorite color for a reason! I hope she packs some emerald in her luggage as she sets off for a summer in Rome! Kiss Kiss.

Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard in Vogue. 
This is a woman of glamorous refined sex appeal. This photo shoot does an impeccable job of capturing her tour de force French style while still giving a wink to nostalgia and a pin-up silhouette. How could you not be inspired by Marion Cotillard?
 
"Josephine" is a fictional character inspired by Marion Cotillard. To me she embodies whimsy. She is the first in a series of characters that will be featured on The False Unicorn.


Edith Piaf's "Non, Je ne Regret Rien" billows from a third floor lavender lined window. Josephine possesses the kind of laissez-faire elegance and ennuie that only a Frenchwoman can embody. Daytime finds her casually photographed against a Provincial blue door, hair disheveled. Purse held lazily in hand, Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" nearly falls to the ground. Josephine's slate colored lingerie evokes a 1930's aesthetic. She is cut from another era. Nighttime crawls. Josephine grows bored with the day. Dressing herself in a bow trimmed ensemble demanding any gentleman to inquire whether she would like her dirty martini shaken or stirred. Surrounded by stones and artifacts, Josephine poses, aware of the gaze she summons. Framed by sleek hair and dark sunglasses, Josephine embodies the modern woman, conscious of decades past. She hasn't yet decided where to go. She steps in to a 1937 Aston Martin, vanishing with barely an embrace goodbye.

By Madeline Pearl at madtothewords.blogspot.com

A Marc Jacob's Palate

           Overall I am a fan of Marc Jacob, because he is a fan of Art. The artist side of the brand really shows through in all of his marketing campaigns: recognizable, quirky, well lit and photographed from interesting perspectives. I have had many favorite Marc Jacob adds over the years. This particular series I like for the lighting and the palate. the youthful grunge look is great well.
Fashion Light and Palate #2


“Style is a very simple way of saying complicated things.”

                                                                                                                   - Jean Cocteau

via Emma Watson “Fabulous and very classy at every age” Harper’s Bazaar Oct. 2011

This is my branding image for this blog. I would use this same branding if were to own my own clothing store or label. One can dream, it is a shame to have a great name and no where for it to go!