Beau & Aero in Santa Monica

Beau & Aero is the curiously creative collaboration of Baelyn Neff and Jessica Seaton. This new shop in Santa Monica is the place to find vintage clothing, vintage shoes, new designers, handmade jewelry and accessories on the west side. Carefully curated, it is an eclectic combination of vintage finds (cashmere sweaters, ethnic ponchos, Pierre Cardin coats, a 1930s crocodile clutch) and newer jewelry pieces. A necklace from Seaton's own collection has three gilded snake vertebrae charms dangling from a delicate gold chain. Even the walls are adorned with works from locals like painter/illustrator/Incubus front man Brandon Boyd. Artist Jocelyn Marsh's mini dinosaur skeleton sculptures are made with metal molded from tiny bones and embellished with chains and taxidermy bat wings. Checkout the boutique website and see more of the natural and native inspirations of the shop owners.

Raw Edges Exposed @ Em and Co.

EM & Co, a West 3rd Street boutique, supplies fashion-conscious shoppers with a well-orchestrated mix of fashions from world-class designers (i.e., Vivienne Westwood, Iodice, Stella McCartney, JC de Castelbajac, Beatriz, Anna Sui), as well as innovative styles from emerging L.A. talent. Featuring over 30 lines from around the world in its gallery-like space, EM & Co is also an active supporter of local talent, hosting monthly art exhibits and other events featuring local artists and designers. Greta Back's first solo exhibit in Los Angeles, "Raw Edges Exposed," explores the various aspects and symbols of her new-found freedom. Moving to L.A. from Seattle in April 2009 was not only a fresh start, but a way to conquer her fears, particularly her fear of sharing her art with anyone. This series is an investigation of color. She dug up long-buried bits of knowledge picked up in color theory classes, while studying sculpture at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston, and re-learned the many ways that colors push and pull against one another. Since Gouache is a medium that doesn't blend, she chose to use pixels to represent a broader area of color, while seeing how the smaller units interact with each other, in a newly-found freedom.

December 16 - January 19, 2011
Em & Co.
7940 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Short Winter

There is never a season without shorts in Los Angeles. Savvy ladies have been sporting pleated styles long into these winter months. Highwaisted styles are key for the right look in classic cotton and feminine silky textures. Whether she is casually running errands or out to shine, California girls dare to bare their legs through to the new year.

www.directiveswest.com

MOCA's Happening

Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art marked its 31st year Saturday with celebrities in tow. Conceived by artist Doug Aitken, the event was renamed "Happening," rather than the usual Gala. The Artist's Museum Happening in downtown L.A. created a "culture collision," with live art installations and musical performances from artists such as, Devandra Banhart. Stylish celebrities like Mila Kunis, Kate Bosworth, Malin Ackerman, Rachel Bilson, Rose McGowan and Chloë Sevigny all made an appearance for the evening, while fashion insiders like Gwen Stefani and Marissa Ribisi made it a date night with their famed husbands, Gavin Rossdale and Beck, another performer of the evening. Kirsten Dunst, showed up with close friends and Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy. After the evening's performances, Aitken surprised the crowd with an interpretation of a cattle auction during which guests looked on as auctioneers raffled off conceptual cattle beneath a light installation. The artist used a chorus of fast-talking country auctioneers to accompany percussionists who played on hollowed-out wood dining tables of his own design.

www.directiveswest.com

Unique LA + Apt 3 Pop-up Shop

Unique LA, the indie designer show held downtown that is growing in popularity each season, recently celebrated a more permanent opening, of sorts. Teaming up with two of LA's influential retailers, Apt. 3 and H.D. Buttercup, the show has created a pop-up shop worthy of the most refined and sophisticated shoppers the city has to offer. The combination of furniture, designer clothing, accessories, gifts and more creates a true lifestyle approach with this new boutique. For its opening party, the 4,000 square foot space was jam packed with hipsters, fashionistas and the like. The large section of H.D. Buttercup belongs to this first in-house pop-up shop for four months, at that point, organizers are looking to expand with a permanent location in San Francisco.

LA Fashion Week

Although it lasts longer than a week, Los Angeles made a strong showing again this season for its edition of Fashion Week. With events and shows spanning across the city, one of the major draws was downtown's Concept Fashion Week featuring, martinMartin, Jen Awad, MILA, Mike Vensel, Elmer Ave, Fremont, among others.

LA Fashion Weekend returned to the Sunset Gower Studios for a full schedule including, Joyrich, Balthaczar, JLMarks and the Green Initiative Humanitarian show featuring several promising contemporary designers using eco-friendly practices. Other events like, Project Ethos in Beverly Hills and a runway show at Exchange LA drew crowds to view the spring lines of designers Anthony Franco, Ashton Michael and hometown favorite Skin Graft. Brands like Siwy Denim and up-and-coming AI FOR AI chose retail boutiques to offer an intimate and up close look at their next collections.

Runway Presentation from Directives West FIRST.LA

Returning for a second season, FIRST.LA hit the runway, marking the kick off to another season's market week. Offering an exclusive first look at the best contemporary styles for spring 2011, Directive West's market analysts selected some of the best emerging brands and designers to shine a light on. Under the twilight of downtown LA, the show featured local favorites Whitley Kros, BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND and Yana K., as well as promising up and coming lines, AI FOR AI, Moon Collection, Champagne and Strawberry, A. Mullier, COUTURE by W., fraiche, gwynedds, and R.P.S. The upbeat vibe was in full gear as industry insiders crowded into seats and grabbed the best standing option available for the sneak peek into some of the lines bringing a positive outlook to spring business.

The spring 2011 contemporary trends include:

Sheer Encounters - bringing femininity and vintage romance to the season in cool neutrals

Leisure Life - effortless dressing catches on with a hint of classic Americana

Global Affairs - multi-cultural destinations inspire eye-catching prints and eclectic color

Precious Armor - minimalist appeal through textural manipulation and modern refinement

The Softer Side

Tapered, softly tailored trousers continue to be strong moving into fall. With new looks emerging in prints, both knit and woven styles remain as the latest go-to bottom in Los Angeles. Perfectly suited for professional and party time, these pleated harem-like and carrot top silhouettes match cropped tops, sweaters and structured jackets hitting big for the season.

Taste Art

Taste Art is a series of one-of-a-kind cultural dining experiences that bring together fine art and haute cuisine, presented by The Avenues: Art, Fashion and Design District. Each Tuesday evening throughout October, The Avenues of Los Angeles will host a series of innovative dining events that pair West Hollywood's premier art galleries and restaurants. "Art Tastings" will take place at participating restaurants with special prix-fixe menus featuring diverse and inventive collaborations between the city's hottest chefs and art curators, designed for every style, taste, and budget.

For a complete list of participants and full schedule, visit: www.avenueswh.com

The Directives West Spring 2011 Trend Runway

Directives West Trend Runway show kicked off the season for the Contemporary, Juniors and Girls markets this past week. With a fabulous turn out of retailers, brands and industry press, the talk was focused on Spring ’11 being about offering the customer newness. Designers and brands have found a renewed commitment to business from a pure value and a ‘buy now-wear now’ point of view. This approach creates an exciting and fresh outlook for the season.

The key themes for the season are:

Pure Delight: A fantastic dreamscape of softly veiled shades, fluid folds and dense ruffles, mixed with heirloom details that bring romanticism to the season.

Coastal Cool: Leisure time becomes the ultimate luxury and classic Americana style meets the west coast with a touch of simple whimsy and repose.

Global Patrol: Gear up for this expedition with international tribes and old world elements blending for a wild new utilitarian adventure.

Precious Armor: Modern protective interpretations reveal a true beauty through textural manipulation and fluid neutrality creating new industrial refinement.

A Frill A Minute

This season, the ladies of Los Angeles have graduated from charm school with a refined take on frothy fashion. Ruffled tiers and trims are adding femininity to their summer looks late in the season. With cascading sleeves adding big body volume and a softened structure to this style, these stylistas are adding fluidity to their fashion. As vintage romance moves into fall, expect delicate details to appear with boyish looks and military inspired pieces.

Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915

Celebrating the museum's recent groundbreaking acquisition of a major collection of European men's, women's, and children's garments and accessories, Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915 will present a selection to the public for the first time.

The exhibition will tell the story of fashion's aesthetic and technical development from the Age of Enlightenment to World War I. It will examine the sweeping changes that occurred in fashionable dress spanning a period of over two hundred years, with a fascinating look at the details of luxurious textiles, exacting tailoring techniques, and lush trimmings.

Highlights will include an eighteenth-century man's vest intricately embroidered with powerful symbolic messages relevant to the French Revolution; an evening mantle with silk embroidery, glass beads, and ostrich feathers designed by French couturier Émile Pingat (active 1860-96); and spectacular three-piece suits and gowns worn at the royal courts of Europe.

October 2, 2010-April 3, 2011

LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.857.6000

LA Designers @ NY Fashion Week

Los Angeles based designers breezed through New York Fashion Week by bringing elements of left coast cool to many impactful collections. Jenni Kayne showed her eponymous California collection to rave reviews with high-waisted berry shorts, sage-colored lace dresses, twinsets with sweaters thrown over shoulders, working perfectly with the laidback feeling of spring. New York favorite, Rodarte, created their most wearable collection to date. Inspired by their native California and its Northern redwood forests, tailored sportswear donned bold wood-panel prints and leaflike embroideries, alongside ladylike draped silk skirts and dresses. Juan Carlos Obando found his inspiration after watching the film "Hubble 3D" at the California Science Center. The mysterious space became the foundation for his galaxy prints and structured shapes. Max Azria continued his simple approach to this season's collection with pale dresses, from short to sweeping, a black crepe jumpsuit, layered slips in beige gauze, halter looks under easy tops and the usual mix of sexy and easy dresses. Other West Coast designers showing included: Band of Outsiders, Kimberly Ovitz, Tadashi Shoji, mikCire, Gregory Parkinson, Monique Lhuillier, Odyn Vovk and Trina Turk.

Subliminal Projects

Subliminal Projects will present Printed Matters, a solo exhibition featuring the work of renowned artist Shepard Fairey. Printed Matters, which focuses on the importance of printed material, and incorporates every variety of Shepard's printed works, works on wood, metal, album covers, and fine art collage papers. As co-owner of Subliminal Projects, along with his wife Amanda Fairey, this is Shepard's first experience exhibiting at the Echo Park location since the gallery moved in 2008. The printing press may have begun the democratization of art, but another printer evolved it both conceptually and practically. Andy Warhol made art based on accessible products and personalities from pop culture. In addition to his attempts to democratize art through his subject matter, Warhol used screen-printing to produce multiple versions of his images. Where elitism, preciousness, and scarcity had been the ruling principles in the art world, Warhol embraced commercial reproduction techniques and mass culture.

September 16th - October 9th, 2010
Subliminal Projects Gallery
1331 West Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
info@subliminalprojects.com

Connect the Dots

LA's female trendsetters are spot-on with the latest polka dot prints and patterns. As this is an emerging trend in the resort season, Angelenos are already opting for dots on dresses, skirts and tops. Ranging from speckled to spacious, this is a refreshing alternative to summer florals. Expect to see more of these looks as feminine and flirty continue to be important.

Santa Monica Place

The long awaited Santa Monica Place finally opened to huge crowds this past weekend. Stores rolled out the red carpets, champagne and a local LA DJ to spin for the special evening festivities. Bloomingdale's held their celebration the previous evening and had a large celebrity showing, including Donna Karen, Barbra Streisand, James Brolin and Diane Keaton. With three packed levels of indoor and outdoor shops and restaurants, this new addition to the southern California shopping experience is truly dynamic. Stores include Barney's CO-OP, BCBG, Fluxus, Joe's Jeans, Kitson, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Tiffany & Co. and many more, with Nordstrom opening August 27th. Along with an open air rooftop patio deck that boasts a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, some restaurant highlights are La Sandia, Ozumo, Pizza Antica, Sonoma Wine Garden and Xino. Weekly entertainment and events are planned through the fall.

For a complete list of stores and events visit:
santamonicaplace.com

395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Blues Clues

As a nod to the warmer weather, the ladies of LA are sporting lighter shades of denim and softer versions of this classic fabric. Pale blues and chambray have been spotted in skirts and casual jackets, along with oversized shirts for cool layering. As an alternative bottom, lightweight denim works with delicate pleats and a more loosened silhouette for the ultimate in California chic.

Eco Stiletto

Proving that you can be as gorgeous and stylish and hip and frugal as any other shopper on the planet, while still remaining conscious of your impact on the world, Eco Stiletto celebrated its second anniversary this week with a party in West Hollywood.

At the newly opened nursery/boutique, Rolling Greens, EcoStilleto featured a handful of earth-friendly companies and products for its 400 guests to enjoy. Vegan appetizers by chef Makini Howell of Seattle's famed Plum restaurants, who created a pop-up menu for the night at the WorldFare Bustaurant which pulled into the lot for the private soiree. Other activities offered were eco-makeovers by jane iredale cosmetics and eyebrow threading by Eco Brow, while guests received a goodie bag to collect green swag from Gypsy Tea, Water Pik, Green Works Natural Cleaning Products, Tom's of Maine and Nicobella Vegan Dark Chocolate Truffles.

The event also benefitted Dress for Success, the non-profit organization that provides interview suits, confidence boosts, and career development to low-income women in over 75 cities worldwide, with guests donating a work-ready purse to support their new Los Angeles headquarters.

www.ecostiletto.com

Romper Room

As summer starts to sizzle in Los Angeles, trendsetters are cooling down in rompers. This easy, breezy one piece is California casual and comfy for the lazy days of the season. Predominantly seen in prints - bold floral and tropical prints are the newest- while stripes on seersucker add a textural update. Miniature prints and solid colors are a simple approach, but welcome the tribal inspired accessories of the moment for extra flair.

Laguna Art Museum: Art Shack

Artists combine art and architecture in Laguna Art Museum's group exhibition Art Shack guest curated by Greg Escalante. Immerse yourself in 30 different worlds created by such artists as Don Ed Hardy, Shag, George Herms, Paul Frank, Marion Peck, and Mark Ryden, among others. Explore surf shacks, tattoo huts, retro shanties and more this summer. Abandoning the rules of the art market and pressure to create saleable work, art shacks allow the artists to create an experiential environment, narrowing the distinction between art and function, object and environment. Ultimately, the artists in this exhibition aim to defy the norms of rules set against them, questioning the modes of mass production, social restrictions, and perhaps global capitalism. Art Shack is presented by Hurley. On display now through October 3, 2010.

Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Drive
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.494.8971

The Red Bag Boutique

Model and native Angeleno Chanel Iman recently opened her own contemporary and vintage shop in Culver City. Partnering with her mother China Robinson, The Red Bag Boutique is off the beaten path of the leading shopping destinations in LA, but still offers unique finds. Guests will find "new" stock in the front and extra-special vintage finds in the back, including some of the best of what was either given to her by designers or that she personally picked out herself. The relaxing vibe of the shop boasts the same down-time elements that Iman loves about her home city. Living a life of high-fashion doesn't stop this SoCal born and bred gal from kicking back with her friends and family when she has time to come home.

10754 Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90094
310.559.7332

Orange Alert

Trendsetters in Los Angeles are punching up their wardrobe this season with shades of orange. Juicy tangerine, persimmon and coral have been spotted in breezy tops, summer dresses, mini skirts and even the classic cotton t-shirt. Pairing these popsicle colors with less intense hues like brown or navy tones down the tartness, while wearing an easy one-piece solo lets the color really shine.

The Kardashian Collection

Kourtney, Kim and Khloe, have teamed up with Virgins, Saints and Angels, to launch The Kardashian Collection. Recently, the sister trio met with a mob of fans and shoppers at Kitson on Robertson Blvd., to debut this new collection of rings, necklaces and earrings influenced by their Armenian roots and culture. Armenian crosses, tiaras, points element, snakes and others are featured with little touches that have a more personal meaning for the girls, for example, the Armenian cross ring, which has three points to represent the three sisters. The line is priced between $80 - $500 and very wearable with varied metals and details.

Last Remaining Seats

Last Remaining Seats is the Los Angeles Conservancy's annual series of classic films and live entertainment in the historic theatres of Los Angeles. What started in 1987 as a way to draw attention to neglected historic theatres is now a summer tradition and the most popular event for this non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of LA's architectural history. With classic films like The Graduate, American Graffiti, Strangers on a Train, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, this season promises to sell out quickly. Each film is introduced and discussed with the night's special guests like, Matthew Weiner, creator and executive producer of the award-winning television drama Mad Men, actress Cindy Williams and many more.

Advance tickets are $16 each for Conservancy members and $20 each for the general public. Conservancy members may buy four tickets per show or four series tickets (now sold out) at member prices.

For more information and a complete schedule of events:
www.laconservancy.org

Runway Presentation from Directives West introducing FIRST.LA

Fashions From the Fest

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival converged on the California desert last week with it's expected crowd of trendsetters. New fashions like lace and crochet were out in force at the three day fest, while trends with rompers, stripes and crop tops continued with refreshed combinations. High-waisted shorts styled with simplicity made an impact and shades of orange and melon sent a strong color message. Belt bags provided a creative blend of function and flair for attendees.

Look for more festival fashion favorites in the coming weeks!

Boyfriend Material

Boyfriend blazers are the latest top layer for updating any casual style. The ladies of Los Angeles are out and about sporting this look during daytime and evening. Slick grey, navy and black are predominant colors, with a boyish woven lining exposed by rolled-up cuffs as a definite styling detail. Plaid and tweeds add a more masculine influence and surface texture. This light weight layer is a perfect transitional piece as temperatures begin to change.

Worldly Wonders

Angelenos are nostalgic for the America of the old Wild West. Lately, navajo motifs in wool weaves and prints are appearing on guys and gals. This tribal spin is the latest in ethnic inspirations for apparel this season. New styles feature experiments with playful color combinations, mixing patterns beyond the traditional design and influences of Peruvian culture.

Six Taste Food Tours

One of the best experiences in life is the discovery of new flavors and one of the best ways to learn about a culture is through its food. With such vibrant neighborhoods like Little Tokyo, Koreatown, and Little Ethiopia, Los Angeles is home to an incredible array of eating establishments and restaurants. Six Taste's mission is to be more than just a food tour and to highlight all the senses. These 'tastings,' explore foods from restaurants, bakeries, and other ethnic eateries, allow guests to speak to restaurant owners and chefs, learn about the culinary cultural influences, and learn the history of the local community all while enjoying great food.

For schedule, tickets and more information, visit sixtaste.com.