Here we are, living in sun-soaked LA, in perpetual spring/summer attire. Yet, our hours are spent—not beach-side—but computer-adjacent. Shockingly, the work doesn't do itself! That's why sometimes we have to take a respite, and, hopefully, get some sun (although not too much, and with UVA/UVB-protecting SPF). Next week, guest blogger Nora Zelevansky will be at the helm, keeping you apprised of the latest retail developments.
She's busy juggling deadlines at pubs such as Daily Candy, Salon, Allure, Town & Country, C Magazine, LA Times, and Cosmopolitan, so we appreciate her ample contribution in the coming week. Nora's not only written scores on the subject, but has experience in the trenches: "I worked in retail as my first job—French Connection and then at Agnes B. Pour Hommes." Luckily for us, writing about shirts and dresses proved more enticing than folding and rehanging them. And even though she hails from NYC, she hearts LA retail: "I love amazing soft fabrics, sweet dresses and great loungewear and I feel like LA is the capital for all that."
Charlotte Ronson's Play by C. Ronson, exclusively for Urban Outfitters, is now available online. From $68 to $118, the collection maintains the (yes) playful and sweet vibe of her eponymous label with a delicate, rosebud print blouse and dress, a cap sleeve dress with vintage-inspired ties at the neck, high-waisted shorts and a reversible onesie. Not all the lookbook pieces are available yet, including appealing pieces, such as a very wearable plaid shirt paired with a vest, and a high-waisted skirt with slash front pockets.
From an interview with Ronson on the site, the designer notes the differences between Play and her line: "We are able to create high quality pieces at a lower price point and make them more accessible to a larger number of people. My line has also become more sophisticated and so it was fun to be able to bring in more of the C. Ronson elements with Play by C.Ronson."
From the same Q&A, she counts Jane Mayle, Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga, Christopher Kane, Christophe Decarnin for Balmain, Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, Alexander Wang, and new LA label Current/Elliot denim as designers she admires, but looks to "sisters Samantha and Annabelle" for inspiration.
· Play by C. Ronson [urbanoutfitters.com]
· Designer Collabs: Alber Elbaz for Acne, Charlotte Ronson For Urban [Racked]
The Pipeline notes that The Huffington Post has launched its Style section this week: "As expected from a website with such a striking figurehead—Mrs. Huffington is well-known for her penchant for well-cut business suits and oversized pearls—it's an impressive collection of aesthetic obsessions, trends both considerable and risible, and lifestyle curiosities." Currently on tap, find out about John McCain's $520 Ferragamo loafers, Capitol Hill hotties—replete with political party and dating status—Agyness Deyn's new 'do, a plea to Kate Hudson to stop wearing wigs, and an endorsement of the bowl cut.
· Style Becomes Her: HuffPo Clicks into Fashion [The Pipeline]
Just a week ago, we posted the scraped walls of Medak boutique which closed on West 3rd Street. By Saturday, women's boutique Some Odd Rubies—which relocated from Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz—had set up its vibrantly pink awning and was opened for business. Owners Summer Phoenix, Odessa Whitmire and Ruby Canner create feminine dresses and blouses in vintage fabrics, each one-of-a-kind. Prices fall somewhere in the $150-$450 range, with much from $200-$300. A strapless silk dress reminded us of prom (in a positive, nostalgic way), but has a modern fit and surprises with an exposed zipper up the front. Ditto for a flouncy yellow number, also in silk with a side zip. The shop also carries designers such as LA-based Whitley Kros, and has a nice selection of jewelry—some vintage, some new. The trio also has a NYC boutique.
· Discontinued: Medak Boutique on West 3rd Street [Racked]
Some Odd Rubies 8024 West 3rd Street (323) 782-0191 Daily noon-7pm Website
This, friends, is intel that comes from a trusted Racked source, who attends FIDM—the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Downtown LA—where Hills stars Stephanie Pratt and (supposedly) Lauren Conrad go to school. If you caught our earlier post, Pratt is jumping into the fourth season with an eye on Lauren's new dude. Our source confirms Pratt's penchant for drama, and guesses that Lauren Conrad's school enrollment is pure fantasy.
1) Stephanie Pratt: "I go to FIDM and had a class with Stephanie Pratt almost a year ago, months prior to her Hills debut. It was a weekly six-hour sewing and pattern-making class, so there was a lot of opportunity to chit-chat. Day one, Stephanie went to work letting the entire class 'overhear' her talk about her big bro, Spencer and his gf Heidi. I was on the complete other side of the room and didn't have any trouble hearing her. She made sure EVERYONE was aware of what crew she rolled with. When she wasn't name dropping, she was talking about where the best AA Meeting locations were and what prescription drugs she was taking."
The Hikari Apartments in Little Tokyo Downtown is developing its retail with the debut of Kimski Makes. Store manager Raymond Cho told Angelenic: “We offer our on unique designs, but Kimski Makes is also a portal for up-and-coming local artisans to bring their merchandise to market.” Per the apparel and designer firm's site: "Kimski feeds off the raw, spontaneous energy of the city, while bringing years of experience with international business, travel and designer practice to their work...Kimski designs intelligent, refined and highly unique fashion, products, furniture, and spaces that surprise, enrich, and enliven everyday life." The retail shop also has a focus on vintage clothing.
We got tipped off via Racked NYC that CNN Money had created these maps by state charting all the Starbucks closures. It looks even worse on the map than the 17-page PDF doc. Go to the CNN map and you can put your cursor over each marker and get the actual locations, including store number and address.
· Starbucks closures [CNN Money]
Project Runway, Season 5 is here—tonight at 9pm on Bravo! Let the mad into-the-night sewing begin! Just to a give you taste of local talent represented this season, a gallery from Emily Brandle's label (which she designs with Michelle Chaplin) Smoke & Mirrors, the fall/winter '08 collection. If the label is an indication of what's to come, then we can look forward to feminine dresses with ample sex appeal, a bit of vintage inspiration, and an edge which allows for a specific point of view. Per Bravo, Brandle has worked with XoXo, La Blanca, DKNY, Rozae Nichols, and Jeremy Scott, as well as the sales and press manager for Hysteric Glamour.
· Smoke & Mirrors [smokeandmirrorsclothing.com]
· Project Runway, Season 5 [bravotv.com]
LA-based jewelry designer AZATURE offers up black diamonds and platinum for men and women with a unisex collection of wedding rings, NOIR, which ranges from $2,700-$20,400 and is now available via the label's online shop. We queried AZATURE about his modern approach to design and marriage, and how black is the new white for adventurous brides and grooms.
What is your approach in terms of creating unisex jewelry, and in particular the wedding rings?
AZATURE is engaging with the future, for the progression toward a unisex freedom of expression and embracing a welcoming concept of personhood. When I created AZATURE, my self-titled line of fine jewelry, I wanted to create something for every man, every woman, every age, every religion, every occupation, love for all. I design every collection by remembering this and looking into the future. I also ask my mother, "will you wear this, then it's in." I have a very cool mother... Many designers reference history as their source of inspiration, I like to say my biggest inspiration is the future because you can design the unimaginable. AZATURE is really about escaping judgment and having faith in the essential beauty of every person.
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