'Hood loyalty runs deep for many sociopolitical reasons—hence, the existence of gangs, neighborhood coalitions, and brands like Neighborhoodies. Franklin Avenue writes about Los Feliz boutique Y-Que's new line of neighborhood tees ($15), which includes 'hoods such as Echo Park, Eagle Rock, The Valley, East Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach and others. Many are quite harmless, albeit a bit odd (Burbank tee with waving people transposed over a plane, Eagle Rock swan shirt, East LA unicorn shirt), though the blog questions some of the choices: "the idea of promoting the neighborhood formerly known as South Central with a gun? Hmmm..." Yes, some cautionary buying is necessary here.
· Not Everyone Will Get a Bang Out of Y-Que's New Neighborhood Tees [Franklin Avenue]
From the Eastern Columbia Lofts Downtown to the Viceroy in Santa Monica, LA interior designer Kelly Wearstler has left a formidable aesthetic stamp. She delved into creating products for Bergdorf Goodman last year, and adds to the offerings with one-of-a-kind boxes, jeweled with crystals and semiprecious stones. Per W: "Priced from $3,950 to $6,500, the striking brass and silver containers are adorned with a variety of stones, among them jade, pyrite, amethyst, malachite and pink fluorite. Each is signed by Wearstler, and no two are alike in size, shape or decoration." Initially, only seven boxes will be available, but Wearstler has plans for others. [W]
LA-based label Mike & Chris made a quick name for itself with sublime leather jackets and luxe sweatshirting and T-shirts for men and women. The brand has grown into full collections of dresses and separates, and now designers Mike Gonzalez and Christine Park-Gonzalez will tackle shoes for spring/summer '09. Gonzalez told The Pipeline: "The shoe collection was a natural progression for us being that we have worked with leather quite a bit...We've incorporated details found on some of our clothing such as our signature buttons, slight distressing on the leathers, aged hardware, and stitching details."
More collabing. This one launching at Fred Segal in Santa Monica tomorrow involves Alternative Apparel, artist Matt Sohl, and Fred Segal Flair. The gist is a shop-in-shop, featuring Alternative Apparel's 'Candy Dandy' fall collection and a Matt Sohl exhibit, replete with "hand-painted designs [which] will be numbered and signed, and available exclusively at the store and online at Alternative’s website while supplies last," per the release.
Fred Segal Flair is calling this a new "retail concept" and not a pop-up shop. Creative Director John Moore differentiates it thusly: “This experience is not a pop-up store, but rather a show or destination to awaken the senses. It’s a brand’s custom play list; their favorite art; the statement they make." It seems folks are trying to get away from the "pop-up" term because it's become so ubiquitous. The difference we can glean with 15 Minutes is that it will be an ongoing rotation of collabs such as this one. This installation continues through Tuesday, September 30 with merch ranging from $30-$60. [RackedWire]
Ella Moss:WWD reports that LA label Ella Moss is plunging into new waters—licensing "for the first time with an expanded swimwear lineup." A smaller collection was done in-house, but now Raj Manufacturing is on board in a three-year agreement to produce the full collection. Though "Pamella Protzel, Ella Moss’ creative director, will continue to be responsible for the swimwear’s design...set to hit stores in November, [the collection] will comprise seven groups with one to three color ways and three to four silhouettes, including a cutout one-piece, a bandeau and a triangle tie-side. Retail prices range from $120 to $180." Targeted distribution includes stores such as Barneys, Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's. [WWD, subscription req]
Made With Love: High school classmates Charlotte Ronson (who recently launched a line for Urban Outfitters) and Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss (who's one of the designers working on Warner Brother's Supergirl resort line) are teaming up to create new beach line Made With Love, wholesaling for $31-$100 and launching in February in Ronson's NYC and Japan boutiques and targeting high-end department stores and specialty boutiques for distribution. Per WWD, "the collection includes printed women’s and girls’ bathing suits—a one-piece and several bikini styles—and matching printed beach towels and cover-ups." Expect lots of feminine florals, including "a tiny pink floral-printed halter bikini top (with a little girl’s version to match); a blue, pink and black bohemian floral-printed bandeau-top bikini and a multicolor ikat printed triangle-top bikini." Bikini tops and bottoms are sold separately for versatility, and tunics, towels and other cover-ups are made to match. Though not launched yet, madewithlove.com looks to be the line's site. [WWD, subscription req]
Wow, it took us like two seconds to design this hideous pair of Keds via the shoe label's new customized Studio program! Using technology created by Zazzle.com, just choose from one of three styles (lace-up or one of two slip-ons), then click on the area (upper, tongue, inside and outside quarter, heel, insole) and choose from a number of colors, patterns and prints. You can also add text and upload photos. The whole process takes one to two weeks after ordering and costs $60. Per the release, the idea came from wearers own customization of the simple sneaks: “Since the launch of the Champion in 1916, consumers have been enhancing their Keds with their own personal style using markers, paints, pens and other creative tools,” said The Stride Rite Corporation prez and CEO Gregg Ribatt. Though this is not quite the same as dreamily penning "I love Jake!" in the middle of algebra, which also costs a lot less.
· Keds Studio [keds.com]
For those who have had a chance to shop at NYC's Kirna Zabête in SoHo, today offers a day of thanks as the boutique has launched ecommerce. An upscale mix of apparel, kids, housewares, and gifty items, you'll find labels such as Lanvin (the current "designer of the month"), Peter Som, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Rick Owens, Lutz & Patmos, Sunshine & Shadow and Mike & Chris. The site also offers a host of shopping aids. Per the JC Report, "the site remembers your information for future use. Returning customers are given the best buying suggestions, sale tip offs and account history information...you can check out fashion show videos, reviews of designer collections and weekly editorial comments from co-founders Sarah Easley and Beth Buccini—in print or audio—on everything from designer profiles to making a purchase work for the weekend, uptown, downtown, or even on a first date."
· Kirna Zabete Goes Online [JC Report]
Not that we're totally disconnected from our inner earth mother, but sometimes raw stone jewelry can look a little, well, Santa Fe meets Putumayo (if you know what we mean). But jewelry designer Devon Leigh's new collection--which just hit her 3rd Street shop--elevates those stones to forward. The pieces are fresh and modern, especially these Gold Wrapped Geo Slice Earrings and Gold Wrapped Drusy Quartz Wire Wrapped Ring. Plus, we just like saying, "Drusy." [Racked Inbox]
When it comes to partying, surfing and swimwear, Aussies know what's up. So, we're always grateful when a beloved bathing suit line from Down Under becomes available here. Seafolly is one such newly imported brand already worn (now at Anthropologie) by US Weekly crew members like Ashlee Simpson, Mischa Barton and Lauren Conrad.
Most fabulous though is that the fact that these suits are designed to be mixed and matched by both size, style and color (sort of à la Malia Mills--who BTW just introduced a new trendsetting high-waisted bottom that's pretty damn cool, if pull-off-able).
From Seafolly, Matt (block color) and Fashion (patterned) Separates are extremely body conscious, as demonstrated below:
So, for instance, singlet tops slim down fuller curves, while petite ladies can add shape around the hips with ruched boy bottoms. Even their strapless numbers have invisible wires for support. So, we all look good, which, on the beach, can be a rare thing. [Racked Wire]
That, ahem, other coast may still look down their noses at our burgeoning fashion scene, but no one can argue that LA's accessory world isn't trendsetting. And if you like Italian leather, local designers and killer bags, then you'll love these standout satchels from still relatively nascent local line Lockheart's new fall collection, trickling into stores this week.
Our favorites: Becca Satchel in brown or grey with pockets galore (available today at accessories heaven Siany), woven Wendy Satchel in red, black or yummy grey (available today at Nordstrom) and, perhaps our most beloved, Croc Cameron Satchel in (emerald!) green, cognac or black (available this September).
These veteran Cali designers take their meticulous craft seriously with beautiful results in vibrant colors. Yup, even--no, especially--in LA. [Racked Wire]
Well, we told you it was coming and here it is: Richard Chai's new line for Target has finally arrived! The designer--who got his chops with the likes of Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan--in an interview on Target's website described his vision of the wearer, "The Richard Chai Target girl is very confident. She's a risk-taker--not someone who's going to follow the rules. She's the girl everyone remembers."
According to a salesperson at Target in West Hollywood, though, Richard Chai Target girls are not exactly rare. Laughing at how many times today she's been asked about the collection, she explains, "The clothing is disappearing very quickly, maybe not as fast as the last designer collection, but fast."
· Designer Collabs: Richard Chai for Target [Racked]
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 last gasp of Sex and the City movie madness comes with the release of Cosabella's fall Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte collections. Ranging from $20-$165, the intimates include panties, camis, bras, and sleepwear. It seems like the designers got Miranda and Charlotte's characters confused, as Miranda's trio of pieces is rather sweet, while Charlotte's is dowdy loungewear.
· SATC Cosabella Collections [chicmystique.com]
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Wow, it took us like two seconds to design this hideous pair of Keds via the shoe label's 
