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Underwear as Outterwear

Loving this comfy look that gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "just rolled out of bed". Several designers have included sexy see through, lace, and silky pieces into their collections this spring encouraging a peek-a-boo flair to our wardrobes...and I am on board with it. Take the look one of two ways: a traditional, lacy black lingerie look mixed with conservative pieces such as a blouse and pencil skirt a la Dolce & Gabbana OR try a more structured look with this VPL bralette paired with a white blazer and shorts. Either way, you will be stylish and sexy!

Tough Girl

So much for girlie fashion, designers are taking the fight for retail resurrection a little too literally. Faced with economic downturn, unemployment on the rise, a shaky core (pun intended), extreme weather conditions, and global strife, consumers seem to be drawn to protection wherever they can get it.

My Grammy Winners: Best Dressed

So many fashion statements made this year, some good, some not so good, but I feel the best performers are those that take pride in their entire look- especially as so many of them can afford high priced stylists.
And the winners are..


Best Dress: Carrie Underwood
Interesting, well-fitting, and lovely.



Best Young Hollywood Glamour: Taylor Swift
This really was her night, loved the back of this dress, great quality.



Best Use of Color: Jennifer Nettles
Very few colorful pieces this year, this was a nice surprise.



Best suit: John Legend
Looking particularly dapper in Prada, loved the sheen in this suit.



Best Performance of a Costume: Pink
Alternative name for this award, "Best Undressed"- unique, well made, and certainly grabbed your attention.



Best Suited Body Type: Jennifer Hudson
She looks great, a very appropriate outfit, and a nice over-all look.



Best Entire Look: Usher
Not many can pull off a light colored suit in the middle of winter, love the details in the shirt, tie, and pocket scarf too! A very nice compliment.



Most Intricate Dress: Beyonce
Even with the floofy sleeves, this dress was incredible.



Most Interesting All-Black Attire- Menswear: Jamie Foxx
Love the subtle pattern in the suit.



Most Interesting All-Black Attire- Womens wear: Ciara
Very sexy, with a little edge that is perfect for the occasion.


Most Original: Lady Gaga
Surprise, surprise.




Best Suit Details: Jason Mraz
Love that tie, and the black detailing on the blue suit, he just looks so fabulous.



Freshest Look: Keri Hilson
Beautiful color, detailing in the belt, and simple accessories, with a perfect hair do to match- lovely.



Best Accessorizing and Sexy Look: Sheryl Crow
Perfectly paired earrings, and a classic sexy look- this is very Sheryl Crow.

My New Obsession: Jeggings

Just bought this pair of Moto Black Outs and they are amazing, very forgiving with holiday overeating, and since when do I wear 2 sizes smaller than my regular jeans size? James Jeans make your legs look longer and slimmer and use a different kind of jean material that hugs the body comfortably. I found my pair at shopbop.com, but you can buy them on jamesjeans.us for a little cheaper!

Shop Cheap LA: Best kept secret spots from a quality obsessed stylist

In these difficult times of closet deprivation and style defamation, I am taking it upon myself to find the best kept secrets of the LA fashion scene, and keep your cute little booties in cute little leather booties, and other current trends. Here are some of the best places to find quality pieces for a fraction of the cost.


1. Sample sales at the downtown showrooms. For those of you who don't know, you can find up-and-coming and established designer pieces at the showrooms in Cooper Building, New Mart, and the California Market Center. Each one usually has its own day for sample sales, but Cooper Building has positively the best designers and usually has their sales on the last Friday of the month. Just remember to leave the plastic at home, the sales are cash only!

2. LF super sales- never mind that I pretty much love everything at LF- I can understand how you may not want to spend $150 on a half of a shirt when you are living off Top Ramen. However, at the end of the season, this trendy boutique has amazing sales when practically everything in the store is marked down, sometimes to as low as $20!!! Since the store doesn't advertise for their sales ahead of time, the trick is to stalk the store right around the end of the season, so you can nab the best stuff as soon as it goes on sale!


3. Fairfax and Rosebowl flea markets- perfect for finding the broken in 90s leather boots that you have been eyeing at Urban Outfitters, but don't want to pay the $100 price tag. You can also find cool jewelry pieces (both one=of=a=kind vintage, and new jewelry) and vintage fur coats that you could style with new wardrobe pieces to have the glamorous, Rachel Zoe heroin chic look.

4. Wasteland and Jet Rag- these two vintage boutiques are frequented by the artsy chic in LA. The buyers at Wasteland are very picky about what is brought in to the stores, so you can count on finding interesting pieces that aren't dirty and disgusting like a lot of other vintage shops. I especially love Jet Rag's dollar sales on Sundays, however you really have to put on your patience cap to go through the piles of clothing spread across the parking lot in order to find something that you can work with.


5. thecobrashop.com- Cobra snake is a Hollywood photographer who is often hired to photograph celebrities and interesting characters at high profile parties. This boho chic artist also has an online store that sells NYLON mag style clothing for men and women, sometimes you can find really unique pieces for super cheap!

Music and Fashion

For as flashy Hollywood as it is, the new Lady Gaga video "Bad Romance" has amazing creative direction as well as innovative fashion. It has been some time since we have seen a music video with so many elaborate wardrobe changes and set designs. Right now, Lady Gaga seems like the ipod generation's version of Madonna to me. Work it Gaga.

Your Kicks

Converse has revolutionized the concept of customer satisfaction in their products. On their website (www.converse.com) you can create your own design for your next pair of chucks. Not only is the design template fun and easy to use, it is chalk full of options for the type of shoe, color, print, and material you want to use. I call this creation "The Peacock".

Get the Look: Gwen Stefani on the New No Doubt Tour

Let's be honest, we all want that body after two kids- I can't help you with that part. But Gwen's new take on punk rock chic is absolutely fab and easily imitated! Pair the "I'm just a girl' look with the midriff white tank top ("be afraid" tank from topshop.com), and black bra showing underneath is simple enough, then add in a cream white tuxedo jacket like this John Lewis Planet version and Helmut Lang's white pant with black detailing (both from Shopbop.com) and you are in business. Though black detailing and harem-cut of the pants are most likely custom made, you can still capture the feel with these alternatives. The black riding boot is key for this look, try the Ann Demeulemeester buckle boots which may be more useful for street wear (found at luisaviaroma.com). Don't forget your red lipstick and hard girl image- they are key to getting that hard yet sexy attitude with the outfit that we all love about our leading lady!!

Pool Party Attire

The perfect outfit for a pool party at night- cut outs included-these sexy little numbers were all the rage at Miami Fashion Week, and though my immediate reaction when thinking about a one-piece is "grandma", I am fully embracing the idea of "practically two-piece" cut out one-pieces. Invest in one of these, ladies, it will serve you well for any yacht parties you may be able to finagle yourself into and especially for summer 2010 fashion statements!

Packing for Paris Fashion Week

For the lucky few who have scored seats to Paris Fashion Week shows, or may be just taking a trip for the heck of it- a word to the wise, keep it simple ladies- Parisians can usually spot us coming a mile away with our hot pink bourrets, bright yellow band shirts, and tie dye skinny jeans. You want to make a statement, you don't want to make a spectacle of yourself. If you want to look great but you are on a budget having spent all of your money on the ticket- splurge instead on a simple pair of Christian Louboutins in either black, white, or gray, and pair it with something in black and white striped for that classic French look- you will still look edgey, but you will blend a little more with the locals!

What I am loving right now

80s and 90s styles mixed in with new detailing- studs are BACK! and no I am not talking about men- tie die is making a cameo, and thin white tank tops and t-shirts are an easy pair with denim! Really, think Molly Ringwald with Samantha Ronson's modern taste.

MB Fashion Week: Day 4: Tulle & Clothe Logic- Row 4

Fashion history always repeats itself in some way, shape, or form. Most designers do not need to reinvent the wheel to sell a product. Such is true for the two independent labels Tulle and Cloth Logic who combined their pieces for a colorful runway show. The first look showed a modern version of a pink fifties skirt, complete with a beehive with a yellow bow sticking in it. The menswear grasped firmly onto the nerdy chic that is in right now, rolled up jeans, sweaters, argyle, thick specs, loafers, and unwashed hair. Socks were paired with the pumps... I love it and young Hollywood is very into it right now.. very preppy, sexy librarian from Pleasantville. There was a bit of a cross over into a London style too with all the flats and mix matching. The stylist for the show did an amazing job with taking simpler pieces and pairing them with different colors or patterns or accessories to make an interesting look. All in all, a very fun, youthful, and playful!
Bag bonus: WINNER OF THE GROUP, the swag bag included a mustard cami, a g-pa sweater (good quality too), china glaze nail polish in Revolution, a Smashbox lip pencil, Think! food products, and a small container of moisturizer all in a eco-friendly tote perfect for grocery shopping!

MB Fashion Week: Day 4: Leila Hafzi- Row 3

The Leila Hafzi collection for Spring/Summer 2009 combines an elegant safari look with a fresh color palette. Soft, flowing materials are very in for the next season but the silhouettes in this collection are forgiving to the less than perfect bodies. Her mustard yellow fabric is vivacious and perfect for her overall theme, it is what the fashion forward would wear on their trip through Africa. A salmon colored tunic with a cartoon ape on the front is an interesting new take on playful but sophisticated. Although some of the dresses were a little simplistic for my taste and some of the colors did not blend well, the collection was admirable. A gorgeous peacock tunic at the finale of the show was the perfect close.
Bag Bonus: peacock sacks that mimic the final dress of the evening, Nounou shampoo and conditioner in luscious scents, and a hint water- not a bad bag for a smaller show!

MB Fashion Week: Day 3: Christian Audigier

As if purchasing a billboard size poster of his portrait hanging on a building 2 blocks from Smashbox Studios was not outlandish enough, Christian Audigier's runway was covered in astro-turf most in an attempt to resemble a stroll in rockstar fantasy land perhaps. In a word...tacky. More descriptive would be if Slash and High School Musical were to have a child, that child would resemble this show. Models would walk out in over-the-top looks with neon green top-hats, huge American flags, or real English dogs on leashes. While the use of the red plaid was kind of fun and edgy, it was overdone in that every ensemble used the same plaid material. It is no wonder that LA Fashion Week does not receive the same media attention that the others do, this designer was actually permitted to show two collections this week. The only piece that was marketable for me was a black hoodie that was covered in sequins. Mostly, it was just plaid for the whole collection...moving on!

MB Fashion Week: Day 3: Crispin & Basilio- Fifth Row

In a slightly more personal venue at Smashbox Studios, Donny Barrios- the master mind behind Crispin & Basilio- presented his collection which he considered "innately Californian". I found it to be modern and fresh, while retaining a classic glamour but to be honest, it might even be too good for LA. Barrios really understands a traditional woman's body and a modern woman's needs as most most of us gals in this consumer conscious economy are looking for pieces that can transition from day to night with very little effort. Comfort is a must because really you are less likely to wear something that you know you are going to have to endure all day- even if it is cute- Pain and Beauty are no longer walking hand in hand like they used to- they are more like friends by association. Barrios materials were flattering and appear to be soft to the touch. I was not even bothered by the more simple color palette because the versatility of the separates- you can really mix and match! Barrios line has one very unique characteristic that you don't usually find in other LA designers- it can be worn by a variety of women. The fresh look is as age appropriate for the mature 22-year old student as a hip 35-year-old business woman, a fact that makes Crispin & Basilio a remarkably relevant brand for the times. Kudos Donny!

MB Fashion Week- Day 2: Maggie Barry

Most of the shows in Fashion Week have an identical format, models walking up and down the runway one at a time, showing off each part of the collection. Every now and again you will have two models walking down at once, or maybe there will be a performance at the beginning of the show (ie an opera singer for Julia Clancey or a dance piece to Kanye West for Christian Audigier), but for the most part, the clothing is the most exciting part of the show. But for the Maggie Barry show, costume type collections were accompanied by circus performers, expert hula hoopers, belly dancers, violin artists and a sultry-Enrique Iglesias-type flamenco dancer (do I have your attention yet). The show started, in true Maggie Barry fashion, with 2 female ringmasters- a little person and a fully decked out Dita-Von-Tese type- in matching attire to introduce the show. Not only did the talent perform, but they were the models alongside a few real models. The collections consisted of costume type outfits, some cheap, but some really beautifully constructed. A favorite for me was a yellow puffy skirt with an amazingly detailed white top and paired with little white ruffle socks and ivory shoes, very porcelain doll. My gush moment: seeing Jeffrey Sebelia- winner of Project Runway Season 3 and designer for Cosa Nostra, watching girlfriend Cassandra Church model my favorite piece from the show. Some of the ensembles left their classiness (and half of their material) at the door, however because of the nature of the circus theme, you are more forgiving of some"freak show" pieces walking down the runway! To say the least, it was a memorable moment for the week.

MB Fashion Week- Behind the Scenes of Julia Clancey's show

I can honestly say that my first experience working with Julia Clancey, a designer who showed at LA fashion week, was a unique experience... in a Devil Wears Prada sort of way. While it was not only my idea but my pleasure to help Julia pro bono for the day of the show, she had called me in to help her every day for 2 weeks without any sort of stipend for gas, time dedicated (sometimes upward of 10 hour days that I put in), etc. I was put in charge of lists, seating charts, transportation of clothing, playing chauffeur, while on more than one occasion she would be hanging out at the beach with her parents boogie boarding! It is not that I don't have some idea how difficult the industry can be and I am fully prepared to have to work my way up to success, but this was just a harsh display of passive aggression. As a creative designer who has done "tons of shows", Julia really should have known better. The up side: meeting my charismatic mentor George who was signed on to help me as well as some other great models/interns/designers/friends etc, working the show and viewing the amazing- St. Tropez-yacht- hopping collection before its debut on the runway, and of course any learning experience is a good learning experience. I am unhappy to report that because I am a stylist and not a PR agent, and our list was simultaneously worked on by 4 people days before the show, there were several unhappy press members who were misplaced for the show (as read in The Daily). However, the show went on, and most of the audience (as is usually the case) was unaware of the conflicts that happened back stage. As for me, I enjoyed the show for what it was and will cherish the memories I made while working MB Fashion Week 2009.

MB Fashion Week: Day 1: Whitley Kros- Front Row

"I went to Morocco..with Allen Ginsberg in my satchel and Bob Dylan in my ears. Met Alessandro and embarked on a romantic adventure.. Safari in Africa and sunsets in Greece."
This was the self proclaimed phrase on the cover of Whitley Kros' pamphlet for her show, sounds like it would be a positively organic and cultured collection right? Well, that is not what I got from the show, but it was no doubt a romantic adventure back into childhood. I got pajama party with Mary Kate Olsen's crew- literally parts brought me back to Lisa Frank, spray cheese, silk pj bottoms, off the wall prints, and amusing oversized work boots that she painted a baby blue! The colors were classic, the pieces were fun, playful and girly. The highlight of the show for me, oddly enough, was a simple white silk jumper with a plunging neckline that I couldn't help but notice was crafted exquisitely.
Bag Bonus- And the schwag bag was good, a white tank with a multi colored unicorn that I have already worn a few times, PETA inspired eye shadow, and Good Hair Day fat head volumizer (which I was actually running low on).

MB Fashion Week- Day 1: Suh- Tahn- Third Row

Bellies are in this season for the LA line Suh-Tahn, a collaboration from creative minds Shannon Natif and entrepreneur Dimitri Tcharfas And they are paired with a grease-ball hair-do for the hipsters of LA who may feel their clothing is so accidentally chic, they couldn't be bothered with general hygiene. The Spring/ Summer 2009 collection presents an interesting new spin on the "greaser" with boys in simple white t-shirts and pseduo-skinny jeans rolled up almost to pedal-pusher length, a unique idea for menswear to say the least. The bathing suits which, let's just say, would not do anyone with any form of gut any justice, are paired with a simple blazer, a sophisticated touch that I actually enjoyed. All in all, for fashion week, I wasn't terribly impressed with this particular collection, although several pieces were well made, most of the moments of interest in any one look were purely created by how simple pieces were styled together.