neighborhood scoop/gift idea #4

for my friends living in the valley, here's a good tip.  Restoration Hardware in sherman oaks galleria (the one at riverside and woodman) is having a promotion for the closing of that location.  they are offering 20% additional discount to sale items and 30% discount to non-sale item.  we picked up a couple boxes of their mini cashmere hand warmers regularly priced at $20.  with the sale plus additional 20% off, we got them for $12 each box (of two warmers!).  that's good value.  and they are beautifully boxed ready to be gifted.

besides the hand warmers, the cashmere pillows are amazingly luxe and in beautiful muted colors.

 

couple things i like

from the Restoration Hardware catalogue.

the tie.

mirror.

i applaud RH's recent effort to ramp up their style to be a rich man's version of vintage-modern, flea-market-finds-chic, thereby separating themselves from the forever-constant horchow, williams sonoma, etc bunch.  it is refreshing and risky, and the quality they deliver is commendable in every way.  i hope the new approach is successful though i'm a little skeptical that RH may be a bit ahead of its time for the mass market appeal.  

tortoise cut

handsome and well-proportioned, this ice bucket designed by ted muehling for Steuben Glass is a classic.  available at Vivre for $700.

& bling

got pins?

bling

i love jewelry, especially ones that are unusual.  i came across beth orduna's diamond necklace (see top image) six months ago and loved its quirky shape and how the diamonds were used as if they were cheap and cheerful.  but the price was a little prohibitive.  when i saw the bottom necklace at eugene choo in vancouver last month, it reminded me of beth's piece and i just had to have it.  who'd imagine two bent nails cast in silver would make a great necklace.  can't wait for it to tarnish and look like real rusty nails.

TJS

whoever is responsible for trader joe's graphics has a good eye for the retro, a whimsical sense of humor, and a simple, effective way to communicate the message.  i certainly find myself at times buying more for the graphics than the food themselves.

one day i saw a young woman carrying this tote walking across the street.  it struck me how fashionable she looked with this bag of grocery.  though i find the graphics nostalgic and quirky (a woman licking the plate, a guy pretending to pass a drink to the lady but actually grabbing her hand), i'm not a huge fan of this style of graphics.  what works for me is the shape of the bag, its utility, the color palette and the ease of pairing with my wardrobe.

uniqlo

coming back to planet earth.  this lightweight down jacket at $69.95 is a lovely deal.  the lightweight parker is equally attractive.  best part about this collection: color choices.  (ladies, pick from the men's selection.  thumbs down for the women's)

l'imi

l'imi is yohji yamamoto's daughter, herself a relevant designer based in paris.  her style is heavily influenced by her father, japanese in roots paired with broad stroke tailoring.  the resulting style is handsome and modern.  what i dig most in this image are the funky silver booties and the ingenious choice of yellow flooring that made everything pop.

wu yong- useless

is the brand name chosen by this successful chinese designer.  her work is a definite nod to the japanese masters of the last generation - yohji yamamoto, issey miyake, rei kawakubo.  the emphasis is on creating a silhouette, developing a material, exploring an idea.  almost never is it on beautifying the body.  i was blessed to be born at a time when these masters' works were at their peak.  i fully embraced their mission and lived through periods of solid black and blue with yohji, earth tones and the beginning of pleating with miyake, and the intentional "uglification" of the body with rei kawakubo.  to me, that's fashion at a very high level.  it transcends the physical into the intellect.  it would be too easy and unchallenging to pursue good looks.   now that i'm older, however, i can see the necessity of doing so!  

studs

coral slabs set in gold and blackened silver, these studs are stunning.  designed by eileen coyne for CoutureLab for $1481.

FASHION SCOUT STYLE: MY FAVORITE THINGS....

my friend just started this blog to share info as a professional and experienced fashion scout.  check it out, follow it, you'll be glad to receive some first-hand, insider tip before anyone else.

jackpot

if you hit the jackpot, this is what you do.  head straight to opening ceremony and grab the following pieces.  they are absolutely fab.

this piece is my favorite.  designed by joseph altuzarra, modeled by his good-looking mother.  altuzarra's new collection is drop dead gorgeous.  check out Look 10 below from his upcoming collection.  he may use some help on the shoes, but this young designer is a must watch.

after splurging 3.5K on altuzarra's furry number, the following pieces are icing on the cake.

hannah marshall's top is sexy and goth ($960).  graeme armour's pants are bohemian and quirky, with an unexpected sheer back ($3,940, ouch!).  a yummy match.

the matching hannah marshall pants ($540) are great in themselves, but probably not together with the top above.  these velvet pants are slit strategically to give that edgy look.  if you did not win the jackpot, be inspired and create your own.

amazing leggings, patched in all the right spots ($655).

funky, industrial ring at the right price ($65!).  the even spikier necklace is beautiful too.

this bag i find strangely attractive ($255).

cool

a perfect balance of masculinity and feminity.  to be truly cool one has to defy trend to a certain extent.  it's a risk worth taking.

success!

after much research, i finally found the display form which i like and doesn't break my wallet.  a form with minor defects (a splash of ink over the waist, a jab by the left breast) plus an old industrial stand missing the pedal - is exactly the kind of vintage and used look that i'm going for.  would have preferred wheat fabric instead of cream..  oh well, imperfection adds character.

rise of asian models

it's been published in the new york times that the number of asian models gracing the runway this year has shot up by some crazy figure like 70%. undeniably, this is mostly due to the rapid sales hike in the asian market in recent years.  the image above is clipped from H&M.  the look isfresh, different, exotic.  i wonder how the change in faces will affect the style of the shows or perhaps, even in small ways, on the designs themselves.  

auction: Lanvin (hearts) H&M

in addition to the launch of the collection tomorrow, there's an auction happening for the "customized unique haute couture looks from the Lanvin for H&M collection.  The looks were revealed at a fashion show in New York and are now being auctioned exclusively at this site. All proceeds will be donated to UNICEF, as part of H&M’s “All for Children” project."  most interestingly, five of alber elbaz's original and signed sketches are included in this auction.  when i visited the site this morning, the bids for the sketches were at around $600, quite good value for what they are.  bidding closes at 11:59 pm CET on november 26th.  check it out.  

gift idea #4

the nutcracker in natural wood holding a little present is the best nutcracker i've come across.  it is unpretentious and refreshing.  that's the way i would imagine the original nutcracker to be.  available at west elm for $24.  part of proceeds will be donated to st jude's children hospital.  plus free shipping.  doesn't get much better than that.

1st street, little tokyo

little tokyo hasn't changed much since i first moved to LA in the early nineties.  some of the 24-hour restaurants are still intact.  there's a sense of nostalgia walking down 1st street.  i never cease to marvel at the brass/bronze inlays on the sidewalk.  the text is poetic, the isometric view of the crate with brass/bronze outline inlaid in the red terrazzo is bizarre and beautiful...  in the mini mall across the street, if you get lucky, you'll find this japanese cowboy performing pop/rock using all parts of his body on the strangest equipments assembled from everyday life.  he is quite an entertainer and will surely kick up some fun mocking you.  as you can see, he's been featured on jimmy kimmel live, etc.  and while you're in the neighborhood, go get in line for the best ramen in town - Daikokuya, literally translated as the Big, Black House.

franklin at vine

i love the graffiti underneath the freeway here.  it's a city icon, represents old hollywood glam, shows the artistry of the creator and is at the same time functional - it shows you where the storage entrance is!

trash or treasure?

trashy and regal, bohemian and aristrocratic.  i dig this sacai silk vest.

only $1235 at barney's.