LA Fashion Week FASHION : REFOCUS

Remember a few months back when I wrote that LA Fashion week is not on the priority list of Anna Wintour? Well, I got news for you. It should be.

Read more »

It Never Rains in Southern California-Part two

Damn You, a second time Albert Hammond, for thy lies! It does rain in Southern California! And when it does, it’s insane! This I got to bear witness to a few weeks back. It was not even cats and dogs, it was bloody elephants and buffalos and lions. It was literally torrential rain pouring side ways for seven days! For most Los Angelinos the rain is actually a pretty beautiful break. It gives you an excuse to sit inside and eat chocolates and drink red wine, an excuse not to go for a run, and most importantly, an excuse to not be so bloody social, active and happy! A chance to hibernate like all other human beings do a little bit during the dark and cold winter.

My backyard.

Read more »

The boots are dead-Long live the boots!

Six year ago I went on holiday to Morocco. My boyfriend was under the impression that we were going on a “surf trip” and was just as excited as I was. In reality the surf and sun for me was only additional freebees. The true nature of my visit was to locate a pair of moroccan boots, which, after searching every corner of every souk I could see (and convince my boyfriend to visit), I did!

Read more »

Baby, it’s cold outside-even in California.

When I moved to the city of Angels more than three years ago, I had obviously been decipted by Albert Hammond and his lies that it never rains in California. I arrived to the Sunshine state with 17 pairs of different coloured Havaianas, five pairs of shorts, some vest tops, a few short dresses and maybe a pair of jeans or two. The rest of my wardrobe was to follow as soon as our visas were sorted and was until then to be held in some sort of customs/storage with other illegal immigrant garments.

Read more »

Take your passion, and make it happen-Films and Fashion.

Los Angelinos has a reputation of a penchant for flip flops and jeans and rumour has it we never get out of our yoga pants. None of the really big fashion houses are based here, our fashion week is not on the to do list for Anna Wintour, or even for many designer that ARE based here (Jeremy Scott showed his last one in London, Rodarte shows in NY and the list goes on.).

So, Los Angles may or may not be the epitome of Fashion, but one thing we are REALLY good at is film, and film is a constant inspiration and trendsetter for the fashion world.

Back in 1955, James Dean’s white t-shirt and leather jacket in Rebel without a cause made its way from the silver screen into any self styled rebels staple wardrobe.

T-shirt and leather jacket, just as right today as back then.

Read more »

Pleased to meet you-I am Jenny.

This phrase is one of those phrases that when I hear it, or think it or even just write it, I will burst in to laughter.

My friend Amanda, an American from Boston, not the Bible belt, was in the UK to visit her boyfriends parents over Chistmas. On the very eve of Christmas, she was taken along to midnight mass. As is (apparently) custom at the end of mass, the congregation turns to each other, shakes hands and wishes “peace be with you”. Amanda, unfamiliar with this behaviour, accepts the hand of the woman next to her and replies with a big smile on her face-Pleased to meet you too-I am Amanda!

Read more »

Look then look again…more genius Street Art from LA BITCHY.

Some time ago I was on my way to Abbotts Habit in Venice to get my daily wake up call in form of caffeine. As I press the cross button (which you must do for the light to change. A knowledge that might save you many waiting minutes should you ever come and visit) to get to the other side of Abbott Kinney I do a double take on the cross sign. What I saw was pure brilliance on a steel plate. You see a normal cross sign is a description of how to cross the street. Unnecessary you may think but have you not seen Rainman? On a hangovered Monday, tiredness can turn us all in to Rainmen, indecisive creatures that can’t decide to cross or not to cross this can easily result in death as you think you will make it but are proven wrong when 1 ton of SUV smashes in to your face. During these hesitant moments hangovered, stressed or just tired humans can just quickly throw a glance at the steel plate and let the signs decide, is it ok to walk or should I just wait here?

Regular cross sign...

Read more »

This is not a music blog.

I went shopping on 3^rd street in Santa Monica this morning…or actually I went returning in Santa Monica this morning. $1000 worth of clothes back to the shelves and hangers where they some days ago caught my eyes and gave me a few moments worth of shopping bliss.  Hasta la vista, babies. Nice having known you.

As I am skipping back to my Mountain bike $1000 richer (Obviously by returning clothes for $1000 I can a few days later shop for, say, $500 without the guilt trip as I just made $1000 a few days back! Wohoo!) I pass this girl performing. At first I didn’t even hear the music but the girl herself caught my eyes. Barefoot, in a vintage flower print dress on a mini piano. Her flyers and CD’s were stacked in a beautiful leather hat box and a vintage leather bag.  Her music made me smile even wider than I did from the $1000 I just made and I thought it was nice to hear something that did not sound like a newer version of Britney Spears or looked like a cloned Jessica Simpson.

Her name is Eliza Rickman, and I have not heard of her before but am pretty sure we will hear (of) her again. Check her out on www.elizarickman.com she might make you smile too, if not try the return trick.

Read more »

LA la land.

To be able to say anything about fashion in Los Angeles you first need to say a few things about Los Angeles. LA is a big city.  So big that the first time I came here I got into a cab at LAX and asked the taxi driver to take me to my hotel. What city, he asked. I had just been awake for 24 hours because a large mans body kept occupying both mine and his own seat and was really not in the mood for stupidity. Did he really think I wanted a cab to San Francisco? New York? London? Los Angeles, I said looking at him with my most “you stupid F**k” eyes. ‘Yeah, but what city?’ he continued asking. Turns out I was the stupid one. Los Angeles is not “a” city. It is several. Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice and more are all cities that reside in this massive city otherwise known as Los Angeles. Apparently I wanted to go to Century city.

As with any city, trends tend to keep within areas. I mean let’s face it. The pearl necklaces I used to wear as a Hoxton girl were of a very different kind than the ones my fellow women wore over in Chelsea. And LA is no exception. Trends here tend to stay within their city limits, sometimes they don’t even cross streets. Maybe because it is just too bloody far to the nearest zebra crossing.

I now live in Venice, therefore I find it appropriate to start here.

A couple of days ago, I decided to get up early and do Yoga in Santa Monica. I got on my bike and was riding along the beach with my yoga mat in my basket. It was early Sunday morning, the sun was shining and the streets were quiet. As I looked to my right I saw dolphins play in the sea. Awwww, I thought. As I looked to my left there is a guy shooting crack on his beach view balcony. Venice, I thought.

It is a city of contradictions. It was the centre of hippie culture in the 60’s, and is the cradle of skateboarding. The style here is an eclectic mix of surfers, skaters, hippies, bohemians, rock n’ rollers and gangsta. Sometimes individually wrapped and sometimes a mixmatch of them all.

Read more »

Oups, he’s done it again.

The Los Angeles based fashion designer has done it again. Every bloody season I say this is the best collection ever! Then a season goes by and I have to withdraw my statement. THIS is definitely the best collection ever!

If it wasn’t for the fact that I know the man hardly drinks I would say he must constantly be on crack? How else would you come up with the idea of mixing Giraffes, leopards, tigers and cartooned wheeled animals. A map of the world, surfboards, wings and TV colour blocks?

Read more »