It was an exceptionally gorgeous day in LA when DecadesTwo held their annual Shoe extravaganza-benefiting the non-profit organization Artists for Peace and Justice (founded by Paul Haggis)- who had built schools, a hospital and an orphanage in Haiti, but unfortunately, all buildings were destroyed by the quake.

I spoke with Decades owner Christos Garkinos, who told me that people were lined up around 4am that morning. This was their fourth major shoe event. They had reached out to their clients, who then donated their shoes and allowed Decades to mark them down in price for the fundraiser. The number of people that lined up (from their first event)grew from twelve to five-hundred. He said this exorbitant amount of people was almost like a “Shoestock.” When I was there, about two hours after the event started, over seven-hundred pairs of shoes (ranging from Manolos, Jimmy Choos, Diors, Valentinos and Marc Jacobs) had been sold, leaving around one-hundred fifty pairs left. 100% of the proceeds are going to Haiti. Celebrities like Holly Robinson Peete, Lisa Rinna and Selma Blair stopped by to show their support. Actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon who is a loyal client and friend of Christos, was also on hand at the event. She and Christos had partnered together to put on the event for such a great cause. Though for Garcelle, who is Haitian, the news of the quake hit a little too close to home. She still has family there and at the time we spoke, her Aunt was still missing. My heart goes out to her and I hope her family gets reunited with the Aunt soon.

Dear Readers, I wanted to also talk briefly about my experience at DecadesTwo. First, Christos aka “Fashion Robin Hood” loves fashion and loves that his business is about recycling (whether it be shoes or apparel). The store was such a gem, in that I saw brands of shoes and especially red carpet gowns (vintage is their specialty) from notable designers like: Versace, Vera Wang, Dior, Chanel, Proenza Schouler, Elie Saab, etc, that I only read about in fashion magazines and dared to dream about actually seeing them in person. *If you’re a fashionista growing up in the Mid-West, you’d know what I’m talking about*

SPECIAL THANKS: J, DecadesTwo (www.decadestwo.com) and is located at 8214 Melrose Ave. (323)655-1960, Christos Garkinos, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, the many clients that donated their shoes to the cause and Artists for Peace & Justice (www.artistsforpeaceandjustice.com),

I attended the launch of Lauren Elaine’s accessories line to coincide with her “Black Label” collection of dresses. It was held at the intimate La Maison de Fashion on Melrose. Guests mingled in the quaint courtyard, feasting on cupcakes and Chinese delicacies. There were some very fashionable people that night, including actress Brittany Curran, who was wearing a fabulous sequin purple dress.

The models wore dresses from the S/S 2010 “Black Label” collection, along with the new headpieces and headbands- made from ostrich feathers, Swarovski crystals, metallic silk taffetas and such. Lauren Elaine designed them to be bright, bohemian, bold and stand out. The pieces are very versatile, in the fact that they can be worn to dress up jeans or to liven up a cocktail or evening dress. This line is still brand new, but is already generating buzz among the likes of: Zoe Myers, Brittany Curran, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle and Lindsay Lohan. This February, the line will be sold in high-end boutiques across the country or exclusively online at www.shopflick.com starting at roughly $22-50 retail. Lauren Elaine will also be doing special giveaways to those following her on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/laurenelaineled). A percentage of sales from the event went to the Ovarian Cancer and the Clearity Foundation- a cause that is very important to Lauren Elaine. She was very pleased to be supporting such a great cause.

Stay tuned for future events/news on designer Lauren Elaine, cause I have a feeling we’ll be hearing more about her fun designs and endeavors! Check out http://www.lauren-elainedesigns.com/ for more information or follow her on Twitter or Facebook.

SPECIAL THANKS: Janine Tobias of La Maison de Fashion (323-658-8008) and stylist Angelina Pitt; photographer Steven “LT” Smith; Cupcakes & Company; DJ Daylight; J; Line 204 Event Rentals; Slate Salon; Laura Shaw at the Clearity Foundation; giftbag sponsors- Mixed Chicks Haircare, Mineral Essence Makeup, Coco Zen, Spray di Sole; the models- Chelsea Rae Kellar, Leah Clark, Samantha Sergeant, Amy Erdos, Hailey Harper and Nicolette Gaona; the interns and assistants; the “faces” of the new line- Kayslee Collins and Kiersten Brada-Pitts; Adam; Stacey Wiseman with Wiseman Zander Public Relations; Felix Salzman of LookbookLA.com (thanks for the shout-out!)

My first event of the new year kicked off at the California Market Center during LA Market Week. The Designer Launch Pad Fashion Show was a new addition to the Focus Tradeshow, which took place on January 16th. Before the show, I made sure I had a spot right smack in front of the runway. I chatted it up with fellow photographers and my friends Houstina Summers and Leondra Quinones before the show began.

The show (showcasing S/S 2010 collections) started on time, starting with sexy yet simple swimwear by Anahiblue. The name, “Anahiblue” comes from the name of a Persian water goddess.The suits were in bright, solid colors; which designer Michele Sparks says was a big theme: color…Color that resembles tropical vegetation. Sparks was also inspired by famous female personalities; which is why she chose to name the suits accordingly: Ava, Dita, Nadja and Nikita. Her last inspiration is the woman who loves to wear designer apparel on a daily basis, but unfortunately comes up short when shopping her designer swimwear. “I design for the fashion savvy woman whose body is maturing, but my aim is to still keep her feeling feminine and sexy without revealing too much. I am also a big advocate on providing extra padding, shaping and camouflage where needed to bring out her best possible shape,” says the designer, who has had experience in very market, but feels that there is much more possibilities with swimwear. With that being said, Michele hopes to explore different facets of the swimwear market. She ‘wants to change people’s perception of what swim is and get a seasonal dialogue going on about what it could be.’ Anahiblue ‘is geared toward women who leave their eighteen year-old bodies behind, but are very fashion conscious…and is about high fashion, support, shaping and clever camouflage to best out of a woman’s shape.’ For more information, check out www.anahiblue.com or email Michele at sparksm@mac.com.

The next collection uses geometric concepts and the artistic theories of Calder and Brancusi. Let me introduce Camelia Skikos Collection. Camelia Skikos, designer by way of Romania,London and San Francisco was experimenting with duality. According to Skikos, “…from strict cuts and sculptural shapes to soft and draped, using contrasting fabrics like silk and leather, soft and hard, shiny and matte, this collection is dedicated to capturing a woman’s duality, whether it is sensual and mysterious or strong and feminine. The detachable leather pieces offer the illusion of strength and lend the wearer a sense of versatility.” I loved her collection in that it was reminiscent of the 1960’s bright mod style. Check out this fab California brand at www.cameliaskikos.com for more information.

This next designer drew her inspiration from watching too much, ‘Gossip Girl.’ I give you- DustieDoll Clothing. It all started when Dustie Smith was given a ‘Sew Perfect’ at an early age; then at age twelve, she was inspired to start designing clothes after watching “Pretty in Pink.” Since then, Dustie created her clothing company, “DustieDoll Clothing”, which has evolved into selling at boutiques such as: Kitson, Bloomingdale’s and Fred Segal; along with being seen on many celebrities. Dustie showed tees/tanks, dresses in black, white and striped, with jewel, chain and sequin embellishments. They were paired with shorts, ripped jeans and skirts that were also embellished with chains. DustieDoll Clothing was designed to feel comfy, but also be very “fussy.” They have recently been featured in Nylon and Style Watch (part of People magazine). Dustie hopes to keep growing the company in size every year and she’s planning on giving portions of the profits to refugees outside of Burma and Russian orphans. To get the scoop on Dustie Smith and DustieDoll Clothing, go to www.dustiedoll.com.

Twenty-one year old Jazmin Whitley-designer of the SoCal label, Li Cari, had recently presented her S/S 2010 collection “Decades” at the Project Ethos House of Blues event. She showcased a few of those pieces in the Focus show. A couple of my favorite pieces was the blue strapless frock made in raw silk (and was featured on the cover of California Apparel News) and the blue silk bolero, white silk shirt with blue roses and yellow cuffed shorts ensemble. Li Cari is a favorite among celebrities, such as: Aimee Teegarden, Hanna Beth, Christina Ricci and Jamie Pressly. For more information on Jazmin and Li Cari, go to www.shoplicari.com or befriend her on Myspace or Facebook.

This designer hails from Manhattan, by way of FIT and Jersey and having just been in business for a year, is already creating a buzz in the industry. Her name is Marissa Erskine and her company is Rissa. Her collection was based on a painting of an Asian watercolor butterfly. The clothes were very flowy and whimsical, resembling the movement of the butterfly. She used 3D butterfly appliques, lapels, 3D petals and still manages to keep the classic silhouette because she feels that that extenuates the female form. What set’s Rissa apart from other labels is that the Rissa consumer is the quintessential quirky girly-girl who is fashion forward and artistic. Think ‘Gossip Girl’ (Blake Lively) meets Rachel Bilson meets ‘Sex in the City’ (if the women were younger.) The contemporary line also features trademarked “Rissa Necklaces” as well- they are hand knitted/braided necklaces and scarves that are attached to blouses. Her price points vary from the low end of $150 for blouses to the higher end of $300-400 for necklaces, $450-650 for dresses and $500-650 for sweaters. For more information on Rissa, go to www.lovelyrissa.com or contact her at (609)468-1792.

Za Za Zsu designer Sahar Hersal also recently presented her “Sunday Sexy” collection during the Taylrz Joynt Boutique grand re-opening and the VVV Group’s “Fashion for a Cause” show. Her dresses were simple yet elegant. Perfect for a dinner out, a night on the town or, according to Hersel, a Sunday, because “Sundays are all about being effortlessly cool and strikingly sexy…” To get in touch with Hersel, go to www.ZaZaZsu.net or become a fan on Facebook!

The last designer to present, Althea Harper, was of Project Runway Season Six fame. Harper, an alum of Cincinnati School of Design and Central Saint Martins became a contestant of Project Runway in 2008, following graduation. She was one of the three finalists to present her collection at Bryant Park and was selected as first runner-up. Following Project Runway, she became part of the Tory Burch design team while also starting her company. Althea Harper was founded in April 2009 and Althea showcased her first collection during New York Fashion Week this past September and will be showing again this February. According to Harper, “Althea Harper is known for a cutting edge style that combines both tailoring and draping to silhouettes appear strong and beautiful.” Harper’s collection that she presented at Focus represented the true nature of assimilation. “Particular interest in the Old West and the women that were forced to become as tough as men and adapt to the laws and land of the environment, including the surrounding culture of the Native Americans who had claimed the land for centuries. A mix of tailoring and drape, unique combinations of fabric and rare uses of color and print are evident in this collection, highlighting the struggles and triumphs inherent in the process of assimilation, much like the pioneering women of yesteryear, there is a strong sense of the needs of women and their inherent strength in today’s culture,” explains Harper. The designer would like to be a household name design company and would like to be represented on the contemporary floors of all major department stores, as well as having a store of her own. She also hopes to branch out to menswear and accessories. For more information, as well as contacting Althea, go to www.altheaharper.com.

SPECIAL THANKS: Frances Harder of FBI (Fashion Business Inc.), Joanne Lee, Leila Baboi, Fashion Business Inc., California Market Center, Focus Apparel & Accessories Show, Jason’s Wine and Spirits, TNT Make-Up Agency, Jacqueline Umof, Erin Humphrey, Oscar Rodriguez, Chelsea Matthews, Deborah Levine, J, Felix Salzman of LookbookLA.com, Grace Chan of Grace Models (www.gracemodelmanagement.com) and Susan Costa of WCM (www.worldcoastmanagement.com)

I had the honor of participating in designer D’ Ixara Batani-Khalfani’s “Mystique Du Couture” fashion show as one of the models. She was also celebrating her 25th birthday that evening as well. According to Batani, Mystique Du Couture or Mystery of the Couture “is a celebration of fashion and fantasy. Fashion that explodes into the scene and takes you to higher places, a wonderment and indulgence in beautiful things, blasts and vibrations of colors, swirls of patterns that electrifies the senses.” I had the opportunity to wear two of her pieces. One was from the Extremely Couture category and was a long denim skirt that was fitted to the knees and flared out to the floor and a striped halter top. The other dress I wore was a pastel green knee-length lace cocktail dress from the Couture (Evening) category.

The venue was the Megafunk Studios- a warehouse in South LA and owned by Blaze Hall. Batani opened the show with an improvisational/hip hop dance to “Move” by MIMS. DJ Imperator blasted out tunes such as “Ride of the Valkyries”, “Japanese Woodprints” by the Seattle Symphony, “Flashing Lights” and “So Amazing” by Kanye West as we models walked out in ‘Extremely Couture’, ‘Diva (Ready-to-Wear)’, and ‘Couture (Evening)’. In between sets, Batani performed another dance number as a tribute to Michael Jackson to the songs, “Dirty Diana”, “Thriller” and “In the Closet.” At the end of the show, all the models introduced themselves then walked the runway again, followed by a music performance and singing of the birthday song by Anita Deshea.

SPECIAL THANKS: Batani-Khalfani (Check out www.iambatani.com); models from Compton High School-managed by Handra Davis (of Dime Piece Enterprises); models from Anerrick Management; Courtney Maniece; my lovely friend, Emma Zerner; Amelia Brantley, DJ Imperator (Steven Laws); the emcee- David Larry; make-up by Jernita Polk; hair by Troy Todd (thahairguy.blogspot.com); Blaze Hall for providing the venue for the show, which can also be used for filming, photography, events and parties; and my photographer- Jose Garcia for LAfashionsnob.

GIMME SOME SUGAR………

I attended an art and fashion show called, ‘Sugar’, hosted by 1981 Collection designer Timmery Turner at the 4300 Loft on Jefferson. Timmery wanted to create an “underground” environment where female artists and designers and network, but also showcase their talents and have a chance to sell their goods to the general public. In the future, she hopes to produce ‘Sugar and Spice’ a show for up-and-coming male artists and designers.

That evening, there were five artists showcasing and their wares. One was Timmery’s 1981 Collection. She was assisted by her graphic artist, Candy Parker. Handmade jewelry and purses were on display. I picked up a cute bracelet with blue, pink and black beads. For more information, go to www.1981 collection.com or http://www.tinseltokyo.com.

Jewelry made from recycled trinkets and other materials are definitely a trend here in LA. One example would be Wolfbird Art, designed by Samantha Hyman (or Bedouin, as she prefers to be called.) Bedouin started making jewelry two years ago while she was traveling. She credits the beads and trinkets for her inspirations. “When I make jewelry, I lay all my supplies out and look for colors and patterns that create harmony,” she says. For a year- and -a- half, she supported herself by selling her jewelry out of a small scarf. Since then, she has settled down for the time being and her work has really taken off. She stresses that her work is more sophisticated and her range of materials have expanded. Her prices range from $20 for a simple wire-wrap pendants or skeleton keys to $100 for more detailed pieces. She doesn’t have a website at the moment, but you can contact her at wolfbirdart@gmail.com or Facebook her at (samanthahyman@gmail.com). She sells at the Topanga Country Store at 115 S. Topanga Canyon Rd.

Another cool Indie designer, Kimberly Tabay of Tabaybe J specializes in rings. Her rings “are where my love and passion for art and fashion meet.” This ‘labor of love’ has taken her five years to master. Each ring is wire-wrapped and every ornament that adorns the rings are found either in Downtown LA to flea markets to thrift stores and even junk drawers. Each of her rings tells a story from every angle. Her inspirations come from her friends and places she’s been. “As an artist- my main focus is to stay true to my work, which means I have to stay true to myself…” Her “ultimate goal is to gain as much inspiration through simply living life out loud in hopes that it translates through me into my work and therefore is passed along…” Each piece takes about two-four hours to make. Her price points range from $125-300 depending on the amount of labor put into it. She also does custom pieces for specific purposes, like sets for sisters, friendship rings, etc. For more information, go to www.tabaybej.com.

The last jewelry designer is Chantala Parris of Hide Your Feathers. She specializes in feather earrings made from naturally molted feathers from a variety of birds. She feels that what sets her apart from other feather earring designers is her attention to the bead and wire quality. She gets her inspiration from nature. She is also a painter and she has been exploring many patterns with a nature-theme. She was attracted to the patterns on the feathers and wanted to expand her creativity into making jewelry. Her price points range from $5- 50 because some feathers are more expensive then others and she uses real gems. She sells at local art shows like the Downtown Art Park-www.citizenla.com. For more information, go to www.HideYourFeathers.Etsy.com.

The last artist is a rather unique illustrator. Lori McMichael had little frames with lips and nipple markings displayed. The Art Center College of Design grad finds inspirations through expressing her love to her friends. She takes something that would usually be romantic and twists it into something odd and humorous. She explains “that after the kiss marks, the nipple marks were an evolution of the medium and the expression.” For more information on Lori’s illustrations, check out her portfolio at www.lorimcmichael.com or to purchase one of her pieces, go to www.etsy.com/lorimcmichael.

The fashion half of the show featured seven designers (including three of the artists) and four tall, dark (some blonde) and handsome men decked out in sunglasses and black suits that helped keep the crowd controlled and off the runway.
I saw fun, avant-garde vintage-inspired street wear from the line Lade Lade by Tiffany Maxwell (tffnymaxwell@yahoo.com). There were tees with rocker-inspired graphics on them. They are Rock Thiz Clothing (an affiliate of entertainment magazine, Rock Thiz Magazine) by Lisa Snyder (rockthizclothing@yahoo.com). I “heart” the club/rave vibe of Beauty is Pain Couture by Rio Warner (beautyispaincouture@gmail.com). Lots of bright colors, corsets, tiaras and pink hair. The models rocked it! Vintage goodness and deconstruction were the themes for Reincarnation by Allesa Willis (Allesawillis@yahoo.com). The show also featured artists Kimberly Tabay, Chantala Parris and Timmery Turner. Timmery also had made little tutus that went down the runway with her jewelry line.

Check out Sugar Art and Fashion Show on Facebook! Timmery will also be having “Sugar Part Deux” on February 12th at Loft 4300. Check out the flyer on my “EVENTS” page for more deets!

SPECIAL THANKS: The designers, models, J, artists, Tom Kirlin (owner of Loft 4300 and Timmery’s partner), the DJ, bartenders, waitresses and Katie from Urbansalt.com…

In the true spirit of Christmas, I think it fitting that I mention that the BF and I went to the Holiday Party and Toy Drive at Taylrz Joynt Boutique on Ventura Blvd. The event featured Lousine Karibian as event producer and artist and DJ Tesslove spinning tunes in the back of the store. At the front of the store was a bin that was filled to the brim with new toys to be donated to the Bresee Community Center. It was a small festive gathering which featured shopping (at reasonable discounts), light appetizers and catching up with old friends (like owner Mary Taylor, Lousine, actress Jamie McCall and photographer Nelson Shen.)
Lousine had some of her paintings displayed on the surrounding walls of the store. She took me aside and told me a little about the two canvases that stood out the most: ‘Mother’s Flowers’ and ‘Tears of Happiness.’
‘Mother’s Flowers’ is available on a 30X40 acrylic on canvas. According to Lousine, it was “originally bright flowers in a blue vase because my Mother loves flowers in a cobalt blue vase, but I’ve retired from realism…so I completed the piece with some abstraction-ism.” Her other piece, entitled, ‘Tears of Happiness’ is her favorite and most valuable painting. “Originally, I was painting a forest in red and black colors but my Mother explained it seemed too dark and depression-like. I brightened it up with the color of light ‘yellow’ and the finished product is a face of a mother holding a newborn baby. Hence, tears of happiness for the mother has lost it’s youth and entering a new realm of motherhood,” Lousine explained.
Lousine is a dedicated artist. It shows in her work and as a successful event producer as well. Her paintings have been shown in the NoHo Arts District, along within private homes, galleries, boutiques, etc. She offers first time free consultation (local) in producing custom made art work for homes and offices. Since she has an extensive background in interior decorating, she provides her clients with design, color and texture theory in producing original contemporary and abstract art with all budgets in mind. She believes that ‘everyone should be able to afford original art work. Art is one of the essentials of culture should belong in everyone’s home whether you live in a mansion in Beverly Hills or a small apartment by Echo Park or a dorm at your college.” To find out more about this artistic prodigy, go to www.lousinekaribian.com.

SPECIAL THANKS: the crew at Taylrz Joynt, located at 13549 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. Phone: (818)907-7818; J; Lousine Karibian; Nelson Shen; Rochelle Carino of Rumple Munkeh, www.rumplemunkeh.com,*who provided me with a fab dress to wear to the occasion*; Bresee Community Center *www.bresee.org*, Julia LoVan, Jamie McCall and DJ Tesslove.

I attended another Unique Los Angeles on the 5th at the California Market Center. This time, there were over 300 vendors and the show expanded by having the Eco-Green Room in a ballroom on the ground-floor. This goes to show you that the economy is slowly getting back on its feet. 300! Sonja Rasula has come a long way since I first volunteered a couple years back, when they had 200 vendors.

It was not even noon and the line of anxious shoppers was almost out the door. Upon getting my ticket, I also received a limited-edition cotton Unique Los Angeles tote, this year designed by Shepard Fairey’s design company, Studio No.1.

Most of the vendors were the same from previous shows, but I ran into some new vendors.

In the Eco-Green Room was Chime Designs, a booth with jewelry made from donated and recycled drum cymbals and scrabble pieces, designed by Leslie Wilson. Most of the drum cymbals come from donations made by Sabian and local drummers from local bands. For more information, go to www.chimejewelry.com.

I followed my eye to a booth of color… Bold, electric and very 80’s… 1981 Collection, designed by Timmery Turner is a smorgasbord of necklaces, bracelets, hairpieces and rings that are all handmade and  hand-painted. She uses vintage pieces, bottle caps, toy cars, etc to create wearable works of art inspired by the 80’s. Contact Timmery at timmery@1981collection.com or visit her site at www.1981collection.com.

In the 13th floor penthouse, I stopped by Robin Charlotte, designer Robin Humphrey takes fish who have recently died at the local fish store and then preserves and paints them in resin, turning them into charms and buckles for jewelry, belts and handbags. Her pieces are currently sold at Duet (290 Forest Ave.) in Laguna Beach or go to www.RobinCharlotte.com for more information or to make a purchase.

Headpieces are THE trend this year (and I’m hoping next as well). This was elegantly stated by designer, Jesslabelle of NbbWear (Natural Born Beauties). She has been in business since 2000 and does vintage-inspired millinery. Her headpieces can be worn day to evening or as she put it, “Whether your going to a party, dinner, doing a strip tease for your boy, or heck…. even dress up to go to the grocery store or do laundry! NBB WEAR is sure to make heads turn and “Ta-dah” the spot light is on YOU!” The peacock and embellished number she wore at the show really wowed me and I know it’ll do the same for you, dear readers. Visit www.jesslabelle.com and do shop her Etsy store at www.nbbwear.etsy.com.

I recognized my fellow Project Ethos alum, Jennifer Garcia of Vim Trousseau, who was showing some dramatic cropped black and gold Kimono jackets made from 100% silk dupioni. According to Jen, this has been the best seller was inspired by her three vintage kimonos that are in her closet. She wanted it classic but with a modern twist. The kimonos are sold at $150.00. Her latest endeavors are her one-of-a-kind handbags made from her personal collection of magazines…which is aptly named “The Glossy Queen.” She has three permanent collections: ‘Fashion Connoisseurs’- which features images relating to anything fashion, from top models to high fashion houses. Her fav is the ‘Balenciaga Bag.’ The second collection is the ‘Icons Collection’- featuring images of iconic people of the music and entertainment industry. The ‘Michael Jackson Bag’ is of course the most popular of the collection. The last collection is ‘Make a Statement’- which features a play on words. “Fun phrases so your bag can speak when you don’t want to!” Jen also has a ‘Black History’ series and ‘Superheroes’ series, which has clippings from comic books. The bags are $50.00 and also comes with jeweled straps that are removable and can be worn as necklaces. Most bags come with two straps, you get a great deal with a one-of-a-kind handbag and two necklaces. Check out www.vimtrousseau.com or contact Jen at jen@vimtrousseau.com.

I spy with my fashionable eye…handmade recycled avante-garde couture! This particular booth boasted just that as well as headpieces and jewelry. The brand is Kittinhawk, designed by Allysun Maria Dutra. She is committed to recycling and keeping her business small and community-oriented. She sources out of antique shops, thrift stores, garage and estate sales, and even out of dumpsters. I love how passionate Allysun is…not only to fashion, but to being unique, one-of-a-kind and environmentally friendly. Check out Kittinhawk at www.kittinhawk.com.

I know I’m straying away from fashion, but I stopped by two booths dealing with photography. Jen Zahigian Photography- Jen is from the Bay Area, but is making her way down to LA. Her specialties are off-beaten paths, hidden corners of the country and nostalgic roadside signs. Check out her amazing shots at www.jenzahigian.com. The other booth, I happened to stumble upon due to this digital painting of the famous motel at North Shore in Salton Sea, CA. 33 Stewart Avenue is owned by Sean Finocchio. He takes photos and then transfers them onto wood, paper or canvas. Check out www.33stewartavenue.com.

NOTE: I would like to also acknowledge the vendors from the previous shows that I ran into: Hillary Danner and Maria Newman of ECOBOOMA & Jenkins Jellies. Hillary recently opened Studio Root 66 in Highland Park, dedicated to emerging and eco-friendly designers. (5917 N. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90042 ph:323-482-1414 and www.studioroot66.com), Dust Design Co., Fleamarketgirl.com, Mojo Cosmetics, 7Lightningbolt, Dip It Designs. Dip It designer Ryan made a new CAUTION wallets, this time, with Japanese CAUTION tape, fun bottle cap rings and Chinese take-out boxes (for decoration). Lastly, Liz Abbott of Leatherette Heart created new Lady Gaga-esque headpieces with birds and feathers, along with her apparel and barrettes with kitschy charms.

SPECIAL THANKS: Sonja Rasula and the crew of Unique Los Angeles, California Market Center, J, the vendors, Sean and Celeste of 33 Stewart Avenue and sponsors.

This particular event is not about fashion, though there were very fashionable people who attended. But rather, it is an awards showcase dedicated to women in the film and television industries…activists, filmmakers, CEOs, etc who’ve made a difference in this world and the lives of others. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the entire ceremony, but in the time I was there, I was moved and inspired by these women, some of whom have overcome all odds to make that one documentary or overcame adversity during a time when it was hard for a woman to start her own business.

One of the PR reps from Elizabeth Grant International contacted me and asked if I’d like to attend an event while Elizabeth Grant was in LA and I happily obliged. I chose to attend the Second Annual Womens International Film and Television Awards at the Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood; Elizabeth Grant was being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. I had the honor to meet Elizabeth, who is such a beautiful and amazing woman and truly inspiring, along with her Granddaughter, Margot, who is head of  the Public Relations and Marketing Department and Marion Witz, who is the President of the company, Margot’s Mother and Elizabeth’s daughter-in-law.

Elizabeth Grant founded Elizabeth Grant International- a luxury skin care line in 1958, a time when it wasn’t “proper” or it was unusual for a woman to start a business. Her company went from one employee to now over 100 employees at the headquarters in Toronto. Elizabeth is not only a successful businesswoman, but she’s a philanthropist, playwright, mother, grandmother and professional lecturer, who speaks on success and the hardships she had to endure during the 1950’s and the difficulties she faces today. Even in her eighties, she’s still going strong as CEO of her company, even when other people her age have retired. For more information or to purchase skin care products, please go to www.elizabethgrant.com.

The festivities started off with a cocktail hour, where the waiters, wearing casual button-downs and white sneakers perused through the crowds offering little delicacies. The actual ceremony took place in the rooftop ballroom, which offered  spectacular panoramic views of the Sunset Strip and surrounding city. The Honorees of the Evening (when I was there) were: Tegla Loroupe- Founder of the Tegla Laroupe Peace Academy and honored with the Dove Award; Shohreh Aghdashloo- 2009 Emmy Award Winning Actress and winner of the Humanitarian Award; Betty Makoni- Founder of the Girl Child Network and winner of the Humanitarian Award; Judy Irola- cinematographer, one of her films being “La Dolce Gilda” and winner of the Cinematographer Award; “We Are Half of Iran’s Population”- winner of the Jury Film Award; Ruth Carter- winner of the Best Costume Award; “Madre” and “Sidewalk Sisters” were winners of the Diversity Award; “Tapestries of Hope” (Director Michealene Cristini Risley) won the Best Documentary Award; Elizabeth Grant (presented by E!s Thea Andrews) won the Lifetime Achievement Award… For those who were announced after I left, congratulations on your achievements!!

SPECIAL THANKS: J, April Jackson, Thea Andrews of E!, Margot Grant, Elizabeth Grant, Marion Witz, the presenters, Patrick Moulin-WIFTS award designer, Pillivuyt (http://www.pillivuytus.com) – Manufacturer of WIFTS award, host, Councilwoman Jan Perry, the honorees, Actress Jennifer Tilly, and the Andaz Hotel (www.westhollywood.andaz.com), the WIFTS Foundation (www.thewifts.com), photographer Zach Lipp (www.zachlipp.com)

It was a beautiful LA day when eco-friendly designers Kristina Lenss and Anita Arze hosted a trunk show and sample sale at the House of Love and Luck on La Cienega. I had the opportunity to glimpse and purchase (at a ridiculous 70% off) their Spring 2010 collections, while also enjoying yummy treats and drinks and drooling over the vintage jewelry that was offered at the House of Love and Luck. The designers will donate a percentage from each garment sold would benefit the Pachamama Alliance- whose missions are “to preserve the Earth’s tropical rainforests by empowering the indigenous people who are its natural custodians” and “to contribute to the creation of a new global vision of equity and sustainability for all.”

A little about the designers:

Kristina Lenss- designer of Kristinit. She designs with not just style in mind, but the environment as well. She uses organic fabrics, local manufacturing and fair trade. Her inspirations come from nature, love and life. Named “One to Watch” by Lucky Magazine, she is a favorite among celebrities like: Eva Mendes, Scarlet Johansson, Zoe Deschanel, and Finola Hughes. I tried on a couple of her pieces and adored them. One of which is a cute brown babydoll dress with sweetheart neckline with lace inserts, ruffled straps and pockets. This dress was inspired by vintage lingerie of the 30’s and made from organic cotton/cupro blend. The lace inserts along the neckline were handmade by coop women in Brazil, which allows them to preserve their traditional weaving skills and provides them with work. The dress retails for $375. For more information on Kristinit, go to www.kristinit.com, or email her at kristina@kristinit.com and she is also on Facebook!

Anita Arze-Designer of Anita Arze Collection. Anita looks back to her cultural roots of Bolivia to get inspiration for her eco-conscious line of ponchos, wraps, cover-ups, etc. Her mission is to ‘drive sustainable employment in developing countries.’ Her garments are made from Peruvian Pima Cotton and alpaca and are either hand-crocheted or hand-knit. The knitted masterpieces are well-made and would be great worn from day-to-evening. For more information, please go to www.anitaarze.blogspot.com or email her at anita@anitaarze.com.

SPECIAL THANKS: House of Love and Luck (www.houseofloveandluck.com), J, Anita Arze, Kristina Lenss, Erin (Eba) Weber, and Pachamama Alliance (http://www.pachamama.org)

 ”Fuck ready-to-wear; Get ready to rumble! STYLE WARS is back!”

On November 17th, I participated in Style Wars, held at Cinespace in Hollywood. I found out about the  design competition from my friend, milliner Anita Hopkins (www.anitahopkinsla.com). The concept is to create a garment, relative to the theme that is chosen for you on stage in FIVE MINUTES…Yes, you heard me correctly…F-I-V-E. Though five minutes may not seem like a long time, but believe me, it is. I, along with seven others (some had teams, others, like myself, didn’t) competed on stage…using duck tape, beads, table cloths, kitchen utensils, fabric and material from home…anything…for five heart-pounding minutes. However, there were two rules: garment must be constructed in those five minutes and no pre-designed materials. Afterwards, we were judged by Blake Lewis, Miguel De La Barracuda and Djak Azran. Then there were those who went on to two more rounds before determining the winner, who on November 17th…the LA winner was Victor Wilde. 

       This concept of style meets mayhem was the brainchild of husband-and-wife team MJ Diehl and Roman Milisic. It came from their original idea of the “Instant Couture” approach to fashion. According to Roman, “A deconstructionist fashion philosophy, where the creation process- the time, the place, the people- was as important as the designs themselves. Style Wars was a way to take that and use it to create opportunities for young designers, and give them national visibility.” This duo is amazing. While at the night-before meeting, I learned a couple ways to turn a pair of jeans into a bolero and a men’s button-down into a halter dress. After introducing the show, the couple then took a model, wearing a drab orange dress, tore it off her and turned a dozen-or-so hangers into a futuristic dress. I was blown-away watching them and how fast they worked and created.

The whole experience was pretty awesome. I will most likely be doing it again next year….this time with a team! 

SPECIAL THANKS: Cinespace, J, Anita Hopkins, MJ Diehl, Roman Milisic, Grace Models, the judges, the competitors: Paul Magalad, Victor Wilde, Briana Gonzalez, Lizz Wasserman, myself, DeeDee Hopkins and Johanna Zuckerman, the hair and make-up team, MAC, Surface Magazine, Lemondrop and DIM MAK DJs. For more info on STYLE WARS and perhaps enter the competition as well, go to www.houseofdiehl.com/stylewars. 

NOTE: ALL THE PICTURES IN THE SLIDESHOW ARE COURTESY OF ROMAN MILISIC !!