Tuesday, May 31, 2011
What We Love: Vintage Inspired Sunnies @PaolaLovesToShop
Lucia Round Vintage Inspired Sunglasses in black and tortoise shell.
Only $15 at Paola Loves To Shop
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Saturday Fashion Flashback: Le Smoking
One of my all time favorite looks is the classic Le Smoking tuxedo which was introduced in 1966 by the legendary Yves Saint Laurent. I love the sleekness of a long skinny pant and a well fitted jacket. I love how such a strong men's look can be transformed into a sexy, feminine look with a smokey eye, a red lip, or beautiful accessories. This is what YSL intended when he transformed the tux into a statement making "power suit" for women. Although Coco Channel has been widely credited for introducing the pant suit for women in the 20's, YSL ushered in a new era of fashion at the height of the Women's Right Movement in the 60's. The Le Smoking exuded power, confidence, style, and a break from tradition. Since then, the look has been updated and reinterpreted in different ways by many designers, and continues to evolve and look fresh on everyone who wears it; a sign of a true classic that will never go out of style. --LV
Above T-B: The first Le Smoking by YSL, 1966; The iconic Helmut Newton photo, 1975; Bianca on her wedding day to Mick, 1971; Le Smoking updated; Ashley Olsen in Calvin Klein, 2008; Camilla Belle in Tom Ford and Rihanna in Max Azria, 2011.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Things I Love Thursday: Memories, for @galadarling's post!
That frightful first week I lived in New York City.
Mind you, I had lived in farther places (London and Milan), but Manhattan is always that dealbreaker. It's scarier than two European towns combined and all because of that song that rings through the head, "If I can make it here, I'll make it anywhere ...". But, I can smell that fearful feeling anytime I want to, thankfully I hear those lyrics less.
W. 10th Street and 5th Avenue
I can be in any mood, happy or foul and once I cross over from west to east right past the NYU dorm building, that aroma coming from the basement laundry room is ... a security blanket. I don't know why, it's always that smell of fabric softeners and warm heat that reminds you "hey you gotta do laundry" or "I miss Mom."
Noe Valley Library in San Francisco
My childhood lives there. On my bucket list is to write a children's storybook on the wild adventures of latchkey city kids that hung out there in the 80's. Before kids had cell phones and Facebook pages, the library was a haven of grade school mischiefs, playing tag, hide and go seek on the roof and the villain played by the evil librarian. Some day.
Woody Allen.
Anything Woody Allen. If I was on death row, I'd ask for the last meal to be replaced by Woody Allen films. My top three to watch before I die are: Manhattan, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Manhattan Murder Mystery. I can't wait to see Midnight in Paris.
Other things I Love: mythology, sci-fi romance, Law & Order SVU, old-school Madonna, graffiti, calligraphy, Helvetica, Century Gothic, gold more than silver, Nutella, "CFG" Chanel/Fendi/Givenchy, childhood pics of me and my brother, The Hills marathon, friendship bracelets from a friend, Italy, movie: State & Main, moccasins, Essie nail polish, my SIM card that I've had for 8 years containing old and forgotten friends (and 12 guys named Matt that I probably hooked up with, but only friends with 4) and really good wallpaper.
xo,
MJ
I loved the post on GalaDarling, it's just the right post-traumatic-Oprah therapy. Write up your own and send to GD!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Meet Amanda Thomas of @LuvAJTweets
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| Amanda Thomas of Luv Aj |
I was inspired by the materials I used this season, lots of organic crystals, chipped arrowheads, dark metals, and really just tried to play around with what I had to work with. I developed a special method of dipping crystals in metal and coating them in copper and brass and I really think those are the standout pieces of the collection. You just throw it on and don't have to think about adding any necklaces or earrings, because it's such a statement piece. I love pairing bodychains with an oversized sweater or a flowy mai dress, something that's a little baggier so that the bodychain can give the outfit a little more shape.
LUV AJ Spring/Summer Lookbook 2011 from Claire Thomas on Vimeo.
You've worked with an amazing list of experts, include Corey Madley, Rachel Pally and Estee Stanley. What important things have they taught you that influenced you when starting your own line?
One of the most important things I learned from those lovely ladies is to delegate. It's about getting smart when it comes to managing your time. A lot of these women have 1,000 things to do in a day and it's about making sure that you have found the best people to work with to get it done. Focus your efforts on the most important aspects of your brand and delegate other tasks to people to keep the ball rolling. Sometimes it's hard to ask for help, but you can't do everything on your own.
How does it feel when you see celebrities like Ashlee Simpson, Rachel Bilson, Vanessa Hudgens and Chloe Sevigny wearing Luv Aj?
It's kind of surreal, but makes me so happy that people like Chloe and Rachel, who have such kick ass style, would turn to Luv Aj for their accessories fix. It's really flattering.
Any plans for a men's line?
I've gotten a ton of requests for men's jewelry, and honestly, a few of my pieces can be worn on dudes (like the Arrowhead Pendant Necklace). But, I think the next frontier for Luv Aj will be women's shoes, sorry guys, you'll just have to be patient!
What are some of your favorite eateries in L.A.?
My sister, Claire Thomas, is a chef and a food blogger for The Kitchy Kitchen, so we are always going out and discovering amazing new places to eat. Some of our favorite places are Lou on Vine, Gjelina on Abbot Kinney in Venice, and I'm always grabbing a mid-day Angeleno sandwich at Tavern in Brentwood. It is legitimately the best sandwich on Earth, I highly recommend it for all.
Luv Aj is now available online at www.dnatheshop.com.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Looks of The Week
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Join the Sunnies of the Month Club! @PaolaLovesToShop
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| photo credit: Caro Ramirez sunglasses: Paola Loves To Shop models: Dale and Chanel We're always looking to expand our sunglasses collection, and the perfect way to do that is with The Sunnies of the Month Club, brought to you by Paola Loves To Shop. This club is just like a Fruit of the Month club, but with sunglasses in lots of different styles. The best part about it? You can purchase club subscriptions, starts at $21 for 3, 6 or 9 months and each month will receive a "super secret package in the mail with a brand new pair of hand selected sunnies!" Choose from five different categories and styles will be hand picked according to your preferences and sent right to your door, with FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING. The categories to choose from are The Celebrity (for those of us who are Us Weekly obsessed), Geek Chic, Classics (if you love Wayfarers and Aviators), Wayfarers All The Way and Surprise Me. If you don't want to commit to a full subscription, you can still shop from the online store, with sunglasses for every designer, celebrity and vintage inspired styles. Summer is coming, so stock up! - by Jared Ralys |
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| Gaga Flip Up Mickey Sunglasses |
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| Nicole Cat Eye Sunglasses |
Monday, May 16, 2011
Menswear Monday: Gilt Manual
by Jared Ralys
Gilt Man (a.k.a. Gilt Manual) is the go to place for guys to get their fix on style trends, and worthy menswear brands. Brought to you by Tyler Thoreson, Andy Corner, Josh Peskowitz, Jared Flint and Chris Wallace, all long-timers in the industry (Men.Style.com, Esquire, Nylon Guys, and remember Cargo?) Gilt Manual not only offers the best trend sightings from these experts, but also an online shopping experience where you can search the trend and then buy right there. From vintage watches to a custom shirt shop, these guys have the hottest looks for men who care about how they present themselves. This week, a few of my favorites include a classic leather belt, perfect for all occasions, an incredible brown leather and gold plated vintage watch, and an awesome crossbody bag suitable for day and night.
Be sure to check the site out for the best looks of the week and watch this video to get a glimpse into the minds and closets of the guys behind Gilt Manual.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Saturday Fashion Flashback: Brigitte Bardot
Today we flashback to a true classic and an inspiration to minimal chic dressing. As we approach the summer months and girls everywhere start ditching the winter layers, they'll be looking for ways to carry their fashion sense into the warm weather without overdressing. Simple, classic pieces that can be worn in different ways are perfect for summer, and no one did this look better than Brigitte Bardot. Our favorite French model turned actress, singer, and animal rights activist, took over the world in the 60's while becoming a global style icon. Brigitte didn't favor luxurious clothes, and instead opted for minimal, chic, classic styles that women all over the world channeled because of its affordability. Some of her key pieces included a black hairband or bow in her hair, skinny jeans, striped tee's, and the iconic trench coat. Her style heavily influenced women around the world. When going through old family photos a few years ago, I found tons of sepia tone polaroids of my mom, who grew up in the 60's, sporting black bows, ballet flats, and simple day dresses. Even as a child in the 60's in a small town in Massachusetts, my mother saw Brigitte on the cover of Vogue and channeled her style in different ways. Brigitte charmed the world with her simplistic sense of style and perfectly tousled hair, forever changing the way women dress. Hats off to you Brigitte, your iconic style is now a perfect trend to follow as we approach the summer, 50 years later. --Jared Ralys
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Girl Crush: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley seems to be the girl everyone is talking about lately, and it’s easy to see why. The Victoria’s Secret model has been spotted everywhere within the past few days, turning up the heat at the 2011 Met Gala, topping Maxim’s Hot 100 list, and alongside Shia LaBeouf in the new trailer for her upcoming summer action flick, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The 24-year-old English model turned actress made her debut in the 2006 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, walking in Los Angeles for one of the most viewed events of the year. While garnering press around the globe, Huntington-Whiteley became the face of Burberry’s fall/winter collection in 2008, landed the cover of British Vogue, graced Harper’s Bazaar’s Best Dressed List, and then accepted an Elle Style Award for 2009’s Model of the Year. One of my favorite projects by Rosie is the short film she appeared in for lingerie power house Agent Provocateur, in which she portrayed a woman whose boyfriend forgets Valentine’s Day. Set to make her silver screen debut in just a few weeks, she has been pushed into the limelight recently and has not been disappointing whatsoever. Her style is effortless, minimal, and chic, a look that women of all ages aspire to create themselves, making her a role model to girls around the globe. For the 2011 Met Gala, she arrived in a stunning Burberry Prorsum cherry pink gown by creative director, Christopher Bailey.
At 24 years old, there’s not a lot that Rosie hasn’t accomplished, and I can only imagine how her stardom will rise over the next few months from her position on Maxim’s Hot 100 and her acting debut this summer. Keep an eye on this girl, she’s positioned to take the fashion industry by storm, one runway at a time.
Xx
Jared
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