Apolis Activism a new fashiontier

My friend Raan Parton developed this conscious minded clothing line Appolis Activism with his brothers to push for growth in undeveloped countries through opportunity instead of charity. Giving villagers a chance to be a part of their own revenue cycle, and create jobs and self sustaining economies. The clothes are fashionable and come with an even more important message, to sustain on all levels... organically... and more importantly humanely.
each season there is a new focus on a region that provides exceptional fabrics for projects to emerge. Above is a picture from a shoot i did with actor Jon Foster wearing one of their t-shirts.
photo credit Dan Monick

Neil Krug

Unbelievably beautiful work, from a young impressario. All shot on discontinued poloroid film. Maybe these will influence the maker to reissue......so inspirational and full of emotion....

FAshion 50

50 iconic fashion photos on exhibit at the Peter Fetterman gallery in Santa Monica, CA.

UNIQLO leggings!!!!!

BUY! BUY! BUY! These awesome leggums.....
Amazing new fabric technology brought to us by UNIQLO, the Japanese super retailer....The NY store most likely stocks them, but for those of us state side w/o retailer locations you can order directly online @"UNIQLO". I just received the leggings in grey and purple and they are super soft, stretchy, fantastic colors and super thin, but insulated heat fabric that will keep your legs warm. Also available camis/shrts/dresses/ an entire line of this fabric that will keep you warm all winter, and looking fabulous!

LES "Captured"

While I was in NYC last month, I went to see this amazing documentary on photographer, Clayton Patterson. It is a realist glimpse at the not so glamorous life of the LES in the 1970's-2000, pre steve madden and hipster bars amuk.
If you have a chance to see this, it sheds a lot of light on the Tompkins Square riots and sheds light on the real neighborhood and what happened to people during the quick changes in the demographic, from building and gentrification.
There is a show of Clayton's Photos running through Nov 8 @:

ALIFE PRESENTS
157 RIVINGTON STREET
NEW YORK NY 10002
T. 212 253 2780
Mon – Sun 12noon – 7pm

VEGA

I spent the evening yesterday with jewelry designer Victoria Kray. We used her gorgeous crystal pieces in the shoot I styled for SugarHighLoveStoned last month on Oahu.
I love the detail of these gorgeous crystals hung in chains and rope, and the delicate nature of her line. The crystals speak to your heart and find their way to their rightful owner.
Next up are metal rings, bangles, and pendants, stamped with affirmations of love and light, along with choice song lyrics and quotes. She will offer custom one of a kinds with your words of choice. Highly recommened. This isnt just a pretty necklace, it is love.
More to come....

Smog

I do not love LA smog, however I do love SMOG. Bill Callahan is one of my favorite singer songwriters of all time. So much feeling, makes me tear every time.

big sky

more love, such inspiration
reminds me to have fun...be childlike & free to enjoy, create, and love life...every bit of it. Watching this video made me reminisce being on a tour bus zooming past the big sky and wide open spaces. A moment with no perception of time and space, allowed inspiration to sink in, just from the shades of the dirt, colors in the sky, shapes of plants, and feathers on the birds. Simple things. Big sky.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

a stylish shirtless hippie man and an amazing band. Very straight off the commune....love in.
Go see them live....For tour info click on Title to go to website.

Stop Motion @ its best

Great video for Oren Lavie, gorgeous voice.

I Love This Guy

Paolo Nutini.......
nuff said

Creatures Of Comfort

This West Hollywood store has an amazing selection of hard to find designers, such as....
Isabel Marant Etoile, Karen Walker, Acne, and Burfitt, just to name a few.
Excellent accesories....jewelry, bathing suits by VPL and under garments by Araks, gorgeous gauzy silken pieces, which were seen in the opening scene of Lost In Transaltion on Scarlet Johannsen.
This shop is a relaxed environment to step in, try on, and buy a few new pieces for your closet ladies. The store owners used to run a fashion PR company so they know their stuff, and will help if you ask and just let u be if you'd rather just parouse.

Angel View Thrift

No trip to Palm Springs is complete without a stop at this Palm Springs thrift shoppers institution. Angel View Thrift.
Today was no exception, it looked as if Mrs. Roper and Nancy Sinatra's closets were raided decades ago and finally ended up here on the racks. Great vintage selection, jewelry, watches, and housewares. The vintage pieces are a little more expensive but all great quality.
The woman who runs the shop knows her stuff so she prices accordingly. All proceeds go to support Angel View, a charity for crippled children that has been a mainstay in Desert Hot Springs since the 1950's.
If you go, grab a coffee across the way on Palm Canyon @ Koffi. Best coffee in the desert, wish they had one in LA, it is located in a quaint courtyard of shops and galleries.

Sugar Hi & Chloe C shoot Honolulu, Hawaii

Just returned from an amazing shoot in Oahu, Hawaii.
Daeja Fallas shot the look book for collaborative lines Sugar hi tees and Chloe C.
Our models Genevieve and Christa were a joy to work with, not to mention our Charls....photo intern, style mack, & debonair supreme~ (see above poloroid!)
We meandered the streets of Honolulu, crossing streets, riding buses with random Hawaiian hula woman, making our final stop at Waikiki beach for sunset.
The shoot was a huge success, looking forward to posting the images and seeing the final look book!

Rivers and Tides

i love Andy Goldsworthy's landscape sculpture, he utilizes nature as art in settings spanning from forests to mountains and streams. As the forces of nature change, his pieces shift and take on a different composition to eventually dissipate in time.
The beauty of his work is captured in his documentary "Rivers and Tides".
I love the subtleties and the delicate balance he creates in his work. To me his work also inspires color palettes and organic sculptural structure we see in fashion design.
Click title above to see clip from the documentary.

Aloha

Just booked a shoot in Oahu, Hawaii this coming weekend with Daeja Fallas. We are shooting a lookbook for a clothing line this coming Saturday. Our inspiration is dreamy beach, bohemian, washed out vivid color.
This week I will be prepping and thrift shopping for unique pieces to tie in with the line. Very fun project. And Hawaii to boot!

Made Her Think

This jewelry line's namesake is an anagram of the fabulous designers name, "Meredith Kahn". MHT has been and still is one of my favorite jewelry lines out there. Meredith Kahn, the designer and visionaire behind the line, was introduced to me by a close mutual friend a few years ago in New York. I quickly became a huge fan of her beautifully dark and mysterious baubles. The jewelry in her collection is the perfect mesh of gorgeous sleek elegance with a punk aesthetic that gives it that edge yet keeps the panache'.
I have quite a few of her pieces from her early collections and to see she is carrying on with her passion and clearly thriving makes me so happy.
Meredith has also started a fine jewelry line, that makes me swoon.
Meredith Khan
Click on this blog title to visit the MadeHerThink website and check out the wares.

Copa D Oro

This new Santa Monica bar with exposed brick walls, dark wood furniture, high ceilings w dim lights and fresh market ingredient cocktails, is reminescent of "Milk and Honey" my favorite place for a late night speakeasy cocktail in NYC. Though im sure the ambiance would be hard to replicate here in Santa Monica, this bar sounds like a welcome addition. $5 happy hour~
Click on title to visit website.

Nothing like the Desert in August

headed to my birthplace Desert Hot Springs in the morning for one night stay at my favorite place Hacienda Hot Springs.
Small restored 1930's hacienda built on natural springs, even the tap is spring fed.
Going to float in the bath water pool and relax for a night w my love.

KZO

My friend Joel K has a fantastic menswear line KZO, that bridges the much needed gap between high fashion and a loose relaxed interpretation of design. With an artistic, musical and general cultural eye on aesthetic, Joel designs wears in custom fabrics, blends and textiles. Each piece embodies such attention to detail, that is severely lacking in the menswear world, though the wearer will look effortlessly handsome in these digs.
These images are from a lookbook I helped Style for last fall's line.

click on post title to go to website.

New work

All 3 stories were shot by Daeja Fallas, an amazing friend first and foremost, and also a very talented photographer. The softness of her work lends to such a whimsical story line, no matter who or what the subject is. Daeja has a knack for bringing out this relaxed subject alone in ponder vibe.

The first story was on location in Oahu for Damsel magazine, shot on Lanikai beach, one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the world.

The next shoot was shot down @ KZO headquaters and features Joel K's menswear as the main focus on wardrobe. Along with some womens pieces from H&M to round out the look.

The last lingerie story was shot on location at an amazing mid century house in Pasadena last summer. Kiki Benet did the beautiful make up on our model. the lingerie lines we shot include Elle Mcpherson, Eberjey, Betsey Johnson and Lake and Stars........

www.daejafallas.com

Ugo wine bar

Stopped by to have a snack while i was in Culver City the other day. I had a delicious pear stuffed with gorgonzola and drizzled with olive oil. The bar started a great Happy Hour menu and I will go again to enjoy it with friends. From 4-7pm the menu items are all $4-$10, and Cheese and Salami plates are discounted as well @ $15 for 6 items. Wines range from $4-$8 a glass or 40% off bottle prices and beers such as Stella/Blue Moon are only $2.
Nice place, great attentive service and they have a tasting option where you can try wines they serve by the ounce which is a great way to find the perfect wine for yourself or try new varietals or high end boutique wines at a fraction of the cost.
Ugo Wine Bar Culver City
3865 Cardiff Ave, Culver City, CA‎ - (310) 204-5645
Add Ugo Wine on Facebook

Bottega Louie

Stopped by to get a snack after swimming laps at the gym yesterday.
Thinking this new restaurant/ gourmet store may inspire more trips to Golds Gym in my future.
Brought to Los Angeles by the purveyors of fancy foods Dean & Deluca, Bottega Louie is a perfect addition to downtown Los Angeles's renaissance.
Beautiful, sleek white and dark wood design, spacious dining room and cafe, maybe a bit cavernous and loud but otherwise wonderful. Offers breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the dining room or Counter service for pre-made goodies which can be enjoyed at the cafe tables or packed to go. Salads, pastas, meat, cheese, salamis, organic farmers market fruits, pastries, perfect little french baguette sandwiches, And a perfect cappuccino to complete the meal.
Wine list is fantastic, but there is also no corkage fee for you to byow.

http://www.bottegalouie.com/

700 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 802-1470

Harajuku

Royal- T
in Culver City
teahouse/gallery/cafe
crispy spicy tuna roll was yummy.
Also Shrimp salad w/yuzu dressing asparagus and avocado.
waitresses in tokyo freak out uniforms very lolita french maid esque.
kitchy but actually good food and cut gift shop as well.

www.royal-t.org

8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232-2326
(310) 559-6300

RECENTLY DINED @

Hungry Cat
Hollywood

Last Saturday night we went to see Topol's finale performance of Fiddler on The Roof.
After the 3 hour show, we were hungry and ready for a nice dinner. So we walked over from the Pantages theater to this Sunset & Vine restaurant. I've always enjoyed this place and that night was no exception. To start we had Oysters that were perfectly briney and chilled. For dinner I had a pan roasted soft shell crab with corn succotash, corn bread, chanterelles and andouille sausage butter. YUM!
Daniel had the Hawaiian Ono carpaccio with grape and shiso leaves.
Topped off with a crisp glass of Viogner. And for dessert....
Tres Leches with Fig Compote, delicious and perfectly dense and creamy.
If only every late night 11pm dinner could be so inspired.

1535 N. Vine street
Hollywood, CA 90028



Bloom Cafe
Culver City
excellent brunch, lunch and dinner.
asian inspired, californian cuisine...
patio dining out back, relaxed atmosphere, nicely plated healthy delicious food.
Fresh juices, they also have a to go cafe next door.

www.bloomcafe.com

5544 Pico blvd
Los Angeles, ca 90019
(323) 934-6900

dinner under the stars

friday night dinner options.....thinking....

Zanzebelle prix fixe dinner under twinkle lights on rowena in Silverlake.
husband and wife team that decided to open a byob supper club. sounds delicious
Freight at Zanzabelle
2912 Rowena Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(626) 243-3686
to join email list to get weekly menu updates
info@freightfoods.com to join email list for weekly menu