when I promised no more posts on Alexander McQueen.

Even before Lee's passing, I was beyond obsessed with his Fall/Winter 2010 collection. I vowed to make one of his runway pieces mine. After many visits, phone calls, and look books later, I knew it wasn't possible to get the dress I truly wanted with a price tag of 4k and up and with the leather harness the whole look would cost over 6k.

I have since decided to get a couple ready to wear pieces, which have been taking a painful amount of time to arrive at the store. Thanks to my constant contact with Hugh, an amazing salesman at McQueen on Melrose, I have had constant updates on what has arrived.

Before Miami, I was feeling colorful and stopped by to see a couple pieces that had came in. My visit resulted in this:


Very unlike me, yet I can't help the need to buy as many print pieces from this collection, as it and was one of his last. I am anxiously awaiting the Ballet Titanic Pumps and Jellyfish leggings. Is this an unhealthy obsession? Yes, but at least I am not alone. Jo, a Londoner via Los Angeles has also bought the leggings in the snake print and an an amazing jacket among many other pieces that I plan on stealing.

And still, Ill re-quote myself: As I drive past Ed Hardy's block on Melrose, I think to myself what a wonderful world it would be if Christian Audigier had committed suicide not Lee McQueen. Still, the option is always open for C. A. I say, take the leap. Become a douchebag legend.

Expected for years and finally made true; Chloe opens their doors on Melrose Place. Perfectly placed in between Oscar de la Renta and Temperley, just a few steps away from Caile - my fabulous hair stylist, Chole finally has their own boutique in Los Angeles. Their space is more of a quaint house with white walls and beautiful landscaping than a showroom.

They open their doors just in time to purvey their spring and summer collection. Stripes, leopard prints, and ruffles evoke a Halston-feeling.


www.chloe.com 8448 Melrose Place, Los Angeles. (323) 602-0000

I love the light ruffles in chiffon, nautical strips and 1970's leopard pants.

I took an unexpected leave of absence from the world wide web. I guess five straight days in Miami during Winter Music Conference, averaging about two to three parties a day can limit a person's ability to write witty and interesting comments about fashion. I mean, at some points during the week, I think I forgot my name. Still, it was a great time and worth the absence from the internet.

It is amazing how many wonderful people there are out there and how many of them enjoy the same beep boop boom boom music that I do. While Miami is quite limited to transparent shades and Ed Hardy bikinis, the people I was with far exceeded any expectations I had made prior to this trip: in personalities, fun and fashion. But now it is back to reality... a job, school, shopping, and all the daily, monotonous routines we love so dear... until the next time when the music brings us back together...

So, posts to look forward to... a review of BoxEight with some amatuer pictures taken by moi, Chloe Boutique opening, an abstract artist on the rise, a look at Designer: Lekuin, and more... but be patient, as my re-entrance into reality is a slow one.

LA Fashion Week is fast approaching. Tonight GenArt is holding a reception at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to initiate a week of fashion and also commemorate their alumni designers such as Grey Ant, Jared Gold, Katy Rodriguez, Kit Scarbo, Louis Verdad, Wren, and many more.

The week is littered with some exciting shows and parties but I’m specifically looking forward to FASHION : REFOCUS by BOXeight.  For the second time, BOXeight will produce live photo shoot installations - pairing Los Angeles’s top photographers and fashion designers. Stepping their stiletto away from the usual runway, guests are allowed to watch the entire photo shoot process take place. From hair and makeup stations to photographers working their magic capturing the collections’ pieces and models’ beauty. Starting on March 19th to March 21st, 7 - 11 every day, you will be able to catch designers like Skin Graft, Gold Spun, Isabel Lu, Lekuin, Michael Costello and more.   


I can’t wait to grab a glass of champagne and watch the presentations in a live-art perspective. What shows or parties are you going to?
                   

Academy Award winner, Colleen Atwood did not disappoint in Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland. Her goal: not to have the typical Alice In Wonderland costumes that have been translated from the original animated movie to costume stores around the world. Instead she went to the original source - illustrations by John Tenniel and Lewis Carroll that were paired with Caroll’s 1865 piece of literature.

Without makeup, hair, prosthetics, and digital enhancement the costumes would have had a sightly less dramatic effect. But prepared for one final look, the outcome was amazing. Even in her sketches you can see the fierceness and detail orientated looks that come alive on the screen.

The past month my entries have been McQueen heavy but I can’t help but post again. His final collection debuted yesterday in Paris sans runway. Sixteen pieces were presented in a somber affair. Inspired by Old Masters of Painting, he created nothing less than expected - dramatic pieces constructed with metallic brocades, embroidery and golden feathers. The menacing presence of passion and darkness shined through his pieces, piercing the cold reality that this was the finale.


"Each piece is unique, as was he.” closed out the presentation and ultimately, this is, was and will forever be the truth.

Find the compete line here.

Sharp lines, angles, and cuts gets me every time. An expert in outwear, Owens transformed down-filled garb into sleek wraps, designed metallic biker jackets long and short that clung to his models in all the right places and reinvented the hoodie - reminiscent of futuristic villains' guise. Underneath there were layered asymmetrical skirts with pieces strategically placed for perfection. Fur accents, leathers and triangle print leggings were out in full force.


Gorgeous, I am in love.

Manifest Equality has taken a dilapidated building that used to be home to Big Lots on Vine Street in Hollywood and has turned it into a temporary home for art that exhibits the importance of equality, love, sex and the need for equal rights, right now. Instead of taking this call of action to the streets with protests and petition signing, Manifest Equality brings myriad artists together under one roof to exclaim, bring awareness, and aid LGBT’s (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) fight for equal rights in America.

Last night, we were lucky to be invited to the pre-opening night by Nunu Deng along with a couple hundred purveyors. Bright florescent lights, colorful images leaping off of various canvases, a shattered glass sculpture, and accurate photographs covered the walls and hung from the ceilings. My favorite installation was in the right side of the building in the very back - “It’s Complicated” by Mike Murphy takes water, light, audio, a transducer, a mirrored dish, an amplifier and a video projector to create a beautiful piece of art. From the water in the dish dancing to the sounds of the song playing through the amplifier to the heart moving in rhythm on the wall - for me this installation truly embraced the idea of equality and love. Demonstrated here: http://www.mmike.com/index.html.

Manifest Equality opens today to the public. Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 through Sunday, March 7th, 2010 between the hours of 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM with extended hours Friday - Sunday. 1341 Vine Street, (between Hollywood & Fountain) Los Angeles, CA 90028-8141.


Bring awareness for the necessity of equality for all Americans not just the ones who prefer the opposite gender. Whether you are straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender get in line for this wonderful exhibition and take part in this art fight for what is right.