As quoted from mother and parents all around the United States: “Why would you pay full price for something with holes, rips and tears in it?”

And I would reply as I have before: “Because it is fucking fabulous.”

Raquel Allegra creates outstanding pieces from Los Angeles County jail tattered t-shirts. Using her secret techniques she turns these rags into soft, distressed pieces, such as t-shirts, tunics, tank tops, dresses and scarves. Reminiscent of spider webs, the distressed fabric clings to a body with the comfort of an old tee but with the style of an innovative design. 

She is based in Los Angeles and although she does not have her own store, her pieces can be found at the following stores as noted on her website:

Maxfield

8825 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90069

310.274.8800

Curve

154 N Robertson Blvd.

West Hollywood, CC 90048

310.360.8008

Fred Segal Trend

500 Broadway

Santa Monica, CA 90401

310.458.6365

Switch

238 S Beverly Dr.

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

310.860.1650

Although, not on her website, I recently found a couple pieces at Barney’s in Beverly Hills and purchased a dark grey tee. I’ve worn it thrice and am in love. She is definitely an Angelino designer to watch out for and I’m intrigued to see what she does next. 

Halloween is upon us - the time of painted faces, bare asses, and an over abundance in cleavage. This year I will be leaving Los Angeles and celebrating in Mexico City. Although I am sad to be missing the right to walk the streets half naked without getting arrested I am excited to see how DF observes one of my favorite holidays. This year before my travel plans were even contemplated, I had decided my costume would be Charlotte Rampling’s character in The Night Porter - the famous scene where she dances for her Nazi captures in suspenders, black gloves, a military hat and Jodhpurs.

Due to the scant quality of my costume, I only needed to find the military hat, black gloves and pasties. Hollywood offers a variety of stores for every Halloween need. First there is Hollywood Toys & Costumes located at 6600 Hollywood Blvd – this is a place that has everything. Fake skin, a wig department, and costumes for children to adults; it is a great place to find everything and anything Halloween. Although I am positive they increase their stock around Halloween, they still have an abundant supply of everything costumes during the rest of the year.

For those that prefer that bit sexier approach; there are several places on Hollywood Boulevard that usually host stripper and hooker wear but turn into great sexy Halloween costume spots. Only problem is that, there are bound to be doubles of your costumes when you step out on the holy dress up night…. so beware.

Forplay @ 6434 Hollywood Blvd.

Bizzy B @ 6548 Hollywood Blvd.

* They have great cheap swimwear throughout the year.

Bed Behavior @ 6507 Hollywood Blvd

*Great sexy bedroom wear throughout the year, not to mention some great toys. Wink wink.

I was able to get all that I needed sans the military hat but lucky me, Supply Sergeant – a military surplus store is also located on the same strip. Found at 6664 Hollywood Blvd and my costume was complete.

And even if the former doesn’t complete your Halloween costume, there is American Superior Vintage Clothing and Iguana Vintage Clothing on Hollywood Boulevard also located in the 6000’s to peruse for that perfect costume.

Trick or treat, enjoy. 

I have recently returned from Berlin, Paris and London. My trip abroad was filled with sight-seeing, eating, visiting with friends but mostly lots of partying. My boyfriend, the disc jockey made the trip possible, so the amount of shopping and tourism was limited but expected.

I was able to peruse some shops in Berlin but wasn’t able to fully explore the shopping possibilities this city must have.

Paris was another story. I had to make time to visit some stores and we did just that. First, of all let me say that I think it is important to only buy what one can afford. After several unsuccessful stints with credit cards, the only card I carry is the one attached to my bank. So I always spend what I have keeping in mind my monthly bills. It seems to work out fine in Los Angeles but if I lived in Paris, it would be another story. I have no doubt my love for clothes and shoes in an easy accessible place would be the end of my financial responsibility. Although Paris is known for its great vintage shopping, my time restraints forced me to save exploring vintage shops for the next trip. (Which will hopefully be very soon)

The first day in Paris, we went to Galeries Lafayette Department store located at 40, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, France. If this place isn’t heaven, I am unsure what is. Underneath a cathedral dome ceiling, is the equivalent of ten female orgasms, maybe twenty. Circular in nature, you don’t miss a thing. 

One floor dedicated to shoes: from Geox to Chanel, it doesn’t disappoint. You can find something for every budget, although I had no interest in budget shopping at this place. I saw the lovely Chanel black suede and lace flats but refrained from purchasing due to the strength of the euro. I also wanted to get something that I wasn’t able to get easily in the Los Angeles area. One floor dedicated to handbags, another to couture: Alaiia, Dior, Chanel, Galliano, they were all there and more. I saw dresses I would die for. Another floor held contemporary: from Vivienne Westwood to Alexander McQ to Sandro. The world was my oyster. I tried on a couple dresses but fell in love with a Westwood piece - puffy shoulders, ties in the back or the front with a trail that touches my ankles. It wasn’t black, as 90% of my closet is and it was Westwood – which is nearly impossible to find in Los Angeles. Although, I need to research this further because I think she is becoming one of my top ten designers.

I was in awe of this place. It really is like nothing I have seen. For me to shop for what this store has would be the equivalent of going to about 30 stores. So there is no doubt in my mind that if I lived even remotely close to Paris, I would be the best-dressed homeless girl there was. Unless my boyfriend took pity on me and took me in but I’m sure it would only be on the condition that I stopped shopping, and that is a promise I wouldn’t be able to keep!

Descending with lots of turbulence and popping in my ears, I am able to look around at the people that have shared this plane ride from Heathrow to Los Angeles with me. I was lucky enough to attain an upgrade and sit in a comfortable business class seat. Coming from London and being in the business section, softens the view of what people are wearing. As a young child, we traveled often and people were always dressed nicely. Since the airlines have deteriorated, so has the fashion worn on planes. Even though I was once guilty of the juicy couture pants and flip flops I do find it important to look presentable even when traveling. In the past year or so, I wont even go out in public in sweat pants, let alone travel in them. And even as I type now, I know what I am wearing is hardly glamorous or stylish, yet I do know I look okay. Black jeans with boots, a gray t-shirt, with a black rival a velvet sweat suit with Uggs any day.

Angelino fashion etiquette can seem nonexistent. I understand we live in a place where people work in an industry where jeans and t-shirts are acceptable as everyday “office” wear. Suits and dresses are things of the past, for most. Yet even in Los Angeles, I still expect a certain level of elegance when attending the theater, an Opera or visiting a nice restaurant. Upon my first visit to the Dorothy Chandler to see La Boheme – I dressed in a dark purple satin gown while my date wore a suit. I was shocked to see people dressed in tight provocative clothing, jeans and even … shorts! What ever happened to the respect of the theater? In the land of actors, I can’t imagine why one would ignore the importance of looking presentable.

What ever happened to dressing up? Can someone please resuscitate dressing up? 

Simple rules to follow by:

If you can work out in it - don't wear it out, unless you are heading to Equinox.

If it's made of spandex and you are not five pounds UNDERweight, just throw it out. 

If it has more sparkles and sequins than JonBenet Ramsey's pageant gown, burn it. 

Ed Hardy isn't cool, so please... just stop.

Cut-offs, jean skirts, and cargo shorts aren't acceptable forms of formal wear. 

What is important is to love what you wear but wear it well and of course the above is never worn well....

More rules to follow.... 

As an early birthday celebration before my two-week trip I rounded up some girlfriends for some good old fashion horse back riding. I grew up on a small horse farm and the appreciation for riding a horse has increased, as I have grown older. Surprisingly, finding a stable to ride at close to Los Angeles isn’t that hard.  Finding a quality one is another story.  Ask my girlfriend HanNah and Dina, how their bruises and bumps are doing…

The importance of getting away from the usual, putting a huge beast in between my legs and galloping into the sunset delights me. And although my boyfriend suffices to that routine often enough, horseback riding is a nice change.

But to focus on the much more important question: what does one wear when they ride?

Each season there seems to be a new variation of equestrian in fashion. Either it is in a flat or heeled styled equestrian boot or leggings that are quite similar to riding pants. Where do you find equestrian fashion in Los Angeles? Well, if you are looking for the real deal, you need to check out LA Saddlery located at 480 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA. It is one of the best tack shops in the Los Angeles area. They carry saddles and tack along with footwear, helmets, and apparel. You can also browse their selection on www.lasaddlery.com. I visited the store to get a pair of paddock boots about two years ago. I had a specific idea and a monetary limit. The sales woman was great. She was an experienced rider herself and was able to find me the correct paddock boots within my desired price range. Friendly and knowledgeable service!

Although a lot of deals can be found on the Internet, LA Saddlery has great prices and a great range of products. If you choose to buy off the web, it is a good idea to check out a tack shop before ordering. Especially if you are unfamiliar with what you need to have, it is always better to go to the store and try it on and speak with a salesclerk. I have found at almost every tack shop I have been to, in the Los Angeles area and beyond, the people working there will be quite versed in horseback riding and therefore be able to point you in the right direction.

And for those who wont be getting on a horse anytime soon but love the equestrian boot look: Barney’s is carrying the new Christian Louboutin Cate Leather wedge boots in black and in brown. The chain detail goes around the heel. 

Similarly, the Givenchy Chain Link Knee Boot has chain links but on each side of the shaft. This boot is only available in black. Both go beyond the one thousand dollar limit I give myself on shoes and boots (actually my limit is lower) but are great examples of a simple riding boot turned into an everyday boot. Who wants to go riding?

On a recent trip to Fred Segal, I noticed a relatively new designer - L'Agence. I had seen their clothes before on an earlier shopping trip but didn't pay much attention to the pieces. This time around a black, silk, backless, wrap dress caught my eye. They didn't have my size but a week later I found the same dress in the correct size at Barney's Co-op in San Francisco. I wore it to the Entrepreneurs' Organization Charity Event at the Playboy Mansion on September 26th and I am patiently awaiting the next time I get to wear this wonderful piece.

(This picture shows the dress with a full back - my dress is backless.)

After my purchase, I was quite curious about L'Agence. The Fred Segal sales associate had informed me that it was a Los Angeles based designer. After performing some online research, I could not find a website for this designer but did find some pictures and posts about their debut.

In November of 2008, L'Agence was presented to the fashion elite at Fred Segal Melrose. L'Agence was started by Margaret Maldonado of the Margaret Maldonado Agency, which focuses on representing wardrobe stylists, hair and makeup artist, photographers and up-and-coming designers. She heads the designs with the help of other stylists: Simone Harouche, and Maryam Malakpour.

As some of you may already know or will come to find out, I am avid follower of anything in black; which L'Agence does well. Their pieces are best defined as basics with a twist; which I also love. My favorite pieces include the Wrap Dress, Black Bra with Studs, Cape Sweater, Long Sleeve Dolman Dress and the Blackberry Bag with Star Studs. 

These pieces and more are available at all Fred Segal Locations in the Los Angeles area and if you aren't as lucky as we are to live in Los Angeles, you can pick it up online, here.

Alexander McQueen offered his Women's Spring/Summer 2010 - Plato's Atlantis, Paris show live on October 6th to anyone willing to log on. It can still be found here.

Opening the show with terrestrial-like music, a topless model with white flesh and ribs embellished with snakes slithering around her appeared on the screen. Two cameras on top of robotic arms back up from the front of the runway simultaneously revealing the crowd to open up the runway.

Snake and skeleton prints on top of miniskirt dresses with Victorian shoulders paired with hoof style heels that added an extra ten inches on each model evolved into earthy toned prints, reminiscent of lizards and alike further evolved into an aquatic dream of hues of blues, slate grays and dark gleaming blacks mixed with kaleidoscope prints.

His designs dark in nature, earthy in all things amphibian, and underwater discoveries really captures the meaning of fashion for me. It's not about fitting in, conforming to a certain expectation of style; it's about a true vision of ridiculous patterns - bringing nightmares and dreams alive to the clothes we wear. His expression is in the truest form.

Los Angeles, we are lucky. McQueen has a beautiful store located on Melrose and Orlando. 8379 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90069 to be exact. Sales Associates are handsome and friendly and there is convenient parking in the rear.

Alexander McQueen, you are a genius. I cannot wait to splurge on one of his Spring/Summer 2010 pieces, so that I may be a true Amphibian Eco-skeleton Queen.

A pleasant surprise in my inbox today hidden among the spam: Billion Dollar Babes is back!!!!!!!!

Another brilliant idea that started in Hollywood circa 2001 - a sample sale that turned into an online retail store that now hosts three high-end designer sales per week, each lasting 48 hours and featuring discounts of up to 85%. Much like Gilt, Hautelook, RueLaLa, etc… Up to last year, they held their actual sample sales twice a year in Los Angeles but then went exclusively online. But surprise - they are back November 6-7, 2009 at the Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. This is not to be missed. RSVP here.

If you are not a member of Billiondollarbabes.com you will have to register. There is also an option to become a VIP member.

Personally, I probably wont go VIP but it does offer an excellent deal on shipping. So if you buy through their online store often, it will most likely save you $ in the end. But either way... hope to see you there, just not with what I want in your hands or violence may ensue.

CHANEL. The word rings in my ears. What a love/love relationship I have with the quilted caviar of my dreams. I have been coveting a Chanel bag for what it seems an eternity, which I just recently made a reality. Unfortunately due to financial restraints Rodeo Drive, is a street I am least traveled on. But last Wednesday as I decided my bank account's fate would be decreased by at least two thousand dollars I knew Rodeo was the place I needed to be. Upon my entrance into Chanel, I was greeted with the smell of No. 5 and a tight smile from a tall thin blonde woman. I browsed the glorious handbags even though ultimately I knew I had to choose only one. I tried on the large shopping handbag and the large classic flap handbag. I decided on the large shopping bag for my everyday needs but the classic flap handbag is on my want list; at the very top. (Take note admirers - there is an easy way to bed me.)

Woe was me! The elusive Chanel located at 400 N Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 did not have my black large shopping handbag in stock but the Chanel Concept Store saved the day. They were contacted, the handbag was placed on hold and I rushed over to 125 N. Robertson Boulevard but not before I treated myself to some lovely earrings. After 3 roundabouts, I finally found a meter… where is the valet?? I purchased the handbag straight away. Walking out of the store holding a bag with outstanding bright white letters C-H-A-N-E-L so boldly placed behind a shiny black background might have been the highlight of my month. The giddiness I felt could only be compared to that of a mother and her first born. As I sit here and glance behind me at the handbag I've wanted for so long, a huge smile spreads across my face.

Let me say, that if possible, treat yourself to the ultimate luxury you can give your shoulder: a Chanel.