Much to the dismay or pleasure of friends and acquaintances, I have never been a bra-wearing woman. Once I started to work in professional environments, I reluctantly went and bought a couple of bras from Victoria Secret, department stores, even Target to shield my nipples from being seen.

Recently, bras have become a part of an outfit - blame it on Carrie Bradshaw for wearing bras with beautiful gowns. It seems unholy to me but that doesn't stop me from falling into line and desiring a nice lacy bra that if I so desired, I could show to the world.

Agent Provocateur's ads are alluring as hell and since I am highly attracted to striking women in bras or without, I ventured into their boutique on Melrose.

I must have really weird sized breasts because it was almost impossible to fit me in a bra that wasn’t too pointy, wasn't too big or too small. The saleswoman was so kind and remained so even after I had tried on about twenty bras. I finally did find a wireless black lace bra with matching panties. Although I certainly would not shop here often, since the price tag is quite high for something I hardly wear (and haven't yet) - A woman deserves a set of over-priced lingerie. With Christmas around the corner and this ridiculous ad below, how could one stay away from Agent Provocateur?!

Just like many beauty services, it is difficult to find the perfect hair stylist, the perfect nail salon, etc…

I am happy to announce after twenty-five years of biting my nails, I have been able to let them grow to a reasonable length - a length that deserves a weekly manicure. After wasted money and many disappointing visits to nail salons around the Los Angeles area, I found Moon Nails.

Sweet and talented nail technicians, stone massages, and comfortable chairs are just a few things that make Moon Nails a great salon. I have never been disappointed by any of their services. I mostly go for a manicure and a pedicure with an extra ten-minute massage and sometimes I will have my eyebrows waxed.

You can find Moon Nails at 7022 Melrose Ave, (323) 930-0099, located on the corner of Melrose and La Brea. No worries, there is parking in the back and as an added bonus a hot, black model, who shall remain nameless can be found here getting a mani/pedi.

What more can a girl ask for? Nice nails and some nice eye candy.

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. 

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.