and black. I would like this to be my uniform.

 

More on the Street.

Happy Tuesday.

 

New toys!

I like wedges but I am not a huge fan of khaki colored wedges. They get dirty, they are hard to clean and they don’t match my all back theme. I went to Barney’s for a birthday present in early June, I came out with a gift card and two pairs of shoes. One pair were these Christian Louboutin Praia - Black Flannel platform peep-toe espadrille Maryjanes. It was one of those chorus in the background, white light shining experiences as soon as my eyes fell on them. I had always asked myself, why don’t they make black espadrilles and then Louboutin delivers.     


I struggle with sunglasses. My tiny nose doesn’t help support the sunglasses from hitting my cheeks and my oval face doesn’t allow the styles I prefer. Through the years, I have always settled on some but have never really fallen in love. I am still searching for the perfect pair. But for now I have purchased Chanel 70s-inspired sunglasses in black and tweed.


Beatles-esque I find them a bit goofy but I love them the same. I feel more like a love child from the 70s then a cold-hearted bitch of the 00's, which may make the people around me a bit happier.

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.