By Editors on March 6, 2012
Living in L.A. — where every night seems to bring another store opening, bar preview, dinner party or film screening — it’s fairly easy to become a casual lush without even trying. And that wouldn’t be such a bad thing, if only all the open bars didn’t come with empty calories, too.
But at recent fashion events at the likes of Stylehaus in West Hollywood and Venice’s Urbanic Paper Boutique, we’ve had the pleasure of discovering a tasty beverage combo that provides adequate zip without the fear of the dreaded booze pooch.
Enter Voli Vodka, a “light” alcoholic concoction that has 43 calories per ounce to standard vodka’s 73. Since we haven’t been into shooting the stuff straight up since our younger years (or, uh, last Saturday night), we were also elated to discover Refine Mixers at our last weekday outing, which is a zero calorie, aspartame-free mixer that provides a welcome alternative to Sugar Free Red Bull’s metallic taste of death. The liquid mixer comes in three flavors — Margarita, Mojito and Cosmo — each made with Stevia, the all-natural sweetener we use instead of sugar when cooking at home. Each bottle is $8.99 and available at Von’s and Cost Plus World Market, while bottles of Voli go for $24.99 at BevMo.
We happen to think that Voli and Refine are the perfect one-two punch of low-cal boozing, whether you’re party hopping or simply enjoying a night cap from the comfort of your couch.
Photo: Refine Mixers’ Jason Shenitzer serves up low-cal Voli/Refine cocktails at a recent shopping event in Hancock Park.
By Editors on March 5, 2012
The name may make it sound like another craft-crammed Silver Lake boutique, but Bee Free marks another turn in the chic-ification of the boho neighborhood. The airy shop for women’s clothing and accessories opened its doors in February across the street from LaMill Coffee.
The former dog-grooming location has been expanded and renovated, with a minimalist approach to Hollywood Regency interior design. Angie Freeman may be new to owning a store, but the 34-year-old shows a sure hand in everything from décor (an over-sized gray graphic wallpaper print on walls) to the choice of merchandise (floaty skirts, sequined shorts, sweater-cloaks with thread-through sashes).
Saturday night, the store drew a crowd reflective of Silver Lake’s mixed demographic for its opening bash, sponsored by Yelp. The store’s retail price points (plenty under $100) meant the line at the cash register was as long as the one for cocktails. In a purple silk jumpsuit with a dangerously low decolleté, Freeman greeted guests while making last-minute adjustments. “I wanted to create a shop that felt like home,” said the North Carolina native in her Ellie May accent as she pinned a skirt on a mannequin. “Southern hospitality comes natural to me. I want a place where women of all sizes can find something in a good fabric that’s affordable.”
Freeman came to L.A. via New York, where she worked as a post-production coordinator on “Saturday Night Live.” She worked in retail when the show was on hiatus. In L.A., she has written and produced short films, but gravitated to fashion boutiques again—this time with her own shingle—when she observed the favorable retail opportunities here compared to New York. Buying labels such as Amanda Uprichard, Aryn K, Veronica M, Lovers & Friends, and Qi demonstrate her keen eye for the fashion desires of the gentrifying neighborhood. As for the name: “Bee” refers to Freeman’s family tradition of beekeeping. The boutique itself could have been an apiary last night, with customers buzzing from getting bangs trimmed in back to noshing on appetizers from next-door restaurant L & E Oyster bar.
–Laurie Pike
1639 Silver Lake Blvd.
Photo: Bee Free owner Angie Freeman.
By Erin Weinger on March 1, 2012
In our experience, good things tend to happen on busses. During our camp days, its where friendship bracelets were made. In Vegas, its where we save $30 on cab fare to the airport. And on wedding weekends, party busses tend to provide the kinds of stories that, thankfully, never see the light of day (but seemed like a good idea at the time, of course).
And starting tomorrow, Kate Spade is giving us yet another reason to continue our love of busses when they roll into town with their very own pop up shop on wheels. In celebration of the brand’s spring ad campaign, you’re invited to hop on board at one of three L.A. locations and shop Spade’s colorful, lady-like collection (a purse from which we sold our Beanie Baby collection to own in 8th grade. True story).
In addition to shopping, guests will have the chance to catch a live show by Brooklyn-based Indie musicians, The Vivian Girls.
The festivities are free and open to the public. So get rolling.
Friday, March 2, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (concert at 7 p.m.) The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., L.A.; Saturday March 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice (The Brig Parking lot); Sunday, Match 4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2740 Main St., Santa Monica. katespade.com
By Rakhee Bhatt on February 27, 2012
Octavia Spencer took home Oscar gold at last night’s Academy Awards sporting a white and silver beaded Tadashi Shoji cinch-waisted gown. Spencer’s dress caps off an incredible season of wins where the actress has donned the L.A.-based designer’s pieces for nearly every major red carpet appearance.
Spencer has said to People magazine in the past that, “I’m all about being loyal to the people who gave me free clothes for the publicity tour when there was nothing in it for them. … I love it that the other people are clamoring but when I needed something, they weren’t there.” Clearly Spencer and Shoji’s devotion to each other has resulted in one red carpet hit after another, and proves that full figured gals can look ultra-glam too.
By Rakhee Bhatt on February 27, 2012
There was a lot to love about last night’s Academy Awards, but one moment that stands out in our mind is when Tom Hanks paid tribute to a man in a powder blue suit and ruffled shirt. His name is Carl, and he has been a seat filler at the Oscars for 59 years. The first show he did was in 1952, when The Greatest Show on Earth won Best Picture. At this particular moment in the telecast yesterday, Carl was filling in for Jennifer Lopez. Kudos, Carl. Trends be damned: You’re always one of the best-dressed guys in the room.
By Lisa Boosin on February 27, 2012
We are total suckers for a good gimmick, and the Me Undies vending machine located inside of Confederacy…well, it’s not the best gimmick ever, but it’s pretty fun. Rest assured, this isn’t like the creepy machines in Japan: the underwear are all factory sealed and brand-spankin’ new. The brand also makes unmentionables for the ladies, but the Confederacy machine is stocked with men’s bikini briefs, boxers and boxer-briefs — all for $16. The undies vending machine will eventually be rolled out to other locations, including airports and hotels.
Confederacy, 4661 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Feliz
By Claire Butler on February 22, 2012
Cooler than “beachy” highlights and more subtle than all-out Manic Panic dye-job, pastel-hued highlights are looking so very right right now.
Emily Browning, Kate Bosworth and Taryn Manning were among the first celebs to, well, dip, into the look late last year. Browing, in particular, looked amazing with the ends of her short brown bob dipped in lavender.
Last night at the Costume Guild Awards, actress Chloe Moretz debuted pinky streaks in her dishwater-hued locks that were really very chic.
Would you dabble in pastel-colored locks?
Photos, from left: Emily Browning and Chloe Moretz.
By Claire Butler on February 21, 2012
As part of the “Collecting Eames” gallery show that closed last weekend, Joel Chen, owner of drool-including vintage furnishings shop JF Chen, commissioned 6,000 photographs — documenting every aspect of mid-century design legends Charles and Ray Eames’ output.
The collection of images from photographer Grant Taylor has been edited into one striking volume, Collecting Eames: The JF Chen Collection. With an introduction by show curator Daniel Ostroff, who has studied and collected Eames designs since 1987, and a preface by Eames Demetrios, the publication provides vibrant, colorful images and commentary for avid Eames enthusiasts and new fans alike.
By Emili Vesilind on February 20, 2012
I’m obsessed with swanky tote bags. As the mother of a toddler, I’m convinced the simple, no-frills silhouette of a tote will bridge the gap between the dreaded baby bag and an actual, real-live purse.
The subterranean depth of the tote is what’s most attractive to me. Nothing flies out of a tote, with or without a top zipper. Of course this can work against a girl, too. Need a barrette? Get ready to go on a “Raiders of the Lost Ark” excavation expedition. But I’ll take deep over shallow any day. I’ve always been into digging.
And I know, I know. The “no-inner-pockets” thing is a drawback for some. But the only thing inner pockets ever did for me was remind me that I do not have the fortitude to keep inner pockets organized.
In my quest to find the perfect tote, I present my top choices so far. Each is decently priced for its pedigree (okay, maybe not the Fleet Ilya bag), and can hang from the shoulder: a must with kiddos. I wonder, which is your favorite?
Clockwise from top, left: Claire Vivier red messenger, $363 at Claire Vivier; Steve Mono adjustable strap day bag, $560 at Opening Ceremony; Jas MB Alison shopper, $650, at Barneys Co-op; Fleet Ilya Large layered tote, $1070, at Opening Ceremony.
By Claire Butler on February 19, 2012
Stephen Webster, the charismatic British jewelry designer who opened his first U.S. store on Rodeo Drive last year, is set to host an exhibition of photographs of the late, great Elizabeth Taylor in the shop’s ‘No Regrets’ lounge — which has already welcomed some pretty major artists since opening.
The 18 color and black-and-white photos were taken by British lensman Richard Young. The exhibition will open this Wednesday and run through March, with, um, 5 percent of proceeds from sales of the photos benefiting Elizabeth Taylor’s charity of choice, amfAR, the foundation for AIDS research.
Webster has a professional history with Taylor. In the 1980s, the famous magpie, who had a huge and glittering jewelry collection, commissioned the designer to create a rose gold ring engraved with flowers and set with a lavender chalcedony stone, along with a bracelet to match her famous violet eyes.
Young “became friends with the people he photographed because he was such a warm person,” Webster noted. “Richard met everyone and became their friend, catching them in the perfect moment with his camera.”
202 N. Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills; 310.246.9500
Photo: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, by Richard Young.
