Special holiday shopping destinations in the L.A. area

Let’s face it; holiday shopping can be such a drag. What with all the Black Friday madness or even just braving the parking lot at your local mall over the next few weeks, it’s easy to see how the joy of giving can quickly dissipate when you can barely get in and out of a store without your blood pressure shooting through the roof.

In an attempt to stay sane and make the shopping experience peaceful and inspiring, we’ve sussed out several local shopping events, sales and pop-up shops that provide unique wares as well as a quaint and calm environment in comparison with the usual chain store spots.

A Current Affair: Pop-up vintage marketplace is happening Dec. 3 and 4 at the Cooper Design Space in downtown L.A. Over 30 vendors will be selling their vintage clothing and accessories, which range from cheap and cheerful items to pricier haute couture pieces.  Journalist and author Rose Apodaca has curated a selection of vintage that will be on display. She’ll also be signing copies of her recently released book, “Fred Hayman: The Extraordinary Difference: The Story of Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Glamour and the Showman Who Sold It All.”

KCRW DJ Marion Hodges will be spinning some soothing shopper friendly tunes. And if that doesn’t make your experience pleasant, perhaps a beverage from the open bar will.

A Current Affair: Pop-up vintage marketplace 6-10 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 3), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 4) at the Cooper Design Space, 860 S. Los Angeles St. Admission is $10 and tickets can be purchased at www.itsacurrentaffair.com

Simply Vintageous Holiday pop-up shop is open through the entire month of December and features a collection of vintage and designer items displayed throughout four adjoining rooms. High-end vintage is housed in one while two other rooms have contemporary pieces from clothing and accessory designers like Eva Franco, Athena Jewelry and M. Andonia Handbags. The fourth room is a bargain bin of things starting at just $10.

Simply Vintageous Holiday: Pop-up shop opens Saturday at 11 a.m. Regular store hours are  11 a.m.–7 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday,    Monday/Tuesday by appointment only.  8270 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. Visit www.simplyvintageous.blogspot.com for more information.

Geren Ford Holiday shopping party On Saturday there’s a holiday shopping party at the new Geren Ford Annex in Hollywood, where creative director and founder of the brand Geren Lockhart will be selling discounted items from her fall collection. Also joining in on the fun are designers and brands like Gregory Parkinson, Wren, Loden Dager, Bare, Vosges and the Wrapped, who will be selling everything from men’s and women’s clothes to wrapping supplies and chocolate.

It’s a one-stop shop for anyone who wants to peruse a great selection of stuff from local designers, all under one roof, and check out the newly opened Geren Ford Annex, the company’s headquarters and retail space stocked with the collection plus items from other like-minded designers.

Geren Ford Holiday Shopping party: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday at the Annex, 1034 Seward St. Los Angeles.

Jaguar Presents Holiday Shopping Celebration on the Avenues  The city of West Hollywood is getting into the holiday spirit with a shopping night on Wednesday (Dec. 7). It’s like Fashion’s Night Out holiday edition, with stores extending their hours, food trucks parked along the streets for shopper sustenance and several places offering discounts and gifts with purchase.

Participating retailers include Alberta Ferretti, Alpha, Arcade Boutique, Beckley, Blumera, BOA Gallery, Chocolate Sun, Faruy'Art 1969, J Gerard Design Studio, John Varvatos, Kitson Melrose, Makeup Mandy, Nicky Rising, Shalimar’s Apothecary of Scent, Soolip Paperie & Press, the Fashion Society, Undrest, Viola Park, Wanna Buy a Watch?

Holiday Shopping night:  6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday. Visit www.AvenuesWH.com for a full list of events and retailers.

Decades 8th Annual Chanel Event starts on Dec. 10, which might lend itself more to doing a little personal shopping rather than shelling out the cash for a lavish gift. Either way, the highly anticipated event features Decades' largest selection of Chanel clothing and accessories to date, with an enticing array of modern and vintage Chanel handbags.

There’s an in-store event on the 10th and for those who can’t get to the boutique in person, the event continues online the next day (a Sunday), starting at 11 a.m. at www.decadestwo1.com.

Decades 8th Annual Chanel Event: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 10. Decades, 8214 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles.

Holiday Sale with Gabriela Artigas The L.A-based jewelry designer will be showcasing and selling her delicate pieces alongside other local designers like Marie Turnor, Black Crane and Parabellum.

The sale takes place in Artigas’ new studio near the Beverly Center, but the environment here will be much less harried than the scene at the mall, Artigas will be serving champagne while shoppers stroll through the accessories.

Gabriela Artigas Holiday Sale: Noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at 314 N. Alfred St. Los Angeles.

Helms Design District Vintage Boutique holiday shopping event  This sale is something to look forward to for the large, open spaces and vast array of vintage clothing and accessories for both men and women. This year it's also added a seamstress who will be on hand at the sale to aid in altering garments or giving advice on how to repurpose something that needs tweaking.

Entry to the event is $5, but those who bring a charitable donation of either an unwrapped toy or a bag of nonperishable groceries will receive free entry. I’d call that a win-win.

Helms Design District Vintage Boutique holiday shopping event: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 10 at the LightSpace Studio at 8755 Washington Blvd., Culver City.

Happy shopping.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

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Photos, from top: A Current Affair vintage Marketplace. Credit: A Current Affair.

Clothing at the Geren Ford Annex, right; shoppers, left, at the Geren Ford Annex/Geren Ford.

Helms Design District vintage boutique, bottom /Helms Design District vintage boutique.

Fashion News: 'Twilight' stars wear the right shoes for Grauman's ceremony

The "Twilight Trio" -- that would be Kristen Stewart Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner -- got their foot and hand prints immortalized in cement in a ceremony Thursday at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Stewart wore Brian Atwood high-heeled pumps for the red carpet, but -- prudent lady -- she slipped into checkered Vans for the footprint. The guys seemed to have the right shoes from the get-go. [Los Angeles Times]

U.S News & World Report took a look at 20 top diets to determine which is the healthiest, and coming out No. 1 was the DASH diet. More formally, the eating program is called Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and it earned points for being nutritionally sound and including lots of produce. But it was only No. 8 on the list as far as weight loss. In that category, Weight Watchers placed first. [U.S. News & World Report]  

It's tough being a Victoria's Secret angel. Wearing that jeweled underwear can be a pain -- literally -- as former angel Selita Ebanks revealed a few months back. And as far as a personal life goes ... well, the most beautiful women in the world find it hard to date. So says Candice Swanepoel: "When people meet you it's hard to look past our job, what we look like. They are always trying to impress you, you know, like 'come to my mansion blah blah blah.'"  Yeah, sounds like a problem. [StyleList]

Meanwhile, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley says she's not walking in this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (which films Wednesday  and is scheduled to air on CBS on Nov. 29). Too busy working on other things to be an angel this year. [InStyle]

I was laughing so hard at Thursday's episode of "South Park" -- which poked fun at targets including Occupy Wall Street,  the tea party, class warfare, racial divisions and more -- that I didn't realize that Cartman's "Muscle Man Marc" doll was modeled on designer Marc Jacobs. Right down to the Clyde the Frog tattoo. Thanks to The Cut for pointing this out!  

Designer Geren Ford has opened new headquarters, the Annex, in Hollywood, including her first-ever retail space. It's open by appointment only, and one can be made by email. The space is warehouse-y, workshop-y and should be fun. [PopSugar LA]

Former British Vogue creative director Robin Derrick has been hired to assist Harper's Bazaar make itself over. The results are to be revealed in the March 2012 issue. [WWD]

Designer Tom Ford made a personal appearance at Bergdorf Goodman's in NYC to promote his new makeup line, and reportedly sold $52,000 of the stuff to eager customers. [WWD] (Subscription required)

RELATED:

Photos: 'Twilight' stars leave imprints outside Grauman's

Victoria's Secret model says 'ouch' to diamonds

Vionnet comes to Hollywood

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Kristen Stewart is flanked by Robert Pattinson, left, and Taylor Lautner as the "Twilight" stars  are honored Thursday at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Credit: Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images

Q&A: Geren Lockhart dishes on her Francis Bacon-inspired fall collection

Geren Lockhart, designer for L.A. contemporary brand Geren Ford, always turns out chic, body-friendly looks. But for her fall 2010 collection, she also amped up the sex appeal — creating va-va-voom pieces such as metallic leather minis, body-clinging maxi skirts and silk cropped pants in rich jewel tones that slouch in all the right places. The overall effect: retro slink.

We caught up with the downtown-based designer to chat about how the streamlined collection came to be:

Geren Ford launches shoe line for spring

L.A.-based contemporary designer Geren Lockhart has gained a huge following of girls who love to layer her sophisticated silk separates with jeans and leggings for what has become the unofficial “going out” outfit in Hollywood.

Lockhart is expanding her business (under the Geren Ford label) to include shoes and eventually bags.

"I've always had a passion for shoes, bags and small leather goods,” says Lockhart.  “We worked for a long time to find the right partners to put together a program that would be crafted and chic, but could still be delivered at a price-point that makes them accessible. “

With muses like Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall and Bridget Bardot informing her debut footwear collection, expect the glam quotient to be as high as the stiletto heels.

Prices range from $285 to $395 and will be available at www.gerenford.com at the end of March.

Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: "Jerry" collar heel in black/Geren Ford

Hawks fragrance swoops in at Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is expanding its collab-happy empire with a new fragrance.  Hawks, a scent by L.A.-based designer Geren Ford, will hit UO stores this April. 

Contrary to its name, Hawks does not smell like an aviary.  It’s a floral scent, pink freesia with amber notes and it comes in a very bright pink and turquoise bottle a la late '80s Electric Youth meets Benetton “Colors” (yes, I wore both of those).  Actually, the “bottle” looks more like an Aqua Net can -- just more proof the '80s are back in full force.

Hawks by Geren Ford fragrance $58 at Urban Outfitters this April.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Hawks/Urban Outfitters