All The Rage

The Image staff muses on the culture of
keeping up appearances

Category: Summer

The foot bone's not connected to the brain bone -- is it?

September 10, 2009 |  2:55 pm

UggsDelighted to be posting on this oh-so-very-soignee site, and nattering about matters that concern me on the styling streets of Los Angeles.

Like this one that's been a puzzlement to me for a long time in L.A.

During last week's heat wave, when 100 degrees was the ''cooling-off'' period of the day, I saw at least a half-dozen young women wearing tanks or camisoles along with shorts or short skirts ... and Uggs,or knee-high buckskin boots! The sidewalks were sizzling, yet from the knees down they looked as if they were trudging through a Canadian winter.

Happens every year, and everywhere from WeHo and the Grove to downtown and Pasadena and Beverly Hills. And then, in the winter, for the few days that the cold rain is pummeling and the hail arrives like frozen 8-millimeter Mikimoto pearls, L.A. women course the shivery streets bundled into Michelin Man parkas and dashing pashminas -- with flip-flops on their wet bare feet! 

Are we such frontier gals that our feet, then, are the toughest part of us? Or can we simply not bear to give in entirely to seasonal chic and surrender our feet to the calendar and the barometer? 

Your thoughts are welcome, as you may have puzzled over this yourself.

Gotta go now and choose my inappropriate footwear for today.

-- Patt Morrison   

Photo: Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times


Sales: Trina Turk's end-of-summer sale through Aug. 30

August 18, 2009 | 11:59 am

L.A. fashion house Trina Turk announces its end-of-summer sale with up to 75% off retail at its 3rd Street and Fashion Island locations only. Deals cover current season looks such as a $62.30 bateau-striped top, $53.30 shorts, $99 Miami Vice tote, $177 jumpsuit and a $298.50 Waikiki strapless dress. Spend $200 to be entered in a raffle for a $250 gift card at each location.

8008 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles. (323) 651-1382. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

581 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 717-7881. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. www.trinaturk.com

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291 dives into beachwear [Updated]

July 17, 2009 | 10:17 am

291-venice

Los Angeles is the birthplace of a closet's worth of day-wear trends -- now-ubiquitous items such as Juicy Couture tracksuits and American Apparel retro cotton basics that mine and mutate the city's legendary cool. Two-year-old 291  [Updated 1:20 p.m.: An earlier version of this article and its headline incorrectly said that the label's name was 291 Venice.] aims to join the list with looks that channel the laid-back chic of Venice Beach, home of label founders Matthieu Le Blan, Christina Apostolidou and Simon Cohen.

Continue reading »

Ralph Lauren polo shirts look good, do good

July 2, 2009 |  9:51 am

limited-edition Ralph Lauren polo tries to conjure in a look-good/do-good line to raise money for breast cancer awareness Summer Fridays are a Manhattan tradition, allowing office workers to close up shop early and head out to weekend shares in the Hamptons, Shelter Island or upstate New York. That's the breezy, "school's out" feel that the new limited-edition Ralph Lauren polo tries to conjure in a look-good/do-good line to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

The $55 cropped shirts, available at www.net-a-porter.com until Sept. 25, come in summer shades such as white, green and yellow, plus turquoise and red, and they're sized extra-small  through extra-large. The net proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and other organizations supported by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and its Fashion Targets Breast Cancer initiative.

"Think casual Friday," says Steven Kolb, CFDA executive director. "The colors are bright and cheerful, and the polos will look great with summer khaki, denim or anything white."

The shirts get a graphic pop from the logo of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, the organization Lauren created 15 years ago to honor his friend Nina Hyde, fashion editor for the Washington Post, who died of the disease in 1990. The foundation has raised more than $40 million for breast cancer research, education, screening and patient care, and Net-a-Porter shoppers can donate $5 with any purchase by selecting the option on the site's order confirmation page.

"Everyone has been impacted by breast cancer," Kolb says, "and it will be a strong statement of support when you see those numbers add up as represented by women wearing the polos."

www.fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org

-- Max Padilla

More sales and specials

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Photo: Ralph Lauren polo. Credit: FTBC / CFDA


Fun summer accessories: The Jelly watch from Toy Watch

June 11, 2009 |  3:39 pm

Jellywatches  

Need more neon in your summer wardrobe? You can add that little extra splash with Toy Watch’s Jelly watch.

On its website, you can choose from 72 possible face and strap color combinations.

All watches are $175, except for the diamond pave face that is $275. Additional straps are $65, if you want more than one color option.

I like that they’re sporty and not too serious.  Summer is the perfect time to put away those precious accessories and wear something that stands apart from the norm.

During her visit to the Eiffel Tower last week, First Lady Michelle Obama wore her bright purple Toy Watch to pick up the purple design in her scarf.

--Melissa Magsaysay

RELATED:

Jelly shoes, more trends we predicted in January

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Photo: Toy Watch Jelly Watches/Toy Watch


Zanzan sunglasses make their L.A. debut

May 26, 2009 |  4:53 pm

ZZ_Rubirosa

Just when I thought I’d given up pricey sunglasses, along comes a line called Zanzan to rope me right back into buyer’s remorse. The British line combines French craftsmanship with a shot of London '60s cool, Italian beatnik and French new wave influences to make these sleek sunnies that don’t look just like what everyone around town has perched atop their noses — well, not yet anyway.

Zanzan sunglasses make their L.A. debut this week and will be available at the accessories boutique Ten Over Six. There are four styles in various colors, each selliing for $350.

— Melissa Magsaysay

Zanzan Rubirosa glasses $350 at Ten Over Six, 7427 Beverly Blvd,. Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Photo: Zanzan



Weekly obsessions: Memorial Day barbecue essentials

May 21, 2009 |  1:57 pm

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Planning or attending a backyard barbecue this Memorial Day weekend? Even though the affair will be casual, it’s the start of summer and you want to cover all your bases to look effortlessly chic, even if all you’re doing is sitting on a fold-out chair and eating hot dogs. Here are my picks for the most stylish, comfortable, all-day party clothes. Coronas not included.

See the items I'm obsessing about this week here.


-- Melissa Magsaysay

PAST WEEKS' OBSESSIONS

'80s, neon and graffiti-inspired pieces

Beach blanket bonanza

Photo: Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses, $250 at YSL boutiques. Credit: YSL


Pick of the Week – Rocket Dog Neon Sandal

May 15, 2009 |  5:00 pm

Rocket-sandal

I just came back from Buenos Aires, where I stayed in a hip neighborhood called Palermo Soho.  The name is apropos, because it has a nice mix of grittiness and sophistication, just like Soho in lower Manhattan.   

Several murals and random jots of graffiti were eye-popping fun and totally inspiring.

This week it’s all about '80s-, neon- and graffiti-inspired pieces.

To cap off the week of splashy graffiti-esque items, I’ve chosen this neon pink strappy sandal from Rocket Dog.  It’s just the right amount of pop and would look really fresh with a white summer dress. 

Rocket Dog neon pink sandal, $39.50 at www.delias.com


-- Melissa Magsaysay


Sale Rack: Aldo sparkles for summer

May 14, 2009 |  9:58 am

Aldo gladiator sandal Aldo is a semi-secret fashion shoe closet. An easy go-to store for stylists and models — Coco Rocha is a fan — the 37-year-old Montreal-based footwear chain has amassed a following with its affordable, trendy styles.

On Monday, the chain, named for founder Aldo Bensadoun, sets up shop in Beverly Hills' Golden Triangle shopping district. And with Memorial Day a week away, it has rolled out its summer-ready styles: $75 gladiators with multicolored straps, $80 drawstring suede flats and $75 flats with studs. The stores also stocks $80 cork wedges and $125 canvas slingbacks, as well as pumps, slides and flip-flops.

Men can find $35 espadrilles and $60 slip-on sandals, plus colorful sneaker styles and boat shoes.

404 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 550-7298. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.aldoshoes.com

— Max Padilla

RELATED:

Sale Rack: Deals at Rebecca Minkoff, Sean/Station Twentyfive

Events listings: fashion at the Grove, Loomstate temporary store, more

Upcoming sales and events

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Pick of the Week: Birkenstock Lemon Patent Birko-Flor Gizeh sandal

May 8, 2009 | 10:38 am

Birkenstock Each workday this week, our resident stylist Melissa Magsaysay will feature her must-have go-to pick of the day. This week's theme: What to stock in your beach bag.

The hot summer sun may not be out yet, but it’s good to be prepared with the best beach bag essentials for going on holiday or hanging out in your own backyard.

Today, it's Birkenstock's Lemon Patent Birko-Flor Gizeh sandal, $79.95 at www.birkenstockusa.com.

Birkenstock has expanded the color range on its classic Gizeh style to include fun hues such as yellow, green and purple. I love the bright pop of yellow these will give to a basic black bikini.


Thursday's pick: Kohl's canvas beach bag

Wednesday's pick: Club Monaco bandeau bikini

Tuesday's pick: Laura Mercier HydraTints

Monday's pick: La Mer Protecting Fluid

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Photo: Birkenstock



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