Bullet Girl Trunk Show

This LA trunk show with Jessica Meyer of Bullet Girl is not to be missed!  She does all her jewelry out of bullets.  They are gorgeous and insane wrapped into one…

The Legendary Barneys New York LA Warehouse Sale Begins Tomorrow

Get excited for 50-75% Off Regular Prices On A Large Selection Designer Clothing, Shoes and Accessories For Men and Women, As Well As Gifts For The Home.
Sale starts Aug 5 runs thru Aug 15.

Address:
Los Angeles Convention Center
South Hall K
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 310-777-5800

Aug 5 & 6 – Open 8am to 9pm
Aug 7 – Open 9am to 7pm
Aug 8 – Open 10am to 7pm
Aug 9 thru 13 – Open 10am to 8pm
Aug 14 & 15 – 10am to 7pm

Bvlgari is the Diamond of our Eyes

On the busy intersection of Wilshire and Rodeo amidst the mix of celebrities, tourists and cars that bustle by, is the gem of a store, Bvlgari. This mix of passing pedestrians and automotives seem to have polished an architectural diamond in the rough into a multi-dimensional gem in the form of this brilliantly sparkling store. When we were given the opportunity to get a tour of this Los Angeles cultural landmark, intimidation was a word that came to our mind. These diamonds weren’t just diamonds, they were the diamonds that are currently being draped across a naked Julianne Moore and two baby lion cubs in Bvlgari’s current advertising campaign. We’ve seen those pictures, and we do not look like in the nude, and we would not be looking like a red-haired seductress with lions lying across our privates. Intimidation indeed.

But when we stepped inside the store we were instantly at ease in the warmth of arcing blonde wood that enveloped us. The curves in the display cases seem to set in motion that swooping emotion every girl feels in the pit of her stomach when her eyes scan over an expanse of diamonds. The play between the linear and the curvaceous within the architecture seems to mirror the crisp cuts found within a spherical diamond. We happily ogled the diamonds, reclined on the velour sofa, and were even offered water while we waited.

The Bvlgari store is composed of three floors, with a private (fully stocked) bar taking up the upper level, looking over aforementioned intersection. Who doesn’t want a glass of champagne when seated in the lap of luxury? We were happily surprised by the amount of other luxury goods Bvlgari carries, such as handbags, sunglasses, and ties. A trip up to level two met us with all of the above.

Bvlgari is directly associated with luxury, but the best news yet is that you can have a piece of luxury for a fraction of the price with their popular, less expensive yet meticulously designed line, B Zero. Women spend the same amount on shoes these days that they could spend on a Bvlgari ring from B Zero. Even a necklace, or key chain is yours for the taking, with Bvlgari’s name and trademark clean edges stamped across the pieces. B Zero reminds us of the trademark line from that other jewelry store, the one with the robin’s egg blue colored boxes. Those boxes used to drive our jewelry obessions, but now we walk in Manolo’s and have decided our jewelry needs to mirror or shoes, naturally.

Sandy Monica Went Shopping

Check out LalaLuxe’s Nicole Pollard showing Sandy Monica a pair of cozy jeans (for the extended July gloom) at DAME in Santa Monica.

Countdown to the opening of Santa Monica Place!

We are beyond stoked that our beloved city of Santa Monica is getting a face-lift with the opening of Santa Monica Place on Friday, August 6^th. Ideally located between the Third Street Promenade and The Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Place promises to be a mall of the future, fusing together shopping, food, and an overall nightlife experience that is sure to leave a smile on all attendee’s faces.

The fashion palate is one geared towards higher end retailers, including Michael Kors, Barney’s CO-OP, Betsey Johnson, Burberry, Coach, as well as our one of favorite lines that has had multiple shout-outs in this blog, the Los Angeles based clothing line, Ever, will be opening up yet another trendy boutique. We are also jazzed about the Bloomingdale’s, whose retail is supposedly being tailored specifically for Santa Monica customers.

The dining terrace on the roof might even trump the fashion. Not your typical greasy food court, The Santa Monica Place, is providing shoppers a haven in the sky with their “distinctively different rooftop dining.” This open air palace of sorts is comprised of six different chef driven restaurants as well multiple options for more casual fare—some people really do just crave a burger and fries when doing their mall shopping. We are intrigued by The Market, which unfortunately will not be debuted until late 2010 or early 2011, but will consist of independently owned shops that sell artisanal goods such as coffee, chocolate, cheese and baguettes. Can you say merci? We think good ol’ America might be taking a cue from the beauty of France and their daily open-air markets.

For all Santa Monica residents and visitors alike, be sure to check out the events calendar at santamonicaplace.com for a comprehensive run-down on all the fun activities that are planned for August in celebration of the mall’s grand opening. DJ’s, dining, and shopping galore sounds like a good time to us! Can’t wait to have a glass of wine with girlfriends while taking in the gorgeous ocean breeze!

Lions and Karlie and Couture, oh my!

Haute couture is the French word for “high sewing” or “high dressmaking,” and specifically refers to the concept of making exclusive, one-of-a-kind dresses to fit an individual client’s size, taste, and any other wants and desires. We could rattle off our wants and desires but after watching Paris Couture Fashion Week unfold before our eyes, we are silenced in amazement.

Naturally designers like to go over the top, and who can blame them. From opulent settings to star-studded front rows, to Dita von Teese’s strip tease at Jean Paul Gaultier’s show, all eyes were on Paris.

While we salivated over all the runways, our favorite show, from start to finish, has to be Elie Saab. In recent years the design house of Elie Saab has reestablished itself as a red carpet favorite for celebrities and their couture show clearly capitalized upon this Hollywood demand. What we loved was that every piece from the show was gorgeous, meticulous, and wearable. Yes, we understand there is supposed to be a little drama involved in couture, but Elie Saab was able to pull off this drama within in the color and fabric choices, while keeping cuts and drapery flattering for all.

In terms of drama, Christian Dior brought the heat with bold color choices, layered on top of black for a dramatic statement while floral was clearly the inspiration for texture and shape of the tulip dresses. Models’ hair and makeup were also vamped up to match the volume of the dresses.

Yes, the clothes come first, but the models make a close second. The seventeen-year-old Karlie Kloss was clearly the toast of Paris as she not only closed the show at Armani Prive but also opened both Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Dior. How does one go back to high school after that?  We would bet money that there are no bigger than life golden lions in her hometown of St. Louis, M.O.

Thank god for Karl Lagerfeld, and his ability to put on a show while pushing boundaries in all directions. He opted against formal evening wear, the usual for couture shows, and instead showed functional suits that played with proportions. Cropped jackets and adjusted hem lengths updated the classic suit shape to modern standards. As for the lion? Well, Coco was a leo…

I Need, I Want, I Have to Have … Vintage Hermès Watches

This morning on BillionDollarBabes.com and selling out fast is an edited collection of vintage Hermès jewelry, watches, bags and scarves.  Don’t miss out on this amazing sale!  Our favorite from the collection were the Kelly watches with dangling lock. Created in tribute to the famous handbag that inspired its name and its buckle design, the Kelly watch plays with the signature Hermès features.  As Rachel Zoe would say, “I DIE”…

YSL Fall Shoe Collection

Here are just of a few of the reasons we love YSL for fall.  Click on the photo to see their full collection…

Insider Tip:  If visiting YSL on Rodeo Drive, ask for Roberto.  He’s the assistant store manager and the nicest, most helpful man in the world!  Tell him we sent you!

How Take Your Birkin From Ordinary to Extraordinary

You asked and we answered … with stick figure drawings, see how a vintage scarf can transform your Birkin bag from dull and ordinary to jet-set extraordinary.

1) Choose your favorite Birkin bag and scarf that compliments the color.  We prefer a Hermes vintage “16 x16” silk twill pocket square.

2) Roll the scarf along the diagonal to create a long thin cigar shape.

3)Wrap the scarf around the front handle and tie in a loose knot.

4) Presto!  Your boring Birkin has been reinvented.

A Smashing Morning with Smashbox!

Last week, LalaLuxe founder Nicole Pollard spoke at Smashbox Cosmetics (recently acquired by mega-corp Este Lauder). These gals, and a few boys, may know how to apply a lip liner, but they wanted some fun, trendy, tricks of the trade for sprucing up their all black Fall work wardrobe — belts seem to be the most flattering and chic update of them all, as Nicole demonstrates a “how-to” with a willing model below.

Nicole also put together a cheat-sheet of current fashion trends in the guise of an adorably chic pink and black folder for everyone to take notes on and then keep in their closet for a quick reference when getting ready to bolt out the door.

Nicole was able to give these girls the boost of fashion confidence so that they can concentrate on their own creative craft… makeup! And they do it well, as we got to be guinea pigs and watch them work their magic on our bone structure. Let’s just say we found an excuse to go out for drinks that night before we had to wash off that gorgeous face of creativity!