Cheers and best wishes for a happy, healthy, successful, and great 2013!  2012 consisted of very many weddings, trips, and fun times with family and friends.  I was able to grow in my career, and also grow personally :) We never know where we will be in one year's time, but I am sure it will be an interesting twelve months!  Something different I am doing this year is to start off the year with an empty jar and fill it with notes about good things that happen ... I will empty the jar in one year and reminiscence on all the awesome stuff that occurred.  Watch this space for more posts, photos, and random thoughts from yours truly.

It is almost Christmas Eve, but it has felt like the holidays have been in Los Angeles forever thanks to The Grove! I attended a party at the Madewell store hosted by Nylon magazine and Nylon's West Coast fashion editor, Jazzi McG. It was so nice to meet her, and also enjoy the ice cream treats from Coolhaus. The Grove is a great place to be during the holidays, it "snows" nightly and there are so many lights, making you really feel like you are a part of a winter wonderland. Also, a few blocks down, on Melrose, there are funky boutiques, like the one pictured below. Perfect gifts for your hipster friends ;)  Hope you all get a little something in the next week, whether it be from a "secret Santa" or a holiday card from your neighbor. 

Finally made it to Target to check out the Target x Neiman Marcus x CFDA collaboration.  I bought the Marchesa dresses for girls in size large and had hoped to fit into them; but no such luck.  The pink dress would not zip all the way in the back and the white dress was too high on the neckline.  Everything in the Holiday24 collection is beautiful and well-made, but unfortunately, there was no piece that I felt like I needed to have.  Did you all go and purchase anything? 

I am really enamored with a new video posted online showing Jay-Z riding the subway to his final show at the Barclays Center and explaining to an older lady sitting next to him who he is.
"Are you famous?" she asks.
"Yes.  Not very famous, you don't know me.  But I'll get there someday," says Jay-Z, reinforcing his ambition and hustle.
The next presidential hopefuls should step down because Mr. Shawn Corey Carter is establishing himself as the next President of the United States.  Awesome :)  

Ok, as everyone knows I am a Chanel girl.  Not that I have anything against the other big players in the fashion game, but Chanel will always be my favorite, my obsession, my true desire.  This video from Louis Vuitton, though, is clearly giving Chanel some competition.  Candy-colored clothing on street style blogger models, Paris, a trendy video artist, rainbow bright Ladurée macarons, and beautiful purses.  This is definitely going on my Spring/Summer 2013 want list!


Louis Vuitton presents "Small is Beautiful!" from Louis Vuitton on Vimeo.

For Thanksgiving this year I will be having dinner with my family and then taking a red eye to Costa Rica ... I am very excited to say the least, and will, of course, blog photos and stories upon my return.  But for the most important news - I finally joined the 21st century and purchased an iPhone 5!  As a matter of fact, I am writing this blog entry with it.  So, to most people today is Thanksgiving, however it feels like Christmas to me ;)

A congratulations to Mr. Barack Hussein Obama II on his second term as the President of the United States of America.  I, too, believe in the American Dream and hope that all future presidents exude as much hope, unity, and optimism as he has.  It is my belief that one day all the political divisiveness will be overcome, and our great nation will truly exemplify the name that it has and be "united"! 

Halloweekend has passed and there were certainly a lot of treats had, including a Crumbs cupcake, a "Where the Wild Things Are" party at Blok, and, of course, the famous parade through West Hollywood. Although the rest of the country is suffering through hurricanes and cold weather, we have a constant 78 degrees on this (lucky and appreciative!) side of the nation. And while we are on the topic of the nation, go out and vote on Tuesday!

Last year I dressed up as Nina Sayers in Black Swan for Halloween, along with thousands of others!  This year I hope my Halloween costume is a bit more unique, although it is inspired by another popular film ... I have already gotten plenty of treats this week, but will be seeking more tomorrow :)  Enjoy the festivities, everyone!

Last week, as part of Los Angeles Fashion Week, I had the opportunity to attend the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion 2012 Runway Show on Wednesday night at the Vibiana hosted by Catt Sadler.  Maybe it was the grandiose atmosphere of the venue, but I felt as if four years ago, when I first attended this event in 2008, it was more intimate, the designers were willing to take risks, and there was a creative energy in the room.  This year, it seemed like there was a disconnect with the fashion.  Even the models, already very tall, were more out of reach than usual with their five-inch Jeffrey Campbell-esque platform heels.  Nevertheless, I wish all the designers who presented the best of luck: Crybaby Presents, Shaina Mote, OmniPeace and Korovilas.  A couple of photos below, from my (very distant) view!

Solange might have legs that go for days and is the sister to one of the world's greatest singers, but I can certainly rival her style skills ;)

Am I the only one who loves the Chanel hula hoop bag?  Chanel has created everything: a guitar case, paper flowers and headpieces, a surfboard, and even a compact all-in-one set.  It is only natural that Karl would bestow upon us a glorified towel rack-slash-purse-slash hula hoop.  Thanks, Karl!

"It's for the beach.  You need space for the beach towel, huh?  And then you can put it into the sand and hang things on it, and things like that." -- Karl Lagerfeld

I had a run in with a very lovely lady yesterday at Bloomingdale's - Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere - and I thought that a lot of bloggers would be interested to know that she is very sweet, personable, and down to earth.  Also, just as pretty and put-together in "real life" as she is on the blog :)  Now, I was obviously coming from work, hence the bare-face, corporate jacket, and unbrushed hair, but I did want to share this photo with all of you.  Happy weekend!

A little inspiration for the world's oldest obsession: Marie Antoinette and weddings. One of my closest and dearest friends got married in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, one of the halls of the Los Angeles Music Center. The bridal party gained access to a few of the private rooms, which were all very grandiose, lavish, romantic, and Marie Antoinette-inspired. I paired together some of the photos from the wedding with some still shots of the film, and voilà! - a fairy tale comes alive.

It is Labor Day 2012, which means the end of the summer 2012 season. I have been terrible at blogging this summer, mostly due to beach days, weddings, bachelorettes, bridal showers, engagement parties, birthdays, graduations, trips, pool parties, and, of course, the usual summer shenanigans. Summer in Los Angeles has been HOT, an upward of 100 degrees most days in the Valley. My trips this summer consisted of a brief Vegas weekend, and a couple weeks in Toronto and Montreal. All in all, it was a good summer, and I look forward to cooler temperatures and increased blogging in the months ahead. Thanks for the continued support, dear bloggees :D

Today I went from the opening of Le Brunch at Bagatelle Los Angeles to a birthday party in Manhattan Beach to a Mother's Day dinner. Brunch turned into a club scene, as diners started dancing on tables and sparklers accompanied the drinks. The birthday turned into a sports tournament, as we played a couple of fierce volleyball games and even a round of beach bocce. The dinner turned into a celebration of memories and the making of new ones, as we crashed a wedding at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. It was a an eventful and fun day. And, here is a gorgeous video to top it all off!

Went to a baby shower this past weekend, in which I purchased a ballerina onesie for the baby girl. Now, thinking about ballet fashion and how I can incorporate it more into my life. Every lady needs a ballet-like dress and headband! Also, First Position is finally in theaters in Los Angeles. I have been hearing about this ballet documentary for a while since one of my friends is on the crew, and based on what he has told me, it is emotional, involving and compelling, and I cannot wait to watch it! If you have seen it already, please let me know how you like it :)

Designer knockoffs are nothing new. Famously, Forever 21 is actually best known for their propensity for copying clothing designs, making cheaper versions, and selling them in their stores. To my amazement however, just a few days after buying a dress and a shirt from Urban Outfitters, I spot the exact copy, albeit both cheaper in price and quality, at TJ Maxx.

Below is a photo of the pink Sparkle & Fade sleeveless chiffon shirt I purchased from Urban Outfitters, and underneath it, the green Myth sleeveless shirt I spotted at TJ Maxx. Both are cut in a relaxed, swingy silhouette with a high/low hem, buttons down the front, and a pointed collar. The only differences are the colors and the price point. Urban Outfitters still has the product for sale online, found here: Sparkle & Fade Sleeveless Chiffon Shirt.



Below is a photo of the orange Coincidence & Chance lace revel dress I purchased from Urban Outfitters, and underneath it, the ivory Monteau lace dress I spotted at TJ Maxx. Both are cut with a fitted bodice and full skirt, with sheer mesh accents at the shoulders, a chiffon lining, and a back zipper closure. The only differences are the colors and the price point. And, after checking Urban Outfitters online, they still have the produce for sale, even available in the same ivory color, found here: Coincidence & Chance Revel Dress.



Now, I might be guilty of a little purchasing of designer knockoffs, mostly jewelry and purses from downtown (please do not tell Karl!) but I am totally against this blatant copyright infringement. It might stem from the attorney in me, and it might just be that I like to encourage innovation. Designer brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton have a very recognizable symbol and status. The prestige of the company grows when more and more people can recognize their trademark symbols, such as the signature interlocking double-C for Chanel or the LV monogram for Louis Vuitton. Knockoffs of those trademarks then, do not diminish the actual product. In fact, some might argue that it makes the purchasing of the real items that much more illustrious. On the other hand, brands at Urban Outfitters, such as Sparkle & Fade or Coincidence & Chance, have no recognizable trademarks or known logos. They are simply designing the trends of the moment. For other smaller brands to knock them off just shows a lack of originality and creativity, and it diminishes the clothing lines at Urban Outfitters.

Now, there is nothing I can do about this, per se, but I hope that all of you fashionistas and trendologists take a moment on your next expeditions to the mall and make sure that you are not purposely purchasing a stolen idea -- its all about conscientious shopping :)

A couple weeks ago, I went to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and stumbled upon an installation of photographs by Shadi Ghadirian, an Iranian artist who recreated looks from the Qajar dynasty in Persia. She dressed her models in vintage clothes, but also added modern elements to the traditional scenes, juxtaposing the past with the present. Here are a few pictures I took of the photographs. If you are in Los Angeles, be sure to check it out soon -- the installation concludes in about a month!

I have been too busy to resume with my ballet classes, but am feeling inspired after seeing these Arsenal players give it a try! I might just pop into the studio sooner rather than later ...

Happy Naw Ruz from Tehrangeles!

In anticipation for tonight's "Shahs of Sunset" premiere on Bravo, here are a few photos of a real Shah and his beautiful wife, Farah Pahlavi.

My job right now involves flying to random states, and staying in cities most of the population has never even heard of. To add to the list, I recently went to Butte, Montana. Population: 34,000. While the population is roughly the same size of Calabasas, the difference is that Butte is spread over almost 1,000 square miles, while Calabasas is spread over about 13! So, it was interesting, to say the least. Below are just a few snaps of the happenings in Butte (or lack thereof).

Karl Lagerfeld for Metro! Karl has the ability to make anything relevant again, even the newspaper :) I really liked his recent comments in the Metro: "I do what I want because I have fun, you know. I don't want to be the designer who designs one look that you're known for, for the rest of your life, and then he disappears and he dies ... I like the continuity to play with fashion. I have no problem, no reason. I do Chanel, which is the French version of me. And Fendi is my Italian version ..." Oh, Karl, you are a true renaissance man, trying your hand at everything.

Once a year I watch professional football: for the Super Bowl. This year was no exception, and I loved it all, from the Volkswagen commercial to Clint Eastwood's somber but positive messages, Madonna's classic bright performance to M.I.A. flipping off the cameras, the touchdowns to the dramatic end. Most of all, I appreciated Gisele's encouragement of Tom. The email she sent to her friends and family asking them to pray for Tom and her embrace of him after the game (while wearing a Rick Owens leather jacket and Chanel purse!) really showed her genuine support and love. Anyways, just being at the Super Bowl automatically makes you a winner; all the players, coaches, and those associated with the teams should be mighty proud of themselves. Go Teams! Go Gisele! Go World Peace!