Gold Leaf Earrings

Again, these look as though they could be a detail on a chandelier, or a drawer pull, or part of an ornate molding. People should accessorize themselves the way they do their homes. It would be much more fun and way less expensive!

Deco Aztec Mask Earrings

I've been buying a lot of earrings lately and they are in the style that- had they been decorative accessories- Kelly Wearstler might use in one of her interiors. Definitely the playful jewelry like the domino earrings fit into this category. So do these for me. They look decorative. They are wonderfully architectural, with hammered gold tone structuring and open areas like windows and enamel in colors like painted walls.

Great Gifts: Nina Ricci Logo Tie Clasp

You don't have to say it- I know that no one wears tie clasps anymore. It is difficult to make a tie clasp look modern. However on a really sharp guy with well tailored clothing this could be just the accessory he needs. I really love the way the logo is subtley etched onto the face to catch the light. Once again this appears to have never been used and is in the original box. Notice the Nina Ricci logo is a lion for the men's accessories but it is a woman and child for all of the women's items.

Great Gifts: Reposting Dior Lapis Keychain

Posted this item a few weeks ago but with the holidays approaching I thought I should propose it as a gift option. It is a goldtone horseshoe shape with a Dior stacked charm dangling off. The gold ball is threaded and is removable for adding keys. The other ball is lapis. Like the cufflinks it has never been removed from the original Dior grey velvet box.

Great Gifts: Dior Cufflinks

I see vintage Christian Dior cufflinks fairly often- but not cufflinks that look so modern. Another great detail is that these have never been removed from their signature Dior grey velvet box. The gold opens up to reveal dark dark brown glass with the Dior logo. They are also signed on the stem. I'm starting to showcase some items I think would make great gifts- because they are unique, special, and in a condition appropriate for a gift. I am going to repost an older post of a Dior keychain since it fits this theme.

Nina High Heeled Salmon Booties

This color looks so fresh to me! When I bought these some stranger commented on how you could only wear them if you found clothing to match. What?!? I would love to see these worn with a completely different color- like lapis blue for instance. Like the Nina boots below, I bought these because they are special and because they have barely been worn. The color is spectacular (better in person because the leather gives it more depth). Note the cap toe detailing and the perfectly matched laces. Also I love the 70's era lining printed with the Nina logo. They are by Nina for Timothy's in a size 8.

Rhinestone Domino Earrings

Another playful and whimsical homemade jewelry option. These earrings are made from linked together domino pieces which have rhinestones in the place of the spots. These might be a little too wacky for most people but since I've started on this trend I couldn't pass these up!

Gold Shell Convertible Clutch

These bags are not that hard to come by. What is rare about this one in particular though is that it has not been used so it is in perfect condition with no scratches, blemishes, or discolorations. I've been buying a lot of convertible clutches. They are perfect for this time of year when there are many parties and everyone is feeling festive. I particularly like those with chain straps that tuck inside the bag rather than a removable leather strap. There's something sexy to me about a woman pulling the chain off her shoulder and tucking it away into the bag she now holds in hand.

Great Gifts: Enamel Gucci Logo Paperweight

This 1970's era Gucci paperweight would make a great Christmas gift. It is remarkably heavy for it's size. The case is goldtone with a raised enamel logo in their signature red. The piece is also marked on the bottom.

Rhinestone Frog Belt

You've probably noticed that I'm big on these slinky metal belts right now. I think they look right worn at the waist over a cardigan for fall layering. It's a nice transition to the inevitable high waisted look (which is already hitting big here in Los Angeles). I also love the black rhinestones against the gold (just as in the lion necklace below). The animal clasp could be a frog or a turtle or maybe something else- I'm not quite sure.

Wire Lion Necklace

What fun this whimsical lion head necklace is. He is made of wire shaped into a head and tied off to create a mane of hair and his face. There is a pearl bead and rhinestones to create a nose and eyes. Lately I've been trying to find more of this jewelry that looks homemade and personal.

Diane von Furstenberg Rhinestone Pin

Adorable little pin by Diane von Furstenberg. The rhinestones vary in size against a glossy gunmetal finished ground. The angular silhouette contrasts nicely with the rounded profile- not sure if this comes across in the photo. Wear this on a lapel or anywhere- it's just a great detail to add to your look!

Chainmail Bag with Fringe Detail

If Whiting and Davis were looking to connect with fashion shoppers they'd just have to look to this bag for inspiration. This is so fresh and new looking to me yet at the same time looks almost medieval! I love the cool silver chainmail juxtaposed with gold fringe (they might be Eiffel Towers?) The long gold chain allows for the bag to be worn across the body and the size is perfect for your essentials. Take a closer look at the chain- it is a series of doubled rings. I can't get enough of this bag and would be happy to sell it to anyone willing to knock it off and make me several versions in many colors!

Lanvin Arpege ... A Mist...

The vintage graphics of this box really turn me on! Looks designed by Alexi Brodovitch (might it have been?) My favorite part is the red band running across with the text ...A Mist... The bottle packaging is great too- the embossed logo in both the cap and the spray top. Again I'm proposing these as decorative objects although this bottle is probably full. Right now in my bathroom I have another Arpege, a Caron Bellogia boxed parfum, and a Balenciaga Le Dix. I could just stare at them all day. There's something exciting about vintage perfumes and their packaging that lacks today- any exceptions?

Nina Printed Suede Boot

I'm always drawn to Nina boots and shoes but never really buy them- it's difficult to sell vintage shoes to begin with, but it's even more difficult to sell a label that isn't a designer label. I bought these for two reasons- they have never been worn and they are sooo sexy! These boots remind me of Samantha Foxx. They are almost knee high, with a short heel. The foot is solid black but from the ankle up the suede is printed with a leopard print. It is difficult to tell by the photos but there is a slight metalic sheen to the print.

Ferragamo Envelope Clutch

This is another great convertible shoulder bag/clutch. It is envelope style with a gold tone chain strap (I've been all about chain straps lately). The strap can be tucked inside the bag to wear it as a clutch. The gold tone hardware on the front of the bag has the Ferragamo signature. Another great detail is the little corner protectors, which is a nice finishing touch.

Beaded Pumps

I don't know if you've noticed (well I'm sure my friends have) but I like to ride the border of bad taste. These could definitely go either way but they are one of my favorite recent finds. Sequins and embellishment has appeared on the runways for spring and vintage is a way to find very well crafted pieces for not so much money. The labor it takes to bead these shoes is now unaffordable. If made today, the retail price would probably hover around $400 for this label and over $2000 for a designer label. Anyway I love them- love the color combination of the gold and gunmetal, love the abstracted design, love the leather heel against the beaded body of the shoe. The label is J Renee which is usually known for shoes and bags in exotic skins.

Etienne Aigner Clutch/Shouderbag

Signature wine colored bag by Etienne Aigner. I like the simplicity of the design on this one and discreet logo rather than the huge gold A logos from the 70's that were big a few seasons ago. I also love that this is a convertible clutch/shoulderbag. Such a great bag for fall! The signature lining finishes off the bag nicely.

Sonia Rykiel Wool Slouch Shorts

So I found these Sonia Rykiel slouchy shorts years ago but they never looked right to me until now. They are wide with pleats and a high waist which I love- and they are made of a thick wool, which means Ms. Rykiel was thinking winter white as early as the late 80's (I'm guessing- anyone have a better guess?). And not just white in winter- but shorts! I would love to see these paired with either black hosiery or a vibrant color such as teal..

Christian Dior Pointalism Scarf

I love the colors on this scarf. The ground is a nude/flesh color (depending on whose flesh we're talking about) with a series of squares made up of colored dots. The dots vary in density and color giving nice tonal depth to the shapes. Simple Dior logo in the corner as usual. It is a big one- 35" square. I could see someone wearing this off the shoulders for fall- like an old lady would. Over a cashmere cardigan it could absolutely look fresh and young.

Paper Magazine in LA

Just wanted to briefly discuss Paper magazine's 24-hour department store which was open here in Los Angeles last week. The party (it was more of a party than a shopping experience) was held in a storefront on La Brea from 6pm on a Friday until 6pm the next day. I went Friday night around 9pm and spent about an hour there. The event was organized by Paper magazine and Colette and sponsored by Levis and MAC cosmetics.

So after waiting in line about an hour, I finally got into the party. The idea was that Paper and Colette would invite 25 of their favorite labels to participate and sell out of a booth. Fair enough. Probably 50% of the booths were not something I would be interested in- a skateboard company, a MAC 'photoshoot' booth, etc.. They added to the experience and brought in a diverse crowd but it just wasn't my thing. I was most impressed with the items brought by Colette. Of course they had limited edition items, including a bottle of champagne designed by Viktor and Rolf (sold-out) and vinyl wall applications designed by Jeremy Scott. I bought a few CD's . I also bought some t-shirts in the Levis booth. I loved the concept. They had 5 screen prints one could choose from and have a custom screen printed t-shirt made instantly for $5.01. Great idea, not so great execution, mostly lame graphics.

I also found out more about his label I've been interested called William B. Good. Based in San Francisco, they take discarded garments from Goodwill (otherwise destined for a landfill) and re-design them into something more wearable (actually more aesthetically pleasing). I chatted with the creative director for a while about the label and what they have planned and the direction they are moving in- I loved it. I bought a red flannel shirt with an added Eiffel Tower on the back and scripted text that reads "Gay Paree". I'm excited about the future of this label and I plan on following their progress..

One thing I was a bit disappointed in was all of the 80's things. I get that the kids are doing the 80's thing. I personally am doing the early 90's thing right now but that's another story. It's just there are only so many over sized swatch watch wall clocks and alf dolls I can look at before I feel like I'm at the flea market. There is nothing special about it- it is too obvious.. too formulaic. I expect more from Paper magazine and especially Colette. I expect visionaries. Maybe I expect too much?

Absence

This past week has been crazy and I'm sorry that I haven't updated since last Tuesday (to my few friends who have been checking up on me). Although I haven't updated I have had a few moments for shopping- though I didn't make it to the flea market this weekend. Some of my stand-out finds included an incredible artisan sterling cuff that I will photograph and post tomorrow and a pair of earrings made from dominos (I've been into this playful look lately).

I sold the Bluemarine wristlet listed below- I guess I'll have to add a tag for sold items since I don't want to remove posts when items are no longer available. Also I'll be participating in the FEM sample sale this weekend- I'll have a small booth with vintage clothing and accessories.

Also a lot of designers I know are having upcoming sample sales- I'll try to update as I hear about them but for now Pade Vavra is having hers tomorrow (Thursday) at her showroom in the Cooper Building and Calleen Cordero is having a major shoe sale at her store on Beverly Boulevard starting December 4th. Again the FEM show is this weekend so please contact me if you need more details. I will be there, as will Nyali Showroom with Giorgio Brato, S. Sun, and many jewelry lines.

Lanvin Red Skinny Belt Enamel Buckle

Found yesterday! Love this vintage (1980's?) Lanvin fire engine red skinny belt. The belt is split down the middle so that when you wear it the colors beneath peek through as you move. This is the kind of accessory that can make a little black dress. My favorite detail is the enamel logo buckle. Found in perfect condition- looks as if it has never been worn!