Sample Sale This Week!

Sorry for the short notice, but starting tomorrow and running through Friday May 30th, many of the showrooms in the Cooper Building will be holding sample sales. This is a great opportunity to shop at below wholesale prices from some great labels. I will have a small collection of my vintage pieces in Nyali Showroom on the fifth floor. For those of you who haven't been to the building, it is on the corner at Ninth Street and Los Angeles in downtown LA.

Ketchup and Mustard, part 2

Ketchup and Mustard, part 1

How lucky I am that my friend and vintage afficianado Lisa decided to part with these two fabulous Lucite bracelets. I endearingly call them ketchup and mustard obviously because of their color, and less obviously because I want to eat them up! They look great as a pair (very Ronald McDonald) or alone. They are very similar to the marbelized Lucite bracelet from a previous post.

Lanvin Micro Mini Print Dress

Someone meant for this great Lanvin dress to be worn as a shirt, I suspect. The print is a stylized zebra pattern over stripes of bold spring colors. This is one of my favorite recent finds. I'm putting it up on eBay, along with some of my other finds, starting tomorrow. I'm trying to get my eBay store to get a little more traffic. So visit HERE!

Fake Hermes Silk Bomber Jacket

A while back I found a silk bomber jacket printed with gold chains and Chanel logos- modeled after a famous Chanel scarf but clearly not made by Chanel. This jacket, too, takes it's design from a famous Hermes scarf. The Feux D'Artifice artwork is much more detailed and intricate than it's reproduction for this jacket. It's a great piece to wear out and have fun in. It shows you have a sense of humor.

1970's Gucci Keyring

Here is a well used Gucci keyring, probably from the 1970s. The goldtone finish has all but worn away however the piece still functions and I don't mind when pretentious designer items are used and abused. I mean.. who wants a perfectly polished Gucci keyring anyway?

Thierry Mugler Naughty Nurse Dress

Here is another sexy 1980's dress, this one by Thierry Mugler. Because the color reminds me of a pair of scrubs and the cut is so severe and sexy, I've been calling this the naughty nurse dress. This dress includes many Mugler signatures, including the pinched waist, notched lapel, and snap button closures. It also comes with the matching belt, the buckle on which reminds me of a piece of hardware from a 1950's car.

Kenneth Jay Lane Black and White

I love black and white cookies, so I had to grab this because the enamel looks like icing! This is a great piece to layer with others because it is so simple and graphic.

Massive Black Lucite Clamper Bracelet

So, my friend Kirsten has this same bracelet, which she found at a Paris flea market, in clear Lucite. I love it and think about it often, and assumed I would have to go to Paris to find another one. Imagine my surprise at finding a black one here in Southern California. I should have photographed it on someone since the weight and size are difficult to capture otherwise. Take my word for it, this piece is massive. The closure is magnetic and is located under the goldtone design.

St. John Enamel Earrings

This is a great pair of St. John enamel and goldtone clip earrings. They are in perfect condition.

Clutch with Jeweled Wild Cat Clasp

This is a convertible clutch in black satin with a decorated clasp flap. Gold leopard print covers the flap and a rhinestone covered pair of jaguar heads adorns it as well. The snap closure hides beneath. This can be worn as a clutch, or the shoulder strap may be employed for wear on the body. The label is Sharif, who is better known for their use of multi color patchwork in the 1980s

Rhinestone Heels for Your Sexy 80's Dresses

If you're wondering what shoes to wear with the sexy 80's dresses below, look no further than this pair of rhinestone studded fuschia Stuart Weitzman heels. From the same period as the dresses immediately below, these shoes employ the same brand of brash sex appeal with their color, height, and heel detail. In near perfect condition, they are missing a few of the rhinestones. I just wonder if you click these heels where they might take you...

A Couple of Sexy 80's Dresses, Part Two

There is no defined pattern to the sequins on this dress- it is just an impressionistic burst of rich colors. Like the post below, this dress is a mini (although not as drastically short). My favorite detail is the scoop back. This is a great party dress that would force you onto the dance floor.

A Couple of Sexy 80's Dresses

The stripes on the chest of this dress alternate between solid black stretch velvet and stretch sheer, giving a not so subtle sexy hint of skin throughout the top half of the body. As if there were anything left to the imagination, the skirt is cut unbelievably short. Just so you don't feel like a total slut, the high neck keeps this look conservative enough for a dinner date. The label is Tadashi.

Betsey Johnson Screaming Punk Mini Dress

This dress comes from the Betsey Johnson "Screaming Punk" label of the early 1980's. The body is a stretch knit that hugs every curve and the skirt is a patent-like material. This is a great summer party dress if you are under 25. Over 25? See below.

Guy Laroche Party Dress

Party all night in this fabulous dress! The combination of long sleeve and short skirt is great, and I especially love the fact that the skirt is sheer lace. The fuschia drape covers you up, though, and wraps up your hips with a big festive bow.

My Thierry Mugler Finds at Decades!

I recently paid a visit to Decades and sold them three of my Thierry Mugler pieces. In the images above are two of them- a flame bodiced mini dress and a jumpsuit with built in cat-eye brooch. These are iconic Mugler and, while I wanted to hold onto them forever, I thought now would be a good time to share them. I got these pieces several years ago. Unfortunately most women overlooked Mugler for the past 15 years. This also happened with Herve Leger. Everyone thought it looked "dated" or too costume. Anyway Decades posted these three pieces on their blog and I couldn't be happier that they are being exposed to a wider audience than I am capable of reaching. I have a few other Mugler pieces that I will be posting this week.

Spring Color: Printed Suede Vest

This piece incorporates some great details, such as the other-worldly tubing at the arm holes, the severe boxy cut, and the long length. The best detail of all is the printed suede, in purple, orange, and grey. The suede is quite thin, with the hand of ultra-suede. It has no method for closure, except some belt loops which I suppose you could use to hold a belt that would cinch it closed. I prefer it open with something very light underneath. Let this one stand on its own.

Spring Color: Linda Jackson Jacket

This Linda Jackson jacket fits like an unbelted trench or rain coat, has a funnel neck, and bold graffiti print. The buttons alternate between colors but are hidden by the placket unless it is left unbuttoned. Again, this is a very special and rare piece.

Spring Color: Linda Jackson Dress

Linda Jackson is an Australian artist and costume designer. She sold her pieces in the 1970's and 80's in the famous Strand Arcade (opened by Jenny Kee). I was lucky enough to grab two pieces by Jackson, which are inspired by aboriginal art and culture. These are museum quality pieces.