Not So Usual Suspects - n.a.w.a.l's Top 5 LA Fashion Haunts

-Slow 7474-

Forget your local recycled clothing store because when we’re talking vintage you can’t beat this Mecca. The mixture of American antique and boho chic, generates a well worn feel that is both inviting and detrimental to the wallet. Twisted steel, exposed brick and wood accents,  together with a desert/post apocalyptic presence makes the experience not just vintage heaven but architecturally enjoyable. Selling  anything and everything from shoes, clothing, accessories, as well as their own line As Is, they are always my first stop after LAX. For those who can’t get there soon enough -  they now ship internationally!

7474 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles CA, 90046

http://www.slow7474.com/

http://www.asisla.com/

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-Kaitlyn – 

Talk about bang for your buck! This small boutique chain are great for getting latest styles at great prices. I love the Westwood store and always find myself walking out with a swag full of items that were a definite need, not just a want.

Westwood Village

1065 Broxton Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90024

http://www.kaitlynclothing.com/

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 -Anthropologie–

Certainly one of my diehard favourites. The two storey store in Santa Monica displays an aesthetic mix of converted loft and country America that serves as the perfect stage for the fashionably comfortable apparel that fills their racks. Great for an alternative to your regular season staples, Anthropologie basics always offer their own unique take on comfort and style. Their home ware lines are wonderfully personable and range from knick knacks right through to bedding, curtains and rugs. Whether I'm shopping for myself or buying gifts for others, I can always rely on Anthopologie to be holding the goods! 

3rd Street Promenade

1402 Third St. Promenade

Santa Monica, CA 90401

http://www.anthropologie.com

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-Casare Paciotti–

Not for the lover of bargains but no matter your shopping budget you can’t help but stop to ogle the striking footwear on display (even if it’s just to window shop). The craftsmanship and unique design, materials and colour palate make Mr Paciotti’s creations somewhat of a “must see” season attraction.  At circa $1000US a pop, a closet full of Casare Paciotti may be unrealistic, but we can always dream!

9528 Brighton Way 

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

www.cesare-paciotti.com

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-UCLA Campus Store–

Probably not the typical retailer you’d see on a fashion list, but out of all the items in my overstuff wardrobe I have to say that my UCLA apparel are not few or far between. Whether its around the house of running down to the supermarket, I live in my branded sweatpants, department tees and oversized hoodies. Combine great quality and the fact that their apparel often gives the illusion that I'm sportier than I actually am (and possibly smarter being UCLA and all... sorry USC but maroon isn't really my colour!) and you have the answer as to why this university store made my list!

www.uclastore.com

FOUND! Cosmo Anyone? No I'll Have a Manhattan with a Twist of Moroccan Oil Thanks!

Im pretty sure when the people at Drybar were coming up with their concept, they had me in mind, well at least the modern city dweller that values the necessity of well styled hair without the price. I’ve been told that I’m lucky to have the hair I have. My long thick tresses that resemble the curly version of Beyonce when not blowdried, may be on many peoples wish list, however wanting it and actually having it are two entirely different things. When done properly (by all you fabulous hairdressers out there – shoutout to Jessica from Drybar New York and Jen from Maurice Meade Perth) even I am jealous of my own hair. Trying to recreate the hairdressers creation on my own never works and I definitely can’t afford a standing bi-weekly appointment at any regular salon.

ENTER: Drybar! 

All they do is blowouts for today's woman (and man) on the run! Their staff is amazing and quick, their pricing is affordable, and you get to pick from a variety of styles (personal fav The Straight Up and The Cosmo) from their bar menu. Couple this with bright yellow architectural accents (if you didn’t already know colour makes me happy) and the latest rom-com on the flatscreen, then tickle me pink... I’m one satisfied customer! One problem…. At present they only inhabit the US, here’s hoping (and pryaing for all problem hairowners of Australia) they reach our shores soon!

www.thedrybar.com

Googling Juan Gris

I'm not ashamed to admit that I regularily use the Google homepage to keep updated with  various holidays and birthdays of influential and historically relevant personas. The dedicated images created in holiday theme or for a celebrated recipient always brightens my morning (this does tend to confuse co-workers when I'm celebrating the birth of a 200 year old, but hey, I am easily pleased by bright colours and fun shapes!).

Today's image was in tribute of Juan Gris, who I have now claimed as one of my favourite artists. The cubist painter whose 125th birthday it is today, uses bold colour, shapes, angles and objects to depict his impressions of places, people and situations. Familiar with various cubist artists such as Picasso and Braque (and yes I do understand that one Art Appreciation class at UCLA doesn't make me an expert) I appreciate the ingenuity in the contrasting colour and detailed subject matter that is imbedded in the abstract shaping. Officially a Juan Gris groupy (bandwagons don't take much for me to jump on), looks like I'll have to take a trip back to MoMA to check out the originals, or at the very least the website...

http://www.juangris.org/

http://www.moma.org/

All That Glitters... Is David Guetta!

First of all, walking into Roseland Ballroom is exciting in itself. The 75+ year old ballroom on 51st Street, that housed the likes of Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire and countless others, was like walking back in time. The low ceilings, curved walls, oversized stairways and dark wood fit right into my minds eye of what the original ballroom would have looked like in its hayday. However for the night, this old-world venue was being transformed into a liturgy of colour, light, imagery and sound.

Doors opened at 9pm with various DJ's warming the crowd up with remixed favourites and coloured fanfare. Guetta started at 1am and continued on into the night finishing up at around 5am (this I'm not exactly sure as we had to pull ourselves away at 3am due to early morning schudules, however I'm sure the music was still going when we woke the next morning).

The set was incredible and just seemed to get better and better with each song that passed. Awesome to see the likes of Travis Barker mixing it up with the general crowd, rather than in the roped off VIP section. His oversized snow jacket and tattoos gave him away, but on a general scale no one noticed him and he was able to enjoy the music the same as the rest of us. Highly recommend seeing Guetta if you get a chance - for all  Aussies he's playing Creamfields early late April/early May and you can grab tix from Moshtix http://www.moshtix.com.au/

http://www.roselandballroom.com/

A New York Intro

First cab off the blogging rank (literally and figuratively) is a dedication one of the most influential cities in the world. For its old world glamour and collective new age slant on metropolis living, New York City has become one of my favourite urban destinations to date. Having first visited the city in the mid 90's at an impressionable age, I would have been forgiven for being intimidated by the sky-scraping skyscrapers, the hustle of the average New Yorker, the ever changing atmosphere of the burrows, the clanging of the underground and the unforgivable current of yellow taxis. This coupled with the understanding that my mother wouldn't enter the city wearing her expensive watch in fear of someone chopping her hand off to steal it made the city seem impossibly impenetrable and otherworldly to me. Move forward to 2012, a little older and having had let go of that comforting hand (that luckily was never chopped off), I was given the opportunity to spend two solid weeks roaming the island and I can now safely say that New York has one me over and I am now officially on the Carrie-esque bandwagon called "I Heart New York".