Month: November 2012

Exploring the California Mountains

The long Thanksgiving weekend was the perfect time for a little getaway from the city. Lately I’ve found myself drawn to quiet, outdoorsy open spaces away from the crowds and traffic of LA. We took a trek up into the California Mountains to go exploring and found ourselves in the Frazier Park/ Pine Mountain area.

Life moves at a slower pace there and feels much more in touch with nature – after all, your neighbors are bears and mountain lions so you have to learn to live on their turf. We booked a room at the Old Bear Bed & Breakfast, run by the delightful couple Maxine and David, both artists (David, a voiceover actor and Maxine a painter), who offer a quaint country house filled with charm and two sweet dogs. Our stay consisted of soul-nourishing hikes through the woods (no stilettos here!) and an arts and crafts fair, where I bought one of Maxine’s paintings as a souvenir and reminder of this tranquil little oasis. See the photos below.

 

 

I must say the trip has me eager to explore more scenic outdoor spots in my home state — and maybe pick up a good pair of hiking boots! Stay tuned!

And now back to my regularly scheduled city life,
Kastle


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Month: November 2012

Vanity Girl Hollywood: Bringing Glamour to the Party and the Home

Living in Hollywood, an abundant amount parties and clubs is a regular perk of the city.   At many events you’ll find a DJ, a bar, maybe even a goodie bag full of product giveaways. But one entrepreneurial woman is offering something us beauty lovers can really get behind – mini makeovers to liven up your look while you’re out. Maxine Tatlonghari, founder of Vanity Girl Hollywood*, began bringing beauty bars to the party – and I can’t believe we went without them for so long! If you are lucky enough to attend an event she is at, you can grab a cocktail, sit down in a chair in front of one of her fabulous mirrors, and have one of her “glam posse” of professional makeup artists give you big, sweeping eyelashes or a colorful new pout.

CLICK HERE to read all about it in my recent report on Yahoo! on how Maxine is setting a new trend of beauty bars as entertainment.

CLICK HERE to  check my previous Stiletto City feature interview on how Vanity Girl Hollywood came to be.

SHOP for your own Vanity Girl Hollywood Makeup Mirror!*


Be the star you are!
Kastle

Photo courtesy of Vanity Girl Hollywood
*Disclosure



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Month: November 2012

A Conversation with Edith Head

If you’ve ever ogled over some of the gorgeous gowns in classic films such as what Elizabeth Taylor wore in “A Place in the Sun” or Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday,” then you must be a fan of eight-time Academy Award winning costume designer, Edith Head.

Known throughout Hollywood as the funny little lady with black bangs and dark-rimmed glasses, she created some of the most glamorous silhouettes to ever hit the screen and dressed Tinsel Town’s most beautiful leading ladies.

PauletteGoddard_edithHead

Actress Paulette Goddard in an Edith Head design

Though she passed away in 1981, a little theatre production and one amazing actress is giving fans a chance to get to know this amazing, creative and feisty woman.

“A Conversation with Edith Head” offers an evening with the talented designer inside her studio. Actress Susan Claassen not only looks like Ms. Head but has the facial expressions that you can only imagine Edith would make and completely cracks you up with some perfectly-timed quips and icy stares, especially when her inquisitive helper and host of the show Stuart Moulton asks her one too many questions or gently corrects her own recollections of Edith Head trivia.

Co-written by Claassen and Paddy Calistro (fashion journalist and author of “Edith Head’s Hollywood”), the production weaves Edith’s life story into what feels like a very personal sit down chat, as she gives some behind the scenes gossip of fitting stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly and Bette Davis. She also takes questions from the audience and doesn’t hesitate to step out into the crowd and assess everyone’s outfits – you better dress to impress if you’re going to see Edith Head!

Kastle with Susan Claassen as Edith Head

Wearing some of my finest and favorite vintage, I got an “Edith Head Approved” badge after the show (an honor!) and was lucky enough to take a photo. Even though it wasn’t the real Edith, I really felt like I spent an evening with the woman and I was as star struck as the real deal!

What an amazing night – thanks to this very special cast who gave so many of us who are fans of Edith Head and her fabulous designs a chance to get to know her in such an intimate and interactive way.

“A Conversation with Edith Head” is an absolute delight. You can check out some clips of the show on YouTube but it may be a bit of a spoiler – you really MUST see this in person. But hurry, it only runs at the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre through December 1st!

For more Edith Head designs, check out the Stiletto City Edith Head Pinterest board.

Here’s to you Edith!
Kastle

You might also like >>> VIDEO: October 2013 Favorites in fashion, beauty and music!

Photo of Paulette Goddard from Wikimedia Commons 

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Month: November 2012

Fasten Your Seatbelts: It’s Pam Ann!

I recently came back from a trip to Eastern Europe, and on those lonnnnnnng flights across the ocean, not only is it helpful to bring a carry-on bag full of entertainment, but it’s also nice when the flight attendants are pleasant.

We got lucky on our flights both ways – from the impossibly gorgeous, Dutch blue-eyed blondes on KLM Airlines to the well-groomed, pop star-looking Frenchman on Air France. But none were quite as fun as my favorite air hostess, Pam Ann.

Risqué, hilarious and full of va-va-voom, Pam Ann, is alter ego of Australian comedian/writer/producer Caroline Reid. Her look is an exaggerated spin on the ‘60s-era Pan Am Airlines flight attendants, but her outrageousness pushes the boundaries even for today. She’s been hired for Elton John’s private jet and has toured with Cher, as well as performing on stage and on television. You can read all about her on her website, catch her on tour (hope she comes to LA!) and purchase her DVDs, or enjoy good some laughs from her many YouTube videos such as these:

Thanks for flying with us!
Kastle

Photo from Westend.broadwayworld.com via Pinterest


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Month: November 2012

Public Image Ltd.: John Lydon Still Brings Some Rotten Mischief

 “Whoever you vote for, make sure it’s the right one.”

John Lydon had the election on his mind at last week’s PiL show at LA’s Club Nokia. Wearing a black and white color block shirt, neon orange suspenders, graphic art shoes with striped socks, and his tangerine-blond hair at spiked attention, Lydon led PiL, his post-Sex Pistols band of the last 30 years, through a 2-hour set, while still bringing a little bit of Johnny Rotten many came to see.

Read my full review on Yahoo!

And do what Johnny says – VOTE!
Kastle

Photos of John Lydon by Kastle Waserman


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Month: November 2012

Movember: Get Your Mustache On!

It’s the start or November, or I should say MOvember – a month-long effort to raise awareness of men’s health issues, when men grow their facial hair and raise funds to help battle deadly diseases such as prostate and testicular cancer.

I must say, this is soooo important! My father battled prostate cancer TWICE and thanks to the advances in treatment, he’s still here and thriving.

Now I can’t grow a mustache but in case you haven’t noticed, there is certainly a mustache fashion trend going on. The mustache has appeared on necklaces, t-shirts, nail art, hanging from sunglasses and more in the past year. I think part of the trend came from women wanting to participate in Movembers of years past and had to find a way to do it. Then like the smiley face in the ’70s, someone decided it was pretty cute and started putting it on everything, like these fun items from Claire’s!  So now I can join in the cause of Movember with a donation and little accessorizing!

Mo’ for it!
Kastle

* Items featured in this blog were purchased by the author



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