Known for the iconic wrap dress of the ‘70s that made her a household name, Diane von Furstenberg is a legendary designer who has been turning out lines of gorgeous, colorful, flowing prints for several decades. The Belgian-born designer established herself not only as a fashion icon but became a strong supporter of women’s empowerment through the years. She’s a cancer survivor and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, proving she herself is pretty tough stock.
When I heard Diane would be in LA this week, I had to figure out a way to go see her. So after a long day at work, I braved the traffic for the drive across the city to attend her book signing at her new store in Santa Monica.
Diane’s been on my mind a lot lately, I recently purchased her new memoir*, “The Woman I Wanted To Be” on audio book and I’ve been watching her new reality show, “House of DVF” on E! Entertainment. She is such a strong, stylish woman, I can’t help but be drawn to her like the many others who showed up to meet her at the book signing.
The new DVF store just opened in Santa Monica this month and it is like walking into a fashion candy store – with all of Diane’s trademark pop art-style splashes of color, metallics and prints inspired by nature and pure glamour – leaves, flowers, stars, animal prints, kisses. And while she is known for the wrap dress, she does so much more – accessories from iPad cases to scarves and shoes. I only wish I could afford them!
I did splurge to purchase the large, limited-edition table top book* “DVF: Journey of a Dress” to have her sign it and because I loved the exhibit in LA earlier this year (See Disco K.’s special report about it HERE.)
As I sat down with her on the hot pink couch in the boutique, I couldn’t help but be a bit star-struck. I’ve been lucky enough to meet a lot of celebrities since living in LA and working as an entertainment journalist, but Diane is mega, and she holds a special spot in my heart for reasons I shared with her during our brief chat.
Post meeting, I strolled around the store looking at her beautiful clothes and headed back to my car to listen to Diane’s fabulously-accented voice reading her memoir to me on the drive home. I’m on the last chapter and wishing there was more, but she’s left me inspired in so many ways. As I work towards the goals I have for myself, I think, ‘What would Diane do?’
“Be the woman you want to be,” I would hear her say.
Thank you Diane for being a role model, an inspiration, a girl’s girl and a creator of fabulous fashions!
Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) Santa Monica is located at 395 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
‘Tis the season to start shopping for holiday gifts. If you’re stuck on what to give friends and family, Modcloth put together a fab 2014 Holiday Gift Guide filled with items for her, him, trendsetters, animal lovers, party goers, vintage stylistas and more. And there are some pretty great things in there – I added a few to my own wish list!
When gifting for your fashionable female friends, I found sticking with accessories is always a sure bet. You can give something stylish to add to their fashionista collection, a practical layer of warmth or a quirky novelty item to make them smile.
I found three gift ideas to help you get your shopping list covered. Click the photo to shop* each item.
The weather is getting a wonderful chill in the air as the fall/winter season has arrived. That means it’s time to start adding some layers to your wardrobe. Layers can be a fun opportunity to play with colors and prints and textures. It can also be terribly intimidating in trying not to look like you got dressed with your eyes closed!
It’s hard not to have fun when it when you shop at Modcloth with all of their wonderful cardigan selections that can be popped over your favorite floral dress you just can’t give up after the summer. Then warm the whole look up with a cool coat and some snuggly accessories.
For this layered look, I chose a color palette of red and blue with a couple of touches of tan, plus the retro feel I always lean toward. I just love the playful nautical coat and the animal lover in me adores the foxy scarf, which will keep your neck warm over the wide Peter Pan color of the more summery dress base layer. You’ll look cute through every layer as you peel down from coat to sweater to dress as you go from cold outdoor temperatures to indoor heaters or the sun coming out in the afternoon.
Don’t be afraid to mix prints and plaids with some novelty items or a pop of an unexpected color. Layering is not only about adding warmth but adding interest. Just keep your colors complementary and you’ll be good to go!
Here are the links to shop* the items in this look:
A few weeks ago I was scrolling through Facebook when I noticed a post of some beautiful hair pieces. I saw the word “vintage” and I had to click through. It led me to the Etsy shop of Chatter Blossom and a whole collection of gorgeous floral headbands, fascinators, crowns and clips.
Soon, I was in possession of the “Spiced Cider” gold and brown leaf headband to celebrate my love of the fall season.
I contacted shop owner Jamie Lee to find out more about her collection. Turns out she makes all of the pieces out of vintage materials and started her Etsy shop 2 ½ years ago, as well as vending them at swing dance events in the North Carolina area where she is based. I asked her about what inspired the pieces and her background in millinery.
What inspired you to start creating these vintage hair pieces?
I was inspired by my grandmother in the beginning. She rooted a deep love of antiques in me and taught me to treasure their craftsmanship. As I continue, I find inspiration in old photographs and in the flowers themselves. The silks, rayons, and velvets used were gorgeous and they would make nearly everything by hand, right down to the tiny plaster dipped and painted stamens of the flowers.
The materials are vintage – do you collect them? How old are they? Where do you find them?
All of my pieces have a vintage or antique component. Most of my headpieces are made with vintage millinery flowers. Some are made with modern flowers but with vintage and antique button centers. There is a wide mix, which makes it interesting and varied for me personally. Most of my buttons are 100 years old! I have thousands in my collection and love all the details and stories they depict. My vintage millinery flowers are mostly from the 1950s with a few from as far back as the 1920s. I found the largest portion of my collection in a single warehouse, all in their original boxes with tags. It was incredible!
Do you have training in design or millinery?
I am definitely a self-taught artist. I’ve always been resourceful and creative. Luckily, the very talented people making the millinery flowers decades ago have given me great bones to work with, so I just have to figure out a way to make them wearable now.
Be sure to check out her shop. They make great holiday gifts, I know I have a few on my wish list!
Halloween is coming up quick and it’s time to get those costumes together. Nothing is worse than the last minute trip to the costume store to grab what’s left on the racks and stand in long lines for check out. When you start early there are plenty of ideas to choose from and time to get your outfit and makeup perfected – from scary ghouls to TV and movie characters to music idols and always those naughty twists on boring occupations.
I picked out a few that got me inspired this year. Click the image to shop.* I also included links to makeup tutorials from YouTube personality Kandee Johnson to get the complete look.
And don’t forget to add your own twist, you could always make Marilyn a zombie or Snow White an axe murderer!
It’s finally FALL – my favorite season! It means the weather is turning cooler, pumpkin-flavored treats are everywhere, the holidays are coming and best of all, FALL FASHION!
Living in Southern California, I sadly miss out on the turning of the leaves and summer heat lingers clear through October. But I’m making my wish list of snuggly clothes to wear when we get our mere few weeks of chill in the air – and I ALWAYS take a fall birthday vacation to a place with cooler weather (another reason I love this time of year!)
Here are some of my top picks for stylish fall fashion, click the images to shop*:
Shoes are scarves are the best ways to start bringing fall into your wardrobe, even if the weather hasn’t quite turned cold yet. This year, I can’t get enough of little oxford style “shooties” – more than a shoe, not quite a boot.
Fall means cooler weather but not quite cold yet, so light sweaters hit just the right note. I’m really picky about sweaters – they have to be soft and they have to be a little sexy or edgy because I don’t want to lose my shape or sense of style just to keep warm.
This season I can already tell will be all about leggings. There are so many prints to choose from and classic black goes with everything. I’m also loving some of the slimming designs I’ve seen coming out and black leggings with a little detail like a tuxedo stripe or this tough-looking scuba style pair.
Now for me, I don’t like wearing leggings as pants – there’s just too much butt out there for my liking. Tunics and long sweaters feel frumpy, so I like to just add a little mini skirt for coverage and then wear my regular tops, like these simple designs.
A few months ago, I stumbled across a photo on Instagram of ‘60s Lucite earrings with interchangeable clasps. I loved the idea of being able to buy silver and gold clasps and just swapping out the earring part.
I tracked down the designer, Loretta Maurencig of Blue Belle Vintage Clothing out of Australia, and discovered the variety of styles and colors she makes – many with glitter, confetti or candy-like details mixed into the Lucite making playful and unique pieces, perfect for retro fashion lovers. I had such a hard time deciding which ones to order from her Etsy shop and she also emailed me more colors and styles to choose from. I was in heaven!
Here are the ones I chose, along with a few Loretta was kind enough to throw in* for this blog:
I also learned a bit more about BlueBelle Vintage reproduction designs, which includes hair clips, shoes clips and clothing, and asked Loretta a few questions about her business and how she started:
“I love vintage fashion — the prints, colors, the eras — it tells a story. Unfortunately a lot of real vintage doesn’t fit most women today so that is why I do reproduction pieces after I do a lot of research.”
“I am a Designer/Patternmaker. The Australian market is quite small and with China invading our shores with cheap products, it has been hard to find a full-time position. I am lucky that I am a good crafter and love vintage. I source dead stock and vintage pieces that I can reproduce into unique items that have a modern feel. I may find a pair of old Lucite clip earrings in an unusual shape, make the mold, then add a mix of hand-blended glitter or other bits and bobs to the resin. I’m trying to create a niche market and employment for myself.”
Be sure to check out her designs on Etsy and don’t be afraid to ask if she has more styles than the photos posted. She provides great customer service and loves to make her customers happy.
Here’s to creative entrepreneurs,
Kastle
*Some styles featured here were compliments of BlueBelle Vintage Clothing
As fall starts to kick in – the thought of bundling up in big sweaters and coats sounds cozy but don’t forget to have a fabulous dress on underneath! Traditional 1950s-era styles are classic and ever-so-feminine. Full swing and a-line skirts provide an hour-glass silhouette. Add a layer with a crinoline slip underneath for a more extreme spin on the lady-like look.
Check out these pretty dresses from Unique Vintage. Click the image to shop*:
The club scene in the late ‘80s and through the ‘90s in Hollywood was the stuff rock ‘n’ roll history is made of. Clubs from Scream to Cathouse to Pretty Ugly set the stage for bands that became local legends and world famous – Guns N’ Roses to name one you may know. It was a playground for the wild ones, the misfits and weirdos who loved to rock. Punk, goth and glam metal all collided. We were a rock ‘n’ roll movement. We dressed to the hilt, went out every night, all knew each other, rocked to bands until the wee hours and I don’t remember sleeping much!
Drew Bernstein
During it all, one scenester among us saw the calling to make clothes that embodied the energy we all felt and how we wanted to represent. Drew Bernstein founded the fashion line Lip Service in the late ‘80s with the simple desire to make cool stuff for cool people.
Tops made of fishnet, black leggings with white dagger silkscreened patterns, sexy vinyl dresses, bondage pants and those “Stretch F*ckin’ Jeans” that every band member soon came to wear. He clothes were all over the clubs and soon all over MTV and all over the world. He would later go on to start the Kill City fashion line and rebranded his fashion empire under the name The Original Cult.
Last week we got the news that Drew Bernstein, at age 51, had passed away, by his own hand. The ripple of grief could be felt deep in our hearts as word spread across the web, on Facebook, and in publications including the LA Weekly and LA Times. One of us had fallen. I think we all found it hard to believe. Though many of us have left the club scene and gone on to start families, get “real jobs” and for lack of a better term, “grown up,” inside we still feel, wild, cool and invincible. So it’s unimaginable when one of us leaves us, and particularly difficult to grasp when it was his own choice.
Street Walkin’ Cheetah All Stars
So it was only fitting to have one last rockin’ night in Drew’s honor. A night was quickly organized by scenester and former Lip Service employee, Jeffrey Damnit and a slew of bands jumped on board. The night turned into less of a memorial but more of a celebration of Drew, the music that inspired him, and a reunion of friends who hadn’t seen each other in 10, (gasp) even 20 years!
Vylette Johnny IndovinaJunkyard
Up on stage, the bands rocked hard as ever with some of that familiar, dirty rock ‘n’ roll Hollywood is known for. On the bill was Vylette, Johnny Indovina, Jason Charles Miller of Godhead, The Atoms, The Street Walkin’ Cheetah All Stars, Junkyard, Casper and the Bad Spirits and GNR tribute band, Hollywood Roses. Between sets, DJs Lina Lecaro and Michael Stewart spun a great mix of glam, rock and punk.
Casper and with Bad Spirits with Cassandra Church
And as we all walked through the crowd, scanning faces with a “I remember you” look until the names registered in our memory and giving full-body bear hugs part in comfort for our loss and in joy of reunion, I swear for one second I thought I saw Drew in the crowd, bouncing through, giving pats on the back and hugs with his energetic swagger like he always did.
Jeffrey Damnit and Reed Bernstein
At one point during the night, Drew’s brother Reed took the stage and thanked everyone for coming. He, along with many bands on stage, spoke of how we are all family. We’ve all shared in some amazing times in the clubs together, times other people could only dream they could have been a part of. But just as life gives us good times, it will gives us bad and we have to look out for each other. Suicide has been a popular point of discussion in the media recently with the passing of Robin Williams but Drew’s death really brought it home for many of us. The moral of the night, if you think someone is in trouble, reach out to them.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Drew back in 2002 about his fashion line and I thought I would share a few quotes on his design evolution:
“I came to LA from San Francisco and I was jobless. My friend at Ape Leather asked me if I wanted to try selling belts around the Bay Area. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just took some catalogs and went marching down Haight Street. I ended up selling about $800 worth of belts in one day. That was the most money I’d ever made. Turned out I was a pretty good salesmen!”
“I used to make T-shirts for my band but I wanted to try doing leggings with a print silkscreened on them. My friend asked me what I would put on them. I had a little dagger necklace on and I just said, ‘Oh, something like this.’” I had them made and sold a batch to Retail Slut on Melrose. The next day they were sold out!”
“I had a box of old and damaged clothes and I told Izzy [Guns N’ Roses] he could have anything he wanted. He grabs this jacket that had “WAR” silkscreened all over it and he says, “WAR, W. Axl Rose! I’m gonna get this for Axl!’ So Axl starts wearing it and next thing you know the cash registers are ringing! It went international!”
“In the punk days, everyone wore tight black jeans. The materials then didn’t have stretch in them so you’d alter them so they were tapered and pegged. After doing the leggings, everyone wanted stretch jeans because they were seeing it in England but I couldn’t find the stretch material. People kept bugging me for them and I finally found the fabric and I was like, ‘here’s your stretch, f*ckin’ jeans!’ So that’s what I called them, ‘Stretch F*ckin’ Jeans!’”
As the 20th anniversary approaches for one of the defining books on the punk era, “Please Kill Me,” it was only appropriate that a reading be held at the Lethal Amounts Gallery, surrounded by an exhibit of photos of Joey Ramone, Wayne Jayne County, Johnny Thunders and others who made the New York City ‘70s scene a milestone in rock ‘n’ roll history.
On hand were authors Gillian McCain and Legs McNeil to read from their oral history, which came together from hundreds of interviews with key scenesters and musicians.
Authors Gillian McCain and Legs McNeil
Though the summer heat had the gallery steaming, and Legs was running late (really late), it didn’t sway the crowd of young and old punk fans from sticking around. Photographer Paul Zone introduced the reading and his exhibit – a majority of the photos taken when he was between the ages of 14-16 and running around clubs CBGB and Max’s Kansas City. (Man, I wish I was that cool at 14!) Zone also has his own book now available, “Playground: Growing Up in the New York Underground.”
Paul Zone
Gillian and Legs then took the mic and traded off parts reading first from their most recent book, “Dear Nobody: The True Diary of Mary Rose,” an edited diary of a teenage girl who struggles with addiction and bullying.
For the readings from “Please Kill Me,” they then called up old pal Howie Pyro to read a few pages about the death of Sid Vicious. They then wanted to find Howie’s part in the book when he was mistaken for Johnny Thunders, but since they all had different prints of the book with different page numbers, they gave up and just had Howie tell the story from memory – which ended up being even funnier than the book version!
Howie Pyro
If you haven’t read “Please Kill Me,” you can’t claim to know your rock history. Get it now. And pick up Paul Zone’s book while you’re at it. Click the images to buy ’em*.
And if you are looking to incorporate a little punk style into your wardrobe, check out these classic pieces to get a look worthy of shouting, “Gabba Gabba Hey!”
Known for the iconic wrap dress of the ‘70s that made her a household name, Diane von Furstenberg is a legendary designer who has been turning out lines of gorgeous, colorful, flowing prints for several decades. The Belgian-born designer established herself not only as a fashion icon but became a strong supporter of women’s empowerment through the years. She’s a cancer survivor and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, proving she herself is pretty tough stock.
