A Lesson in Lomography

Posted on by stilettocity

In my last report, I raved about discovering the Lomography store. Well, I made a little shopping trip to purchase a Fisheye camera. I’ve had great fun practicing using the circular framing technique that works best when you get REALLY CLOSE to your subject – much to the dismay of a my best supermodel, my cat!

I went back to learn some expert techniques including double exposure and other tricks at the Dina Mini workshop, one of the many Saturday offerings at the store. We were given a brief presentation on different ways to shoot, a loaner camera and a roll of film. Then it was off to practice. The six strangers in the class became instant friends taking pix of each other and we couldn’t wait to get the roll developed to see what surprises awaited. The fun thing about shooting analogue is you never know what you’re going to get on your film and it’s the unexpected that makes the most powerful photos. I walked out of there with yet another camera and great excuse to shoot a couple of friends in the park the next day. Take a look at my results:

Click the photos below to see the slideshows

Lomography Diana Mini Class

Friends in a skyscraper park

Until next time – shoot first, ask questions later!

K.

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Mad Men Today

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With my crazy schedule trying to take in all the Los Angeles has to offer, I don’t get to watch much TV (mainly because there aren’t many shows I like) but I do make time to watch Mad Men courtesy of Netflix. It’s pure indulgence for me to feast my eyes on the clothes and set decoration done period-perfect in the ‘60s (my favorite era!) As the show is up for yet more Emmys this year, I was excited to learn that some cast members would be doing a Q&A downtown for the LA Times Envelope Emmy Week. On hand were Jon Hamm (Don Draper), Christina Hendricks (Joan Harris), Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper) and creator Matthew Weiner. I have to say all of the cast’s stars are as impossibly good looking in person as they are on screen and while Weiner had some great behind-the-scenes tidbits, it was Shipka who stole the night as the most charming, poised tween I’ve ever seen! They all just made me love the show that much more – can’t wait for the next season!

Speaking of the ‘60s, I ventured out with some of my groovy ‘60s lovin’ pals to see Douglas Roegiers who has a Wednesday night residency at Villa Sorriso in Pasadena. Encompassing the swingin’ style of the Rat Pack in their heyday, this one-man show has the sound bigger than any big band. A smooth crooner with the presence of a true entertainer, he sang covers of the classics, danced, told jokes and mingled with the audience with the charm and tradition of an old school lounge act that is a lost art. And did I mention this guy can sing? His voice was way too big for the tiny stage and backing track at this restaurant but it just led to us to appreciate his true gift for entertaining and made for a great evening. Thanks Douglas!

Fly me to the moon,
K.

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Sixties and the City

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I recently feel in love – with a store. Invited to attend a product launch at the Lomography Gallery Store, I had no idea what I was in for. I walked into this colorful place and discovered hundreds of cameras in bright colors and designs – crazy fisheye lenses, panoramic shooters and more, all looking like some kind of crazy toys from Hello Kitty to pop art.  Lomography is the art of analog photography, all film, no digitals, these cameras perform all kinds of tricks from wild angles to double exposure to push the envelope on creative expression. With so much possibility, a creative mind could go crazy in this story – and they can help with that too – plenty of books on hand to show what can be done with these cameras plus workshops to try your hand. The store and website aim to create a Lomography community encouraging everyone to shoot from the hip, share tips, enter contests and swap photos. I’m in! The party was the release of the new La Sardina, modeled to look like sardine tin and the party theme was a night in Venice with mandolin players and sales clerks dressed like gondoliers, and don’t forget the Italian Ice- my pal Cary was on hand with his C.K. Farnsworth’s Vintage Soda Fountain serving up handmade, all-natural Italian ice and OMG those are good! All I know is I will be back to this store to start my new analog camera collection – look for some cool photos coming to this blog! In the meantime check out some snaps below from the party.

Click the photo to see the slideshow

That’s a wrap,
K.

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The Funny Papers

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I got an art fix of a different kind over at La Luz de Jesus Gallery for the opening reception of  Pop-Sequentialism: Comic Art of the Modern Age. I’ve acquired a recent love of comic book art and their characters after developing my own comic strip superhero for a work project. So this was a great way to see a whole lot of classic works under one roof and displayed as the fine art they deserve to be thought as. This particular exhibit included the Watchmen, All Star Superman, Fables and the Walking Dead, Apparently I’m not the only comic book nerd in town as the reception (which took place the evening before Free Comic Book day at all the local shops) was packed with all kinds of interesting real life characters. I managed to snap a couple of stylish girls for our Stiletto City Style Spotlight. Thanks Danni and Victoria  for letting me take your picture:

BAM! POW!

That’s it for now,
K.

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Concours d’Elegance: Springtime Joy Ride

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It’s springtime, my favorite time of year and I was lucky to be invited to some outdoor events this month, including a jaunt up to Greystone Manor for the 2nd Annual Concours d’Elegance, an upscale classic car show. The grounds of this historic estate were  blanketed with amazingly pristine classic automobiles all in impeccable condition that glistened in the LA sun like so many jewels. A buffet and picnic area was set up on the grassy knoll and a marketplace of unique vendors was set up inside the mansion itself, all perched over the stunning view of the city only Greystone can provide. I managed to tap a member of “Friends of Greystone Manor” to give me an impromptu tour of the Mansion that is steeped in LA history and myth. Just where is the secret tunnel anyway? Only an elite few know for sure! See the photos from the day below.

Click the photo to see the slideshow

Varooooooom!
K.

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Earth Month 2011

Posted on by stilettocity

April is Earth Month and it’s a great time to discover new ways to lower your carbon footprint, go to events and discover new green products.

I kicked off my Earth Month by attending the rededication of the Whaling Wall mural in Redondo Beach, where I met marine life artist Wyland. You can’t help but like this guy who is so passionate about the ocean and protecting our waters, plus he has an amazing gift of art, and I mean BIG art! Wyland painted 100 Whaling Wall murals on buildings around the world as gifts to raise awareness of the beauty of our oceans in hopes people will work to preserve them. At this event, they rededicated the 87′ x 622′ mural to Redondo Beach after Wyland did a little restoration touch-up, including two new baby whales, on the 20-year-old mural. And it is a sight to behold, if you’re ever in that part of town, drive to 1100 North Harbor Drive and see for yourself, then do your part to keep our beaches looking that beautiful.

My next green stop was at the Go Green Expo at the LA Convention Center where rows of vendors gathered to show their eco-friendly wares. I picked up some biodegradable trash bags from BioBuilt, some super cute reusable snack bags from Wrap-N-Mat and Re-Pac (no more plastic zip-locks in my lunch bag) and a gorgeously soft sweater made from organic cotton and recycled materials from kikaPaprika. I also sat in on the green pets panel and learned one key thing to keeping your pets and yourself healthy – take off your shoes when you enter your house! We carry loads of nasty toxins into our homes by the soles of our shoes! Who knew?

On the eve of Earth Day, I attended the Earth Night cocktail party at Environment Furniture. This sprawling space filled with furniture made from sustainable sources (but sadly a bit out of my price range) was a lovely setting and filled to the brim with greenies looking to connect. However, my green scenester pals, including blogger/eco-bartender Michelle Green Queen and Caramie from Solargy Comfort, spent a good chunk of time swooning over Prison Break actor Paul Adelstein (pictured here with Michelle.) Nice to know he’s a greenie! And I especially enjoyed the speech from Grist.org Sr. Editor Lisa Hymas about being a “GINK: green inclinations, no kids” because overpopulation is using up our world’s resources at an alarming rate. She put it in perspective: “There are benefits to not having kids – if I had kids, I couldn’t be here partying with you tonight!” Read her article about it on Grist here.

That’s the green scene,

K.

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Farewell Knut

Posted on by stilettocity

I am so very shocked and saddened by the sudden death of polar bear Knut at the Berlin Zoo. Knut was only four-years-old but had acquired superstardom of epic proportions. As a polar bear lover and activist, I had followed his story since his birth in December 2006. He was a tiny cub born in the zoo, rejected by his mother and lovingly raised by hand by zookeeper Thomas Dörflein. This charming, playful ball of white, fluffy fur quickly won the affection and attention of the world and began to draw awareness to this magnificent species and their plight as they struggle for existence in a world where global warming is destroying their natural habitat.

I visited Berlin in July 2007, on a very meaningful journey to see the city where my father was from. I was just as excited to visit the zoo and see the famous cub I had read so much about. I went in the early morning and stood for hours outside Knut’s pen, catching glimpses of him peeking in and out of his den, splashing around in the water and enjoying the attention of the crowd around him. I even saw Thomas riding a bicycle around the zoo, though at that point, he had been ordered to discontinue playtime with Knut so Berlin’s furriest new star could get used to life with other polar bears rather than humans.

I have been following Knut’s story since, and was also saddened at Thomas’ sudden death of a heart attack in 2008. Knut’s life seemed cursed with tragedy. There were reports of a failed attempt to partner him with a mate, a possible relocation to another zoo, and bullying from the three female bears he recently lived with. Life was not easy for Knut, and was far from normal. Only the autopsy with tell if there was any link of this to his death, but there is always speculation.

All I know is I am grieving . My tears will dry but my memory of Knut will live on – as one of my fondest memories of my momentous trip to Berlin, and as sweet little ambassador to polar bears everywhere.

RIP Knut,
K.

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Mad Men Style

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Take one look at today’s fashion and it’s easy to spot the influence the hit show Mad Men has had on it – more ladylike silhouettes in voluminous full skirts, curve-flashing wiggle dresses and pencil skirts. Women in the ’60s really knew how to express the power of their femininity, even if they didn’t quite have their equal rights yet. All I can say is thank goodness – I only wear vintage when I go out and the main reason is I don’t find modern clothes to be attractive in the way they were in past eras. But some of that is changing, thanks to Mad Men Costume Designer Janie Bryant, whose eye for fashion is transforming the way contemporary designers are creating their new lines.

And what better place to meet this taste-maker than my favorite store in town, Playclothes Vintage? Bryant stopped by to sign copies of her recently released book, The Fashion File. I have to say, I got this book for Christmas and I read it in little bites like sweet Bon Bons. It’s the ultimate fashion tell-all treat where Bryant reflects on how she built the style of the characters on Mad Men and how you can find your signature style with a just a few mindful tweaks to your wardrobe.

During the book signing Bryant was surrounded by admiring fashionistas who came dressed in their best vintage looks to show off for her. My pal Sandra D. turned up in a pink, candy-striped, strapless dress she found at a costume store clearout sale. It was the very dress that Bryant herself created for Betty Draper in Mad Men’s Season 2. Bryant took one look at it and said, “That’s Betty’s dress, where did you find that!” Then proceeded to tell us how she had added the pink stripes and bow to give a pop of “Betty color” to the vintage gown.

We had a great time hanging out with this superstar stylist, who is so down to earth you just want to invite her out with the girls for cocktails. And I personally want to say THANK YOU Janie for bringing back the idea of fabulous personal style!

And in this edition of the Stiletto Style Spotlight, I couldn’t help but notice Allyson Rowen Taylor, who stood out in the crowd in a hot pink sheath dress, artistic-looking brushed gold glasses and an ultra-chunky necklace of her own design made of found bits including washers, safety pins and various trinkets. Plus, she was great fun to hang out with! Now that’s some great style!

From the fashion files,
K.

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Academy Awards 2011

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For Hollywood’s biggest night, it was heels on as the Oscars rolled out the red carpet and the biggest movie stars of the moment strutted out in their borrowed finest. I wasn’t about to stay home on the couch with a pizza, not when my pal Margot was hosting her own red carpet event at the Egyptian Theatre where a few lucky guests were invited to watch the Oscars on the big screen in a room where many stars past and present have themselves sat. I couldn’t think of anyone better to rate the fashions with than my friends from Clever Vintage, Dave and Sabino. So we showed up with potluck offerings in hand to add to the community buffet that spread over SIX banquet tables!

Then it was into the theatre where the room was aglow with laptops and mobile devices as everyone was Facebooking, Tweeting and following the news online. And how much fun was it to watch the entire event from pre-show to awards with a roomful of friends, and friends of friends, who erupted in cheers and jeers over who won and what they were wearing!

Some of my personal observations:

Is it just me or does Jesse Eisenberg look like Paul Westerberg? Really hoping he would be the new youngest winner for best actor but he just couldn’t compete with the crown-worthy Colin Firth. Speaking of rock star look alikes, I loved Joey Ramone-clone Luke Matheny’s acceptance speech for “God of Love,” which incidentally caused the crowd to go wild as most of the film’s crew was in the Egyptian Theatre with us.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyY0KrdpSLk]

I was so pleased “King’s Speech” won best film. I did love it. Not surprising, much of the tech-savvy crowd around me was hoping for “Social Network.” But while I thought that film was good, I didn’t think it was as moving overall. However, I did love that it won for Best Adapted Screenplay because the writing was whip smart, particularly in the portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

But enough about all that – WHO wore WHAT? (Click names to see the photos.)

Best Dressed

Natalie Portman – bless her for pulling off a pregnancy with such grace in a lovely eggplant-colored gown, matching tassel earrings and perfect makeup. You know she probably just wanted to be out of those Jimmy Choo heels and at home in her PJs!

Halle Berry – somebody get me the number of her trainer stat! This woman can’t possibly look bad in anything because her body and posture are so good. Nonetheless she does always pick very elegant gown, and this strapless, frothy-trimmed nude-colored number was no exception.

Michelle Williams – channeling a little ‘60s-era Twiggy. How cute was she!? Loved the ultra simple white gown that flattered her hair.

Worst Dressed

Cate Blanchett – oh my how I love this woman, so elegant, but this dress was risky with its odd, circular front cut-out and splash of yellow around the collar. It just didn’t work for me, not even on her.

Sharon Stone – another risk taker I usually love but this ultra high hair-do was just a bit too much, especially with the sharp black dress with feather accent, she started to lean a little into Cruella de Vil territory.

Scarlett Johansson – she coulda dressed it up a little, I wasn’t crazy about the messy bed-head do or high collar lace dress that did little for her va-va-voom figure. Loved her makeup though!

From the world’s biggest runway,
K.

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One night in old Havana

Posted on by stilettocity

If you ever wanted to spend a decadent night in a classic old school Havana cigar bar, I found just the place. Nestled on the other side of an unmarked door on Western avenue, La Descarga stands at the end of a narrow passageway up the stairs, where some dashing dolls greet you in what looks like somebody’s 1940s apartment flat. These high-heeled dames give you the once over to make sure you meet their approval to be seen in their exclusive establishment. It is then that they reveal the secret doorway behind the antique armoire that leads you down a wrought iron balcony and spiral staircase to a den of decadence where the booze flows freely and court-holding gentlemen rule the roost in the backroom cigar and rum bar.

On this particular Saturday night, I grab an icy mojito – and they make a good one here – and take a seat with my man as he chats it up with the boys to celebrate our friend’s birthday. Now all this smoke and liquor is just the pre-show. The real show starts later, when the band starts up some sultry Latin sounds and all eyes turn upward as a long-legged burlesque dancer begins to slink and seduce her way across the balcony catwalk to gyrate and flirt with the band and make every man in the house drool with desire. After hearty dose of shimmying, she is gone and it’s back to the smokin’ and drinkin’, just like a good secret speakeasy should be!

Take a tour of the place here:

On a side note, if you’re planning to go to La Descarga, be sure to make a reservation through their website ahead of time. This ain’t just any ol’ Hollywood bar, you gotta be expected — and the doorman ain’t playin’ around. And be sure to dress to impress (and why wouldn’t you always?) no hoodies or sneakers (yuk!) as they take the dress code seriously – you gotta make appearances, sport!

Kastle

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