Tag: Los Angeles

Unique Vintage Fashion Show with the Satin Dollz and Hollywood Hotshots

Posted on June 14, 2015August 15, 2015 by stilettocity

Summer in California can be magical. The sun is so bright it seems to make everything sparkle. On a Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica, the vintage-loving crowd didn’t really need any help looking bright and cheerful in their retro threads as they gathered for a rare daytime event that included a fashion show from Unique Vintage and entertainment from the Satin Dollz, and wild, swingin’ dance moves from the Hollywood Hotshots.

Taking place poolside at the Shangri-La Hotel, with the sweet sounds of the Dean Mora Band and DJ Dr. Nate playing in the background, the acts rotated from singing numbers, the fashion show and dances. It was never a dull moment and I’m not even counting the great people watching in the fine-dressed crowd. The leader of the Satin Dollz took a moment to thank everyone for coming and marking their 10^th anniversary by stating Los Angeles has the country’s best vintage scene. Well I can vouch that it certainly is a lot of fun! And it was a good opportunity to wear my new Voodoo Vixen spectacle-print dress with the cross-strap detail I love! Check out the pix:

Outfit of the Day - Dress by Voodoo Vixen — Outfit of the Day – Dress by Voodoo Vixen

The Hollywood Hotshots, Satin Dollz, Dean Mora Band and DJ Dr. Nate are available to book for events. Shop Unique Vintage* at the Burbank store or online.

Until the next event,
Kastle

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Tags: Dean Mora Band, DJ Dr. Nate, Fashion, Hollywood Hotshots, Kastle Waserman, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Fashion Blog, retro, Satin Dollz, Stiletto City, Unique Vintage, vintage fashion, vintage inspired fashion

Tag: Los Angeles

Rock Those Heels: Chris Francis Shoe Designs at CAFAM

Posted on June 1, 2015August 15, 2015 by stilettocity

Most ladies know, a good pair of shoes is an art form. But self-taught designer Chris Francis takes shoemaking to a whole level. Creating awe-inspiring footwear from a variety of materials and found objects, he turns mere shoes into sculptural pieces.

I attended the opening reception for his current exhibit at the Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM), and felt like a little girl in a candy store – so many beautiful, theatrical pieces that stretch the boundaries and blow your mind as to what a shoe could be. From big chunky leather platform boots to delicate pieces with colorful textiles, each piece was a delight.

I especially loved the punk-inspired shoes, layered with scraps of leather to look like a motorcycle jacket, dotted with a Sex Pistols button, and giving attitude with broom bristle spikes. Reminded me a bit of my own mohawk back in the day (see image here!)

It’s not surprising to see such a piece from this designer, a former punk himself, he still carries himself with rock ‘n’ roll style and many of his clients include rockers such as Runaways’ Lita Ford and Motley Crue’s Mick Mars – whose last (foot mold) was seen hanging in his shop, set up in the CAFAM front room for the duration of the exhibit.

And I had to take a moment to pause in front of the shop to examine his tools of the trade. (Of course I had to wear my shoe print dress and killer heels for the event!) His shop looks like it’s a trip into a time machine of the type of craftsmanship almost left to the history books. Brushing aside the current techniques of mass production to create shoes, Francis instead uses vintage tools and makes each shoe by hand.

The results are clearly pieces made with love and passion for the art of the shoe.

Be sure to stop by and take a look at these masterful shoe creations and visit Francis in his shop there at the museum through the duration of the exhibit. Check the CAFAM website for his schedule.

The Craft & Folk Art Museum (CAFAM) presents Chris Francis: Shoe Designer through September 6, 5814 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA Admission $7.

Kastle

Shoe photos courtesy of Chris Francis/CAFAM

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Tags: CAFAM, Chris Francis, events, fahion, Kastle Waserman, Los Angeles, museum exhibit, punk, shoe art, shoes, Stiletto City

Tag: Los Angeles

Rebel Bingo: Old Game with a New Twist

Posted on May 9, 2015 by

For many people, hearing the word bingo brings to mind images of silent septuagenarians hunched over stacks of bingo cards and straining to hear the numbers on their cards get called. It’s a game that’s much more commonly known as an idle, quiet pastime, and having existed since the 1500s, it’s hardly anything anyone would call revolutionary.

A London-born version of the game, however, is set to change this and the way that we view bingo in general. Finding its new home in Los Angeles and New York, the elusive Rebel Bingo* had been an underground show for a while, before finally “coming out of the shadows”.

Calling Rebel Bingo the “Black sheep of the bingo family,” Freddie “Fortune” Sorensen and James “Flames” Gordon accidentally developed the game in a church basement, after chancing upon a bingo set. According to an article on the LA Times: “After the night was over and we would relax with a few drinks, we noticed there was an old bingo kit stored down in the basement, and one night we started fooling around,” says Sorensen, who prefers to go by Fortune. “We didn’t know the rules, so we made it up and gave away silly prizes. It spread through word of mouth and turned into this cult thing.”

How exactly is Rebel Bingo different from “traditional bingo”? Fortune says that the point is to be as different from traditional bingo as possible. More a show than an actual game, Rebel Bingo is standing up against the traditional, established form of bingo – the one that we all imagine as soon as we hear the word. Paul Bradley of the LA Weekly writes, “Fortune’s telling, there’s the bingo 99 percent and the bingo 1 percent, and this rigid order is kept in place by a boring old guard that’s intent on stopping the lively young upstarts represented by Fortune’s ilk who want bingo to be fun, freaky and flirtatious. “We do have pretty hard and fast rules … as every rebel should,” he says. No. 1 is “no old people” — followed by “no boring people.””

It may seem a bit odd that someone should have such strong feelings for bingo, but it’s worth noting that Fortune and his crew hail from the UK, where bingo is quite a big part of their lives. There are TV advertisements for online bingo portals, and the BBC reports that there are now over 350 websites offering online bingo to Brits. Information on Free Bingo Hunter, a website dedicated to cataloguing these bingo portals, shows that they often have events and promotions that play on world events. What is nothing more than an idle pastime for most of the world is a force to be reckoned with in the UK, and Fortune and his friends have sought to subvert the established order of traditional bingo and turn the game into something more in line with the interests of the youth.

Now what to wear to an event like this? In sticking with the non-traditional bingo theme, something sexy with a rebel spirit would be a good fit, like this form-fitting scuba knit dress with deep-V mesh neckline, paired with a bright blue moto jacket*.

Don’t forget accessories* like this fun bingo charm bracelet and tote bag.

Already having been held in 25 cities all over the world, Rebel Bingo continues to play shows in Los Angeles and New York regularly.

Though the show began as invite-only, you can get tickets to the show and sign up for their mailing list on the Rebel Bingo website to see where they’ll be playing next.

BINGO!
Kastle

Rebel Bingo photos courtesy of Flames and Fortune/Rebel Bingo

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Tags: bingo, events, Fashion, Los Angeles, Rebel Bingo

Tag: Los Angeles

The Makeup Show LA 2015

Posted on April 19, 2015August 15, 2015 by stilettocity

The Makeup Show returned to Los Angeles for a full weekend of makeup artistry, brands showcasing their best products, demonstrations, makeup tips and business advice for those working to make a career in the industry.

Taking place at California Mart downtown, the show drew cosmetics enthusiasts as well as professionals to take it all in, many of whom come as walking advertisements for their style and best makeup looks. Of course, I had to put a cute outfit together for the occasion, with my new Unique Vintage dress featuring faces all over it. I always enjoy the makeup demos and a chance to check out the best of the brands that are hoping makeup artists will take advantage of the show discounts to load up their kits and bloggers like me with try something new to write about.

The show was packed for both days and it seemed everywhere you turned there was another exciting makeup demo taking place from classic looks to airbrush art to over-the-top editorial looks.

I caught a few demos including one from Shanna Cistulli for Cinema Secrets working her magic on my pal Doris Mayday (also known as model manager for Pinup Girl Clothing.) The demo also included some words of wisdom from Makeup Artist Legend/Cinema Secrets Founder Maurice Stein who stressed the importance of cleaning makeup brushes after every use! I caught up with Maurice after the demo and asked if makeup artists really don’t clean their brushes – he said some reuse brushes on SEVERAL clients before cleaning them. YUCK – can you say breakouts and illness!

On Sunday, I caught a great demo by Helen Philips for Sephora using Sephora’s impressive collection of colorful eyeshadows that come in different finishes from matte to shimmer to mirror to glitter. She also gave a pro tip for makeup goofs – if you use makeup remover to fix a mistake and have a hole left in your foundation – use primer to fill it. I tried this a few days later and it works like a charm!

Out in the booths I checked out Sephora’s eyeshadow and blushes that can be easily take out of their packaging and put in a customized palette. I also liked the T3 Micro’s line of curling irons and hot rollers that promise to leave hair shiny and smooth with bouncy curls. And I caught up with the Besame booth to find out what lipstick is seen on my new favorite show “Agent Carter.” Her secret weapon? Besame’s Red Velvet!

Check out more pix from the scene:

And now for my Makeup Show haul! I came home with lots of exciting new products to try including:

Senna’s Brow Shaper Duo – Eyebrow Coloring Powder (with growth enhancers) and Pomade in Blonde
Senna’s Form A Brow Palette in Ash Blonde
Senna Lip Lacquers in Bling Bling and Meltdown
Beauty Blender Sponge Collection* including the Original, Pro, Pure, Miro Mini and cleanser
Le Maquillage Professionnel Contour Palette
Le Maquillage Professionnel Makeup Mixer
Gold Sin Jewels Metallic Temporary Tattoos
Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer*
Cinema Secrets Ultralucent Mineral Powder in Warm Light (Best Powder EVER!)
Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner* – keep those brushes clean!
Dollup Beauty Case – innovative case with magnetic side for color palette, makeup brush holder and pop up mirror – perfect for travel or taking to work. Love this!

The Makeup Show takes place in cities including LA, New York, Orlando, Dallas and Chicago as well as pop up shops, throughout the year. Check the website for the next one near you!

For the love of makeup,
Kastle

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Tags: Beauty, Cinema Secrets, Cosmetics, Doris Mayday, Helen Phillips, Los Angeles, Makeup, Maurice Stein, Shanna Cistulli, The Makeup Show

Tag: Los Angeles

Modcloth: In Real Life

Posted on April 10, 2015 by

Modcloth did it again. Hands-down one of my favorite places on the web to shop for their super cute selection of retro inspired fashion. This week, Modcloth brought their to-die-for inventory to Los Angeles for a weekend pop-up shop. I was one of the lucky few who scored a ticket for the sell-out opening day (they limited entry so there would be room to shop) and from the moment I walked in, I was immersed in Modcloth-land filled with displays of adorable dresses and playful accessories.

The shopping experience was set up so you shopped “looks” on display, pulled cards for each item you wanted to try on. The fitting room had one of each size of each item. You find out what fits and then order it with assistance from their helpful staff and get it shipped with FREE express shipping!

I tried on a killer bad girl top, the prettiest spring dress (part of Modcloth’s original designs) and a netted-top dress I absolutely fell in love with.

Shop* the looks:

With Only a Wink Dress

Make the Most of It Top

Down To a Fine Art Dress

Accessories were available to buy on the spot and I went home with some black roses earrings and sassy heart-shapped sunglasses.

Oh Modcloth, please open a permanent store. So much fun! Thank you!

Modcloth IRL runs through April 11 in downtown LA. Get tix.

Stay stylish,
Kastle

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Tags: Fashion, Los Angeles, Modcloth IRL, pop-up store

Tag: Los Angeles

Tonga Hut’s 10-Year Reawakening Party

Posted on March 21, 2015 by

When Jeremy Fleener purchased the Tonga Hut in 2005, he also bought a lot of history. The bar, with it’s Polynesian décor that was the trend in 1958 when the place first opened its doors, has endured a few rounds of generations rediscovering Tiki culture and coming to the otherwise sleepy strip mall in North Hollywood for fruity libations and a good dose of relaxed escapism. In the 10 years that Fleener has been in charge, the bar has grown in popularity, boosted by theme parties that include vendors and cookouots in the back parking lot, bands playing, a killer jukebox, great bartenders, and adding names to its Royal Order of the Drooling Bastard club who drink from the legendary “Grog Log.” They’ve even expanded to a Palm Springs location.

To celebrate the 10th year of its “reawakening,” Tonga had, what else, a big ol’ party with a parking lot vendor sale, coconut-themed art show, Durangos Tacos and DJ Tonga Tom spinning outside while DJ Dan Moses kicked off an evening 60s dance party inside. I went to check it out and came across some great Tiki fashion while hanging with pal and fellow writer Lina Lecaro. Check out the scene:

Tonga Hut is located 12808 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606

Tiki on!

Kastle

Tags: Kastle Waserman, Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles, Stiletto City, Tonga Hut

Tag: Los Angeles

Getting my Tiki on at Kahuna Tiki

Posted on January 25, 2015August 26, 2015 by stilettocity

Tiki Culture is alive and well in Southern California – from the annual Tiki Oasis convention to multiple tiki bars around town, we can never seem to get enough of the Aloha spirit.

So I was excited to hear about a Tiki restaurant opening in my area. Tiki Kahuna in North Hollywood offers a great setting as close as you can get to being on a tropical island in the big city.

The atmosphere is lit with Tiki torches, red and gold lamps and a fire pit in the middle (it’s a little dark but everyone looks great in that lighting!) and seating is mostly outdoors on picnic-style benches. (Bring a jacket, it can get chilly at night!) There is indoor seating in a small, enclosed area where they make the sushi rolls but it feels bright as a supermarket compared to romantic outdoor area.

The sushi is pretty good, we tried out a mix of different rolls and sashimi. The salmon sashimi was quite tasty and the Long Board roll was an explosion of flavors with tempura salmon, cucumber inside, mango, avo, salmon on top with a drizzle of sweet orange sauce and garlic ponzu.

The service was friendly and at one point one of the waiters saw me struggling with my chopsticks and brought me a set of training sticks (plastic chopsticks that are attached at the top to make them like tweezers). I think they were probably for little kids but I was happy to have them!

The only drawback to this place, other than being a bit chilly sitting outdoors, is they don’t have a liquor license so no Tiki cocktails for us, which a big part of Tiki culture. There is a Tiki Bar in the setting but it’s used as a waiter’s station. I would go back for a meal just for the ambience but it would be extra fab if I could have a big fruity cocktail with an umbrella in it, especially when the weather warms up!

Kahuna Tiki is located at 11026 Magnolia Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 91601 (818) 853-7447

Tiki on,
Kastle

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Tags: kahuna tiki, Los Angeles, North Hollywood, sushi restaurant, Tiki culture

Tag: Los Angeles

Sparkling LA Zoo Lights

Posted on January 2, 2015 by

I love driving around seeing the creative lights on homes around the holidays. It just makes everything feel more festive. For years, lights were featured along Zoo Drive leading up to the LA Zoo but the cost, the traffic and impact on the neighbors but the brakes on that event. Instead of dimming the lights for good, the zoo decided to decorate and allow visitors to walk the route, creating a fun family and date night event. While no animals were on display with the exception of a pen of rarely seen reindeer, the lights were the main show. And with LA experiencing an extremely cold kick-off to winter, I recommend grabbing a cup of hot chocolate along the way! Here’s a peek at what I saw:

LA Zoo lights will be on display through January 4, 2015. LA Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sparkle on,
Kastle

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Tags: Christmas lights, holiday, LA Zoo, Los Angeles

Tag: Los Angeles

LA Fashion Week 2013: My Three Top Picks

Posted on October 18, 2013 by

LA Fashion Week has been happening all over Tinsel Town this week with fashion shows from Downtown to Hollywood. My dance card has been rather full trying to hit as many events as possible to check some well-known and emerging designers. Lots of women’s fashion ideas for Spring/Summer 2014. Each event has been its own creative feast for the eyes and I must say the people watching in the audience has been almost as entertaining. The fashion crowd knows how to pull out some style! I saw a lot of bling, stilettos and general “bring it” attitude. A nice change from going out and seeing people in flip-flops and track suits (which pains my eyes!)

Most of the shows have featured several designer showcases back to back and few music acts and performance artists to mix things up. While some fashion collections I was admittedly underwhelmed by, three stood out to me for ultra unique silhouettes, interesting cuts, use of textures and patterns. And of course, my picks all seem to have a little retro influence (what can I say, I love that!) but use it in very modern, wearable ways.

My favorites included:

Sue Wong, Nuvula, Emily Daccarett

Check out what they showed on the runway:

Stay tuned for a full report of all the shows I saw during during LA Fashion Week!

Stay stylish,
Kastle

Video filmed and edited by Kastle

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Tags: Emily Daccarett, Fashion, fashion blog, fashion show, fashion video, Fashion week, Hollywood, Kastle Waserman, LA Fashion blog, Los Angeles, Nuvula, retro inspired fashion, Stiletto City, Sue Wong, Women's Fashion

Tag: Los Angeles

Sixties and the City

Posted on June 30, 2011 by

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.

Tags: '60s, 1960s, analog camera, C.K. Farnsworth’s, camera, Cary Farnsworth, La Sardina, Lomography, Los Angeles