Category: Fashion

London Calling: TopShop Comes to LA

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k150_17heel iconWhenever I’m in London, I make a point to hit TopShop. I’ve been known to do some serious damage to my credit card in that store, stuffing my suitcase with their unique, fun styles. I’ve longed for the day it didn’t take an international flight to shop there. So I was especially excited to hear they were opening in Los Angeles.  Last weekend, I ventured over to the Grove — early in the morning to avoid the crowds — to check out the newly opened TopShop/TopMan LA.  I found plenty of eye candy from bold print skirts and tops, comic book graphic splashed skirts, vintage-looking, beaded party dresses and a wall of shoes I could have easily filled my closet with.

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I headed for the fitting room with an armful of skirts and dresses and emerged with some purchases. However, not without discovering many of the sizes run small and most of the skirts in the store did not come in sizes larger than an 6 or 8, so there wasn’t an option to buy a larger size to avoid everything being ultra skin tight. I overheard other people commenting in the dressing room that everything was running small on them as well. Buyer be warned.  A few skirts I really wanted I just had to put back on the rack. Sorry, the stuffed sausage look isn’t my thing!

To make up for my disappointment, I headed for the accessories and found some super cute checkered and houndstooth print ankle socks and a Peter Pan collar-style necklace made out of faux pearls. I was able to put them together for an awesome ‘60s style outfit for club Spin Out that night. See pix below.

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And check out the video of TopShop’s opening celebration:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvg-ZckH95c]

See a slideshow peek inside the store HERE.

TopShop at the Grove in West Hollywood for a little bit of English style!

It’s tops!
Kastle

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Category: Fashion

FabCounsel: Connecting with Style

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k150_17heel iconAt a recent networking party, I met Mary Vallarta, a petite dynamo in the fashion industry who has a passion for what’s trending in style, a head for business and a special social skill for connecting people. Having a background as a buyer and plenty of experience in the fashion biz, she decided to put her know-how to and connections to good use. She founded the FabCounsel to help people succeed in the fashion industry.

FabCounsel provides a wealth of resouces on how to break into the industry on its online site and Mary (pictured here) hosts events around town to give people interested in the industry the opportunity to meet and learn from each other. I recently attended her event “How To IMG_5811.jpgSell Your Fashion Line to Buyers and Retailers,” which took place downtown at chic boutique Brigade. A roomful of fashionistas filled the room to hear from esteemed panelists that  included: Alicia Allen, Director of Men’s Apparel for HauteLook, who spoke from her work in the corporate retail world, Kuo Yang, owner & founder of Brigade sharing his perspective as a small boutique owner and what he looks for in buying people’s lines to carry in his store, and Vanessa Lee, an experienced sales executive who’s worked with companies including Eight Sixty, Collective Concepts, Creative Commune, Daniel Rainn. She shared her knowledge in the art of selling, how to approach buyers, what to prep for before a sales meeting, what to bring to the meetings, how to follow up.

Some notes:

  • You have 15-20 seconds to make your pitch – know how to sell what you’re offering.
  • Know your target – where you fit in the market and the void that you fill.
  • Build your contacts – people want to do business with people they know.
  • Incentivize – offer something to get you in, a partial commission or something creative.
  • Build great collateral – line sheets and a look book that shows your designs. Get press clippings.
  • This is LA, go after celebrities and gift them items. While New York and Paris have the big fashion shows, we have red carpets. Those are our fashion shows.

Afterwards there was plenty of mingling, shopping and of course, checking out each other’s outfits! Here are the party pix:

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Just fab!
Kastle

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Category: Fashion

Mod About Style

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k150_17heel iconIf you’ve ever seen me out ‘n’ about, you may have noted I like to wear a lot of vintage, but I always ground it with something modern be it my shoes, a pencil skirt or handbag. I found a site the must of have read my mind in this approach to style. ModCloth features a mix of new clothes that are modern, some that look vintage and some that are actually vintage. They appeal of my sense of mixing it up.

I go ga-ga over their coats, ogle over their shoes and giddy over their dresses.  And right now they are having a MASSIVE Cabin Fever Sale to help you beat the post-holiday blues with a new outfit. But hurry, items are selling out fast!

Check it out HERE*  

 

Go mod,
Kastle

*Disclaimer
Photos from ModCloth via Pinterest

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Category: Fashion

The Domestic Dame: Sweet Style

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k150_16heel iconWhat’s cookin’? I’ve got something sweet to get you excited about prepping your next meal – retro style aprons from The Domestic Dame. Taking a cue from the ‘40s and ‘50s, these adorable accessories come in a variety of fabrics from sheer organza to practical cotton, with little heart shaped pockets and elegant trim. You’re sure to look sweet and maybe a touch of naughty when you’re wearing this around the house. Wear them at your next dinner or cocktail party and you’ll be the most stylish hostess on the block. Paired with the right outfit, they could even work for a hot nightclub outfit.

The Domestic Dame also makes loungewear that is sure to embrace your innocent kitten side with baby doll nighties and bloomers for mid-century style charm.

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The Domestic Dame aprons and loungewear are available at stores around Los Angeles and online.

Being a happy housewife never looked so good!
Kastle

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Category: Fashion

PARTY PIX: Vintage Vortex 5 Opening Party

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I love a good opening party, especially when it involves vintage clothing, memorabilia and some of LA’s coolest retro-lovin’ scenesters. This past weekend I found myself at the opening of Vintage Vortex 5, a new space on Sunset in Los Feliz that features a collection of vintage vendors selling their best stuff. I spotted amazing handbags and shoes, a collection of vintage lunch boxes, a Barbie ballerina bag, a mod checkered shoe bag, ‘60s and ‘70s evening gowns, sweet ‘50s pleated dresses, and Cher-worthy fringed numbers.

But best of all I spotted some great people! Check out the party pix:

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The Ladies of Vintage Vortex 5

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With Lauren of Domestic Dame Clothing

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Vintage Vortex 5

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Members of  The Germs/Celebrity Skin and DJ Kari French

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  With Dave and Sabino of Clever Vintage Clothing

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Pucci-scarved poochie, Terrence

Be sure to stop by Vintage Vortex 5, just down the street from La Luz De Jesus/ WACKO at 4517 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90027

Party on,
Kastle



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Category: Fashion

A Conversation with Edith Head

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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.

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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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Category: Fashion

Movember: Get Your Mustache On!

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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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Category: Fashion

The Sock Bun: How-To and A Man’s Opinion

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Putting hair up in a sleek bun is always a classic look – those ballerinas always appear so lovely, don’t they? Even more flattering and fun is a chunky, slightly messy bun, which is what made the “sock bun” a trending look this year.

Not hip to the sock bun? Yes, it’s created using an actual sock and it gives that bun some volume to make it more stylish.

Here are the steps to create the look:

  • Snip off the toes off a sock. (Make use of those orphans whose partner got “lost in the dryer!”)
  • Roll the tube of fabric into a doughnut.
  • Pull your hair into ponytail on top of your head.
  • Pull the sock doughnut onto the ponytail and push down to the base.
  • If your hair is fine or short and needs some umph, give the ponytail a little teasing.
  • Pull the hair around the sock doughnut to cover and bobbie pin at the base, wrapping the ends under the sock doughnut.
  • Leave it a little messy for a full, sexy bedhead look.
  • Voila, you’re a supermodel! This also gives you a little statuesque height so work it!

My Sock Bun

Now if you don’t want to use a spare sock, Claire’s just came out with a hair doughnut made of mesh, which also allows you to stick bobbie pins in it, nice!

And what do guys think of the sock bun look? My boyfriend seems to like it. Of course you don’t have to tell them there’s an old sock in your hair! I had a good LOL at an article I came across on The Frisky who got one man’s opinion on finding out his date had a sock in her bun –

“I would be taken aback if I found out she was stuffing her hair bun with a block of aged Parmesan.”

Read more in the The Frisky HERE.

So have fun with your new hairstyle, it’s a lifesaver on bad hair days!

Rock the sock,
Kastle



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Category: Fashion

Fashion’s Night Out 2012

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Fashion’s Night Out took place around the world last night and I for one wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to catch fashion shows, beauty bars, fall collection debuts, giveaways and special shopping discounts. We headed straight for the Beverly Center to catch the opening ceremony and fashion show. It was jam packed with excited fashionistas and the people watching in the crowd was almost as interesting as what was happening on stage. After the first of two fashion shows that featured looks available in some of the mall’s stores, we hit the shops in search of great fashion and great deals. Though we wanted to make it to the happenings on Robertson and Melrose, the traffic was so bad just to get to the Beverly Center, we decided to stay there for the second fashion show from Forever XXI and it was worth it as they showed some inspiring looks for fall – it’s all about patterns and layers ladies!

While my taste leans more towards unique vintage than mainstream mall looks, I do like to mix it up with some trendy pieces. My pal Fabby found a cute mini skirt and mod jacket (with a free goodie bag!) and I found a few cute accessories (with an FNO discount!) and plenty of photo ops in the creative outfits people wore for the night. In trend spotting news, the short-in-the-front-long-in-the-back dresses (also known as the “mullet dress“) seem to be all the rage and it does look mighty chic with a pair of stilettos! I also saw a lot of big, and I mean BIG, chunky earrings.

Click on the photo below to check out the photo and video slideshow for a roundup of all the action:

Dress like you mean it,
Kastle



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Category: Fashion

Pin Up Girl Boutique: Va Va Voom!

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If ever there was a night get your va-va-voom on, it was the opening of the Pin Up Girl Boutique last weekend. Located along the increasingly vintage fashionable Magnolia Park in Burbank, it was a welcome addition since Pin Up Girl Clothing, (which carries brands such as Deadly Dames and Dixiefried) had only been available online up to this point. And let me tell you, when you’re shopping for a form-fitting wiggle dress, it’s really hard to eyeball the size you need from a picture. Now all pin-ups, and aspiring pin-ups, can go to this gorgeous new boutique and try on these glam dresses and see how they look on.

The opening was a night to turn up the glamour. The shop is a pop of colorful girly-ness, filled with vintage-inspired dresses, shoes, handbags and a beauty bar. All of the Pin Up Girl models from the website also work the store and they are jaw-dropping knock-outs in real life including, Micheline Pitt, Doris Mayday and La Cholita. There were so many curves, red lips, eyelashes, big hair and high heels, it was hard not to feel like you stepped into some alien planet of glamazons! As the band, Nick Waterhouse sat in the back waiting to go on, surrounded by wall to wall beautiful women, I overheard someone say they uttered, “This is the best gig we’ve ever played in our life!”

Nick and the boys rocked the house, cocktails were had, shopping was done, makeovers were given in front of broadway-style Vanity Girl Hollywood* mirrors, it was indeed a reason to celebrate. Check out the party photos by clicking on the photo below:

The Pin Up Girl Boutique is located at 3606 Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, CA.

You can have your very own Vanity Girl Makeup Mirror at home! Shop for the lighted Makeup Stations* as used in Pinup Girl Clothing Boutique pictured here!

Go glamourous or go home,
Kastle

*Disclosure


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