How I Survived the Rose Bowl Flea Market

I came to LA for one of the world's largest Flea Market for my buying trip. It was sensory overload as there were hundreds of tents offering up furniture, jewelry, clothes, shoes and plants to upcycled items. If I lived in LA, I would definitely furnish my apartment with all of the mid century modern furniture and art.
Rose Bowl Flea Market is by far the most massive flea market I have ever attended.

Here are my top 5 tips for surviving the Rose Bow Flea Market:

1. Get there early: It’s worth paying the extra $15 to get in at 8am. You avoid the crowd and can scope out the best items before anyone else. Plus if you get there early, the parking is free.

2. Have a game plan: Know what you are looking for. The place is huge and overwhelming with 2 large sections in the parking lot, and another wrapping all around the Rose Bowl. It was my first time there, so it was hard to know where to look first as I wanted to look at everything. Bad idea. Have a game plan and you'll be a bit more focused.

3. Hunt and Bargain: The fun of the market is the hunt for treasure, so spend a bit of time at each place that looks promising. Also, most vendors will give you a better deal if you ask for it.

4. Bring sunscreen, water and a hat: By noon, the sun overhead gets unbearably hot. Bring a hat and keep hydrated so you don’t get burnt by the sun.

5. Bring cash: Cash is king here, and you might loose out on something special if you don't have your cash ready and someone else snatches it up. Bring more than you think you need.

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Spring Couture 2014: Craftmanship of Dior

via style.com

The beauty of Couture is the ability to make you dream. One of my favorite shows this season is the Christian Dior Spring 2014 show. Attention was devoted to the fabrication itself; the pleating, cutwork, and latticework of sheer fabrics and translucent overlays. The past collections were more extravagant and theatrical when Galliano was at the helm, but there is quiet power over this new and more intimate vision of Raf Simons, allowing the beauty of the fabrics to be the main highlight of the collection.

Dior is fastly becoming a favorite of mine.

Go for Gold

Gold is one of the metal colors I love working with and it's one of the fashion trends that remains strong into 2014 for accessories, shoes, and home decor. Golden accents heighten every shape and form that it touches. Add a bit of gold to your outfit to add some shine.

From top left to bottom right: 1. Metallic Gold Eyeshadow 2. Painted Gold Feathers 3. Gold Cuff Anklet Heels 4. Statement Gem Ring

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a feather, flock together. More ink inspiring me this week. 

Top Left to Bottom Right: 1. Leg tattoo 2. Finch Wings 3. Owl on shoulder 4. Owl Sleeve

Gemstones

Inspiring me this week, faceted and unrefined treasures from the earth.

From top left to bottom right:
1. Nallik necklace 2. Raw Quartz and Amethyst Stones 3. Pamela Love Bangle 4. Soap Rocks

Ink

I'm constantly collecting photos of new ink on arms, thighs, and legs and they somehow manage to end up on my pinboards. A lot of my work is heavily influenced by tattoos that are illustrative and artistic, or dreamy and romantic.

My long cuffs have imagery that is very similar to tattoos. Often evoking a moment caught in time as the Bird in Flight Cuff, or embodying a type of animal as in the Peacock Cuff. Maybe one day I will get a tattoo, but wearing one of my cuffs is perfect for me.

Transparent

I've been noticing a return to plastic, resin and acrylic in clear and transparent materials. Clearly these Lucite and plastic accessories are much more modern and sophisticated the second time around.

From top right to left 1. Plastic rhinestone bag 2. Asymmetrical cluster earrings 3. Lucite Cuff  4. Maison Margiela Glass Slippers

Geometry

Though I mainly work with curvilinear lines and organic forms, the simple shape of a triangle repeated in different patterns has such a bold and striking impact. Yes, math and fashion can be sexy together!

From top left to bottom right: 1. Sheer back details 2. Triangle clutch 3. Geometric Tattoo 4. Issey Miyake Pleats Bag

Haute Couture Spring 2013: Valentino

images via style.com

I have developed a greater fondness for Valentino after seeing the film a few years ago. These are a few of my favorite pieces from Valentino Couture Spring 2013. The neckline on the right looks like piped icing on a cake.

Haute Couture Spring 2013: Elie Saab

Images via  Style.com

If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that one of my favorite designers is Elie Saab. Every time I see his Haute Couture collection, I feel like I'm drifting through clouds of pastel cotton candy. His confections are always dreamy pastel gowns whipped with elegantly placed beads and lace. The beauty is definitely in the workmanship of the lace and applique details.

Sparkle and Shine

images via pinterest

The holiday season always gets me in the mood for a bit of shine. Images of sequins and sparkle I've been collecting on my pinboards. Are you following me yet?

Feeling Feline

Images of cat inpsiration have been recently dancing in my head. Maybe the new Batman movie has something to do with it. Or maybe it's the 'cat phenomenon' on instagram where everyone is taking photos of their cat. For whatever reason, I've been feeling quite catty today.

Images above via Pinterest/ Crop Top by Sabrina Chin / Lace Cat Ears by Love at First Blush

Conversations between Schiaparelli and Prada

It would be a crime against fashion to miss the Schiaparelli and Prada exhibit while in New York. So I headed to the Met Museum with no expectations, seeing as no other exhibit could really live up to last year's McQueen spectacle. I'm a fan of Prada's, but Schiaparelli I only know from fashion books.

The fixation of Schiaparelli's 'waist up' and Prada's 'waist down' is a clever juxtaposition and dialogue between the two designers. Taking similar elements from both designers, Schiaparelli's hats and beaded jackets are paired with Prada's embellished skirts and shoes. It's a mash up of classic versus modern style, vintage and new.

Fashion runs in cycles, so it's also interesting to see how similar inspiration is reinterpreted between the decades; Schiaparelli from the 1930's and Prada in the 2000's.

I almost bought the Prada flame shoe at the Gift Shop, but I took home a lipstick pen and some postcards instead. You can't leave without anything!

Jeweled Armour

Miumiu/ Applique Bead detail/ Antonio Berardi/ Rhinestone Jewel detail

Embellished applique and encrusted jewel details resemble a softer version of protective armour.

Antonio Berardi's paneled leggings look like patterned chainmaille armor and Miu Miu's rhinestone dresses are collectively, some of the best placed jewels.

Golden Feathers

Taking inspiration from the M's of fashion (Marchesa and McQueen), my new Leather Feather Earrings were influenced by the golden feather dresses made by these two fashion houses. I'm not entirely sure how they gilded their feathers, but I tried to figure out a technique that would work on leather.

The gold leaf on the earrings sparkles in the light and illuminates the earrings from all angles.
It's like wearing gold jewelry but without the weight. They are now available in the Love at First Blush shop.

Sheer Delight

I've been collecting beaded chiffon pieces and sheer tops lately, so I'm all for the embellished sheer trend gracing the runways lately. Every designer has a different interpretation, but here are my favorites.

Prabal Gurung/Alberta Feretti/ Gucci via style.com

Sketchbook: Reasearch and Development

My moleskin is an organized mess of fabric, ribbon, leather, and lace. Bits of inspiration, dye tests, and colour stories, are all written down in my book for ideas I'm considering. I guess you can tell I really like pinks and blacks. That wasn't always the case though; I grew up hating the color pink. It was also the color of my room which I repainted when I was old enough.

Something tells me I need to get a new moleskin. It's already exploding at the seams!

dye testing colors

swatches of fabric

Spring Haute Couture 2012: Cosmetic Hues

The Haute Couture shows didn't disappoint this spring. The models are gorgeously swathed in cosmetic pales, delicate lace details at Valentino and Elie Saab. Always something to inspire our imagination.

Inspiration for the sketchbook.

Elie Saab / Valentino via style.com

Halloween Inspiration: Birds of Prey

Posing with wild fowl is just another day in a model's life and Toni Garn makes it look so easy. Photographed by Greg Kadel for Numero, leather, lace, fur and feathers never looked so good together.

This Halloween weekend, I made some last minute costumes with what I had in my closet. I rocked a Vampy Goth costume the first night and then dug around in my closet for a puffy underskirt and leggings the next night. I managed to find a sparkly cat mask that I couldn't help but wear all night.

I hope you all had a great Halloween weekend!

via Fashion Gone Rogue

wardrobe: Patti Wilson
model: Toni Garn
makeup: Mariel Barrera
hair: Laurent Philippon

photography: Greg Kadel

Vintage Lingerie and Corsets

Inspiration can come from anywhere, but most of the time, it comes from my lingerie drawer (most I have never worn). Too pretty or delicate to wear, I collect them for sources of inspiration. I'm like that with shoes too.

I have yet to add Vintage Corsets and Support braces from the 1920's to my collection, but they fascinate me in a completely different way. They are loaded with such history, I am curious as to who has worn them and under what types of dress.

They seem to tell a story of their own.

 veramode / bubblepipe