FNO LA On A Time Crunch

Fashion Night Out or FNO is only one day away! Unfortunately for me I have to work late tomorrow night (hate it when my job gets in the way of fashion). So, I only have a very limited two hours to enjoy fashion’s biggest night and MUST only attend the very best. Here is my itinerary for the night:

8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (ish) – Rodeo Drive FNO Party

The party includes a huge Ferris wheel in the middle of Rodeo Drive (free ride for two with any purchase), flamethrowers, stilt walkers, 100 in-store events, and a Roaring Twenties-themed cocktail party at Lanvin.

Rodeo Dr., b/t Santa Monica & Wilshire Blvds. For a list of participating shops, go to rodeodrive-bh.com.

9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (ish) – West Hollywood FNO Parties.   

There will be too much FNO fun going on in WeHo that I must limit my options to a few great parties.  If you have more time to spare, check out the City of West Hollywood's FNO website for more info: http://www.fnowesthollywood.com/.  Plus, they are providing a free shuttle around WeHo so you don't ruin those pretty heels.

3.1 Phillip Lim and Refinery 29 Big FNO Bash

This fab party includes a performance by Cults, tequila, and Xoia eats.  Proceeds from that evening will benefit the Silverlake Conservatory of Music.

631 N. Robertson Blvd., b/t Melrose Ave. & Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood (310-358-1988)

Opening Ceremony FNO Party

OC is throwing a Argentinean themed party which includes vino, music and exclusive FNO merch from brands such as Pamela Love and Suno.  They will also be kicking off their country collaboration with one-of-a-kind blankets and personalized leather bracelets by RTH.

451 N. La Cienega Blvd., b/t Rosewood & Oakwood Aves., West Hollywood (310-652-1120)

Christian Louboutin FNO Party

Most likely the chicest FNO party, it will include complimentary hairstyling by Frederic Fekkai and custom Louboutin lashes from Make Up Forever.  They will also unveil two limited edition FNO-exclusive styles.

650 North Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood (310-247-9300)

NSF Ron Herman FNO Party

This party will have a free-flowing beer bar, which should entice your other half to join you. Besides the beer bar, NSF will also debut its exclusive Ron Herman denim wash and there will be a NSF tee giveaway.  Plus, this party lasts until 11:00 p.m.

8100 Melrose Ave., at Crescent Heights Blvd., West Hollywood (323-651-4129)

10:30 p.m. (ish) – West Hollywood FNO After Party at Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel     

If I’m not ready to go home after the festivities have ended, I might end up at the WeHo FNO after party. There will be complimentary glasses of champagne, delicious fruit tarts from früute and a presentation of a new t-shirt collaboration with local designer Dirtee Hollywood + Patrick Brian Hoelck. A limited number of gift bags will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

8440 West Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood (323-848-6025)

For a roundup of all FNO parties in LA check out Racked LA: 

http://la.racked.com/archives/2011/09/07/and_all_the_rest_of_the_fno_parties_right_here.php

Boutique Shopping in WeHo

Last Saturday, the City of West Hollywood hosted it's 3rd Annual Structure & Style, a special tour of some of WeHo's trendsetting fashion boutiques including Alberta Ferretti, Church and Roseark.

Our first stop was Alberta Ferretti on Melrose Ave. The lightness and transparency of the store really complemented it's collection.  The mannequins and display mounts on the mirrored walls are all magnetic and come off easily, which allow the design of the store to change at a moments notice (pretty cool!).  I just couldn't get enough of a 70s style shaggy light green coat on display. Definitely my favorite in the store.

Fashion Flashback - Herb Ritts 80s and 90s Style

I love it when my job and passion come together!  Today, at the museum I work at, which sits on a hilltop overlooking Los Angeles (can you guess which one that is?), I announced the acquisition 69 photographs by fashion and celebrity photographer Herb Ritts.  Since I do a fashion flashback column a few times a month, I thought I would dedicate this one to Herb Ritts's Style of the 80s and 90s.  Ritts had an amazing way of capturing high-fashion in a dramatic and absolutely beautiful style.  He also helped with the rise of the supermodel and the reason why we know Cindy, Naomi, Christy, Stephanie, and Tatjana by their first names.

Versace - Veiled Dress, El Mirage, 1990, Cindy Crawford - Ferre 3, Malibu, 1994, Tatjana - Veiled Head (Tight View), Joshua Tree, 1988 (all by Herb Ritts, © Herb Ritts Foundation)

British Vogue Cover by Herb Ritts

Related Article: 

The Photograph That Kicked Herb Ritts’s Career into High Gere

Click here for more Fashion Flashback photos

The Trend of Affordable Luxury Fashion Is So Not Over

This fall there are absolutely no excuses for not being on trend because three major luxury designers, Karl Lagerfeld, Versace and Missoni, are releasing affordable collections for Macys, H&M and Target.  Just when you thought this trend would be over soon, it seems to have picked up momentum...and no one is complaining.  Although this may not be news for some, it's definitely a handy reminder to mark your calendars for when these collaborations hit the stores.

Missoni for Target ad

Missoni for Target (available September 13) is the largest designer collaboration to date for Target with over 400 pieces, including men's, women's and children's clothing, and home decor. Target is putting quite a lot into the advertising and marketing that even their promotional video will allow viewers to click and buy directly from the video online...AH-Mazing!

Karl Lagerfeld for Macys

Then there is the Karl Lagerfeld collection for Macys "Impulse" department (available August 31), which I'm still drooling over! Karl was the first H&M designer collaboration in 2004 and it was a huge success, however, he was "embarrassed" that H&M "didn't make the clothes in sufficient quantities," which resulted in the collection being sold out in a matter of hours. He felt it defeated his intention of making clothes available to those that couldn't afford to shop at Chanel. Hopefully this means he's made sure Macys will produce more than enough for everyone to get there hands on this capsule collection.

Versace for H&M

In 2008, Donatella Versace said that she respects designers who do these affordable lines but didn't want to do one herself "because I work very hard to put the Versace line in the luxury section. I think to put the Versace line in H&M would confuse the brand." Three years later, and less financially stable, Donatella is eating her own words and doing a Versace for H&M "Iconic Collection." The collection will be more than clothes and for the first time an H&M collaboration will include home decor pieces. It will be released in two parts starting November 17 with men's, women's and home decor, and another prespring collection released on January 19.

I know this would never happen because he's a complete snob about making his collection available to the masses, but I would love to see an H&M collaboration with Tom Ford.

Related Articles: 

Best H&M Designer Collaboration Ads

Lanvin for H&M Debuts This Morning! 

Baby Skyler Is Bananas For Missoni

   

Is Elle Fanning Outshining Her Older Sister Dakota?

The Fanning sisters are known for their roles in blockbuster films, porcelain skin, and most recently their sense of style.  However, Elle Fanning at only 13 years old seems to be surpassing her older sister Dakota, well, at least fashion-wise.  Dakota, now 17, had a few awkward years and has only recently began to develop her own sense of style.  Remember the controversial Marc Jacobs ad campaign with Dakota at age 13?  She looked like a little girl playing dress-up (see photo below).  It's not a surprise that Jacobs had to specially make the clothes in her size for that shoot.  Even so, he used Elle for his recent Marc by Marc Jacobs ad campaign.  Although Elle still looks very young, she seems much more sophisticated and mature than Dakota did at that same age.  With the release of "Super 8," Elle has definitely received a lot of attention and major fashion spreads.  I don't see Elle's status as a fashion world darling going away any time soon.  She may even become a bigger star than Dakota.  Who knew?

Dakota and Elle Fanning in Vogue August 2011 and at the "Uptown Girls" premiere in 2003

Dakota Fanning in Marie Clare August 2010, Tenn Vogue Dec 2009 (age 15), Marc Jacobs Lola Ad Campaign 2011 (age 17), and Marc Jacobs Spring 2007 Ad Campaign (age 13)

Elle Fanning in Love Magazine Fall/Winter 2011, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 Ad Campaign, Marie Clare July 2011, Black Book Magazine June/July 2011, and Interview Magazine Dec/Jan 2010/2011 (all age 13)

 

Fashion Flashback - Chloe Sevigny for Miu Miu SS 1996

Following her leading role in the controversial Larry Clark film Kids, a baby-faced Chloe Sevigny poses for Miu Miu's Spring/Summer 1996 ad campaign. It has a similar look and feel of a Marc Jacobs ad, so it's not a surprise that it was shot by photographer Juergen Teller. Teller has shot various Marc Jacobs ad campaigns since 1998.

 Click here for more Fashion Flashback photos
  

A Girl's Guide to LA's Carmaggedon

The rapture didn't happen in May, but Carmaggedon is definitely happening next weekend. Get ready Angelenos, the 405 Freeway is undergoing a major widening project and will be shutdown from the 10 to the 101 freeways Saturday, July 16 at midnight to Monday, July 18 at 5:00 a.m.! City officials have been spreading the word pretty aggressively so if you live in LA and haven't heard about this then you must live under a rock. They even got Ashton Kutcher to tweet about it, with over seven million followers that's some serious star power. With this closure, they are advising people to stay home or go away for the weekend. What's a girl to do if getting to the mall or beach means getting near or crossing over the 405 freeway? Well, here's a nifty girl's guide to a weekend at home.

1 - First of all, stop by the grocery store before the weekend to stock up on food and water because even getting in your car to go to the store means you might never get back home. Plus, dehydration is not so pretty on the skin.

2 - While you're at the store, pick up a blow up kiddy pool for some sunbathing in your backyard. If you don't have a backyard, then set up shop on the sidewalk. A girl can't be pale during the summer.  

3 - Reorganize your closet and start putting together a Goodwill pile of clothes (but don't even think about dropping anything off at Goodwill until after the weekend!). This project alone will take up several hours.

4 - Give yourself an at-home spa day. Save some money and do your own mani/pedi, facial, and/or a conditioning hair treatment.

5 - Stock up on classic girly movies. You already know the lines by heart to Clueless, Pretty Woman, Pretty in Pink, Can't Buy Me Love, Sex and the City (movies and reruns), etc.

6 - Get your retail therapy fix by doing a little online shopping on Net-a-Porter, Boutiques.com, or Shopbop.com.

7 - Bake a pie or cake. I always say that I want to get better at baking, but I never have time to do it. This is the perfect time to sharpen your baking skills or if you're already a pastry chef try a new recipe.

Brace yourself, it's gonna be a LONG weekend.