ShopFlick

I posted earlier this month about Shopflick’s day in Venice Beach dressed head to toe in James Perse- but now see for yourself what went down! The final edit is in! Check us out- checking out the new ‘08 collection. The soft, comfy basic are pretty much perfect for any occasion- including the solution to a smart, tasteful gift this holiday. The James Perse Store on Shopflick is loaded with all the goods, so click away!

Shopflick: Visit this store | Get your own Store!

It’s gift time! The holidays are upon us, and so is the challenge of finding cool gifts for friends and loved ones. Allow me to introduce you to Desideri Designs…the line of exquisite jewelry that has something for everyone. I’m particularly in love with their rings, which come in many different colors, and are all totally unique and eye catching. Take a look at their Shopflick store to see their complete collection of bracelets, earrings, and necklaces as well. You just may want to sneak in a little purchasefor yourself. Every good gift giver deserves a gift of their own!

Shopflick: Get Swarovski Crystal Mounted Ring – Jewelry yourself!
See more of Desideri Design on Shopflick!

Non-Angelinos have time and time again slighted us for being below the fashion curve. While the Los Angeles design community may be trailing its cutting-edge counterparts in New York, Milan and London the truth is, we really know how to put on a good show.

With a Hollywood-infused big-budget blockbuster mentality, the LA catwalks spend a pretty penny to get their point across. The opening acts were especially impressive. Christian Audigier’s namesake collection had a few highlights. Two British soldiers stood guard in full regalia as spectators filed in. Next, a parade of dancers rushed the runway. We had everything from the scantily clad midriff-baring women to the band of child hipsters strutting their dance moves. From giant waving American flags, to Great Danes on the catwalk, to violin players and live DJS, there was never a dull moment. In his characteristic showmanship, Audigier closed the show with a downpour of confetti (and even a smooch for Heidi Klum). His Ed Hardy show followed suit with flashing neon strobe lights, shutter shade-clad models, blaring techno music and again, the adorable street-kids that had everyone cheering from their seats.

In a different take on spectacle, across the tents Caroline D’ Amore, actress and Paris Hilton gal pal, shows us nearly nude Amazonian women in her debut line of itsy bitsy beachwear. The bikini barrage was an event loved by all, especially the male audience members in attendance. There are however other options for designers who want to make that lasting statement. Julia Clancey proved you don’t have to bare all to make a point. Clancey opened her collection with a more serious, striking note: a breathtaking British opera star belts it out in her jeweled ivory Clancey kimono. Truly exquisite.

All in all, the caliber of fashion and the high voltage production value made me proud to be part of the LA fashion scene. LA fashion is evolving, energetic, and eco-friendly-trend-setters in our own right. Plus, how many fashion shows in Paris or London have Disney superstar Miley Cyrus front stage and center?

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Read more on L.A. Fashion Week from Davida on Vogue.com

I’m so in love with the fact that Native Americans are becoming “cool” in fashion these days. Arguably my favorite Indian-inspired item? Moccasins. I’ve been wearing these little slippers since I was 3. Guess I’ve been a trend setter from the very beginning! Granted I don’t wear the baby pink ones anymore…anyways, get your moccasins here on Shopflick! They’re the perfect fun, and comfortable accessories to spice up any daytime outfit. Wear them with dresses, wear them with pants…you’re sure to get some smiles when you wear them.

Rule #1: Leave all the rules behind. Even if you think to yourself, like every woman does, “I have nothing to wear,” it apparently really doesn’t matter when it comes to getting dressed for your debut fashion moment at LA Fashion Week. If you have nothing, make something. Just the way this year’s attendees did. Get crafty, a bit adventurous, and think outside the box if you want to make this year’s style standout list.

We trend-spotted everything from the most casual laissez faire looks to the overly wrought, over-the-top style stories. Publicists, agents, photographers, editors and the general public all cohabitating under one roof (actually, it was a tent) provided for some great people watching. Costumed Harajuku girls, Silverlake sirens and pompadour punks all blended seamlessly in a sea of equal opportunity fashion madness.

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Read more on L.A. Fashion Week from Davida on Vogue.com

Specs are undoubtedly one of the most visible trends this year (pun intended). No longer are glasses limited to those who have vision problems. Almost everyone seems to have picked up a pair of “fashion specs”, meaning-glasses that serve no purpose other than looking cool. Kid Viscous has come up with an adorable twist on this trend….switchin’ it up a little bit. Check out her shades necklace. Wear them on your face, drop them down to hang around your neck. Voila. Very cool.

Shopflick: Get KidViskous Venetian Blinders Necklace yourself!
See more of KidViskous on Shopflick!

The new TV channel, Planet Green has filled its line-up with eco-minded programming. One show that caught our eye is Hollywood Green, which features different Hollywood celebs going green. Maria Menounos took her involvement further by helping inspire the Planet Green Room, one of the displays at the Young Hollywood Home event at the Pacific Design Center. Hollywood Life magazine hosted last evening’s event that took the chance to honor the eco-friendly design & Maria Menounos involvement.

Shopflick was on the scene and our new Editorial Director, Davida was a natural in front of the camera. Celebs Maria Menunous and Kim Kardashian gave Shopflick some love while supporting the bigger cause. Various green furniture and clothing designers shared with us the inspiration behind their work and own personal green beliefs.

In a short speech, Menonous thanked the show for pushing her to make the “full” green commitment and recaps one of her first real green moments: “Cindy Crawford suggested I get rid of every plastic bottle in my house and use a refillable bottle instead.” The suggestion is an easy, practicable solution for anyone considering the number of stylish water bottles available.

Check back to see on our on-camera re-cap of the event- including more from the eco-line clothing lines Green Apple and Little Society. Until then, stay green with these three easy steps:

*Eat locally grown food

*Buy eco-friendly clothing

*Greenerize your home- everything from light bulbs to furniture

Taking place five times per year in California, the ninety booths of the Original Vintage Fashion Exposition were brimming with period silhouettes that haven’t seen the light of a designer’s studio in decades. Lost in the clutter of Santa Monica Civic Auditorium were Edwardian hats with floral arrangements that put bouquets to shame, drapey crocheted tops in wacky colors worn by carefree girls of the 70s, and chic 60s cocktail dresses with construction so faultless the piece will last another half-century, and maybe be shown at a similar Expo of the future.

Scott Iseyama, co-owner of Allyn Scura Eyewear, a vintage eyewear seller on Shopflick, was overseeing a small but impressive selection of the company’s stock of over 50,000 unused vintage and antique eyeglasses from the 18th century to the 80s. He was wearing the best-selling “Legend” frame in gray fade from Allyn Scura’s own line of eyewear.

Over the twenty years that the Expo has been in existence, the market for vintage has grown exponentially. It’s hard to resist the notion that interest in the typically better tailored and recognizable fashions of the past is connected to the rising mass production of clothing since, not coincidentally, the Expo was founded. Recently, this upward arc has been augmented by the vintage movement’s natural union with the eco-conscious ethic of reusing and recycling.

The reasons for becoming not just a lover of clothing, but a collector with a heightened degree of appreciation for the evolution of fashion, are varied. It could be an intellectual thirst to undercover the intersection between fashion and history, for example how the previously decadent hats of the 1930s evolved into lightweight but pretty caps during the next decade’s wartime shortage of resources. Or it could be professional curiosity: the customers are often designers themselves. Most commonly, it’s just a unique way to make a personal fashion statement.

The first step towards a lively and rewarding love of vintage is debunking that erroneous belief that old means smelly and washed-up. Good thing that’s easy, because whatever else the Expo does for newcomers, it proves vintage fashion is anything but. Try not to mind the wait: the next one takes place in late March.

L.A. Fashion Week Spring ‘09 was Oct. 10th – Oct. 17th and Shopflick was out & about for the festivities.

Things kicked off with Gen Arts 11th Year of Fresh Faces in Fashion Los Angeles. The show has helped debut designers like Louis Verdad, Kate O’Connor, Michelle Mason, Alicia Lawhon, Claire La Faye, Rami Kashou, Corey Lynn Calter & Grey Ant and is a must-attend event for the week.

Lucky us, not only was Shopflick invited, we got back-stage access for exclusive interviews with the designers. Mandy Moore played host for the night and the show line-up included LAEKEN, Maxine Dillion, Nanushka, Peonie, Quail, WAYF, K.Z.O. and Wayne Hadly.

I had the chance to speak with each designer on camera and everyone was truly excited and greatly appreciative for the opportunity Gen Art provided. The collections were unreal & each one of these designers has a promising career ahead!

Also, make sure to catch up on other Shopflick Style Scout posts for more on L.A. Fashion Week: Gen Art: Fashionably Natural Show, Smashbox Studios: Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show

Pics from Backstage & Runway:

Waiting to walk the runway- models in Quail

Models backstage in Wayne Hadly

Designer, Maxine Dillon

Nanushka designer Sandra Sandor

What’s cooler than a collectible pair of Black Sabbath Converse Sneakers? A FREE pair of Black Sabbath Converse Sneakers! Send me (courtney@shopflick.com) a picture of your FAVORITE converse. The winner will receive a new pair of shoes from the Black Sabbath collection & we’ll share your sneaker snapshot on Shopflick Style Scouts.

This fall Converse is debuting a premium inspired footwear collections that celebrate the brands connection to music & culture. A continuation of the 100^th anniversary celebration, the collections reference the brand’s undeniable influence on pop culture and music with decidedly modern styling, materials and detailing. Each of the unique styles are designed to honor the genres and movements in music and culture that have disrupted the status quo. Key collections include Grateful Dead, Black Sabbath, The Doors, The Who, Ozzy, and Pink Floyd.

And first up on our giveaway list, Black Sabbath.

Inspired by the Black Sabbath metal anthem Iron Man, these Chuck Taylor All Star high top shoes have hard-core details that shout individuality. A tribute to the sound that, in the 1970s emerged and changed the music landscape forever, these shoes feature smooth, monochrome black leather uppers with metallic detailing and Sabbath-signature purple accented linings. Metalwork and hardcore buckles combined with rich black leathers give the Jack Purcell shoe version an especially industrial look and extreme attitude. Prints on the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe versions showcase iconic Black Sabbath artwork.

Can’t wait to see if you will win, purchase The Black Sabbath “We Sold Our Sole For Rock‘N’Roll” sneakers right now!

*Run dates are 10/21/08-11/21/08. A winner will be contacted within 5 days of end date via email address used to submit the photo. If your size is not available, you will receive a Converse gift card for the value of the shoes.

The runway was strewn with leaves, dancers in African garb, and designers toting monkeys. It was the Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show, part of Los Angeles’ Fashion Week and, yes, clothes, but not just ordinary clothes, were also shown. Some of the Shopflick crew, alongside Shopflick seller Lizz Wasserman of Popomomo, were there to observe the spectacle and ogle the runway designs.

The fashions were environmentally minded, with wares crafted from organic cotton and bamboo based fabrics, dyes generated from vegetable and soy dyes, also organic, and styles too nuanced to scream “green,” though the crowd certainly grasped with appreciation. I swear it wasn’t just because one model was wearing an enormous python as a necklace.

There were four designers, one of whom graces the virtual Shopflick marketplace: Emily Factor, EcoSkin, Lilikoi, and Smart Glass Jewelry (future Shopflick honoree). Factor opened the show with gauzy dresses in contrast printed silk patterns. In blazing orange and underwater blue hues, the dresses curved with waist-hugging contours and fluttered with asymmetrical, overlapping hemlines.

Sandy Skinner’s EcoSkin line drew the most attention. The affordable dresses, rompers, and blouses were all close-fitting jersey lovelies in colorful but understated colors. The clothes were endlessly flattering, with cinched waists, faux pockets, and pinched folds that accentuated all the right parts; and infinitely flexible, comfortably straddling that gray area between casual wear (just add sandals!) and evening glamour (anything gold).

Jewelry (and full body glass assemblages) were contributed by Smart Glass, all made from recycled bottles. Even if the one-shoulder glass dress, visually perfect for the beach, couldn’t actually be worn to any event that would require more than just looking beautiful, it still wowed the spectators. Who knew my recycled Perrier would soon adorn a strutting model? It just may very well be a glimpse into the future of fashion, which is and should be evolving with an eye to the environment. Shopflick approves.

Shopflick is happy to announce the launch of “The Give Back”. The Give Back is simple and powerful: We donate 100% of our sales commissions from participating organizations directly back to those organizations.

Our first participating non-profit is Homeboy Industries. Homeboy changes the lives of former gang members by giving them the training and discipline of working in small businesses, such as apparel, retail and food. Gang affiliations are left outside as young people work together, side by side, learning the mutual respect that comes from shared tasks and challenges. Homeboy is LA-based and nationally admired.

To celebrate The Give Back, we are offering a Special October Promotion:

PURCHASE OF ANY ITEM ON SHOPFLICK BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER 31 AND WE WILL DONATE 50% OF OUR COMMISSIONS TO HOME BOY INDUSTRIES.

And, of course, if the purchase is of Homeboy merchandise, we will donate 100% of our commissions to Homeboy Industries!

Stay tuned to check out their video profile and their selection of Homeboy Tees and other logo merchandise. Remember, all proceeds from the sale of Homeboy merchandise directly benefit their operations.

Monah Li

Monah Li

SF: What does your brand stand for?

ML: Romantic, mixed fabric designs, fluid lines, feminine embellishments, richly colored fabric, a mix of textures and loving attention to every seam and detail.

SF: What is the inspiration?

ML: Fashion trends come and go. My aesthetic is about something deeper. Whatever her body type, her age, or her personal style, when a woman tells me that wearing Monah Li makes her feel sexy, confident and unique, then I know I have done my job. What inspires me is inspiring her.

SF: Who are your customers?

ML: It is always exciting to know that my romantic designs of distressed rayon, silk and velvet are a favorite of trend setters and celebrities. But as a working mother who lives in the real world, it is just as much a thrill to know that a woman with a job, kids and a carpool loves my clothes as a young Oscar winning actress. I have never wanted to be just about fashion. Whether she is young or old, waif-like or Ruben-esque, living Malibu, in Missouri or Manhattan – the Monah Li Woman is a woman who loves to wear clothes that make her love being a woman.

SF: What’s new this season?

ML: A) Slipservice- what was once an insider secret, available only to friends- is ready to turn your flea market slip or heirloom night gown into a fabulous and of-the-moment dream-dress? How it works: Send me your favorite vintage slip or nightgown, a picture of you, a quick note to tell me about yourself and how you envision your desired look. I will turn all of this into a stunning, sexy and totally one-of-a-kind Monah Li creation that will forever be in style!

B) The Shawl – your new cardigan!

C) Necklace Scarves

SF: What items are people responding to most?

ML: Slip service, Necklace Scarves and Shawls (worn in place of a cardigan). The big surprise hit is that men are buying my black scarves at Traffic Men

SF: Are any celebs wearing your pieces?

ML: Yes- including Ashley Simpson, Miley Cirus and Alana Steward.

SF: How did you get started in the industry?

ML: I studied art and fashion in Vienna. My art professors told me to go into fashion. My fashion professors told me to go into art. After making a stir in German Vogue with a line of clothes made from painted silk, I moved to Los Angeles to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. After a year spent partying hard in LA, I found myself a guest at the California Department of Corrections. On my release, I was shipped back to Vienna, where my father committed me to a mental institution for nine months of drug rehab. There, a funny thing happened. The psychiatrist running my program wanted to be a fashion designer, and he used the recovering addicts as free labor to sew his collection. He eventually was fired, but I loved the set-up. He had hired a really good pattern-maker and a really good tailor, and these women took me under their wing. They taught me couture. I had a new addiction.

SF: What is your must-have item?

ML: A dress made from your own Vintage slip with a super soft shawl draped over it

SF: What are you wearing right now?

ML: I am wearing a midnight blue slip dress with short sleeves and tiny buttons down the front with a charcoal shawl that’s embellished with fabric flowers, beads and antique lace trim.

SF: Visit Monah Li’s Shopflick Store to see her collection.

I saw these shoes and fell in love with them immediately. I wore them day I got them after ordering them online, and I’ve been wearing them constantly ever since. Everywhere I go, people tell me they are the coolest sneakers they’ve ever seen. This is probably an exaggeration, but the response has been very positive, none the less. These shoes are amazing becuase they’re super comfortable, versatile, unique (I love to wear them with the first to straps undone), and yet simultaneously familiar. An item your sure to get a lot of use out of.

Eco-conscious fashion enlightened the Gen Art LA Fashion Week runway with designs from Popomomo, Velvet Leaf, and The Battalion. These designers are changing the industry by taking advantage of environmentally friendly textile techniques and paving the way with organic cotton, soy-based, and bamboo materials. Maggie Gyllenhaal supported these eco-friendly fashion designers by opening up the show and voicing her opinion about why we all need great green fashion.

Velvet Leaf started the show with leg transformation skirts and open back breezy dresses that sparked excitement from the attendees. The colors were full of light pastels with dark splashes of navy blue, the right twist to keep you edgy and girly.

The Popomomo collection invented the word eco-chic with their line of versatile dresses with smart lines. Pompmomo’s current fall collection on Shopflick shows off their bamboo design skills with the Hera Bamboo Jersey Top fit for an eco-fun-friendly night out.

The Battalion designs awed the runway with their chic conscience signature pieces. This design duo is known for their selection of eco-friendly comfort knit/jersey dresses, tops, and jackets. “Every piece is tailored seamlessly with couture details and finishes.” – The Battalion

Images credited to Gen Art.