ShopFlick

Ganache Couture

Quiana Smith

SF: What does your brand stand for?

QS: Ganache Couture features footwear, handbags, and other accessories from independent designers and emerging lines. Ganache is a type of frosting. I believe that shoes, handbags, and accessories in general serve as the icing on one’s image….thus Ganache Couture!

SF: What is the inspiration?

QS: Individuality is the inspiration of Ganache Couture. Creating your own image instead of mimicking what you see others do. We provide a small number of hard to find items so our customers don’t have to worry about everyone wearing the same shoes or carrying the same bag that they purchase from us.

SF: Who are your customers?

QS: Fashionistas who are or want to be ahead of the fashion curve and who are confident individuals who create their own image.

SF: What’s new this season?

QS: We are closing out our fall and winter season now, so look for a slight change in Ganache Couture for the spring and summer. We will still carry footwear and handbags but will also pick up tees, jackets, and more belts.

SF: What items are people responding to most?

QS: Our most popular selling item is the eggplant pony hair Wino handbag from Tarah Smith. It’s a very unique bag and the ladies love it! We are also receiving a lot of buzz from the Kathryn Amberleigh knee-high patent and cow leather boots.

SF: Are any celebs wearing your pieces?

QS: The Pussycat Dolls have worn the Velvet Angels Peepshow Bootie & Paris Hilton is an avid fan of Tarah Smith bag.

SF: How did you get started in the industry?

QS: I’ve always loved fashion, specifically footwear and handbags and how they make or break an outfit. I took that love (which is more like an obsession) and let it drive me. I’ve always wanted to be a merchandiser for a boutique, so I decided to start my own business instead of working for another company.

SF: What is your must-have item?

QS: Stilettos and a large, unique hobo bag! You can NEVER go wrong with these items. They can dress up a wife beater tank and jeans any day (if done correctly).

SF: What are you wearing right now?

QS: I’m absolutely in love with my tiger print pony hair Wino hobo from Tarah Smith, and I just splurged on a beautiful pair of Barbara Bui heels. I’m pretty simple when it comes to clothing. I’m a fitted t-shirt and jeans type of lady!

SF: Is there anything else you would like to share with the Shopflick community?

QS: Ganache Couture also provides image consulting, personal shopping, and personal styling services.

Thanks to Shopflick for giving us the opportunity to share our passions with the masses & make sure to visit our Shopflick Store!

Former Los Angeles women’s boutique Jane Doe got hitched last Wednesday. Among the changes that will confront patrons of the hip, emerging designer friendly warehouse are: the new moniker Jane Doe/John Doe, menswear, and the addition of several lines from Project Runway alumni. Jerrell Scott and Korto Momolu, of Bravo fame, were there to oversee the nuptials, and host the reception party.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Jerrell, now co-owner with designer Ani Lee, and Korto about the revamped store. Aside from some signature sassiness from both (Jerrell: “You can rock a bag until the handle breaks, you know what I’m saying?” and Korto: “You can eat burgers and wear my clothes.”), they made impassioned statements about the boutique’s amazing hidden treasures.

This is what Jerrell had to say: “It’s really a showcase of the smaller designer in general. I went through and hand-selected all of the designers that we’re featuring here and there is an artistic quality to all of their work. They’ve all put in so much inspiration into all of their pieces. It’s a showcase of all things beautiful, unique, and interesting. Even if you don’t come here to buy a piece, just come here and look and you’ll come away and be inspired. In all of the pieces here, it’s all about the artist.”

Korto, wearing a stretch jersey bandeau dress of her own design, added, “If you go mainstream, you can compromise yourself as a designer. In a boutique, you can be yourself. And if people love you and love what you do, they come and get what’s truly you.”

Jane Doe/John Doe will also feature the lines of Stella Barbarella and 4^th season winner Leanne Marshall, among other up and coming designers. Highlights, as given by Jerrell: Micha Kuechenhoff’s jewelry line and particularly “this necklace/wallet chain/purse adornment with a key on it that I REALLY LOVE” and also “every piece by Korto who really brought it. She brought down the house. The dresses are stunning and the bags are extraordinary.”

When pegged to choose a favorite, though, Jerrell admitted, “honestly, it would be crazy for me to choose just one thing because I feel an attachment to them all.”

You can crash the honeymoon at 8478 West 3rd Street. Event Photos by Allen Zaki.

As you wrap up purchasing holiday gifts for everyone on your list- or just starting – the gratification of giving to the ones you love is always a satisfying sensation. So, to keep the good feelings rolling, we have another exceptional giveaway for you:

Eco- friendly seller- BTC Elements- is all about keeping it natural. With a variety of clothing & jewelry to pick from- the designs makes going green that much easier! One lucky Shopflick Style Scouts reader will win a pair of handmade Kris Nations Peach Drop Earrings made from recycled gold fill and vintage beads.

To win, share with us your favorite gift pick via Shopflick’s Gift Guide. Send your submission to: fingerscrossed@shopflick.com by 1/15/09.

What’s the perfect way to warm your soul on a cold winter night after a long day? A nice hot bubble bath. I dont know about you, but I take pride in the art of the bath. I choose my bubbles, soaps, and soaks very carefully. Always natural, always sensual. One of the most fun and aromatic bath accessories I have found are the fizz balls that you drop in the tub and they permeate the water with relaxing oils and moisturizers, while the fizz surrounds you as you soak. Bath Desserts makes a great line of products, including the amazing fizz balls. They’re all natural, and so soothing. So light some candles, dim the lights, and treat yourself to a delicious bath with Bath Desserts.

Bold, ageless, vivid, and colorful: who else but Shopflick favorite Petro Zillia? The designer who admits it is hard for her to separate her life from fashion offers a little slice of her retro-lovin’, whimsical mind with a selection of wares for Shopflick from her rainbow-bright House of Petro Zillia. Established in 1996, the store is an unexpected and heady mishmash of Petro’s high regard for fearless vintage trends, flirty feminine designs, and modern innovation, all slow-cooking into a fresh take on high fashion for the woman who thrives on bold, fearless statements.

Take the Ankle Boots from Parisian designer Martine Sitbon. They’re the granny boots of yesteryear (think: 1870), revived briefly in the 60s, and now reappearing to the buoyed joy of that particular breed of fashionista that delights in raiding grandmother’s closet. But, now, they’re in a deeply saturated olive green, with buckled straps for that added pomp, and sexily streamlined wood heels. Or consider the Martine Sitbon Suede Boots in rich forest green: shiny patent leather mary janes transformed into a knee-high boot with wrap around suede. Now 25% off. Isn’t it clear why Petro would approve?

The Denim Jumpsuit from Brazilian designer Colcci is another lesson in Petro Zillia fundamentals. The jumpsuit, that one-piece get-up of skyline astronauts and ground-level tradesmen, has occasionally graced runways since the 60s but has never approached mainstay status, even in the clutches of the 80s. This jumpsuit is different, though, because it’s sexy. Full denim coverage, but with an allover skinny fit, sun-friendly tube top, and over-sized button closures. Daringly retro but flirtatiously updated: only Petro Zillia.

Check out these cool kicks I customized on NikeiD. It’s a great gift for the holiday season, especially if you want to show someone how well you know their style. Feel free to customize these and mail it over to the Shoplick office, “ATTENTION:KATRINA”. But seriously, check out this video we made for Nike. The film boys went to NYC two weekends ago, and hooked up with Danielle who is the Shopflick Maven and the star of the video. Nike gave us behind the scenes access to Niketown NYC where Danielle was able to customize her own shoes in the state of the art NikeiD Studio. There are over 100 models of shoes you can choose to customize, you can pick different textures, colors, and even add your own signature on the shoes. But you don’t have to go to your local Niketown to create your unique sneakers, you can do it from your own home. Create the shoe of your choice, order it, then in 4 weeks or less they’ll be delivered to your home where you can then rock em out!

The best part is you get to reflect your personal style in what you’re wearing. Check out the NikeiD Shopflick store and knock yourself out! If I didn’t have so many things to do here at Shopflick, I’d probably be on the NikeiD store all day customizing shoes…wait a sec…I actually was on the NikeiD site all day. Whatever, you know what I mean– check it out for yourself and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

Anna Selena Jewelry

Anna Selena

SF: What does your brand stand for?

AS: My brand name is Anna Selena. Not only is it my first and middle name, it represents 2 parts in each of us – Anna is the part in us that stays the same, the part that people know us as. Selena means the goddess of the moon, and represents the ever-changing spirit in us that we have yet to figure out. The two balance each other into our original selves. In complete, Anna Selena stands for the expression of us. My tagline for Anna Selena is “Jewelry for kindred spirits”.

SF: What is the inspiration?

AS: People. The one thing I always loved to do ever since I knew how to talk was meet people and learn something from them. Each person is so different from the other and have their own way of telling their stories. My pieces just give the customers a palette to start with, a concept I think is important. In particular, the inspiration that started this was my father. He showed me the world, literally. He took me everywhere and always brought back inspirations from around the world if I couldn’t go with him on his travels as an architect.

SF: Who are your customers?

AS: The eclectic, expressive artist who appreciates the process of creating; the classical, sexy business woman who is not afraid of leading; the humanitarian philanthropist who remembers through texture.

SF: What’s new this season?

AS: My 1970s free-form engagement rings- there are 5 styles, and I used unconventional ways of setting semi precious lab stones on sterling silver and vermeil. They are a bit forward-thinking or retro, as they are meant for the modest yet eclectic bride. I tried to think of life without diamonds and create a limited collection of stunning colorful, classy rings that are a merge between cocktail rings and engagement rings.

SF: What items are people responding to most?

AS: The Elephas Royale and Infinite Prism are my biggest hits.

SF: Are any celebs wearing your pieces?

AS: Yea there was Queen Latifah who bought the elephas royale in blue sapphire. She was awesome I love her. Eric Roberts wore the Pisces hook, Natasha Henstridge has my promise bracelet, Fernando Romero, Nadine Velázquez is a recent one. She has my custom black leather cuff and anklet.

SF: How did you get started in the industry?

AS: I headed the design team for my old company who manufactures costume jewelry for various chain stores. I travelled and trained at their factory in Qing Dao, China and really started to understand the science behind manufacturing and the difference in quality in all stages from mass manufacturing to high end custom jewelry. I then studied with Alan Revere in SF in metalsmithing, and received my associates in apparel manufacturing and management at FIDM. My undergraduate study was done at USC in fine arts. All my life I have been centered around the arts.

SF: What is your must-have item?

AS: I must wear my Elephas Royale in yellow sapphire. It’s a heavy little thing. Basically it’s loaded. Lots of sterling silver, hand-made, set and finished with my special vintage finish. It gets warm when I wear it and I like to hold on to it when I’m thinking about something and I need to concentrate. My lucky charm I guess.

SF: What are you wearing right now?

AS: It’s 1am and I always wear this one coconut charm my friend gave me. It was blessed by the hugging saint Omma who was in town about a year ago. The charm hangs stationary on a 14k ball chain. Yes I love elephants.

SF: Is there anything else you would like to share with the Shopflick community?

AS: There is so much beautiful jewelry out there. If you feel like you are gravitating towards a certain piece, I believe that you have a connection to it and you should just follow it. It’s difficult to understand what happens next but good things should happen when you express yourself.

Visit Anna Selena’s Shopflick Store to watch & buy!

Congrats to Ebony David who just scored a free pair of limited edition Black Sabbath Converse sneakers! Ebony shared with us her favorite cons via Barneys NY- we like!

Ok, so November wasn’t your lucky month- start December off on the right foot and enter to win an exclusive pair of The Doors converse sneakers. In honor of the band’s extraordinary legacy, Converse has released a new collection of Chuck Taylor All Star shoes including “The Unknown Soldier” inspired military-style, high-top and white low-top version featuring the logo in a unique print. Mixing music w/ fashion can be an amazing combo!

ENTER TO WIN!!!

Submit your answer to conversegiveaway@shopflick.com.

Q: What did Jim Morrison do to get banned from the Ed Sullivan Show?

***If your size is not available you will receive a Converse gift card for the value of the shoes. Giveaway deadline 12.31.08.

Going GREEN is no longer an option- but a must & we’re here to help! Shopflick offers tons of giftable green goods including luxe finds from eco-friendly designers like The Battalion, Popomomo & EcoSkin- plus a Green Gift Guide.

In addition to these one-of-a-kind finds- lucky LA gals & guys are invited to check out Green with Glamour’s 1st ever holiday shopping event. Featuring women’s & men’s fashion, furnishings and gifts from top names in eco-luxury design all at 30% off- plus 5% of every sale that evening will go to the charity of your choice. Enjoy organic wines, vegan goodies and of course… fantastic photography. And if that’s not enticing enough- how about a gift bag & complimentary valet!

The Logistics:

Thursday, December 4th from 7-11 pm.

145A N. La Brea Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90036

RSVP: rsvp@greenwithglamour.com