LA is more than just a location; it's a lifestyle and even a state of mind! Come check out the "LA Story" for what's hot in fashion, beauty, events, stores, sales, places to go and what's going on as I cruise through life in LA -LA Land!
Want a bit of newsy news? Catch onto WebSnob and check out what's cooking in our collective kitchens-- a little fashion, a little beauty, a little commentary, even a video or two
Get The REAL Dish! Fashion plates go Parisian chic with Delight.com's Les Femmes Dish Set and Coquette says snatch them up before they are all gone!
Give your fave 4-legged fashionista a chic, Sienna Miller-inspired leg up by rocking cruelty-free fashion suggests Fashiontribes.
There's MORE Web Snob-- but you need to hit the NEW site for LA-STORY.. which is www.LA-STORY.COM! So easy and just a click away..
Ever wonder how to handle your iPOD shuffle and not lose it and not bang it up? ( raising hand here).
NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH!! NEWS FLASH!!!
This blog has moved to a new location! You can now find it at www.la-story.com.
Ever wonder where your keys are --with bag or hands full of stuff? (this is *so* my issue).
Ever wonder how to keep your ear buds from getting lost or so tangled up that you could strangle yourself? (sorry, but that's so totally me and my bffs).
How about ever been in a situation where you can't find a church key? (don't know what that is? bottle opener!)
Problem solved with a Mophie Bevy-- it's a protective case for the Shuffle, keychain, earbud wrap and also a church key all in one.
Easy, simple and affordable. Check it out. It's worth it.
This blog has moved to a new location! You can now find it at www.la-story.com.
Diet Coke just got friendlier-- with Diet Coke Plus! This tweak on the original formula includes vitamins and minerals -- including vitamin B 6 & 12, Niacin and 10% zinc and magnesium! Definitely for those concerned with making sure they get a balanced healthy diet but still have some soda too!
It's definitely new and different--without a loss of taste or fizz!
Stay Tuned BOYS and GIRLS.. there are HOT Updates hitting the LA STORY and also CoolPicking.com blogs about the situation with Fashiontribes, Second City Style, TheBudgetFashionista and other bloggers regarding this situation. It's definitely NOT cooling down-- It's hitting the BOILING stage about now
If you are a "shoe addict" (or someone seriously addicted-- "shoe ho"), you are familiar with the brand Stuart Weitzman. Known in the industry as a craftsman and designer of gorgeous shoes that fit well and have cutting edge styles for the fashionista in you, there is always a run on his shoes when a new collection comes out.
Weitzman is known for great style in the entertainment biz because he creates a collection of Oscar worthy shoes every Academy Awards season and it's typically a six to seven figure shoe that is worn by some extremely lucky actress who attends the Oscar ceremonies. The collection is sold for about a month after the Oscars and the "special shoe" goes out on tour. Celebs clamour for Weitzman shoes because 1) they are gorgeous and 2) they are extremely comfortable.
Now you can get styles similar to those worn by celebrities (and in some case are the same styles)! The Stuart Weitzman store is featuring a TRUNK SHOW in Beverly Hills to launch his fall collection.
Sashay Peep Toe Pump in Fire Patent.
This is an opportunity to choose your favorite styles in an extensive range of sizes: 6-12 AAAA, 5-12 AA, 4-12 B and 5-11 C and not have to worry about availability because they are all there.
Circle May 21-23 on your Smartphone Calendar dolls, because the Fall Stuart Weitzman Collection will be in town and get your toes into some gorge shoes for fall.
Times: 10am – 6pm
Location: Stuart Weitzman
437 North Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 860-9600
Definitely get there -- and get there early! I am telling you now so that you can block out some serious time for shoe hunting!
Haute stuff is going to start happening on the planet tomorrow.. PlanetLulu.com that is. What's going on? The May DENIM-Mania sale!! HUGE selection of brands starting at $59.00.
More than just denim though- woman does not live by jeans alone!! There's a lot more than that!
Check out the podcast that I did on what's HOT in the Planet Lulu Lofts!
Blue Dot--cool little LA brand that has a seriously fashionable flare.
Tiffany Alana--we adore Tiffany Alana and her dresses and lots more of her line. Spiritual Fitness-- perfect for lounging, lounging and oh yeah-- lounging when you want to relax after working out.
Juicy Couture--gorge velvet Edwardian blazers with lace cuff trim. They got more of these-- they had blown through a ton and now have a new shipment of this originally marked $350 blazer Kay Celine--cool tops Junk Food tees- adorable!! Literature-- we heart Literature tops Betsy Johnson-- not a lot left but a few things are left and they are sooooooooo cute.
Lapis-- cute dresses that are so perfectly summer. You will want at least 2 colors.
Cristi Conaway-- lots of CC stuff particularly luscious satin camis! Klub Nico shoes swimwear
Love Tease Dresses-- one of at least 3 styles .. TONS in red-- for that red hot mama you are!
Vera Wang poly charmeuse chemise-- unbelieveable prices!!
Vasna Gypsy dresses- perfect for that boho chic style-- beaching it, vacationing, or just making yourself stylishly you..whether you are wearing flip flops, sandals or boots!
There's a lot more. Make sure that you check out that sale every day as the stock is filled in and updated on the site every day.
Sale starts:
May 16 9 PM PDT/ 12 M EDT Sale Ends:
May 18 (Friday) 12M PDT / Sat 5/19 3 AM
Don't forget the coupon!! LULUMAY07 is the code. It's good the last 12 hours of the sale and is worth 10% off.
Check www.myspace.com/planetlulu.com for other updates and maybe another coupon? If there is one, they aren't stackable or combinable--just come back the next day and shop again!
Get your shopping groove on!! You have seen all the sample sales roaming the web and in major cities. DEFINITELY it's shopping time and with bargains beckoning, one has to be choosy. Given the price of gas these days, hitting the road can put a DENT in the credit car--which takes away from some shopping pleasure-- unless you carpool which makes it more fun to shop anyway. But if climbing into your car and driving isn't your idea of fun, and you want something now, then you can do it almost NOW with Planet Lulu!
Not only is this a huge sale.. it's a DENIM-MANIA Sale. What's that? It's a HUGE boat-load of denim from your favorite brands like True Religion, Joes, B-Union, Chip & Pepper, Rock & Republic and scads more brands-- they are overflowing with denim-- starting at $59.00!! That's a real STEAL. So girlie, get your denim groove on and hook it into your bargain hunting groove and make it stereophonic shopping from the comfort of your own home!
Here's the DEETS!
There is major bargains here-- more than just denim but shoes, bags, tops, pants, skirts-- tons of great names and cool things-- like Scanty Panty, Cristi Conaway, and even some nifty Betsy Johnson-- not a lot so if you are in the sale, scramble for it fast
Important Sale 411
Date: May 16
Opening Time: 9 PM PDT/12 Midnight EDT
Closing Time: Friday May 18 at 12 Midnight PDT or Sat May 19 at 3 AM.
Guess what! We have COUPONS!!! Discounts good on the last day!
Coupon Code: lulumay07.
When is it good? 12 PM to 12 AM.. the last 12 hours of the sale.
How much? 10%!!! That's enough to help you out with the shipping!
So girls, boys, friends, country and city people, get your computers ready.
Make sure you have registered at www.planetlulu.com-- cuz if you don't you won't be getting that "you are so invited" email. YOU NEED THAT invite to get into the sale. Merely a few clicks away and voila, shopping heaven. So get going and make sure you tell a friend or two. You can find Lulu on myspace too. Check out www.myspace.com/planetlulu.com for other details and info and sometimes extra coupons (not stackable or combineable).
Girlfriends, I would be remiss in not telling you to check back into THIS BLOG to find out more about the sale because I will have a podcast going up and you can hear about what's in the sale and I will get some images to toss up on to the blog.
It's crunch time boys and girls! Shop till you drop or find the perfect gift for your mom. Here are some quick ideas that you can find online and in stores NOW!
If it's jewelry that catches here eye, Check out Tadam for some amazing pieces at affordable price points.
Bellmore Earrings are a smash hit for summer wear and into fall and would be a memorable gift.
Mom would be star struck with this fab necklace called appropriately "Star Struck" also from Tadam Jewelry.
What mother wouldn't love a gorge robe like this? Silk Charmeuse bi-colored embroidered long kimono robe features a detailed embroidered peacock on the back with Chinese characters embroidered on the front symbolizing long life, prosperity and good health. Three color combinations peach/ivory, lavender/pink, sage green/celadon from Shirley of Hollywood .
Moms love handbags-- well who doesn't? Check out this adorable piece from Kipling-- a duffle in a hot RED called Anatomy that is perfect for spring/summer!
Vilebrequin and Men’s Vogue magazine have joined forces to celebrate summer style by hosting an online charity auction of one-of-a-kind celebrity customized swim trunks from the luxe St. Tropez Company to benefit Project Angel Food.
A VIP invitation-only event on Wednesday, May 9th at Vilebrequin’s Beverly Hills boutique located at 2 Rodeo Drive show off all the auction items and were definitely a great hit with the crowd of celebs and noted guests featuring 10 Cane Cocktails (YUM).
All items will be on display at Vilebrequin for one week (ending May 16th) and during that time the Company will also designate a portion of sales to the charity.
Celebrities were provided with Vilebrequin’s classic Moorea style swim trunks in white and colors along with a colored fabric markers and were offered the opportunity to create an original design using the nylon fabric as a blank canvas to create their original masterpieces.
An elite roster of celebrities have rallied together to support Project Angel Food. Those who have customized swim trunks include:
• Sir Elton John & David Furnish
• Eric McCormack & his son Finnigan
• Andy Garcia & his son Andrés
• Gary Payton & his sons Julian & Gary II • The cast of NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”
Each lot will also include a special gift from Men’s Vogue magazine honoring the celebrity as well as a $300 store gift certificate from Vilebrequin. Bidding begins on Thursday, May 10th and closes Thursday, May 24th at 6PM EST at www.charityfolks.com/PAF.
For over 30-years Vilebrequin, the world-renowned men’s and boy’s swimwear manufacturer from St. Tropez has been outfitting the most stylish men with their vibrant and colorful swim trunks. Please visit www.vilebrequin.com.
Project Angel Food is the only organization that delivers freshly-cooked, nutritiously-appropriate meals, free-of-charge to men, women and children debilitated by cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. Clients range in age from 7 to 104. Thanks to a devoted corps of volunteers, they prepare and deliver more than 1,300 meals each day. Project Angel Food has never maintained a waiting list and has never turned anyone away who is eligible for their meals.
Charity Folks is the leading online marketplace for nonprofit fundraising, corporate cause marketing campaigns and celebrity-driven charity initiatives; a cross-market penetration that has made them the "go-to" in the field of ePhilanthropy. Among its special partners are hallmark nonprofits, including Entertainment Industry Foundation and The World Wildlife Fund; A-list celebrities, such as Alicia Keys and Morgan Freeman; and top-brand corporations, including Cadillac and Esquire Magazine.
Undergear has definitely taken iPOD accessories where no gadget has particularly gone before .. (and I qualify that in certain terms , ok?).
We all love our iPOD. Some love them to death-- wearing them constantly and having speakers in every room to plug and play their latest Itunes downloads. I have seen-- and purchase-- clothing with special pockets for iPODs : coats and shirts are typically what I have found with inside pockets and easy to use loops to keep the cord in check. For those "die hard" Ipod fans there is now leisurewear from online retailer, www.undergear.comthat features pockets built into shorts, pants and briefs that allow you to relax and have your iPOD "on you" in special pockets and keep hands free for other tasks. From Play™, the iBoxer comes in cotton and features a small pocket up front for cell phone, MP3 or iPOD to keep you "tuned" in but hands free! It comes in black, white, turquoise or orange with lime stitching for $22.
The Play™ I-Pant is an all cotton pant for comfort and it's easy wash and wear (though watch out for the dryer and make sure you remove all devices before washing!). The i-Pant retails for $35.00 and comes in lime, turquoise or white. Where to find this most unusual iPOD accessory yet? Check out www.undergear.com for the 3 different styles.
One of the Fashiontribes contributing writers was on the guest list to get in to that concert for a review and we had it all nailed down since she recently did a phone interview with Macy Gray on a new website. You will see an excerpt of this great interview on the Fashiontribes Life & Style blog! We thought getting a couple of live quotes post performance would be pretty nifty.
While the PR had everything in place, it seems when the FT contributor showed up with guest in tow, that she suddenly wasn't on the guest list. No matter how much she tried to explain that she was press and on the list, Geffen Records and Jimmy Kimmel Live staff refused to let her and the guest in to the show. What's worse is that they offered her the option to watch OUTSIDE in the cold Burbank weather. What we aren't clear on is if she was to watch through a window or just simply standing but given that there was a seated audience- and that was where the writer was supposed to be -inside, this was really not an optimum result. If it were a sultry LA night, no big deal but the weather wasn't cooperating and it was windy, blustery and cold!
Knock Knock Mr. Kimmel and Mr. Geffen. LA Story plugged the HECK out of this contest on 4 different blog sites--which helped get you a lot of LOCAL LA people to enter the contest and another plug for Macy Gray's new CD. Yet you blew our writer out of the show so rudely and were offering her the chance to watch it through a window?
This little mishap is back out on all the blogs. This shows that Geffen Records and Jimmy Kimmel Live don't have a lot of respect for blogosphere writers. While they "use" us to get their clients out there and get the grass roots movement, bloggers are the first to get booted. Doesn't make me much inclined to 1) watch Jimmy Kimmel Live; 2) support Geffen artists and 3) buy the CDs (yes some of us actually buy the CDS. I personally have purchased 50 CDs since the first of the year to cover some artists).
All I can say is Boo Hiss and a pat on the back for the writer who went from the far "Westside" of LA to Burbank for the event and got zip from it.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and while we love the sun and the golden glow, it's important to be aware of the importance of using sunblock to fight against skin cancer. This is a SERIOUS issue because this potentially deadly disease is preventable-- EASILY preventable by using sunblock every day-- regardless if it's sunny or rainy or overcast.
Every 67 minutes someone in the U.S. dies of melanoma; an astounding statistic for a disease which is nearly 100 percent curable when caught and treated early.
Because the incidence of skin cancer is increasing every year at, one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer over their lifetime. Sun protection alone is not enough to keep us safe.
That’s why Olay and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) have partnered for “Skin Cancer Takes Friends,” a nationwide program offering women the opportunity make an appointment with one of more than 300 participating dermatologists nationwide for a free screening for themselves and a friend or loved one – so they can go together. Locally, 36 dermatologists in California are participating. For a full list of participating dermatologists, log on to www.SkinCancerTakesFriends.org.
While you want the glow of tanned skin check out the OLAY TOUCH OF SUN product which gives you a nice glow, smells good, and also has an spf in it. Remember sunblocks don't last all day. Please reapply often!
Alexa Wilkinson is a name you might not recognize right now but very soon, you are going to hear her tunes climbing the charts and her voice will be on the radio a lot! Her first CD, Lullaby Appetite, currently available on iTunes and will be nationally released June 2007 on DNK Records (home to Josh Kelley.)
Photo my Mario Antoine
Having been a musician since the age of 10, Alexa Wilkinson is a formidable talent in a small package. Don't let her youth fool you! She's seen enough of life to carry her tunes and give you a fresh feel and also some edge to the music that won't disappoint. Her fresh, smooth vocals slide easily around the extremely hummable melodies, toe-tapping rhythms and sprite guitar playing. The lyrics are rich with expression, exposing a vulnerability and honesty sans naïvete. Young she may be and willing to learn, but immature isn't in the vocabulary to describe Wilkinson. Rather there is an emotional maturity of looking at life with an optimistic eye, learning from one’s mistakes, and moving on.
Recently I was able to snag some interview time with Alexa Wilkinson while she was in Denver on tour. As of tomorrow 4/30, Alexa along with Josh Kelley and Keaton Simons and gang will be back in LA hitting 2 dates in Los Angeles: the Coach House on 4/30 and then The Troubadour on Friday 5/4/2007-- where Keaton Simons will open for Alexa and Josh. Definitely a tour date worth heading into the city to see! Here's a podcast of PART I of the interview with Alexa. Look for part II soon!
Part 1 of Alexa Wilkinson, singer/ songrwriter/musician
Photo of the recording production crew including Josh Kelley
Josh Kelley, a serious musican/artist/record producer promoting his third album on this tour, learned of Alexa’s talent and collaborated on and produced five of her songs by July, 2006. Other collaborators include Michael Brauer (Coldplay, Paul McCartney, and Grammy winner John Mayer), David Thoener (Matchbox 20, Faith Hill, and Santana), and Greg Calbi (John Lennon, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and Lenny Kravitz)--so there is some SERIOUS writers and musicians involved in this album and it belies that talent that's quite evident from the opening .
Alexa and Kate Voegele (as described in the podcast)..
Josh Kelley commented on working with Alexa, “I was immediately impressed with Alexa’s music—she is an extremely talented singer and songwriter whose unique sound will no doubt propel her to the top. She’s got such a natural, easygoing style to her music that anyone from all ages can relate to. I’m proud to have her on tour with me
The Bitter End
Want to hear her tunes? Check out her myspace site below--and also Itunes.com too to purchase your favorites. I highly recommend the ENTIRE CD since there's a lot more to the music than what you will notice from 1-2 listening of the tracks. She's sharp as a tack.
Look for Part II of the Alexa Wilkinson Podcast coming soon! Probably after the Monday Coach House date on 4/30 .. and then I will follow up with the Coach House interviews of Josh Kelley, Alexa Wilkinson and Keaton Simons!
It's spring time! Magazines and the weather have you thinking about new clothes, accessories, beauty products-- and oh yeah-- don't forget about the couple of holidays like Mothers Day coming up along with weddings and even baby showers! So check out the deets on the most interesting posts for the week!
