Statement Shoes – Writing about post-modern shoes on Friday motivated me to try some serious shoes on for size. Along the way, I ended up StyleSpotting these incredible 4.5 inch talon heels by way of Nicholas Kirkwood for RODARTE F/W 2010. Kirkwood specializes in creating architectural statement shoes for designer runway shows (Rodarte, John Rocha, Ghost) and has quite a colorful past. Of course I just had to videotape one of my favorite trendsetters teetering in her talons. You can check out the VIDEO BELOW and catch more about Kirkwood at the bottom.
Nicholas Kirkwood is a German-born designer with an eclectic history working with milliner Phillip Treacy and even living with the late Isabel Blow before Visionaire’s Cecilia Dean hooked him up with Rodarte’s Mulleavy sisters. His mission? To be the next Christian Louboutin. You can find these $2,195 shoes at one of my favorite shops. @StyleSpotting
Oscar Gets Framed! – You’re getting an exclusive first look at two fresh frames launching in Garrett Leight California Optical‘s inaugural collection this fall. Ozzy is rocking the Hampton Frame above (notice the delish hint of tortoise). After I shot the original Sneak Peek and then the First Look with Stephanie, we literally pulled Garrett’s friend Ozzy out of an Abbot Kinney restaurant while he was right in the middle of something – and asked him to strike a pose in the final frames. Click here for the full post.
She’s bringing Victorian back – I met Ashley as we were both heading out of Fred Segal’s Mauro Cafe after a very long Fashion’s Night Out. I was sitting next to her table, full of stylish Angelenos and loved her look — pulled together, romantic and full of fantasy (not to mention the impeccable makeup). I struck up a conversation with one of her friends, an entrepreneurial designer you’ll be meeting soon, who let me know her first clothing collection was about to debut! You’re getting an official First Look at the emerging designer of esther jean. Ashley’s line will launch this fall and she just shot her line’s first Look Book last weekend.
Ashley Esther Jean Hester is a twentysomething born and raised in Arizona and Esther Jean is a combination of her grandmothers’ names, women she calls “the root and soul to her existence.” We talked about quality, versatility and value being an important factor of her pieces. Her pieces may land at higher price points, but many will serve double duty. For example, a long flowy skirt may be pulled up to masquerade as a short dress as well as other surprises. You can keep an eye on her website, but I’ll also tweet when her collection is available. To get a taste, you can see some of her previous photos on the brand’s facebook page. Congratulations, Ashley and I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
The shoegazing was divine and I thought her giant plume (below) was insane and even embellished with 14k gold jewelry. Each one is one-of-a-kind design that you can custom order via her website.
For other Fashion’s Night Out stories, I caught Taylor Jacobson’s new denim line at Fred Segal Melrose while guest photographer Kwaku Alston was StyleSpotting on Abbot Kinney Blvd. Coming up: Joi Davis’s event at her stores Fred Segal Rocks and Fred Segal Silk where I ran into designer Bartolo, met crazy Colette Carr, got schooled in streetstyle by Wasteland’s Jeff and stylist Mel Muoio found some fresh finds.
Stephanie was Framed: You could say that Stephanie was framed in a couple ways because she didn’t see us coming. As I mentioned in this previous post about A. Kinney Court, Garrett Leight California Optical will launch in November – and StyleSpotting.com is the first to post an exclusive photo session. The collection ranges from $195-315 (or $400 for the frame infused with 14k gold) and won’t be available until November, but you can sign up for the mailing list for updates. We were looking for locals to model and Garrett grabbed his friend Stephanie off the street who led us to her favorite colorful alley.
FIRST LOOK: GARRETT LEIGHT CALIFORNIA OPTICAL
Above, Stephanie models the unisex Speedway Frame. Below, she models the Rialto Frame that I’ll admit I’m really into. What’s in a name, you ask? Each of the new frames is named after a Venice street. {Click the pic below to see the frame from a distance}
It’s probably against the rules for me to pick a fave, but the Rialto frame has been haunting me since I shot this. {Click here to have Stephanie look your way. Click here to see the frame from a distance}. See what I mean? It’s sexy, fashionable, affordable and not trying too hard. I also love the subtle color contrast of the frame’s interior.
OLIVER PEOPLES VINTAGE COLLECTION
We’re saving the final sneak peek of Garrett’s new collection for the next post and wanted to share a staple of his Oliver Peoples Vintage Collection available at A. Kinney Court. Stephanie models their classic O’Malley Frame with reflective lenses. (I’ll hold the jokes about my reflection for offline, but there will be plenty). We finally let our impromptu model off the hook below.
Garrett examines Stephanie’s fresh ink, something she’d had done in the last few days after running across the image, if memory serves. (She also has her mother’s name near her wrist). {Click the pic for a close-up}
Mission accomplished (thank you, Stephanie!) and we’re off to pluck our next model off Abbot Kinney for two more frames – and you will not believe who we find. (Let’s just say… this charismatic character has survived a lot of life’s, er, challenges). @stylespotting
A. Kinney Court - I’m psyched to announce I’ll be giving you a very special EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK at Garrett Leight California Optical. This premiere collection of hip specs from the founder of A. Kinney Court won’t be available until November, but we just took a handful of Garrett’s favorite frames out for an impromptu photo shoot with a couple popular locals!
I’m getting ahead of myself. A. Kinney Court is an optical gallery and lifestyle store founded by Garrett Leight, an entrepreneurial 20-something whose father founded iconic Oliver Peoples eyewear in the 80′s that he’s since sold. The story goes that Garrett was at his mother’s Sacramento home one Thanksgiving when she stumbled upon a dusty box of vintage Oliver Peoples eyewear in the garage. After discovering even more in storage, Garrett was inspired to open his own optical gallery anchored by the vintage collection, with a fun cross-selection sampled below.
SNEAK PEEK BELOW: GARRETT LEIGHT CALIFORNIA OPTICAL
Meet Garrett who’s wearing the McKinley frame and Stephanie who’s sporting the Speedway frame. Join us behind the scenes for our next posts with Stephanie (whose eyes will paralyze you) and another very special guest modeling the collection.
Here, we just caught Stephanie on her way home and talked her into a photo shoot, so she’s walking us to her favorite Venice alley – and Garrett’s carrying his secret stash of shades. Come back to see where we end up shooting the collection, what Stephanie has up her sleeve, how to get your hands on your favorite frames and who we find next. (You won’t believe it).
A. Kinney Court, 1423 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 (310) 392.3400
Kasil + Taylor Jacobson – I had such a long week and didn’t think I’d make it to anything for Fashion’s Night Out in LA, but made it to Fred Segal Melrose just in time to catch celeb stylist Taylor Jacobson! Well, kind of. The event was over and she was on to cocktails, but was cool enough to come over and vamp with me a bit. She was wearing freakin killer skinny Minx denim with thigh high boots, but when I went for the full shot, she started, er, krunkin (?). I’m incredibly in love with Tay’s Mod Rocker Chic! (Her Chanel bag is an unusual copper shade and the necklace is vintage, she says). You can catch her super sexy denim collaboration with designer Kasil in the video below + more after…
I’m so glad that she struck out on her own and she looks like she’s having a blast. Her collaboration with Kasil is new for Fall 2010 and her philosophy is about every day accessibility vs high fashion and she elaborates in this hip video:
Ok, bye Taylor & Brian! For almost not making it out to #FNO, I struck gold with a few fun finds I’ll be covering over the next 10 days or so. Stay tuned for that and more surprises…
Goro Jewelry & Accessories – I was stylespotting at Abbot Kinney Blvd’s First Friday event when Jarrett’s neckwear literally stopped me in my tracks. He shared Goro’s history with me, a Tokyo-based jewelry designer with a waiting list longer than the hordes of people lined up outside his store daily, trying to score his exclusive handmade pieces. How did Jarrett score not one, but two pieces? The Nike Design Director knows someone who knows someone, naturally. He says John Mayer has also been privy to Goro pieces, but that the designer (with Native American influences, it seems) is still pretty hush hush in the U.S. Jarrett, thank you for sharing and for reinforcing my tag line that style has a story.
For the record, I also dig how he wears it. While I shot Jarrett’s look, his wife shot my shoes which bemused me (can I see?). You can follow Jarrett on his trend scouting travels at JarrettsBlog.com. Fun to talk to you two in Venice and domo arigato for the impromptu sidewalk photo op!
