Camilla and Marc Dress

Besotted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay I'm in love. Like seriously... I WANT THIS CAMILLA AND MARC DRESS! And I can't find it!!! ....ANYWHERE! I am considering calling every single Planet Blue in California to inquire if by some miracle they have it in stock for me... Please oh, pretty please, please, please.

In 2003, Marc Freeman, an engineer, and his sister, Camilla, a starlette graduate from the Whitehouse Institute of Design, collaborated to create a line of clothing and bathing suits... And thus, the brand Camilla and Marc was born. Their debut at Australia's Spring/Summer Fashion Week was received with enormous praise. Since then, their pieces have garnered attention from various celebrities including Ginnifer Goodwin, Lindsay Lohan and Kirsten Dunst.

Ultra-feminine, flirty and just plain fun, the inspiration for their clothes were to design for a woman who "Knows what she wants, knows how to put an outfit together, doesn’t need to be styled. Strong sense of self but never over confident.” - Camilla Freeman

Photo credits: PlanetBlue

Stella McCartney on Heidi Montag

Promised my #1 fan and supporter, J, that I'd write my next post with her in mind. Hope this will suffice, and that you killed that architecture deadline.

Photo credit: MTV

This past summer, J, KT and I sipped green tea and lattés at Barnes & Noble while we studied the GMAT, anatomy of the human body and the LSAT, respectively. When we weren't vigorously working in the zone, we'd chat about vapid celebrity gossip (i.e. our not-so-secret obsession with that ridiculous, contrived "reality" show). Yes, I am unabashed. THE HILLS.

I mostly watch for the fashion (especially now with Whitney gone), so in my defense, it's educational. :) In the season premiere, Heidi was even wearing the new spring Stella McCartney platforms I posted a while back. Disclaimer: I am not a Heidi fan, but grudgingly admit she has some style and an array of to-die-for-items in her closet. Exhibit A: The Stella McCartney bandage dress she wore to her wedding rehearsal dinner last week... To see Heidi in it, go to CelebStyle.

Photo credit: Bergdorf Goodman

The dress is simple and sexy chic. The bandage across the shoulder is the detail that makes the entire piece. Besotted.

Stella McCartney: As the daughter of former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, Stella was born into the world of glitz, glamor and fashion. At the early age of 15, she completed her first internship with Christian Lacroix and continued to work in design on Savile Row, a London fashion hotspot. Her claim to fame as a designer was when three friends modeled her collection as a favor to her for the graduation runway show at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. These three friends were none other than model icons Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Yasmin Le Bon.
In March 1997, Stella was appointed head designer of the French fashion house, Chloé. Her appointment was initially met with skepticism from many including Chanel's leading man, Karl Lagerfield, who was quoted as saying, "Chloé should have taken a big name. They did, but in music, not fashion. Let's hope she's as gifted as her father." Wow. Despite remarks like these that implied her success was due partially to nepotism, today, Stella's talent is indisputable. She has gained much respect since her Chloé debut and has collaborated with Gucci, Lesportsac as well as designed for celebrities like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. In early 2007, she also released her own skincare line, CARE.

Designer Dictionary - i n d a h

In 1996, Libby De Santis, with the help of her husband, Joe, moved from her hometown, Hanalei, Kauai, to Brazil to pursue her dream: to create a clothing line that was beautiful, beachy, and breezy. And so she did. Today, Indah has not only gained popularity in the Hawaiian islands, but has also branched out to the mainland. Trendy boutiques like Los Angeles' Planet Blue carry her line and how's this for PR... Kate Hudson was spotted last year wearing a red, hot Indah bikini! For Spring 2009, De Santis took off with the boho-chic trend and created a line full of tie-dyes, ruffles and sexy drapey backs!

Indah tie-dyed keyhole dress, Faryl Robin slippers, asymmetrical feather earrings from a jewelry sale in Kailua, wooden bangle from my mom, wrap bracelet by me, straw bangles from Goodwill

My first Indah piece... Knit peasant tunic, gladiator heels from Tokyo, headband by me, necklace from the Malibu Flea Market

www.indahclothing.com

Madison and Diavolina Hop Off Robertson

Interior of new Madison flagship Photo credit: WWD

With retail sales plummeting, looks like some of the decline has hit shopping mecca Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood. WWD reports that boutiques, Madison and Diavolina have moved off of Robertson and onto the neighboring Third Street. Owners Mark and Emily Goldstein were one of the first to inhabit the street, which today is packed with trendy shops and restaurants (Kitson, Lisa Kline, The Ivy...Need I say more?) frequented by celebrities who are followed by a flurry of paparazzi.

According to WWD, the move was catapulted by an increase of rent which nearly tripled last February to $12-17 per square foot. But don't worry, the new location on Third Street is no small closet... Madison and Diavolina have been adjoined to create a 7,000 square foot flagship store.

I don't think the move will hurt the boutiques at all considering both have already established a great clientele and have been in the retail sector for more than a decade! Madison also has five other locations spread throughout Los Angeles. When I was last in LA, I purchased an amazing reversible ring and some boho sandals with fringe from Diavolina (I'll have to take some pictures). Can't wait for my next trip so I can check out the new flagship!

A Little About the Boutiques:

Estabished in 1989, Madison boutiques have grown to become among the most highly regarded shopping destinations in Los Angeles. The stores carry only the latest fashions and accessories from top designers such as Alexander Wang, Chloe, Rag & Bone, Elizabeth & James and Derek Lam to name a few. In addition to it's new flagship on Third Street, the company also has stores in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and on Melrose Avenue. For more information, visit www.madisonlosangeles.com.

Diavolina was established shortly after Madison and is popular for it's fashion forward shoes, flasy accessories and luxurious gowns/dresses. Up and coming designers such as Mayle, Jinny Kim and Alexis Lamontagna can be found mixed with classy chic designers like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Marc Jacobs and Loeffler Randal. For more information visit, www.shopdiavolina.com.