One of LA’s historic landmarks, the Vibiana, was front and center last night as it hosted Brigade LA’s runway show, all a part of Style Fashion Week LA. Vibiana, a former Roman Catholic Cathedral constructed in 1876, was considered an architectural jewel when it debuted, but over a century later was almost demolished due to the damage it received in the Northridge earthquake. Its had a facelift and has been converted into a fabulous venue which is reigniting the excitement surrounding LA Fashion Week – which has been struggling since Mercedes Benz pulled out as a sponsor years ago.
Brigade LA, a trendy boutique in downtown LA that carries a variety of great lines, showcased looks that could currently be found at their location. As with all fashion shows, some pieces one can imagine themselves possibly wearing, such as the flirty one-piece Union Jack swimsuit. Other looks, not so much, like the skin-tight pink jumpsuit. 
By the end of the evening, I was hopeful at the possibility of the city’s fashion week being rejuvenated.
the gorgeous interior of the vibiana is the perfect backdrop for shows
I found it humorous that they have the original confession booths still inside the venue
exterior of the vibiana
It was all about the bling last night as famed jeweler BVLGARI was inducted into the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style which honors those who’ve contributed to the worlds of fashion & entertainment. The exterior and interior of the BVLGARI store on Rodeo was enveloped in chic black carpets and cases of the breathtaking jewels were on display throughout. Socialite Lydia Hearst, supermodel Anne V., stylist George Kotsiopoulos and actress Kate Walsh were some of the onlookers as Drew Barrymore presented Bulgari’s Vice Chairman and third generation family member Nicola Bulgari with the award. The brand has played a significant role in Hollywood for decades appearing in films & red carpets around the world. Mr. Bulgari will also have a plaque with his quote and signature embedded into the sidewalk of the famed fashion street.
drew barrymore presents the award
Check out one of the premier ski shops on the West Coast which surprisingly is located a few minutes from Santa Monica Beach. Winter sports fashionistas get ready to see some hot ski apparel!
AskMen.com, one of the top lifestyle destinations for men online, hosted a stylish event last night at David Arquette’s establishment, Bootsy Bellows. The AskMen Academy events have been taking place in various cities across the U.S. and showcase the top trends in men’s fashion & grooming. Angeleno men came looking dapper at the intimate gathering. On hand to share the latest advice was Trend & Menswear expert Tom Julian of TOMJULIANGROUP along with the Blind Barber, grooming experts who were giving free wet shaves to party attendees.
trend & menswear expert tom julian
wet shaves provided by blind barber
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC is just getting started. Fashionistas & the media have flocked to the city to catch a glimpse of what’s in store for Spring 2013. Noon by Noor is one of the newer design duos trying to take over the fashion world. The two take inspiration from Bahrain and other parts of the globe. The collection had flowing, vibrant, chiffon silhouettes along with fun metallics. Nicky Hilton and Olivia Palermo were also in attendance in the front row admiring the collection.
noon by noor spring/summer 2013 runway show
nikky hilton & olivia palermo (front row center)
Last night, Fashion’s Night Out celebrations took over the streets of Manhattan. The annual event was created four years ago to help stimulate sales and bring excitement back into the fashion industry. It’s now expanded all over the U.S. & globally. In the New York City area alone, hundreds of in-store events & street parties were taking place simultaneously. Henri Bendel had a Cirque du Soleil Zumanity performance and jewelry designer Ranjana Khan, married to designer Naeem Khan, was on hand to mingle with patrons and sign her pieces. Saks Fifth Avenue had something entertaining on each floor, from mingling with Oscar de la Renta, to makeovers and even Blue Man Group! VOGUE’s Ana Wintour was spotted on the streets of 5th Ave. sporting her signature bob before disappearing into her SUV and off to the next event
Tanja & I @ Henri Bendel
jewelry designer ranjana khan & me wearing her crystal orange drop earrings
Living in New York City’s West Village definitely has its perks. The neighborhood is a foodie and fashionista’s dream come true with delicious restaurants and hip boutiques located at every turn. I must confess that a guilty pleasure of mine, as is most women’s, is to window shop. My visual appetite was constantly being satiated by the amazingly delectable window displays at Reiss, Intermix, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and Alexis Bittar. Even though my wallet couldn’t afford the pricey pieces at the moment I still enjoyed looking at them. Today I veered from my normal path of visual perusing and took a turn down Christopher Street. To my pleasant surprise I came across a boutique even more tantalizing than my usual suspects-not to discount them at all. The name of this new found treasure is Diana Broussard.
As I walked past, a flash of neon pink and green caught my attention. What I had seen were two mosquito printed mini dresses in those respective colors. Normally one would expect to run at the sight of a mosquito but in this case I found myself coveting one of these brightly colored dresses. Hanging to their left was an abstract painting of pink, gray and purple concentric circles. I was hooked and all I wanted was to see more. The inside was even more spectacular than the window display. What awaited me were beautifully crafted leather heels, unique necklaces and earrings. Interesting art adorned all of the walls and the “piece de resistance,” a massive golden shimmering abstract painting, hung at the back of the store. All I can say is, this boutique is magical! Feel free to visit in person or online at dianabroussard.com.
top & bottom three photos provided by www.dianabroussard.com
“Great news! You booked the Bibhu Mohapatra Show!”
“Bee boo?”(Who’s that? I mean…) “That’s great!”
I quickly Googled Mr Mohapatra and found out that he had designed for Halston and J Mendel before launching his own line! Now I was genuinely excited.
The day of the show I arrived early as backstage is always chaotic and I prefer to have my hair and make up done with plenty of time to spare before show time. Despite being one of the first girls to arrive I sadly ended up being the last one ready due to my hairdresser having a hard time with my “bump it!” Yes, you heard me. Never in a million years had I imagined myself wearing a “bump it” ala Snookie from The Jersey Shore. My hair was too high then it was too low and each time it was incorrect always led my poor hairdresser back to square one. It was finally perfect, but perfection takes time and I now only had 5 minutes to get my make up done while everyone was calling, “We need Tanja now. Is she ready?” No I was not ready. I had 3 make up artists working on me simultaneously! I was being told to look up, open my mouth and suck in my cheeks all at the same time. Miraculously 5 minutes later I was ready but had to rush to put on my ensemble!
The show was not a traditional runway show but a presentation that took place in a dimly lit smoke filled room at Lincoln Center while Mozart’s “Requiem” played. Actress Tilda Swinton and Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible” inspired the collection. Feathers, furs, leather gloves, sky high heels and perfectly pleated creations made the show a huge hit and I was glad to be a part of it.
February is known to be one of the coldest months. This year I decided to brave the bitter cold and try my luck at booking some runway shows during NYC’s Fall 2011 Fashion Week. One could say that I hit the jackpot when I booked the Leanne Marshall show as I have been a Project Runway fan for years!
Her February show proved to deliver. The pieces were visually and architecturally pleasing. I loved her choice of silky fabrics and neutral color palette which included pops of red. It was an amazing feeling to trade in my parka for the floor length red and tan show stopping stunner. Leanne if you read this call me;-) I want this red dress!
photos provided by mylifetime.com
One of my favorite months in NYC is September. Not only is the weather perfect but an influx of the most beautiful people in the world flock to the city for the Spring Fashion Week Shows. Fashion Week is an exciting time in the city. One second you can be watching a runway show from the prestigious front row and the next you can be backstage amidst the madness followed by a never ending evening of after parties!
Today was one of those days. Nat, our BFF Milan and me were invited to attend the Argentina Group Show. With tickets in hand we quickly found out that we scored front row seats! Here’s a pre show photo.
Soon after we sat down the house lights dimmed and we were transported to the polo field’s of Argentina where a steady stream of stunning models strutted past us in equestrian inspired designs by La Dolfina.
In addition to La Dolfina, five other Argentinian designers(Laura Valenzuela, Evangelina Bomparola, Marcelo Senra, Maria Pryor, and Pablo Ramirez) showcased their creations. For some reason the La Dolfina segment was our favorite part of the show. I wonder if it had something to do with the perfectly chiseled male model pictured above 
Later that evening I slithered into my metallic snake skin print dress and we attended the show’s after party. We didn’t stay long as we heard that the L.A.M.B Spring 2011 after party was near by. Here are some highlights from the evening:
Nat standing in front of words we should all live by: Live To The Fullest
