KITTEN* FRESH FACES IN FASHION VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2 BRINE 4 BRINE * CONTENTS 5 BRINE * MASTHEAD FACES 8 MIKE VENSEL * EDITOR 8 KATE LILIECRAPP * MODEL 9 CAROLYN D’AMORE * MODEL 9 CHRYSTAL TACKET * MODEL FASHION 20 THE VANISHING * ASHLEY PAIGE 26 RIVER HEIST * KATNIC 34 CATS CRADLE * SHAY TODD 40 GHOST SHIP * RED CARTER FEATURES 12 ANTHONY GOICOLEA * ART 14 SUPER HAPPY BUNNY * DESIGN 16 SOMA * MUSIC 18 DIVA ZAPPA * MOVIES RUNWAYS 46 JENNI KAYNE * LA FASHION WEEK 48 SAMORA * LA FASHION WEEK 50 ROSE SCHOTT * LA FASHION WEEK 52 SHERRI BODELL * LA FASHION WEEK RESOURCES 54 SHOPPING * LA 56 DINING * LA 58 NIGHTLIFE * LA 60 CULTURE * LA READERS 62 KITTEN * SPRING BLOOM PARTY WWW.KITTENMAG.COM DESIGN BY SEVENSE COPYRIGHT 2005 Main Cover Image: Photographer * Richard Goldstein / Liquid Lollipop Labs Model * Hillary Choo / Couture Model Management, Miami Swimsuit * Red Carter Hood * Krelwear Back Cover Image: Photographer * Kurt Iswarkieno Model * Monica Ruiz / Ford, LA
Swimsuit * Katnic
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Fresh Faces in Fashion
Publisher & Editor in Chief Mike Vensel Fashion Editor Features Editor Resources Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor Copy Editor
Kat Turner Veronica Chanel Tiffany Lee Amanda Wagner Edward Jahn Rebecca Boccardo
Contributing Editors Ariadna Ledesma, Tracy Mendy, Amanda Nelson Contributing Photographers Kurt Iswarienko, Michael Dahan, Richard Goldstien, Mike Vensel, Gil Bandel Special Thanks Fountain Yount, Lola Devonne, Shannon Nichols Judy Vensel, Andrew Dutkowsky, Chris Dutkowsky Helmut Lang, Matthew Barney, Phillipe Starck West Coast Office Kitten Magazine 1725 Ocean Front Walk Suite 614 Los Angeles CA 90401 Telephone 1.310.451.2202 Fax 1.310.917.1178 info@kittenmag.com Subscription Inquiries / Customer Service subscribe@kittenmag.com, U.S.rates are $14.95 per year. Kitten is printed in the U.S. and published by Sevense Inc. 1725 Ocean Front Walk Suite 614 Los Angeles CA 90401 Copyright 2005 Kitten Magazine Kitten is a registered trademark of Sevense Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or in full is prohibited. Kitten* welcomes contributions. Kitten assumes no responsibility for content of adertisements. For more information please visit: http://www.kittenmag.com
FACES * Mike Vensel * Editor in Chief / Kitten* Interview by Veronica Chanel VC: When did you start Kitten*? MV: The idea was born two years ago. The first issue was published in March 2004. VC: Why did you start the magazine? MV: I was starting to design a clothing line and was looking for ways to get exposure as a young designer and realized it was really difficult. I created the first issue as an experiment to see how people would react to a magazine about emerging designers and as I got deeper into the process the more I loved the concept of the magazine. VC: What makes Kitten* unique? MV: Kitten* is a very unique magazine in many ways, I created, shot, styled and edited the entire first year of the magazine, so as an editor I have a very good feel for all aspects of creating a fashion magazine. I also have a background in technology and have built the magazine with a future in mind. From the beginning I have been creating the magazine as a digital format, we shoot content for a new video format. In 2005 we moved into print as well. We have been exploring new ways to create and deliver fashion editorial content. VC: How have your own experiences affected Kitten*? MV: Well I design, style and shoot fashion. I travel and attend fashion shows around the world. I have formal training in architecture and fine art. Much of what is featured in the magazine is a direct reflection of my vision of the fashion industry and showcases many of the things I find of value. The magazine evolves as I do and I always try to make each issue better than the next. Thatís my ultimate goal.
Kate Liliecrapp * Model / Bleu Interview by Mike Vensel MV: How Long have you been modeling? KL: Almost thirteen years now. MV: What are your measurements? KL: 35/24.5/36.5 and I am 5’10’. MV: Do you have a favorite designer? KL: I really like Sass & Bide in Australia.. I donít really like labels so whenever there is a label I usually cut it off. MV: Do you prefer print or runway? KL: TV commercials. MV: What do you do when you are not modeling? KL: I practice lots of yoga, I surf, I read, I love music, I write, I catch up with friends, venture, wonder, go for a bike ride, watch movies. MV: What’s been your favorite experience modeling? KL: Just being able to wake up in the morning, like this morning, and not knowing who I am meeting, where I am going, or what I am doing. I love that, the mystery of it all. MV: Have you had any bad experiences with modeling? KL: Of course, once I got flown to Spain for a job shooting for a German catalog and we shot one day. It was supposed to be for five days and on the second day the director came to me and said, “sorry you don’t look like your pictures, you’ve got a fat face and we donít want to use you anymore” and that was hard. I started jogging that afternoon. MV: What advice could you give to aspiring models? KL: Just keep it real, don’t ever take anything personally and health is number one.
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9 Carolyn D’ Amore * Model / Nous Interview by Mike Vensel MV: How long have you been modeling? CD: Off and on for about 4 years. MV: What are your measurements? CD: 34/24/34 and I am 5’9”. MV: What’s the best experience you have had modeling? CD: I love runway, it’s so fun and exciting but I’ve had really fulfilling experiences like doing a charity event for Diane Von Furstenberg, so it’s cool to help people out and do cool things. MV: What’s the worst experience you have had modeling? CD: I was living in New York and I was young and you listen to people and you think that everyone is going to steer you in the right direction and sometimes they don’t. Your agents are not you parents but I had a bad experience where they sent me to a shady situation where I had to end up screaming at the photographer and running out the door. MV: What do you do when you are not modeling? CD: I am a big fan of dancing and concerts. Music is constantly in my life and I really just enjoy dancing with my friends, that’s how I get my workout. I literally sweat when I dance because I just go crazy. MV: What do you like most about modeling? CD: Getting to meet people and travel. MV: What do you like least about modeling? CD: The cliché’, “you don’t do anything, you just stand there and look pretty” and “she’s just a pretty face.” I hate it. MV: What advice can you give to aspiring models? CD: You’ve got to be tough. Don’t let everything that’s said get to you and just be happy with who you are, otherwise it’s going to eat you alive.
Chrystal Tacket * Model / Nous Interview by Mike Vensel MV: How long have you been modeling? CT: Almost a year. MV: What are your measurements? CT: 32/25/33, 5’9”. MV: What’s the best experience you have had modeling? CT: I’ve had too many. Getting to see really cool places whether it’s inside or out. MV: Have you had any bad experiences? CT: No I don’t think so. It’s always been fun. MV: What do you do when you are not modeling? CT: I like to cook and bake a lot. MV: What do you see yourself doing after modeling? CT: Definitely with kids and a house and possibly back in Arizona. MV: Do you have a favorite designer? CT: Not at all. MV: Do you prefer doing runway or print? CT: I like runway a lot. Definitely runway. MV: Tell us about some runway experiences? CT: Every time its been really awesome, when the clothes are great and they fit really well, and its really high energy. I love being backstage and the feeling you get right before you go out. You zone out while you are down there and it’s just an amazing experience. MV: What advice can you give to aspiring models? CT: Don’t trust everything everyone says, watch out for yourself and don’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.
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ANTHONY GOICOLEA * ART Interview by Mike Vensel
MV: How long have you been an artist? AG: Professionally about 5 years, but I’ve spent my whole life creating stuff or making objects or painting. MV: Do you work in a particular style that you are known for? AG: I am most known for my photographs, particularly a series of self-portraits where I play more than one character in the photograph, and often I would dress up as an adolescent and interact with myself to recreate coming of age type issues. MV: What are you currently working on? AG: I am working on a series for a show I have coming up in New York in April. It’s a body of work that deals more with landscapes and working with other people and sort of incorporating them into the landscape, kind of massing them together and making it so that they are these communes living together and operating in the forest. MV: What inspires you? AG: A lot of different things. I am always looking around, books and movies, I am very visual so everything I see kind of get sucked in and added to my vocabulary of things which I call upon later.
MV: What do you like most about being an artist? AG: I like the fact that I get to communicate my ideas and messages to a wide audience, through a visual means so it has a greater level of flexibility and freedom for me anyway. MV: What do you like least about being an artist? AG: I don’t know haven’t thought about what I like least. MV: Where can people find some of your work? AG: I have a gallery that I work with in New York called Post Masters, I have a gallery that I work with in Los Angeles called Sondroni Ray, and I show with several galleries overseas in Cologne in Valencia. MV: What can we expect to see from you in the future? AG: I’ve been doing a lot more drawings, within the past 3 years I have been exploring the realm of video, so I am just trying to branch out and experiment with different things. MV: What advice could you give to aspiring artists? AG: To be persistent, because it really helps. For more visit: anthonygoicolea.com
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SUPERHAPPYBUNNY * DESIGN Interview by Veronica Chanel
VC: What is Superhappybunny? SH: Superhappybunny is a cultural design studio, we do fashion design, product design and media design of all sorts. VC: Who are some of your clients? SH: Nike, Coca Cola, Verizon and Lookbook. Many of our clients of a gem of a dream and they want us to help them take it from that state to something that can be applicable to the real world. People you will hear about later hopefully.
VC: How did Superhappybunny start? SH: We have our studio here in the Brewery which is a giant artists complex with 350 studios so we are surrounded artists designers architects illustrators and that’s what drew us here and planted the seed for what is now Superhappybunny which was originally conceived as a collective of artists and designers and much less so a proper design studio, but over the last five years we have evolved to what we are now, which is still a collective mindset but very much focused now on making things actually for the world, so we are not just making art necessarily.
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VC: What is the most popular thing you have designed? SH: I would say the Pixel Blocks, because it’s a toy and has a pretty wide appeal, kids love it, adults love it. It kind of changes over eras, the Neo Amish in the beginning was the most popular and brings us a deeper long term recognition over the years in the first five years and other people like the vibrator cozies. We certainly have a lot of interesting conversations because of the cozies; we hear a lot of great stories, and way too much about that.
VC: Do you have any new projects coming out that people can look for? SH: We have a new beverage container coming out that’s we did for Coca Cola. It’s going to launch in a few markets around the world. It will definitely be distinct. We did puke bags for Virgin Atlantic. Other stuff is secret we can’t talk about right now. One of the things that will be out in the fall is a series of shorts for Res that will be touring the world in their festival. For more visit: Superhappybunny.com
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SOMA * MUSIC
Interview by Mike Vensel MV: How long have you been together? SO: About 2 years now MV: How would you define your music? SO: Our sound is big, some ambient layers, it may be better to name our influences such as Stone Roses, some late 80ís early 90ís bands early U2, some funk and soul, based on a lot of grooves really the sound in general is very expansive and lush. MV: How have your personal experiences affected your music? SO: Most people draw well from personal experiences, it makes the music a more believable and a bit stronger, and I think that’s what fuels creativity. MV: What is your current album? SO: Its called “New Life.” At the moment there are only a few record shops in New York that carry it, but you can buy it online at insidesoma.com. MV: What do you have coming up? SO: We have a show at a new place in New York called Crash Mountain. It is quite difficult for a New York band starting out to draw a crowd without the support of a major label. We have gotten a lot of great response from our past shows. At the moment we are thinking of recording some new tracks hopefully they will be available in the summer. MV: Do you have anything outside of music that influences your sound? SO: We have all grown up in different places and had different life experiences and being in New York influences it. We are not a band that part of the scene, its not just for the tragically hip, we definitely want to appeal to a broad spectrum of people, so we don’t really base our music on art or fashion it comes more from personal experiences.
MV: What is your music about? SO: We don’t really go into writing songs about anything in particular, we sort of work on what sounds natural, all of our songs are unique in what topics they cover. It’s not a conscious thought, it’s a natural state of songwriting, as if you are tuning into some frequency. MV: I noticed you are involved with Unicef, can you explain your involvement? SO: Because of our backgrounds we want to reach as many people as possible and touch as many people as possible. We are the kind of band that likes to spread some global awareness. Being a new band I think its good to start of with something positive such as working with an organization such as Unicef. MV: Where is the name SOMA from? SO: It’s from a book I read; Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and always carried the name around with me and thought it would be a good band name. MV: What advice can you give to aspiring musicians? SO: Don’t try to fit into a scene that you are not a part of, that you don’t feel comfortable with, there is a lot of pressure in New York to try to merge into a sound or scene so just try to stay beyond that. Find more visit: insidesoma.com
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Phototo * Andrea Labarge / Makeup * Veronic Chanel / Hair * Jane Fantozzi / Stylist * Lauren Knudsen
DIVA ZAPPA * MOVIES
Interview by Veronica Chanel VC: Let’s start out by getting to know you. DV: My name is Diva Zappa and I am an actress at the moment. VC: Ok, well what is up next for you in the film world? DZ: I just did a movie called National Lampoon’s Pledge This! With Paris Hilton, Simon Rex, Amanda Aday (Meatloafís daughter) and Randy Spelling. My character is Babs Cohen who is a Lesbian or as I like to say just a whore for the ladies she is really desperate for some love’n. The movie takes you on a little journey with a bunch of misfit girls trying to be gorgeous gammas. It’s a crazy little flick, it’s Revenge of the Nerds but with girls, and better. VC: I also heard you have a part in Cameron Crowe’s new film. DZ: Yes, I got a small part in his film Elizabeth Town with Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom. I have a scene with Orlando and that was amazing he is so sweet! VC: How long have you been acting? DZ: I was in a few things when I was younger, so about 10 years but not continuously. I just started up again now that I have a new manager and agent. VC: What do you like most about acting? DZ: Getting to be an idiot all the time.
VC: What would you say you like least about acting? DZ: Getting to be an idiot all the time! [Laughs] VC: What is it you love to do in your spare time? DZ: I am obsessed with knitting; OBSESSED with knitting! I knit all the time and I do math crossword puzzles and I watch Law and Order. I’m super into forensics and I’m a big dork. VC: How you describe your own personal style? DZ: Uh, I’ll explain it this way I will always have something wrong with my outfit. There will always be something that will catch your eye that will make you go “huh, wha...ok” and that’s my style it’s a big “huh?”. VC: Is that something you do on purpose? DZ: I absolutely do it on purpose. My style is not normal but sometimes really crazy and cute, but either way it will defiantly make you notice me. VC: Who are your favorite fashion designers out there right now? DZ: I absolutely adore Alexander McQueen! His clothes are unbelievable. Stella McCartney, I hate her. It’s wrong how amazing she is. I also love Rami Kashou. The yellow shirt I’m wearing is one of his designs. For more visit: divazappa.com
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ne KT: Where are you from? r AP: Pensacola, Florida. KT: How long have you been designing? AP: I started doing bikinis about 7 years ago. I used to make bikinis for dancers. I had a Lycra line called Sexpot. KT: Where do you draw your inspiration? AP: Everywhere, its so hard to say one specific place or thing, I have so much in my head all the time, I would say nature and people and memories from the 70’s and growing up on the beach. We are very 70’s here. KT: How does LA inspire you vs. how Florida inspires you? AP: I grew up on the beach and it’s been so long since I’ve been to the beach now living in LA, everything now has this street flavor. Whenever we do fashion shows we don’t resort to the traditional beach look, we are always a little more edgy. Living in LA its more a fashion statement, for pools and boating trips and vacations. If I were living in Florida, it would be more water inspired to be wet and wearable. KT: Do you have a signature look that carries over from collection to collection? AP: We have a very signature look that doesn’t change much, the beach undies and the tie kinis, are there each season, and we just change colors and revamp, and I like that because when a customer sees my suits in a magazine they know it’s Ashley Paige. KT: Tell me about the process of how your suits are made. AP: Everything is made here. We started making the suits on a handloom with very outdated old machines; the first suits we made were made by hand knitters. Now we have invested in a new machine “sea biscuit.” KT: Who is the Ashley Paige woman? AP: My customer is 15-50. In Teen Vogue this month there is a 15-year-old girl in Australia who says her style is a t-shirt and an Ashley Paige bikini. And I also have my celebrity clientele. KT: What sort of things do you enjoy doing outside of fashion? AP: I love nature, I do dog rescues and I hold adoptions in my store on Sundays. I like to get back to nature and be really involved socially and environmentally and one of the ways do this is to with my dog adoptions. KT: What do you enjoy the most about designing? AP: I don’t get to design that much, I think the fashion shows are fun. I like to see the product evolve, watching the fittings and see it go from drawings to fittings to the runway and finally to the customer. KT: What do you like the least about designing? AP: Sourcing, dealing with high minimums, dealing with assholes, dealing with late deliveries, the fact that I cant do everything, in fact I can’t do anything. I call myself a fashion producer because I try to find the right resources and the right creative people and the right fabrics and bring it all together. KT: What sort of advice would you give to upcoming designers? AP: It depends if you want to do corporate or independent design. I always tell me interns that come here that want to be fashion designers “when you leave here you will know whether you want to do your own business or not”. Don’t believe everything that you hear, and don’t get too excited. KT: You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and you can only take five things with you what would they be? AP: I would take Jared Leto, the hottest bikini I can find here, Hawaiian tropic oil, a bottle of booze and a dog.
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For more visit: ashleypaige.com
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Fashion * Katnic Models * Carolyn D始Amore / Nous * Monica Ruiz / Ford Photographer * Kurt Iswarienko Stylist * Lisa Katnic Hair * Aaron Light / Celestine Makeup * Tal Sheyn / Osbrink Agency
Lisa Katic / Katnic * Fashion Interview by Kat Turner
KT: Where are you from? LK: Los Angeles. I was born in San Pedro and grew up in St. Louis Obispo, I moved to Hawaii for a brief period of time, I traded a lot of my vintage clothing in for vintage bathing suits and that’s where I got the idea for a swimsuit line, because these bathing suits are amazing, structurally so different than they make them now, and I felt like I’d bring them back. KT: So your line has a vintage inspiration? LK: A little bit, mostly in the way that the shapes are unique, not so much in the materials, because the materials I am using are a bit more practical, but the shapes are 60ís mod inspired with my own personality thrown in there. KT: Do you wear your suits to the beach or to pool parties? LK: I never go to the beach or pool parties, I haven’t been in a body of water in about a year, but I really like making bathing suits and I make clothing also. KT: What kind of clothing do you make? LK: I make shorts and some pants and skirts and I have a hoodie that I’ve made which is quite humongous and it’s doing quite well In New York. KT: You happen to share a house with Brian Lichtenberg, another fellow designer. Tell us about that? LK: It’s good because we keep each other inspired and motivated to be on it, it’s nice to live with someone who makes a living doing this. I’ve only been making bathing suits for about a year. Brian is amazing, he is my best friend and I’ve never met anyone like him.
KT: What would you say is your signature look? LK: Mostly the structure of the things I make, I delve into a lot of different fabrics. I have a tropical look, a neon electric look and a gold and jewel tone look. It’s not so much about color, I love color but it’s mostly about the shapes of the suits, most are two piecey one pieces, or something strappy, it’s not your triangle top and bikini bottom. KT: What’s one fashion item you can’t live without? LK: Its not so much about clothing but accessories, its all about accessories. I could be naked and have a necklace and be happy. Jewelry is really important to me, and belts and I love suspenders. KT: What’s your biggest fashion faux paux? LK: Low waisted pants, with love handles hanging over. Dress to flatter your body. KT: What do you like the most about fashion and design? LK: Its really a creative outlet for me, I love seeing my stuff on other people. KT: What don’t you like about fashion? LK: There isn’t a whole lot I don’t like about fashion. KT: What advice can you give to aspiring designers? LK: Just do it, don’t design for other people, design for yourself, even though it won’t give you a lot of money, even if you do design for other people create a few things that are for you, your special projects. KT: You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and you can only take five things with you what would they be? LK: My lizard Sticky, Brian Lichtenberg, lots of food, a house and some shoes.
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FASHION * SHAY TODD JEWELRY * UCCLE’ DESIGN MODEL * CHRYSTAL TACKET / NOUS PHOTOGRAPHER * MIKE VENSEL STYLIST * KAT TURNER HAIR * JANE FANTOZZI MAKEUP * VERONICA CHANEL
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Cats Cradle by Anthony Goicolea
Shay Todd * Fashion Interview by Kat Turner
KT: Where are you from? ST: I am originally from Hawaii. KT: How did that have an influence on your line? ST: The line is swimwear and resort wear oriented. It’s a lifestyle I know very well, I grew up in a swimsuit. KT: When did you start designing swimwear? ST: I’ve been designing for about six years now and it’s always something I had in the back of my head, for many years and toyed with the idea and I just said I am going to give it a shot, I am going to put it on paper and try to construct them and it was really well received and it took of from there. KT: How has living in Los Angeles changed your perception of swimwear? ST: Many of my friends in Hawaii consider my suits to be little larger in terms of coverage where as girls in Los Angeles say, “You make really tiny suits.” So it has had an influence on the coverage and the style and being a little more fashion oriented vs. tropical influence. KT: Where did the inspiration for your current line come from? ST: This particular collection came from really neat group of people that I met during a vacation in Careyes, this little hideaway resort town in the middle of Mexico in the middle of the jungle and it brings together a group people from all around the world and they bring together a culmination of fashion from their travels which is very bohemian chick and ethereal. KT: Do you have a signature look that you carry from collection to collection? ST: I don’t do prints too often, I like to keep it a really clean lined group of classic swimsuits and I play on the fine line between sexy and classical and definitely embellishment.
KT: What sort of woman wears Shay Todd? ST: Someone who is not afraid of taking risks, who isn’t afraid to have fun with fashion, someone who it’s not afraid to be noticed. KT: What is one fashion item that you cant live without? ST: A good basic white tank top. KT: What is a fashion pet peeve that you have? ST: When somebody doesn’t know their body, even if there is a trend going on not every girl could wear each trend, follow what works best for your body. KT: What do you enjoy the most about designing? ST: Being able to keep one of everything. KT: What do you like least about designing? ST: As sad as it sounds the business side of it, having to sell it, I really do it because I love it. KT: What advice could you give to an aspiring designer? ST: Start small, start with a basic idea and grow from there, go for it, don’t be afraid to go for it. KT: You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and you can only take five things with you what would they be? ST: My I pod, the latest Vogue, my Shiseido SPF 30 sunscreen, a Shay Todd bikini and a good attitude. For more visit: shaytodd.com
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Ghost Ship
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Fashion * Red Carter Jewelery * Shuangi / True Petite, and Vintage Model * Hillary Choo / Couture Model Management, Miami Photographer * Richard Goldstein / Liquid Lollipop Labs Photo Assistant * Kylee Sorensen Stylist * Shoshana Finn / Liquid Lollipop Labs Makeup & Hair * Dalia Veitia Producer * John Fisher
Ghost Ship by Anthony Goicolea
Red Carter * Fashion Interview by Mike Vensel MV: How long have you been designing? RC: I’ve been designing my own collection for 2 years now and I’ve been designing fashion for about 15 years. MV: What are you signature designs? RC: A little red button the back of each suit, I usually take trends that are happening in the market and so something crazy, either using embellishments or prints or something trying to get my message out. MV: Whom do you have in mind when you design? RC: I design my collection for someone that really wants to stand out and be a little different than what’s happening out there, I do a lot of retro inspired prints, everything that’s old is new again, I like making garments for people to really show off, I love when someone gets a compliment and they ask, where can I get that? That’s why I do it. MV: What has had the greatest influence on your design? RC: I am very trend oriented, so if I find a trend in the market I am really influenced by that. Other than that it would be my upbringing, I grew up and the beaches in Southern California and my mom being a home sewer stitching fabric together and making things for us kids was probably a big influence for me. MV: What do you like most about designing? RC: I like the freedom of design, the idea that you can create something, a trend or a silhouette, it could be inspired by something and it can turn into something three dimensional. MV: What do you like least about being a designer? RC: The production aspect, that can get really hairy, that and the charge backs.
MV: What’s the most important lesson you have learned as a designer? RC: Just follow your heart, it was really hard for me to break away from corporate design working for big companies, like Oscar De La Renta or Victoria’s Secret and finding my own spirit and just rockin it, that’s been the challenge for me. MV: Before you started your line did you design swimwear for others companies? RC: Yea, for Victoria’s Secret catalog as well as Oscar De La Renta. I did some work for Rampage and Mossimo, even for Wal-Mart, what was crazy for me is going from designing for Wal-Mart for $7 all the way to Sacks 5th Avenue, its hilarious to me the whole adventure of it all. It’s been great. MV: Do you have an education in fashion design? RC: I went to a school called Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles. MV: What advice can you give to aspiring designers? RC: Take a deep breath, don’t expect that when you finish school that you are going to get the rockin experience, really pay your dues and do the bad jobs, don’t be afraid to fail, I think that’s one of my biggest successes, being a failure. MV: You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and you can only take five things with you what would they be? RC: My I pod, A pot of fantastic coffee and a coffee maker, my sketchbook and some fantastic pens, photographs of my family, and the how to survive desperate situations board game. For more visit: redcarter.com
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LA Fashion Week Fall / Winter 2005 Photos by Mike Vensel
JENNI KAYNE * RUNWAYS
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LA Fashion Week Fall / Winter 2005 Photos by Mike Vensel
SAMORA * RUNWAYS
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LA Fashion Week Fall / Winter 2005 Photos by Mike Vensel
ROSE SCHOTT * RUNWAYS
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LA Fashion Week Fall / Winter 2005 Photos by Mike Vensel
SHERI BODELL * RUNWAYS
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SHOPPING * RESOURCES / LA A Mason 1511 Montana Ave. Santa Monica 310.394.7179 Stocks mostly emerging designers plus its own line of deconstructed vintage clothing. Look hard because they currently have no shop sign! American Rage C.I.E. 150 S. La Brea Ave. Hollywood 323.935.3154 A favorite among the ultra hip with one of the best shoe selections in Los Angeles, carrying labels like Chloe, Missioni, Helmut Lang and Marc Jacobs. They not only carry all your boutique favorites, but also has a large vintage section, and a binder cataloguing literally hundreds of jewelry pieces to chose from.
Atmosphere 1728 N. Vermont Ave. Los Feliz 323.666.8420 The right balance between Los Feliz and the West Side, this store carries your favorite boutique essentials, and extensive jewelry selection plus eccentric lesser-known designers mixed in. Barracuda 7600-B Melrose Ave. Los Angeles With their graffiti inspired murals, collection of vintage keyboards, designer vinyl toys, mod furniture, plus in-house DJ, Barracuda is one of the standouts on the mostly trite and trend-trailing stores on the Melrose strip. They carry a wide selection of men’s and women’s hipster streetwear and silk-screened tees, carrying labels like GSUS, Paul Frank and Fornarina, plus many independent designers and surprisingly stylish from labels like Nike and Stussy rarely found anywhere else. Don’t overlook the jewelry selection!
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Lisa Klein 136 S. Robertson Blvd. West Hollywood 310.246.0907 Another trend-setting boutique with sportswear, eveningwear, and more.
Black Market 2023 Sawtelle Blvd. West Los Angeles 310.966.1555 Located in what could be Little Tokyo’s hip younger sibling, this store that doubles as a gallery and carries many local designers, designer jeans and reconstructed vintage pieces. Its urban-New York meets Tokyo-street vibe with more Bleu 454 S. La Brea Ave. Hollywood 323.939.2228 A bit far down the strip, Bleu carries a wide selection of local and international designer pieces with a wonderfully ethnic feel. They also offer lots of colorful and comfy tees and lacy lingerie. Blonde 2430 Main St. Santa Monica 310.396.9113 Your classic West Coast boho boutique, complete with your choice of designer jeans. Carries labels from Da-Nang and L.A.M.B to Cynthia Vincent and Ella Moss. Expect to throw down three-digits for just about everything. H. Lorenzo 8660 W. Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood 310.659.1432 This is a must-shop locale that carries high-end designer pieces from the likes of Helmut Lang and Alexander McQueen.
Mademoiselle Pearl 1311B Montana Ave. Santa Monica 310.576.7116 Owned by designer Jennifer Nicholson, daughter of Jack Nicholson, she features her own rock inspired line along with lines from Imitation of Christ and Vivienne Westwood. Madison 113 S. Robertson Blvd. West Hollywood 323.651.3662 Another Robertson favorite, Madison supplies the top American and European designers along with cutting-edge new fashions. Marco Marco 1641 Las Palmas Ave. Hollywood 323.462.2304 Where else can you have your own design ideas brought to life on site by the fabulous Marco Morante? His one-of-a-kind custom couture uses unorthodox combinations of bright colors to create casual beachwear to red carpet eveningwear. On Beverly Blvd 8601 Beverly Blvd. Beverly Hills 310.300.8601 This boutique consists of a closely edited assemblage of favorites from the finest upscale European collections.
Horn 140 S. Robertson Blvd. West Hollywood 310.278.2052 Originating in Berlin, this German importer carries lines like Dolce & Gabbana plus casual jeans to elegant eveningwear. Jill Roberts 920 Montana Ave. Santa Monica 310.260.1966 A clean and calming New England vibe, Jill Roberts stocks what could be called “designer comfort.” Also carries some bathing essentials and a wide range of your favorite jeans. Kitson 115 S. Roberston Blvd. West Hollywood 310.859.2652 An ongoing celebrity favorite, every square inch of Kitson is literally crammed with ultra-trendy clothes, shoes, bags, gifts and beauty products like an It Girl’s dream swap meet. Pleasantly overwhelming, be ready to push through the constant crowd of shoppers to get to the heaps of hip and colorful accoutrements.
Rebel 1528 Montana Ave. Santa Monica 310.451.3699 Not what you would expect from the name, this very mature and sophisticated boutique carries the likes of Juicy, Seven and Trina Turk. More uptown Julia Roberts than downtown Joan Jett. Yellow 605 N. La Brea Ave. Hollywood 323.525.0362 Don’t be too irked by the very un-PC title accompanied by Chinese characters. This store out in the boonies carries ultra-fashionable national and international brands including local golden boy Brian Lichtenberg. Lots of colorfully deconstructed, sequined, and silk-screened pieces, they also carry a small collection of vintage clothes upstairs.
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Patina
DINING * RESOURCES / LA Ammo 1155 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood 323.467.3293 With its newly redesigned modernist interior, Ammo serves great Californian food to a West Coast Bohemian crowd. You can come for all meals, the bar, or a gourmet picnic lunch for Hollywood Bowl concerts!
The Belmont 747 La Cienega Blvd. Hollywood 310.659.8871 Stylish guests line the bar and tables are adorned with everything from steaks, seafood, pastas and all other nouveau-American favorites. There is a smoker friendly patio that adds to this restaurant’s fun cocktail lounge atmosphere.
Bastide 8475 Melrose Pl. West Hollywood 323.651.5950 Undeniably one of the best French restaurants in Los Angeles, the extravagant cuisine, wine list and contemporary dĂŠcor are all true to French standards. This prestigious restaurant surely does not skimp of the indulgent extras.
Buffalo Club 1520 Olympic Blvd. Santa Monica 310.450.8600 A classic old-glamour steakhouse, the velvet curtains, heavy wooden bar and inconspicuous entrance give guests the feel of swinging supper club. Here people can dine on upscale pre-fad diet era cuisine: New York steak, lobster, and its famous macaroni and cheese.
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La Cachette 10506 Little Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills 310.470.4992 French for “the hideaway,” the crisp atmosphere provides the perfect setting for L’Orangerie’s ex-chef Jean-Francoise Meteigner’s contemporary cuisine. La Cachette serves dishes with low fat, salt and calories without sacrificing flavor.
The Ivy 113 N. Robertson Blvd. West Hollywood 310.274.8303 A cottage on the trendy shopping stretch of Robertson, this well known and constantly packed American-Cajun eatery offers a cozy interior with fireplace and an outdoor patio perfect to star-gaze the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan making their way through the shops.
Chi 8401 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood 323.656.1234 This Justin Timberlake owned eatery features dim-sum style Asian fusion cuisine. The décor by Dodd Mitchell is part of the package with red leather booths and corseted chairs. Cobras and Matador 7615 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles 323.932.6178 Located in an updated Spanish tavern, this tiny restaurant is regularly packed with urban hipsters and the occasional celebrity. This restaurant serves up 17 different varieties of tapas along with Spanish cuisine with an authenticity rarely found outside of Spain. Falcon 7213 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood 323.850.5350 This chic, open-air restaurant serves up tantalizing Californian cuisine in a stunning and sprawling modern environment. Traditional comfort foods get a cosmopolitan twist here, and stick around for club hours when the place turns into a hip Hollywood nightspot. El Floridita 1253 N. Vine St. Hollywood 323.871.8612 Taking its name from a Havana nightspot frequented by Hemingway and John Wayne, this hot Cuban nightspot keeps its authentic cuisine and its legendary (and celebrity spotting) salsa-dancing nights red-hot. Try the mojitos, Hemingway’s favorite and the joint’s signature drink. Electric Lotus 4656 Franklin Ave. Los Feliz 323.953.0040 Snuggled into the edge of Franklin’s shopping district, this Indian restaurant attracts the artists and hipsters alike in its very dim and very intimate setting. The traditional cuisine fuses nicely with the updated but clearly Indian décor. DJ’s spin on the weekend evenings and if you’re lucky, you’ll be seated in one of two tables in the back, where high-backed booths and a velvet curtain separates your party from the rest of the crowd.
Jones 7205 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood 323.850.1726 A low-lit and intimate atmosphere attracts a mostly industry crowd from the nearby Warner Bros’ lot. Patrons munch of burgers, salads and pastas during the lunch hours, but most come just for drinks in the evening. Koi 730 N. La Cienega Blvd. Beverly Hills 310.659.9449 Sexy and sophisticated, this restaurant caters to the Hollywood elite. The huge layout consists of four dining rooms, a lounge, a patio with fireplace and a busy sushi bar. Its décor mixes traditional Asian flair with chic modern furnishings with Buddha statues, black leather booths, bamboo stalks lining the walls. The menu features an extensive selection of both traditional and fusion Japanese dishes with an inventive modern flair. Lightly seared spicy tuna on quarter-size bed of crispy rice is a perfect bite-size treat. Other favorites include buttery black cod glazed with miso sauce, sweet broiled Alaskan king crab legs coated with garlic-butter sauce, and tuna sashimi boosted by jalapeno pepper. The sushi chefs keep it simple with fresh, generous cuts of salmon, yellowtail and mackerel. If arriving without reservations, expect a long wait, but once seated, the luxurious ambiance, top-notch cuisine and beautiful crowd is sure to compensate. The Little Door 8164 W. Third St. Los Angeles 323.951.1210 One of Los Angeles’ preeminent restaurants, it serves up excellent French and Mediterranean dishes to a boisterous but not overwhelming crowd. The setting has a European feel with intimate candle-lit tables and outdoor patio. Nobu 3835 Cross Creek Rd. Malibu 310.317.9140 Another addition to world-class chef’s Nobu Matsuhisa repertoire, for many local celebrities, Nobu’s delectable Japanese cuisine is a daily rendez-vous. Try the rock shrimp and the jalapeno yellowtail sashimi.
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NIGHTLIFE * RESOURCES / LA Avalon 1735 N. Vine St. West Hollywood Expect vast lines for this Hollywood mega-club. Previously called the Palace, the revamped venue still hold its grandeur while attracting hundreds of club-goers with a roster ranging from hip hop nights, rock concerts and fashion-clash drag nights. The exclusive Spider Club is located in its rafters to the right of the main entrance, so be ready to name drop experience the Avalon’s VIP area. Bar Marmont 8171 W. Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood 323.650.0575 Next door from the legendary Chateau Marmont Hotel, this place is an elegant getaway from the other comparatively garrulous clubs on Sunset. Its sophisticated atmosphere attracts celebrities and the elite nightly.
Beauty Bar 1638 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Hollywood 323.464.7676 Where else can you order a martini with manicure for ten dollars? This stylish 50’s reminiscent atmosphere with the glittered walls and vintage salon chairs serves up anything from underground rock to top 40 nights. Any local knows this place is a must! Cinespace 6356 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 323.654.1268 Known to have anything from concerts, to fashion shows, to after parties, this upscale restaurant and bar offers cozy dinner and movie nights in their sprawling screening room. But for those can’t sit still, it also has a dance floor, smoking patio and two fully stocked bars. Tuesday nights in particular are when the hip, hot and fashionably avant come out to play.
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Concorde 1835 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Hollywood 323.464.5662 One of the newer editions to the Hollywood club scene, don’t be confused by its shoddy location. The club’s sleek design and ample outdoor patios perpetually attract the young and affluent.
Nacional 1645 Wilcox Ave. Los Angeles 323.962.7712 A swanky New York-style Cuban bistro and bar, they have two stories of sophisticated décor and fabulous elite. Includes a smoking patio, fireplaces and fantastic mojitos.
El Centro 1069 N. El Centro Ave. Los Angeles 323.957.1066 This white-hot club du jour undoubtedly has some of the most envied clientele entering through their hidden doors and on their raw plywood smoking patio. Minimally designed, it puts even more emphasis on the celebrity presence and scantily clad dancers on the platform floor. To even find the entrance, head down Eleanor and up a dimly lit alleyway to find the velvet rope.
The Standard Rooftop Bar 550 S. Flower St. Downtown L.A. 213.892.8080 Soaring atop the Standard Hotel, this rooftop bar and club offers the most amazing 360 degree view of downtown Los Angeles. Previously a bank building, the hotel amazes with its playfully sleek take on 60s Mod design. Known for high profile clients getting nude in the pool, this location is never a disappointment. Shelter 8117 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood 323.654.0030 Formerly the metal head dive bar, Coconut Teaszer, this revamped hot spot now has bright white ski chalet feel with sleek vinyl furniture and long floor to ceiling draperies. The young and fashionable crowd enjoy themselves by the spacious smoking patio, the working fireplaces and dance floor. Come early or make dinner reservations to avoid lines.
Falcon 7213 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood 323.850.5350 The sprawling space and cutting edge modern design, this open-air club and restaurant appeals to all standards. Plenty of booths, bars and beautiful people, cozy up to an outdoor fireplace, or dance it up on one of the dance floors. Call ahead for boys nights and girls nights.
Spaceland 1717 Silverlake Blvd. Silverlake 323.661.4380 Nestled in Silverlake’s artist district, Spaceland is the perfect place to check out the newest local band and peruse a crowd of hipsters and music snobs. The run down rock n’ roll atmosphere is perfect for those wanting to avoid the door scenes and pretentiousness of most Hollywood hotspots.
Forty Deuce 5574 Melrose Ave. Hollywood 323.465.4242 Ivan Kane’s new venue is a throwback to the roaring twenties featuring a modern take on the art of burlesque. Sexy dancers striptease their way down a bar that doubles as a runway. Cheeky décor and cozy atmosphere, call ahead if you want to enjoy the show while sitting at one of its highly sought out tables. Ivar 6356 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 310.209.0071 Its futuristic design, impressive lighting and high ceilings, you’ll feel like you’re in a music video (this location has been filmed many times). Constantly a door scene, this outrageous clubs offers a selection of five differently themed bars. Mountain Bar 473 Gin Ling Way, Chinatown 213.625.7500 Gleaming red and gold this Chinatown bar is a hotspot for Eastside hipsters. A dance area upstairs and a bar covered in colored lanterns, this makes the perfect pre or post-art opening stop.
Star Shoes 6364 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 323.462.7827 A tiny dimly lit dance club, it features glass cases displaying their collection of one of a kind vintage shoes and shoes designed by local artists. Radio on Wednesday nights is one the best places to be to see fashion shows, concerts, and playful theme nights where the artists, musicians, hipsters, fashion designers and trendsetters alike love to get down. Club Sugar 814 Broadway, Santa Monica 310.899.1989 With vertical colored fluorescent lights on the walls and sprawling dance floor, this funky club stands out in the subdued touristy area of Santa Monica.
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MoCA
CULTURE * RESOURCES / LA A+D Museum of Architecture and Design 8560 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood 310.659.2445 www.aplusd.org A+D exposes the public to architecture and design and encourages innovative thinking in these disciplines while stimulating awareness of the contemporary issues that surround these fields, whether the audience be school, children, educated design professionals or the general public. Through exhibitions, lectures and book signings, the A+D showcases the works of important regional, national and international designers, providing a forum for these individuals to raise issues that affect and ultimately shape the city.
Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica 310.829.5854 www.bergamotstation.com Hidden behind office buildings and industrial complexes, this former train station houses over 30 small to large art galleries, 10 shops, an open air cafĂŠ, and a hip rock ‘n roll style hair salon. Barely on the Westside is there such a mecca where artists, art connoisseurs and the occasional celebrity can take a calming break to peruse works by both local and international artists, grab a gourmet sandwich and browse a collection of vintage designer clothes at one of the shops. Completely on a donation basis, artists from all over the world and all walks of life are featured in the many galleries, so one is guaranteed to find something of their liking. Be wary of the midday rush during the week from the nearby private high school—otherwise, Bergamot Station is the perfect getaway place to unwind and take in the arts. Kitten*
Fashion District Between Broadway, Wall Street, 7th Street and Pico Boulevard Downtown Los Angeles If you would ever have the need to buy knockoff designer anything, cheap anything, or anything from colored contacts to LED belt buckles, the Fashion District is your haven. Santee Alley is the district’s primary vein where shops of all kinds are condensed into one long alley. The colorful surrounding areas also house the Fabric District, the Jewelry District and the Toy District. The nearby California Mart, which is only open once a month, is composed of four buildings containing 2,000 showrooms. Directly across the street on 9th, you can window shop and find out when the next sample sale will be at the New Mart. Getty Center 1200 Getty Center Dr. Los Angeles 310.440.7300 www.getty.edu Located up on the mountains above the 405, this sprawling museum of visual arts not only holds some of the most high profile exhibitions in the world, but also has many lush gardens and pools with breathtaking views of the city. The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international, cultural, and philanthropic institution devoted to the arts that features the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservative Institute, and the Getty Grant Program. Its isolated location, only accessible by a tram ride up the mountain, combined with the modern architecture makes this the perfect place to get your fill of culture, relaxation and sun. Hollywood Bowl 2301 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood 323.850.2000 www.hollywoodbowl.com One of the largest amphitheaters in the world with a seating capacity of about 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922. Each season presents world music, jazz and classical performances plus every type other of music ranging from Willie Nelson, Air and even a full orchestra playing the video game music’s greatest hits. The Weekend Spectacular features the L.A. Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
LA County Museum of Art 323.857.6000 www.lacma.org LACMA has a permanent collection that includes about 100,000 works of art spanning the history of art from ancient times to the present, making it the premiere encyclopedic visual arts museum on the west coast. Located on Wilshire’s “Museum Row” that also houses the La Brea Tarpits, the Peterson Automotive Museum, the California Craft & Folk Art Museum and the Carole and Barry Kaye Museum of Miniatures. LACMA also offers special exhibitions, lectures, classes, family activities and film programs. Museum of Contemporary Art 250 South Grand Ave. Los Angeles 213.621.1741 www.moca.org The museum for the younger and hipper crowd, MOCA features artists and exhibitions that are more avant-garde and modern than LACMA; which is more historical. Designed by Arata Isozaki, MOCA’s uncommon forms combine with unusual materials for a distinct profile. MOCA’s “Members Only” art openings and previews are some of the top nights for the Los Angeles’s arts and entertainment elite to wind down and network. There are two other MOCA branches are located at the Pacific Design Center and The Geffen Contemporary. Be sure to check out the MOCA store for fabulous art books, ready-to-wear pieces by artists and many other funky and impressive buys. Walt Disney Concert Hall at the Music Center 111 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, 323.850.2000 www.musiccenter.org The Music Center is one of the three largest performing arts centers in the nation, and one of the world’s premier cultural organizations. Located in downtown Los Angeles, the Music Center is home to the newly opened Walt Disney Concert Hall. Designed by architect Frank Gehry and acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota from Nagata Acoustics, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is the new home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale. Surrounded by gardens and plazas, as stainless steel curves wrap the entire building, it is sure to become the next international architectural icon. To tour the WDCH, currently the Music Center offers audio and guided tours.
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