AROUND TOWN: Shaping Sound in Come Together

It’s OFFICIAL

Emmy award nominated choreographer Travis Wall (“So You Think You Can Dance”) is not only getting his own reality show on the Oxygen network, he’s in the midst of taking his dance company, SHAPING SOUND, on “the road” with its LIVE production of “COME TOGETHER.” And boy oh boy (or girl oh girl), will ticket holders get the thrill of a lifetime!  When we say “the road,” we mean a national (and no doubt, international, too!) tour so that every dance and theater fan in North America can rejoice!

LIVELOVESHOPLA was lucky enough to be one of the FIRST to see Travis and his entourage IN ACTION Tuesday night, May 8, at the Saban Theater (Wilshire at La Cienega), AND WE HAVE THE SCOOP on just about everything…the killer production that’s all about breaking boundaries, the stellar dance company (many SYTYCD alums including last season’s winner, Melanie Moore), the audience buzz and of course, the FASHIONABLE attendees!  The stunning Taja Riley also stars and she captured our hearts from the moment she stepped foot on stage.

UPCOMING THIS SUMMER….”ALL THE RIGHT MOVES” on Oxygen will follow Travis and his BFF and SYTYCD winner, Nick Lazzarini, docuseries-style, as they attempt to form their own contemporary company. Think “Glee” and “Smash” but with a focus on DANCE! Cirque du Soleil lead dancer Teddy Forance and Juilliard graduate Kyle Robinson are fellow housemates. But these are not just random guys thrown together; they are long time childhood friends…who refer to themselves as brothers. These four HOT guys will share a house in Hollywood and have just the right amount of talent, looks, personality and enough DRAMA to keep viewers hooked! We, personally, CAN’T WAIT!

In our EXPERT opinion, both of Travis’ endeavors will be BIG HITS…not to mention the fact that these 20-something entertainers will become instant celebrities, the world over!

“All The Right Moves” Photo Credit: Joe Corrigan/Getty Images North America

BEAUTY: Tata Harper at Exhale Spa

So every once in a while, we have a second to stop scouring the city for the hottest fashion items and can indulge in some of the finer things in life. This week, we attended the launch of the TATA HARPER skin care collection at EXHALE SPA inside the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica.

We were treated to a complimentary relaxation facial using the TATA HARPER products and the first word that comes to mind to describe the experience is…DELICIOUS.  Not only is the line 100% effective, it is 100% NATURAL…the organic ingredients come directly from the earth surrounding us, that means absolutely no toxins! The TATA HARPER collection is produced, manufactured, packaged and distributed from their 1200-acre farm in the organic farming belt of Vermont. HARPER uses the best flowers, extracts, essential oils, hydrosols, infusions, macerations and plants that provide skin rejuvenation, hydration, anti-wrinkle properties, radiance, vitality, elasticity and more. And trust us; the proof is in the luscious floral aromas that fill the air when using any of their amazing products. Our personal favorites are the Hydrating Floral Essence, Rejuvenating Serum, Repairative Moisturizer, and the Restorative Eye Crème. Book your appointment at EXHALE SPA to enjoy the TATA HARPER skin care line or if you can’t wait, you can purchase the whole collection online at http://www.tataharperskincare.com/

CALL EXHALE FOR AN APPOINTMENT:  310-576-7777

SHOP STOP: Growze on Larchmont

Walking into GROWZE on LARCHMONT, you can immediately tell you are somewhere special….special in the kind of way when you’re so excited to be in a new place that you don’t know where to look first! That is the feeling you get when you walk into the store that houses its eponymous label, GROWZE, designed by husband-and-wife team Yukiko and Masaki Kudo. The aesthetic captures Japanese sportswear and the culture’s cutting edge street style at its best and translates it into a wearable, covetable collection that every LA girl would die to have. We’re talking STUDDED CUTOFFS, FLORAL MAXIS, OPEN WEAVE SWEATERS, CUTOUT BLOUSES, PRINTED DENIM, and a sick collection of ACCESSORIES. You can definitely sense that what you’re getting at GROWZE, you aren’t going to see the next day on three of your closest friends (No one loves Zara more than us…but the fact that we ALL wear it can get frustrating when you’re trying to define your own individual style). GROWZE is cutting edge, it’s unique, it’s still a bit under the radar, it’s exciting, and P.S. its so AFFORDABLE!! You have to check it out ASAP!

GROWZE
234 N. Larchmont Blvd. 90004
323.446.0072

HOT HOT HOT: Kiss For A Cause @ H&M

H&M launched their latest collection Thursday April 26, Kiss For A Cause, which supports Fashion Against AIDS by donating 25% of the proceeds from clothing sales. They’re also taking advantage of the Instagram craze by donating $1 for every photo chosen with the hashtag #kissforacause. This line is not to be missed…talk about sensory overload…it’s NEON, TRIBAL, OMBRE, SHEER & UNEVEN HEMS galore! We literally gasped when we walked into the store, that’s how good it is. Make sure to check it out this weekend before it’s all gone….run, don’t walk!

ITEM ALERT: Fresco Towel Beach Bags

Looking for a fresh beach bag for summer?! These terry cloth totes by FRESCO TOWELS are the HOT bag to have. We’re loving the BRIGHT prints and AMERICANA pride!

Available at one of our favorite speciality stores, Polkadots & Moonbeams. Call to reserve yours now, visit them online or stop into their location at:

Polkadots & Moonbeams
8381 W 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048 Map
323-655-3880

Visit FRESCO TOWELS online to view more styles (get ready…there are SO many good ones)

STREET STYLE: Nasty Gal Relaunch Party

Last night we attended the re-launch party of one of our favorite online retailers, NASTY GAL, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Held at the fabulous ROOSEVELT HOTEL’S TROPICANA BAR in the heart of HOLLYWOOD, this party was packed with fashionistas! Well dressed people everywhere, an amazing DJ, free PBR…it was reminiscent of a Young, Hot, Hollywood party. And all of our TOP TRENDS were represented…ASYMMETRICAL HEMS, TROPICAL, PLEATS, ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, TIE-DYE, FLORALS, STUDS and ANIMAL PRINTS just to name a few (well, more than a few). We were more than impressed with the men’s fashion…DENIM VESTS and STUDS were definitely in abundance. If this crowd is any indication of NASTY GAL’S supporters, then they have a devoted band of followers. We think we can agree when we say that we are VERY excited for the future of this amazing company.

***check out NASTY GAL’S website for great fashion finds

SHOP STOP ONLINE: Heritage Auction

Heritage Auctions, the third largest auction house in the world that holds the record for selling the most expensive handbag ever ($203,150 for a diamond Birkin) will hold its Spring Luxury Auction at the end of this month, April 29, ONLINE & in NYC.  The sale will feature a curated selection of luxury accessories including Kelly Rutherford’s Cognac Ostrich Hermes Birkin bag, a Chanel bicycle, Louis Vuitton soccer ball, a one-of-a-kind Murakami jewelry box, etc. Fashionistas can bid at ha.com/luxury, and there will be previews taking place in LA this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Los Angeles Preview Times

Thursday, 4/19, Friday, 4/20 & Saturday, 4/21 10:00am-5:00pm PST
Sunday, 4/22 11:00pm-3:00pm PST

Heritage Auctions
9478 Olympic Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

These items are CLASSIC and every fashionista’s dream!  You can shop the auction online, never know what kind of deals you could walk away with! Oh and PS, you can take up to 4 months to pay…just sayin…

*All images courtesy of www.ha.com

HOT HOT HOT: Coachella 2012

Summer is approaching…and you know what that means…music festivals galore!  We can barely contain our glee, and I’m sure you agree. First up is Coachella located in Indio, CA…laden with palm trees, desert terrain, celebs and pool parties. Coachella attracts some of the best dressed people in the HOTTEST trends…including DENIM CUTOFFS, CROCHET, FLORALS, FRINGE, NEON, CROP TOPS, STUDS, MAXIS, UNEVEN HEMS & TIE-DYE. We take our cue from the ladies at LF and Planet Blue, who have this free spirited style down to a T. Their outfits (above) are the epitome of the boho/hippie chic look that reigns supreme with this crowd.

As your trusted friends, we want to make sure you leave nothing off of your packing list, so you can have the HOTTEST items all weekend. It was hard to pick our favorites without going overboard, so we made sure to give you the best of the best. One of the standouts for this year’s festival has to be the Coachella shorts from newcomer LACAU…way to make a statement! Our advice: have fun with it…drench yourself in bright colors, kick-ass shorts and don’t forget to pile on the arm candy. Click (to enlarge) each item (below) to mix and match a killer outfit.

Planet Blue: 3835 Cross Creek Rd Malibu, CA 90265 / 310-317-9975

LF: 106 South Robertson Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90048 / (310) 271-2727

***be sure to check out Planet Blue and LF online and their other locations all across LA

LAS VEGAS TRADE SHOWS: Women’s Spring 2012

How do we even begin to describe what we saw in Women’s Trends at PROJECT, MAGIC, and ENK this season in LAS VEGAS?! To start, some of the standouts were definitely NEON, BRIGHTS, PRINTED DENIM, DENIM CUTOFFS, NEW BOHO and ACTIVE WEAR. The ladies were proudly representing style at it’s best.

We were really dying over the DENIM trends and made sure to feature some of our favorites in LINES WE LOVE.  Starting with newcomers, SIMPLY SHORT and LACAU, who had us salivating over every single pair of STUDDED, PRINTED or EMBELLISHED shorts. ACTIVE WEAR was taken to a whole new level with LOVE ZOOEY; featuring pieces with leather and neon piping. If you’re looking for a new line to live in, we found DAY BY DAY, which carries cozy fleece with unique screens and silhouettes…perfect for those summer nights in Malibu. And for updates in Women’s sportswear, we saw BRIGHT SHEERS from PLASTIC ISLAND & AS IS, along with MIXED MEDIA from COREY LYNN CALTER & EVIL TWIN.

The Women’s collections were bold and pushed the boundaries of innovation and style.  Check out the LINES WE LOVE and more of our OBSESSIONS below (click to enlarge):

LAS VEGAS TRADE SHOWS: Men’s Spring 2012

It’s our favorite time of year…the TRADE SHOWS in LAS VEGAS!!!  Once again, we were blown away by the amazing collections from some of the newer and the more established brands.  As for Men’s, we saw lots of MILITARY, ACTIVE, PLAID, DENIM, and one-of-a-kind WOVENS at the PROJECT and ENK shows.

This season, the Men’s LINES WE LOVE represent these trends all across the board. CALM, PUBLISH and 11 AFTER 11 took a new approach to basic wovens and knits…accent pockets in LEOPARD, CHAMBRAY and STRIPES seemed to pop out of the fabric.  We saw a huge trend in WOVENS that was fresh and innovative – taking the essential men’s button down to a new level.  UNDER 2 FLAGS did a great job of capturing the MILITARY trend, but with a really cool twist…think multiple CARGO pockets and new CAMO print.  The GYPSY 05 and RHEYN collections are perfect for active-inspired basics.  But these aren’t your boring basics…bright color and ethnic undertones make for anything but average.

The Men’s collections never disappoint with their creativity and swagger.  Check out LINES WE LOVE and more of our FAVORITE items below (click to enlarge):