SHOP STOP: Timeless on Melrose

“I don’t do fashion, I am fashion,” a famous quote by Coco Chanel is printed on the mirror right outside the dressing rooms – the perfect place where fashionistas, who come to shop here, are inspired.  This mantra immediately sets the tone for the type of shopping experience you are about to have.   

TIMELESS, with two stores on Melrose and one in Studio City, is our go-to place for the HOTTEST items of the moment.  No matter what kind of budget you’re on, this chic boutique has something for everyone.  While most stores on Melrose carry the same merchandise packed together from wall-to-wall, TIMELESS easily separates themselves from the herd.  They pride themselves on carrying a uniquely curated selection from local designers such as Z. HOVAK, COCO DE COEUR, MY VL and SEE YOU MONDAY.  On this trip, we saw these amazing red and navy STAR PRINT leggings, a NORDIC tank with a CORAL iconic Chanel logo, an UNEVEN HEM tank with DOTS and a boho OMBRE FRINGE top with peace sign…all completely on-trend and affordable!  We LOVE this spot because, even though, their collection is trendy, the items will never go out of style…they are TIMELESS. 

Visit their website http://timelessboutique.blogspot.com/ for more information…or stop by one of the three locations to get your shop on!

Street Spotted: Paris & NYC

The LIVELOVESHOPLA team, aka “Guerilla Trend Hunters,” shops the stores and scours the streets in major fashion capitals around the world.  Recently, we spotted style-setters in New York, Paris and Jerusalem (where there’s actually a Topshop, too!).  Hence, the phrase, we cover LOS ANGELES and BEYOND.

HOT HOT HOT: DRAMATIC DUSTERS

Dramatically Divine DUSTERS are NEW again this time around.  Reminiscent of the early 70’s when they were thrown over “hot pants,” they’re back in various fabrications.  However SHEERS are the most major STATEMENT in fashion today. Remember when this HOT item takes off, you saw it here FIRST!

HOT HOT HOT: Remember Now – Karl Lagerfeld

For those of you living under a fashionable rock the past 48 hours, here is a glimpse at the hottest thing buzzing around the fashion world: Karl Lagerfeld’s newest Cruise Collection debuted in a ten minute, St Tropez lifestyle video dripping with super model swagger and sex appeal. Eat your heart out Coco fans.

SIP/SAVOR: In a New York Minute

WHEW…we just returned from a whirlwind two-and-a- half-day trip to New York. Luckily, we went right to sleep on the Red Eye from LA and arrived fresh and ready to not only attend a business conference, but also to HIT both the STORES and the STREETS running!
Needless to say, we wanted to do it ALL…since SHOPPING, SIPPING and SAVORING are our FAVORITE PASTIMES; we had only so many hours to cram everything into brief New York stay.

After a long and full day doing business (stay tuned for the exciting updates!), we continued the meetings at THE ROYALTON for a drink, or two, in the lobby lounge. Then, we schlepped all over the famous Meatpacking District, photographing like crazy where we found the cover shot at DVF for our upcoming APRIL issue of TRENDS WEST L.A.’s RETAIL NOTEBOOK. At 10:00 PM, we headed to LOCANDA VERDE for a fantastic late supper…what to order and what NOT TO MISS… to start, the platter of assorted Crostinis (our favorites were the Mushroom and the Sheep’s Milk Ricotta) followed by My Grandmother’s Ravioli, Roasted Sea Scallops and the Garlic Roasted Chicken for two!
Day two and we are ready to rock and roll. We were staying at the YALE CLUB, conveniently located just next to Grand Central and great for walking the city. We spent all morning shopping on the Upper East Side before having lunch with friends at Le Bilboquet.
Not quite satisfied with our little French salads loaded with goat cheese, we decided to have coffee and a glass of Rose at AMARANTH.
Our retail expedition continued until we deemed that we had, indeed, seen everything there was to see and ran to meet another group of friends at THE SOHO HOUSE. Though we had dinner reservations elsewhere at 8, we ended up staying until almost midnight. When we realized we were starving, we limped over to BUDDAKAN for some edamame dumplings!
Next day we made sure to complete just about ALL of SOHO, but not without having lunch at MERCER KITCHEN (an always in NYC!) where we couldn’t get enough of Barry’s famous Tuna Wasabi Pizza. Lindsey preferred her Truffle version, but we both knew the BEET SALAD was also the other declared winner.
More shopping, of course, and finally a last-minute drink at the BALTHAZAR BAR before heading off to the airport for our 9 o’clock flight back to Tinsel Town! Do you think you can keep up with our next BABULOUS adventure as we SHOP, SIP and SAVOR all over the world?

SIP/SAVOR: Impromptu Brunch

While many websites only focus on the NEW, we also and always want to call your attention to our PERSONAL FAVORITES, the TRIED and the TRUE.  We are talking about a store that’s, no doubt, one of EVERYONE’S favorites…TRADER JOE’S!

Here are some of the SECRET ITEMS that we find HERE and cannot LIVE without!

For an IMPROMpTU weekend BRUNCH without going crazy thinking about it…TOP the PITA BITE CRACKERS (which are usually SOLD OUT, hence the reason we buy dozens at a time!) with CREME FRAICHE a dab of PACIFIC SUPREME SALMON and a pinch of red onion! Serve plenty of PROSECO mixed with DIXIE PEACH juice OR bottles and bottles of super-chilled Cold MARQUES de CACERES, a Spanish ROSE (only $6.99). Luckily, the label is so cool; you won’t even “think” to hide it.

The big eaters will love the Lingonberry SCONES (that are best served TOASTED) and the TWO-BITE THREE CHEESE SOUFFLES.

BABULOUS Sundays at HOME are here to STAY!

SERVICE: The Skin Care QUEEN

UGH, it’s been a CRAZY couple of days, weeks, months, even years! Time to DE-STRESS.  Time to PAMPER and who better than YOURSELF?!

OK, so getting a WAX (at FANTASTIC prices!) may not be so relaxing, BUT having a luxurious FACIAL, complete with a FOOT MASSAGE to boot, is probably JUST the THING for letting go and forgetting about…well, you name it! Who EVEN cares!?

But probably the BEST thing about the whole, UNCOMPLICATED experience at RUTH’S SKIN CARE is finding about a little secret called LACTO.   And believe you, me, we’ve shared the secret with just about anyone who will listen.  We’ve been asked to send these little pots of MAGIC to friends and family all over the world!

WHY?  Well, that’s the million dollar question.  TRULY, Lacto is MIRACLE CREAM!  It works for just about EVERYTHING including Skin Flair Ups, Dermatitis and Eczema Attacks, After-Wax Precaution, Scabs, Rashes, Razor Cuts (even the GUYS swear by it!) and Zits (yes, Zits!),  And HARK, it’s good for each and EVERY member of your family, WHENEVER the occasion might arise. In our house, that’s just about every day!!!!!   Gee, why NOT try it…there’s a money-back GURANTEE! www.ruthskincare.com

At Melrose on the corner of La Cienega, RUTH’S is easy to RECOGNIZE.  Those signature white facial masks stare out at you from the window!!

This is a LIVELOVESHOP AFFILATE and one of OUR favorite places to detox.  Cardholders receive a 20% discount and should ask for EENA or AGGIE when booking.  TALK ABOUT BABULOUS!

323-655-5220

SHOP: Hide & Seek

We’ve been in the “business of fashion” as we know it for over 25 years.  One of our favorite quotes is this…“There is NOTHING really ever NEW, just new INTERPRETATIONS.”  So it’s true, What goes around, does, INDEED, come around again, and USUALLY, much BETTER all around.

Let’s take CAMO, for instance.  It’s IN, it’s OUT.  Does anyone even bother throwing it out when it comes to closet cleaning?  Not us, that’s for SURE!

CAMO is a UNISEX thing.  Girls embrace it, guys love it! Moms like it for Back-To-School Options.  It’s a look that’s either considered CASUAL or CHIC, today far more than the latter.  It’s especially interesting when teamed with the unexpected…STRIPES and FLORALS and perhaps even TULLE.  In fact, this exciting way of MIXING and MATCHING patterns is what’s known as Tokyo-esque and TRES ESTRAORDINAIRE!

Camo goes hand in hand with CARGOS, but these modern-day fatigues are no longer just for battlefields. Perhaps the battlefields of LIFE, but that’s another story!

Be Brave. Be DARING, but above all, DARE to BE BABULOUS!!!!