Hot Hot Hot: MAXED OUT

fashiongonerogue, zara lookbook, Trends West Creative Director

This new MAXED OUT trend can get a little tricky so, we are showing you three ways to drop it like its hot… your hem line that is. The maxi dress has been beloved by beach bums and Malibu moms for decades but we have a new, more fashionable update to this elongated style. Whether you are an Olsen twin and you’re into hobo-chic, or you would prefer to wear it casual with a t-shirt, there is really no wrong way to wear the maxi SKIRT. So start the hunt and we promise to give you a nudge with some BABULOUS finds on our own mission for the maxi.

TOPSHOP MAXI
ALEXANDER WANG MAXI
L’AGENCE MAXI

Sip/Savor: Los Angeles Trucks…The Spiel on Wheels

Yummy. Savory. Delicious. Orgasmic…just a FEW words to describe some of the most BABULOUS cuisine on… (HARK!!!) wheels! Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or desert, here are some of OUR favorites. For those of you who have “heard” about these tres- nouveau FOOD TRUCKS but don’t exactly know the HOW or the WHERE just quite yet, here’s a BIG HINT. Go to TRUXMAP, click on YOUR CITY and boom, you can finally INDULGE until your heart’s content!

DON CHOW TACOS.
Here’s the perfect blend of Latin and Fusion. Sure, they have all the traditional Mexican classics (from tortas and tacos to burritos, but the STANDOUT DISH is undoubtedly the Don Chow Fun, is a noodle concoction made with thin, flat rice noodles, stir fried with onions and the meat of your choice. OMG, once you’ve tasted THIS masterpiece, you’ll be yearning for another round as soon as you finish the very last bite!

THE SOUTH PHILLY EXPERIENCE.
As its name suggests, the South Philly Experience specializes in meatball subs, chicken cutlets, pulled pork with broccoli rabe and, NATURALLY, cheese steaks made on authentic baked bread shipped from The East Coast. NEWS FLASH…as a LIVELOVESHOPLA cardholder, BUY ONE, get one FREE!

COOL HAUS. 
makes serves up architecturally-inspired ICE CREAM sandwiches that will IGNITE if not EXCITE the senses!!! Young and old alike (from 2 to 102) relish in the joy of “self creation!” THIS truck is the one you want for BIRTHDAY PARTIES that are sure to be the “talk of the town!” The equation is simple brilliant and tasty, just pick your icecream, your cookie, and your EATIBLE wrapper and you are good to go!

And Boy, do we have even MORE GREAT NEWS!…
Experience them ALL at the FOOD TRUCK fundraiser/cook-off
Saturday, May 15 from 4-7pm in MacArthur Park.
For a mere $50, it guarantees to be ONE hell of gastronomic adventure!

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?

SHOP: In Full Bloom

MICHELLE ROY DESIGNS is synonymous with FLOWERS….flowers for the hair, flowers for the suit and flower jewelry!  But aside from her PERENNIALS, she’s also known as one of the most creative artisans in the trade.  In our book, Michelle Roy Designs is a complete ONE-STOP-SHOP, and boy, do we mean THAT!  Her most recent collection of CHAIN BRACELETS, EARRINGS, COLLAR NECKLACES, HATS and HEADBANDS is winning rave reviews and can be seen at specialty retailers such as Kitson and Fred Segal. LiveLoveShopLA cardholders receive a 20% discount directly from the website!
     
 
www.michelleroydesigns.com

SERVICE: The Babulous Blow

IF ONLY…IF ONLY…IF ONLY we could have someone come to our homes each and every morning to BLOW DRY our hair! For those of us who might be great with the ROLLERS, but just can’t get our hair STRAIGHT and sleek ourselves, “no matter how hard we try”…how about THIS for a revolutionary idea? The DRY BAR, has BLOWN into town and offers not only $35 blowouts, but ALSO drinks at Happy Hour on Thursdays to Saturdays from 5 to 9pm…great right before making the scene!  Also available, the “Brunch Blowout” on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 2pm.  The best  news?  NO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY, but to be SURE of an opening at the EXACT time you’d like, book directly on its website. Hell, who WOULDN’T want to sip a glass of wine and savor the action while  while getting beautiful?  Not much magazine reading at this creative salon!

 The worst news?  They aren’t EVERYWHERE!  Will someone please wise up and open these ALL over the city, the entire United States, the whole damn world???? Pretty Please?!!!  (NOTE: At this writing, we did “hear” that Beverly Hills was next on its list of soon-to-open locations)

11677 San Vicente Boulevard in the Brentwood Gardens
www.thedrybar.com

SHOP: in the BUFF

This season is all about “less is more” and the new palette of platforms will have you strutting your stuff in the buff! No matter what your budget, we have scoured the stores to find the perfect nude shoe for you. From Burberry to Forever21, we’ve got you covered on the best and MOST BABULOUS this Spring.

Check out our affiliate’s selection of NUDIES and save %15 with your LiveLoveShopLA VIP Card!

Alexander Wang Eliza at Madison Los Angeles
Chloe Canvas Sandals at Diavolina
Elizabeth and James Suede Heels at Planet Blue