Here Comes the Summer!

Ah, Memorial weekend! The official start of summer.  What's better than a day at the beach, spending time with friends and family and just enjoying life.

Hunter S Thompson 

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming-Wow! what a ride"

"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used."

Hunter S Thompson

"Oh baby baby what can I do

You know you drive me crazy when I'm looking at you

The summer's really here and it's time to come out

time to discover what fun is about."

The Undertones

Wonderful WANDERLUST

What is WANDERLUST, you may be asking?
Wanderlust is a clothing company designed in Cambodia by American designer Elizabeth Kiester, and let me tell you it is fun and fabulous and screaming summer. Elizabeth had been working in the fashion industry very successfully as a fashion director for various top magazines and top design companies when she  decided to quit her high fashion job in NY and followed a calling to Cambodia where she opened up SHOP. On top of that she is doing a collaboration with Madewell , it's in stores NOW and selling out fast. I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with her via email where we exchanged fun stories about working in fashion during the 80's and 90's in NYC and hear more about Wanderlust! 
All I can say is she is an awesome inspiration and TOTALLY COOL!

 Here is a bit of our conversation about Wanderlust so you can see for yourself just how cool she is.

So tell me all about Wanderlust!

Well, I don't know where to begin with my story. Its quite a long one, although it's been very short in terms of actual time. I guess I am someone who gets things done.

Well then, how did you end up in Cambodia?

I went to Cambodia initially to do a volunteer vacation through a US based non-profit. I needed a vacation desperately and yet, the idea of sitting on a beach didn't appeal to me. I wanted to do something more and get out of my own head. I was really burning out and so exhausted and spent months circumnavigating the globe for my job.  So off I went to Siem Reap for two weeks and installed water pumps in a rural village, painted a pagoda and taught English in an orphanage, and something inside me changed. It is something i can't explain.

 Inside one of her shops. I have the Wanderlust Jones now and need to get my hands on her cute cotton dresses they are prefect for beach life and summer.
Follow the read more to see and hear the rest of her story!

I GOT TO TALK ON THE PHONE WITH CHANEL IMAN!

Okay so...the craziest, most amazing, most unexpected thing happened to me today! My mom had told me yesterday that Chanel Iman and her mother China, had opened a small boutique called the Red Bag Boutique in Culver City. Because where we live is so close to Culver City, we both decided it would be worth going up to check out their new store. Worth it was right!!! The boutique was just lovely! Filled with vintage finds by both China and Chanel, a good handful of the clothes were either picked out by Chanel herself or were designer pieces that she had been given throughout her career as a model. Some of the clothing even had Chanel's signature on the tags! Since my prom is coming up in two weeks, I thought I might be able to find the perfect earrings with their unique selection. I was looking around and I spotted this ADORABLE lime green mini dress, so I just had to try it on. And as I came out of the dressing room China was on the phone and she says "Here Chanel, I have a girl in the store right now I think you should talk to her." And as she hands me the phone she goes  "She should talk to one of her biggest fans."  I ALMOST DIED!!! Here I am in Chanel Iman's boutique and now I get to talk to my favorite top model ever? On the phone? Like I know her personally? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! I answered the phone like a retarded little mouse: "hhheelllooo?" and preceded to tell her how she was my all time favorite model and that I couldn't really believe I was talking to her! Basically I sounded like a little doofy fan...but oh well! She was so gracious and sweet on the phone. She asked me what school I go to and when my prom was going to be and she asked me to leave my information with her mom so she could send me something. AGGAAGAGAAGA!!!AHHH!!! I handed China the phone and just stood there in a state of pure shock!

Although we didn't get the sweet little mini dress, I ended up walking out with earrings for prom that I was really excited about and my mom got a dress that she and I will most likely end up sharing! It was an amazing experience and I drove all the way home on cloud 9! I mean, it's not like you get to have a phone conversation with your most favorite top model every day!

Me right after I got off the phone with Chanel in a state of shock.

 

I have put together a little compilation of photos I have of Chanel

Is it Summer YET?

We are really craving summer right now!

"Summertime time and the livin's easy"

UNMASKED

Camilla is wearing Jean Paul Gaultier suspenders skirt with Jean Paul Gaultier Jacket underneath from his 1987 collection. The other day I was going through some files of images I kept before we all started saving our images on computers.  When I came across a file folder labeled "Random Cool Stuff" and inside was this invite (a mask of JPG's face) to a party at the Palladium for a Jean Paul Gaultier look alike contest.  The winner would be flown to Paris to model in his show.  I don't remember the party sorry, but the invite is still cool:)

In the 80's I loved John Paul Gaultier and still own a fair share of his pieces. The jackets are a bit too big in the shoulders for today but I can't part with any of it. The skirt Camilla is wearing I wore all the time with Doc Martens or these awesome menswear shoes by Comme des Garcon. We decided to put it together the way it was meant to be worn by the designer. But Camilla plans to be wearing the skirt for now on with a tee shirt instead.

Keith Haring at the Palladium NYC 1985

Camilla's knee hi's are by American Apparel and platform sandals by Jeffery Campbell 

 We are off to a mini road trip up the coast today.
Hope you enjoy!

XX Valerie and Camilla

Wrap Dress - DIY

This past weekend after shopping on ebay and losing out on a 1970's halter wrap dress I bid on. I decided that I should just make one instead of dwelling on the loss. I mean it wasn't really that hard of a dress to make and I just couldn't bid higher on something that I could make myself. I took some old patterns from a past collection and reworked them a bit then cut the pattern in muslin and sewed it up to see if I liked the fit.

In the muslin the dress looked flirty but I wanted it softer so I am cutting it in a creamy silk that I have to give it more drape. I am going to give the first dress to Camilla and then cut it again with the skirt floor length for myself.

My amazing machine that I  have had since New York.  They don't make them like this anymore I was told by a man who came and worked on it that its from the 50's or even older but it works like a dream

The same can not be said for my marrow machine. After cutting out the dress when I went to go sew it up the marrows knife wasn't cutting anymore so now I have to find someone to come fix it or bring it in. The problem is that because these machines are so old I need to find someone that can do it right.

We converted our garage into a work studio that I share with my husband and all his vintage skateboards and art. When I get the machine fixed we will show you the final dresses until then...

 The dress that started it all

Camilla and I are talking about doing a video tutorial on how to make a pattern for simple skirt. Let us know if this is something you might like:)

XX Valerie and Camilla

I want to Roam

We have been planning a road trip for this summer. The idea is to drive across the U.S.A. possibly follow historic route 66 with the thoughts of Jack Kerouac in our minds. This has been something Emmett has had up his sleeves for years, but every summer for one reason or another we haven't gone. This needs to be the year and the open road is calling. We only have 2-3 weeks to do it in and with so much to see it's been taking quite a bit of planning. The goal is to end up in N.Y. and have enough time to stay and visit with friends. So far we have mapped out only to Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX and I'm exhausted already. I am starting to think that renting a car to drive across then flying back is the ticket.

 Photo Todd Selby

Photo Tim Walker

 "Highway run

Into the midnight sun

Wheels go round and round

you're on my mind"

Journey

"Something, someone, some spirit was pursuing all of us across the desert of life and was bound to catch us before we reached heaven." 

Jack Kerouac, On the Road

One Love, One Heart

"One love, one heart

Lets get together and feel alright."

Bob Marley

 "Don't worship me till I've earned it."

Aurora Greenway

Terms of Endearment

"If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much."

Jackie Kennedy

More than a feeling

Loving the feeling of nudes, sheers and lace, so feminine.

We're All In This Together

With the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and with every day the situation going from bad to worse Camilla and I couldn't help but put up a post about the things we all should be doing, already. The sad thing is too many people are not doing much of anything.  This topic came up with a group of Camilla's friends this past weekend, they were all talking about how disgusting it is that at their school so many kids LITTER! Really! I just couldn't believe it, Kids in this day and age still LITTER?! Well then I read on Huffington Post about the our sea animals dying and that scientists think the oil is going to hit the Florida keys, so Camilla and I sat up last night compiling pictures for a post that we feel very passionate about. We love the Ocean I mean who doesn't? Sandy beaches, beautiful sea life and those crashing waves that can lull you to utter relaxation. We are all in this together and there are such easy steps we can all take to stop our need for oil.

Stop driving everywhere and take other modes of transportation.

Breaking Away

These are pictures my friend Lisa Inoue took of me and my other friend Aly. She is a wonderful photographer and captured the mood of the day perfectly. We took my car (also known as "Pacha"...long story) up to Palos Verdes Peninsula at the end of the day to do this shoot. I love the way Lisa worked with the light as the sun was getting ready to set and the green grass next to my dress. Don't you think Aly looks gorgeous in that last picture?
It's my favorite of her from our shoot. :)

My dress is by Free People, it's perfect for breezy day.

XX Camilla