Vintage Series, Play It As It Lays, Part One

On a recent night while sitting in bed thinking about where I should shoot my next looks for the Vintage Series, I had the idea of using a movie as my inspiration.  Not just any movie, but a Joan Didion movie, Play It As It Lays.  I am a devoted fan of Didion and her way with words, and about two years ago I had the pleasure of seeing Play It As It Lays on the big screen at Cinefamily.  For those who don’t know, the 1972 film was adapted from her book of the same name and the screenplay was written by Didion and her husband John Gregory Dunne.  Both take place in Los Angeles and in Malibu, as Didion and her family lived in California for many years.  I was completely blown away by the film, and especially by the actress Tuesday Weld who played the main character, Maria (pronounced Mariah).  The subject matter is pretty heavy, but I was so inspired by the story, the way it was shot, the fact that Didion wrote the screenplay with her husband, and THE WARDROBE.  Think 1970′s Malibu with beautiful, natural hair; caftans; old jeans; and big black sunglasses.  I immediately emailed my idea to my good pal, Jennifer, who shares my love for all things Didion, and asked if she would be willing to shoot the photos.  Within a matter of minutes, I got a YES.  We decided to go to El Matador beach in Malibu and channel Maria Wyeth Lang, and of course bring a few outfits.  This is Part One, and Part Two is coming later this week.  In continuation with the Vintage Series, Look No. 3 and Look No. 4 are below, all dedicated to Joan Didion, Tuesday Weld, and the one and only Malibu.

The classic Maria Wyeth Lang look: Vintage Levi’s, vintage Charles David boots, vintage Cacharel sunglasses, vintage Moroccan bag; all worn with Isabel Marant blouse circa 2005 and Gap trench coat

Vintage cotton gauze dress, vintage Moroccan bag, vintage poncho

*Play It As It Lays is out of print, but you can find it at Cinefile (if you live in LA) or any video stores that carry rare and hard to find films.  You can also purchase it from here.

Anthropologie Event

Yesterday I had the pleasure of curating and hosting an event at my studio for Anthropologie and I am still on a high from the crazy amount of inspiration that was overflowing throughout the day.  Buyers from the Home department including textiles, bedding, table top, gifts and beauty met with some of the most talented artists and makers in Los Angeles, some of whom I’m lucky to call dear friends and others whom I am lucky to call new friends.  Simone LeBlanc unveiled her new collection of gift items – gorgeous flowers made from paper that decorated gift boxes and were clustered in vases; Heather Taylor showed the work of three of her artists – Frohawk Two Feathers, Jen Pak and Kyle Field; Jennifer Parry Dodge featured her line, ERMIE, and even debuted a new collection of pillows covered in her brilliant prints; Bari Ziperstein showcased a range of her fantastical work including ceramic lights, plates, and planters; Sanae Barber hypnotized everyone with her hand-blended fragrances made from the purest oils; Rachel Craven featured her luxurious textiles including pillows, table runners, duvets and throws; and Hue Yang (based in Oakland) showed her beautiful hand-painted animal ceramics.  It was a magical day!  My good friend, Jennifer Parry Dodge, was kind enough to take the photos below.

The work of Bari Ziperstein

Details on one of Bari’s lights

Bari’s small sculptures

Simone LeBlanc’s paper flowers

Detail shot of the flower

Simone’s beautiful tags

Rachel Craven linens and pillows

Rachel Craven

Rachel Craven’s table setting

ERMIE scarf prints – I took two home with me!

A peek at ERMIE pillows

Frohawk Two Feathers, represented by Heather Taylor of Taylor DeCordoba

Jen Pak, also represented by Heather Taylor of Taylor DeCordoba

Artist Jen Pak uses chiffon and stretches it out to create these stunning works of art.  The details are amazing!

Oakland-based artist Hue Yang’s pretty hand-painted ceramics

Sanae Barber’s set-up of intoxicants

Sanae in action

Piles of my vintage prints

Here I am listening to Heather Taylor talk so passionately about Frohawk Two Feathers

Wearing one of my vests that my mother-in-law made in the ’70s.

Thanks, Jennifer, for the beautiful photos! xoxo

Di/Chotomy

I am constantly inspired by my friends and their talent, creativity, work ethic, and their willingness to make things happen.  My friend Ted who was the brains behind the very cool accessory line, Symmetry Goods, just launched a new business endeavor that I’m honored and excited to be contributing to. It’s called Di/Chotomy, and it functions as a creative agency that helps businesses solve obstacles.  It is a “network of networks, designed around surfacing the best ideas and inside knowledge, that exists to support and inspire.”  The agency will assist brands in need of everything from sourcing, branding, designing, styling and more. Along with Ted’s expertise, he has put together a team of contributors such as Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo from Of a/Kind, stylist Gena Tuso, artist Doug Johnston, and a handful of other professionals.  You can read more about Di/Chotomy here!

Feeling Spring

I hope all of you had a great weekend!  It was pretty gorgeous here in LA and I spent most of Saturday and Sunday outdoors basking in the sun.  I was feeling inspired by spring and bright colors, so this morning when I got to my studio I went through my binders and found this old editorial from an issue of Elle.  I’m in love with all of the textures and silhouettes and embellishments, and of course all the kaleidoscopic prints.  I want to wear all of it!

 

Kneeland Co. Lookbook

I’m so happy to announce the launch of my first lookbook for Kneeland Co.!  My good friend Jeana captured my textiles and embellishments so beautifully and I’m already looking forward to the next lookbook.  Some images below:

Vintage Series, Look No. 2

Thank you for your lovely comments on my first Vintage Series post.  I appreciate them! When I started thinking about doing these vintage posts, this long embroidered peacock robe was one of the first things that I wanted to have photographed.  I found it at a vintage show in California and immediately thought, “This is what I want to wear when I’m lounging around on the weekend.”  It felt luxurious and exotic and very seventies, so I brought it home with me. The belt is missing, but I love that it just drapes open into a train.  My husband Darryl took these photos in his parents’ backyard in San Luis Obispo in what has got to be the coolest guest room ever — a greenhouse.

Vintage Embroidered Peacock Robe, 1970′s, worn with a Marion Vidal necklace and a vintage perfume pendant necklace