La Vie En Rose

Norma Kamali's $98 Bill

As we prep for our upcoming holiday under the sun in Tulum, the inevitable subject of swimwear hangs heavy in the air. Even at my fittest, I was never much for a teeny weeny two-piece.

Which is why I'm grateful to Norma Kamali for continuing to produce these maillots, throwbacks to old Hollywood glamour and a girl's best friend at any age. Yet their timeless styling never really makes them feel so retro. In other words, a modern classic, not unlike Norma, whom I absolute love and who has always been so gracious to stay connected since we first met some seven years ago during my WWD/W days. She was a fashion and feminist icon to me as a kid, and she remains so all this time later.

Dubbed the Bill Mio, I had one in this style in a black and white rose print. (I still shimmy into a two-piece version in black, the bottom half reaching above my navel.)

Norma renamed the style in solid as the $98 Bill. She makes it so easy, too, with her TBYB (Try Before You Buy) service which overnights purchases. The $98 Bill is nearly half the price of the printed, seasonal versions. Of course, I ordered this style in black. It's how I roll. Or, in the case of a swimming costume (always loved that phrase!), glide.

Image: Courtesy Norma Kamali

Sharing the Love

 

XOXOX from Andy+Rose+Nina

 

 

Image: Ramona Rosales

Gold Rush: 24-K Heart On

 

So thrilled to have these back in the store (and soon online). The 24-karat gold model from JimmyJane's Little Something Collection is a pure gilt-y pleasure. A blast of power in a silent, waterproof and eco-friendly rechargeable form, these are the only line of vibrators in the world with a patented replaceable motor. This mini marvel of design is waterproof to a depth of five times your bathtub (try it in the pool). Tuned to provide a deep, resonant sensation, it's barely audible at arm's length. The high-quality, 24-karat gold casing is easy to clean—even dishwasher safe—and medical-grade safe for your body. It holds temperature, so it can be heated up or cooled down. Want it now? Call the shop at 800-913-0071.

Making the Connection with Moshi Moshi

Thought these retro handsets for cell phones and VOIP-enabled computers from Native Union that we got before Christmas were fun. So did our customers to A+R on Abbot Kinney since this line of Moshi Moshi phones sold out in 48 hours. They are back and we should be getting the yellow, blue and green models already in our store online soon. Until then, we have the black and red with a base online.

Part of the appeal, of course, is the juxtaposition of the retro receiver with the space-age PDA. (By the way, the line is named after what Japanese folks say on greeting one another out of tradition and, for some, superstition. According to lore, ghosts and naughty fox spirits cannot repeat the word Moshi.)

Stacy Julian of Big Picture Classes, a customer from out of state visiting us this week with a band of lively girlfriends, saw an instant love connection between the green Moshi and the Kate Spade case of her iPhone.

Now that's a stylish connection.

 

 

Olivier Theyskens Theory of Relativity

The much-anticipated capsule collection for Theory by Olivier Theyskens—he of the long black hair, broodingly gothic romanticism and buckets of talent—finally launched this weekend online at the label's Gansevoort Street shop.

And it's exactly what the Belgium wunderkid and former creative director for Rochas and then Nina Ricci promised: essentials that are relevant to women today. "What I would wear if I were a girl," Olivier repeated to the press in recent months since the announcement of his new gig with Theory was announced, which involves designing the higher-priced namesake capsule as well as serving as the $500-million brand's new artistic director.

It's also a chestnut we snacked on over steaks sometime in mid-December at the Sunset Tower. Arianne Phillips, his first champion when she dressed Madonna in one of then-unknown Olivier's leather dresses for the Academy Awards (which made headlines worldwide for both the young rising star designer and established superstar) gathered an intimate handful of pals to sup with her old friend during his quick stop in L.A.

What a delicious evening! Besides Ari, Olivier and his right hand Samantha, there was photographer Lisa Eisner, mid-century preservationist Mark Haddawy, girl-about Liberty Ross, actress Tracee Ellis Ross, fashion editor/stylist Simon Robins, and another delightful Simon who was in from London where he works on the design team for Tom Ford's menswear collection. The conversation was dominated by baby talk—Olivier's new nephew, Simon's new son and my new daughter—as well as L.A. architecture, copper, shoppig the Rose Bowl Flea Market (most of them were rising at some ungodly time the next morning to shop it)...but not a peep if any of the fashion biz. 

 
Love these. They actually take me back to a favorite pair of high, high heels resembling these that my mother owned and that were labeled Nina Ricci. I teetered around in them finally when I was all of 15.