Though the King has resigned, Valentino’s new designers are keeping on point with Valentio’s greatest notes, including bows. These half-glove bows for fall 2010 are fantastic and come in three colors.




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Though the King has resigned, Valentino’s new designers are keeping on point with Valentio’s greatest notes, including bows. These half-glove bows for fall 2010 are fantastic and come in three colors.




Category: FASHION, Lauren Brokaw blog, Trend Reports, Trend Reports (non-fashion)
Tagged: bows, China Glaze, Color Club, Essie, FASHION, Glitter, Konad, Minx, Nail Art, Nail Polish, NFU-OH, O.P.I., Sephora, The Daily Truffle's Beauty Beat, Trend Reports, Urban Decay
Originally published Published on: Jun 16, 2010

Danish/ Parisian designer, Vanessa Bruno, has finally decided to move west to the US!! Vanessa Bruno is Parisian style in a nutshell …. simple, tailored, modern, feminine, and wearable clothes for the fille chic ! (If I were her, I would have started with NYC, because I personally feel that New Yorkers would get her style more and be better customers, HOWEVER, I love her designs (have been a fan for years) and am excited to shop !) In Europe, one of Vanessa’s popular Cabas totes sells somewhere every 30 minutes…and has blog posts titled, “Stalking Vanessa Bruno“. The Store is set to open August 5th, with a fancy opening in October.

* This tote is experiencing a frenzy sort of like the Herve Chapelier or Longchamp craze that went on in Paris a bit ago.

....and yes, that is Lou Dillon on the front wall, as she is the face of Vanessa Bruno... +10 points to VB for getting L!
Obsessed with this video, aren’t you?
I wrote about Vivienne Westwood’s future store on January 9th, but I decided to include it in with the new Vanessa Bruno post
Famed eccentric fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood, is opening a store on Melrose, near Sweet Lady Jane tea house. This was interesting to me because more than half of the stores on Melrose, east of La Cinega are closing, empty, or under construction. It is very brave of Westwood to open an expensive store in this economy, and on Melrose. Mrs. Westwood has won the British Fashion Council Award for best designer three times! I absolutely LOVE Vivienne Westwood, and all that she stands for, so I am looking very forward for this store to open.
Friend and fellow L.A. Native, Ahmet Zappa (Country School, school of life ’92) introduced the concept of Disney’s first graphic-novel-to-film division to studio head Bob Eiger and thus “Kingdom Comics” was born …
Friend and fellow L.A. Native, Ahmet Zappa (Country School, school of life ’92) introduced the idea of developing a graphic-novel-to-film division to Disney’s studio head, Bob Eiger. Eiger, understanding the studio’s need for such an entity, allowed Ahmet to run with the idea and granted him full riegn to what became known as “Disney’s Kingdom Comics.” Now situated on Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, Ahmet has his own staff and offices where he developes story concepts based off the Disney library as well as scouts new talent. Continue reading
Category: Books, L.A. Natives, Required Reading
Tagged: Ahmet Zappa, Books, Disney, Jules Urbach, Kingdom Comics, LA natives, Shana Muldoon

After ive come out of my shower routine all scrubbed and clean- i like to spend a sufficient amount of effort on the equally important portion of my “getting pretty time” slathering on my selected concoctions that promise to keep me looking eternally young, cancer free and smelling great! After the towel dry- i start with my face products. The first thing i apply is my pigment gel- (PCA skin).

Pigment gel is a good base under my moisturizer- helps make absorption better- so it makes me look more dewy- and fresh! It also prevents me from turning too red- i have very fair skin and i tend to react more sensitively to things- nerves, chemicals, food allergies, blemishes, waxing etc- and because my skin goes red- really red- right away when exposed to these factors- i hate seeing this happen- so i use the pigment gel and i tend to see less redness more often- and it also helps to reduce the amount of pigment discoloration that happens to some people- think big freckles- i have a fair amount of freckles- too many to love…so i relish in the opportunity to reduce the over-pigmentation. After the pigment gel- i apply my moisturizer of the day. I try to switch between different moisturizers every so often because i love to see and feel the difference from one lotion to another during different seasons- times of day etc. Different seasons will always have a great impact on how much of what kind of moisturizer you are going to be needing to use- Again with the whole water debate- but seriously- so many people will argue its because you should be drinking more water in drier seasons- but i don’t care how much water you are consuming- your face is your most prized possession- its what greets the world- it holds the window to your soul and the machine that runs it all- the face is very important- and taking care of it will always be reflected in the mirror and in those immortal images i post on Facebook…A heavy moisturizer is always more necessary during the drier times of the year.Sometimes i even use my nighttime moisturizer- which tends to be a little heavier- for daytime moisturizer. But be forewarned- too heavy of a moisturizer can cause you to break out and get zitty- so know your skin- if its dry and you are using heavier moisturizer then use it sparingly or only use it a few days of the week. Im always on the hunt for a really great cream/moisturizer- i like them to smell amazing, look amazing on my countertop, be affordable, last all day, and make me feel well moisturized. In my travels i have found- Kinara spa has a really great line of facial creams, as well as Benefit’s Dear John daily moisturizer (which i am currently using).
The other day while doing my weekly shopping at the beloved Trader Joe‘s- i stumbled across something new they were carrying- regenerating antioxidant moisturizing face lotion. I’ve been using it now for a few days and i have to admit i’m pleasantly surprised by how good it’s been feeling on my skin- its light enough that i can wear it during the summer and not feel like my face is dripping off- and so i’m coming to the conclusion this might be my summer must have- a lightweight summer face lotion, there you have it- i told you first.
OK so after the face lotion is applied…its mandatory sunscreen application minute (MSAM)…do it…or in ten years you’ll look like a wrinkled grape- ya- a raisin…don’t do that..you can help it- i promise…i swear by certain sunscreens- because i have done my homework- i love “sun-solar defense oil-free gel spf 15 daily environmental moisturizer by image skincare“…
try it- you wont be disappointed…its light and is practically odorless.
Now its time for eye cream. I apply eye cream after i’ve done all the other lotions and creams because i like for all the other stuff to sit there for a minute and really absorb- that way i can tell how much or how little of the eye cream i really need. too much eye cream and your eye area will glisten like the top of the Chrystler building ..too little and you’ll feel like every time you smile another wrinkle is forming. Benefit‘s Eye Con (eye cream) is my fave. Moving on from the precious face …

On to the money maker…the bod. The bod is deserving of the best lotions in the world- but i like to buy lotions that make me feel luxurious and soft without breaking the bank…i’ve bought pricey lotions before and i always feel like they are not creamy, or buttery enough- for some strange reason- Bath and Body Works has finally nailed it- i was on set the other day when a friend came by for a visit- she smelled heavenly- i asked her what is was..and what she said next nearly knocked my socks right off…she said “bath and body works- midnight pomegranate” i said “no-way!!!” “she said “no-really!”…i was stunned…i always thought their stuff was not groovy at all- turns out- after going in there- they have reformulated their body lotions- its new and improved- so it said- and so right they were- i too tried it out- they had a promotion- buy two get one free- so i thought that would be a good way to get to sample a variety of scents…i got sweet pea, midnight pomegranate, twilight woods. I love them all- and i’m not sure how to pick a favorite, so right now i’m alternating between them- of course.
When i’m feeling in the mood…for a special rendezvous…i go for something a little lighter and more romantic Bathina touch me then try to leave…cream’ by Benefit”. Its incredibly soft and smells dreamy
After all the lotions have been applied- its time for deodorant. Im a big fan of Secret- invisible solid- cucumber aloe….
OMG…its superb! i never sweat anymore- which i’m not sure is all that healthy- but i can save water…that’s a bonus right?less stink=less showers…i cant believe i just admitted that on the interwebs…
that’s it for the bod…next up- MAKE-UP and HAIR!!!!!!

Serena Merriman and Nina Freudenberger (in Yigal Azrouël)
Nina Freudenberger is a natural, makeup-free, leggy Teutonic blonde with sprite-like energy. As a graduate of RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) and a former senior designer at Kondylis Design, Nina is celebrating the one year anniversary of her Nolita-based retail store, Haus interior. Items inspired by her Bavarian Black Forest roots range from mounted antlers, an old gas lamp, random books, framed photos of horses, and a stuffed pheasant with a tail so green and long you have to stop yourself from touching it. Nina’s store is an extension of her design firm, also named Haus Interior, founded in 2007. The retail store also acts as a meeting place between her and clients to go over wallpaper swatches, magazines, design books or the items in the stores for interior decorating ideas.
Tonight all of Nina’s friends are scattered through out her flagship (look for them in Boston in 2011) store. Like Nina, her friends are creative minds… take former LA native Sean MacPherson, there with girlfriend Guest of a Guest editor Rachelle Hruska, who started Swingers, Jones and Bar Lubitch – and even owned Bar Marmont at one time – but has since moved to NYC and is now the brains behind the Waverly Inn, The Bowery Hotel and The Jane Hotel. Other objects d’amies include Paper Magazine’s Peter Davis and Luigi Tadini (also co-chair of Riverkeeper with friend Amanda Hearst), Annie Churchill, publicist Bettina Prentice, creative consultant Kate Schelter, decorator-designer Reed Woodson, stylist Bonnie Morrison, GQ style correspondent Brett Falghren, Ralph Lauren designer Titina von Waldow, Vogue’s Valerie Boster, Art Production Fund’s Casey Fremont, fashion designer Timo Weiland and finally Serena Merriman who is in charge of PR for the evening.
Lemongrass sparkle cocktails were served (a mix of Double Cross vodka, pear juice, lemon grass, simple syrup and a touch of champagne) and mini cupcakes in banana split, red velvet (my fave), maple bacon and strawberries & cream.
Shop Online!
Read Nina’s design blog!
all photo credits: Patrick McMullan (**Thanks Patrick – Love from L.A.!!)

Jamie Prentice, Will Heath and Luigi Tadini

Casey Fremont, Bettina Prentice, Titina von Waldow

Annie Churchill, Nina Freudenberger, Kate-Schelter


& LA native Jeff Bridges
Originally posted on March 9th, 2010 – with some new additions from Comic Con 2010.
Ok so I admit I have been harboring a bit of hostility with Daft Punk, but only because I really have missed them. The only thing that has made their absence tolerable is knowing that they will be back soon, and with a cool new project!
What an amazing way for the DJ duo to return…. I mean how much more Tron can you get than Daft Punk?? There music suits the theme of the movie perfectly, and the guys of Daft Punk look like they could costume and star in the film.
Electronic music duo Daft Punk will be composing the film score. At the time of the 2009 Comic-Con, it was revealed they have composed 24 tracks for the film. When Kosinski (the director) was asked why he decided to have Daft Punk to do the film score, he replied, “How could you not at least go to those guys?
Olivia Wilde revealed that the duo will also make an appearance in the film, and that Daft Punk may be involved with future promotional events.
Hacker/arcade owner Kevin Flynn is desperate to prove that the hottest videogames from ENCOM were stolen from him by a former co-worker, who is now a senior executive there. Flynn’s efforts, however, are made fruitless by ENCOM’s “Big Brother,” the megalomaniacal Master Control Program. One night, the MCP catches Flynn in an attempted hack and pulls him into the virtual world. Flynn finds that the MCP is making life in the virtual world just as, if not more, miserable as in the real world. Flynn’s only hope is to find TRON, a heroic independent system security program, and help him destroy the MCP to bring order to both worlds.
Inside the ENCOM computer system, a program called CLU, created by Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) during the original fight against the Master Control Program, has been causing chaos and destruction across the grid. Sean Flynn, son of former ENCOM CEO Kevin Flynn, is in search of his missing father, but Sean discovers that his father’s whereabouts are somehow connected to the program making a mess of the ENCOM system. In order to find his father, Sean has to go into the ENCOM system, and fight his way to CLU, but in the neon world of TRON, a lot has changed and new dangers await him at every turn.
Tron Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world thats unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his fathers disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevins loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
Photos from Wireimage and IMDB
Category: Film & TV, Lauren Brokaw blog
Tagged: Comic Con 2010, Daft Punk, Disney, Film & TV, Garrett Hedlund, James Frain, Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, San Diego, Tron, Tron Legacy
Last Sunday my lobster obsession was temporarily sated at the Hamptons Magazine Annual Clambake hosted by Haley & Jason Binn, Debra Halpert and Samantha Yanks. One week this summer due to all the Hamptons lobster bakes, catered lunches and dinners in the city I had lobster three times. That was a good week. This particular event took place at the Montauk Yacht Club which is quite picturesque. The club’s original membership included Vincent Astor, J.P. Morgan, Nelson Doubleday, Edsel Ford, Harry Payne Whitney, Thomas Eastman, John Wanamaker and Harold S. Vanderbilt. Among the many original guests were famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, who often flew his seaplane into the harbor to dock at the Marina. The man had style.
Also on the menu were mussels, oysters and of course clams – it being a clambake. For all you carnivores there was an Allen Brother Steak BBQ station. Guests were greeted with a welcome glass of La Marca Prosecco not to mention a William Hill wine bar, Dos Equis, Tequila Avion mixoloxy station, Xante cocktails in coconuts and a vodka ice luge station. Needless to say, it was a properly catered affair. Kudos to Jason Binn. I say what recession. America rocks.
After lobster and wine I was able to do shots of oxygen. Maybe they thought the oxygen would go to my brain and make me pull out my check book as there were several Lamborghini’s on display, but I was told there were no discounts that day so unfortunately I had to pass. I was even able to exercise a bit as there was croquet and a dance floor. Finally the goody bag consisted of a piece of jewelry of one’s choice courtesy of Chicos. I settled on a lovely set of purple bangles which matched my outfit nicely. Lots of laughs and as I said before, any party with lobster is a good party.
Montauk is considered the more remote portion of the Hamptons and has long attracted and inspired artists like Andy Warhol and Peter Beard. It’s also known for it’s great waves which attract a surfer contingent. After the party we headed to a beach bonfire and then Surf Lodge which served as an unofficial after party. Fyi, if you ever discover sand stuck between the keys of your Blackberry as I did use a dry toothbrush. It totally did the trick. I must give credit to my clever girlfriend Elise for that one.
Photos courtesy of Patrick McMullan and Rob Rich