We all remember, regardless of age, when Clueless came out and everyone ran to Contempo Casuals and Rampage for all the new trends at cheap prices.  Well unfortunately, the Beverly Center has been in a slow decline to it’s death ever since.

In an effort to make myself feel better, and help you, I have prepared a mini rant and rave: 

Aldo
There is an Also shoe store so why must there be a store solely for Aldo accessories? For accessories I would OBVI check out For Love 21 or Claire’s.

Bloomingdales
I used to LOVE going to Bloomingdales and now I do not. I have such vivid and amazing childhood memoires of going to Bloomingdales in NYC. I distinctly remember that there were ten floors and the children’s section was on the tenth floor.

My family had other floors to look at so the ride from the first floor to the tenth floor seemed like eternity.

Now a days, Bloomingdales in NYC is still a good store but nothing like it used to be and nothing like the crap Bloomies that is at the Beverly Center.

* The most expensive designer they carry is Fendi, and only for purses.
* The purse selection sucks… If i want Le Sport Sac or Michael Kors, I can simply walk out the sixth floor and find their designated stores.
* The shoe area used to be my favorite, and now I don’t even walk near the area because I know I will hate everything.
* I wanted to look at a Bobbi Brown eyeshadow, but was unable to without two sales people down my throat. Hence why I never buy makeup at Beverly Center Bloomies.
* They are always sold out of panty hose, thigh high socks, leggings, etc.
* There are no cute cafe’s like the other Bloomies.
However, I do like:
* The selection of dresses on the sixth floor
* The bra selection
* The area with the costume jewelry

Crocs
Just what you always wanted, a Crocs store ! Crocs in hundreds of different designs, colors, fabrics, and styles!

The world has come to an end now that there is an actual store for ONLY CROCS… They need to just stay on the little carts at Century City and other malls.

Don’t disrespect your feet.

Henri Bendel
When I go to New York, I must always check out Bendels… It’s just a thing I gotta do.

Henri Bendel is known as a luxury store carrying the finest and newest accessories from OTHER designers. ” Henri Bendel is a New York based upscale women’s specialty store that carries women’s apparel, fashion accessories, lingerie and loungewear, cosmetics and fragrances, gifts and gourmet foods.” – From Wikipedia

I decided to check out the Henri Bendel store today and was sooo disappointed, to say the least ! What makes Henri Bendel is the fact that you can view hundreds of different brands slash designers at once. This store only carried OBNOXIOUS Henri Bendel branded merchandise.

I do not care for anything with Henri Bendel written on it, I want the jewelry, purses, watches, hair accessories, lingerie, and makeup that the real Bendels sells!

(If you want a bracelet that looks like the enamel Hermes designs, you can find them here !)

H&M
I feel like I need to have a funeral for H&M as it was once one of my favorite stores in the entire universe.

Whenever I would go to New York, the first thing I would do after I woke up on my first day was run to H&M, because they always had an amazing arrangement of clothes that looked like they were right off the runway, for a veryyyy reasonable price.

During my teen years up until about four or five months ago, I could always depend on H&M for whatever I was looking for. Now, I often cringe when walking through the Divided and regular HM sections.
I’m sure the NYC store on 5th ave. is still amazing, which is very unfair.

(Recent diffusion lines have have been so disappointing)

Planet Funk
This was a very popular slash trendy store when I was in highschool, even though it was way over priced for what the clothes were. I remember there was a good one on Melrose and one in The Westside Pavillion. Planet Funk has gone so down hill that they should of closed all of their stores down years ago. Now all you will find is Ed Hardy and Affliction type gear for men and I do not even know what you would call the womens apparel.

Kira Plastina
This is a great story… Extremely wealthy Russian teen demands to have a clothing line funded by daddy -> Out of nowhere, Kira Plastina stores pop up all over LA -> Kira appears in Teen Vogue and has an LA fashion show equipped with socialites, actors, and musicians -> The clothes are gross and poorly for the price she asks and everyone realizes it = January 2009, Kira’s firm, KP Fashion Co., files for chapter 7 bankruptcy = A lot of the stores in Los Angeles disappear, but the one in the Beverly Center still remains.. figures!

The Movie Theater
I will never see a movie in this theater again because of the strange, awkward, and perverse people who frequent this theater. I have had all kinds of unfortunate experiences here including creepy men following my little nieces out of the theater and waiting for them outside the bathrooms.

Stores that no one cares about or should be removed

Ricordi di Firenze probably has the worst merchandise in the whole mall.
Chromo Bones
Karen Millen
Teno
Sketchers
Replay
Arden B
Togs Soho
Image
Kippling, haven’t heard that name since I was in fourth grade.
White House | Black Market, eve though it has not opened yet!

Forever 21 – For Love 21
The only reason I go to the Beverly Center is for these two stores.
I believe that to have a successful wardrobe you need to mix and match things. On any given day you can see me wearing clothes/accessories that are really expensive or really cheap. I don’t care where I buy things, as long as I love it.

I went to FIDM, in Downtown LA. I remember a project I did that has always helped me. I was to choose an outfit out of a magazine that would cost multi thousands of dollars and on poster board create the same outfit but for 70 or 80 % less. To this day, I research clothes on a daily basis and know everything that is out there!

I LOVE Forever 21 because there is an endless plethora of clothes, shoes, lingerie, accessories, etc. Often times they make good copies of higher end designers merch.

The Forever 21 that we all hate is the girl who buys and wears it in the wrong way; There is a method to the madness!

My mom hates Forever 21 because she says that the clothes are cheaply made and fall apart and that instead of buying two dresses and a jacket, I should get one dress or a dress and a jacket elsewhere that is made better and will last longer. I agree with that point to an extent and that is why I am very selective with my purchases there… One day I will write a guide to shopping at Forever 21

I also believe that you must have fun with clothes, so buying cheap silly things that you would never spend a lot of money on but you can buy it at xxi because if it falls apart its ok because it cost 10, 20, or 30 $.

I hate when people tell me that its hard for people who don’t have money to be fashionable because that is so not true. Forever 21, H&M, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, Target diffusion lines, vintage shops, American Apparel, etc are all out there and available for you to mix and match the newest trends with timeless staples.
For Love 21 was the greatest invention…. EVER ! Everyone and anyone that you can think of from an A list actress to a ten year old buys things from here.

You can literally walk in this store and buy twenty five items for less than fifty dollars… It’s really insane.
Why would I buy a Givenchy necklace that would only be cute for one season for 2,000$ when I can buy it for less than 10$?

Of course, the reason that I love it so much is that there are hundreds of bows everywhere, in rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, bra’s, shoes, purses, headbands, clips, etc.

Other facts
There are too many sneaker stores
Fox Hills mall would not accept the food at the food court.
There are always activities in which the police are summoned; I was there once when a rapper was shot.
Macy’s had a heart attack years ago and hasn’t been the same since.
The Bed Bath and Beyond feels creeps me out

Hunky Santa
After getting off the escalator today, I felt as though I was in the airport of Las Vegas with pictures of half naked girls and guys in my face everywhere I looked. You will not be able to escape the posters and promotions for Hunky Santa and the Candy Cane Dancers. You might recognize this disaster because one of the Candy Canes fell during her routine last week -> http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/?watchId=87d27239-8aa7-4b98-80b6-b80165fdb793

Some photos for your viewing pleasure …. Beverly Center’s Hunky Santa during Christmas:

WHATEVERR!

Do any of these places look familiar to you?

The reason for this post, is the sad and tragic death of Brittany Murphy, at age 32.  Murphy starred in “Clueless”, one of my favorite movies of all time. Everything about this movie “Clueless” was perfect, including Brittany.  The fashion, soundtrack, acting, quotes, humor, famed one liners, story, characters, locations, etc were just perfect in every way. Because of this movie, my poor family and friends were subject to years of me using different lines from this movie including, “As If!”and “Whatever”, included with hand gesture.

Cher's house

While watching the movie hundreds of times, I was always excited to see places that were familiar to me. Cher’s house or shall I say mansion, plays a big role in this movie, as mostly all major events happen here from beginning to end.

The funniest thing to me is how this actual house is in the valley, and in this movie the valley is a very taboo’d place. (Cher gets mugged and stripped of her Alaia “Awhatta?” jacket.)

Arial view of the real house used in the movie

Above is a view of the house in the movie, at 1542 Louise Avenue, in Encino, CA.

The best thing about the above picture is the famed pool.  I had never seen an arial view of this house, and when I saw it for the first time today, I got very excited that “the pool” was there.

The front entrance to the house

Dionne's house on Sierra Drive

Dionne’s house in the movie is in the 700 block of Sierra Drive, in Beverly hills.  I will never forget her coming out of this door to get in Cher’s car, ever !

Hillcrest home

This house you will recognize, as it comes right after Cher picks Dionne up from her home.  This house is three blocks west of Dionne’s house on the corner of Hillcrest and Elevado. (It’s very cool to me that I know the family who lives here :- ) ) I live in between these three blocks, so I think of Clueless quite often.

Rodeo Drive

Frustrated by her dad, boys, her recent fight with Tai, Josh, the Dmv, and just life, Cher decided to do some soul searching and do what would make her happiest, shop on Rodeo Drive !

Bronson Alcott Highschool from the movie, a.k.a. Occidental College

Some of the funniest and greatest scenes in the movie take place at the high school that most of the characters attend. Bronson Alcott High is actually Occidental College in Eagle Rock, California, which is about 45 minutes away from Beverly Hills.

According to Cher’s dad, everything in LA is 20 minutes away from each other. Hm.. Is that so?

Occidental College

Contempo Casuals was on the 6th floor in The Beverly Center

Ahh, The Beverly Center.  If you have read any of my other posts, you will remember my oh-so-nice note about the Beverly Center.  The Beverly Center was actually a very cool place circa Clueless, 1995.

Contempo Casuals was a store on the sixth floor highlighted in the movie.  This store had the latest and coolest clothes, shoes, accessories, lingerie, makeup, and inexpensive miscellaneous junk that one just had to have.

I remember being in heaven while being in this store ! I was only ten years old when Clueless came out, so I stuck to the accessories and misc. junk including the must have feather pen (in pink:) ). I was sooo happy when my mom bought me one of the animal backpacks that were so cool at the time.  I also remember buying patches from there to put on my backpack and other places.

The Westside Pavillion

The Westside Pavillion is now also not my favorite mall, but back then it was a very fun place to shop.  This mall makes a few cameos in the movie with Cher, Christian, Dionne, Amber, and Tai.

Westside Pavillion Mall. Area in which Tai almost gets pushed over the rail and where everyone shops in the movie.

At one point in the film, Tai is with two delinquent boys who hold her over the railing and attempt for her to fall down all three levels.  Christian, Cher’s gay crush, comes to the rescue to save Tai.

L.A. to Sun Valley map

Donut Den on Vineland in Sun Valley

Everyone loves the scene, where Cher is mugged in, “The Valley”.  She is asked for her possessions, including her beloved cell phone, and her Alaia jacket. Her unexperienced mugger then tells her to put her face down and count to 100 as he runs away.  This all happens because Cher has to make a “cameo” at a house party in in SV.  Cher thinks she is setting up Tai and Elton, but at the end of the party, Elton has other plans !  Cher gets out of Elton’s car after he makes unsuccessful advances at her and walks the streets of Sun Valley looking for a pay phone to call her step brother, Josh.

R.I.P Brittany Murphy, you will be missed !

Alicia Silverstone (as Cher Horowitz, Stacey Dash (as Dionne) and Brittany Murphy (as transplant Tai) in “Clueless” (1995)

Amy Heckerlings’ “Clueless” (1995) captured the youth of Los Angeles, and definitely of Beverly Hills, in a way all L.A. Natives can agree was pure genius. In honor of a fallen angel today, we honor her with our favorite quotes and vocab from the quintessential L.A. Natives (Dionne and Cher), and the quintessential L.A. Transplant, Tai, played by the late Brittany Murphy, RIP. Our love to her family and husband, Vogue photographer Simon Monjack.

“Clueless Quotes & Vocab:”

Mel: So, what did you do in school today?
Cher: Well, I broke in my purple clogs.

Josh: Hey, James Bond, in America we drive on the right side of the road.
Cher: I am. You try driving in platforms.
Josh: You want to practice parking?
Cher: What’s the point? Everywhere you go has valet.

Amber: Ms. Stoeger, my plastic surgeon doesn’t want me doing any activity where balls fly at my nose.

Cher: Isn’t my house classic? The columns date all the way back to 1972.

Cher: Wasn’t my mom a total Betty? She died when I was young. A freak accident during a routine liposuction.

Cher: “Did I step into some bad lighting?”

Mel: I expect you to walk through this door in twenty minutes.

Cher: It might take longer than that Dad.
Mel: Everywhere in L.A takes twenty minutes.

Cher: Lucy, the fire department called again. They said we need to clear out that bush. You said you’d get Jose to do it.
Lucy: He your gardener, I don’t know why you no tell him.
Cher: Lucy, you know I don’t speak Mexican.
Lucy: I NOT A MEXICAN! [storms off]
Cher: Great, what was that all about?
Josh: Lucy’s from El Salvador.
Cher: So?
Josh: So, it’s an entirely different country.
Cher: What does that matter?
Josh: You get mad if anyone thinks you live below Sunset

Mel: What the hell is that?
Cher: A dress.
Mel: Says who?
Cher: Calvin Klein.

Cher: So like, right now for example. The Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, “What about the strain on our resources?” Well it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I put R.S.V.P. ’cause it was a sit-down dinner. But some people came that like did not R.S.V.P. I was like totally buggin’. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, and squish in extra place settings. But by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier. And so if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haitians. And in conclusion may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.

Tai: Do you think she’s pretty?
Cher: No, she’s a full-on Monet.
Tai: What’s a monet?
Cher: It’s like a painting, see? From far away, it’s OK, but up close, it’s a big old mess. Let’s ask a guy. Christian, what do you think of Amber?
Christian: Hagsville.
Cher: See?

"But this is an Alaïa!"

"Project!!" - Cher

"Dionne and I were both named after famous singers of the past, who now do infomercials." - Cher