RetroSpecs, Los Angeles
Bottega Veneta, Melrose
1. A conversation with a longtime colleague-turned-friend was motivation enough to publish the few posts hidden in my drafts. Not that I’d been sitting on anything precious, private, or profound, per se; these were just short entries about the events I remembered to document, falling for the Blazy frenzy, recent outfits, and a backlog of Five Things. I’ve always enjoyed blogging, but between growing up (having to prioritize career) and the evolution of the Internet, social media, and our collective relationship with digital presences—the act seems fraught with friction. (A thought I’ve loosely strung into words before.)
So until this week, I’ve been leaving most posts unpublished. Writing without pressing “post” felt more like journaling. I get to be more frivolous, more fun in this space, which has been cathartic. There’s less pressure compared to writing in my real, physical diary, a practice I’ve kept since childhood and still maintain nearly every day.
“But why hide?” The question was posed by another good friend, who had also prodded me to write again. I’m old enough to know that external validation should mean nothing, but I’m human. So here I am.
2. Speaking of uncovering things. I recently discovered Michelle Jonas, a sustainable and woman-owned label specializing in earthy, free-spirited prints—all of which are handpainted or locally dyed in Los Angeles. (The site doesn’t do the collection justice.) Jonas’s silk pieces remind me of something a Rat & Boa girl would graduate into—sophisticated silhouettes, softer palettes, forgiving cuts that wear beautifully at every age and stage in a woman’s life. I, however, was partial to the jersey dresses. These remind me of the good, vintage Diane von Furstenberg dresses (with a gathered waist versus a wrap to cinch) and Donna Karan’s Urban Zen (only simpler in cut and more playful in color). It’s been years since I’ve worn tie-dye, and I’m not sure if the print is quite me, but I couldn’t resist the fabric for summer. Nor can I help succumbing to nostalgia.
3. Another discovery while I was in the Sycamore District—Retrospecs. The last thing I need is an additional pair of sunglasses, but when the sales associate pulled out the coolest pair from the vault of rare vintage frames, I knew I wasn’t even going to look at the price.
4. I’ve been naughty with the spending, I know. But sometimes I’m powerless against the lure of retail therapy, especially when my sales associate at Bottega texts about my dream clutch—one that I didn’t even know existed.. If you’re in Los Angeles often, ask for Marc. He’s wonderful at deducing your taste.
5. Currently burning the Byredo New York candle in Los Angeles. I love L.A., but the pull back to the East Coast is strong…
. . .
xx
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