Fashionable Friday: Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week is in full swing this fall. The major trends on the runways in the city of lights this fashion season include: 60s silhouettes and details, bright colors, flowing gowns, and sparkly details.

60s style took many different forms showing up in all the major collections. From the plunging v-necks and flowing dresses in Elie Saab to the Mod metallic party dresses in Saint Laurent, 60s is definitely the next big trend for SS15. 

Another exciting development that came out of Paris Fashion week was the launch of Karl Lagerfeld x BarbieStyle that came out on net a porter.com this week. Apparently, Barbie Style is on the rise. According to @Barbiestyle (Barbie's personal Insta account) the new collection includes black and white separates as well as fashionable shades. 

Another surprise from Paris Fashion week came from French bad boy Jean Paul Gaultier who announced that this would be his last RTW show. He is going to be focusing more on his Haute Courure line. I can't wait to see what Gaultier will bring us next! However his last show was certainly unforgettable. The finale included elaborate backdrops and a choreographed dance routine! There is always something exciting to see at PFW! 

The city of Paris offers endless venues for Fashion shows for designers to choose from, but I think these designers chose some of the best ones. Here are two of my favorite creative takes on Parisian classics from this seasons designers.
Stella McCartney at Palais Garnier

The perfect backdrop for the Stella McCartney show the Kings hall at the Palais Garnier offers beautiful baroque architecture and decadent finishings including crystal chandeliers, gold details, and beautiful cieling paintings. You can't go wrong with this historic Parisian monument (also the inspiration for The Phantom of the Opera and Degas the Star Dancer) it has always been a home to Parisian artists. For more info on visiting the Palais Garnier see my post Spotlight: Palais Garnier.
Dior at The Louvre

This modern take on the beautiful classic style of the Louvre made the Dior show even better. Mirrored cubes surrounded the runway in the courtyard of the museum reflecting the Louvre palace created a surreal experience.
Photos courtesy of @nytimesfashion instagram account, @womensweardaily instagram account, @barbiestyle instagram account, and @dior instagram account. 

Camping in Malibu

Camping in Malibu is one of my favorite fall activities. Fall is the best time to enjoy a quiet campground and warm weather.  In summer it is too hot and in winter it is cold and foggy. My favorite beach camping spot is Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu. You can reserve a spot at www.reserveamerica.com. I love this spot situated among the canyons of Malibu and right next to the water. The campground beach is a beautiful cove with sand caves and sparkling blue waters. The tide pools are fun to explore as well. Sometimes you might see a colorful starfish or exotic sea anemone. Watch out for the little crabs though! The water is beautiful, if a little chilly, but it is worth a swim!
Swimming makes you hungry, so after a few hours playing in the waves, its time to head back to the campground for hot dogs roasted over the campfire and of course the obligatory smores.

The last night before I have to leave, I enjoy eating at nearby Neptune's Net, a short drive up the coast on PCH.  It looks a little like a beach shack, but don't let the appearance deceive you.  They serve delicious seafood and it is a favorite of many Hollywood stars.  I love sitting on the patio overlooking the Malibu sunset and surfers.  I recommend the fried scallops.

This camping spot is also conveniently located near one of the best premium outlets in Southern California (did you really think I could stay away from shopping for a whole week?). Just thirty minutes north in Camarillo, the outlets have all the best stores including DKNY, Off Fifth, Tory Birch, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and many more. Don't forget to stop at Aroyo Mexican Restaurant for a delicious lunch. I order fresh taquitos and chips and salsa.

If its too cold to go to the  beach, there are hiking trails throughout the area where you can learn about the indigenous plants of the Santa Monica mountains and enjoy great hilltop views of the ocean.

If you are looking to escape constant emails and texts, Leo Carrillo is a great place to relax and unwind; there is no cell service in the canyon.
Next time you are looking for relaxing fall getaway, try a camping trip to the beach.  You won't regret it!

Have you ever camped at the beach?  What was your experience?  Let me know in the comments below.

Fashionable Friday: Factory Tour JS apparel

Ever wanted to know how your clothes are made? Well, I had the opportunity to find out when I went on a factory tour of JS Apparel in LA. Turns out it's actually a very intricate process. JS Apparel works with exclusive clients such as American Eagle and Hurley.  Here is the typical life of a garment starting from incubation and ending up with the finished product you see in the stores.

                                                            image curtsey of www.jsapparel.net

The process starts out with a concept. A client comes in and meets with someone at the factory to discuss their idea. In the showroom we saw a new idea for a leather T-shirt still in the sample stage.
They also take measurements for a fit model in this room using a 3D scanner, the latest technology in manufacturing. The 3D scanner takes all body measurements from head to toe, streamlining the pattern making process.  Next we headed over to the pattern maker's office.

The pattern maker works with the clients to create a pattern for the design. The patterns are created using the measurements from the 3D scanner in a digital program and sent to the initial sewing team.
The first sewing team uses the pattern to create the initial sample made for the fit model using exact measurements obtained from the scanner. The garment is tried on the fit model in the next meeting with the client. A few tweaks are made and sent to the pattern maker and the garment is on its way to production.

First all the fabrics for the garment are selected from the giant fabric storage room in the factory. The client is responsible for sourcing the fabric themselves, a whole other process in itself (if you liked this article keep an eye out for my next one: Adventures in fabric sourcing in downtown LA).  Many clients find it is easier and faster to manufacture in the U.S. and they can be more involved in the process. The chosen fabrics are then sent to the cutting table where expert cutters use extremely sharp knives held in machines above the fabric table. Sometimes cutting four or five layers of fabric at a time. Watch your fingers!


Next the pieces are headed to the sewing floor where skilled seamstresses sew the pieces into an item of clothing in record time. Finally the clothes are sent to the quality control table where they are carefully checked over for irregularities. After passing the inspection the clothes are loaded up and shipped off to a store where we are impatiently waiting for the next order of our favorite graphic tee. So now you know what a journey your clothes take before they arrive in your closet. I know I certainly appreciate my clothes more now that I know how much work it takes to make a garment. Interested in learning more about the apparel manufacturing process? Visit www.fashionbizinc.org and www.jsapparel.net for more info!

Spotlight: A weekend at the Broadmoor Colorado Springs

                   If you are looking to get into the holiday mood with a weekend escape I've got the perfect place. The historic Broadmoor hotel provides a serene escape set against a naturally beautiful backdrop and it is kid friendly. Located in the beautiful town of Colorado Springs, the Broadmoor hotel is a great place to relax and recharge. I was so excited to spend a weekend enjoying all the wonderful amenities the hotel had to offer. After a long drive through the snow I arrived to find hot apple cider waiting for me. The welcoming hotel staff also informed me that they would be happy to open the gift shop at any time of the day or night (can you really tell I'm a shopaholic that quickly?). The hotel was elegantly decorated for the holiday season and a giant Christmas tree stood in the lobby.  For anyone who likes gingerbread houses, there is a whole gingerbread village on display upstairs.

I enjoyed exploring the grounds and seeing all the Christmas decorations.

The next morning I found delicious chocolates under my pillow, my favorite thing about the hotel so far. I ordered a delicious breakfast from Lake Terrace dining room including fresh fruit and Belgian waffles with fresh orange juice. Next I headed downstairs to the indoor heated pool, another reason why this hotel is perfect in the winter and the summer.

After a nice swim I went upstairs to freshen up and enjoyed a cup of the Broadmoor's signature hot chocolate. Nearby there is a cute Christmas town called Santa's Village with rides, churros, and of course Santa Claus. If you are looking for a place to take the kids while you have a relaxing spa day in the hotel's 5-star spa, this is the place.

 For dinner there are several delicious options including La Taverne, the hotel's steakhouse, Del Lago, featuring Italian Cuisine, and the Natural Epicurean that uses local ingredients from the surrounding Colorado wilderness.

 If you are looking for drinks after dinner the Golden Bee offers a quintessential mountain tavern experience and fine ales. I enjoyed picking out Christmas gifts in the hotel gift shop and found embroidered towels and beautiful ornaments. The next day I got ready to leave early because I was heading to the garden of the gods on my way out of town. The Garden of the Gods is a National landmark in Colorado Springs full of the ancient and gigantic red rock formations. I definitely recommend stopping by because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the beautiful rock formations.

Visit www.broadmoor.com for more information on planning a visit. Has anyone been to the broadmoor? Did you enjoy your visit? Let me kn ow in the comments below!