Victoria Beckham ready-to-wear was a smash-hit success. With its figure-flattering emphasis on clean, tight lines, & impeccable tailoring, it quickly became a favourite of celebrities everywhere. Say what you will about Victoria, she knows how to make a gal look her best… & we love her for it.

Her ready-to-wear line is gorgeous, but it’s very grown-up, leaving some of us to wonder if sexy cyborg is the limit of her abilities. Thankfully, Victoria has been busy, working to prove us wrong. She recently debuted her new line, Victoria, Victoria Beckham — an excellent choice for those of us who refuse to grow up!

Victoria, Victoria Beckham is designed with a younger girl in mind. It “represents the free spirited side to Victoria Beckham”, & its poppy colours & fabrics, with a modern but relaxed fit, certainly show another side of Victoria’s aesthetic.

She recently partnered up with Quentin Jones to make a video for her first collection, & it’s brilliant. It debuted in Harvey Nichols’ window, & has been flying around the internet ever since. It’s bold, graphic, playful & fabulous.

Victoria said, “This collaboration is really exciting for me. For the Victoria line I wanted to appeal to a slightly younger audience – super chic but with a sense of humour & an edge & that’s exactly what Quentin brought to the creative process. I really wanted to capture the essence of the playful feminine character at the heart of the collection & Quentin has realized that for me in her unique, innovative style.”

Words by Gala Darling (@galadarling). Photos courtesy of Elle.

Somehow, this downtown treasure managed to escape my attention. At least, until last weekend! As I headed uptown from Canal Street, taking side-streets in an effort to avoid Broadway, I walked right by it. Something was gleaming in my peripheral vision, so I turned, & came face-to-face with an enormous painting of Saturday Night Fever-era John Travolta in the window! I stopped & gawped for a minute, then realized that the painting was surrounded by incredible vintage clothing. As if pulled in by a tractor beam, I walked into the store… & gasped.

Allan & Suzi is a genius mix of truly unusual vintage pieces & new designers. The shop contains a fantastic menagerie of fashion history, & is merchandised in a relaxed, unpretentious manner. It’s sort of like stumbling into your mother’s closet, if your mother had been a regular at Studio 54. Allan & Suzi have dressed Madonna, Naomi Campbell & RuPaul; they have primped & preened the likes of Betsey Johnson, the cast of Sex & The City, & Boy George.

From wicked platform boots to golden Mickey Mouse ear hats, this shop has everything you could possibly want, & then some. I spotted seriously bizarre hats, severely bedazzled sunglasses, & a dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex & The City. You can only imagine the kind of woman they dress… or buy from!

Allan & Suzi — both the shop itself & the proprietors — are truly infamous among the vintage crowd in New York City. They’ve been in the business for 24 years, which is long for fashion, but even longer for New York! Their original store was on the Upper West Side, & they moved downtown about a year ago.

I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Suzi, but Allan is certainly an unusual character. Aged 70, sporting his large, trademark sunglasses, & with his blonde hair sticking up & out, he’s hard to miss. Allan is also a straight-shooter. If he likes you, he’ll chat to you for hours, frequently patting you on the arm & leading you all over his magnificent store. If he doesn’t like you, well, the Yelp reviews speak for themselves. In fact, the title of this post is taken from one of them!

Allan’s grumpiness verges on legendary. A regular customer of his even created a children’s book detailing the A-Z of things that annoy Allan!

He admitted to me, somewhat sheepishly, that their old location, on the Upper West Side, brought out the worst in him. “This is like a breath of fresh air,” he said of the new premises. “The people down here are so different — it’s just what I needed.”

Hopefully, he will continue collecting, consigning, & castigating careless customers for a long time to come!

Words by Gala Darling (@galadarling). Photos by Lydia Hudgens (@lydiahudgens).

Drawing inspiration from rugged military flight suits, the flight pant is designed for a trim fit in sleek Japanese cotton twill and finished with authentic detailing. What make these pants exotic are the plethora of pockets and the cannon twill color. Even though you have an overabundance of pockets, they are not as functional because of the slim fit of the pant. So instead of being able to stuff five fragmentation grenades, a desert eagle, two bush machetes, a weeks worth of rations, and a 3×5 of your fiancé who thinks that you are an investment banker on corporate business in the Caymans, you will have to settle for a cigarette lighter and a moon pie. Hopefully your intent is to hunt down the fictional Kim Jong-IL From “Team America World Police” and not any of Al-Qaeda’s most wanted.

With that being said, these flight pants are best suited for the Saturday night mercenary missions in Hollywood, walking from Supperclub to Avalon as you are attacked and have to fend yourself from the homeless guy who thinks he’s Jesus and feels the need to lay hands on you, the lady with the black market hot dog stand that is peddling week old salmonella infested Hebrew Nationals with raw bacon wrapped around them, and of course the host of other bizarre Hollywood Blvd. mutants that have traveled light years from other solar systems far beyond to land on the intersection of Hollywood and Highland. At a retail price of $395.00 these pants are a sure purchase.

Every chic GI Joe needs to have shoes to perfectly match his voguish combat ensemble. The best option in mind is the Grenson Glenn Military Boot. The motivation for this boot comes from an old Italian infantry boot circa 1890-1944. We know that Milan is the fashion capitol of the world, so it should also be designated as the fashion capitol of the world for the designer conscious, freelance commando. This boot is made out of soft Italian calf and British Millerain waxed canvas. These fascist boots are versatile, unique, and rare. They are available in dark brown/dark green or you can settle for khaki, which will go perfectly with your Ralph Lauren Flight Pants. You can now have the authentic look and feel of being a part of Little Benito’s Royal Air Force. Go to Grenson.co.uk now for they are on sale for $197.50

Words by Dynast Amir (@dynastamirmahdi)

Wheels & Doll Baby was founded in Perth, Australia, in 1987. The label, with its quirky yet upscale retro vibe, quickly became a celebrity favourite, being seen on the backs (& fronts!) of the likes of Dita Von Teese, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue & Elle Macpherson. It’s utterly unlike anything else in Australia — or, for that matter, the rest of the world. Wheels & Doll Baby do sex-kitten vintage like no other.

So it makes perfect sense, then, that the illustrious label teamed up with famed fashion photographer, Ellen Von Unwerth, on their latest campaign. Von Unwerth started as a model, working the other side of the lens for 10 years before making the switch. Her provocative photographs celebrate the power & mystery of femininity, as well as the potential of the perfect pout!

Cast your eyeballs over the video & pictures below if you don’t believe me! I absolutely love this collaboration: it makes me want to wear red lipstick every day for the rest of my life!

Words by Gala Darling (@GalaDarling)

Describe the overall Mother of London aesthetic.

I reckon Mother of London is pretty easy to spot- I don’t think I’ve ever designed a collection in my entire life that hasn’t incorporated gloves and a high collar, for instance – largely consisting of tailored and fully encasing garments, with a very deliberate nod to alternative culture. We’re primarily known for our leather work.

You’ll be releasing a number of t-shirts, which is a big step away from your usual intricate construction and stiff materials. Can you talk about that process?

I wanted to have a few basic pieces, like T-shirts and daywear, that would be a bit more attainable and practical than the usual Mother of London contraptions, but I didn’t want to just screen print a bunch of T-shirts, either. The garments are a custom cut of our own designs and the knit we’re working with is custom custom dyed. I had to spend some time learning knitwear basics and sourcing the right people and products to make this happen, and I’m most chuffed with the results.

This line is several years in the making – what’s was the final push that motivated you to take the final steps and make it a reality?

It was always the intention to make a ready-to-wear line, but a lot of resources go into making an entirely new line and the usual Mother of London tailoring and costuming side of the business has consumed most of those resources. This is where my former assistant, Jessica Darwin, stepped in and made it happen. I couldn’t have done this without her.

Does moving to and living in Los Angeles influence your work?

Although I don’t think it’s influenced me creatively, in terms of motivation and support it’s been fantastic. Los Angeles is a city full of people who get stuff done, and that spirit is totally lacking in London. So far, LA has been encouragingly enthusiastic about the London bleakness that is Mother of London, which was a nice surprise.

What do you anticipate for the near future of MoL?

It’s difficult to say, but I’m happy for things to continue going in the direction they are. 2011 was a fantastic year.

And finally – do you have a dream client, living or otherwise?

Janet Jackson!

Keep your eyes glued to the official Mother of London Facebook page over the next few weeks and follow @mildredvon on Twitter for the launch announcement.

Words and photos by Zoetica Ebb (@Zoetica)

Decades
627 S State St
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 537-1357

This is the kind of place where, upon walking in, you get that “good vintage vibe”. Actually, we knew it even before we walked in. The first thing we spotted was a leopard-print coat hanging in the window, so perfect that it elicited an excited yell! In case there was any doubt, it’s now in my possession. It kills. It slays. It’s practically Buffy. Who could resist?

That leopard-print coat was only the very tip of the iceberg, because this store is huge. Decades has major square footage. The front of the store is all menswear — cowboy boots & Western shirts galore, I tell you — & the enormous back room is a menagerie of womenswear. There are hats hanging on every available wall, huge racks of tulle petticoats & enormous cabinets full of costume jewellery. The cherry on top is that the shop doesn’t have that funky vintage smell one might expect. Instead, the very friendly & happy guys at the front counter were burning a delicious vanilla-scented candle.

Other scores included a black & gold embroidered 1950s circle skirt; a turquoise kimono (I love wearing these in summer over slip dresses); a purple A-line snap-front suede skirt; a white shirt with bugs embroidered on it & an old Boy Scouts of America shirt, which has quickly become a new favourite in my wardrobe.

The prices are beyond reasonable & the selection is vast. Decades is my favourite vintage store in SLC for sure!

Now & Again
501 E 300 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(801) 364-0664

The owner of Now & Again sits at his desk in an oversized cowboy hat. Originally from New York City, he upped sticks to Salt Lake City a few years ago, calling it the “vintage furniture mecca” — & he’d be right. This store is overflowing with choice objects, from old copies of Vogue to an amazing pink wingback chair. There’s plenty of mid-century modern furniture in SLC & all the shop-owners are more than happy to FedEx that perfect piece to your domicile!

I’m still thinking about a couch I saw at Now & Again — the ideal size for Manhattan living & featuring a delightful dalmatian print. I took a photo & keep sneaking secret glances at it. I’ve promised myself that once I’m ready to re-do my living room, I’m going to call them & have them ship it to New York City!

Misc
272 S 200 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 364-6472

Misc. is built into the back of The Grey Ant, another brilliant place to deck out your pad. Though small — I counted maybe ten miniature racks — what Misc lacks in size it makes up for in quality of merchandise. The owner knows what she likes & buys an extremely refined & edited selection of clothes to stock her store. My shopping companion, Jess, did very well at Misc, picking up a red plaid Woolworths jacket, a navy blue & cream striped dress, & a well-worn miniature leather backpack.

Misc should be your first stop if you’re looking for cowboy boots — their selection is small but excellent — & it’s also a fabulous pit-stop for anyone who happens to be homesick & missing their puppy. The shop is overseen by a chilled out English Bulldog, who lounges around like she owns the place! Misc should definitely go on your Salt Lake City to do list!

Words by Gala Darling (@GalaDarling). Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/empracht/

Dashing threads aren’t the only offerings at this East Sunset boulevard shop – chic furniture, dinnerware, wall trimmings [antlers, anyone?] and other hand-picked goodies for your home are all here under one big roof, displayed with utmost form and care.

Conceived by (figures) interior designer Justin Warwick, The Warehouse is also the birthplace of The Classroom LA – a grassroots workshop Warwick founded with Kelsey Wintringham, offering classes in everything from sewing machine operation and planting herb gardens to building mason jar chandeliers. You can keep up with upcoming courses here. Registration fees vary, starting at around $30 bucks and climbing all the way up to the $170 realm.

Between the clever décor, the beautiful clothes, the knowledgeable staff and the classes, this place is well worth a visit – you’re sure to walk away a more stylish, better informed, and most certainly more inspired you!

Words and photos by Zoetica Ebb (@Zoetica)

Catering to everyone from hip hoppers to goth rockers, Mishka NYC collaborates with artists and brands to create unique tees, baseball hats, watches, jeans, leggings, etc. as well as other artistic endeavors, including videos, event production, making Cyrillic even more cool and a whole lot more. Bold, bloodshot eyeballs are among their most recognizable designs, alongside the brand’s iconic, angry, crowned bear logo.

If all that wasn’t enough, the Mishka “Bloglin” keeps you plugged into the latest releases from underground and established musical acts with reviews, as well as other cultural happenings. Indeed, in its near-decade of existence, Mishka has become nothing less than a lifestyle brand.

Whether you’re visiting a Mishka store in LA, New York or Tokyo, you can expect to see purple neon, octopus chandeliers, tons of rare toys from Rivera’s personal collection and cool art gracing the walls. In addition to all the sharp gear, of course. The shops’ design aesthetic is like the clothes themselves: bold and memorable.

Keep your ears [and giant eyeballs] peeled for news from Mishka NYC – this is shaping up to be a big year for these guys, according to co-founder Greg Rivera:

“In 2012 we are going to continue to bring people really solid collections, including our Spring 2012 collection, which I think is one of our strongest to date. We also have a lot of great collaborations coming out including music releases, [as well as] artist and brand collaborations. Check out the Bloglin for everything that’s going on!”

Mishka LA: 1547 Echo Park Ave Los Angeles, CA 213-536-4234
Mishka NYC: 350 Broadway Brooklyn, NY 718-388-1725
Mishka Tokyo: 3-28-5 Jingumae Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001 03-6447-2813

Words and photos by Zoetica Ebb (@Zoetica)

Nylons and gloves hang over worn drawers, hat pins poke out from gilded porcelain teacups, postcards peek out from flowered hat boxes and the scent of hand-made soap wafts between hangers of silk, chiffon, lace and velvet.

Locally-crafted jewelry and beauty products are situated amidst the old-school fineries while pensive mannequin heads peer from shelves at browsing and marveling customers. Beware: despite its modest size, Flounce is remarkably easy to lose yourself in!

Unlike an attic though, the place is moth-free, filled with racks of well-cared-for, carefully selected [by owner Lisa Gerstein] vintage garments and brick-a-brak dating all the way back to the 1920s.

Eclectic is one way to describe the selection here, which ranges from fun and quirky to elegant and chic, which makes it the spot whether you’re in need of a unique gift or a memorable dress.

And with a $20 rack outside, stopping to browse doesn’t have to bear the threat of bankruptcy. So next time you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to give Flounce a look! Protip: call ahead to make sure they’re open – hours of operation tend to vary.

Flounce is located at 1555 Echo Park Ave. Check out their website at www.flouncevintage.com

Words and photos by Zoetica Ebb (@Zoetica)

You have a background in fine arts – how did you first get into making jewelry?

I have always been one for self adornments and took a few classes here and there while in college, but nothing ever materialized because I did not have access to a studio. Then, while my late fiance, James Ribiat and I were looking for a unique wedding/engagement ring we found OctopusMe‘s tentacle ring. Since I was getting my graduate degree at the San Francisco Art Institute, I was able to visit the OctopusMe studio. Deana Fukatsu and I got along immediately and I convinced her to let me be her apprentice after I saw how amazing my ring turned out. It is so exciting to see talented and driven artists that it makes me want to support and help as much as I can. Deana suggested that I make jewelry for Christmas presents that year. I made James and his brothers the very first Bat Skull cufflinks and that is where it started. Deana has been a great mentor, supporter of my jewelry line, as well as an amazing friend.

Your work features a number of nods to multi-cultural history, from tribal coins, traditional tartans and vintage kimono material to pieces resembling old-school Russian crowns a.k.a. kokoshniks. Can you talk about your historical influences?

There are several things that have influenced my work: growing up with parents who immigrated from Japan and nurtured my interest in the arts since I could start creating, Middle Eastern dancing, gothic subculture, art history and James.

As a child my parents would dress me up in kimonos, take me to Japanese festivals and I also played the koto (a traditional Japanese 13-stringed instrument). I loved watching samurai dramas with my dad while my mum instilled my interest in glamour.

My interest in other Old World aesthetics has been long going but it definitely became something concrete when I was in high school. I took up Middle Eastern dancing when I was fifteen and started collecting old vintage kuchi, Turkoman, Tuareg, and Indian jewelry while making my own costumes for performances. Dancing with my troupe exposed me to many different cultures from the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe since we not only performed Egyptian Cabaret but traditional folkloric, tribal dancing. Around this time I also became engrossed in the macabre, which tends to romanticize anachronism.

As I became more aware of art through art history, my exposure widened. I was lucky enough to study abroad in Europe, surrounded by old cathedrals and artwork that I had only seen through books and slides.

James was a huge history buff who had a deep reverence for upholding cultures and instilled the importance and pride that I have for my heritage. Of course the soft spot I will always have for tartans and all things Scottish comes from James (and what darkly alternative teenager hasn’t worn plaid skirts with heavy boots?). He was deeply involved in Clan Farquharson, his Scottish family clan, and would take me to highland games.

There is something extremely beautiful and idiosyncratic about the cultures and histories that I draw from that I want to keep them thriving, even though it may just be from a small outlet of my work. As much as globalization is a good thing, cultures, histories and languages get lost in the fold. I find that current cultures have a tendency to exalt the mediocre and I strive to go against that through my choice of influences, execution and materials.

You also use a great deal of recast and original metal vintage elements in your pieces. How do you go about collecting them?

As previously mentioned, I started my collection when I began dancing and going to local festivals. Southern California is by far the most diverse when it comes to showcasing different cultures represented at the Middle Eastern dance festivals. Ebay has also been a great resource for buying in bulk and most recently Etsy. I aim to only use the best of materials. Sometimes I have been able to find some beauties at pow wows, local boutiques and thrift stores.

Are there any materials you haven’t worked with yet and look forward to exploring?

There are a few. As basic as it sounds I would like to start using stones. Enameling has always been appealing to me as well as porcelain. I have a love/hate relationship with porcelain with what little I have dabbled with. One day I will conquer the beast!

What are some of the challenges you run into as a high-end jewelry designer in the age of disposable accessories?

I am very happy and appreciative of the good reception that my work receives but of course I get people complaining that it is too expensive. I am a strong advocate of long lasting, quality products. I still go to the local cobbler to get my boots resoled and the zippers replaced. I am by no means wealthy, but I am willing to spend more money on something that is well made.

It can be a bummer at times when you realize that there is a collective lack of consciousness when it comes to appreciating the arts and what actually goes into MAKING something by hand. Society takes for granted that the cars we drive, the homes we live in, the clothes we wear are all designed by artists. Without these creators, we would still live in caves and wear rags. However, my strong convictions of aesthetic values, quality work and presenting something that is well made to the public far outweighs making work that is disposable and cheap. Some of my pieces are so elaborate that it breeches the line of simply being jewelry into being an art piece, thus the high, luxury price. There is always an audience for something, I just need to focus on tapping into that.

I do have several pieces made out of pewter so my work can reach a wider audience and I try to take this into account when I design new work. Sometimes this is difficult since I naturally lean towards the extravagant and opulent.

What do you see in the future of Miyu Decay? Do you have any plans to delve into costuming?

Right now it is a part time business but of course, like any fellow artist, it would be amazing to have it as a sustainable full time job. It has only been about a year since I launched it so there is only more to come. I do still make my own costuming for dancing so it would be wonderful to attack that as well. I have my hand in so many different creative outlets, that it can be a simultaneous blessing and curse. I have recently started making artwork again after a long hiatus but it is exciting to be back in the full swing of creativity. Hopefully I will get to show the new drawings this year.

Words and photos by Zoetica Ebb (@Zoetica)