MOI XOXO

Everywhere, it seems that everyone is going on a safari every month. Animal prints are not only in, they are sophisticated and wonderful to work with. The stereotype against animal prints, are that they lack something in the way of professionalism. I embrace them as these prints are very accessible for anyone wanting to add them to their home decor or wardrobe. The fact of the matter is, these terrific prints are really neutrals in disguise! I wouldn’t use them on an entire wall or dress head to toe, but the tones are generally workable with many other colors such as black, white, tan, red, burgundy, and green. Dramatic, yet tasteful. Another striking use of these prints is in a bedroom. Here you can go a bit wilder with duvet covers, and pillows. Lots of tan and black will give this look a feel of exotic places. Since animal designs have been used in almost every culture at some point in time, the look is old, yet new. Traditional decor can use these touches, as well as contemporary, country, ethnic, you name it! Think of how well the tones go with wood, bamboo, brass, gold, and leather. Even floral prints can look well with an animal print if the colors blend. This decor is not for the faint of heart. The flip side of this is that you can EXPRESS your wilder side with a few touches. Maybe you will decide you are not as timid as you thought! This animal stuff grows on you! Try some prints in small doses and get use to the drama!

Moi xoxo

It’s almost July and time for Moi to make her annual trip back to Los Angeles for some heavy duty shopping. Even though its 90 degrees outside, the department stores and boutiques are having their trunk shows to welcome in the Fall merchandise. Where Spring offered bright colors straight out of a crayon box with bold prints, Fall delivered the opposite returning back to the simple life with clean and classic cuts of neutral and dark colors. I will hit Fred Segal on Melrose and Kitson on Robertson for quirky one of a kind tees and killer deals on jeans but the one trunk show I am excited to attend this year is Kin. I discovered this hip boutique while waiting for my dinner at the Poquito Mas in the same mini-complex. The owners run a terrific operation and stock a great mix of niche and well-known labels for men and women. There’s the ubiquitous pricey denim, but also some very unique t-shirts, sweater shirts, and jackets. But merchandise aside, what really makes this place special is the attention you get from the owners. It’s like having a personal shopper and stylist. They know their merchandise so well, and help you put it all together. You don’t get service like that in LA, particularly at a hip Hollywood boutique (where the attitude of the staff is often too-cool-for-school). BTW, they’re open late and on Sunset Blvd! Perfect for the drink urge I will get later at night from all that shopping~

Moi xoxo

My mother and grandma were in mutual agreement by saying that when I was born I entered the world screaming “Birkin please!” I didn’t understand what that meant until I would peak around the corner and wondered what grandma was stuffing in that bright lime green purse. She was stuffing what I would remember as her *40* and I was not allowed to touch it. For those of you not familiar with the *40*, here is Katie Holmes with hers. My grandma has past on and now my mother is the owner of that *40* or what my dad had called it, same color as baby puke. Until it is past on to me, I am trying to get my own hands on the *32* since its much smaller and practical for everyday. As a gift to myself that doesn’t include a three year waiting list and a $6k to start price tag, I pull out my Bringing Home The Birkin! book. What a delightful treat to read Michael Tonello’s quest in the pursuit of the world’s hottest bag! I was giggling over his world tour that took him from Barcelona to Madrid to Brazil and back to the US in what he quotes, ” A fashionista has a better chance of climbing Mount Everest in Prada pumps, than of possessing one of these coveted carryalls!” If your a fashion die-hard, and many others, you will be delighted from beginning to end!

Traveling around the world for a purse is not on my agenda when I can wait until my mother hands down the lime green classic. It’s personally not my color of choice, but I will work it!

Moi xoxo

There are a TON of carry your groceries and farmer’s market veggie bags on the market now. Going Green is the THANG! I multi task as much as possible so finding a shopping / travel tote that doesn’t advertise where I purchased it is high on my list. Before you pick your next summer tote consider getting the Feed Bag, a stylish but sturdy tote bag designed by Lauren Bush, the UN World Food Program’s Honorary Spokesperson. Here is a new way of helping feed poor school children around the world while creating greater awareness of global hunger. Purchasing the bag which is expensive compared to the $3.00 verson at Trader Joe’s or the $7.00 verson at Whole Foods, but The Feed Bag will feed a child at school for an entire academic year. Turns out Lauren Bush a Princeton grad, model, and award-winning vegetarian (who knew famousveggies.com gave out awards?) is more than a sometime handbag designer with an (in)famous uncle. Bravo Lauren!

Moi xoxo

For those bored with terry cloth and less than glamourous beach proof fabrics, Savannah based designer Stephanie Lindley created James Gunn. This is a line of stylish but functional ultra suede accessories and clothing named after her thirteen-year-old son. The soft, luxurious fashions are stain resistant and machine washable, ideal for withstanding spilled ice cream and sunblock which is what I experience when my son and I relax by the sea. Other seaside necessaities such as shoulder bags for $110, beach towels with ultra sude trim for $140, sandals for $62, and cotton hats for $56, come in ten colors such as azune, espressso, and cantaloupe. Lindley’s collections for men, children, babies, and the home line make it easy to color-coordinate with my family beach trips!

Moi xoxo

Americans have been wearing the German brand Hugo Boss for more than 100 years. As one of the most beloved brands in Europe it is experiencing tremendous growth in the states. Hugo Boss clothing stores are found in major shopping centers within the United States but what some people don’t know is their intimate wear is unisex for gender equality! So whether your a business professional male to a stud butch woman, Hugo Boss will offer quality underwear, casual tees, and socks in comfortable cuts and simple styles for easy integration into your lifestyle. Their exclusive use of German cotton blends give Hugo Boss garments the smooth shaping and breathable comfort that’s perfect for year round wear. I find the best deals on Hugo Boss undergarments at Macy’s and if you have the patience to sift through bins, you will find past season styles at your local Marshall’s.

Moi xoxo

You asked and I said yes! Here is a peak inside of my black and white purse, which matches every M-F wardrobe!

Inside of my Candies Quilted Dome purse, I tote a lot of everyday essentials—like a bold yellow Bottega Veneta wallet, Eclipse gum, Miss Sixty shades, and a good book, in this case Burr a historical novel by Gore Vidal. I try not to waste time reading trash at the office. I saw a documentary on the author and picked this up. If I do want to escape from reality, I snatch my US Weekly.

Buried deep inside is:

• hotel notepad for jotting ideas
• change for coffee
• clear cosmetic purse so I can find my stash easy
• digital camera
• eye cream
• match cars for bribing my son
• business card holder
• chocolate sunflower seeds from baby sis
• hand creme ~ yes Lumene!
• treo
• louis vuitton covered checkbook
• amore pacific face spray
• tiny pen flashlight
• tampons
• qtips
• tissue

Last but not least, I can’t leave home without my coveted lip glosses. My lips are always chapped probably from all my yapping so I’m addicted to lip balms and glosses. I have about six in my bag usually from Chanel in similar colors. I just reach in and grab one!
Whew! I’m tired from just listing all of that!

Moi xoxo

I am mad crazy for Italian designer Nolita’s new Spring collection! I first discovered her fashions during Milan Fashion week last year. Her collection retains an avant garde, Vivienne Westwood vibe! Nolita’s target niche is the feminine & cultured woman who mixes together pieces from various philosophies. The strength of her collections is its incoherence and open-mindedness in combining garments that completely differ from each other but in reality, are wisely compatible with a thrown-together look as in “my closet is full of fabulous clothing so I can just grab the first thing I see and I’ll look smokin’.”

Sneek Peek >

Moi xoxo

I favor the color black with punchy colors and offbeat combinations in work and my personal wardrobe. I love the unexpected: incorporating color with neutrals, mixing periods and having fun with style. Even in my home, my interiors are sophisticated, but there is a sense of humor to them. Being creative is my job, and looking good and feeling good is an important part to it. Living in Orange County, CA in a city run rampant with Juicy Couture sweat suits, flip-flops, and Los Scandalous (L.A.) as its neighbor, I like to set myself apart by favoring more electric and playful designers like Anna Molinari. L.A. has such a relaxed vibe, but I like to dress up the majority of the time.

I have been receiving a lot of personal email, especially the ones asking for tips and advice of my own style, not just on the people I like to write about! I weeded through a few and here are my responses:

How would you describe your style? An electric mix of vintage, modern, and designer. It’s different every day and I don’t believe in uniforms. Sometimes I am dressy, sometimes casual.

Who is your fashion icon? This is easy, Jane Birkin! I admire her style and direction. She saw the beauty in everything around her. I liked that she was a major risk taker and you cannot move beyond a certain point if you don’t take risks.

Beauty Essential? Eye cream. I have applied it three times a day since high school graduation. I carry the sample size tubes in my purse and re apply just a dab after lunch. Otherwise for day I use Estee Lauder’s Daywear because it has SPF and Kiehls Abyssine for night. It must be the texture but I reach for Kiehls on a regular basis.

Crystal in my cabinet? I don’t use that word as it reminds me too much of my mom’s formal hutch as a child. I prefer the colorful patterns and designs of Versace china and it’s fine to use it for everyday use. Why only use china for special occasions?

Favorite Fashion Haunts? Buffalo Exchange in Costa Mesa, Darewear in Huntington Beach, and Fred Segal in L.A.

Most Recent Purchase? Bottega knot keyring and Burt Bees lipbalm

Worn to Shreds? Marc Jacobs two tone heels

Signature Scent? Frangipane by Chantecaille

Affordable Fashion Thrill? Urban Outfitters and Target

Spring Shopping List

• Michael Kors jeans
• White Bottega hobo purse
• Holly Dunlap mules
• White and Orange canvas tote for my many trips to Palm Springs
• Nars lipgloss in Dolce Vita

Moi xoxo

The best diaper bags must hold to two very important standards. First, the bag should be practical and set up for easy access. Second - and so important - it’s got to look cool and stylish. I never wanted to walk around with a bag that screams “baby slave”! Forget the fact that I was a slave to my child (to some extent at least) but I wasn’t going to advertise it. With a stylish diaper bag, you can at least pretend to be both an independent and lovely woman (or man) who can have it all - a great baby and a stylish look. My baby is no longer a baby, but that’s not going to stop me from purchasing Stella McCartney’s Mum line from LeSportsac. Stella has three kids of her own all under the age of 5 so she knows a thing or two about designing bags with the essentials in mind. Plus her past gigs were design director for both Chloe and Gucci … HOLLA! Her must have items include a spacious interior, insulated pockets, matching accessory pouch, and a fold out changing pad to keep us organized. She created a 17-piece line that runs from makeup cases to 26-inch suitcases to diaper bags. The whole collection, including the Mum, is made from 100 percent-recycled materials. This holds true to both McCartney’s ethics (she’s an animal-rights activist & strict vegan) and to LeSportsac’s tradition of soft, durable nylon. The collection also has a little something for the little ones: a bunny-shaped knapsack and a small carry-on wheelie.

This is soo tempting me to have another one!

Moi xoxo