SpyGirl Watches: L.A. Frock Stars

I have been invited to preview: 
L.A. FROCK STARS on the Smithsonian Channel 
PREMIERING THURSDAY, MARCH 19 AT 9PM ET/PT

Sophomore Season Once Again Features Vintage Fashion Guru
Doris Raymond and Her Hollywood Boutique The Way We Wore®
Smithsonian Channel will premiere the second season of its critically-acclaimed original series L.A. FROCK STARS, which follows the doyenne of Hollywood vintage, Doris Raymond, and her Los Angeles shop The Way We Wore®, on Thursday, MARCH 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The new season will be comprised of six hour-long episodes. Among those who stop by The Way We Wore during the season are burlesque artist Dita von Teese, designer Jeremy Scott, actress Debi Mazar, actress Kirsten Vangsness, top Hollywood stylist Jen Rade, American Horror Storycostume designer Lou Eyrich, stylist to the stars Seth Chernoff and Academy® Award-winning costume designer Mark Bridges.

In a series US Weekly called “a feast for the fashion lover’s eye,” and the New York Times said was both “refreshing” and “engaging,” L.A. FROCK STARS features Raymond and her colorful staff assisting an endless stream of clients, from celebrity stylists to top fashion designers, all searching relevant pieces of vintage fashions from the past. Raymond is prized for her tenacity in finding hidden gems and for her encyclopedic knowledge of designer fashion. Back for season two are store manager and vintage virtuoso Sarah Bergman, and sales associate Shelly Lyn, who is close to launching her The Way We Wore inspired jewelry line. A new face this season is assistant store manager Angelika Sjostrom, a recent vintage convert, whose intelligence, enthusiasm and cheerful disposition have made her an invaluable asset to the store.

Raymond, an expert in the history of vintage clothing, has been buying and selling vintage clothing for over thirty years. Her boutique sells women’s fashions from the 1900’s to the ‘80’s, ranging from high profile designers to the world's most iconic fashion figures such as Versace, Chanel, Halston, Dior and more. Over the years, Raymond has also supplied wardrobe for numerous film and television productions, including Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire and American Hustle.

[most of the text above is from the Smithsonian Press Release]

Stay tuned for episode recaps and some Digital Catwalk action, Fridays after each episode airs.
Meanwhile, I want to brush up on Season One, which I somehow missed.

Here's Doris! (just her head -- can't reveal the whole sketch until March 20!) 

See interviews with the store staff and more on Smithsonian.com

SpyGirl Watches the Oscars

CREATED/
I drew 22 quick sketches while watching the televised Oscars' Red Carpet and the Oscars Ceremony.
Along with the TV, I was simultaneously streaming ABC's OTRC on my laptop, fact checking on Twitter,
and Instagramming from my phone. A social media three ring circus!

Here are thumbnails, in rough form:

[click on image to see bigger]

Will I ever get them colored up? Time will tell.
I think my top favorite looks were Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein and Zoe Saldana in Versace.
Which one(s) did you like?

52 Pick-me-up: Magnolia

GIFTED/ 

A flower-themed week again! This time, the Magnolia.

photo by Irene Grassi on Flickr 

Magnolias can be found in a range of colors, pinks through whites:

photo by liz west on Flickr 

Our street has white ones like this:

photo by omk_489 on Flickr 

Instead of wearing something pink and white, I'm going with some Magnolia branding!

THIS Magnolia!

Yes, I sketched a Magnolia cupcake on a box lid!
This is the same Magnolia made famous in Sex and the City.
The vanilla/vanilla are my favorites!
Mmmmmm. Now I crave one.

Severo gave me all these garments. I'm wearing the tee back-to-front so you can see the Magnolia in the graphic.

Hey! It's a Visible week! I'll be there, later today.

Feeling flowery? Link and tell!

Art Crawl: The Writing is on the Walls

I'm still digesting my 5 days at the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair.
Art Fairs have become an interesting feature in the landscape of the art world. (I mean the high end kind, not outdoor weekend ones in EZ-up tents). I've only been to a couple here in Southern California, to me they seem a combination of spectacle and trade show (perhaps very much like Fashion Week!)
Art Fair Art has become its own genre -- showy large pieces that capture the eye and generate buzz.

Here are a few pieces that tickled my fancy and involved the written word
(it being Maricel's Thoughtful Third Thursday and all):

Donna Rosenthal, She Said She'd Love Me More Than Shoes (detail),
Vintage paper and gel medium, 26 × 16 × 10 in, 2014
courtesy Jean Albano Gallery (see more)

Rachel Lee Hovnanian, BTWITIAILWY, Acronym neon sign,
courtesy Imago Gallery, (see more)

Rachel Lee Hovnanian, FINE, Acronym neon sign, 
courtesy Imago Gallery, (see more)

ADAM MARS, True Love Waits and We're Impatient, 2013
Acrylic and spray paint on faux brick panel, 42.5 × 48 in
courtesy Gusford | Los Angeles (see more)

ADAM MARS, Typochondriac, 2012
Acrylic and spray paint on faux brick panel, 42.5 × 48 in
courtesy Gusford | Los Angeles (see more)

SpyCam. Desert Rat

52 Pick-me-up at the Movies

I didn't find these girls, they found me:

I believe they came from Planet Claire.

I did not see their Plymouth Satellite, perhaps it was in the offsite parking lot. 

They handed me this document: 

It lead me to this:

Beware of Pink, that is all I can say.

It's Movie Week on 52 Pick-me-up. Is there a movie inspiring you to mix things up in your closet?
Link and tell!

SpyCam. Palm Springs

52 Pick-me-up: I Heart...

CREATED/ PURLOINED/ 

Did you think this week is about Valentine's Day? I thought so, when I wrote up my list last December.
And maybe your link this week WILL be about V-Day, I have no problem with that.
Me, I'm is busy thinking up outfits for the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, which starts with a gala VIP opening reception on Thursday, Feb 12.

Here's last year's look, with a lady I love:* 

I'm taking these two tunics, but won't be wearing them together! #wardrobefail 

Don't you love Leslie's jacket? I'll be staying with her again. So excited.
*To read my last year's PSFAF report click here. 

I'm taking all my favorite rayon tunics (that I designed/sewed myself) and pairing them up with modal lounge pants (that I purloined from the sample box at work -- working at a loungewear company HAS its advantages at times).
It gets toasty in Palm Springs in February, last year I overlayered. Rayon and modal are both perfect for the daytime desert climate.

Four tunics, all in a row:

So, I have my tops and bottoms figured out, I have from now until Wednesday morning to figure out the embellishments -- scarves, socks, maybe some necklaces or arm parties. (Arm parties: are those passé now? Who cares!)

I'm not just going to Palm Springs to swan around in floaty tunics. I'll be working.
10 of us from TAG Gallery (plus one guest artist) pooled our resources to get the largest booth at the fair, #111.
My art will be on a flywall, and I'll have maximum visibility for this piece:

Commuter Quilt, photomontage printed on vinyl, 51 x 35" ©2008

I was cogitating getting this printed on yardage, 

to be a matchy matchy walking billboard, but didn't have time.
I need minions, I tell you!

Our invite card, which I designed:

Here are some informative fair links:

Individual FREE one-day pass, includes hours open, maps and other important info.

[Almost] all the work I'm taking, on Artsy (a cool "Facebook" for art aficionados)

Maybe I'll see you in Palm Springs?
If not, I'll be all visible at Patti's joint, Visible Monday, later today.

Got any things that you love to share with us? Old or new posts, link and tell!

TARDIS meets Marie

PURCHASED/ GIFTED/ 

Here are more blue items from my closet to comply with Maricel's TARDIS Tuesday link-up.

Having suffered from a hellish week of color matching output on a color laser printer (the activity that I loathe most at work), I opted yesterday for ultimate comfort in the footwear department. You see, we work upstairs, and the color printers are downstairs. I live in fear of tripping on the stairs and breaking some limb. Most of last week I wore my trusty White Mountain Mary Jane clogs that Leslie gave me (you know the ones -- I wear them almost every post). By Thursday, even they hurt my feet.
Today, in anticipation of more hell, I wore my old padded suede Purcells. Why did Converse discontinue making these?

note TARDIS Otis beverage transporter:
c/o Otis Alumni Association 

My feet were happy, I was happy.

Here's a closeup of the shirt:

I bought it #secondhandfirst from Foreign Affair in Providence, RI last April. I was mesmerized by the unusual weave.

Also of interest is my new little friend who appeared in the back yard on Sunday:

Look at those eyes! "Mom, can I keep her?"

I've already named her Sweet Marie (Antoinette). She needs a full checkup and flea bath at the vet before she can come inside. Oh, how I hope she sticks around!

52 Pick-me-up: Hat Trick

PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ GIFTED 

This week is all about hats. Judith, the Style Crone, hosts "Hat Attack" on the first of every month.
She asks us to "...display your hat, headwrap, headpiece, fascinator, hair flower, headband or other adornment for your head..." This time the linky parties shall align, despite the fact that Mercury is still in retrograde.

I'm featuring my collection of ribbon hats.
They are made in China, I think with leftovers from apparel manufacturers. I bought them all at the 99 Cent Depot in Culver City, for $1.99!

[Screen capture from my Tumblr]

Here's the first one that I bought:

The ribbon is printed with this: "get wrapped in the fabric of MIMCO...........for frolicking"
What does that mean?

I played "match the hat" with a tee and scarf:

And:

And:

And:

And:

This last look has further permutations yet to occur. When they happen, you'll be the first to know.

My personal ribbon hat stack:

That's a drawing by Cidney Hochman behind the hats, not that you can see it.

What's your hat trick? Link and tell!