Hello leather pants, it's been awhile.

There was a time when I had many leather pants in my wardrobe.  Remember when Earl Jeans came out with their first pair?  I think I had them in burgundy, forest green and black.   I loved the way they made me feel so tough and cool.  The fellas seemed to approve of them as well if you know what I mean.  So my closet had been stripped bare of leather pants over the years until recently when my sweet friend gave me a pair of J Brand leather skinnies.  Now these beauties have been sitting in my closet for six months until the other day when I whipped them out for a birthday luncheon.  I'm officially obsessed with them now.

 Leather pants: J Brand, Tank Top: Enzo Costa, Top: Zara

 Shoes: Chanel

Blazer: Stella McCartney for Gap Kids, Sunnies: Chloe, Bag: Givenchy

Look sharp play guitars!

Because I'm such a fashion pig people often ask what's my favorite accessory. Or  maybe that's never really happened and I just want to tell you because I'm high on coffee right now. If you know me or my ridiculous style you know I like scarves, rings, watches, fingerless gloves, hats and sunglasses. Let's face it I'm a fucking ponce, and I'm ok with that. But but my favorite all time accessory is a guitar. Every time I put on any outfit I go pick up my favorite guitar of the moment (Currently a metallic black Schecter Ultra III Special Edition) to see if it works. If It doesn't I change. Yes I just admitted that. I want to always look like I'm in a band and about to go on stage to play music. Guitars in fact dictate my style not the other way around. If I'm wearing one I'm winning. My life is in order. And what that guitar looks like matters. Guitar purists will blanch at that statement I'm certain. But in order for me to really love something I have to love the way it looks. Sorry that's me. Oh and by the way they make sexy guitars that play amazing. Look no further than the Gretsch White Falcon.  Part of being in our band and getting our music across to people is to also to present to them with style ideology that is cohesive with the music we are making. Recently USA Mike Eisenstein the better half of the Reigning Monarchs and I we offered a guitar sponsorship by our chums at Schecter Guitar Research. They are a brand mostly associated with the metal world but have recently been making really cool, vibey, retro, hot rod, vintage inspired guitars. They thought given the Monarchs' cool, vibey, retro, hot rod sound that we might be interested in playing their gear. In our meeting with them Mike who really is the tone purist pointed out that the look would have to work as well as the sound. The tiny rep our band already has is one of looking sharp while playing guitars. While neither Mike and I have youth on our side style is available to everyone. If you have the option to make a cool choice then make one.  I play better when I look better it's just a fact and If I play well? Well then I'm exactly where I want to be. Looking sharp and playing guitars! Oh yeah...and always outdress the ENEMY!

The Discipline of Dress: Dressing For The Home

It's fair to say I take dressing very seriously. I genuinely leave the house every day with the intention of outdressing the enemy. But until recently I've been more than content to sit around the house in sweats or pjs all day. Until one day I noticed that Amiira never does that. And even when she does wear sweats or pjs they are cool looking and considered. Nothing she wears says "I failed today" And I realized part of the reason I have so much respect for her as a woman and a mother is that she has that much respect for herself. Because of what we do, or don't do, we are home a lot. Having just won a long battle with depression I decided it might behoove to to put the Amiira dressing for the house plan into effect. First I gave away all the clothes I have that are half ass: Shitty sweats, sad pjs and dirty ill fitting t-shirts all gone. Everything I own I love. Seriously. I have far fewer clothes but clothes that make me feel good every time I put them on. Then I decided no matter what I'm doing, even if I'm going to work out or just drive the kids to school I take a shower, shave, use my various skin care items and dress, all before rewarding myself with coffee. It sounds dumb, and fussy, but God damn it makes a difference. And the more days in a row you do it the more it begins to feel like any discipline you partake in that's meant to better your enjoyment of life. There's a certain pride that comes with looking the best you can every day. I can't tell you how much better I feel because of it. Its a way of letting yourself and the world know that you take this life shit seriously and thats why, even when you are home alone, you outdress the enemy!

No Doubt!

No Doubt is our family band.  It is the one band that my husband, my daughters and I all truly and enthusiastically love.  We love their records, we like what we know of the people in the band (and yes even our daughters know all the names of the band members,) we love their aesthetic and of course the divinity of Lady Gwen.  She's the coolest.  As the mother of two young girls I can only tell you that I am grateful that a person like her exists.  In this time of reality television and tabloids it's a blessing to have a woman who exudes glamour, confidence, ambition and family values.  She doesn't seek tabloid attention and you NEVER see her stumbling out of a limo drunk, creating the opportunity for "up skirt" shots or nipple slips.  She's a class act.  Her beauty and sexuality illustrates her strength in addition to her femininity.  Her attention to her family shows her priorities are in the right order.  The quality of her work - everything from L.A.M.B. to her music - is outstanding.  It all matters greatly to her and she excels in a way that makes her seem accessible not untouchable.  Our family was lucky enough to go to the No Doubt concert this week at The Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles and I'll tell you that they were INCREDIBLE.  This band knows how to put on a great show.  They don't play hide and seek with their hits - they give them to you - along with the best of their new record.    Gwen is generous with her attention to the fans, always reading their signs, inviting people up for photos, acknowledging that the relationship between No Doubt and their fans goes both ways.  It's lovely how much time out of the show she takes to connect with fans.  But it would be a crime to overlook the visual aspect of the show.  Longtime collaborator Sophie Muller creates an incredible visual experience to elevate the live show even more.  Then there's the fashion...

                       LOVE IT MORE THAN WORDS EXPLAIN

IT"S ALL HAPPENING.

BEYOND.

Black Tie Affair

Our sweet friend was honored this past week with a huge award from the American Cinematheque and he and his amazing (and gorgeous) wife asked us to join them at their table for the event.  The invitation stressed "Black Tie Preferred" so that meant a quick trip to retail heaven to find something just right.  Now just right means something different to everyone.  To us it means something that makes you feel great but isn't too pricey since how often do you need Black Tie wear?  Unless you're life is an endless series of red carpets, which ours definitely IS NOT!  I found this great dress at All Saints that I managed to raise to the black tie level with accessories and a cool braided "Up Do".  Wearing your hair up in an actual style that seems to take effort always elevates what you're wearing a notch.  I'll end up getting a lot of wear out of this dress because it's so architectural and unique.  Here's the end result

Check out the cool carpet in the ladies room at the Beverly Hilton.

Dress by All Saints, Shoes by L.A.M.B., Blazer by Elizabeth and James.

This medallion was my grandmother's.  It's one of my favorite pieces.

Here you can also see the color story of the dress. AMAZING!

Punk rock clutch from a little boutique nearby.

Me and my handsome date in his new suit.

Boots & Sweaters

There's nothing like the first rain of fall.  It strikes me as hard as a little girl waking up on Christmas morning.  Living in Los Angeles, our fall doesn't really start until well into November as the Indian Summer kicks our ass all through October.  But yesterday it RAINED!!! Not a little mist but actual turn your windshield wipers on RAIN!  When my scheduled meeting was moved and I had a big open block of time unexpectedly I decided to break out my sweaters and boots.  I cannot tell you how much I love sweaters and boots.   Having grown up on the east coast and lived there again in my twenties I have big gooey love for thunderstorms, snow days and weather related excuses to curl up in front of a fireplace with a good book and a cup of tea.  We get NONE OF THOSE in L.A.  So I have to make do with the west coast falls and winters and make the most of the few months I get to wear my giant knits and knee high boots.  Every year I lust after oversized sweaters, military or architectural coats and boots, boots, boots!  But the truth of the matter is that I share my closet with my husband who also loves clothes so I only have so much space for my beloved winter wear.   It's quite possible that I won't buy anything new in the winter wear category simply because I'm at the point where I'd have to make room for something new by getting rid of something I already have and probably love.  That being said, when I unpack my boots and sweaters I fall in love all over again and they seem like new indulgences simply because they've been out of sight, out of mind for so long.  So here's a few of the newly unpacked loves of my winter life.  I'll start with boots today - note that all but one pair of boots are more than one year old.  In fact, many are at least five years old and I haven't even unpacked my stash from my NY days in the '90s.  Talk about vintage! (Wink!)   Sweaters, coats and accessories to follow!

Sweet sweet Alexander McQueen & Givenchy

Costume National & Chloe

Isabel Marant, Barneys Coop & Vivienne Westwood

Fiorentini & Baker on the ends and Bess in the middle

Prada and Balenciaga

Me in A SWEATER and beloved Sartore navy riding BOOTS!

The back of said boots.

Gothy McGotherstein

Not sure what my subconscious is trying to tell me but it seems like I've been drawn to darkness as of late.  Great news is it's only 108 degrees here so the sweat trickling down my temples is super foxy.  Seems like every time I'm getting dressed I pass over my summer wardrobe and try to see what I can make work in this heat without looking too ridiculous for the beautiful but boiling Los Angeles weather.  Looking forward to boots and sweaters...in November.  Until then I'll be wrestling my Indian summer looks into my autumn state of mind. Isn't it funny when your feelings are in direct contrast to where you actually are?  Does that mean I'm in the wrong place or just impatient for change?  What do you think?

couldn't decide between this...

or this.

So I went with this.

Just kidding.