If Destinations were Dresses: Charleston, South Carolina

The next installment of; "If Destinations were Dresses" features the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina. I've never been, but I know I'd love it. It's the perfect mix of southern sophistication and coastal charm, it's definitely on my must-visit list. Obviously there is tons more to the style there, but these looks seem to embody the feel of the city!
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I love the polished but laid back style of Charlestonians whether they're wearing sparkly sandals or a statement necklace, they're always dressed to a T!-- Images via Charleston Mag.
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One of my favorite bloggers, Lauren, of Pamlemousse is a Charleston resident & her images of the city are so gorgeous!
Which city embodies your style?
xoxo, lauren

Natural Beauty

Kelly Wearstler launched a fashion collection as enviable as her interior designs. It perfectly matches her bohemian aesthetic and personal style. I love the updated tie-dyes, earthy elements, and completely wearable looks.
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Are you a fan of Kelly Wearstlers polished boho chic design aesthetic?
xoxo, lauren

What's Happening on July 29th? Sample Sales!

Fashionistas near and far convene every last Friday of the month at the sample sales in the L.A. Fashion District. Here's a listing of just some of the sample sale fliers we've seen posted this week. But please note that there are dozens of other sample sales that have fliers on the show floors the day of, so get here early (wear comfy shoes) and shop around! Make sure to make the Gerry Building part of your trip too.


110 E. 9th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90079

ARKA
Suite C440

 
 
Suite A398
 
Jesslyn Blake
 Suite A1094

Kensie
Suite B388

Zirconmania
Suite A1090



860 S. Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014





Showroom Seven
Liebeskind Berlin
Australia Luxe Collective
Odd Molly
Charolotte Ronson
Issa
860 S. Los Angeles Street, Mezz #3, Los Angeles, CA 90014
**accept credit cards





The Bank - LobbyHATCh/213.532.8818
Suite 203Calvin Klein/213.488.0975
Suite 400Niche Showroom/213.955.8088
Suite 401Studio Two/213.622.6106
Suite 402Diane Levin Sales/213.623.2239
Suite 404Kane & Unke: Kaun - Men's/818.968.7161
Suite 406La Rue Sales/213.622.1514
Suite 408Tarina Tarantino/213.629.8080
Suite 505Jackie B/213.239.9109
Suite 506Renee Collection/213.243.5856
Suite 507Nautica, Nautica Jeans, Southpole/213.624.1123
Suite 511Tommy Bahama/213.892.8688
Suite 601Mod-O-Doc, Yarns/213.236.0983
Suite 603Silver Jeans & 1921/213.439.0900
Suite 604Hard Tail/213.627.4666
Suite 701White + Warren, City Lights, Mic & Trina Jewelry/213.622.4678
Suite 704KLA Showroom/213.622.7447
Suite 709Hale Bob/213.683.1591
Suite 715Dial M/213.627.9811
Suite 802Michelle Roy Designs/213.623.7266
Suite 806Deca, Neesh/213.489.4960
Suite 901Work in Progress/213.627.8851
Suite 903Joe's Jeans, Da-Nang and Da-Nang Kids/213.489.5998
Suite 906Orion/213.627.4413
Suite 907Nine O Seven/213.627.8039
Suite 1001Focus Showroom/213.614.0964
Suite 1007Barbara James/213.624.9021
Suite 1008Frankie B, Doma Leather/213.629.2493
Suite 1009It's All About the Girls/213.624.9715
Suite 1010Stacy Keyes Showroom/213.488.9990
Suite 1100Miss Me/213.623.2750
Suite 1103Michael Stars, G1/213.622.8293
Suite 1104Pulse Showroom - Crash & Burn, Red Engine/ 213.623.4781
Suite 1107Chan Luu/213.624.0856
Suite 1108Isabella Fiore & Carlos Falchi/213.629.1956
Suite 1202CMT, Urban Behavior, Costa Blanca/213.623.4544
Suite 1203Agent Icon Showroom/213.489.4789
Suite 1207Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Elie Tahari, Guess, Sean John, Jessica Simpson/213.896.0006
Suite 1210DEPT, JC Rags/213.488.2994

If Dresses Were Destinations: Miami Beach, FL

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I wanted to start a new installment at LPF combining two my favorite things; travel and fashion. I bring to you; "If Dresses were Destinations", featuring looks that embody the feel of the featured city. The first post features Miami Beach; one of the most vibrant and stylish cities in Florida; they have a way of staying stylish during steamy summer months.
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I've attended Miami Fashion Week & traveled there in the past, and can never get over how the women there just ooze sex appeal and femininity. No one's afraid to experiment w/ trends and wear bright prints and colors. These were some of my favorite Miami street style inspirations:

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paper mag
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miami fashion blog
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miami fashion blog-- LOVE her hair feathers
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erika thomas
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miami fashion blog
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miami fashion blog
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yvan rodic

Miami Fashion Blog is a great resource for all things happening on the Miami fashion scene; gorgeous pictures, runway coverage, and local spotlights!

What city would you like to see featured next?

xoxo, lauren

The Factory Tour Hosted by Fashion Business Incorporated

Jennifer Evans, The Evans Group CEO, in her unrestricted work space in Downtown LA's Arts District

The Fashion Business Incorporated hosted the Factory Tour on Monday, July 25, 2011 to give an inside look at how designs are made through the development and production process. The tour took place at a fashion development and production house in Downtown’s Art District called The Factory by The Evans Group, which also operates one in San Francisco. Jennifer Evans, CEO of The Evans Group, believes in preserving domestic work, fair pay and social consciousness. As a result, Evans hires highly skilled workers – many of whom had lost their jobs as labor-intensive work was sourced overseas. The company caters to independent and emerging designers specializing in high-end designs. The Evans Group’s services range from making patterns and samples for the runway and showroom to filling small production orders without minimums.

The tour group at The Factory in Downtown LA's Arts District

During the tour, Jennifer described how her company develops and produces an idea into reality. First, she said, is the development process. At this time, Jennifer and her team of 30 employees work closely with the designer to make sure that the right ideas are communicated across the board. The designer is required to provide images of the final pieces, swatches, flat sketches and trims. Though many apparel manufacturers are looking to move their production overseas, The Evans Group is taking advantage of the need for local production. And this poses an advantage for those designers who are getting their clothing developed locally.

Pattern Maker, Gery Petrov, working at The Factory
 
“The benefits of domestic made is that the designer can pop over and work out kinks in the development process so that nothing is lost in translation,” said Jennifer. “There’s direct communication.”

Moreover, what’s interesting is that the made in the USA trend is not just in the US alone. Consumers abroad, such as in China and Japan, are hungry for “made in the USA” items too. One of The Factory’s clients is UnionMade, a Japanese brand that is actually making their collection in Los Angeles and then shipping them back to Japan to sell. Consumers there want and look for the "made in the USA" label.

“People abroad want items that are made in American because of the attention we put in our craftsmanship,” Jennifer further stated. 
The next part is to give all of the materials and fabric to the pattern maker. Then, a fitting with a fit model is scheduled and the team can move into production.
In production, the team of highly-skilled craftsmen checks for quality, accuracy and trimming. Finally, the items are pressed and packaged either on hangers, folded or put in poly bags.

The entire process can take up to 4-6 weeks, depending on the collection volume. Orders can be only one piece to as many as 300 pieces per style. Additionally, given the variation of size and timing, the sewers at The Evans Group are specialized in specific textiles for efficiency and ensures that they finish the production on time.

And because each piece takes up a lot of time, Jennifer encourages people to appreciate the craftmanship and attention that went into making the pieces.

"A simple men's blazer, for example, can have up to 40 different patterns and it takes a team to put them all together," Jennifer concludes.




The Evans Group also offers a full-service package for start-up companies to launch their clothing line. Check out their Launch Programs page for development packages and pricing.

The Evans Group
877-531-5225
http://www.evansgroupinternational.com/

Venezuelan Wrap & "Fashionable" Hour at Pattern Bar

Ave Latina, a traditional Venezuelan gluten-lactose free corn wrap - chicken, avocado, cilantro ($7)
Just pick it up and BITE! And wash it down with a Konig Pilsner ($6)
The menu

An open walkway that lets in the cool LA breeze and creates a New York-like ambiance

Pattern Bar has opened in the LA Fashion District! Co-owners Alejandro Meza and Eduardo Castillo (pictured above from L-R) have set up shop on 9th & Main Streets with a full-service bar, Spanish-inspired dishes and good vibes. Appropriately named, Pattern Bar also serves up signature cocktail drinks that give homage to haute fashion houses like The Dior (Belvedere Vodka with a hint of orange bitters), The Chanel (Chinaco Reposado with fresh cilantro) and The McQueen (Hendricks Gin and passion fruit).

We are excited to have a new addition in our neighborhood and an evening spot that our visitors and locals will enjoy!

When to check them out:
Lunch 11-6pm
"Fashionable" Happy Hour 4-6p (everything is 15% off)
Tapas 6p-close

Hours:
Sunday - Thursday 11a-midnight
Friday/Saturday 11a-2am

Pattern Bar
100 West 9th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Small Town Summer Snapshots

I've been living in small town Wisconsin since February, it's such a change of pace from big city Florida living. It's definitely made me appreciate the little things that make summer so fun; spontaneous road trips, grilling out, floating around the lakes & campfires. 
These are a few of my favorite snapshots of summer:
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Tubing down the river
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Local weekend festivals
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Picking fresh flowers out of my garden
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Cheese curds; a tasty Wisconsin tradition!
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Trips to local wineries
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Grilling out & making s'mores
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Motorcycle rides through back roads on my friend's Harley
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the World's largest Farmer's Market in Madison
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Campfires & enjoying the great outdoors
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Pub Crawling through Milwaukee's breweries
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Burger nights @ small town restaurants


I've adjusted well to my new life, I'm thankful for Midwestern hospitality and the opportunity to experience my local surroundings at their best. My FL friends & fam know I miss them tons, but I can't wait to show visitors around my new home!

xoxo, lauren