Last Call For Treasures in Los Angeles

Don't be sad the holiday season is behind us, there is a good side to it too.  You can now finally get your hands on all of those sequins leggings, colored sweaters, suede boots and fur jackets like our favorites from Isabel Marant, that were just too pricey before. There is a reason why you love us, we are your best girlfriends that do the dirty work of browsing through the sale racks.  It is a game of scavenger hunt for us and a jack pot for you. Ladies, are you ready?  

Here is the breakdown of season's hottest items at the hottest prices around Los Angeles:

Satine Boutique: has a great 50-65% off mark-downs on Kaylee Tankus, Edun, Thakoon, Alexander Wang, Yigal Azrouel, and if you're lucky you might score Lanvin flats, Alaia boots, Balenciaga shoes at 60-75% off, although there are only few sizes left. 

Creatures of Comfort: is the destination for all bargain babes like us.  The biggest Isabel Marant inventory in town (therefore in the West Coast for sure), is now at 50%- 70% off.  Also great items from Alexandre Herchcovitch, Alexander Wang, Acne, MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela, Zero Maria Cornejo, Surface to Air.

Fred Segal: Since you're right there on Melrose and hopefully still have some money left, you have to check out Fred Segal sale before its all gone!!!  We will...

Not done yet?  Then you must be one of us. Congratulations!!!  You are officially a shopaholic and there is no cure for you...but wait we have got something for desert left for you, just because you're so patient...

Maxfield: The Holy Grail of shopping in LA, the Maxfield itself has a secret 60% off right now.  That Balmain embellished leather motocross jacket just over $10,000 might just wait for you at the sweet discounted price.

Should we add more?  For those of you who don't live in LA there is great chance to spot your favorites online:

www.satineboutique.com

www.shop.creaturesofcomfort.us

www.fredsegal.com

The VIP Art Fair- Just A Click Away

The VIP Art Fair founded by long-time successful art dealers, James and Jane Cohan. The online art fair is the first ever to take place exclusively online. The assembly is made of 139 of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries (Gagosian Gallery, L&M Arts, David Zwikner to name a few) from 30 countries in an unprecedented live event that goes in for one week only January 22-30, 2011.

International art dealers, collectors and enthusiasts are now able to browse works by wide range of renowned artists including Franz Ackermann, Francis Bacon, Urs Fischer, Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer, Sarah Lucas, Takashi Murakami (make sure to check out Dragon in Clouds – Red Mutation and Dragon in Clouds – Indigo Blue), and Jackson Pollock. The fair also introduces the most exciting emerging artists today. The vibrant presentation of artwork, enlivened with streaming video and dynamic zoom, along with the ability to connect one-on-one with dealers makes attending the fair from anywhere in the world a truly unique experience. The logic behind it is simple, like everything genius, the costs associated with an online art fair are dramatically lower than the costs associated with moving art, staff, travel and lodging expenses.... Therefore, galleries have to sell far less art to start raking in the profits. However, while the break-even point is much lower, there is a real concern as to whether the customer’s experience will ever be equal of that of attending an event like Miami Art Basel.

The art world is excited and anxious to find out if this art fair will create a serious addition to the industry heavyweights like those of traditional Art Shows and Art Basel in Miami and Switzerland. We don’t have the answer for you just yet, but we are rushing to our laptops to register for it. (Source www.vipartfair.com and www.huffingtonpost.com)

The VIP Art Fair is free to browse, but a registration is required and offers an interactive and enriched viewing for VIP ticket holders. This innovative art fair takes place at www.vipartfair.com

See you by the Jackson Pollock's painting in no time...

Perfect... by Ruth Hogben

Before taking her independent leap on first projects for Alexander McQueen and Topshop, Ruth Hogben shadowed the legendary photographer Nick Knight.  
“My main starting point is the clothes. Every single movement conveys a message, a feeling of who the woman is.  Every movement has to have an understanding of who is in it and that piece of clothing.  The reason I like fashion film is that fashion is immediate: I fall in love with fashion really quickly and I fall out of love really quickly... When you are working with anyone creative, it just becomes a conversation, which flows.  Working collaboratively is always very exciting because you get to see the world through someone else’s eyes.  I’ve worked with Gareth a number of times and his vision is very strong, so there’s not much room for interpretation.  On the other hand, he is so open and free for me to communicate that.  Working with McQueen, I thought Nick pushed but Lee is just out of this world!  I didn’t go to bed because I felt like I wanted to achieve making this really amazing film.” - The filmmaker herself
Here is another of her stylishly addicting creations.  This video was done for the French house of Celine. Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Collection. 

Givenchy- Fashion Classic

Givenchy pieces are a must-buy for fashion classics with its simplicity, elegance and glamour. Indulge in Givenchy's sophisticated designs, perfect for day or night, and easily dressed up or down for any occasion.  When mixing the classic black palate with white and leopard prints, designer Riccardo Tisci was inspired by Frida Kahlo's animal-filled paintings for this season's designs.

Highly creative fashion house introduces us to this season collection with this amazing video that is available at www.barneys.com.  This haute video was created by Ruth Hogben.   A filmmaker and director of fashion film at SHOWstudio.com, based in London, is changing the world of fashion commercials, as we know it, creating art and fashion collaborations at its purest.  We are big fans of Ruth and following her work very closely.

 This video works great with the Givenchy’s  designer Riccardo Tisci philosophy who once   said “My definition of beauty is something   between extremely ugly and extremely  fantastic”.

Spring 2011 just arrived and here our favorite items, and we cannot wait to try on..

Mademoiselle - Coco Chanel / Summer 62 by Karl Lagerlfeld and Douglas Kirland

These photos reveal the working fashion icon, showing Mademoiselle leaving her famous suite at the Ritz Hotel, in her apartment and studio at 31 rue Cambon, and watching a défilé from the famous mirrored staircase. 

Karl Lagerfeld has conceived and designed Mademoiselle, as well as written an introduction and captions to Kirkland’s photos. “Images left behind are in the end stronger than truth and facts. Through Kirkland’s images we can imagine what the famous Coco had been all about before she became the formidable Chanel.”- Karl Lagerfeld.  

Whenever we are in NYC, we always visit Westwood Gallery in SoHo.  

The gallery has a great collection of the Douglas Kirkland's photographs of Coco Chanel from 1962. Karl Lagerfeld created his book based on these archives photographs “Mademoiselle - Coco Chanel / Summer 62”.  

For a period of three weeks, Kikrland shadowed Coco Chanel, capturing her intense schedule and daily routine of models, fitters, clients and friends.  

The collection presents Douglas Kirkland’s   recently discovered images from an extraordinary archive that reveals Mademoiselle’s charisma and genius.

This time we don’t have to travel far to see our favorite art pieces, the Westwood Gallery is coming to LA ART SHOW...

www.laartshow.com

www.westwoodgallery.com

This particular exhibit carries a sort of romanticism and nostalgia ... its breathtaking

The 16th Annual Los Angeles Art Show returns...

We are SO excited about an upcoming LA ART SHOW. 

The 16^th Annual Los Angeles Art Show returns to 

WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center

WHEN: January 19-23, 2011.

We encourage you to join serious collectors and dedicated art enthusiasts in an exploration of painting, photography, sculpture and more from over 100 galleries worldwide.

The Los Angeles Art Show will also include a significant grouping of Chinese Galleries who have never shown works outside of China, providing an opportunity for visitors to see what’s really hot in Asian Art at the show from January 19-23, 2011.

The Opening Night Premiere Party, hosted by Kat Von D will help The Art of Elysium to expand its program, to bring arts to critically ill and hospitalized children, and increase substantially the number of school children who visit the Getty through the Getty Museum’s Education Department.

Here is detailed program:

• China Today Contemporary Art Program

• The Rising Tide Film: Shot in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen in the summer of 2006, this documentary, directed by Robert Adanto, explores China’s march toward the future through the works of some their most talented photographers and video artists.

• Lectures featuring artists Robert Williams & Tao Dong Dong

• Daily live street art with artist Andrew Hem

• Rarely or never seen works by the father of modern photojournalism, world famous photographer- HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON

• Feminist Art lectures featuring Cheri Gaulke, Meg Linton, Rachel Rosenthal & Linda Vallejo, moderated by Dr. Betty Brown with comments by Peter Frank

• Book signing by Bram Dijkstra

• The IFPDA Fine Print Fair

• Print-making Demonstrations

• Screening of the Academy Award Nominated Film.

Events such as these are one of the reasons we started our blog, so we can share with our audience amazing, intellectual and inspiring events that are happening.  We really hope you can make your way down to Los Angeles, and see what LA and the art world is buzzing about right now.

Q & A: Special Interview With The Solitary Man Jewelry Designer

One of the more enjoyable Project Lena perks is that we get to interview fantastic and talented designers.   This month we are welcoming a special guest to our San Francisco studio- the creator and designer behind the Solitary Man jewelry. We are very excited to get a glimpse into his world, where creativity and inspiration meets execution in fine jewelry metals and craftsmanship.

The Background: 
Oleg Sharov’s designs are a lot like the designer himself: fun, fresh, and arresting. Born in Moscow, Russia and now living in sunny Santa Barbara, CA, Oleg's love and infatuation with fine art and design started at young age, when his family moved to Europe.  He continued his education at Moscow's top art school and later applied that knowledge to graphic design.  But as for all creative personalities, his true calling is to create things by hand, express his unique artistic world by giving to us, mortals, pieces of art expressed in his clothing brand 3cp Clothing, clay sculptures and his latest creation- .999 solid silver jewelry pieces.   Seeing a designer’s pieces in person is a MUST.  I was blown away by the intensity and complexity of Oleg’s silver quality, which doesn’t fully show up in images.  The world should watch out for this major talent...
                                                                                    

The Q & A: 

projectlena: We love the fact that the Solitary Man jewelry pieces represent something that has a personal meaning to you.  Can you tell us how you want your pieces to affect your clients?

OS: I see every piece that I create as art sculptures. Each one is hand molded and hand finished, which gives them all a different look. I want people to see them for what they are, unique and different art pieces. I want my pieces to relate in some way to the person wearing it, be it some odd imperfection, a lighter shade or a darker finish, thus underlining their individuality. 

projectlena: Who is Solitary Man?

OS: Solitary Man is within each and everyone of us. It’s the voice inside your head, the gut feeling, the 6^th sense.

projectlena: Can you tell us a little more about the design inspiration behind the Solitary Man pieces?

OS: I believe that there are many beautiful things right in front of our eyes that we don’t notice in our everyday lives. Basic objects have beauty in them that people often overlook and take for granted. Taking an ordinary object and putting it into an extraordinary environment to change it’s visual perception is inspiring to me. That’s what I am trying to accomplish with my designs.

projectlena: Tell us about your process. Do you start with the raw materials and noodle with them until you have a direction, or do you envision a design and go source the materials?

OS: The idea usually comes to me from something I see. I then put it down on paper and try to picture what it would look like as a piece of jewelry. I then make a first “prototype” out of clay to get a three dimensional tangible version of my idea. Once I am satisfied with the “prototype” I move forward with it to get it ready to make a silver version. The last step is the polishing/finishing and engraving of my piece. I know it sounds like it’s pretty quick but it really isn’t, it could take from a few days to weeks to get from “prototype” stage to silver. I am very picky and an attention freak! If the feeling about a piece ain’t right, I will not move forward with it. 

projectlena: Which do you consider more rewarding, designing for yourself, or designing for others?

OS: In a way I am designing for others because I am selling my jewelry to people. The creative and production process is for me and the product is for you. I put a piece of me into every thing I create trying to touch as many people as I can and share my vision.

projectlena: Where can people find your designs?

OS: To get the latest information on the line people can visit the online store at www.solitarymanjewelry.com or www.facebook.com/solitarymanjewelry  I try to interact with people as much as possible and love feedback and comments from our fans!

projectlena: Where do you want to take your line? What is Solitary Man's dream?

OS: It would be great to spread the word about the line as much as possible and have people all around the world rocking the unique pieces I create. I would love to collaborate with artists from different countries to create something unique to their culture. For now I’ll settle for US domination!

projectlena: What is your current obsession? Anything new we should know about?

OS: That’s a hard question. I really don’t have obsessions per say. I have certain things I like and dislike. For instance, right now I am reading Keith Richards biography and I am fascinated by his love of music and his life experiences. What an incredibly talented individual with an inhuman drive, I mean the guy has NEVER missed a show! Kind of makes you wonder about what you are doing with your time. 

We are looking forward to seeing the Solitary Man jewelry pieces on the pages of Vogue, InStyle, Bazaar, and celebrities internationally.  We wish Oleg the best in his creations and we are sure to wear his pieces that speak so close to us too.