Road Trip - Ojai

Just got back from a quick road trip up to Ojai. There's nothing better for design inspiration than to get out of Dodge and clear your head for new ideas. I've been wanting to explore Ojai (pronounced O-hi) for some time, and I've already named one of my bamboo spacedye colors 'Ojai' for Spring '08. Ojai, a small town tucked away in a valley east of Ventura, is the Shangri-la of California - always sunny, breezy, and no rain, and rolling hills for miles. It also has a hippy-dippy vibe similar to Kihei, Maui, but I wanted to see for myself. Ojai is actually more polished than I expected. Yes, it's beautiful and remote (and I did see a woman cycling topless with only star pasties on!), but everything was so pristine - the adobe architecture, shops, parks, and arcade plaza. Some great little shops I discovered were Two Sisters (racks of Calypso and Lily McNeal), Hattie's (a cute, little free-standing bungalow carrying clean designs by Theory and Velvet), and the world's best outdoor used bookstore, Bart's Books. Live banjo music at the farmer's market and the fresh strawberries and apricot pies (oh, and the anti-war parade and the dreadlock bongo players) were just enough to get you in the Ojai mood. All said, it was a great little getaway to see inside another world, a Shangri-la of sorts, and to get my juices flowing for Spring 2008. The eco-friendly bamboo yarn I'm using for next Spring will be perfect for one of my new colorways, Ojai. Can't wait to wear my new Stacia tunic dress in Ojai on my next visit to Shangri-la, California!

Road Trip - Ojai

Just got back from a quick road trip up to Ojai. There's nothing better for design inspiration than to get out of Dodge and clear your head for new ideas. I've been wanting to explore Ojai (pronounced O-hi) for some time, and I've already named one of my bamboo spacedye colors 'Ojai' for Spring '08. Ojai, a small town tucked away in a valley east of Ventura, is the Shangri-la of California - always sunny, breezy, and no rain, and rolling hills for miles. It also has a hippy-dippy vibe similar to Kihei, Maui, but I wanted to see for myself. Ojai is actually more polished than I expected. Yes, it's beautiful and remote (and I did see a woman cycling topless with only star pasties on!), but everything was so pristine - the adobe architecture, shops, parks, and arcade plaza. Some great little shops I discovered were Two Sisters (racks of Calypso and Lily McNeal), Hattie's (a cute, little free-standing bungalow carrying clean designs by Theory and Velvet), and the world's best outdoor used bookstore, Bart's Books. Live banjo music at the farmer's market and the fresh strawberries and apricot pies (oh, and the anti-war parade and the dreadlock bongo players) were just enough to get you in the Ojai mood. All said, it was a great little getaway to see inside another world, a Shangri-la of sorts, and to get my juices flowing for Spring 2008. The eco-friendly bamboo yarn I'm using for next Spring will be perfect for one of my new colorways, Ojai. Can't wait to wear my new Stacia tunic dress in Ojai on my next visit to Shangri-la, California!

Foam and C - My 2 New Fave Mags

Believe me, I read them all - Vogue, Bazaar, Elle, In Style - but lately to get my fashion fix, I've been devouring the pages of C Magazine and Foam. Both mags are fairly new and mainly showcase the West Coast fashion scene, but it's so refreshing to open these after seeing one too many avante garde spreads in Vogue or boring red carpet pix in In Style. C Magazine focuses on the looks, people, and places that define California's style and its role as the creative center of the country (or at least the other creative center after NYC!) The magazine has beautiful photography, great styling, and little fashion tidbits on emerging designers, hotspots, products, and trends on the left coast. Foam is a cross between a surfer girl's magazine and Jane magazine - loaded with affordable fashion for gals with an active lifestyle, and all things relating to Fashion, Ocean, Art, and Music. There may be one too many Roxy ads in there, but the articles are interesting for a girl who loves the ocean, and the fashion spreads epitomize the beach lifestyle fantasy - 'Girl Meets Beach' was their maiden issue. So if you're getting a little tired of the usual suspects on the news stands, check out these two new mags - Foam's Summer issue, 'Surf, Love, & Rock n' Roll' and C Magazine's July issue with a radiant Ashley Judd on the cover are on stands now!

Foam and C - My 2 New Fave Mags

Believe me, I read them all - Vogue, Bazaar, Elle, In Style - but lately to get my fashion fix, I've been devouring the pages of C Magazine and Foam. Both mags are fairly new and mainly showcase the West Coast fashion scene, but it's so refreshing to open these after seeing one too many avante garde spreads in Vogue or boring red carpet pix in In Style. C Magazine focuses on the looks, people, and places that define California's style and its role as the creative center of the country (or at least the other creative center after NYC!) The magazine has beautiful photography, great styling, and little fashion tidbits on emerging designers, hotspots, products, and trends on the left coast. Foam is a cross between a surfer girl's magazine and Jane magazine - loaded with affordable fashion for gals with an active lifestyle, and all things relating to Fashion, Ocean, Art, and Music. There may be one too many Roxy ads in there, but the articles are interesting for a girl who loves the ocean, and the fashion spreads epitomize the beach lifestyle fantasy - 'Girl Meets Beach' was their maiden issue. So if you're getting a little tired of the usual suspects on the news stands, check out these two new mags - Foam's Summer issue, 'Surf, Love, & Rock n' Roll' and C Magazine's July issue with a radiant Ashley Judd on the cover are on stands now!

Style Icon of the Week - Kate Moss

There's only a handful of models that can withstand the fickle world of fashion and be just as relevant today as they were over a decade ago. Kate Moss is one of them. I remember my early days right out of Parsons and my first gig at Calvin Klein, just about the height of Kate's career as the official face of CK. And all the drama that went with it (eg. late night fights with Johnny Depp at her hotel and holding up our fittings!) She was high-maintenance even back then! Although I don't approve of her crazy lifestyle (druggie or no druggie,) I do think she's a great style icon. She exudes that effortless chic we all strive for. She's her own stylist without even trying. I recently saw her at Paradise Cove in Malibu with her adorable girl, Lila, and a group of grungie, rocker friends. She looked fabulous as usual in a flowy frock and her signature cool grecian sandals and her "mini me" in tow. Her rocker boys, on the other hand, clad in their black, skinny Ramones jeans were completely out of touch with the laid-back, beachy vibe of Paradise Cove (they belonged back in the East Village or in gray London.) As you all know, this Spring the launch of her new label for Top Shop was a break-out hit at Barney's and online at Top Shop, selling out in seconds. Everyone is ready to fork out the bucks to covet that Kate look. The line features replications of some of her signature looks - the fitted waistcoat, the asymmetrical strapless dress, and the skinny, pegged jean. She knows just how to mix that great vintage find with a high-end designer piece and some off-beat accessory. And someone smart over at Top Shop is trying to package that style and create a frenzy. Meanwhile Kate's laughing all the way to the bank!

Style Icon of the Week - Kate Moss

There's only a handful of models that can withstand the fickle world of fashion and be just as relevant today as they were over a decade ago. Kate Moss is one of them. I remember my early days right out of Parsons and my first gig at Calvin Klein, just about the height of Kate's career as the official face of CK. And all the drama that went with it (eg. late night fights with Johnny Depp at her hotel and holding up our fittings!) She was high-maintenance even back then! Although I don't approve of her crazy lifestyle (druggie or no druggie,) I do think she's a great style icon. She exudes that effortless chic we all strive for. She's her own stylist without even trying. I recently saw her at Paradise Cove in Malibu with her adorable girl, Lila, and a group of grungie, rocker friends. She looked fabulous as usual in a flowy frock and her signature cool grecian sandals and her "mini me" in tow. Her rocker boys, on the other hand, clad in their black, skinny Ramones jeans were completely out of touch with the laid-back, beachy vibe of Paradise Cove (they belonged back in the East Village or in gray London.) As you all know, this Spring the launch of her new label for Top Shop was a break-out hit at Barney's and online at Top Shop, selling out in seconds. Everyone is ready to fork out the bucks to covet that Kate look. The line features replications of some of her signature looks - the fitted waistcoat, the asymmetrical strapless dress, and the skinny, pegged jean. She knows just how to mix that great vintage find with a high-end designer piece and some off-beat accessory. And someone smart over at Top Shop is trying to package that style and create a frenzy. Meanwhile Kate's laughing all the way to the bank!

Blondes Who Shop

Two new stores I'm shipping to this Summer, Blonde and Blondette, should be on everyone's hit list for shopping destinations. In my home-town of Santa Monica, Blonde has been a fixture on Main St. for some time now and always has the best hand-picked collections for the laid-back Californian. It's the kind of place you can stroll into on your way to the beach and snag a T-bag's print dress. The vibe there is so relaxed you just want to hang out on their couch and chat with the store's owner Amber. Check out their cool web site and Amber's blog for the latest on California lifestyle and fashion. If you can't make it to Little Rock, Arkansas, be sure to surf on over to Blondette's web site to do your shopping. Mischelle Papan's girly web site features a well-edited mix of designers with personalized customer service. So whether you're a blondette or just blonde, check out these two great shops (new favorites on my list!) and get yourself some fashion must-haves and some Stacia knits for the Summer months!