Los Angeles is arguably the most desired city of choice for the creative class right now. In recent months we’ve seen migration to the city of Angels include transplants from fashion and design communities around the world. For the likes of Hedi Slimane and Band of Outsiders, quality of life plays a big part and he famously stipulated in his contract with Yves Saint Laurent that Los Angeles would remain his base—an unprecedented move for a Parisian fashion house. Elsewhere, Bernhard Wilhelm is supposedly planning a one year move and KTZ  is looking to soak up the energy of a city that has become one of its greatest supporters. Partners Marjan Pejoski and Sasko Bezovski are even mulling a bigger presence in the form of a boutique. As the style community mushrooms, so have the stores and services catering to their needs. We’ve selected a handful of brands, stores and stories that are defining a new Los Angeles.

The Stores:

Altai

This entry to the multi-hyphenated retail mix oozes Italy. Blending design, fashion and furniture, this studio/boutique doubles as A menswear store selling Raf Simons, Christophe Lemaire, Tim Coppens and Carven, among others.

Rigards Eyewear

The word on Rigards has been coming from the L’Eclaireur set in Paris, but its base is Los Angeles. The haute eyewear brand draws converts who are drawn to the matte, distressed frames fashioned out of horns.

Akai Ito

This heady collaborations between stylist Douglas VanLaningham and artist Jeremy Friend yields one-off products and sundry other talents—from Dafne Balatsos to Serene Cicora—which makes it worth trekking down to the esoteric art district boutique.

Cerre

After relocating from their address in the heart of Hollywood, Cerre is now located in a gleaming new boutique catty corner to Maxfield. This homegrown brand with a European spirit is quietly becoming a local favorite for discerning fashionistas.

Weltenbeuger

This online/offline boutique bills itself as a destination for buying and selling experimental vintage and independent fashion. The brand mix leans toward cool contemporary and targets a younger set.

Left House

Americana has been turned on its head at Left House on Abbot Kinney.  This entry from Japan in partnership with H. Lorenzo is all urban/beach cool unisex denims and other washed out casual wear with a Japanese swagger.

Co

This relatively quiet womenswear line from Stephanie Kanan and Justin Kern is clean and chic as Calvin Klein, almost defying a Californian genesis. The line can be discovered at Just One Eye and Curve locally.

Lucy Folk

Designer Lucy Folk’s playful approach to design has seen her feature everything from taco’s to macaroni in her jewelry. This season is no different as the designer has turned her eye to fruit with her latest whimsical offering. The Tropicalismo collections’ Favela inspiration is apparent in Folk’s use of punchy palm leaves and tropical fruits in rose-plated resin, crocheted cotton and vibrantly colored powder-coated steel.

Perrin Paris

This century-old Paris-based accessories line now has a Beverly Hill outpost and is quickly becoming the go-to for current tastes in clutches. Their riding glove Cabriolet clutch is a personal favorite

The Scene:

Palihotel

First Palihouse was our hotel lobby of choice for meetings, and then Palihotel became our boutique hotel of choice for spotting cute, fashionable European travelers. Now the franchise is set to open a Santa Monica outpost which is destined to become our Westside hotel of choice.

Mack Sennett Studios

The refurbished Mack Sennett Studios in Silverlake is the hot new address for video and TV shoots. The sprawling studio space has played host to a star-studded list of Hollywood legends and in its current incarnation, it’s the address for one-off DJ nights for the likes of Questlove and the Embassy DJs.

When two sprawling unisex, multi-brand retailers open in Los Angeles within months of each other, it’s a signal that the city is undergoing yet another retail renaissance. Wild Style is an apt name for a Joyrich-owned concept store, which was “established to bring joyful times and rich feelings to customers,” according to retail director Takuya Takahashi. This hyper-trendy street wear addition to the Los Angeles scene from entrepreneur Tom Hirota sits on Melrose, not far from the movement’s epicenter on Fairfax Ave. With its cutting edge, mostly high-end street wear brands, Wild Style is a veritable temple of worship in an age of loud, graphically embellished casualwear.

Jeremy Scott for Adidas commands a wall for his signature trainers with wings, flames and pink teddy bear flourishes, all complemented by a selection of active wear with baroque prints and accessories. Elsewhere, Kris Van Assche practically perfect backpacks as well as Bernhard Willhelm sensational tracksuits and shells are stocked alongside Vivienne Westwood’s small leather goods. Red-hot KTZ, meanwhile, has seen coveted converts like Rihanna, Rita Ora, Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa, who have flocked to the line in the last year and caused stampedes among the clued in urban fashion set. “KTZ is our biggest seller,” confirms Takahashi.

Less established brands in the US—think Astrid Andersen fur-embellished jerseys, oversized t-shirts form Daniel Palillo, Shaun Samson and Alex Mattson—are also a big draw, according to Takahashi. “They come to the store to discover,” he explains. Gerlen Jeans from Brooklyn is rarely found in stateside boutiques, but a full range is on display, while Sibling, the London-based line specializing in colorful knits, also makes a rare appearance. Copious containers of tchotchkes, random accessories and a formidable selection of Tocca Beauty and Wild Style baseball hats round out the offering.

Suitably, Wild Style’s clientele falls in the jetsetter category, that growing audience of young insiders with disposable cash seeking more that a pair of Air Jordans for street cred. They want Kenzo (coming next season along with Versace) and SIR New York.

Just One Eye sits in Howard Hughes’ former Hollywood headquarters on Romaine Street surrounded by a cluster of studios. This massive, off-the-beaten-track warehouse space reflects the company’s online origins. Buyer Farrah Katina explains this as a differentiating tactic: ”it’s a different way of retailing—the store was a way to link our website with our image.” While densely fashion-oriented, Just One Eye’s image also has a strong link to the art world. At the store’s entrance, shoppers are met by a gargantuan spot painting from Damien Hirst and life-size Murakami sculptures. Shoppers can buy bags from a collaboration between the The Row and Damien Hirst, while art and furniture on display are all for sale as well. Katina insists that the store has “no position in a huge fashion market, [so] we’re also about art and collectibles.”

The art is as impressive as the selection of fashion brands, which encompasses a stunning mix of labels not otherwise represented in Los Angeles: Anthony Vaccarello’s barely there dresses with strategic cutouts, Alexandre Vauthier’s glamorously tailored separates, one-of-a-kind Paco Rabanne chain link dresses and Wilfredo Rosado’s exquisitely crafted gold and diamond jewelry.

From the deft mix of brands, it comes as no surprise that proprietor Paula Russo brings 25 years of experience at Ann Demeulmeester and Maxfield to this project. The latter’s direct influence on the brand selection is hard to overlook. Russo has made an evident effort to secure brands not sold at Maxfield, which is no small feat considering the iron-fisted monopoly the boutique has so many coveted brands.

A selection from Valentino and Proenza Schouler represent the most conventional pickings, while brands such as Tokyo-based Tsimuro Chisato and Julien David, specialist European houses including Maiyet, Jitrois, Piece d’Anarchive, Officine Generale, Christophe Lemaire, Mai L’Amore and the exclusive clutches and sandals from Newbark comprise the most thoughtful brands on offer.

Over the past decade, hundreds of online fashion companies have launched across the country. Although the startup market was once predominantly male, companies like Gilt Groupe, ModCloth, Moda Operandi, Rent The Runway and Nasty Gal are all examples of women who have leveraged fashion and technology to create successful businesses across multiple categories and niches.

One of the newly emerging meccas for this is the Los Angeles market. The city has long been a hub for entrepreneurial fashion founders, particularly in street and ready-to-wear, as well as its fair share of digital businesses, though most notably in ad-tech and social networking. With it is a new crop of fresh, fledgling fashion tech startups, including several that have been founded by women, it’s no surprise that these two worlds have happily merged in the Southern California city.

Launched in 2011 by local entrepreneur Heather Lipner, Uncovet features design-centric products targeting style setters. Products are delivered to readers via email with the option to click through to buy. Ellie, launched in early 2013 by co-founders Lindsay Daniels and Marcus Greinke, targets the Lululemon set with stylish workout wear. Tradesy, meanwhile, joins startups like San Francisco-based PoshMark and several others in offering a place for fashionistas to sell gently used clothing as an alternative to sites like eBay. Shoedazzle, which claims Kim Kardashian as a co-founder, is also based in Los Angeles and reflects its hometown air.

With L.A.’s fashion and design industry roots, fashion tech founders can find a wealth of resources here. The city has a long history in fashion production and design, especially in examining the bustling Fashion District downtown. This infrastructure gives web startups a potential reach and edge over other markets in the category, second only to New York. It enables the potential for branching into branded lines, specialty collections and, of course, tapping into other local fashion companies. While living costs in L.A. are comparable to other cities, it’s generally less expensive than San Francisco and New York, which makes the climate a bit easier on entrepreneurs looking to roll the dice in the digital fashion market. The growing presence of tech startups overall has increased over the years, which means for potentially greater development, talent and other business resources for founders located here.

While online retail is the current trend in the city, it’s also home to quite a few other women-owned businesses targeting fashion and digital as well. In media, Who What Wear Daily and Rachel Zoe’s Zoe Report are well-known, and several high-level fashion blogs are also based here. Though women are ruling the newly launched roost, L.A. is home to quite a few male-founded fashion tech businesses as well as ad tech and other startups targeting fashion brands.

What began as the Silicon Valley in the tech and internet category has evolved to the Silicon Alley, Beach, Flat Irons and Prairie—all fantastic cities with blooming local companies leveraging the power of technology in the fashion business.

-Patricia Handschiegel

Patricia Handschiegel is a serial media and internet entrepreneur with a background in internet telecom engineering and information delivery and communications platform business. She founded the first social media startup in the fashion category online, Stylediary.net in 2004, which was acquired in 2007. She has been an advisor to fashion startups and companies including Kaboodle (sold to Hearst) and many others, as well as celebrities and high profile companies, and has spoken about digital business at SXSW Interactive, MIT Futures of Entertainment 4 and many other events. Her projects and insight have been featured in the Wall Street Journal,Mashable, TechCrunch, TV Week, The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Business Journal and many other publications in fashion, style and tech. She currently owns Condiment, a digital magazine and marketplace about living stylishly through little details. 

About Elyse:

Elyse Walker is boutique owner and stylist residing in Venice Beach. She enjoys early morning walks to recharge her creativity  before heading to work in Pacific Palisades where she is the owner and head stylist of the eponymous Elyse Walker boutique. Elyse and her team have a deep passion for styling women in multi-functional pieces that make them look and feel their most confident.

What’s hot right now?

Prints, color and dresses! This season is so bright and happy that the store feels like a candy shop. Whereas previous seasons were neon, this season is full of bold, bright primary colors like yellow, orange and green. There is really no color that doesn’t work for spring. In my opinion Peter Pilotto is definitely the trendsetter of the season, his prints and use of color are unparalleled and the fit is perfect. Spring designs by Alexander McQueen and Bottega Veneta are also must haves.

What was the most fashionable thing you last bought?

A big fashion statement Tom Binns necklace, I wore it all over Paris Fashion Week. Any big chunky necklace purchase this season is a good one; plus it will make an old dress look like it’s new.

Touted as “the biggest collaboration ever undertaken by retailers and brand owners in Thailand,” the new Siam Center is already delivering on developer guarantees that it will be an innovative platform for new ideas and trends. Moreover, the impact of the Siam Center’s success echoes far beyond merely acting as an incubator for Thai designer talent or boosting Thailand’s expanding luxury market. The collaboration is the product of a revolutionary new conceptual retail model dubbed by Siam Piwat Company Ltd. CEO Chadatip Chutrakul as “Absolute Siam DNA”.

The project’s unique structure began as a rejection of traditional mall models. Investors have even eschewed the term “shopping center,” instead referring to Siam as an “ideapolis” where fashion, art, technology and entertainment converge. Beyond championing a more collaborative retail environment, Siam has also succeeded in creating a uniform shopping experience while still cultivating a pleasant sense of exclusivity, which encompasses everything from the retail to restaurant franchises within the center. Brand owners and retailers worked hand-in-hand with site developers and agreed to design their stores to reflect an overall theme that embodied the Siam experience. Retailers further agreed to make up to 20% of their collections available through Siam Center—even offering personalized services that are unavailable at any other shopping center in Asia. Similarly, endeavoring restaurateurs were encouraged to offer specialty menus exclusively through Siam.

Such exclusionary measures have also served to give the sprawling “ideapolis” a necessary edge against its primary competitor, family-owned conglomerate Central Group whose subsidiary Central Pattana is currently the single largest developer of shopping centers in Thailand. In 2011, Central Group saw a spike in investor interest after acquiring the iconic upscale department store chain La Rinascente from Italian real estate group Prelios for just over $290 million. The acquisition marked Central Group’s active move toward expanding into the overseas market. Siam Center’s subsequent creation is in many ways the Siam Piwat Group’s bid to remain a strong competitor in the race to gain a solid foothold in the global market.

When asked about the inspiration behind such an enormous—and in many ways risky—project, CEO Chadatip Chutrakul cited New York’s SoHo neighborhood, where she frequently observed “a timeless and invigorating mix of art, fashion and technology presented in a way that matches the unique character of the district.” Chutrakul felt that stores in SoHo found the formula for adapting themselves to fit the aesthetics of their environment while still preserving and indeed celebrating individual brand culture. The collaborative spirit of Siam Center in many ways reflects this inspiration, albeit on a much larger scale.

The project also reflects Thailand’s massive economic growth and viable place in the global market. In recent years, there has been much talk of transforming Bangkok into a fashion city comparable to New York, London or Hong Kong, making this massive project a credible manifestation of the city actively moving toward this goal. Total investments in the ambitious collaboration skyrocketed well past the $60 million mark and more than 200 retailers currently call the Siam Center home. For now, it seems investors can rest easy as their money appears to be well spent.

You don’t have to travel to bring a taste of Thailand home with you. In fact, you don’t even have to leave your bedroom. Although high-end online stores are hardly eyebrow-raising in the age of luxury e-retailers like Net-a-Porter, Moda Operandi and Gilt Groupe, anyone eager to sample Thai-made luxury wares may have previously found their options limited. Fortunately there has been a recent explosion of e-commerce platforms across the previously untapped Asian markets, led in large part by Guruwan.com.

One of the premier online luxury platforms in Southeast Asia, Guruwan boasts the largest selection of online retailers in Thailand. The site is owned and managed through Siam Brands, whose founder is also the managing director and face of the decadent Sri Panwa luxury hotel and spa resort in Phuket.

Whether you’re looking for whimsical jewelry set with semi-precious stones harvested straight from the region or distinctly eastern-inspired home décor (think hand-woven stools, delicate tea sets and Dali-esque elephant sculptures), Guruwan offers it up—complete with secure payment options and international delivery. Many of the best-selling apparel pieces are also overtly inspired by the culture of Thailand or its neighboring countries, as seen in the best-selling silk fisherman trousers which go for a cool $291.

One of the foremost driving forces behind Guruwan’s rapid rise to success has much to do with the company’s fierce authenticity and unabashedly Thai branding. In this sense, Guruwan offers something unique, an unadulterated taste of the Asian luxury market that expands far beyond mere apparel or famed Thai silk products. The company has smartly positioned itself as a lifestyle brand with a primary focus of celebrating and making available Thai and Asian-made products. Yet even with this niche focus, the Guruwan lifestyle is far from exclusionary. Modern and contemporary styles are balanced with more traditional pieces, and the more affordable items are showcased with the same care and enthusiasm as the site’s plethora of ultra-luxe offerings. More importantly, all of the available apparel and home products translate exceptionally well between differing markets and consumer bases.

Even the origins of Guruwan’s name reflect the dedication and desire of founder Vorasit Issara to create a far-reaching platform for Thailand’s specialized luxury goods. “Guru” translates to master while “Wan” stands for “Wide-Area-Network” (and is also Mr. Issara’s nickname). From home decor to furniture and jewelry, the founders are indeed driving the company towards meeting the full potential of its name. As of now, more than 200 Thai designers have partnered with Guruwan to sell their wares to buyers all over the world.

Any trip to Bangkok begs a detour to one of the picture perfect beach regions that Thailand is also known for. To escape the bustle of the city and to sample the best of seaside Asian hospitality, we opted for Phuket where we checked into the luxurious Sri Panwa Hotel.

Sri Panwa’s opulent presence is felt from its entrance at the bottom of a lush palm strewn driveway. Colorful tuk-tuks exclusive to the property are manned by cute college kids lined up to whisk you away to one of the villas on the 32-acre property at the Southeastern tip of the island, high above the Cape Panwa peninsula. The sense of tropical chic bursts from the doorstep of the passing orange-colored villas, quietly decorated with frangipani flowers and tasteful praying buddha statues. It’s a property that’s dominated by landscape and the setting is easily likened to a botanical garden, encompassing a private beach, a forest park and more paradisiac nooks and strolls than you can imagine.

All 70 suites and one and two bedroom villas offer stunning views over the east and west ridges of Andaman Sea, while private pools feature the seamless indoor/outdoor spaces and a quiet tranquility (and romance) for many honeymooners. The décor is of the cleanly modernist yet tropical aesthetic that the region does so well, while caramel colored wooden floors, built-in furniture and carving iconography subtly remind you that you’re still in Thailand. Stunning flora and fauna frames each building to create dramatic lines to the turquoise ocean in the distance. And the music is so thoroughly curated on the personal iPods docked in each room that you can change the mood from Café del Mar to bossa nova without missing a beat.

The arc on this property is privacy. You’re unlikely to see another guest on walks along the many trails or even at the stunning communal Beach Pool. Guests tend to stay in their rooms and have everything delivered. It’s as though you’ve landed on a private island with all the amenities available and the choice not to see anyone else.

Guests who want to make a move (unlikely off the property) can call a tuk-tuk to be taken to anywhere—from the tennis courts on the northeast side to the Cool Spa, which offers everything from yoga to massage to a fully outfitted salon for mani/pedis and haircuts. Breakfast at the Baba Pool Club and Baba Dining Lounge is one of the few times guests choose to leave rooms and perch at water drenched areas, or check out the small boutique and Baba Cooking School. Some guests also emerge again at sunset to claim a spot a Baba Space, an uninterrupted perch at the very top of the resort complex which offers a 360-degree view of amazing sunsets that create a soft outline of the surrounding islands as far as the eye can see.

To visit Phi Phi, Coral, Racha, Maiton or any other of these nearby islands in the Phuket archipelago, guests can launch a tour from the docks for the 15-40 minute trip. Water-loving visitors can also go scuba diving or snorkeling just steps from the hotel in nearby Panwa Bay.

Sri Panwa is the kind of hotel where all the amenities are at the ready but there’s never the feeling of heavy-handed service that becomes obtrusive. The entire stay can exist in your room, but paradise is on tap just outside.

-Jason Cambpell

Descriptions like “100% natural,” “certified organic” and “eco-friendly” have literally become the fastest growing product categories in the multi-billion dollar beauty industry. This recent surge can be attributed to increasing awareness about protecting the environment as well as an equal concern about questionable ingredients that have traditionally been used to formulate commercial cosmetic products. And while it may be somewhat of a challenge to navigate what has become a continuously expanding roster of product classifications and ingredient certifications, efficacy is ultimately the most important feature of any product. In this issue of Beauty Guru—and in celebration of Earth Day—we turn the spotlight on some of the most effective beauty products in the aforementioned categories. From the most rare100% natural or certified organic ingredients to breakthrough skin and hair care formulations and more, the following suggestions are not only effective, but also sure to address the most important beauty needs.

Evolue Los Angeles (www.evoluebeauty.com)

Evolue in Beverly Hills is recognized as the go-to destination for the best in eco-friendly beauty. With legions of loyal followers, owner and founder Jean Seo has gained a highly respected reputation for offering a curated roster of eco-friendly, 100% natural and organic beauty products, including some of our favorite eco-brands such as RMS Beauty (www.rmsbeauty.com), Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics (www.janeiredalecosmetics.com), Arcona (www.arcona.com). Seo has also recently launched the highly anticipated Evolue brand of skincare as well as the incredible Eco-Brow collection of brow-grooming gels, created by resident eco-brow specialist Marco Ochoa.

Fiafini (www.fiafini.com)

Combining antioxidant rich Marula beauty oil from South Africa with deeply hydrating desert botanicals and a variety of other natural skin-nourishing ingredients, Fiafini offers a simple and straightforward approach to beauty with an extremely effective anti-aging regime that suits all skin types. After the first use, the complexion feels thoroughly cleansed and hydrated while fine lines and wrinkles are visibly minimized—and these results improve with continued use. The minimal steps are ideal for an active lifestyle, but the Exceptional Skin Serum is our top pick from the range.

Pratima (www.pratimaskincare.com)

Based on ancient ayurvedic practices and addressing virtually every complexion, body and haircare need, Pratima is formulated with the finest natural ingredients. Developed by Dr. Pratima Raichur, the brand’s use of pure ingredients is apparent in every product. From the visibly raw ingredients floating gracefully in the amazing Love Oil to the not-to-miss Rejuvenating Pearl Cream and the textures of the Vata, Pita and Kapha herbal cleansers, Pratima is truly one of the most experiential skincare ranges that we have encountered. To further enjoy this unique experience, book a treatment at Pratima’s flagship spa in New York City or check out the website for special Earth Day offers.

Seabuck Wonders (www.seabuckwonders.com)

Recently touted as the latest “wonder” ingredient, the Himalayan sea buckthorn berry is found only on the extremely high altitude and difficult terrain of the Tibetan Plateau. This super-fruit is naturally enriched and highly concentrated with valuable antioxidants, vitamins, essential fatty acids and Omegas, including the highest concentration of the very rare Omega-7. Seabuck Wonders offers a full range of skincare, berry and seed oil extracts as well as supplements, each of which is enriched with the highly potent organic Sea Buckthorn oil. Thoroughly effective and ideal for dry skin, Seabuck Wonders receives our highest ratings and we’ve particularly been impressed with the Body Lotion and Exfoliating Facial Cleanser.

Surya Brasil (www.suryabrasil.com/en)

Initially specializing in unique haircare products, Surya Brasil has earned certifications from the most prestigious international agencies, including Eco-cert, PETA and Vegan since first launching in 1995. The brand has since evolved into a full range boasting a selection of products  that addresses every specific hair and skincare need. Surya’s quality is notable in both its performance as well as the selection of rich and nourishing formulations. We were particularly impressed with the Ucuuba Shampoo and Conditioner for curly hair as well as the Massage and Body Oil.

Tilth (www.tilthbeauty.com)

A rather harmonious union of nature and technology are the platform at Tilth Beauty. Offering some of the most effective natural anti-aging skincare products, Tilth addresses every skin type with an emphasis on the often-challenging effects of aging. Tilth is also an active member of Green Power Project, utilizing 100% wind-power to generate the electrical energy needed to produce its certified FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) 100% carbon-neutral packaging. The Argan-Tangerine cleanser, Ressurect Eye Cream and Aloe Restoration Toner are our top selections when it comes to efficacy and sustainability.

Asava, another brand organized to export, went for strapless junior dresses, loads of peplum and high-waisted shorts in black-and-white prints and chevron stripes, mixing coral, black and white alongside a smattering of shimmery floor-length gowns, which rounded out the looks. Senada set its presentation in a smoky cathedral with a pianist playing standards. The collection featured cool floral prints, nicely fitted pencil skirts with clever diaphanous cut outs, shimmery skirts and capelets. Kloset, meanwhile, showed houndstooth metallic fitted pants and skirts at random lengths paired with frilly chiffon blouses with a cloud print. However, the brightly colored dogs and cats that models brought down the catwalk sadly upstaged the collection.

Although the catwalk didn’t show off the best of the designers’ work, what gave relevance to much of what we saw was the support of the standalone stores situated on the ambitious Siam Center mall. There are more than 20 independent designer and multi-brand boutiques on the trendsetting third floor, including EK Thongerpaart, Kloset and Wonder Anotamie. We did not see Wonder Anotamie’s collection on the runway, but the store represents the best on the floor at Siam Center with brilliant alien-looking printed sportswear bombers, shells and shift dresses, lazer cutouts and an impressive use of fabric treatments, which took cues from Givenchy but made the whole printed street effect their own. Chalermkiat Khatikasemlert, Wonder Anatomie is top to bottom conception—the ceiling of his Siam Center boutique is stitched together from skull cut-outs from brown paper bags. The high traffic center is ground zero for youth culture in Bangkok, and thus a hotbed for fashion inspiration.

About Duang:

Known for her signature scarlet lip and eccentric style Duang is currently the Editor in Chief of Harper’s Bazaar Thailand. In 2010, Duang forayed into  the world of design by launching a limited edition line of handbags under the name “RougeRouge”. Inspired by contemporary art, the line has quickly become popular amongst Thai fashionistas.

What’s hot right now?

Definitely the CMRR Bomb bag. It’s a limited edition collaboration between Corto Moltedo and RougeRouge.

What was the most fashionable thing you last bought?

A Medicom Be@rbrick VER 400% aroma diffuser in black for my bedroom, and a Maison Martin Margiela magnifying glass for reading.

About Doris:

Doris Raymond is a vintage clothing collector and owner/proprietor of The Way We Wore®. She lives in the heart of Los Angeles and loves animals, children, treasure hunting and traveling. You can follow Doris’s vintage adventures in real time by tuning in to the Smithsonian channel show L.A. Frock Stars which follows the everyday operations of The Way We Wore® and its dedicated team.

www.thewaywewore.com

What’s hot right now?

What’s hot right now is a little something from every era. Downton Abbey, Boardwalk Empire, and the imminent release of The Great Gatsby have all caused an upsurge in the call for fashions of those eras. More and more brides are opting to go vintage for reasons both economical and the desire to stand out. Trends in bridal run the gamut from Victorian lawn dresses to goddess styles of the 1970′s. It’s also prom season and the girls are clamoring for everything from proper cocktail looks from the 1950s to the outrageous pouf skirted silhouettes of the 1980′s. In retrospect, every era of the 20th century has something to offer the modern fashion connoisseur.

What was the most fashionable thing you last bought?

A fabulous graphic three-piece Franco Moschino 1991 Lichtenstein blouse, skirt, and jacket set. Divine!

What destination are you most looking forward to traveling to right now?

I’m hoping to vacation in the Seychelles this year but have buying trips planned in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and Texas.

What’s on your style wish list?

My style wish list will only be topped with an original Charles James! I am also always on the look out for Maison Martin Margiela artisanal pieces – heaven. Any major couture piece of historical significance is high on my priority list, but I also love, love, love kitschy one of a kind pieces that speak to my whimsical side. With vintage sometimes you don’t know what you want until you see it!

What’s on heavy rotation in your wardrobe currently?

Casual clothing. Skinny black jeans and colorful tee shorts, mixed with a fabulous vintage accessory or jacket. I work almost all the time, so I need to wear clothes I can move around in easily.

Image courtesy of: The Smithsonian Channel

The luxury footwear category seems to be exploding on a monthly basis. From emerging new designers to well-shod consumers around the world vying to wear the most prescient in the category, heel detailing continues to dominate the luxury shoe landscape with unusual shapes, materials and inspiration. Here we take a look at a few of these emerging shoe stars designing in this ever-fascinating milieu.

Richard Braqo Ghana-born Richard Braqo landed on the fashion radar after he entered (on a lark) — and consequently won the brand new Cesare Paciotti Accessories Award for his thesis collection at Parson’s. A collaboration with Paciotti soon landed his footwear co-creations in Barneys and Saks, and Brago then moved to London to intern for Helmut Lang and Acne before launching his debut collection in September of 2012. The collection is full of hard edges, vertiginous five and six inch platforms and unexpected embellishments, like a gold spear bedecking the side of an ankle boot, metallic fringe scales, gold ankle bracelets providing the ankle strap to a stiletto and fierce warrior like gold spike stiletto heels, He characterizes the line as “juxtaposing the masculine and feminine” with luxurious suedes and velvets in cobalt, Bordeaux and black, while incorporating masculine details from men’s brogues and gold metallic edges. Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Beyonce have already embraced the collection and retailers such as Wolf and Badger in London and Mahani in Dubai have snatched up the line.

Chelsea Paris Nigerian-born, London-based shoe designer Theresa Ebagua was a former IT executive who had an epiphany on a business trip, enrolled in Ars Sutoria, and promptly launched her line, Chelsea Paris, soon after. Named after her two daughters, Ebagua’s line uses materials from ostrich feathers to snakeskin and suede, while detailed and intricate caging, latticework, a signature heel “collar” shape and scalloped edging create a sumptuous array of silhouettes. For Spring 2013, heel detailing figures prominently with a spike stiletto enrobed in a knot of rose gold and pewter. This “knotted heel” was inspired by a Japaense necklace signifying affection and luck Ebagua had picked up on her world travels. Orange, lavender, python, grey, black, contrast trim details, intricate mesh panels and a caged lattice knee-high Spring boot, make this her most cohesive collection yet.  Already sold at Chuckie’s and Fred Segal stateside, Chaloub Scarpe in Dubai and Beams House in Tokyo—and seen on the feet of celebrities as diverse as Ginnifer Goodwin and Kristen Stewart—this global brand is well-positioned to continue storming the shoe shores.

Sophia Webster Also hailing from London, Sophia Webster was first discovered by Nicholas Kirkwood. Although she had the distinction of being Kirkwood’s first-ever design assistant, their relationship was forged under the auspices of him helping her launch her own line after two years at his company. And launch she did. Webster’s debut received so much acclaim that she managed to capture the rapt attention of the British Fashion Council, which promptly awarded her the New Gen award, making Webster the first shoe to ever designer to win it. Her fresh designs belie an attention to craftsmanship and detail—delicate lacings, intricate cutwork and bold graphical elements from multi-colored leopard to tribal zig-zags to bubbles, all in a riot of bold colors like cobalt, peach, orange and citrus yellow, which are strong yet feminine. Heels attract just as much attention as uppers here with what appear to be stacked bead stilettos rendered in metal, painted polka dot heels and collaged wedge platform heels. Influencer retailers from Net-a-Porter to Kirna Zabete and Colette snapped up the collection, with On Pedder, Level Shoe District and Harvey Nichols following suit. And an e-commerce platform is soon set to launch on Webster’s own site for her cult-like fans like actress Chloe Moretz. ,

SD Yohans Rounding out the shoe stars comes up-and-comer Selam D Yohans a British-Eritrean designer based in London. The former banking whiz trained at Cordwainer’s, where she completed both a Bachelors and Masters degree. Her final thesis culminated in an extreme convex heel shape that encompassed hours of theoretical research around women’s concepts of beauty throughout the world. Her current collection takes inspiration from Andre Dubreuil’s iconic, delicately curved furniture designs, producing hourglass shapes like enveloping ankle sleeves and seductive swooping design details that enfold the foot, all of which echo back the shape of the gently swelling stiletto heel that blooms where it meets the upper.  An architectural wooden wedge heel with a severe front-cut in the platform  over the knee boots, and strong graphic cutwork round out this scientifically sexy collection. Combined with a  palette of black, deep jade, vibrant ruby, caramel and gold with dashes of white, rendered in suedes, pony, python, snake and hard metals, the total effect is one of come-hither, statement-making silhouettes. Adored by British pop star Katie Malua and UK actress Jemima Roper, Yohans’ creations are currently available at Independent Boutique in the UK, Carnet De Mode in France and online by special order at the designer’s website.

-Meghan Cleary