Shameless Loves: Black Hearts Brigade

From dip-dyed and studded Black Heart's Brigade creators Danny Cook and Cameron Cole (pictured lower left) offer a custom created destroyed look with a punk edge. Their line currently includes t-shirts, dresses, blazers, belts, bags,and hats. Their denim collection is scheduled to debut in 2008.

If some of the designs look familiar it's because you've seen them on American Idol, AFI's Davey Havok, Avril Lavine, and Rockstar Supernova.

They also tend to give great names to their different designs such as: Destroyed in Hollywood, Sold Our Soul, The Dance Tee (which of course we love), and Diamonds and Guns.

Check out some of their LA Fashion Week fashion show pics here

Visit www.blackheartsbrigade.com for more info and where to find them

Shameless Loves: Sushi Zo

In a pond full of great (and not-so-great) sushi spots, Sushi Zo is the big fish. There's no fooling around here, so if you're a california roller, don't even bother. But if you enjoy the freshest of sushi and sashimi this is the place for you. We highly recommend the Omakase!

Shameless Loves: ToyMe!

If you're like me, you have Peter Pan syndrome. Sing along: I won't grow up! I don't wanna wear a tie!...

Well now you don't have to. You can wear your toys around your neck (or wrist, or finger) instead! Check out these great accessories, like Hot Wheels(-esque) pendants and Lego rings, at ToyMe from Italy. It may sound like child's play, but their website is hot: think American Apparel, only more sexy than pervy.










www.ToyMe.it

Shameless Loves: Apartment 3

This awesome boutique on LaBrea offers very affordable new up-and-coming designers and authentic vintage for both guys and girls. The decor feels like you could be shopping in your friend's living room, and the fact that you might be greeted at the door by one of the employees' dogs adds to the hominess.

Check it out next week at their special pre-Valentine's party:

Shameless Loves: Elmer Ave.

If you think men's fashion consists of worn jeans, sneakers, and a baseball cap... or maybe the slightly more "hipster" look of fake vintage tee, blazer, and skinny jeans over chucks, you obviously haven't seen Elmer Ave.









[pics of last week's fashion show in conjunction with GenArt, Exile, and Flaunt]

Shameless Loves: deeep

A couple of weeks ago I went for a much-needed haircut. As usually happens, the stylist asked me what kind of products I use because my hair was so dry. No wonder it hasn't been growing out well - it just keeps breaking! Although I use the Bumble and bumble thickening line on a regualr basis, I was damaging my hair by dying it with home kits... I probably could have guessed that was happening.

She recommended what has since become my favorite hair product ever: Bumble and bumble deeep conditioner. I figured I would have to do 3-4 weekly treatments before seeing much of an improvement, but I was so wrong. I've only used it once so far, and my hair is sooooo much softer! I couldn't believe it! I thought for sure after a couple of days of styling products and blow drying it would be back to its brittle-ended self. Nope! This conditioner accomplishes major repairs immediately, and now I just have to do an occasional maintenance treatment every so often. Magic in a tube.

Shameless Loves: Anne Taintor

Tainted love? Not quite. More like …”Vintage Revisited” … That is the statement made by witty Harvard graduate Anne Taintor about her line of products ranging from cosmetic bags, notepads, luggage tags and file folders to messenger bags featuring artwork from authentic vintage advertisements from the 1930’s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. Very reminiscent of Pleasantville, each of the products feature cheeky statements such as “I can’t be good all the time” or “she liked imaginary men best of all.”

I must admit that I have seen these images being toted around in the last couple of years and although I found them interesting enough, I hadn’t really paid them any mind until recently stumbling upon a site that carried some items from the collection while surfing the web in search of the perfect invitation for a friend’s baby shower.

The New Mexico based Miss Taintor’s products have been featured in Newsweek as well as countless other daily publications such as The Chicago Tribune and can often be found in specialty shops. After taking a look at all of these nostalgia inducing pieces, I quickly became enamored with the ID cases and Compacts which, had I discovered them prior to the gift giving season, would’ve made perfect little gifts for some of my favorite gal pals! The official website for these products even has a section that features some of the original models featured on the artwork, aptly referred to as “Taintorettes.” Imagine that! The Grandma you baked cookies with as a child, taking on a devil may care attitude a la Katharine Hepburn’s infamous line of “Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then,” would fit right in with the saucy one-liners featured on these items.

All of the products are reasonably priced, ranging from $4.25 to $38.00, and although they can be found on various websites I recommend visiting the official website: www.AnneTaintor.com.