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Innerwear goes Outerwear

The French and Italians are tough to beat when it comes to lacy racy bras, corsets and panties. But no one beats Americans, particularly SoCal flakes- when it comes to comfortable loungewear. (It's both a pride and shame that Juicy Couture's infamous sweat suits originated here).

One of my favorite designers of the innerwear-that-can-be-worn-as-outerwear family is Wendy Gonzalez Crowe, designer of Wendy Glez. Wendy's designs are the ultimate in lazy comfort, but never sloppy. Her lace trims like peacock feathers and strawberries are whimsically out of the ordinary; and the design details resemble ready-to-wear clothes more than pajamas.

L.A.-based Wendy will be making the rounds this month: hosting a sample sale and a shopping event in Topanga where she will be showing new summer styles sold exclusively at Nordstrom.  I checked in with the designer to get a sneak preview of her Summer styles.

Your clothes are technically loungewear, but lots of the pieces are too cute to wear only at home. How do we incorporate Wendy Glez loungewear with our regular wardrobe so we don't look like we walked out wearing our pajamas?
For me it’s the whole lifestyle of just being able to travel with the loungewear, sleep in it, use as underpinnings. I’m really into layering. For example, I have maxi chemises that are semi long, so you can show off your gladiator sandals. I have a sweater with a hoodie that I made, you tie it around, you wear it with a belt, you can wear another camisole- its just layers of colors. It gives it a little more depth, a little more European. [I use] my leftover fabric and wear it around my neck.

Your innerwear has a little bit of vintage glamour feeling to it. What era was your inspiration for the Spring/Summer 08 season?
Last summer I got really into- because [my husband] Kevin and I went to the South of France, Saint Tropez- the history of the 1960s and all the glamour of Monaco. I really liked the whole 1960s hippie chick feeling, that was my whole inspiration behind my collection for summer. Like “Summer of Love,” flowers and kind of bell-bottoms and gold. That was my whole feeling.

What are the essential Wendy Glez pieces that every woman should have in their lingerie and loungewear drawer?

We always do the shelf bra camisole and we change it around, make the body longer, but I always keep that silhouette in the line because it really fits everybody. It’s a great quintessential piece to have in many colors to wear as an underpinning. Another thing is my pants. They don’t have any seams on the sides. It costs more… the way I do it, it takes up more yards, but that’s important to me, because you don’t see any lines, its smooth on the sides. The fit is flattering. Our racerback A-line chemises, it’s a semicircle [cut that] lays flat on your stomach and goes out. It’s kind of like what Matthew Williamson does with his dresses. Any body type can wear it. I’m really into making sure that everybody, every type of body type can wear Wendy Glez. That’s my thing. –Rhea Cortado

Wendy Glez Sample Sale
May 10
11am
448 Longfellow Ave; Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Wendy Glez Designer Appearance
May 17
11am
Nordstrom Topanga
6602 Topanga Canyon Blvd.; Canoga Park, CA 91303

Charity Case

There is no buyer’s remorse when it’s for charity. That’s a fine reason to check out Fashion For Life’s annual charity fashion show and auction on May 18. At past Fashion for Life events my elbows have rubbed against the stylish Jeffrey Sebelia before he won “Project Runway,” supermodel Amber Valletta is a yearly fixture and Kristin Davis introduced last year's Vision Award recipient, Decades owner Cameron Silver. Last year I saw prime designer merch for auction, like a Costume National purse, at way below retail prices.
This year's fashion show line-up is another enticing selection of L.A.’s finest and newcomers: Robert Rodriguez, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Kevan Hall, Elsie Katz Couture, Diane Samandi, Paige Black Label and Rory Beca. Providing head-bobbing tunes is special guest DJ AM.
Tickets start at $75 and can be purchased by calling 310-929-7826. In this penny-pinching climate remember that it’s all for a good cause: the non-profit organization Friendly House that helps women recovering from alcohol and substance abuse.

Cobian Giveaway!

Rubber flip-flops may be the reigning champion when it comes to most comfortable summer footwear, but sometimes you don't want to look like you just schlepped off the beach. Enter Cobian's "Selena" flip-flops. Their molded soles have the same foamy arch support characteristic of your favorite walking sandals and the cracked leather strap raises the stylishness while keeping a free-spirited ease.

For a chance to test them out for yourself, e-mail letters@ciudadmag.com with "I want Cobian sandals!" in the subject line. Four people will be randomly selected and  will win a free pair of "Selena" flip-flops. In the e-mail, list your name, e-mail address, and shoe size. Winners we be contacted via e-mail with instructions about how to collect the prize.

Going Bananas for A Bathing Ape

Judging from the girls chronicled in the Gothic & Lolita Bible and the Harajuku district kids that have inspired the likes of Gwen Stefani, when Japanese youth buy into a look, subtle dabbling does not exist. And when it comes to sneaker heads in Japan, A Bathing Ape heads the charge. The cult-like following of A Bathing Ape's founder Nigo got a new temple of worship last week when the second A Bathing Ape store in the U.S. opened on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. Witness BAPE fever coming to a boil here where fans waited in line for hours to cross the threshold.
Like other BAPE stores worldwide (including the one I visited in Hong Kong), a rotating conveyor belt towing Technicolor sneakers is the center focus surrounded by bright camouflage carpet and neon thunderbolts. Pharrell Williams hosted the opening night party (that I didn't get into because the Fire Marshall halted entry after the store reached just over 100 person capacity), and drew a crowd of predictable chums like Kanye West, and wild cards, like Jonah Hill. Here, Nigo looks pretty mellow, but hiding under that cool gaze is a diamond-encrusted grill. –Rhea Cortado

Nicole Richie (far right) infiltrates the boys club, from left: Pharrell, Joel Madden and Nigo

Jonah Hill (far left) gives his best perplexed look with Nigo (right) and Pharrell (middle)

here is where I will probably run into the ultra clear glass at the new BAPE store

Sample Sale!

My home team California Apparel News and The Cooper Design Space are hosting a charity sample sale on Friday, April 25 and Saturday April 26. I helped set up by folding Article 1 T-shirts in a neurotically neat cube stack (anyone who has worked retail knows this autopilot zone). Up for sale are great hoodies by Mike & Chris; summer dresses and camis by Porridge and Ella Moss; tees by Butterfly Dropout; a smattering of separates by Trina Turk; Hot Tuna for the guys, a mountain of basic tees and tons more at ridiculous, below wholesale bargain prices. For the best pick of the litter come Friday. On Saturday, prices might be slashed to move. One hundred percent of the sales will benefit the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking.

California Apparel News sample sale
Cooper Design Space, Lobby floor.
860 South Los Angeles St. Los Angeles, 90014
April 25-26; 10am - 4pm

Simon Doonan’s Eccentric Glamour

I already own two self-help style books. The first is Nothing to Wear, which helped me clean out my closet of misguided impulse buys and become a focused shopper; and Tim Gunn’s A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style. I imagine statements to be read in a Tim Gunn impersonation voice, such as this one that describes experimentation in moderation, “If you’re wearing the antler hat, you must leave the caribou vest at home.”

This month I’ll pick up a third how-to stylebook, Eccentric Glamour, Creating An Insanely More Fabulous You by creative director of Barney’s New York and quirky out loud personality, Simon Doonan. Judging from an interview with Simon Doonan’s in WWD last week, this is not going to be your typical everyone-must-own-a-little-black-dress style guide.

A snippet from the WWD story:
“I want people to go back to the period where there are surprises and diversity. This deranged idea that everything should conform to some glamorous archetype is sucking the life out of fashion. It’s a bad trend.” Which means, yes. Doonan would most definitely be wearing the antler hat and the caribou vest.

Simon Doonan will sign his book, Eccentric Glamour, at Barney’s New York located at 9570 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills on April 17 from 5-7 p.m.

Fear not if you can’t get to Beverly Hills during rush hour to meet the man in person. The second best thing, signed copies, will also be available at Barneys.com -Rhea Cortado

From Beach to Street

Judging from the traffic I endured heading west on the freeway this weekend, everyone who wasn’t pumping the air conditioning at home was beach-bound. Last year, fluid jersey knit dresses and draping tops were the summer uniform. But as the thermostat climbed each day, nothing felt fresher than an airy woven cotton dress. This darling folkloric embroidered dress by Diane Samandi is apropos to throw over the swimsuit or wear solo with a pair of this season’s shoe du jour- gladiator flats. Samandi was (and still is) one of the original glamour lingerie designers from the 1980s Dynasty era, so its no surprise that her ready-to-wear line seen here doesn’t skimp on the details, from the red ribbon on the puffy sleeves to the leafy embroidery across the neckline. –Rhea Cortado

Diane Samandi is available at www.lisakline.com