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Rhea Cortado

Stories by Rhea

Riviera Club Sets Sail at Ron Herman

From left, co-founders of Riviera Club Joe Sadler, Derek Buse and Greg Ullery are poster boys for their brand’s California lifestyle line.The founders of the men’s clothing line Riviera Club look like they live a charmed existence. The brand was conceived by Joe Sadler, Derek Buse...

Eco on the Agenda

The action-sports industry talks eco at SIMA’s “Green Boot Camp.” ...

Crocs Is Making Shoes That Are Not Plastic Clogs

You by Crocs uses the squishy technology that makes those clogs so comfy but in styles that are easier on the eyes.I know what you’re thinking. I thought the same thing. When I ran into the cute Samantha Bryan and she told me, in her adorable Australian accent, that she was a designer for...

A Book. Of Vintage T-Shirts

From left, Marc and Patrick Guetta, owners of World of Vintage T-shirts on Melrose Avenue. Photos courtesy of Taschen.Only in Los Angeles are there collectors with enough rare pop culture vintage T-shirts to fill a nearly 400-page picture book (that’s more than 650...

Trina Turk Is Spring Cleaning

The same way that catching the scent of backyard barbeque grilling can transport you to that Fourth of July summer beach party, a Trina Turk print is a sensory experience that’s the second-best thing to actually being in Morocco or Palm...

Shop and Eat for Charity

Fashionable foodies, take note. Next Thursday, April 8, the Tory Burch store on Robertson Boulevard will host a night of shopping and cocktails to benefit Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation. California Apparel News...

Mood Up, but Reviews Mixed at L.A. Market

Showroom owners and sales reps reported a renewed sense of optimism during the March 19–23 run of the Los Angeles Fashion Market, although many said retailers remain cautious with their spendi...

MOCA Contemporaries Sponsors 'Art Merges With Fashion' Event

From left, Emily Harteau and Michelle Chaplin, designers of Smoke Mirrors, and MOCA board member Marika Krissman Tsircou. photo by John EckmierA random jumble of art and fashion fans packed into the

Farm Tactics, Elmer Ave, Otto Gates and Mike Vensel at Concept L.A. Fashion Week

Farm Tactics makes workwear-like clothing that will be worn by discerning men who probably don’t do any real manual labor, unless you count the hands-on tasks of tending an organic urban garden and DIY home art projects.In the waiting time between runway shows at Concept at...

BOXeight Fashion: Refocus - Day 3

A photo of photographers taking photos of Ben Cope, who's taking photos of Post’age denim.BOXeight Fashion concluded its three-day run of live photo shoots on Sunday night. On the schedule was Gabby Applegate, photographed by Sam Hessamian; Kanvis, photographed by...

Runway Blackout at Concept L.A. Fashion Week

Fremont at Concept L.A. Fashion Week. Photo by Volker CorellThe brands that showed on the runway last night during

The Proposal at L.A. Fashion Weekend

Mikey Koffman, kneeling down, popped the big question after the runway show during L.A. Fashion Weekend. Photo by John EckmierMikey Koffman, founder of The Gallery Los Angeles showroom, can appear to be a tough cookie, but she showed a tender side on...

Yotam Solomon's Hollywood Hills Bash

Photo by John EckmierYotam Solomon described the “ultimate style” for the modern woman he dresses as “sexy, fun, L.A.” So the designer went for a very Hollywood-type party for his latest presentation, held last night at a...

Entering the Chamber of Chambers

Send thank you cards to these guys for helping you look effortlessly cooler. From left, Devin Carlson and Matt Goldman of ChambersDevin Carlson and Matt Goldman just made it cost a lot less for cute boys to look hip. Their new line, Chambers—full of easy-to-wear collared shirts, jacket and sweater...

L.A. Fashion Week Calendar Girl

Though our staff has been keeping track of the sprouting events for L.A. Fashion Week here on the blog and on the California Apparel News calendar, we also confer with Jen Uner’s www.FashionWeekLA.com. She has been compiling the L.A. Fashion Week calendar for eight years.I ran into Uner at the Gen Art event last night, and she shared some...

Neoprene Dream

Jill Anjuli Hansen in her own California Candy wetsuit. Photo by Gina SinotteThough a blonde by nature, surfer Jill Anjuli Hansen wanted to crush the stereotype of the quintessential blue-eyed and golden-tressed surfer chick. “I’ve always loved tattoos, and a lot of surf companies don’t want to sponsor a punk-rock surfer,” Hansen...

Designer Groupies

photos via Brachfeld Gallery ParisWe all know its poor form to wear a band’s T-shirt to their concert. But it’s encouraged to wear a designer’s clothing at his or her runway show. Enter a hybrid of both worlds: the concert-style designer tee.Found on...

Diverse Offerings, Multiple Venues in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS—There was plenty of new merchandise to see at the recent run of Las Vegas trade shows, and buyers zipped from one end of town to the other to shop among more than a dozen events. ...

According to Fast Company, Technology Companies are Most Innovative. Obviously.

CEO Susan Lyne of Gilt Groupe, the highest-ranked fashion company in Fast Company's "Most Innovative" list. photo by Chris Shipman courtesy FastCompany.comWe get it, the Internet and technology are the future. Business magazine Fast Company published its latest...

Denim According to Taylor Jacobson

At Project next week, Kasil will launch its denim collaboration with former assistant to celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, Taylor Jacobson. Check out the full story here. Taylor was clueless about the mechanics of jeans before Kasil creative director David Lim took her to the sample sewers room and wash house. Here is a further look at...

Getting Comfortable With Men's Underwear

Selection, style and selling points are key for retailing to men....

Jedidiah Joins the Bangladesh Surf Club

documents its trip to Bangladesh with Surfing The Nations in the short film “Gum for My Boat.” Video via Jedidiahusa.com As far as primo surfing destinations go, Bangladesh’s mediocre shores next to India aren’t one of them. But that...

Immediates, Accessories, Proven Brands Help Boost Business at L.A. Market

Traffic was up—in some cases, way up—at the Jan. 15–19 run of Los Angeles Fashion Market, according to many reps who said the market was much improved over last January. ...

All Aboard the Vans to Hellz

Geeking out about limited-edition sneakers is usually a guy’s game, but Lanie Alabanza-Barcena likes to give the middle finger to gender rules. As “HBIC of Hellz,” she’s a pied piper leading women’s streetwear fashion for girls with opinions. Her latest...

The Fairy Godfather of Glass Slippers

Pasquale Fabrizio can fix any shoe. Now he's tackling shoe design, with his Q by Pasquale line, which features soles made of Murano glass.Repair a hole stabbed through a work boot? Widen soles for model-height dames? Alter a tall boot to hug the calf like a...

Ellen von Unwerth's Frauleins at Play

The cover of "Fräulein" by photographer Ellen von UnwerthIn lingerie speak, Valentine’s Day is like Christmas for intimates aficionados poised to be unwrapped. Just in time for the romantic...

Captain EO Returns to Disneyland!

Fellow babies of the ’80s remember the wonderment of the "Captain EO" 3-D film experience at Disneyland that ran from 1986–1997. For a limited engagement in February 2010, Disneyland will resurrect the 17-minute film/music video ride starring Michael...

Investing in Essentials: Customer Service-Based Lingerie Stores Thrive

Despite a challenging year that left many neighborhood shopping thoroughfares abundant with empty windows and “for lease”...

Virgo Opens Downtown

BFFs Alejandra Hernandez and Rana Shoar at Virgo’s opening-night party on Dec. 18It’s all about location, location, location. Young hipster design duo Alejandra Hernandez and Rana Shoar planted their store Virgo in a spot that has guaranteed designer-shoe foot traffic...

Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' Trailer

After months of chewing on these still-photo teasers, the trailer for Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland" with costumes designed by Colleen Atwood has finally hit online. Alice may be the namesake of this film, but Disney knows it's all about milking...

Victoria's Secret. Michael Bay. Movie Trailer Explosions.

video via Entertainment Weekly It’s the ultimate mash-up of Maxim-reading, Axe body spray-wearing, testosterone and beer-soaked frat bros’ dreams: Michael Bay has directed a Victoria’s Secret commercial. Set to the kind of extreme, power-chord guitar...

A Sequence of Sequins at Greta

On display at Greta was a lineup of New York-based Sachin + Babi's sequins-covered tops, jackets, pants and dresses.Though Sachin + Babi for Ankasa hail from the Empire State, the brand’s ornate collar necklaces and sequins-saturated collection fit right in with...

Volcom Wants You to Give Jeans a Chance

This video made for the “Give Jeans a Chance campaign” has Volcom-brand tom-foolery written all over it. A cartoon pair of jeans sings lyrical poetry such as, “You gotta give me away to the homeless. I can’t fit up past your booty and you know...

Apparel News Daily Reader

A fashionable turnout to MOCA's...

Apparel News Daily Reader

The Ultimate Hermès Sale. Auction prices for the luxury maker's signature Kelly and Birkin bags soar despite the downturn (Wall Street...

More Hello Kitty Than You Can Shake a Hello Kitty Stick At

Models from the Hello Kitty fashion show play in the Hello Kitty houseIf Hello Kitty didn’t hypnotize you with her cuteness like a Jedi mind trick, she would be quite the narcissistic little brat. Her face is on everything. “Papa Sanrio, can I have a...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Ridicule Keeps Fans of Harem Pants From Getting Too Big for Their Britches (Wall Street Journal)SightUnseen: Lifestyles of the Young and Designy...

New on Robertson Blvd: Undrest Pop-Up Shop

Half the blonde brigade from “The Hills” was there: Whitney Port, Lo Bosworth and Stephanie Pratt. Model-turned-actress Caroline D’Amore (who was a bestie of Paris Hilton before you had to compete for the spot on...

Sugar Lilie Dessous Prives Opens

photo by Kari DietrichSome of the best boutiques in the city—whose owners curate their brand choices with the balanced precision of a Japanese Ikebana floral arrangement-—are concentrated on West Third Street between Fairfax Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood, Calif. That’s why it was always a conundrum to me...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Feeling for … ’80s Shades (NYTimes The Moment)Clothespin: Demi Couture (LAMagazine Chic Leak)Why Marc Jacobs did a Louis Vuitton dog carrier (TimesOnlineUK)Picking...

Apparel News Daily Reader

William Rast opens its first stores in Century City, San Jose and...

Apparel News Daily Reader

Underneath It All: A Girls Guide to Buying, Wearing and Loving Lingerie (Faire Frou Frou Fashionista) Be the Belle of the Ball on a Budget with Rent the...

Twilight Descends on Hot Topic at Hollywood & Highland

"Twilight Fans" swarm the Hot Topic store at Hollywood HighlandHere’s what I knew. Eight hundred die-hard fans of the "Twilight" book series would be making a pilgrimage to Hot Topic at Hollywood Highland in Los Angeles for an in-store autograph signing by the supporting cast of the...

Hits, Misses and Plans for the Future at L.A. Fashion Week

After nearly a month of runway shows, events and trade shows, Los Angeles’ fashion community is assessing the sprawling—and occasionally chaotic—mix of events, and show producers are already gearing up f...

Wellen Pop-Up Shop

A preview of what will be sold at the Wellen pop-up store.Nevermind that Los Feliz is nearly 20 miles (that clocks in at an hour plus some in L.A. traffic) from where waves meet the sand. Surf lifestyle line Wellen is bringing its surfboards...

Gen Art's Newest Fresh Faces

In the final stretch of this L.A. Fashion Week Month filled with new fashion week players, Gen Art’s 12th annual “Fresh Faces in Fashion” at the Petersen Automotive Museum last night had a cool, familiar vibe. The hip and young crowd dressed in their best party outfits and...

L.A. Market Sees Retailers Thawing Out for Spring Season

You could feel the economic chill lifting inside the various showrooms scattered around downtown Los Angeles during the Oct. 16–20 run of Los Angeles Fashion Market Spring 2010....

What Would Happen to Those Animals if It Were Junker's Arc

A raccoon skull as a hair accessory at the Junker show. The presence of skins, furs, feathers and bones of dead creatures is a given with Jünker, but this season the designs shown by Giuliana Mayo and Tod Waters on Oct. 22 had a higher quotient of animal carcasses than usual. While Mayo rattled off a...

Her Super Sweet 17

A look from the Queenie4Ever fashion showTatiana McLane puts a new dimension to the term young designer. The 17-year-old’s line, Queenie4Ever, was featured at the boutique EMCo’s “Up Next: Emerging L.A. Designers” fashion show on Wednesday. And this was McLane’s second fashion show. “I did one when I was...

Queens in the Desert

Equality California—the 11-year-old organization that works with legislation, policy makers and coalitions to achieve equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community—will host its annual Equality Awards gala presented by ATT...