Fashion Unfiltered

Beer Elegance

[beerelegance-blog]

When I was a kid I would get soooo bored when my dad would drag me to car shows. Now, I'm happy to be sharing this time with him. First it was a Volkswagen and when he got bored with that, he got his dream car: a '78 Alfa Romeo. What's the point? I used to think? How could you possibly be interested in the endless detail, the original and non-original parts? But it's like anything you collect: it's about holding onto quality work and design in a world that increasingly takes it for granted. It's not about how beautiful your car is, but the journey you undertake to reach perfection (or imperfect) perfection if you can't get original parts. I like nice things. I appreciate design. However, more than anything I appreciate the time with my Dad doing something he loves. Appreciating the exactitude of his engineer mind in contrast to the bendable reality of my artist mind. P.S. this is not my dad's trunk. I've photographed it before. It might belong to the Dad of some other thirty-something kid who rolled thought it was too hot to be here looking at a bunch of cars. Maybe they get it now. #AlfaRomeo #losangeles #classic #vintage (at Petersen Automotive Museum)

[beerelegance-blog]

Rest in Passion Sonia Rykiel

French fashion has a certain simplicity, even when luxurious fabrics are employed. Legendary French designer Sonia Rykiel has passed away at the age of 86 (or 90!) according to one report. 

She revolutionized knitwear by putting the seam outside of the garment for the first time, created the “poor boy” striped sweater and pioneered text written on sweaters as well. 

Remaining a trendsetter well into her advanced years, (even herself making the best-dressed list) she collaborated on a collection with H&M and was known for her trademark flaming red shoulder-length bob. 

RIP in fashion heaven Madame Rykiel.

Sonia Rykiel photographed by Dominique Isserman, 1980

More on Mme. Rykiel

[beerelegance-blog]

Found these orphans at Trader Joe's & adopted them all. Even the Ballast Point twins. Te amo niños! | #BeerElegance BeerElegance.com🍺#craftbeer #beer @ballastpointbrewing @andersonvalleybrewing | STYLE GUIDE: (l) to (r) Ballast Point's now famous Grapefruit IPA-sour sweet counterbalances bitter hops, excellently balanced, great for hop fatigue. Warsteiner (Germany) pilsener (yet to try) Anderson Valley Oatmeal Stout (yet to try from this CA brewer) #style #elegance #losangeles

[beerelegance-blog]

On National Beer Day, A Look At Beer, Tax & The Fight Against Whiskey In America

Happy National Beer Day! Beer has long been a favorite in the US. Here's what you need to know about beer's history in the US - as well as where the industry might be headed.

[beerelegance-blog]

Hedi’s Heady Run at Saint Laurent

It’s time to toast Hedi Slimane, purveyor of today’s too slim & too cool high-end rocker look. The past few years, as the head of Saint Laurent, Paris he turned the brand more towards the luxe, slinky, seventies heritage of YSL;  adding a dash of L.A. nonchalant noir for good measure. 

Now he has departed the conglomerate-owned brand despite heavy sales. Did he feel stifled? It’s hard to say. Once the namesake is gone, big labels seem to rarely be in the same hands for too long. 

It will be interesting to see who comes on board next and takes over. 

In the meantime, we will crack open a biere de garde in honor of the French fashion designer’s run. 

For more info on Hedi’s departure from Saint Laurent:

http://www.vogue.com/13384419/hedi-slimane-leaves-saint-laurent/?mbid=nl_040116_Daily_VR&CNDID=38858097&spMailingID=12818654&spUserID=MTE0ODM1NzAxNjk2S0&spJobID=723020219&spReportId=NzIzMDIwMjE5S0

Christine Terrisse 

Hedi Slimane via Vogue/Getty Images

[beerelegance-blog]

It’s Thaime for a New Release from The Bruery.

The Bruery, arguably SoCal’s most wildly experimental-meets-sophisticated brewery has announced a new spring release called Trade Winds. 

They’ll also have on hand a ramped up version called “Trade Windier” with even more hops and Thai basil added. 

So, if you’ve been meaning to make it to Belgium and Thailand, but just don’t have room in your summer schedule, the brew babes at the Bruery will take you there.

Can’t wait to try this one! If you are a Bruery society member and get to try it early, tell me what you think! 

[beerelegance-blog]

Chanel Spring/Summer 2016: Glam Vamps

One by one, soft, sullen vamps emerge from a minimalist wooden “dollhouse” structure one could imagine finding in an enchanted Japanese forest somewhere. So begins Karl Lagerfeld’s Spring/Summer 2016 couture show held at the Grand Palais in Paris on January 28th. 

These vamps are clad in neutral and navy; all having a 1940s slim silhouette balanced by bejewelled detailing, and unabashed feminie lace. A constant throughout is a smart reinvention of the fanny pack: slim hip-slung purses the perfect width for a smartphone, perfectly blended in with each outfit. This sleek pouches were on every single piece, including the bridal piece de resistance at the end of the show. 

Another constant was the rolled chignons: a Hitchockian-meets-Geisha hairdo that appeared on every model including Chanel mainstays Kendall Jenner, Mariacarla Bisogno, Lindsey Wixon and Gigi Hadid. 

The silhouettes became the most forward-thinking as they morphed into  a loser eveningwear silhouette, often imbued with a carefree 1920s/late 30s freedom–the length always almost reaching to the ankles. 

This change is noted in the music and the introduction of shots of black and black floral patterns. The shoes were a chunky cork-soled take on the Chanel spectator. 

See the full show here:

http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fashion/haute-couture.d.video_5a7f.html

[beerelegance-blog]

Los Angeles’ Homegrown Watch Company Gets an Upgrade

Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Weiss? 

I’m not sure if Weiss Watch Company–as far as I know, L.A.’s only in-house watch manufacture will ever have the cachet of the bigger Swiss brands, but I love that these gorgeous field watches have an L.A. progeny and proclaim so proudly on the dial. 

Weiss just announced a new capability: they can now machine rare watch cases starting with the Executive Issue 79 in 18k gold on either a white-on-black or black-on-white dial. 

The gleaming gold gives the simple, attractive vintage-like field watch an L.A. upgrade. And this city could use some understated elegance. 

[beerelegance-blog]

Bernie Sanders Beer - Cool Material

[gq]

Johnny Cash Getting Ready to Perform at Folsom Prison

January 13th, 1968

[harpersbazaar]

The Jewels: Off the Wall

Get lost in artist Beth Katleman’s porcelain dreamscapes, adorned with the season’s most luxurious jewels.

See all of the luxe jewelry HERE. 

[beerelegance-blog]

K-Town Gets Crafty

It’s hard to keep all the beer goings-on in L.A. straight. Suffice it to say, in almost every neighborhood there will be a place to get crafty. Koreatown, sandwiched between downtown and Hollywood has a new craft destination. Check it out via Eater L.A. :

Photo via Eater L.A.

http://la.eater.com/2015/10/23/9602090/southland-beer-koreatown-craft-beer-open

[condenasttraveler]

#Paris state of mind. 🇫🇷 Photographed by @trisataro. #TakeMeThere #AtHomeInTheWorld #TravelerInParis (at Paris, France)

[beerelegance-blog]

Craft brews are in great demand, and so are the breweries

[beerelegance-blog]

TRAP QUEEN Loving this Dutch caramel lady. Powerful mouthfeel. Nice carbonation balance. She knows what she wants...

[beerelegance-blog]

Cup 'o clover. | #HappyHour

[beerelegance-blog]

A Bigger, Shinier Golden Road

For those of you keeping tabs on the national craft brew scene, the big news here in California is that Golden Road is now a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch. 

Is Golden Road a dominant craft beer in L.A. and the surrounding parts? Should it still be considered a "craft", especially since purportedly it will be made the same way by (most likely) the same people? 

Or, is this an example of the Amazons of industry swallowing up the Mom & Pop's who revived that very industry? 

Trying to be objective. Here is a great article in the L.A. Times on the move: 

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-golden-road-brewing-anheuser-busch-20150923-story.html

What are your thoughts?