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Palm Springs Modernism Week 2011 Celebrates the Architectual and Design Culture of the Desert

by Sasha Milena

 

Braniff Airlines Uniforms designed by Emilio Pucci (photo via travelsentry)

The 11-day internationally acclaimed Palm Springs Modernism Festival features a variety of exciting events that will include the Modernism Show, film screenings, architecture tours, glamorous parties, art exhibitions, a car show, a vintage airline uniform exhibit, and much more.

 
Welcome to Palm Springs, CA !

The West-coast premeire of the  Braniff vintage airline uniform collection will be exhibited at the Riviera Hotel with the opening reception on Wednesday, February 22nd.  The exhibit features the work from 1960's fashion designers Terry Labus for Nardis, Halston, and Emillio Pucci.  

 
Albert Frey photograph

There will be over 50 events for participants to enjoy and experience at this year's festival.  Several art exhibits will be held throughout the festival including the photography of Albert Frey.  The free exhibit will run Feb 17-27th at the Micheal H. Lord Gallery.

 
Palm Springs Modernism Show

The Modernism Show and Silent Auction is the hightlight of the festival.  Dealers and collectors from around the world will be attending the show in Palm Springs Convention Center. 

 
Collectors and Guests of Palm Springs Modernism Week  

 
Danish 1950s Valet Chair in Teak and Oak designed by Hans Wegner

Participants will have a variety of events to choose from 6th Annual Modernism Week 2011.  For tickets and full schedule of events for Modernism Week visit www.modernismweek.com

 

 

Retro Row 4th Street Fair: Long Beach Bike Fest

by Sasha Milena 

 
Retro Row in Long Beach has a distinct and unique feel.  The businesses and the people of 4th Street are passionate about the Retro lifestyle.  There are dozens of shops that sell items ranging from vintage clothing and furniture to roller skates. There is a Retro Barber Shop, a newly renovated Art Theatre, Restaurants, Bars, and Bike Shops.  I live, work, and play on 4th Street and I have everything I need within my fingertips. 

Art Theatre on Retro Row

It was only a matter of time before the rest of the world caught on to this exciting world I call home.  Antique and Retro Shopper's Map has played an integral part in literally putting 4th Street on the map.  After fourteen years of promoting independent businesses in Southern California the work has finally paid off and Retro Row is beginning to receive the acknowledgement it deserves.

Cyclone Coasters: Group of Retro Bikers in Long Beach

Bike Fest in Long Beach is a three day event with the third day concluding on 4th Street or better known as Retro Row. The 4th Street in Motion Festival will include bicycle-themed films, bicycle activities and workshops for kids, live music on the EDSEL Stage, and shopping. The Cyclone Coasters will be showing off their awesome Retro bicycles that day as well.

Retro Row Long Beach 
The Bike Film Festival in theArt Theatre starting at 11 a.m. May 9 will feature the classic “Bicycle Thief,” an independent French film, “The Triplets of Belleville,” and the finale will be a local bicycle film showcase starting with the premiere of Michael Bauch’s film, “Riding Bikes with the Dutch.”

The Commotions

The music stage is sponsored by the Pike Restaurant and Bar and the line-up so far includes The Commotions and Bear Face.  4th Street will be closed to traffic from Junipero to Cherry Ave and the stage will be set up near the parking lot that has the Edsel car on the corner.
Edsel Car on 4th and Cherry

After the concert come by the Pike Restaurant where you will not only find great food and drinks but also our Shopper's Map headquarters.

Pike Restaurant and Bar on Retro Row Long Beach 

4th Street Retro Row in Long Beach is a rockin' place to be so don't miss out on all the fun May 9, 2010. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.longbeachbikefest.org for more info and print out a Long Beach Shopper's Map for your shopping guide.

Palm Springs: A Mid-Century Modern Oasis

by Sasha Milena

A weekend getaway to Palm Springs, CA proved to be the cure for my residual holiday stress.  I snatched a Palm Springs Shopper's Map and headed east on I-10.

Perez Design Center, located just south of Palm Springs in Cathedral City, boasts an impressive cluster of design and furniture stores.  I stopped by Hedge, where owners, Charles Pearson and Thomas Sharkey shared their latest arrivals: fencing masks and a vintage Wilson catcher's mask. These interesting pieces were displayed among their collection of mid-century and modern furniture and art.

Pictured Above: Hedge

Next door I discovered @Hom, an exciting maze of vintage and new furniture and original art. Store owners, Lee Thomas and Scot Nelson specialize in home staging and most recently staged the V.I.P. celebrity lobby for the Palm Springs Film Festival.

@ Hom Staging 

A couple doors down I spotted, Michael C. Hall, from the popular television series, Dexter, purchasing an original oil painting from Colin Fisher Studios.

 
Colin Fisher Studios 

I made my way down the row and found JP Denmark. Importing directly from Denmark, these experts have been bringing quality Danish furniture from the 1950s and 1960s for more than thirty five years.

Little Shop of Treasures

Heading North on the 111, I found Little Shop of Treasures, a multi-dealer store where I found this amazing Italian mask that I could not resist trying it on.

With a hard to miss store front, Asylum will draw you in and keep you inside with 8,000 sq. ft. of mid-century indoor and outdoor furniture and impressive accessories, lighting and wall decor.

Asylum

Just a little up the road is Dazzles and Dazzles Too. Although they have amazing Barware, vintage accessories, and outdoor patio furniture galore, I could not help but be drawn to the most colorful array of enameled flower pins I had ever seen!

Shop owner, Mike Sauls, smiled while I stared bright-eyed into the glass case like a child at the candy store, pointing and drooling. Mike wrapped up my flower of choice and I practically skipped out of the store to my hotel.

I decided to stay in the Ace Hotel, after discovering the hotel was designed and decorated with furniture and accessories purchased in some of the Palm Spring stores I had just visited. The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs is a renovated mid-century modern building with a unique lodging experience.

Each room has a different design and concept and uses old and new pieces to create one of a kind rooms.  From the lobby to the pool area, the decor and ambiance are cohesive and hip.  The staff were incredibly friendly and when it was time to check out I reluctantly bid a farewell to the Ace and to my new desert oasis, Palm Springs.

 

Print a Palm Springs Shopping Guide

Modernism Week in Palm Springs: February 12-20

Bettie Page Clothing in Hollywood: Sensual and feminine designs

by Sasha Milena

 

The Bettie Page clothing store in Hollywod has everything you need to look and feel like just like a pin up beauty.  Located on Hollywood Blvd just east of Highland Ave and near the Egyptian Theatre, Bettie Page Clothing provides hip hugging pencil skirts, classic and flirty dresses, and sexy lingerie.

All styles are top quality reproductions of timeless designs from the 1950s.  The designer and founder, Tatyana has a knack for creating pieces that not only look stunning but also have a comfortable fit. 

I visited the store and could not resist trying on a few pieces. I loved the way the dresses and skirts fit and I could feel the qulity in the fabric. Their most popular dress is the Captain and the skirt comes in either a flare or pencil.

Bettie Page Clothing also has 2 locations in Las Vegas and a website with an online store and gorgeous pin up ladies modeling their lines. 

 
The store carries great accessories like hard to find Bettie Page DVD's, t-shirts, purses, books, and lingerie.

Visit:
Bettie Page Hollywood
6650 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028

323-461-4014
www.bettiepageclothing.com

 

Red Carpet Glamour

I've been invited to a birthday soiree in Hollywood Hills next week and I have nothing to wear.  My good friend is dating a well-known director and the house is off Mullholand Dr. and has an amazing view of the city.  I had been there once for a casual BBQ but this event is for her birthday and I need to wear something with a little flair and of course, vintage. 

I have turned to the Red Carpet for some inspiration and found a few pictures of recent and past celebrities wearing vintage dresses. Penelope Cruz wore this Pierre Balmain dress from the 1950s to the 2009 Oscars.  The dress is very simple but so elegant and the embroidery work is amazing.

The photo above was taken by John French in 1961 and shows another gown by the French designer, Pierre Balmain.

Celeste Holm in the 1940s won an Oscar for best supporting actress in Gentleman's Agreement.  I love the fitted satin bodice and the floral necklace.

Now that I have found my inspiration from celebrities it is time to do some shopping for a dress and get my retro Hollywood look for the party.