LA-Story.com

Sometimes I get to do REALLY cool stuff. Last week, I had invitations to go to almost 7
parties and most were on Thursday night-- a girl can only do so much and go so far and
I won't stretch myself that thin --though if one of my BFF's had been along we would
have done a LOT more than I did.

I decided that  of all the parties, the one for the launch of Paige Premium Denim party
was the one I would focus on since 1) I have interviewed Paige, 2) I know her PR company really
well and 3) it was convenient for me to get to  and return to the freeway
(hey.. no one said that I made sense but truly in LA, getting around and being able to
get home in a snap can be the turning point for whether you go to a party or not)

Because I couldn't get anyone to go with me, I emailed a friend  who said she would meet me there. Since the party started at 6 PM and I knew what the guest list was like, I knew I had to be there early.. really early to make sure I didn't have to wait in line and could even get in! Traffic is murder after 3 PM on LA fwys so I made alternate plans.

First things first, let's pick out the outfit that I was going to wear since I didn't want to be boring at this party. It was smoking hot in LA and so I picked out a pair of cabernet tweede cropped cuffed pants, an embellished cotton ribbed tank that worked (two shades lighter) and a  plummy brown herringbone tweed blazer with a ribbon tie. I wore  brown suede slightly slouchy narro wedge heel boots-- which really made the outfit. Silver and pearl chandelier earrings (real pearls too) and a silver chain studded with pearl intervals.   Didn't wear the jacket for most of the day or night.. what a waste. I took a great little doctor satchel from Coach because it was easy to grab business cards.

I jumped in the car and headed north on the fwy.. touching base with several people thanks to earpieces and blue tooth and since I got to LA early went in search of a couple things-- like a place that I couldn't find that had amazing brownies for my friend who had just had a birthday. Everyone else I called was busy and couldn't meet me for coffee. (DARN!)

I needed a hair cut so I got hold of a  celebrity stylist who I know: Barry Reitman at Juan Juan Beauty Center on Wilshire. He is such a doll and really knows how to deal with hair-- particularly problematic situations like mine. The last cut I had done was really done on the fly and it had grown out weird. Plus the color I had last done had also turned on me. A friend of mine at home had helped me do a quick fix-- but the color is still problematic and it needs correction.  Barry sat me down and asked me what I wanted done and I said, "cut please". Cool.. how much  to chop off? At least 2 inches please. He was happy because we  both knew I needed probably 2-3 inches off and a clean up on the layers. Barry had wanted to do a conditioning treatment that would have fixed some of the color problem but  I had a 4:30 appointment (booked that too!) on the other side of Beverly HIlls (and yes it's murder at 3:30 till 7 on Beverly Hills streets!)
After making me promise to come back soon so he could fix the hair situation ( I promise! My hand is raised!!, Barry started cutting! By the time he was done, I was super happy. The volume had come back, the curls were bouncing all over the place.. and I looked like me-- only better.

While I was there, a PR friend came by (Avo)  to see someone else so we chatted a bit.  We were all trying to figure out who the lady was  in the next chair. Turns out it was the principal from Desperate Housewives! Avo is working with Janice Dickinson on her new show and she's been getting scads of interview requests.  I need to nail down a big print gig for that one--otherwise she won't talk to me.  FYI, Janice looks better in person than she does on tv.. and she's just as bold too!!

Avo left after I had to promise to call him (what's with all the promises??) and Barry finished up with me and I was off-- after giving Barry a big hug and a huge thank you!!

I ran off to  interview   Valerie of Beverly Hills. I have a couple pieces due on her and while I have interviewed her at least 3 times in the last few years, I had never met her or been to her store at Canon and Little  Santa Monica. Finding parking -- another notorious problem-- was  a bear but I eventually found public parking and scurried over to Valerie's since I was at least 20 minutes late.
While I was there, I was supposed to meet her PR person but I found out upon arriving that she had cancelled. However Valerie was very happy to meet me and show me the store which is huge!! It's a great space: light, airy, high ceilings and lots of light and lots of counter space including lots of stations for make-up application.

Valerie took one look at me (dehydrated!! Messy from the hair cut) and sat me in her chair while she did my brows (thank you!! they so needed it). She also showed me how to fix them with her sticky brow stencils too. (For those who are brow-challenged, you NEED these things).

Then she applied her most amazing  Top Secret Foundation which has silicone and anti-oxidants. It's a medium coverage that can go sheer but covers beautifully and still looks like real skin. AMAZING!! It's so new that it's not on her website and she's waiting on bottles to be delivered to put the product out on counters -- but I snagged a bottle. 

A dust of cheek color, a whisking of a bit of bronzer on the face and she even contoured my face. Next came the coolest mascara: Fat Furry Mascara   which thickened my lashes and made my eyes pop.

Valerie's a doll! She and I were talking the entire time and I must have been there almost 90 minutes while she did my makeup.  We "girl-talked" and dished about celebrities and the latest events like who came in and ( ooops.. I promised that I wouldn't tell) or the woman who had come in and bought  6 of everything because she wanted to give it to her friends. OR the celebrity who was the nicest person  and her significant other was --( NOPE can't tell you that either. I am sworn to secrecy!!) We did talk about all kinds of things from hair color to fashion to people to events and all the skinny of LA -- and  she knows everything and everyone!! Valerie's got her pulse and makeup brush on the biggest names in tv and film!!

After she finished applying this great pink lip gloss (it really looked good)( Baby Lip Shine in Cinderella),

she packed a goody bag for me and said for me to come back again!! (most definitely!! ) Her newest products:  LIquid Diamonds and  Fine Lines  are due in any time and will fly out of the store for holiday!

Once done, I needed to hit the road and went to retrieve my car and thankfully managed to not have to pay for parking! Down the roads, skirting traffic and trying to quickly get to Robertson Blvd,  I finally made it without mishap and decided since the streets were still busy at 5:45, that I needed to use the public parking structure and whipped across 2 lanes into the garage. Got a first floor space and walked down the street. It was WAY too warm for the jacket so I went off wearing my tank top, cropped pants and boots (should have brought my  AnyiLu Maryjanes!).

Robertson Blvd is a really tricky place. It's the "new Rodeo Drive" and you can --and do-- see everyone and anyone. I once saw Mark McGrath there.. and a few other people. Storyopolis had closed and the space of the bookstore across from the famous IVY Restaurant was taken by Surly Girl handbags (soon to open!) as well as  Paige Premium Denim. That's why I was there-- grand opening party. More about that in another blog since that's worthy of it's own story.

Anyway, had a great time. Didn't see my gf who was supposed to meet me there but saw lots of others (most who complimented me on how I looked).Saw people who were surprised to see me since they hadn't seen me in years.. (hah)

Went back to the car and the attendent wouldn't let me leave till I smiled! (ggg)

That's the LA Story!

Stevie