Zimmermann Hits L.A.

Sunny days are here again, Angelenos! Not only is summer about to kick off into full swing any day now, but fabulous Australian line, Zimmermann, known for its fashionable swim and beachy glam apparel (that I am personally obsessed with), has officially opened its doors on Robertson Boulevard.

As the first permanent U.S. retail store, the sun-drenched all-white boutique exudes a tranquil, luxurious energy the moment you step inside. First you'll be greeted by adorable Aussie salesgirls and then you'll magically get swept away by racks brimming full of incredibly cute swimwear, cover-ups, sexy dresses, sweet rompers and so. much. more!

The drool-worthy pieces are everything you've ever wanted in resort wear and the whole line boasts stunningly beautiful feminine prints and patterns designed by Nicky Zimmermann herself. Price points are steep, but with swimwear this gorgeous, sometimes it's worth a splurge, right?

I stopped in this week, mere days after opening, to tour the store and meet Nicky in person. After a glorious walk-through with the genuinely charming and talented designer, I'm more smitten than ever; and can safely conclude that Zimmermann is exactly what L.A. needs.

Take a look:

About Town: Armani Exchange on Robertson

The recession continues to have a major impact on retailers, which may explain why upscale Armani Casa on trendy Robertson Blvd. has recently (as in this past Wednesday) morphed into reasonably-priced Armani Exchange. I, personally, haven't stepped foot into an AX since high school (remember when logo tees were all the rage?), but I took a peek this time around, and was somewhat pleasantly surprised. The space has a very clean urban vibe, and the clothes are overall wearable, and of course, affordable. This location even has a few capsule limited-edition pieces (think: vintage-worn utilitarian jackets, skinny cargo pants, etc. in washed-out neutral tones) for both men and women, that were pretty cute (not my style, personally, but cute.)

My pick of the day? A black leather bow clutch with chic yet subtle gold hardware (no one will even notice that the nameplate says 'Armani Exchange' unless they're squinting) for a mere $68. Large enough to tote your nighttime essentials, and not too floppy that it gets ridiculous (hello, Valentino.)

The New PinkBerry!

It's no secret that I'm dangerously addicted to my Blackberry, so when I got an invite to check out the brand new pink Blackberry Curve at a party held at Intermix on Robertson, I stepped right up.

It was an all-out pink party, complete with a pink carpet, pink treats (French macaroons and lollipops) and plenty of stylish city gals. There was also a fun black and white photo booth in the back that we took full advantage of.









Stars like Emmy Rossum, Rebecca Gayheart, Sanaa Lathan and Kim Kardashian popped in to the party, and Emmy even picked up a navy beaded evening jacket by Gryphon ($595 at IntermixOnline.com) moments after she walked in. She was even sweet enough to take a twirl and model her new purchase for me.



I chatted with celeb stylist extraordinaire Jessica Paster (who is really, such a doll) and got to know Sanaa, who's starring in the upcoming film, The Family That Preys.

Best of all? I scored a brand new pink Blackberry as a gift, and valet left a pink rose in my car as a special touch.

Life could be worse. :)

Phillip Lim Lands in L.A.

I cruised over to the launch party of 3.1 Phillip Lim on Robertson tonight and had a truly fabulous time! With all of these fashion parties, I have to say everything is starting to blur together, but tonight was actually enjoyable, all in all.

For starters, the store was impeccable. Really futuristic and modern, airy, all white and quite gallery-like. Fantastic fashion crowd per usual, and the designer himself flew in from New York to toast the west coast. Stars that popped up included Kate Walsh, Jennifer Morrison, Camilla Belle and Emmy Rossum.

Afterwards, I headed over to the after-party at the super-swank Bar Marmont in Hollywood and had a phenomenal time lounging outside, chatting with other fashionistas and taking in the stylish soiree. Becki Newton was there,looking totally chic, and told me that she's moving back to New York next week for Ugly Betty. Luckily for her, she held on to her Upper West Side apartment from years past, so the thought of relocating wasn't wearing her out.

See my party pics below!

Crazy for Chanel!!!

My beloved Robertson Blvd. couldn't have been any crazier tonight as the new Chanel boutique hosted a fabulous VIP bash to kick off its opening this weekend. The store was absolutely gorgeous--three stories of sparkling designer luxury, complete with courtyard lounge areas, giant bronze statues of iconic shoes, handbags, perfume and more.

Tons of celebs came out including Maria Menounos, Rachel Bilson, Angie Harmon, Amber Valletta, Nicollette Sheridan, Michelle Tractenberg, Emma Roberts, Leighton Meester, Kathy Hilton, etc. (Sidenote--Kathy has seen so much of me lately that she just walked over to me and chatted me up; I didn't even have to approach her for an interview! Ha. FYI--Paris is in Tokyo and Nicky's in New York at the moment.)

I was a little frazzled making the rounds and interviewing celebs, but I did take the time to admire some pretty swanky new handbags that I'd L-O-V-E to own.

Here are a few candids I snapped:











Silver quilted handbag and matching ballet flats are limited-edition pieces exclusive to the Robertson location.

Russia Hits Robertson

Brand spankin' new boutique, Kira Plastinina, opened its doors for a VIP press party last night. The boutique is hard to miss with its brightly-lit pink signage and teenage disco queen-like styles (think: sequined mini dresses, darling mini skirts, glittery tanks and metallic messenger bags) on trendy Robertson Blvd. Tons of new shops are popping up this summer (including Chanel, which is throwing a fabulous launch party tonight!)

The boutique is powered by the Russian-born 15-year old (yes, you read that right-- 15!!) designer/entrepreneur herself, who has over 40 boutiques in Russia, and is popping up a few select locations (LA, NY and CT) stateside. Apparently, she is the It girl in Russia, and has shown her collections at fashion week is Moscow.
As far as the clothes go, I have to say, I probably wouldn't wear any of it (a little too teeny bopper), but my 19-year old sister was loving a few pieces here and there.

Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl stopped by (see her pic below), as well as actress Camille Guaty. Audrina Patridge is her brand spokeswoman (kinda cute, right?) and price points average about $48.
Quite impressive for Robertson Blvd., no?