Of a Kind
Having trouble deciding whether the red-and-blue chain print or the attached coin purse make this Clare Vivier creation more enticing… —erica
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Grace Lee Shares Her 5 Top Made-in-L.A. Makers
The best local sources for chocolates, dresses, and…fanny packs.
Grace Lee loves her some Los Angeles, and with (many a) good reason. The very thoughtful jewelry designer’s long-term love affair with the city has been fueled, at least in part, by the friends she’s made there: hugely inspirational creatives producing seriously cool work. Just get a load of this local goodness. —dana covit
Clare Vivier: “I met Clare when I was just starting my jewelry line and was very nine-months-pregnant with our second daughter Camilla. I immediately fell in love—there is such a timeless nature to Clare’s collection. My current favorite is the leather fanny pack that Clare debuted for spring. It takes me to another level of chic mom. I wear it everyday—around my waist, cross-body, and without the belt, as a clutch, at night.”
Compartes Chocolatier: “Compartes Chocolatier treats are made in-house from scratch with all-natural ingredients at their chocolate factory in Brentwood. Buyer beware: One taste, and you will be a regular (I am living proof).”
Black Crane: “I first ‘met’ Momo Suzuki, the designer behind Black Crane, when her home and closet were featured on Jeana Sohn’s Closet Visit. I was impressed with her pared-down home and philosophy—she proves that you don’t have to own a lot of stuff to be chic. The first time I put on a long Black Crane dress, I did not want to take it off. My current favorite is the Sage Green Jumpsuit.”
Handsome Coffee Roasters: “HCR is a must-try. I’m not a coffee drinker myself, but my husband loves it—and I am a sucker for great packaging, something HCR has down. It makes gifting the stuff that much better.”
Nico Nico: “My friend Sue Tsai is the designer behind Nico Nico, a children’s clothing collection. Her impeccable sense of style is obvious in her creations, which are all about sophisticated details and high-quality, often organic, fabrics. Her spring 2013 collection is titled ‘Good Times,’ and appropriately so: The first time my girls put on their Nico Nico striped jumpsuits they asked, ‘Mom are these for jumping!?’”
Photos by Becky Yee.
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Weather Vain: Paris, France - 52 With a Chance of Rain
Even when it’s rainy there, we’re itching to be in Paris. I mean, we aren’t fools. Here’s what we’d wanna be wearing if we were so lucky today. —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ A black Hope button-down that, with its asymmetrical hem, is so much more.
+ A glam Kelly Wearstler cuff that will make you even more bummed that you missed The Sporting Project’s latest pop-up dinner series (a good reason to book another trip!).
+ The sort of easy necklace by Gabriela Artigas that won’t get in your way in the French Trotters fitting room.
+ This Gryphon trench will keep you dry..and motivated to make the walk to La Pâtisserie Des Rêves.
+ Nothing’s wrong with a little flash—especially in the form of these stroll-ready, Marais-friendly Dieppa Restrepo shoes.
+ Try not to empty this Clare Vivier wallet at Merci. Just do your best.
+ Iris & Ink leather pants the color of the wine that’s bound to fill your belly.
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The Insider: Jen Rubio
Jen Rubio spends her days as Warby Parker’s social media guru, but when she’s out of the office, she’s probably out of town. The supremely stylish frequent flier globetrots so often that her Delta status is one we’ve never even heard of. Don’t worry, though: You can always find her @jennifer in the Twitterverse—yah, check-out that first-name-handle radness. —carlye wisel
Q: When you’re on a trip, do you always find yourself buying a certain thing as a souvenir?
A: I am actually old-school, and I write postcards every single place I go. One of my friends has postcards from, like, 30 different countries from me on her fridge. My thing: Whatever the picture is on the postcard, I write it there.
Q: What’s the most embarrassing thing on your bookshelf?
A: The most embarrassing is probably that I don’t even have a bookshelf right now because I move so much. The actual only bookshelf I have in my apartment is a print of “The Ideal Bookshelf” hanging up. It’s the fashion one. I do read! Books are hard to pack!
Q: If you could have access to anyone’s wardrobe, whose would you pillage?
A: Miroslava Duma. She’s amazing. We’re also both 5-feet-tall, so everything would already be hemmed! I mean, I could say Taylor Tomasi-Hill, but then I’d have to fuck around with a tailor. So, nope! I could just put on Miroslava’s pants and be fine. She’s one of those people who gets a bob, and then I’m like “OH, I’m gonna get a bob!”
Q: Does the bob work out?
A: No! Never! No one ever sees a bob on a celebrity and gets one and has it work out. It just doesn’t work. This is probably my most embarrassing beauty-related story: I have a very round face, and I saw some celebrity with a bob. I got it, and it looked so bad—so atrocious that the next day I sat in a chair for 11 hours and got a weave.
Q: What?!
A: My deepest, darkest secret is that I had a weave! It’s really expensive because it’s real hair. I know a lot about weaves. I literally walked into this place and was like, “I need long hair.” It takes a long time—they put hundreds of strands in your hair. I guess you could do those Jessica Simpson clip-ins, but…no. If I’m getting a weave, I’m going all-out!
Q: You own a slew of Of a Kind editions.
A: Yeah! In the beginning, I had maybe seven out of their first ten editions. I have all of the Claire Vivier ones, and I have all the Erica Weiner stuff—I’m very loyal to my Of a Kind designers. I actually have a crazy Of a Kind story. I bought the very first hat Annie Larson did, and I was so excited. I worked at this agency and told everyone, “Guys! Only 25 people have this hat, it’s amazing!” And a week later, my co-worker Kyle’s like, “Oh, I saw someone with your hat on the train.” And I was like, “No you didn’t! I’m telling you, only 25 people have it.” And he goes, “No, I swear! I took a picture for you, since I know you’re obsessed with that hat!” And he shows me this picture of this girl, and I lost it. I was like “Oh my god, you’re my hat twin!”—of course not even thinking that Of a Kind’s early customers all lived in New York. I had a blog at that point, and I posted this girl’s picture on my blog and blocked out her face. And a girl comments on my blog, “Oh my god, that’s my sister!” and e-mail introduces me to her sister. We never actually met up, but this girl lived in Brooklyn, she had the same hat, and we’re like, hat soulmates.
Get to know more peeps we think are thebomb.com right over here!
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Weather Vain: Bogotá, Colombia - 77 and Clear
People are making us all kinds of jealous with their warm-weather travels right now. And while we’re personally very upset with anyone lucky enough to head to the Colombian capital, we’re willing to offer you our professional support—and a packing list. —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ A Lemlem dress that doubles as a cover-up when you head to the beaches at Tayrona National Park.
+ This bracelet by K/LLER: jazzy enough for dinner at Mi Viejo, overlooking La Candelaria’s so-stunning square.
+ To keep your CCs and pesos in order, a mini Clare Vivier wallet.
+ The sort of Erica Weiner necklace that could go with basically every outfit in your suitcase.
+ Loeffler Randall shoes that are most definitely made for walking (and exploring Macarena—the ‘hood, not the dance).
+ Super sunglasses to deal with such annoyingly bright and clear weather.
+ The perfect pared-down travel bag from Eayrslee. Bonus: It can be worn around your waist (as long as you don’t call it a fanny pack).
Head this way for more “Weather Vain!” Hot (and cold) stuff.
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Of a Kind
LADIEZ: It doesn’t get any chicer than this. I know you’re not even reading what I’m typing here because you’re examining Clare Vivier’s one-two punch above, trying to figure out just how much stuff you can jam into her suede, cheetah-print, bag-and-coin purse pairing. The answer: Everything you actually need—ok, plus a backup lipstick. —erica
BUY / 200 of a kind / $54 + $173
Read more about the designer behind the line:
+ On getting her start with computer sleeves.
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Of a Kind
With her new woven leather, Clare Vivier somehow makes it possible for us to love her EVEN MORE. —erica
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Alumni News: Clare Vivier and Kathryn Bentley Double the Fun
OH, HI, FULL CIRCLE: One of our first pieces of Alumni News was on the grand opening of Vivier & Bentley, the rad retail-slash-studio space spearheaded by two Of a Kind alums—accessories whizzes Clare Vivier and Kathryn Bentley. Now, 365 (and some) days later, the duo has doubled the goodness, with Clare setting up shop two buildings down the street (address above on the genius invite—a classic CV pouch!) and Kathryn transforming their old space at 1404 Micheltorena Street to house Dream Collective, her other amazing jewelry line. We don’t usually approve of double-dipping, but, well, these Silverlake spots are an obvious exception to the rule. —jiayi
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Of a Kind
Clare Vivier is making her trademark Tropézienne bag in a canvas-leather combo now. We experienced this thing in person, and, lemme tell you, you should, too. —erica
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Mother Lode: Clare Vivier Keeps Things Clean
Clare Vivier’s minimalist design philosophy is very much in line with her childcare one. For her bags, this means hyper-clean lines and as little hardware as possible, and for her son, it translates to Levi’s and Fruit of the Loom tees. Oh, and this multitasking bath product that pays tribute to their home state.
“My cute boy bathes in nothing but California Baby Calming Shampoo and Body Wash. Keep it real simple for the cutie-pie.” —clare
