Inside the Dover Street Market Los Angeles

From the enlivened junkyard in the desert, let me take you to the reestablished warehouse section in Downtown Los Angeles.

Late last year, from London to Singapore, Comme des Garcons’ Rei Kawakubo and husband Adrian Joffe brought their sixth multi-brand Dover Street Market to the West Coast. Far-off the swanky Westside and into the fertile grounds of the Los Angeles Arts District, home to trendy cafes, art galleries, local artisan shops and concept stores.

Next to the mouthwatering array of sneakers, from Gucci to Vans, I got fixated on the art pieces and installations.

Dover Street Market’s own “beautiful chaos” theme is made more striking by the fact that cutting-edge fashion shares the same platform with artists using recycled materials. Changing every several months, I heard, the quirky, refreshing art leaves you with a smile. Keep making that smile contagious, DSM!

Filipino weaves meet autumn leaves

We’re happy and proud Ilocanas wearing heritage, history, culture and tradition. Thanking modern Filipinas for creating easy to wear traditional abel fabric designs, helping sustain local weaving communities, and widening the love for anything indigenous and local.

I so love my handwoven wrap by news anchor-turned-designer Niña Corpuz. So versatile that it can be layered in a lot of ways. Very functional with a pocket, it’s also a belt bag. For those who’d want to see Niña’s latest creations and pop-up market schedules, @ninainabel is on Instagram.

Ericke’s inabel Dragonfruit top, is by Brae, created by upcoming designer Modesty Eugenio, who is currently preparing for a formal fashion and design training this coming year, I heard. Check out Brae on Instagram here.

Visited the Getty Center with the latest arrival. Welcome to LA, Brandon!!!

Lulu and Lala: Fashion in their veins

I’m pretty sure Lala won’t mind if I say she took after the OG, fashion designer Luthgarda, more known as Lulu Raval in Ilocos. Tita Lulu was already doing boho-chic way before the term was even coined. Not your ordinary hippie look with shredded tie-dyed tees and elephant pants, but glam hippie pieces worthy of festivals in this day and age. Two of my vivid fashion images were dresses I wore in 6th grade, one “kulambo” mumu, with crocheted details, dyed in sunflower yellow, and the other an ethereal midi in layers of flimsy dusty rose gauze by her, which my dressmaker mom scored from her boutique at the Cubao Farmer’s Market.

Fast-forward to today, you can catch Lulu at the Melrose Trading Post on weekends. Her one of a kind designs attract Hollywood celebs and stylish Angelenos. Her ever fashionable sister, Ditas, who I occasionally see in Palm Springs, showed me an influential fashion glossy highlighting Lulu’s creations. Naturally, I was very proud of a fellow Laoagueña.

Found these photos taken two summers ago. Bought the versatile original Luth Garde kimono I couldn’t part with.

It’s the passion for fashion that Lala shares with her mom Lulu. It was an exciting thing discovering her at the Arts District Co-op in Downtown LA (here).

Went shopping yesterday, and Lala was looking fabulous in her sexy-skinny newness. It’s still winter here (hahah, what winter?) but it can be oppressively hot during the day, so in Los Angeles, layering is the way to go though crazy weather. Found cute pieces that will still be summer-appropriate

At Lala Dudley, expect a curated mix of one of a kind pieces, cute tees, edgy basics, lots of boho stuff which include jewelry and purses. She also gets her share of celebrity clients.

Grabbed this very new photo from Ericke’s Facebook and she was wearing a kimono by Lala Dudley, from 2 years ago, to Nina Bonoan’s wedding to Luis de Peralta today.