Bita Rad

D&G (not to be confused with Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce’s higher-end label Dolce & Gabbana) opened up the doors of its newest store on Robertson Blvd last night, December 15th.  Intrigued by West Hollywood’s mix of edgy fashion and a relaxed atmosphere, the brand opened the store in efforts to remain at the core of the Westcoast’s fashion scene. The star-studded event showcased the kaleidoscopic boutique which was designed by Dordoni Architetti Studio, a famous interior design studio in Italy.

I am a bit surprised that the company opted not to open the boutique on the ever-sprawling Melrose Ave., but neither did Chanel who now sits side by side to Robertson’s newest addition. However, unlike Chanel’s Robertson Blvd store which only offers a limited  and tightly focused selection, the D&G store offers a full assortment of men’s and women’s apparel, underwear, beachwear, accesories, eyewear, and jewelry. It is, afterall, only the eighth freestanding D&G shop in the U.S.

]Name: Eric Daman

Age: Unknown

Status: Costume Designer/ Stylist for Gossip Girl

# of yrs. in the Spotlight: 10

The truth is that if you haven’t yet discussed it with your friends, you have at one point or another marveled at the wardrobe that the cast of Gossip Girl gets to wear. Undoubtedly, Gossip Girl has become the best-dressed show on television, now that Sex & The City is over with. And as it turns out, you can find one man responsible for both! Eric Daman, who also once assisted Patricia Field on the set of Sex and the City as a costume designer, has now moved on to the next best thing.

Daman started his fashion career as a buyer for a Paris boutique, and was soon discovered as a model by famed fashion photographer Steven Meisel. In 1999 he became the assistant costume designer for Sex & The City, and the rest is history. In a recent interview with WWD, Daman opens up about his fashion philosophy:

“I always make sure I mix some of the higher-end looks with something from a less expensive brand. I use stuff from Forever 21 and H&M all the time. You will always see someone wearing a $5,000 dress with a pair of Nine West shoes. That is how people dress today anyway.”

This quote rings especially true for the quintessential California fashionista. .

Click here to be schooled by Eric Daman on how to get the perfect fall style.

I was introduced to Romp by a friend of mine.  The flagship store at 7928 West 3rd Street is something to see. Upon entering the iron gates in front of the store, you are thrown into this beautiful shop where fur rugs line the floor and seductive mannequins lay around in sexy raw silk gowns.  Everything down to the scent of the shop has been accounted for, and everything from the clothes to the furniture, luggage, and shoes has been exclusively designed for the brand by the statuesque owner Nina Morgan-Jones.

This organic lifestyle brand offers men’s and women’s super fine lamb suede and leathers, and natural dyed raw silks in rock & roll and biba-esque fashions.  The company also has a “traceability” program, which traces the complete lifecycle of its leather goods, including the names of all those involved in the creation of a garment from start to finish. But the best part about this company? The clothes fit like they were tailored to your body.

Romp will be holding an in-store event on Thursday December 18th from 7:00pm-11:00pm to view its fall collections. See you there.

British designer Matthew Williamson was just announced as the successsor to Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, as the next talent to partner up with H&M.  Exciting! Matthew Williamson’s bursts of colorful patterns and prints are a great way to juxtapose Comme des Garçons’ dark solid pieces. Williamson used to be the creative director of Pucci, and is a huge fan of Eastern influences ie. Indian batik and embroidery. My favorite collection of his was for Spring 2008 RTW where he merged Indian, African, and Mayan trims flawlessly. . . and a certain special someone was spotted strutting the runway!

click here to see footage from the show.