L.A. the Blog: Catching up with Project Runway-fame Viktor Luna at PAR-LA

Posted on May 12, 2012 by aaronhowell

May 12, 2012 – (Left to Right) Joshua Christensen, Viktor Luna and their friend Josh pose together for a photograph inside the clothing store PAR-LA during an intimate fashion celebration showcasing some of Viktor’s and Joshua’s latest designs.

If anything our friend Viktor Luna has been busy these last few years since we last saw him in 2010 putting on DIY fashion shows in Manhattan during NYC Fashion Week. For starters Project Runway Season 9 saw him as a finalist in the last episode of the season designing neck-to-neck with the season’s winner.

That was so 2011 though, what about this year? A trip to Mexico City to start, where he headlined a fashion event with his own show. Speaking engagements at various schools and universities within the United States. The 2012 Project Runway RTW Collection show during this years NYC Fashion Week, where his work from the show was featured. A visit to the L.A. Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising campus with fellow Runway star Joshua Christensen (seen above with Viktor).

And most recently in West Hollywood at the clothing store PAR-LA for a Spring / Summer exclusive release of his clothing. Not to be outdone in the least Viktor surprised with graphic print shorts and t-shirts that foretell a warm summer awaiting us in beautiful, sunny Los Angeles.

Viktor Luna designed shorts with graphic print design, can you recognize the print?

This classic knee-length and slim fit short combined with the bright colors will make any summer pool party or BBq bash hipper then the next hipster going with their standard cut-off jean shorts, or Hawaiian floral print.

Can you tell what the design is? We will let you guess on the featured image to the left, but we will tell you that one print is of a chandelier in Grand Central Station, of course the graphic design is manipulated making each piece of the collection fabulous.

Combined with the shorts you can find graphic print t-shirts and Viktor’s signature bow ties to match, along with another Viktor Luna t-shirt simple with his label design on black. The last for those withing to remain out of the spotlight.

L.A. the blog would also like to compliment Joshua Christensen on his wonderful contribution to the event. Most notably Joshua’s work with leather makes a perfect match for any cold nights left this Spring.

Jacket by Joshua Christensen

Joshua is a graduate from FIDM in their advanced degree program and was also a contestant on Project Runway. We got the low-down on Joshua from the cougar at Left Coast Fashion, and you can see some of his work from his recent FIDM show during L.A. Fashion Week here. We salute Joshua as an L.A. designer with an eye for what’s classy. At PAR-LA he is predicting a hot summer too with a collection of light materials making up shorts, shirts and for those lazy Sundays and Yoga classes – sweat suits.

We wish Viktor and Joshua the best and we loved the clothing. We are hoping that next time we will get a gift certificate when we show up at the event so we can walk off with some fancy items from both their collections.

PAR-LA is located at 8250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046. Does PAR remind anyone else of golf, this writer loves golf so maybe it is just me … Check some photos of the shop and more photos of Viktor’s and Joshua’s work below.

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L.A. the Blog: Vivienne Westwood store photos

Posted on February 13, 2011 by aaronhowell

Here are some crappy pics of the Vivienne Westwood store … that is now open, or has been open for about a month now …

8320 West Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90069-9404

This pic isn’t of the Vivienne Westwood store, it is from Junior’s Deli in Westwood, and I am wondering why on this map Hollywood is by the beach? Look closely and wonder …

L.A. the Blog: Part 2, Unique L.A. and the Story of the Custom Shirt

Posted on December 15, 2010 by aaronhowell

With a post name like “the Story of the Custom Shirt” readers must be dying for the story (does anyone read this?). Anyway, the whole story about Unique L.A. is that there were more custom t-shirts than any other item.

The not-so-custom I Love NY t-shirt

The event even displayed the not-so-custom I ❤ NY shirt, that makes no sense for LA and I really hope wasn’t selling for very much. I believe you can get them on the street in NY for pretty cheap, or online for even cheaper. Again, there were handbags, some real nice artisan hats, fancy gift cards, but most booths that catered to men really went after the “art shirt.” The only joy found in this fact manifested with $5 custom “art shirt” for sale by the Los Angeles-based company Sub_Urban Riot (get it Suburban, sub-urban). Finally in this sea of expensiveness (yes everything at the event was pricey) a deal screamed out “buy!”

The now infamous $5 t-shirt from Sub_Urban Riot

What a popular idea that works, sell stuff cheap. Marketplace by American Public Media keeps proclaiming that the 2010 holiday season is the year of the shopper bargain. Not from any generosity on the part of retailers, but because that is what shoppers want this year and to sell you have to deliver.

Sub_Urban delivered. With their website claiming that they use organic cotton, and the booth attendant nervously explaining that all of their t-shirts have the Made in USA (if not Made in L.A.) label, $5 truly is a steal. His nervousness makes me nervous about the claim though (maybe they are ripping off American Apparel??). With a good quality shirt the t’s make a great gift!

More t-shirts, this time by Detroit Sprinkles

Too many t-shirts! Of note, the custom shirts by Detroit Sprinkles captured a dying era and look pretty cool. The owners make the shirts in their Venice Beach garage and sell them on Abbott Kinney (of course), among other places. They are Detroit transplants. What does the Statue of Liberty say, “Give me your tired, your poor …”

More T-shirts damn it!

Leaving the t-shirt behind the next beautiful shinning star of the event upcycles (we just learned this word) fabulous gifts out of recyclable and non-recyclable trash. At first it sounds gross, but in actuality the stuff was creative and fresh. For example, old NYC subway metro cards that became the cover for creative address books. The address book pages were created from junk mail / direct mailers, using the already printed fields for your name, etc.

NYC Metro Card Address Book, Inside Page

Make Shop Live's NYC Metro Card address book made out of junk mailers and old metro cards

Make Shop Live created a use for the most hated thing in L.A. the Blogs mailbox (maybe I can get my junk mail sent to them?). Other great creations include Tecate beer can Christmas tree decorations in the form of reindeer; and multi-level ashtrays made from old vinyl, though the owners of the booth claimed the ashtrays were jewelry trays, ha! They sold desk organizers re-purposed form old cardboard.

Desk organizer from Make Shop Live, everyone needs one!

Trash bins also made from the same type of cardboard laminating, and other neat stuff (see pics below). L.A. the Blog gives a big thumbs up to Make Shop Live, and appreciates them teaching our publication about upcycling.

Now let’s get to everyone’s favorite site Look at this fucking hipster and get into just how un-hipster Unique L.A. turned out. The event shoppers themselves were a real let down. Of the few definite hipsters around, the camera phone that snapped all our pictures doesn’t do moving targets very well so few of these gems in the crowd got snapped up. The most eye-catching trend pointed towards decorated lace sweater wear in natural colors with art-deco flavor patters.

Fascinating trend that is eye-catching.

Other than that just your everyday person cruising the myriad maze of funky indie fashion and trends. The story ends with a packed elevator down to the street level, goodbye penthouse on the 13th floor and goodbye Unique L.A. If you look at the pics below you can see some of the favorite stuff that made up the day. Oh and on the way out the DJ, she posed for a pic, pretended to scratch records. We love you DJ lady!!!!