New Feature: Why I Heart L.A.
After 32 years of living in L.A. I've heard it all: L.A. is fake, plastic, filled with industry bottom feeders. L.A. has no culture, no fashion scene, no music scene. L.A. is no NYC, London, fill in the blank.

UGH.

If you haven't guessed it yet, I'm one of those born and bred Angelenos who adores her hometown. I personally think anyone who hates on L.A. is just jealy and can kiss my phat ass.

L.A. - like any place - is what you make of it. If you want to hang out with scenester douchebags, you can...here and in Peoria. If you want to surround yourself with interesting, fun, good people, you can do that in L.A too. I know I do.

So another new feature will chronicle fun times with cool peeps that one can only have in L.A. Last week, I had back-to-back events that are the exact reason "Why I Heart L.A."

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1. Decadestwo/Chanel Party

Thanks to Racked L.A., I nabbed a golden ticket to the early VIP preview of the new "collection" of Chanel at Decadestwo. Only one word accurately captures the gorgeousness my peepers witnessed the minute I stepped through the doors of the Willy Wonka Factory of resale: OMFG.

The shoes, jewelry and bags were all yummy but the jacket selection was my favorite. So classic, so much delish detailing, and sooooo out of my price range. Yep, sadly, even at 40- 60 percent off, the jackets STARTED at $1500.

Nevertheless, I very seriously considered getting this delectable coat the minute I slipped it on. The feel of Chanel on your body is like nothing else. I think it might actually be better than the taste of a Sprinkles cupcake on your tongue. I know it sounds like blasphemy but have you ever been enveloped by tweed with interlocking C's?

Thankfully, Sable Crow showed up and talked me off the Chanel ledge. He might have even promised to whip me up a Chanel look alike if I'm a good girl. Fingers crossed that Karl wannabe comes through for this Coco wannabe.
































After Chanel, I raced home, changed out of polka dots and leopard spots and into sequins and red lips. Had to get my OG on at a par-tay of a very different flava.

2. Snoop Dogg's "Malice N Wonderland" Record Release at Vanguard

When The Brown Devil invited us to the Malice N Wonderland (best album name EVER) party last week, I won't lie - I thought I was THE SHIZNIT. Death Row pretty much provided the soundtrack to my college experience. Let me tell you, you haven't lived til you've danced to California Love wearing tight black pants in a South Central dorm room after downing a forty.

Not sure why sequin leggings screamed Snoop to me tonight but they did.

Ended up being a great call since Snoop was rolling a blingy knuckle ring that put my sparkle to shame. Was so mesmerized by The Doggfather (second best album name ever) that I practically missed the fact that Pharrel Williams, Warren G, Nate Dogg and Travis Barker joined him on stage. Sick, sick, sick performance.

Nearly died of joy when I heard "Gin and Juice." Pretty sure it's one of the songs that Mr. Diabolina danced to on our first date in 1996. We're just gansta like that. Westsiiiiiiiiiiiiide.

3. Complex Magazine Premium Goods party at My House

On Wednesday, The Brown Devil invited us to another party in Hollywood. And since Mr. Diabolina's old ass is physically incapable of going out two nights in a row, I invited Daisy Duke's as my plus one.


































































































Started the night with cocktails at my house and ended at My House - the ingenious club designed to look like someone's ultra cool home complete with a living room, kitchen, bedroom and VIP spa. Best gimmick that doesn't read gimmicky EVER. Probably why stars flock there.
Tonight Mr. Ryan Phillippe may have checked out Daisy Duke's on the way out. Don't tell Danny B.

Also getting lots of attention tonight the um, Pretty Women in the crowd. Funny how MY black boots didn't get nearly as much attention when paired with leggings and a skirt instead of Gaga undies.

But the centerpiece of the outfit was my $19 new Forever 21 top. Confession: I am struggling with a MAJOR stripes addiction at the moment. Easy, classic, no brainer way to look chic and Parisienne. Red lips help too.

But my favorite part of the top: the puffy shoulders. Sooooo Dolce and Gabanna on a dime. Want this top in every color and print.

Made me feel powerful if a bit linebacker large. Sigh. Tried to channel the queen of strong shoulders: Rihanna. Or maybe her older wiser sister.

A few weeks ago I was feeling blue and decided to get out of the house. Ended up window shopping my malaise away. By afternoon's end I had seen 200 sparkly things I wanted but only two adorable affordable baubles made the cut: a tres Herve Leger skirt at H&M for $35 and a zipper hair clip/pin in my most fave color of late at Forever 21 for $3.

When I got home, the fashion gods kept smiling on me: a Tolani Scarf was sitting on my doorstep. Won it from from Chickdowntown.com and one of my favorite L.A. blogger chicas, The Style Rules. (Kiss you Fabi - I love it. Thank you!)























I have yet to wear the pin or the scarf but it took everything inside me not to wear the pinkie and black skirt right way, every day. Decided I needed to save it for THE perfect occasion: the ballet this past Sunday with my momma.































I took ballet until I was about 10 and every year around the holidays my mom, dad and I would go see The Nutcracker. To this day whenever I hear that beautiful music, I remember those crisp December days of my childhood, the feel of my dad lovingly holding my hand, my mom dressed up in her holiday best, so beautiful and happy and young.



























For the last few years, my mom's mentioned wanting to go so this year I surprised her with tickets as an early Christmas present.































The ballet and the music and the costumes were as delicious as I remembered.

























But what we enjoyed most was seeing all the little girls dressed up in their ADORABLE holiday garb, beginning a special tradition with their moms. I got teary several times thinking how quickly time has passed. I thought about how these little girls will become women like I did, how they will cling to their moms for guidance and support in varying degrees in the years to come, how they will suffer disappointments and heartbreaks and their mothers will have to endure a front row seat, how they will discover the kind of women they want to be, how they will navigate adult mother-daughter relationships that are complicated and rich and like no other relationship, and how hopefully one day these girls will bring their mothers back to the ballet and close a circle, like I did today.











































































































































































Ideally they will do it in matching quilted Chanel and round toe Marc Jacobs ;)





















































Figured ballerina-inspired heels and cool tights were a must for my first ballet in years. The lace up shoes and polka dot tights got more attention than you would believe today. My mom kept pointing out everyone pointing them out.












































































































































Silly me, I thought the amazing new skirt would be the centerpiece of the outfit. Adore the piping and the bands of black that create a cool corset/bandeaux effect that is HOT HOT HOT right now



















































































































































































































































































































One of my cheap chic favorites is this dress version of my skirt - currently available at H&M for $60ish. So very Dolce & Gabanna with the long sleeves and puffed shoulders.












































































































Peeped it for the first time last week on a girl at Fred Segal's GIFTS GIVING BACK: A SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING EVENT. Brought the lovely Lauragami and her impossibly long legs as my date. Note to self: hang out with less gorgeous friends if you ever want to feel young and thin ;)