When Melissa Leo accepted the supporting actress award for "The Fighter" at Sunday's Oscars, she was wearing a delicate gold spider necklace festooned with diamonds and rubies.

The piece was designed by her friend Katherine Wallach, who happened to be in the audience cheering on her father, legendary actor Eli Wallach, as he accepted a lifetime achievement award from the academy.

The younger Wallach may not be a household name, but she's been crafting charming, unusual jewelry for decades. And Tuesday she's opening the first in a series of pop-up shops to showcase her distinctive designs — on Venice's main shopping drag, Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

The shop, which will be open through March 31, is part of Wallach's longstanding dream to display her jewelry in a gallery-like setting. "There is installation involved in the display of my jewelry," she explained. "I want to start doing these ... monthlong experiences where I sell jewelry." 

A pair of fly earrings, for example, will be displayed on a fly swatter. "The installations are kind of great for people who are not even interested in jewelry," she added.

Wallach's collections, boasting pieces ranging from $100 to $22,000, are so varied, her style is difficult to pin down. But the use of rosaries, vintage charms and found objects run throughout each capsule collection, which typically consists of numerous one-of-a-kind pieces.

The former actress, who appeared in "Goodfellas" and "Gang of New York," among other films, has pop-ups planned for New Orleans, Paris, East Hampton and Amsterdam later this year.

1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (323) 683-8277. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: Diamond and ruby spider necklace by Katherine Wallach. Credit: Katherine Wallach

If there's a typeface fanatic on your holiday shopping list, make sure to check out Heath Los Angeles on Beverly Boulevard, where Delaware-based type foundry House Industries has a pop-up presence through the end of the year.

Since I'm slightly obsessed with the world of fonts and typefaces, I knew I'd find some cool things would come out of a mash-up between the letter-shaping crowd and the tile-forming folks. But I was surprised not only at how cool the collaboration itself is, but at the wide range of non-ceramic offerings on hand.

When I stopped by the shop on Saturday (the first time), I caught up with House's owners Rich Roat and Andy Cruz as they busily helped stock shelves and arrange merchandise on tables behind a wall of curtains that cordoned off a third of the shop (until the 4 p.m. opening of the pop-up, anyway).

Roat showed us the heart of the House X Heath collaboration -- a new line of ceramic letter and number house tiles using House Industries' Eames and Neutra typefaces (a complete collection -- and official launch of Heath House Numbers -- will follow in the summer of 2011).

But there are plenty of non-ceramic items -- many of them exclusive or limited-edition -- to choose from, including flour sack towels, hand-printed plywood screens, laser-cut metal letter ornaments, Christmas cards, and enough brightly printed wooden koi to stock a pond.

But what brought me back to the store right at the stroke of 4 p.m. was the 13-piece, Alexander Girard nativity set . Traditionally I'm not much for the table-top version of the nativity scene at the holidays -- there are far too many small pieces for my taste (misplace the baby Jesus just once and no one will ever let you forget it ...). Not to mention our cats have an annual yuletide tradition of batting each occupant of the manger onto the floor one by one.

But these pieces were of a solid maple that could easily withstand a feline battering -- and the detailed designs were hand-printed (by David Dodde, who was on hand at Saturday's event) in a bright color palette that included my wife's favorite range of vibrant pinks -- so I grabbed one of the three sets on hand and made a beeline for the register.

Which means a little bit of House will be a part of my house for many holidays to come.

House Industries at Heath Los Angeles Studio & Store, 7525 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, through Dec. 31 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.,  Sunday noon to 6 p.m.).

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo: A limited-edition Alexander Girard nativity set is among the offerings at the House Industries pop-up at Heath Los Angeles through Dec. 31. Credit: Carlos Alejandro for House Industries

Fashion Los Angeles, a group that plans to launch a Los Angeles Fashion Week event in February 2011, is making good on its oft-repeated mantra of "focusing on L.A. fashion 365 days a year," and exhibit A can be seen -- and shopped -- Friday through Nov. 14.

That's how long the curated fashion, jewelry, art and furniture pop-up space will be open for business on the ground floor of the Main Mercantile Lofts at 620 S. Main St. in downtown Los Angeles.

The only requirement for inclusion in the debut "Meet the Public" pop-up -- aside from being some of the organizers' personal favorite brands, retailers and designers -- was that the  participants be L.A.-based.

That's how established local fashion designer Yotam Solomon's rolling rack ended sharing a sales floor with Midcentury Modern furniture from Novecento Antiques, a table of T-shirts by barely launched label Seam Ripper, polka-dotted and bow-festooned dresses by Chelsea Rebelle and the styrofoam-painted artwork of Jaime Scholnick. (An exhaustive list of the more than two dozen participants is available at the group's website.)

Although I took an admittedly quick spin through the space (I needed to jet across town to catch a theremin performance in Max Azria's living room -- true story), it was the inclusion of things such as the furniture from Novocento and the artwork by Scholnick that I appreciated -- things you could spend your entire life traipsing across the city and never stumble across, on display a few feet away from the things that brought you in the door. 

Scholnick, represented by the CB1 Gallery, left a particularly lasting impression. The artist has been using acrylic paint to transform the odd-shaped pieces of Styrofoam used to pack and protect the printers, televisions, mirrors and whatnot of modern life into lasting art that looks surprisingly heavy.

She's been turning discarded Styrofoam into art for about a year -- ever since she unpacked a heater she'd bought at Costco and ended up with a pile of odd-shaped pieces.

"I approach them like fossils," Scholnick said. "They used to hold something, and I transform them."

Which is actually a pretty good analogy for what the curated pop-up -- and Fashion Los Angeles at large -- is trying to do: transform a fossilized notion of presenting Los Angeles fashion to the world not by thinking outside of the box, but by by looking at what the box already contains and doing something different with it.

Meet the Public, 620 S. Main St., Nov. 5-14, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (subject to change).

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo: "Fossil Tower," 2009, by Jaime Scholnick (Styrofoam, gesso and acrylic paint). Credit: CB1 Gallery.

 

 

 

Royal/T — the hybrid retail store, art gallery and Japanese-themed cafe in Culver City — will be home to a pop-up store based on "Tron," the classic Jeff Bridges movie that's been remade by Disney as "Tron: Legacy" (out Dec. 17).

Though there will be an array of affordable merchandise, the highlight of the pop-up is bound to be the high-end "Tron"-themed accessories Disney Consumer Products commissioned from some choice accessory designers.

As we reported a few weeks back, the "Tron: Legacy" couture collection features a spacey, ruffled silver heel created by local shoe guru Jerome C. Rousseau; slick black bags and other accessories from Hayden-Harnett; silver jewelry by New York's Rotenier; and cool, angular baubles from local jewelry label TomTom. Prices for the couture collection range from $90 to $2,600.

The pop-up also has a schedule of special items that will be released over its six-week lifespan.

The week of Nov. 30 is designed for athletes and action-film fanatics, with  an Adidas compression top ($45), Tron board shorts from Hurley ($65) and special edition "Tron: Legacy" 3-D glasses from Oakley ($150) going on sale. Three different sets of limited-edition collectible artwork selected directly from the film ($28.99 to $76.99) — in addition to actual film frames of different scenes from "Tron: Legacy" — will debut in the shop Dec. 3. And the soundtrack for the new film will debut in the shop Dec. 7.

A special "Tron"-themed menu will also be rolled out in Royal/T's cafe, which will feature cleverly named entrees including the Reco Burger, a Lightcycle salad, an Identity Disk cake and a shareable "Tron: Legacy" high tea set.

Because if you're going there, you might as well go all the way.

 The "Tron" pop-up shop will be open through Dec 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with extended hours on Wednesdays to 10 p.m.

--Emili Vesilind

Photos, from top: Jerome Rousseau's "Tron" heel; a rendering of the Tron store. Credit: Disney Consumer Products; Royal/T.

Global sports and lifestyle brand Puma is launching a pop-up shop Thursday in Hollywood that borrows from the concept of old-school men's social clubs. 

The 6,500-square-foot Puma Social Club, which will be open through Oct. 28 on the first floor of the Sunset Towers (8730 Sunset Blvd.), was created as a spot for "the social games we play off the field with friends," said a spokesman for the company.

The ephemeral space pays homage to the after-hours athlete — with a beer-worthy set-up of darts, foosball, table tennis and bowling.

And of course the outpost carries a full range of Puma gear, from the classic track jacket and reissued sneakers to exclusive, limited-edition graphic tees. Regular shop hours are from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The social club is popping up now to coincide with the company's just-launched "Puma Social" print-and-online ad campaign, which features groups of kitted-out friends bowling, playing ping-pong, singing karaoke and throwing darts. 

With a fully-operational cash bar and nighttime snacks menu, the club will be open to age 21-plus night owls for late-night events during its two-week tenure.

For a full listing of happenings, see www.puma.com/social.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: Fooseball at Puma's San Francisco pop-up. Credit: Puma

 

Break out your Twiggy-style tent dresses and glittery false eyelashes.

Indie fashion designer Lisa Perry — who's known for creating Mod and Pop Art-inspired looks — will be launching a pop-up shop at Culver City art gallery-cum-retail store Royal/T this Thursday.

The shop-in-shop marks Perry's first retail endeavor on the West Coast; the designer has a permanent shop on Madison Avenue in New York and seasonal stores in Sag Harbor, N.Y., and Palm Beach, Fla.

The space at Royal/T will feature a tightly edited collection of fun, Factory-inspired fashion.  Women's and girls' looks, priced from $195 to $1,595, include a-line dresses printed with massive words (i.e. "Pop" and "Art") and graphics including a vinyl apple the size of Conan O'Brien's head. 

There will also be a smattering of similarly playful home decor items, including stuffed giant hamburgers and Coke bottles ($120), graphic notepads and key chains ($8 to $12). 

The in-store shop, which will be up through Oct. 11, will launch in conjunction with an exhibition feting the late Andy Warhol called "Warholian" — curated by Eric Shiner, the Milton Fine Curator of Art at the Andy Warhol Museum.

The opening reception for the whole shebang is Thursday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and is open to the public. Photographer Burton Machen will be signing limited edition prints of his "Andy Warhol" work from the show, while DJ Diabetic and MC Insulin handle the soundtrack (which should most definitely be heavy on the Velvet Underground.)

--Emili Vesilind

Photo: A dress by Lisa Perry. Credit: Lisa Perry.

 

 

Last-minute holiday shoppers who missed some of the “gifts that give back” events can still hit the Space 26/Designer Direct pop-up store at Westfield Century City, open through Dec. 30.

Space 26 (named for its mall location) stocks fall/winter 2009 women’s and men’s clothing and accessories from brands such as Tommy Bahama, Anthology, Axis, Gran Sasso, Jhane Barnes and Cutter & Buck. Prices start at half-off retail and go lower --  for instance, Eton of Sweden's men's dress shirts that sell for $350 are $125. Women's leather bombers by Remy are on sale for $300 (retail, $795).

If you bring a new or laundered blanket, you will receive an additional 5% discount off your entire purchase. The blankets head to a charity that will hand them to those without a home.

10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 578-3326. 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. today through Wednesday. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m Thursday, Dec. 24.

-- Max Padilla

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We just got word that A Bathing Ape's Pirate Store concept (what we non-cool kids might know as a "pop up store") is set to dock at the Melrose BAPE store location the day after Christmas, where it will remain through the 30th.

During that time, the store will feature archived and factory second pieces of men's and women's clothing, footwear and accessories for up to 70% off.

We hear there is even a chance the brand's founder Tomoaki "Nigo" Nagao himself will be kicking around the joint -- rumor has it he's scheduled to be at the Los Angeles store for the Dec. 20 limited-edition Kid Cudi X Milo T-shirt release (those shirts go on sale at noon, with Kid Cudi on hand for photos and autograph signing that afternoon).

A Bathing Ape Pirate Store, 8001 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, Dec. 26-30. Pirate Store graphic courtesy of A Bathing Ape.

-- Adam Tschorn

Q and A with Nigo

Photo Gallery: BAPE store opening

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Stores may be closing all over town, but last night Melrose Place got a little love with the opening of Dana Davis’ pop-up store.  The store, which took over the old Lambertson Truex spot, right next to Frederic Fekkai’s new salon, will be open until Dec. 3, selling shoes from Davis’ fall-winter collection. 

Celebrities and socialites, including Anjelica Huston, Paris Hilton, Crystal Lourd, Jerry Bruckheimer, Liane Weintraub and Jamie Tisch, came to support their designer pal and fellow social fixture.  Davis’ mother Barbara was also in attendance before dashing out to attend a concert. 

Davis was inspired to create her line of ultra-comfortable shoes when she was having trouble standing for long periods of time due to foot pain caused by her diabetes.  She and  her family  have raised over $75 million for diabetes research, with the Carousel of Hope ball fund-raiser being founded in her honor. She developed a shoe with an orthotic sole that’s as cushion-y as any Easy Spirit, but far more fashionable.  In fact, Davis has figured out how to increase the heels on pumps to almost 6 inches, while still maintaining the comfort of the built-in orthotic.  Those heels will be offered for spring and are sure to be seen on any celebrity who cares about comfort while walking the red carpet.

The Dana Davis pop-up store is open now until Dec. 3 at 8459 Melrose Place, L.A.
Hours: 11am – 5pm. Closed Sundays and Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 – 29.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: Top: Anjelica Huston, Barbara Davis and Dana Davis, Bottom: A wall of Davis' shoes/John Shearer Wire Image

Costa Mesa-based clothing line BB Dakota has managed to stay ahead of the fashion curve by infusing the young contemporary collection with runway inspiration.  Now it's steering right into retail with a 3,200-square-foot store housed in an old shipyard.

The Dakota Collective store will carry the BB Dakota line as well as Cheap Monday, Corpus, books, photography and other knickknacks sure to be on someone's holiday shopping list.  Weary shoppers can get satiated at the stores' coffee bar or gourmet food truck.  The space will also be used for fashion shows and live music events.

But don't be alarmed if the nautical theme seems overboard. A 20-foot tug boat will be installed in the space as decor.

The Dakota Collective store will open Nov. 20 and remain up until the second week of January at 1640 Pomona Ave. in Costa Mesa.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Exterior shot of Dakota Collective/BB Dakota

Mens etiquette website Social Primer launched a pop-up shop inside Alpha Gear for Gents boutique on Monday -- bringing high-brow social accouterment to the West Hollywood guys gift shop.

The website, which tackles age-old problems such as how to avoid flu-season handshakes ("make a hasty retreat to the nearest loo and wash the hands like 'Silkwood'"), also boasts a retail component, selling gentlemanly items such as reversible bow ties, belts and monogrammed everything -- from stationery, belts and drinks coasters to napkins, pillows and cuff links. 

The pop-up shop, which will be up through Dec. 31, features an expanded mix of the site's usual fare -- heavy on the stationary -- along with a handpicked selection of vintage books, antiques and art, all chosen by Social Primer's founder, Cooper Ray, who offers sartorial and lifestyle advice on the site under his haughty alter ego, SP.

"We have always wanted to offer personalized gifts, because what Alpha gentleman should be without his own stationary?" said Darren Gold, who co-owns Alpha (8625 Melrose Ave.) with Christos Garkinos. "SP has offered us an amazing opportunity to do that. ... Personalized items make for really special gifts. It's all very civilized, which every Alpha man should be."

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: Reversible bow ties. Credit: Social Primer

Opening

-- On Saturday (Oct. 24), Reformed Pop-Up store at Space 15Twenty opens. The Reformation’s Yael Aflalo and Chi Bui are launching their Reformed collection for Urban Outfitters at Space 15Twenty with a cocktail reception. The temp store will carry the affordable Reformed collection ($48-108) plus the Reformation's one-of-a-kind pieces and leathers from Veda. RSVP to RSVP@space15twenty.com.

1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. 7 to 10 p.m. space15twenty.com

Events

-- Tonight (Oct. 22) and Saturday (Oct. 24), celebrate the launch of Peter Lamas Chinese Herb organic hair care ($20-45) at Fred Segal Beauty Mix. Legend Lamas, who coiffed Jacqueline Onassis, will greet  shoppers. Product samples and nosh provided. RSVP to events@lamasbeauty.com.

500 Broadway, Santa Monica. (310) 394-8509. 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. www.lamasbeauty.com

-- Friday (Oct. 23) through Sunday, Westfield Topanga Style Tour lands in center court starring "Project Runway" finalist Laura Bennett and Tori Spelling. At 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, Bennett doles out style tips. At 1 p.m. Saturday, Spelling hosts makeovers for shoppers. At noon Sunday, beauty consultations will be offered to shoppers.

6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park. (818) 594-8740. Noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. westfield.com/topanga

-- On Saturday (Oct. 24), Hello Kitty kicks off the celebrations leading up to her 35th birthday with a Super Fan Day. Hello Kitty Super Fan Day starts off with a bento box workshop, followed by Karaoke and happy hour for adults. Meet “Kitty Mama” head designer Yuko Yamaguchi in from Tokyo and Tokidoki’s Simone Legno from Italy who will launch the Hello Kitty x Tokidoki 35th Anniversary collection.

Royal/T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City. (310) 559-6300. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. www.royal-t.org

Sales

-- Starting Friday (Oct. 23) through Sunday (Oct. 25), Alpha menswear boutique is having a pre-holiday blowout.  Gift ideas on sale include $23 Lexon Mini Dolman Radios (regular price $63), $20 Aquala bamboo bath caddy (reg. $50), $60 Taschen Ingrid Bergman archives (reg. $200), $15 Give and Take charity T-shirts ($55). Also, Alpha is offering through Nov. 27 a “one for you, one for you” promotion: spend $100 or more and receive a $25 gift certificate.

8625 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 855-0775. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.alpha-man.com

-- On Friday through Sunday, L.A. Eyeworks is having its annual sale on signature designs discounted up to 80% off and starting at $25.

7407 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 653-8255. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. laeyeworks.com

-- Starting Friday through Sunday, Oliver Peoples is having a sale on selected sunglasses and optical styles priced from $79 to $99. Prescription services will also be 30% off.

8642 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 657-2553.10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

3900 Cross Creek Road, Malibu. (310) 456-1333. 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. (714) 557-7000.

3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. (714) 557-7000 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Sunday. www.oliverpeoples.com

Sample sales

-- On Friday  through Sunday, Creative Recreation, the L.A.-based stylish sneaker brand is holding a sample sale in the Sportie LA parking lot featuring men’s, women’s and kid’s styles from current and past seasons. Shoes are going for up to 70% off retail.

7753 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles. (310) 278-7328. Noon to 6 p.m. www.cr8tiverecreation.com

-- On Saturday, Esquivel is holding a one-day-only sample sale with “friends & family” pricing on made-to-order shoes, with prices starting at $250.
8309 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles (entrance through Sweetzer Avenue or Flores Avenue).11 a.m. to 5 p.m. esquivelshoes.com

-- On Friday through Sunday, Rock & Republic is having a giant sample sale taking up to 80% off retail prices on men’s, women’s and kid’s clothing, including denim. Credit cards accepted.

Sony Studios, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City (entrance on Overland Ave.). 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. rockandrepublic.com

-- Max Padilla

Photo: A look from the Reformed. Credit: Courtesy the Reformed