Decades
Owner of Decades, a vintage couture shop in Los Angeles, California; Fashion Director for H by Halston and H Halston; curator of the MOCA exhibition The Total Look: The Creative Collaboration Between Rudy Gernreich, Peggy Moffitt and William Claxton
Bowie Is Dead, Long Live Bowie The widespread shock and sadness at David Bowie's death at age 69 has affirmed the breadth and depth of his influence -- on music, fashion, style and "the fluidity" of today's world. Paola Antonelli and Cameron Silver talk about his legacy.
Hello to Berlin Los Angeles is officially a sister city with Berlin. Unofficially, it's a city that shares tight bonds with LA; for starters both are highly attractive to designers, artists and musicians. DnA is going to Berlin with KCRW's Madeleine Brand and Jason Bentley. Before heading there we heard about Berlin from LA's vantage point. Decades founder Cameron Silver revisits his album of torch songs celebrating Weimar era Berlin; Justin Jampol toured us around the 1949 Culver City bunker that will be the new home of the Wende Museum, an archive of Cold War era artifacts. And, Germany's Deputy Consul General Stefan Biedermann shares just what makes LA and Berlin natural “sisters.” Also featuring: Pae White, Jennifer Marmon.
Exploring Fashion's "Total Look" Starting in the 1950's a trio of creatives working in Los Angeles dramatically changed modern fashion and photography: fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, his model and muse Peggy Moffitt, and the photographer (and Moffitt's husband) William Claxton. Their famously stylized, ultra mod imagery wherein all elements of the outfit from dress to makeup coordinated was dubbed " The Total Look ," and a new exhibition, The Total Look: The Creative Collaboration Between Rudi Gernreich, Peggy Moffitt and William Claxton opens on February 26 at MOCA PDC to celebrate this unique collaboration. Frances speaks with the exhibition's curator, Cameron Silver, owner of the vintage clothing boutique Decades, about the groundbreaking, controversial and sometimes shocking fashions, like Gernreich's Topless Swimsuit . Then Frances visits Peggy Moffitt at her home to find out what it was like to work with Gernreich and Claxton as the face of "The Total Look." The "typeface" dress and matching tights designed by Rudi Gernreich, 1968; Moffitt wearing a Rudi Gernreich Resort 1971 one-piece wool knit "Rouault" swimsuit. Photos by William Claxton Top image: Peggy Moffitt wearing Rudi Gernreich design. Photo by William Claxton, 1968
The Battle for the Affluent Bottom The sponsor for the "Future City" Pecha Kucha was the Japanese bath manufacturer TOTO, who displayed its new Neorest 550 , a high-tech luxury toilet which includes features like an automatic lid, remote control, duel flush, and bidet. Frances hears from TOTO's Allan Dallatore on the company's strategy, then visits with Little Tokyo Design Week co-creator Hitoshi Abe on why the fancy toilet is so prized in Japanese culture. The Neorest 550 by TOTO with its nightlight to welcome evening visitors The Neorest's sculptural profile Meanwhile, the Wisconsin-based company Kohler has created its own luxury toilet, the NUMI , which debuted last month at a party in West Hollywood. Kohler product manager Michael Marbach and executive creative director Tristan Butterfield explain the NUMI's features, while Frances hears some first reactions from party guests Cameron Silver, the owner of the vintage shop Decades, and Frances's daughter, Summer. The NUMI by Kohler features square, untoilet-like edges Ads for the NUMI were photographed at the iconic Pierre Koenig-designed Stahl House
Remembering Palm Springs fashion icon Jonathan Skow, aka Mr. Turk Fashion designer Jonathan Skow, aka Mr. Turk, died Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 55. His flagship store is at the heart of Palm Springs’ design district, and he and his wife Trina Turk are key figures in the design and architecture community. We remember him and his contribution to the city he loved.
Drawing new attention to vulnerable animals through photography Joel Sartore takes simple, intimate photographs of vulnerable animals in a studio. He hopes the images will give people a new perspective on what we could lose if the animals go extinct. He’s shot more than 8000 portraits as part of his Photo Ark.
The hidden histories of exclusive LA homes We talk to an author who writes biographies of houses in Los Angeles. He tells us about the fascinating details he has uncovered about the homes of Shirley Temple, David Selznick, and more.
Netflix gets into the billboard business There’s renewed competition for your attention on the Sunset Strip, where entertainment companies go to show off their latest shows and biggest stars. The strip’s huge billboards are seen by millions of tourists each year – and soon, that prime real estate is going to be harder to come by. The reason? Netflix.