Founder Mitra Khayyam was one of the pioneers of using artists' work on T-shirts, before big brands such as RVCA and Quiksilver got in on the game.

And since launching in 2004, the label has evolved from a two-artist, 16-piece collection to a fashion-art collective featuring the work of two dozen accomplished designers, illustrators and photographers, including photographer Dan Monick, illustrator Travis Millard and fashion designer Brian Lichtenberg.

Original and never-before-seen artwork from the brand's growing stable of artists will be on display from today through Dec. 14. The brand and gallery are hosting an invite-only opening party today featuring a Blood Is the New Black pop-up shop for tonight only.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: A Dan Monick-designed illustration of Dee Dee Ramone for Blood Is the New Black. Credit: Courtesy of Blood Is the New Black.

The sale includes dresses from YSL, Nina Ricci, Versace and Chloe as well as baubles, bags and jackets.

A vintage LBD is perfect for the holiday social swirl -- and unlike the usual vintage treasure hunt, no tiring digging or sorting required.  And because it's a Haute Look sale, tags are slashed to sample sale prices.

Decades sale on HauteLook begins Monday and continues until Tuesday at www.hautelook.com.

Happy shopping!

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: An LBD from Decades. Credit: Decades

Among the leggy and lingerie-clad ladies vying for a spot on the catwalk in the next Victoria's Secret fashion show are Simi Valley's Kylie Bisutti, Carmel's Jamie Lee Darley and Krystina Holbrook of El Dorado Hills.

With the angels in the outfield winnowed down to 10, they've taken wing to New York City for "Angel Boot Camp" for a series of challenges that will test their mettle as spokesmodels in such categories as charisma and ability to walk the runway in lingerie  (what, no wing waxing or halo highlighting?), while kicking it in a luxury  condo outfitted with -- and this comes verbatim from the press release -- "sofas accented with brightly colored pillows" and "playful beanbag cushions."

The inevitable pillow fights between underwear-wearing models will naturally be chronicled in weekly webisodes (available at VSAllAccess.com and CBS.com), and starting Monday at noon Pacific time, the public can start voting on which of the women should earn her wings and walk with the angels in this year's "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show," scheduled for broadcast by CBS on Dec. 1.

The rest of the finalists are:

Raven Ervin, Birmingham, Ala.
Katelyn Fortes, Boston, Mass.
Alicia Hall, Las Vegas, Nev.
Tika Ivezaj, Detroit, Mich.
Catharina Lee, Washington D.C.
Courtney O’Conner, Raleigh, N.C.
Allison Turner, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

-- Adam Tschorn

Photos: The list of 10 recently announced finalists in the nationwide Victoria's Secret search for its next runway angel included no fewer than three from California: Kylie Bisuti of Simi Valley, top, Jamie Lee Darley of Carmel, center, and Krystina Holbrook of El Dorado Hills. Credit: Victoria's Secret.

Whimsical -- and often comical -- Brilli's jewelry, bags and small leather goods are defined by what can most succinctly be described as leather shrink-wrapping: objects wrapped so tightly in leather, you can distill every bump and curve of the item underneath. 

There are bags dripping with leather-wrapped bones, an eyeglass case sporting leather-wrapped specs and (perhaps Brilli's most inspired piece) the ghostly, futuristic "Nolexes": fake Rolex watches-turned-bracelets that are wrapped in hides and affixed with snap closures ($378).

The stuff of dreams, for sure. 

Natalia Brilli accessories are available at Zainab, 7021 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 930-8951.

--Emili Vesilind

Photo of Natalia Brilli's brilliant "Nolex" bracelet. Courtesy of Natalia Brilli.

— Melissa Magsaysay

Efron filled an entire table with his entourage, including his stylist, Jenny Ricker, at Michael Mina’s XIV restaurant, followed by a dance party attended by actors Brittany Snow, Christian Serratos, Ashley Tisdale, Taryn Manning and Hollywood hipsters Cory Kennedy and Brent Bolthouse (who also DJ'ed).

“I’m wearing G-Star jeans -- some kind of skinny, not sure which one” (3301 Sec in raw denim, $190), said Efron, who completed his look with a striped Marc Jacobs sweater worn over a G-Star T-shirt. "They're really cool."

“Zac likes stylish yet simple styles and never goes for trendy,” chimed Ricker. “He’s like the best of my clients, because he’ll never make a bad choice."

-- Max Padilla

Photo: Zac Efron. Credit: Amy Graves / WireImage

The former Gap 1969 denim boutique was converted into a kid-friendly space offering face paintings, balloons and red velvet cupcakes and other sweets.

Tyler adds that she's in L.A. to film a new superhero comedy called “Super” with Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page next week. And she admits not tuning in to “The Rachel Zoe Project,” where she had a guest appearance last season.

“I can’t watch myself on TV,” cooed the actress. “I watched a few episodes before I did mine and I got really upset because I didn’t understand Taylor [Jacobson] and Brad [Goreski]. They were so different from how I knew them. Taylor is really nice. Brad is so smart and lovely. I was really confused by how they were on the show.”

As you might expect, many adults were squeezing into the larger-sized kid’s clothes (a Gap rep talked me into buying a $28 boys XL cashmere beanie).

-- Max Padilla

RELATED

Stella McCartney's new GapKids line hits select stores

Have your say: How much is too much for kid’s clothes?

Photos, from top: Liv Tyler pinching Jennifer Meyer Maguire's baby; Amber Valletta and son Auden with Tyler. Credits: Charlie Gallay/Getty Images

Tiffany Tse, an indie fashion blogger based in Glendale, is competing to be "America's Most Stylish Blogger" in a national contest sponsored by AOL lifestyle website Stylelist.com and online designer retailer Bluefly.com.

She's one of eight finalists in the competition -- in which Bluefly sends bloggers a mystery item of clothing every week to style as they see fit. The bloggers then post photos of their styled outfits and are judged by a panel of experts via video. But voting takes place online -- with America picking the weekly winners on Bluefly.

Currently on week two of the five-week contest, the bloggers have so far put together ensembles incorporating a bright blue Priorities "boyfriend" vest (the winner paired it with jeans and riding boots) and a pair of studded suede Prada booties.

Tse, whose Style Sophisticate blog is a running photo diary of her favorite fashion trends, styled her booties with a drapey purple dress and a furry gray vest.

Voting automatically enters you to win a $1,000 Bluefly shopping spree, and the winner walks with a $1,000 Bluefly spree, a weekly column on StyleList and a blogger store on Bluefly. Talk about a win-win.

--Emili Vesilind

RELATED:

Photo: Glendale-based blogger Tiffany Tse. Credit: Tiffany Tse

3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. (800) 423-6335. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

-- Max Padilla

Bendel heads to the Beverly Center this November

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8452 Melrose Place, West Hollywood. (323) 782-8000. Noon to 5 p.m.

Salon

Feed Your Hair Drive at Privé ongoing through Nov. 30: Get your locks done and help the L.A. Mission feed hungry people this holiday season. Make a hair appointment at Privé then bring two canned edibles to the salon and receive a complimentary house Vert Eclat conditioning treatment (value $45).

7373 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 931-5559. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday.

Offers

Events

Real Style for REAL Women at Coldwater Creek Saturday: Stylist Sam Saboura, who has worked with Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston, gives tips on revamping your look without breaking the bank. Saboura will dole out tips on finding the perfect fit for any shape, incorporate this season’s trends into your outfits and pick those pieces that can layer up or down plus learn how to “shop” your closet. RSVP to kpoelma@muchandhousepr.com
12191 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach. (310) 927-8660. Noon to 3 p.m.

Opening

William Rast Outlet: Contemporary clothing line, helmed by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala, opens a William Rast outlet at Desert Hills this week. Expect to find denim, knits, woven shirts and outerwear for men and women priced at below retail. 

48400 Seminole Drive, Cabazon. (951) 849-6641. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.

-- Max Padilla

Last week, New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and representatives from Vogue magazine, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and NYC & Company, the city's marketing and tourism organization, announced that this fall's "get-out-the-shop" initiative/consumer confidence builder/retail mardi gras -- which included extended hours, special deals and in-store designer and celebrity appearances -- increased retail foot traffic some 50% across the five boroughs and would return next year.

A Vogue representative told All the Rage that the details (like who's appearing where, who will design the special, limited-edition T-shirts and that sort of thing) will be announced next year.

"But we felt it was important to let retailers know now -- since they are currently finalizing their 2010 budgets -- that Fashion's Night Out is returning," said Vogue's Susan Portnoy.

Portnoy said that while U.S. Vogue's efforts will remain focused on New York City (with international editions helping stage events in London, Paris, Milan, Berlin, Madrid, Moscow, Athens, Taipei, Tokyo, Beijing, Sao Paolo and New Delhi), she expects that Los Angeles retailers and designers will once again participate. "Last time there were formal and informal activities all across the country -- from L.A. to King of Prussia," she said.

Until more details are forthcoming you can stay in the loop by subscribing to the FNO Twitter feed

-- Adam Tschorn

Fashion world celebrates Vogue / CFDA's Fashion's Night Out 

Video: L.A.'s Fashion's Night Out

More coverage of Fashion's Night Out

But as the collection gained steam in the market it veered away from sportswear and into more typical contemporary fare -- dresses and structured separates.

Now the L.A.-based designer is returning to her roots -- with a new T-shirt-based collection called Lanston that launched for fall 2009. The beyond-basics collection features tanks, tees and long-sleeved knit tops along with a handful of knit accent pieces including vests, jackets and cardigans. 

The super-soft tops (which retail for under $100, with most pieces coming in at under $60) are the stuff of daily wear, the kind of tees you pull on again and again to layer under cardigans, blazers and other T-shirts. The collection reminds me of Alexander Wang's tee-driven line, T by Alexander Wang, but is less louche-looking and a tad cheaper.

"Originally I didn't set out to start a new line," said Tan. "I just wanted to add a capsule group of basics to Krisa that would easily merchandise back to the existing collection. I realized that I missed my basic tees and layering pieces. Lanston started out with just five pieces, but the fabric was so amazing. ... I knew it could stand on its own. It feels like tissue cashmere but for a fraction of the price."

The new collection is available at Revolve Clothing. 

-- Emili Vesilind

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Photo: Lanston tops

11934 and 11958 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 826-6600. 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Sunday by appointment.

-- Max Padilla

Photo: A look from Wren Credit: Wren

More shopping news and events

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Reading your article, “Mind The Gap” it is obvious that not only did Stella McCartney grow up in the Wings decade, but she also grew up the daughter of a Beatle. While I'm sure her children's designs are adorable, it's ridiculous for her to call these "accessibly priced.” How many mothers, especially in this economy, will find a trendy military jacket for $128 or sweat pants for $78 affordable items for their kids?

Clearly both Ms. McCartney and GapKids are not in touch with the plight of the average consumer. It will be interesting to see how holiday sales of these clothes stack up against sales at the discount stores.

Point taken. But Stella McCartney’s collection for kids might be accessibly priced compared with her designer-label collection where recent women’s styles including accessories cost around $1,000 and upwards (the Stella McCartney for Adidas collection retails mainly at a more accessible $200).

On Friday, JCPenney is launching Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's Olsenboye, a tween and juniors collection priced from $20 to $50. Retailers Target, Kohl’s and Wal-Mart can go as low as $10 for children's clothes. However there’s the question of quality and manufacturing -- a dress from a made-in-USA brand such as Little Ella by Ella Moss retails for $32 at the Mini Social, a children’s online retailer based in Burbank.

“The quality tends to be better with domestically made garments,” says Melinda Marinack, co-founder of the Mini Social. 

Have your say: How much is too much for kid’s clothes?

-- Max Padilla

Photo: Boys' looks from Stella McCartney for GapKids. Photo credit: The Gap

After writing about the Movember Foundation for last Sunday's Image section, I decided to get my own 'stache on for a good cause, coming up with a cool name (Media 'Stache) and trying to wheedle/cajole/beg and shame my compatriots here in The Times building to join me.

Despite a whole lot of verbal promises and bobbing of heads, to date the team of those supporting my cause consists of me, my father-in-law, my sister-in-law, and an awkward silence.

To make matters worse, as I was getting ready to leave the house Monday morning, KNBC's "Today in LA" weekday co-anchor Chris Schauble announced he’d gotten special dispensation from management to grow his mo – which at that point wasn't even visible to the naked eye.

This morning, as I awoke with what looks like coffee grounds affixed to my upper lip, Stubble - I mean Schauble -- seemed to be sporting a more definite line of hair right there. I don't know if he's tending it with "Miracle Mo" or what but I have to give the man props, since his team and donations page seem to be growing as rapidly as his mustache, and currently stands at four times the size of mine member-wise with donations at just over three times the dollar amount.

Did I mention the man has gone all mustache multimedia, too? He's also ginning up support via Twitter.

But it's still early in the month, and I'm not going down without a fight. Call me crazy, but I think there's a chance Media 'Stache can best the Mocasters, if not in donations to charity, at least in sheer numbers of supporters.

I think it's a fair matchup; he's a triathlete, marathon runner and the father of two sets of twin girls, and I'm a lazy couch potato who can drink St Pauli Girls until I see double.

So to you, Chris Schauble, I throw down the mustache comb of challenge. Care to wager?

To the rest of you, don't let me grow it alone.

-- Adam Tschorn

Photos: At top, a mustachioed file photo of "Today in LA" co-anchor Chris Schauble. Photo credit: KNBC. At bottom, a file photo of Times staff writer Adam Tschorn. Photo credit: Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times. Both began November clean shaven and are growing their mustaches for the next month to raise funds and awareness in the fight against prostate and testicular cancer.

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According to the husband and wife owners Mary San Marcon and Chris Estrella -- who've been married 31 years and owned the postage-stamp-sized chapeau shop (it's less than 400 square feet) in the Doud Arcade for the last 16 of those -- the virtue of the solid yet lightweight domed head gear lies in the thick layer of solid material underneath the thin layer of fabric: pith or cork (essentially a layer of tree bark).

"Originally what they would do is soak the helmet in water overnight," San Marcon explained. "And then it would keep your head cool as the water evaporated slowly throughout the day."

While I didn't think it was quite the appropriate headgear for that evening's black-tie wedding, it fits in nicely with the explorer/desert military vibe that labels like Versace and Galliano had embraced for their Spring/Summer 2010 men's runway collections in Europe earlier this year. 

Now, I'm not advocating that when next spring rolls around everyone should chuck that stingy brim fedora and go all safari, but if global warming trends continue, a tree bark topper is certainly one low-tech, old-school option for keeping a cool head with a dash of retro-explorer style.

The Carmel Hat Co. at the Doud Arcade, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.  (831) 625-9510.

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo: The Carmel Hat Co.'s stock of pith helmets includes a style historically associated with British troops in South Africa and Afghanistan, center, and a lower-profile style, right, more common in India and known as a "Bombay bowler." $48.50 each. Credit: Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times

All the L.A. lovelies turned out for the Jimmy Choo for H&M party in Hollywood last night, wearing pieces from the line that hits stores Nov. 14.

Nothing in the line is over $300, which meant the look was cheap chic. M.I.A. wore over-the-knee boots (the most expensive item at $299) with a sequined shark-emblazoned top by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, before changing into a dress that shimmied when she performed later in the evening. Nicky Hilton chose a sparkling little black dress accessorized with a star-emblazoned clutch, while sister Paris wore a Jimmy Choo for H&M cat suit and Hayden Panettiere slid into a pair of black leather leggings and a zip-up, sequin-covered cardigan.

Jimmy Choo designer Tamara Mellon, who worked on the H&M line for six months in London, opted for her favorite piece -- a buttery leather, one-shouldered minidress. From the press preview earlier in the day, the pieces look great (especially considering it is Mellon's first foray into clothing) -- the leather pieces are supple, the studding on the gladiator heels looks expensive, the stitching on the suiting is well done and the chain-link and rhinestone jewelry has weight.

There's menswear, too, but I didn't see much of it on the crowd at the party, held at a private house with a stairstep facade that brought to mind a Mayan temple perched in the hills atop Doheny Drive, which happens to be for sale for $18 million.

-- Booth Moore

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Follow fashion critic Booth Moore on Twitter.

Photos, top left: Paris and Nicky Hilton; top right: Jimmy Choo designer Tamara Mellon with singer M.I.A.; bottom: Models in Jimmy Choo for H&M. Credits: WireImage; WireImage; Jimmy Choo and H

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

Melvita, an organic beauty and skin care line from France, is one of those cool, well-packaged brands that I would gravitate to in an apothecary-style shop in Europe. 

But starting Wednesday, no plane ticket is necessary -- Melvita will be available online.  And in January, the first U.S. store will open in San Francisco.

Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Melvita products; credit: Melvita