Lisa Says Gah Pop-up at Øgaard

It’s always cool to see things in person that you’ve only seen online. Since I’m pretty busy, I do most of my shopping (and window shopping) online. Combine that with reading, looking at images and even keeping up with friends you only see through a screen, and things can start to take on this almost mythic online-only feel. So it was great to check out the IRL Oakland pop-up shop that Lisa Says Gah did at Øgaard gallery this weekend. I love what they’re doing, from their thoughtfully curated selection of ethically made slow fashion to the really great content and interviews on the site.

At the pop-up, you could see the Karen Walker sunglasses, touch the Sonia Rykiel knits, feel the Martiniano glove shoes (my favorite, I wrote a bit about the designer here). You could also talk to the friendly, cool ladies behind the brand — the namesake Lisa and Content Editor Olivia. As I sipped a small plastic cup of white wine, they chatted and Instagrammed and I took in the physical presence of their lovely online offerings. If you’re in the Bay Area, don’t miss the next one — they’ll be doing it again in August at Loving Cup in SF.

Earthship: Earth Tu Face

This weekend I visited newly opened Oakland shop Earthship, the brick and mortar location for natural skincare line Earth Tu Face. Created by two local herbalists, Earth Tu Face's products are made of food grade, plant-based ingredients, but still have a luxury vibe to them (they're inspired by Alice Waters and available at Net-a-Porter, to give you an idea). Earthship showcases the line's serums, scrubs, balms and cleansers and more.

They also carry beauty products by other brands, like nail polishes by Floss Gloss (started in Oakland and now based in Brooklyn — their polishes have great names) and fragrances by Regime des Fleurs. Plus there's a small, curated collections of clothing, homewares, art and jewelry.

I chatted with the retail manager, Madeline, who told me they plan to hold workshops and events in the space adjoining the shop where they make the products — it's like a magical apothecary workshop in a charming old carriage house garage, where the shelves are lined with their organic ingredients and the ceiling is strung with lights and beautiful dried plants. She said she planned to post the schedule on the door outside, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out!

 

Strong Week Links 9

I'm loving the fashion world's jet setting cruise schedule. On the heels of LV in Palm Springs, Dior's Spring 2016 Cruise show took place in the south of France at Pierre Cardin's 'Palais Bulles' or Bubble Palace. The old mixed with the new as Raf Simons' modern-hearted collection hearkened back to the classic Dior Bar shape and the fashion pack palled around with Cardin himself who was in attendance.

If I lived in LA, I'd be checking out this exhibition on rock & roll billboards.

My expert-gardener sister-in-law alerted me to this Oakland startup selling 'uglies' which may solve food waste and water waste problems.

Loving everything about this editorial and interview on The Dreslyn with LA-based stylist Sissy Sainte-Marie and her photographer husband Eddie Chacon. She is a major inspiration.

This insanely meticulously designed and hand-crafted house in Joshua Tree is blowing my mind.

A Sunday song (the uncut version is a friend's jukebox power move).

Photo via Buro247

Summer Reading Party

Go to summer activity: reading party in Mountainview cemetery. 

Before you think 'morbid' or 'goths in hot weather,' let me tell you that while Mountainview has an impressive number of graves and mausoleums, it's also very park-like. It has winding, uncrowded roads where people walk and run, often with their pets, beautifully landscaped hills and grassy expanses designed by none other than Frederick Law Olmsted (Oakland's Central Park?), and some of the best views of the Bay Area. It's also full of history — many notable Bay Area and California families have members buried here, and I've always meant to take one of the free, docent-led tours. It's easy to enjoy walking, running, or having a picnic in such a beautiful place, and I'd say the surroundings cast more of a contemplative than morbid vibe on these activities. We have a favorite spot to lay out a blanket, eat delicious sandwiches from Southie (Oakland's best sandwiches?) and read whatever books and magazines we pile into tote bags. Just don't eat the cute little strawberries the grow out of the grass. Do you have a favorite local spot to chill out and read on a sunny afternoon?

Old Book Smell: Book / Shop

Old book smell. It's like the opposite of new car smell. Both involve leather and are exciting enough to invoke any number of fantasies though. As soon as I finish reading Infinite Jest and am allowed to buy new (old) books again, I'm excited to check out new Temescal alley spot Book / Shop, where you can get your old book smell two ways:

1. Old-fashioned, literally — Book / Shop's eclectic yet minimalist rotating selection of vintage fiction and nonfiction books on subjects from art to poetry to typography.

2.

In the Library by CB I Hate Perfume. (According to Science old books smell like grass and vanilla, which sounds lovely.)

Book / Shop also carries interesting and useful reading accoutrements like the craftsman Slotted System Bookcase above, totes both luxe and simple, and book marks, lights, and ends.

If you can't get enough of books even when you're not reading, they have a similarly curated collection of literary inspired art, too.

And last but not least, they offer what is essentially a literary concierge service. Hit them up for help finding something rare or out of print, a customized bookshelf, even a bespoke reading list (they're right, that could be a totally great gift for someone). And in that vein, be sure to check out their blog to find summer reading lists put together by all kinds of interesting people, and to keep up with events and new arrivals!

Kindah Khalidy

I'm loving local artist and CCA grad Kindah Khalidy's hand painted textiles. Total wearable art party. Almost any surface is a canvas, and her pretty palette of abstract, eye-catching splatters adorns everything from clutches and pouches, to pillows, scarves, and wearable paintings. Her work was recently featured at a pop up shop at Mercy Vintage  that included my hands down favorites: HAND PAINTED PARTY TANK TOPS.

She also just released this Cotton Candy clutch edition for Of a Kind, which I love the idea of — they partner with up-and-coming designers to produce exclusive, limited edition pieces and tell the story of the designers' background, inspiration, and process. In many ways it's the opposite of fast, mass-produced fashion; you can buy a piece produced in a small run and feel like you know who made it and where it came from. It's a great way to discover and support new designers and snap up a 'few-of-a-kind' work that you feel like you can tell a story about.

I'll definitely be keeping my eye on Khalidy's paintings and textiles and hopefully more local events where we can get our hands on them!

Oakland Surf Club

Dudes, Oakland Surf Club is rad. A surf themed lifestyle store with a bonus upstairs gallery space for art shows and events, it's a fresh addition to downtown and the growing independent shopping scene that's been largely absent from Oakland until recently.

 

When we stopped in, I chatted with one of the super friendly owners (who happened to be from the same beach town where I grew up, so topical). I told him I had found them by chance looking for places that carried Ace & Jig, and that I was super excited for Oakland to have a new shop. We had just returned from New York where we stayed in the LES again which has such an amazing concentration of boutiques that I couldn't help but feel jealous and disappointed Oakland had nothing to match. But when I walked into Oakland Surf Club and saw their selection, some of it literally straight out of an NYC boutique (viz. these little necklaces from In God We Trust), was just as awesome, current and well designed but California-centric — even Oakland-centric — well, I was stoked.

OSC stocks a range of brands and price points, and they even have a small, tightly-curated vintage selection, which is where I scored a vintage Bob Mackie linen tank and Levi's cut-offs that I practically lived in this summer. Traditional surf brands like Quicksilver and Billabong spin-off RVCA are represented, but they also carry labels like Ace & Jig, Edith A. Miller, and soon Mara Hoffman, that are more fashion forward but still heavy on the surf vibe. There's a focus on Oakland and Bay Area based skate and streetwear brands, plus they have their own tees, tanks and hats emblazoned with the snappy, modern/classic Oakland Surf Club logo, and actual surfboards by Mangiagli.

They've already put on art shows and live music events, and this weekend they're hosting the Juniper Ridge field lab, a mobile set-up that distills natural fragrances inspired by California's desert and mountain landscapes live, in front of your very eyes.

If you live in Oakland or are visiting, definitely stop by Oakland Surf Club!

 (Last two photos by Oakland Surf Club)