About a year ago, we were invited to a home in Larchmont to meet a famed French perfumer, who’d created iconic scents for Dior and Gaultier. His name was Francis Kurkdjian, and he was launching a new line of scents under his newly opened Maison under his own name. Along with Serge Lutens and Frederic Malle (all French – no coincidence), Kurkdjian is considered one of the great perfumers in the world – he’s created more than 20 of the best selling fragrances of all time and received a number of great reviews and awards. His entire line, including candles, debuted at Neiman Marcus a year ago, and now the brand and the store will have a little scented anniversary party. Marc Chaya, CEO of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, will be sharing innovative fragrance tips as well as the entire Maison Francis Kurkdjian product line at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills. The eponymous collection features cologne, eau de toilettes, eau de perfume, candles, interior perfumes, incense papers, a perfumed bracelet and even a unique collection of scented bubbles. If you have not smelled any of the master’s scents – and there are a few, including mens’ – we suggest you hit Neiman Marcus next week on Thursday September 9, between 1pm and 6pm, and be prepared to smell amazing. Every time I wear his fragrance called Ce Soir, I have a million people asking about it. And most of them are men. This is the effect I was going for! – Merle Ginsberg

There is SOOOO much going on in L.A. the night of next Friday September 10, we are hyperventilating at the thought of it all. So – we are going to do our best to inform you of all these events. We’ll publish several round ups of the events which are ALL over town (not just Rodeo), and then, mid next week, we’ll publish one full comprehensive list you can print out and follow that night.

Here’s a few we thought we’d throw at you:

VENICE:

 

LFrank, the beautiful jewelry boutique at 1116 Abbot Kinney, will be serving drinks and showing baubles by Liseanne Frankfurt from 6pm to 10pm for all Venetians who will not go above the 405.

 

Strange Invisible Perfumes:
Pop into Alexandra Balahoutis’s amazing perfumery for samples and great smells. 1138 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice – (310) 314-1505

 

WEST HOLLYWOOD:

WeHo’s Inaugural Fashion’s Night Out Invites Over 25 of its Legendary Fashion Houses and Famous Local Retailers to Celebrate September 10, 2010:

From 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. West Hollywood fashion businesses such as John Varvatos, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alberta Ferretti, Beckley, Live on Sunset, Vera Wang and LASC are creating special events for the evening. Attendees can expect celebrity appearances and designer showcases along with an abundance of food, wine and fashion. Throughout the evening, the City of West Hollywood will run free shuttles stopping at six locations throughout the city.

Evening highlights include:

 

• 3.1 Phillip Lim
  3.1 Phillip Lim and LACMA’s Costume Council will host artwork by James Jean featuring celebrities and friends of the store. Plus there will be food trucks and a DJ playing tunes inside. 631 North Robertson Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069, (310) 358-1988

 

• Alberta Ferretti
  Alberta Ferretti will hold a raffle with the winner receiving an Alberta Ferretti clutch! Italian sodas and biscotti will be served. 8626 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069, (310) 652-9000

 

• Andaz West Hollywood
  The hotel will host fashion designer Julia Clancey as she debuts her signature collection only found at Fashion’s Night out. The pop-up shop will allow guests the chance to experience and purchase from the brand new collection before it hits international fashion weeks. All FNO guests visiting the Little Miss Clancey pop-up will be entered into a raffle. One winner will receive a chef’s table dinner for six guests at RH prepared the restaurant’s Michelin-Starred chef, Sebastian Archambault; a complimentary suite at Andaz West Hollywood; and a dress from the Little Miss Clancey line. 8401 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069,
  (323) 656-1234

 

• BCBG Maxazria
  Enjoy champagne as you shop the Fall 2010 Collection. Plus, receive an exclusive gift with purchase and enter to win a trip to New York Fashion Week in February! 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. 8634 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (310) 360-0946

 

• Beckley
  A unique VIP evening filled with everything from a fashion savvy menu featuring “Diane Von Furstenburgers” to private Beckley pedicabs standing by to help customers skip the traffic and tour the neighborhood’s festivities in style. The luxury boutique will also offer VIP discounts and hair touch ups by Warren-Tricomi stylists. 8620 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069, (310) 652-3500

 

• Catherine Malandrino:
  DJ, cocktails, plus free Fashion’s Night Out eco tote designed by Catherine Malandrino for customers, 8644 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069, (310) 360-1037

 

• Coco de Mer:
  The luxury erotic boutique is celebrating FNO with a little burlesque hula hooping. Get your creative juices flowing by watching Keeleia, as she teases and sheds her garments all whilst hoola hooping! Performances will be going on every 30 mins from 6.30 – 9.30pm In addition Coco de Mer and Alpha have joined forces for a special offer; customers who spend over $250 at Coco de Mer will receive a $25 gift certificate to shop on line at Coco de Mer and a $25 certificate to shop online at Alpha, Gear for Gents! 8618 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (310) 652-0311

 

• John Varvatos:
  Spend $300 at the store and get your portrait taken by legendary Rock Photographer Robert Knight. 20% of sales to benefit Art of Elysium. Evening includes in-store photo studio, acoustical musical performance, and gallery exhibit of Robert’s work. Event from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. 8800 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069, (310) 859-2791

 

• Marco Pelusi Hair Studio:
  Complimentary hair consultations during Fashion’s Night Out. Enjoy a professional opinion from one of Marco’s top stylists free of charge. This includes a seasonal color analysis. 636 North Robertson Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069, (310) 967-0999

 

• Nicole Miller:
  Cocktails & Hors d’œuvre served. Receive exclusive gift with purchase. 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. 8633 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90069 (310) 652-1629

   

  The businesses who have signed up to participate include: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alberta Ferretti, Alpha, American Apparel, Andaz West Hollywood, Andrew Christian, ARCADE Boutique, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Beckley, Blumera, Bollare, Catherine Malandrino, Chrome Hearts, Clothespin Gale Parker, Coco de Mer, Code C, Crossroads Trading Co., H. Lorenzo, John Varvatos, Ken Paves Salon, LASC, Le Parc Suite Hotel, Live On Sunset, Marco Pelusi Hair Studio, Nicole, Nicole Miller, Sheila, Sunset Plaza, Todd Riemer and Vera Wang.
  For ongoing updates about the event and a full list of participating businesses, go to AvenuesWH.com/events/fno Become a fan on Facebook at Fashion’s Night Out West Hollywood and facebook.com/TheAvenues. Twitter @TheAvenuesWH.

   

  Marni on Melrose Place and LaCienega will have a cocktail party from 6 to 11pm in the store. Good time to check out the fall collection.

SANTA MONICA:

Davis Factor of Smashbox Cosmetics will be available for a meet and greet at the Santa Monica Nordstrom from 5-6PM for LA’s first Fashion’s Night Out and to discuss upcoming Smashbox launches.

BEVERLY HILLS:

 

The Judith Leiber store at Rodeo and Wilshire (222 N. Rodeo) will serve Prosecco, sweets and raffle off some big ticket items. They will also be offering custom nail touch ups by the manicurist from the Regent Beverly Wilshire. 7 to 9pm.

 

The Luxe Hotel on Rodeo is offering attendees a kissable red carpet moment at a complimentary photo booth in front of the hotel (the 300 block of Rodeo between Dayton and Brighton Ways) from 6:00pm – 10:00pm. Shoppers and hotel guests will receive a photo luggage tag as a gift. Throughout the evening Café Rodeo will feature a stylish menu of kissable cocktails and bar bites, including the signature Luxe Kiss martini -an intoxicating mix of vodka, white peach puree and cranberry juice ($12). In the lobby of Luxe Rodeo Timothy Yarger Fine Art will display a collection of historic fashion photographs by Dan Wynn. These classic, silver gelatin prints represent the golden era of Chic during the 1950′s and 1960′s, when European style icons made fashion glamorous and de rigueur. Timothy Yarger Fine Art, a Beverly Hills gallery and dealer of Fine Art since 1986, is located at 354 N. Bedford Drive. Beverly Hills, CA. www.yargerfineart.com

 

You already know that this fall’s most major trend is the leather jacket – and no doubt, you’ve got ‘em in your closet – loads of em – in black, black, black. Which is good, and drag out those Rick Owens or YSL leather motorcycle jackets right now. But there’s a new kid in town: the brown leather jacket. Yes, it’s distressed. Yes, it has the ubiquitous shawl collar. Yes, it’s in that great new copper or clay color that’s looking so good with grey or black or army green or off white. But this Saddle Paper Thin leather jacket by Yigal Azrouel is actually three different jackets in one. Okay, so it is $1490.00 – unfortunately, the price of the average designer leather jacket these days. BUT it’s called the “3 in 1″ jacket. The sleeves come off so it can be a vest. The collar comes off. And even the bottom of the jacket zips off so it’s a shortie, almost a shrug. You can get a lot of use out of such an item. You can leave the house with the vest over a t shirt, and pop in the sleeves when it gets cool at night. And the leather vest look is very chic with jeans or even a dress or under another jacket. It’s at Satine (8134 W. Third St, 323 655 0426) or on shop.yigal-azrouel.com. Same price.

This just sneaked up on us – and boy, are we surprised! Our good friend and colleague, photographer/ music video and commercial director Matthew Rolston – known for beauty, fashion and celebrity expertise – is the Creative Director of SBE’s (Sam Nazarian) new hotel The Redbury, which just opened at 1717 Vine St.- and its new restaurant called Cleo – soon to be the hottest place in town. The style of both the hotel and restaurant is said to be “boho-chic,” and it looks as if most of the 57 rooms in the hotel have some red walls, hence the Redbury name. Rolston played the Phillipe Starck role here – Starck having designed Nazarian’s SLS hotel – mixing English antiques with design elements derived from a variety of Old World ethnic cultures. It also has a rock n’ roll theme. This suits Rolston, who’s shot many a famous pop star, from Janet Jackson to Michael Jackson to Adam Lambert for Rolling Stone. Cleo, the restaurant from Executive Chef Daniel Elmaleh, will have a distinctly light menu that evokes a contemporary mezze bar. Drawn from a variety of influences, Cleo’s cuisine is a modern twist on the foods and cultures of the eastern and southern Mediterranean, and it’s open from 6pm to midnight every night, so as this is L.A., it could take over the “late night” hang out area very quickly. And Mr. Rolston never fails to surprise and amaze us with his talents! – Merle Ginsberg

&nsbp;

Natalie Portman and Jessica Alba are two Hollywood actresses who have this in common: they are both gorgeous, and they both have amazing taste in clothes. Their tastes are quite different, but both amazing – and a little unpredictable, which is a good thing. And since both are debuting new films at the Venice Film Festival right now – Natalie with “Black Swan” (she could easily win best actress at Venice, although the film doesn’t open till December in the U.S., and Jessica stars in “Machete,” which opens here tomorrow) – the looks just keep on comin’ – and get better and better. Natalie wore a fall Miu Miu strapless little dress in purple for a photocall, from Miu Miu’s fall 2010 collection. Adorable. Funny, we looked at the Miu Miu fall show and could not find this particular dress in the collection presented – but that isn’t all that unusual. Jessica attended the big Venice premier of her movie “Machete” in this smoke grey Valentino couture dress – very short in front, very full and poufy in back. We saw some of this trend at the Emmy’s (January Jones in particular), and we have a feeling it could be the new one-shoulder look in eveningwear. It’s got flirty and formal all built in.

&nsbp;

Mark November 20th in your calendar, and know that you will have to get up VERY early that day – or stay up the night before. Because that’s the day the BRAND NEW Lanvin collection by Alber Elbaz for H&M will be launched! It was just announced today, and this collaboration has already turned the fashion world on its ear – as it is the ULTIMATE marriage of French luxury chic with mass marketing and affordable fashion. Alber will design an H&M Lanvin collection for women and Lanvin menswear designer Lucas Ossendrijver will do the mens’ – which means this news is just as exciting for guys as it is for girls. If you’re lucky enough to be able to score any of these pieces – which will be gone in one day, no doubt – you’ve got ALL your Christmas gifts covered! It will go on sale on November 20th in around 200 H&M stores, and pictures of the looks will be revealed on November 2, just three weeks before the clothes hit the store. Let’s pray for trenchcoats, jackets, dresses, even handbags!! You need to line up in front of the store VERY early to score, trust us.

“H&M approached us to collaborate, and see if we could translate the dream we created at Lanvin to a wider audience, not just a dress for less,” said Alber Elbaz in a prepared statement. “I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public. This has been an exceptional exercise, where two companies at opposite poles can work together because we share the same philosophy of bringing joy and beauty to men and women around the world.”

It is very much a Lanvin collection, using their cut and tailoring, with lots of focus on form and details for both women and men. The launch in November is go ing to be full of wonderful surprises.” So says Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M.

There is a cool short film of Alber talking about this at – but you won’t find any photos of the collection till early November. But – we can dream!!!!!!!!!!!

This being September 1, Fashion’s Night Out is only nine days away, so better start marking those calendars. If you don’t keep these events straight, you will never make it to all of them – and there are a lot of them to get to. Decadestwo is calling their Melrose boutique’s event “400 Dresses For $400.” And while it kicks off on the evening of Friday September 10, it will actually last all weekend. There will be indeed 400 dresses priced at $400 or less from Prada, Gucci, Chanel and McQueen, culled from the closets of Julianne Moore, Charlize Theron, Rachel Zoe and others. There will also be prizes given out the whole weekend. Designer Alexis Phifer will be showing a collection called Ghita – and she’ll handcraft a made to measure dress for one winner at the Friday night party. Another prize will be a thousand dollar shopping spree to use at Decadestwo, and one to use an Hautelook.com. Those will also be handed out at the party – and we do imagine it will be well-attended, having the 400 dresses shopping element. You at least have to stop in to see who – and what – is there.

Decadestwo – Decades.com
8214 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (near Sweetzer)
Los Angeles – (323) 655-1450

Seems the variety of FNO or Fashion’s Night Out options in L.A. (Sept 10) is growing by the minute. L.A. designer Trina Turk is opening her store at Third St. near Crescent Heights from 7pm to 9pm to guests seeking a masseuse and manacurist on site, as well as champagne and desserts. This might be a very smart way to start what could and should be a very long evening. Your feet will thank you, and so will your hands. There will also be trolley trips going from events on Robertson to Melrose and Third St.

3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 651-1382

Sorry to spring this on you, but the first day of the Fashion Fall Season is the Tuesday after Labor Day. Are you prepared?? We know we’ve been showing you some of the high priced options, but it’s tough to make a quick decision at those prices. If not ready to rock it on Tuesday, we offer this good and inexpensive advice: head over to Urban Outfitters and pick up a pair of any one of these reasonably priced shoe/boot hybrids. The lace up wedge is all the rage – based on a Rick Owens chic pair, Margiela did this look, too. But the coco and caramel shaded ones will look great with all black – leggings, pencil skirt, jacket. Just add low boot and it’s all new. Pop into Urban Outfitters or go on Urbanoutfitters.com

• Jeffrey Campbell Lace-Up Wedge $178.00
• Frye Harlow Campus Boot (no wedge, and very sturdy) $258.00
• Jeffrey Campbell Lace-Up Boot in Brown $178.00
• Kimchi Blue Wood Heel Oxford – wooden heel VERY trendy, and great color $78.00 – a steal!!!