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Our Trip To San Miguel De Allende - January 18 2013 We visited San Miguel de Allende for Christmas. It's a beautifully preserved 500 year old hill town in central Mexico, and the birthplace of the Mexican Revolution. I had read about it so many times- it was on the long list of places I'd like to see. Jonathan kept asking me "Where are we going"? The high desert weather was perfection -high 70s/low 80s during the day, and mid 40s at night. Because of the swing in temps, layering is a must. I wore sandals by day and boots by night- flat heels are in order to navigate the stone streets, stairs and sidewalks. San Miguel's prominence began in the 1600s when silver was discovered nearby. The town prospered- not only from mining, but from tanneries and cattle ranches outside the city. Workshops produced serapes, blankets, cloaks, rugs, harnesses, knives, spurs and stirrups that were famous throughout Mexico. In 1800 San Miguel's population was twice the size of New York City's (!), with a wealthy merchant class whose elegant courtyard palacios comprise much of the town center. We stayed at the Casa de Sierra Nevada, a cluster of historic buildings in the center of town. On our first day, we were fortunate to tour a few homes with Katharine Hibberts of Premier House Rentals of San Miguel. Casa de Tortugas was decorated in a quietly refined style that incorporated muted colors and Mexican artifacts with a minimal touch. The Hyder House is the enthusiastic expression of one collector's passions. It's a 14,000 square foot labyrinth comprised of 3 homes with gardens, covered porches, rooftops, pools, massive carved doors and fountains, that also serves as a quasi-museum for the most remarkable treasury of Mexican arts and crafts. Our photos reveal only a fraction of the incredible collections housed there including framed toreador ensembles mounted to the exterior and interior walls. We were told the owner bought the house in the early 60s. The Moroccan lamps she installed throughout inspired the local metal-smiths to design their own versions, effectively introducing pierced metal lamps that combine Mexican and Moroccan styles. Deciphering what is old vs. new is not easy here- the traditions of wood carving, ceramics, textiles, and metalwork that continue today mean just about anything can be fabricated locally. The availability of amazing craftspeople also seems to have fueled the refurbishment of centuries-old buildings by interior designers, and creative types. Other worthwhile sights and stops: - Sala de Murales Siquieros- an oversized graphic punch by the renowned Mexican muralist located in the Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramirez -You can't miss the Parrochia Principal with its pink stone facade apparently added on Hollywood-set-style in the early 1900s. According to our tour guide, one of Mexico's most loved churches-and that's saying something! -Luna at the Rosewood Hotel- worth it for the view of the city from this rooftop tapas bar. All new construction. If you love a McMansion, this is the hotel for you. -Fabrica Aurora- a former textile factory converted to galleries, shops and a cafe. Gorgeous natural light streams into the studios through glass walls and clerestory windows. Adaptive reuse at its best! I purchased a modernist silver and amber bead cuff by local jewelry designer Pepe Cerroblanco here. -Casa Diane- a gallery displaying works by Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg (and others) including examples of his famous hand and foot chair. -The Restaurant- right around the corner from Casa de Sierra Nevada at Sollano #16- the best meal of our visit in a beautifully lit courtyard with a gurgling fountain. -Cumpanio- the bread was insanely delicious. In fact- ALL the bread in SMA was delicioso. -The Mercado de Artesanias is an open air arcade with vendors selling crafts including rugs, pottery, metalwork, embroidered and needlework clothing, tabletop items and home accessories. -Hang out in the Jardin Centro around sunset and watch the parade of locals, tourists, American expats and kids playing with bright toys from the vendors- giant metallic pencil balloons seemed to be the fave. Mariachis later that evening, but was it because it was the holidays, or is that every night? We'll have to find out next time... Click HERE to view this posting on Tumblr. Click HERE to view "Trina Social".
One Year Later - Birthday Blog - July 18 2012 We had a quiet celebration last week on my birthday due to jet lag from a recent trip. However, LAST year we had an excellent Mexican-themed fiesta to celebrate a milestone birthday at home in Los Feliz. Here it is—1 year later! Our party décor consisted of custom-cut papel picado, summer flowers and party lights. Revisiting the photos, I’m remembering a festive evening and thinking about party logistics! Jonathan and I were happy with the FLOW at this soiree—we created conversation groupings scattered around the back yard, and it worked—our guests really circulated, and I LOVE that at a party. Heirloom LA did the taco bar catering, my brother-in-law Nate made his infamous killer margaritas, Jonathan made Sangria, and Anne Litt did the soundtrack. On the cocktail front, we learned what a “White Mexican” is, courtesy of Jaime Garcia: a take on a White Russian, it’s horchata + tequila. It was great to see high school friends Ramona Emerson and Kathleen Crawford, Lisa Benko and Jay Linwick from college at the U of W, my very first boss Joyce Nadig, and all the other friends & family who came from New York, Washington, Montana and--almost as much of a trek—from the West side of LA to celebrate with us. Cheers!
Fall 2012 - Modernist Maverick - July 2012 Sonia Delaunay’s vibrant, modernist approach to fashion and print inspired our Fall 1 collection, "Modernist Maverick. The idea was sparked by a visit to the Cooper Hewitt exhibit “Color Moves: Art & Fashion by Sonia Delaunay” last year. I was familiar with Ms. Delaunay’s work, but the show really reminded me of her genius, and what a trendsetter she was in her day. She infused geometric prints with a sense of movement, and her energetic color sense is unparalleled. The imprecise edges of the motifs in her handpainted designs are refreshing in a world of computer generated perfection. Born in the Ukraine in 1885, she was adopted by her wealthy maternal uncle Henri Terk, and became Sonia Terk. Her drawing talent was recognized, and she was sent to Germany for artistic studies. Sonia was one of the first painters to paint in an abstract style. Truly ahead of her time, she was perhaps overshadowed by Malevich and Mondrian because she was a woman. Her textile print designs, which evolved from her paintings, were mostly created in the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. Her patterns remain remarkably timeless today, and foreshadow much of the textile design of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. The exhibit catalog quotes Delaunay as saying it all started in 1911, when she made a patchwork blanket for her newly born son. The result reminded her of Cubism, and she and her artist husband Robert were off and running from there. They collaborated on painting, textile and fashion design, costumes, stage sets, and graphic design for 30 years, living first in Paris, then in Madrid, then back in Paris where she opened Maison Delaunay. Some of Sonia’s first fashion clients included the wives of famous Bauhaus architects: Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, and Erich Mendelsohn, in addition to other artists and journalists--an elite and highly specific group that made it difficult for her to make a living. She attained more commercial success with her textile designs, and her company morphed from Maison Delaunay to Tissus Delaunay—a textile design house selling to print mills around the world. Her largest client became Metz & Co. in Amsterdam--a boutique selling exclusive objects designed by avant garde artists and architects—a circle Delaunay was already associated with. The relationship with Metz began in the 1930s, and the company continued to print and sell her incredible designs until the 1960s.
Hawaii - Kauai 2012 - June 2012 Last year we were approached by the St Regis Princeville to design a oceanside beach cabana at their property on Kauai. All it took was a quick look at their website, and I was in! With the cabana complete, Jonathan and I were invited to spend Memorial Day Weekend at the resort. The hotel is magnificently sited with a breathtaking view of Hanalei Bay and Bali Hai. (I’m not using those adjectives loosely— it’s truly both magnificent and breathtaking) The photo above right is the view from our room. On arrival, we were greeted with fragrant plumeria and tuberose leis-- the perfect prop for an immediate instagram photo on the beach. The Queen’s Bath is near the hotel, and despite many warning signs about people being swept off to sea (more often in the winter) we had to jump in for a quick swim Jonathan taking the plunge on the left. One of the first guests to hang out in the Trina Turk cabana at the St. Regis Princeville was Jennifer Lopez with beau Caspar, back in February. The cabana itself mixes 4 patterns from the Trina Turk for Schumacher Indoor/Outdoor printed fabric collection. It’s an appealing shades-of-blue print riot that reflects the colors of Kauai, while inviting some serious beach lounging. We photo-opped with, from l to r-- Meg Connolly of MCC--PR for St Regis Hotels, Chloe Harris- Exec Editor of 7 x 7, TT, Marnie Hanel from Departures Dispatch, Miranda Jones-Style Editor from Sunset, and Stephanie Reid--PR director for the St. Regis Princeville, who organized all the details of our visit. Thanks Stephanie! We were all treated to a delicious sunset dinner at the Jean-Georges Vongerichten Kauai Grill hosted by hotel general manager Milton Sgarbi and Stephanie. On Sunday, we drove to the end of the Kuhio Highway and embarked on a two mile hike to Hanakapi’ai Beach. The trail runs along the cliff of the Napali coast, which can only be reached by boat, helicopter, or by hiking in. The views were spectacular. It was another 2 miles in from the beach to Hanakapi’ai falls, through bamboo forests, and crisscrossing a rocky stream. We swam under the falls, recharged and then started back. Eight miles of challenging hiking is not my average day. That night, I really felt it!! We collapsed in our luxurious room after an early dinner at the Dolphin in Hanalei. On Monday, we left for Honolulu to scout out possible locations for a TT retail shop. We stayed in the cool 1960s tower of the Royal Hawaiian, aka the Pink Palace, which had undergone a lovely facelift since our last visit. We walked along Waikiki beach and saw the famous Millard Sheets rainbow mural on the side of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, currently under restoration, it’s bright colors still visible through black mesh. All in all, a fantastic weekend. Mahalo and Aloha to the St. Regis Princeville!
Coachella 2012 - April 2012 Hipsters from Southern California and beyond were forced to rethink their looks when Mother Nature served up a cold and rainy Friday the 13th for the first day of Coachella 2012. Ensembles that had no doubt been carefully planned were bypassed (by most) for parkas, ponchos, anoraks, hoodies, layering, and whatever was the warmest gear in your weekender. Defiant and in-denial hotties refused to acknowledge the temps and carried on shirtless or in short shorts with bare legs, topping it off with ubiquitous fur hats with ears, that this year were actually functional. Kate Moss' classic Glastonbury look: army jacket, cutoffs and Hunter boots was recreated in endless incarnations, with and without tights, and updated with a pop of pattern or neon. Spring 2012's wild print and exuberant color refused to be subdued by inclement weather. By 6:30PM on Friday, the worst of the storm had passed, clearing the skies and the polo field for more summery fare on Saturday and Sunday. Crazy print and pattern mixing reigned supreme, with the inevitable homage to Woodstock sprinkled throughout, creating a modern mix of '70s throwback accessorized with iPhones. Headscarves, headbands, turbans--floral and otherwise--were stronger than ever. The pool party at the Saguaro was a fresh addition to Coachella weekend, where the trend blender mixed up every look under the sun against the rainbow-hued backdrop of the hotel itself. For any fan of visual overload OR music, the next level production of the festival's sound, staging, lighting, art installations and video walls made Instagram irresistible. Thank you to Anne Litt for being our music guide, and to Jonathan --aka Mr Turk-- for being our Intrepid Photographer!—their photos below! Here's Anne's Blog post too http://KCRW.com/coachella
Turks & Caicos Grace Bay Club - March 2012 In a recent collaboration, we created an exclusive swimwear print for Grace Bay Club in the Turks & Caicos Islands. The project was dubbed “Trina Turks & Caicos”—cute, right? With our swim project complete, Grace Bay Club graciously invited Jonathan and me down for an extended weekend. We were in New York last week, so it was a quick 3 hour flight from JFK to Providenciales. The view from the plane was incredible—meandering white sand beaches and ombre turquoise waters. We hit the beach upon arrival, I met Navar, and Jonathan wear-tested his new Mr. Turk swim trunks. We visited the gift shop to check out the Trina Turks & Caicos collection. And here’s the bikini—although this was shot in Malibu, not the Caribbean, so the water’s not as blue! Our first night, Grace Bay Club General Manager Thierry Grandsire and COO Nikheel Advani hosted us at a poolside Caribbean dinner-- johnnycakes, jerk chicken, peas and rice, fried plantains, ribs, local snapper and a rum tasting. The honey rum was my favorite. On Friday we did a long beach walk in the morning and went to Da Conch Shack for lunch. It’s a low key beachside restaurant/rum bar, with a lively mix of locals and tourists. We passed on the rum punch since our first paddle boarding excursion was right after lunch! Paddle boarding is surprisingly easy—at least in the calm channels of the mangrove forest. We paddled through shallow pale aqua water—serene and relaxing. No photos….Jonathan left his camera at the dock…. On Saturday Nikheel and his fiancé Alison treated us to a snorkeling excursion to Half Moon Bay. We were told it’s the third largest reef in the world, and the fish and coral were gorgeous. I tried to memorize the palette of the undersea life for a future collection’s colors….acid green + lilac with shots of neon? There’s a point where the reef drops off dramatically and the water goes from relatively shallow straight down to 7000 feet. They call it “the cliff” and it accounts for the dramatic change in the color of the water from turquoise to deep sea blue. At Half Moon Bay we spotted this rock iguana hanging out under one of the island’s scruffy pines. On Sunday we beach walked for 2 hours in the other direction before packing up to go. I loved this wire and rope “sculpture” created by the tides, washed up on the beach--place it in a gallery, and it’s art! Unfortunately, it was too big to fit into my carry-on. Here’s one last shot of Jonathan in the infinity pool. Thanks Grace Bay Club for an excellent sun and sea weekend!
The Total Look - March 2012 Jonathan and I attended a dinner in honor of “The Total Look” at MOCA Pacific Design Center last weekend. The show documents the creative collaboration between groundbreaking LA designer Rudi Gernreich, his muse Peggy Moffitt, and her husband, photographer William Claxton. I shopped my closet and found the perfect thing to wear— a vintage Rudi G silver/gold metallic knit sweater dress purchased years ago in Seattle. (L to R) Self portrait of my Peggy Moffitt inspired makeup by Agostina Lombardo, Accent nail + invite, TT in vintage Rudi Gernreich with Peggy and William’s son Christopher Claxton, and Peggy Moffitt looking cool as ever in a black ruffled rib sweater dress, TT outside MOCA PDC All the clothing on display is from Peggy’s personal collection. Cameron Silver’s selections reveal the best aspects of Rudi’s work—simple shapes, amazing graphic prints, a gorgeous sense of color and pattern mixing, and a modernity that often still works for now. In 1966, Rudi was the first designer to do a lower priced collaboration. He created an exclusive collection for Montgomery Ward, and pioneered the idea of great fashion design for the masses. An anecdote excerpted from The Rudi Gernreich Book by Peggy Moffitt and William Claxton demonstrates the clash of the New York fashion Old Guard vs. Rudi’s west coast unconstructed, modernist designs. RG won a Coty Fashion Critics award in June of 1963. “As a protest against Gernreich’s win, Norman Norell returned his own Coty award, telling WWD ‘It no longer means a thing to me. I can’t bear to look at it anymore. I saw a photo of a suit of Rudi’s and one lapel of the jacket was shawl and the other was notched--well!’" Some things never change--the NY fashion establishment still takes itself way too seriously. I would love to time travel back to the '60s to hang out with Rudi, William and Peggy in LA for a few days. The Los Angeles art scene was in its influential infancy, with the Ferus Gallery being the first to show Andy Warhol’s Campbell's soup can paintings. (They were priced at $100) Artists and musicians crisscrossed with Hollywood types and Rudi's circle to create what must have been some great parties and openings. Rudi’s old studio at 8460 Santa Monica Blvd, described as a “khaki colored square stucco building with 12 foot doors”, has sadly has been obscured/embellished with some bad 1990s curly ironwork. I wonder if the current tenant knows about that location’s storied history…
What I did on my summer vacation. - Capri + Turkey We chose Turkey as our vacation destination this past summer for its combination of culture, textile shopping and seaside relaxation. The fact that the city of Istanbul is split between Europe and Asia is intriguing enough, but vague memories from college art history classes, the lure of the Grand Bazaar, and photos of the Aegean coast sealed the deal. On our way there, we made a quick stop in Capri to meet up with Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan. They were our excellent, highly entertaining tour guides there 2 summers ago-we had so much fun, we wanted to return. Capri is the perfect combination of no cars, drop-dead gorgeous vistas, great people watching, excellent shopping and delicious Italian food. New this trip were a visit to Villa San Michele, and dinner at Grotelle. This charming and slightly "rustica" restaurant felt like it could have been exactly the same 40 years ago. I wonder if Jackie O dined there back in the day..... Walking around the island; The floor at Villa St Michele; Going Through "I Faraglioni" the iconic rocks that jet from the sea. TT+JA on the boat, At Lunch at Da Giorgio I love grilled octopus!; Mr Adler loves the lobster pasta at Riccio's, or anywhere, really! Flying into Istanbul, I was surprised by the 100 kilometer wide urban sprawl--Los Angeles looks small in comparison, and it is--we're only 4 million to Istanbul's 14 million residents. We stayed at the Sumahan on the Asian side of the Bosporus. Each morning a hotel boat would take us across to the European side, where most of the tourist sites are located. Seeing Istanbul from the water is a must. The mixture of palaces, mosques and waterfront homes exhibit the breadth of architectural styles. The general aesthetic is "more is more". The Sumahan Hotel boat takes us to the European side of the Bosphorus; My husband Jonathan Skow on the Bosphorus. The Golden Horn is essentially a Byzantine/Ottoman theme park--except it's real!!--with tourists from all over the world exploring the Blue Mosque, The Hagia Sophia, and the Topkapi Palace. The Hagia Sophia had changed hands countless times over the centuries from emperor to sultan, from Christianity to Islam. The new Turkish republic wisely changed it into a museum in the 1930s, allowing everyone to visit. We had an amazing seafood lunch at Balikci Sabahattin where the mussels with rice was one of the most memorable meze from our trip. Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque Interior; Blue Mosque's Minarets 1603-1617 Outside the Hagia Sophia more is more!; Inside the Hagia Sophia - layers of Mosaic and painted plaster. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Market were surprisingly mellow--we expected the more aggressive hawking of wares we experienced in Morocco. The Bazaar, which opened for shopping in 1461, was a huge maze of stalls that was somewhat daunting, even for professional shoppers like us! We wandered into an exterior courtyard and purchased a couple of boldly striped Anatolian tent blankets purportedly "from the 1920s", but the blue plastic beads on the fringe indicated otherwise. I also bought 2 vintage Uzbek robes at a nearby shop called Cocoon, one an orange and hot pink ikat stripe, the other an ombre stripe that was weirdly Mexican--I'm wearing that one in the photo. We had an excellent kebab lunch at Hamdi Et Lokantasi, located right on Eminounu square. The open-air terrace on the top floor has a sweeping view of the city. Make a reservation if you go-- it took some persistence to get seated on the 4th floor without one Inside the Grand Bazaar (where the shopping began in 1461); Suzanis on display in a courtyard in the Grand Bazaar. Examining Anatolian tent blankets in a grand bazaar courtyard; Persuing the vintage Uzbeki Ikat robes at Cocoon (cocoontr.com) We bought this blanket! One of our souvenirs., Vintage Caftans near the grand bazaar. This is a photo from the Cemberlitas Hamman brochure is an idealized version of the actual experience! The most hilarious episode of our trip was a visit to the Cemberlitas Hammam (turkish bath), which was built in 1584, designed by rock star architect of the time, Mimar Sinan. The elegance of the space, with it’s carved marble baths and domed ceiling punctuated by glass "stars", was contrasted by the amiable-yet-car-wash attitude of the service staff, jaded by all the tourists (including us) coming to experience a "real Turkish bath". There's something so funny about being energetically scrubbed down and shampooed by an elderly Turkish lady in black bra and panties, the finishing touch being a bucket of warm water dumped unceremoniously over your head. The next day we rented a gulet and cruised around the bays and islands near Bodrum, swam in the Aegean, and had lunch on the boat. At the end of the day, we shopped for jewelry at Lagoub's Afrosanat/Narr in Bodrum which also carries African masks and fabrics. It's a short 1 hour flight from Istanbul to Bodrum. Our hotel, the Macakizi, is in Golturkbuku, 18 km from Bodrum. The hotel was fantastic--our room had a gorgeous view overlooking the bay of yachts and gulets--an elegantly curved Turkish style boat. We spent the afternoon lounging on the wooden decks built out over the water watching the extremely entertaining swimwear and coverup fashion parade of our fellow guests, which culminated in a scene-y cocktail hour accompanied by thumping beats. View of the bay from our hotel at the Macakizi, in Golturkbuku, 18km from Bodrum; TT perusing the objects + books at the Macakizi; On a gulet on the Agean TT on the gulet; Castle of St Peter, also known as Bodrum Castle Lagoub's Afrosanat/Narr for souvenir shopping in Bodrum town. On our last day, we took a trip to Ephesus. We meandered the ruins from antiquity and the terrace houses with their amazing mosaic floors. Ephesus is partly restored and a treasure trove of decorative styles from the various regimes that ruled over the centuries. Jonathan took tons of photos. We wished we would have had one more day to lounge at the Macakizi, but vacation is always too short! Trina in an arch next to the Odeion in Ephesus 2nd Century AD; down on Kuretes Street toward the library; the ceiling of the Library of Celsus. Achilles' heel; Tile designs in the terrace houses of Ephesus.
Yarn Bombing - Seattle Jonathan and I spent Thanksgiving weekend in Seattle. Check out the excellent yarn bombing of the trees in City Hall Park in Pioneer Square! The striped sweaters fit perfectly, and they really POP on a grey Seattle day. Kudos to whomever knit them! Trina in Seattle - City Hall Park, Pioneer Square Some wonderful examples of the Yarn Bombing Movement! On a side note - we were inspired by the yarn bomb movement with our Fall window design. We used spare fabric from the collections to wrap the trees. See our window designer sewing away! Working on the window installations in our warehouse. Here's our LA Boutique windows!
Palm Spring Modcom House Tour - November 2011 Jonathan, Catherine Meyler, James Spindler and I embarked upon our 10^th (?) annual Palm Springs Modern Heritage fund home tour last weekend. The first house was a beautifully detailed white sculptural box--perfect for minimalists—designed by Jim Jennings. Photos were not allowed inside, but here we are at the start of the day in the carport, along with 2 guys wearing Mr.Turk and Atlanta interior designer Bill’s chocolate brown Trans Am. The second home was an amazing trip back to high style Palm Springs circa 1962. The house belonged to famous desert (and beyond) interior decorator Arthur Elrod, before he moved to his John Lautner designed pad in Southridge. It was done to the nines by Arthur for himself, and the sort-of-Elrod-groupie-second-owner, now in his 90s, has not changed a thing! So it’s a bit of a time capsule and homage to Mr. Elrod down to multiple pairs of his 2-tone shoes still in the closet. Needless to say, the clothing in the closet is as swanky as his interiors. Everything is custom made-- including the expansive V’Soske carpet in the living room strewn with lime, orange and yellow flowers. Check out Jonathan lounging next to the enormous angled sofa, and the Indian inspired brass door pull on a glossy white snake textured door gives an example of the type of detail throughout. The third home was a perfectly designed early 60s weekend retreat with aggregate floors extending from inside to outside, a wall of glass and a gorgeous view of the mountains. I loved owners James and Tom’s curated collection of objects and furniture in an earthy 70s style. We stopped for lunch at Norma’s at the Parker Hotel. We continued on to 4 more houses, the tour finishing with a reception at this lovely Donald Wexler designed home. If anyone is planning a trip to Palm Springs, late October is a great time to do it!—before the clock falls back to standard time--hot sunny days and perfect 70 degree evenings to dine, drink and chat outdoors…..
Come Fly with Me - Fall 2011 The glamour days of air travel--when PSA air hostesses wore pink and orange minis with matching caps, Braniff stewardesses were in head-to-toe Pucci, and futuristic architecture added to the jet set fabulousness of it all--inspired our Fall 1 collection and look book photo shoot at Los Angeles International Airport. Our theme for the early fall collection is “Come Fly with Me”. The pared back silhouettes of the swinging sixties, and the classic/chic colors of airline logos-- red, navy, black and ivory—were combined with structured fabrications to give that early 1960s feel. We shot our look book at what is now the “Flight Path Learning Center” at Los Angeles International Airport. It was formerly the VIP-only Imperial Terminal, and our proximity to the runways prompted security checks for our entire photo shoot team! One of the best things about LAX is the landmark Theme Building—a swooping, jet-age icon that has welcomed us all to LA since 1961. It’s appeared in countless films as an establishing shot for Los Angeles, and renderings of it turn up everywhere: the top (below) Nat Reed’s “Auspicious Arrival” and on the bottom, William Leavitt’s 1986 “Theme Restaurant”. My favorite photo of this architectural icon is Garry Winogrand’s Untitled (Los Angeles International Airport) from 1964. These ladies with their pale pumps and bouffant hairdos set the bar high for what to wear when traveling, and their stylish hair was a starting point for our look book hair. (Love her printed dress) LAX today is in need of a major overhaul and far from world class, but having flown in and out so many times, I know it’s idiosyncracies…and am always happy to touch down in LA.
B-52's - May 2011 The first time I saw the B 52’s in concert was at the University of Washington HUB auditorium in 1980. I was fully embracing my new wave look at the time, favoring red, black, white, pink and stripes. I wish I could find that photo of me pre-show in my Mondrian-esque Betsey Johnson leggings and black pointy heels, but it’s lost in the photo archive somewhere…I definitely took style cues from the first 2 B-52's album covers which referenced early '60s graphic style, primary color+ black & white, and a thrift store chic look. The B-52's First Albums We saw the B-52’s again—31 years later!-- May 7 at the Evening Under the Stars, a fundraiser for the AIDS Assistance Program in Palm Springs. It was so gorgeous outside on the O’Donnell Golf Course with the sun setting behind the mountain. We were invited by our Palm Springs retail next door neighbors, Wil Stiles and Molly Bondhus of clothing boutique Wil Stiles. from left, Wil and Molly on the dance floor, me, Wil and Molly, Jonathan at our table, far right Molly with friend Maria Casci-Stoltzman The B-52's sported a more bohemian style than they did back in the '80s! Metallic jacquards were a trend! Here I am with Susan Tarantino--a genuinely excited fan, William Miller in a beautiful brocade dinner jacket, and me again with Bella da Ball. Thanks again to Wil and Molly for inviting us!
MOCA Geffen - Street Art - April 2011 On Saturday we checked out Art in the Streets at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in little Tokyo. It's "the first major historical exhibition of graffiti and street art to be organized by an American museum....beginning with the emergence in the early '70s of Wild Style in NY, cholo gang graffiti in East LA, and surf and skate culture in Venice Beach and Santa Monica..." (from the museum blurb) If you're interested in graphic design, pop culture or just love color--go!! Chicarito in the Cosmic Cavern Closet Fun! The line of hundreds of people outside seemed to indicate that this exhibit had hit a nerve and was attracting a much broader audience than your average museum show. The crowd was a true cross section of Los Angeles. All ages, tribes and colors were represented: artsy types, skaters, punks, and the multitude of ethnicities that make our city interesting. It was this culture clash that spawned the emergence of graffiti and street art in the first place, so it was cool to see everyone taking it in. There was a palpable energy in the huge exhibit space. Here are some of my favorites: Hugh Holland's time capsule photos of 1970s skaters. Here's Jonathan with Keith Haring's Buick Special And Kenny Scharf's embellished Cadillac FUN gallery refrigerator scrawled upon by various artists including: Jean Michel Basquiat, Fab 5 Freddy, Keith Haring, Keily Jenkins, LA II and Kenny Scharf John Matos "CRASH" A street installation created by multiple artists Banksy plus kids from a downtown LA school created this 30 foot high, rainbow hued graffiti/stained glass window Jamie Reid--most famous for ransom note style graphics for the Sex Pistols gives us this fashion advice. And the illustrated chronology on the mezzanine displayed an installation of spray paint cans over the years. Check out Deborah Harry's cute look in Blondie's Rapture video (included because the set was a graffitied alley) a black tube top-with-rectangular-paillettes and shorts. Don't miss Spike Jones' skateboard themed short films. Unlike many shows where photos are not allowed, it was a photographic-free-for-all with everyone snapping away!
Coachella Music Festival - 2011 I had not been to Coachella until last weekend. I’d heard about the amazing music festival held at a polo field in Indio for years, but for some reason had never made the trek. Every April, the weather magically turns HOT for Coachella weekend. This year was no exception—it was a toasty 96 degrees on Friday and a sizzling 98 on Saturday. The perfect setting for lots of fashion do’s and don’ts—which I’ll get to later. Our friend Anne Litt, famous KCRW DJ, provided our VIP passes and was our band sherpa. I’m no longer able to keep track of new music as obsessively as I did in my 20s, so it was great to have the very knowledgeable Anne providing bullet point summaries of who the bands were. I knew some, but with over 150 bands playing in 3 days, we needed a decision maker! We adopted a migratory method of moving around the field from venue to venue, seeing LOTS of bands and rarely staying for a whole set. Center: Anne Litt and I decked out in New and "Vintage" Trina Turk. Right: Anne's Hat in the crowd foreground! We’ve had a house in Palm Springs since 1998, so I know a thing or two about dressing for very hot, dry weather. The funny thing is that several things I’d NEVER wear in the desert were hot (get it) trends at Coachella. These included: --hosiery! --black jeans! --fur hats with ears! --boots! Kudos to the festival warriors who rocked their impractical looks despite the temps. This was the best people watching EVER. Other trends as photographed by Jonathan: Floppy hats –note the second from the left wearing hot pink hosiery! It seemed like floppy hats were the newer alternative to the panama, which was still very well represented. Kurt Cobain’s influence still going strong—stringy blonde hair and men in cute little dresses. Right: Cage the Elephant. Red lipstick! The girl on the far right looks so great. Love her vintage 1980s loud print skirt combined with a sweet red cotton bra top Tutu’s! Ivory lace, embroidery, crochet-- often seen with a floppy hat. There was also another variation of this: 1930s tea dance looks but we didn’t get a good photo…. fancy moustaches! shades of blue! Print, pattern, stripes, COLOR! 2 women shown here are wearing Trina Turk long print dresses. The lighting, staging and architectural constructions scattered around the site provided as much visual stimulation as the people—it was fantastic. The psychedelic graphics accompanying Animal Collective were mesmerizing - and I wasn’t even stoned! large prescription glasses! And lastly, if you’re going to wear black in the desert, this is how to do it.
DCOTA - I did a quick trip to Miami early in February (I know, the promptness of my blogs needs improvement) to promote the launch of our new collection of Trina Turk Indoor/Outdoor for Schumacher upholstery fabrics. The collection features 8 new prints, and 2 new matelassé patterns with a super soft, cottony hand--you’d never know they’re water, sun and stain resistant! We incorporated a few of the new prints into our look book photo shoots: On the left, Carmel Coastline in surf and Jax print on the beach at Catalina island. On the right, Jax, Loop de Loop and Soleil LA prints all in the “driftwood” colorway on the beach in Malibu. DCOTA is the Design Center of the Americas, located north of Miami in Dania Beach. On January 18th, I participated in a panel discussion moderated by the lovely Eugenia Santiesteban of Veranda magazine. L to R: panelists Celerie Kemble, India Hicks, TT, Gene Meyer and moderator Eugenia Santiesteban Our topic was “Color and Pattern in Decoration”, and my fellow panelists were interior designers Celerie Kemble, India Hicks, and Gene Meyer. India is David Hick’s daughter. It must have been amazing (or stressful!) to grow up with a father of such iconic importance to modern interior design. You might remember her from the Bravo series Top Design, which we watched religiously--although it could not be saved by Jonathan Adler’s chipper presence and Kelly Wearstler’s unique fashion ensembles. New York based Celerie Kemble also grew up with a famous decorator—her mother is Mimi McMakin and Celerie grew up not far from DCOTA in Palm Beach. Gene Meyer designed amazing men’s ties back in the '90s. Remember them? They were graphic, colorful and cool. He hinted that he might be bringing them back….but for now is working on interior design based in Miami. The one quip that has stuck with me is India recounting her parents arguing. Coffee was spilled on a wall, her father forgot about the argument and focused on the wall, et voila--the idea for a coffee brown wall was born. David Hicks’ design with glossy brown walls for the sons of Stavros Niarchos in 1972 when they were in London studying! Afterwards we went up to the Schumacher showroom for lunch and to peruse the collection. L to R Schumacher Territory Manager Joan Bijou, Schumacher CEO Terri Eagle, TT and TT with panelist Gene Meyer The new Trina Turk for Schumacher Collection That evening, I went to the DCOTA Design Showcase House, where my fave room was designed by the chic and talented Deborah Wecselman. I also ran into Vladimir and Erica Kagan in Deborah’s room—I had met them last time I was at DCOTA 2 years ago!
"I love This Hat" - Several years ago my husband Jonathan found an amazing vintage straw hat in Miami which he brought back for me. The hat’s distinguishing features are an exaggerated height, an open top, and a charming bow. It was made in France. It’s slightly eccentric, but practical for keeping the sun off my face, and I love the statement it makes when I wear it. It reminds me of the fantastic hats in Federico Fellini’s film “Juliet of the Spirits”. Actually, it’s way more toned down than those crazy hats-- but has a touch of their irreverence. Trina in the Hat The hat has appeared several times in our look book photo shoots over the years. Last summer, when we were putting together our “Acapulco Gold” swimwear runway show for Miami Swim Week, Jonathan and I both thought it would make a perfect swim accessory. Spring 2011, Swim Shoot, and Miami Swim Runway Show - "Acapulco Gold" We contacted milliner Louise Greene, based in West LA. The concept was for Louise to make 12 hats for the show—all variations on the original. She made some larger brimmed, smaller, taller, with a bigger bow. They were fantastic, and after our Miami swim show, everyone was asking about the hats! So many people inquired, that we decided to make a limited run of 30 of the “Acapulco Gold” hat--a version that approximates the original. Watch the Hats in action at our Runway show! These hats are now available exclusively on our website and in our boutiques. SHOP NOW! Louise manufactured the hats right here in Los Angeles of an Italian straw that incorporates a touch of gold lurex for shimmer. We used a signature TT print for the elasticized insert that helps to fit any size head. I’m thrilled with how they turned out, and am excited to offer them to you! Everyone loves this Hat!
Culture Vulture - Jan 2011 It’s always great to have a weekend at home in LA with no commitments. That was last weekend—perfect, gorgeous sunny days and zero appointments = heaven! I took advantage of the open schedule by checking out a few things around town: On Saturday, I went to the 16th annual LA art show. 100 galleries from around the world were showing, including large contingents from China and Korea. Theoretically there was no photography, but since everyone was taking pics of everything, i joined them! Here are 4 of my favorites: Picasso "Francoise" Picasso “Francoise” lithograph. It’s from a series of 11 drawings Picasso did of one of his many girlfriends Francoise Gilot in 1946. As I was wandering through the show, this image really jumped out amongst all the visual craziness even though it’s just a charcoal sketch. The gallery was asking $130,000 for this print, but I went on artnet.com just to see if I could find something similar, and I did! One of the same image from the same series sold last September at Sotheby’s in London for $31,225. Hmmm…..I don’t really know how the art world’s markups work, but… I also loved the Tom Wesselman print of a tan-lined nude, a Karl Benjamin stripe painting that reminds me of a painting that we have in our house in Palm Springs, and a groovy “Swimming Pool” photograph by Martine—she was Henri Cartier Bresson’s wife and is still shooting photos. Tom Wassleman Karl Benjamin Martine On Sunday, Jonathan and I went to Mozza for lunch. It’s becoming somewhat of a habit—if we’re both free and in town on the weekend, and arrive just before they open the doors at noon, we can get a seat at the counter with no reservation for THE BEST PIZZA EVER, including pizza we’ve had in Italy. Our favorite seats are right in front of the pizza chefs. People line up outside and wait for the doors to open. Then we went to LACMA to see the Fashioning Fashion show at the new Resnick pavilion. The Resnick pavillion is basically an extremely chic warehouse with excellent diffused lighting designed by Renzo Piano. There’s something amusing about the fact that the fortune amassed by the Resnicks which enabled them to make their generous donation to LACMA came partially from their sale of The Franklin Mint. The Franklin Mint is where you can find such treasures as the complete presidential quarter collection, a “brand new!” Kate Middleton doll, or a bronze sculpture of Ronald Reagan in cowboy drag. All that cheesy product paid for this building--it worked out nicely for LA! This description of the show is pulled from LACMA’s website: Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915 celebrates the museum's groundbreaking acquisition of a major collection of European men's, women's, and children's garments and accessories. The exhibition tells the story of fashion's aesthetic and technical development from the Age of Enlightenment to World War I. It examines sweeping changes in fashionable dress spanning a period of over two hundred years, and evolutions in luxurious textiles, exacting tailoring techniques, and lush trimmings. LACMA Fashioning Fashion The show set up was refreshing—mannequins displayed in grey primer-painted shipping crates with the large lids casually leaning against the walls of the cavernous exhibit space, and no glass between you and the clothes. The condition of these garments—some more than 300 years old-- was amazing! Many looked brand new. The paper hairdo’s were beautifully done. Love the Paper Hairdos! In terms of inspiration for Trina Turk, I found myself gravitating toward the menswear and the Poiret, which was the simplest and most modern of the womenswear shown. Paul Poiret, Brassiere There was an abundance of details on the women’s garments, so theoretically you could pluck an idea to interpret into contemporary sportswear, but much of it is so intricate and part of an extreme silhouette that it’s just not something you would wear now. Our last stop on the culture vulture weekend was the LA Craft and Folk Art Museum where a show of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman’s work is up. “For 50 years, LA based artists/designers Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman played a central role in the distinctive aesthetic of California modernism”. (that’s from their website). Here are a couple of my favorites from the show—a mermaid mosaic and a tapestry called Labyrinth—hand woven in Mexico for ERA Industries. Tapestry by Evelyn Akerman Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman Mosaics and Tapestry Once we got there we realized we had already seen the show last year in San Diego, but walked through anyhow because their work is so inspirational. We actually have a pair of carved wood sunburst doors installed in our NY store that were designed by Evelyn Ackerman for Forms and Surfaces. Trina Turk New York Boutique - Ackerman Doors
Holiday getaway to Vieques! - Jan 2011 Holiday Getaway to Vieques, Puerto Rico Vieques was our destination for a holiday getaway-- a relatively undeveloped Caribbean island that’s part of Puerto Rico. If you’re looking for big resort hotels, wild nightlife and packed beaches, Vieques is not for you! This is a super low key, unpretentious place to chill and read all those books you’ve been meaning to read. It reminded me a bit of Sayulita in Mexico. We stayed at the W Retreat and Spa, which was beautifully decorated by one of my fave designers Patricia Urquiola. She created a chic beach shack vibe that’s perfect for the island. The photos above and below are shots Jonathan took in and around the hotel. The top shot (below) is a textile “map” of the island made of felt, string art, tiles, lace, crochet and who knows what else! I especially love the circular lounges and hanging chairs made of bright plastic tubing arranged in graphic stripes. W Retreat and Spa If you plan to travel to Vieques, and are not a person who likes to sit by the hotel pool all day, make sure you have a jeep rental for your visit. Rental cars are hard to come by on the island, so I would almost suggest renting your car as one of the first steps in planning your trip! The roads to the more off-the-beaten-path beaches were rough and muddy, but worth the bumpy ride to arrive at a lovely crescent shaped stretches of sand, with clear blue water and hardly any other visitors. Jonathan in Mr Turk swim trunks at Playa Plata, one of our favorite beaches. Me @ 375 year old Cieba Tree - an island landmark. We stopped in San Juan on the way back, and spent an entire day walking “Old San Juan”. Like the rest of the tourists in town, we explored the 2 forts, dating from the 1500 and 1600s - El Morro and Castillo San Cristobal. We went from the 1600s to the 1960s at La Concha - an amazing shell-shaped poured concrete structure on Condado Beach. ...and we’re still thinking about that off-kilter bronze “Eve” sculpture by Angel Botello we spotted at the Galeria Botello. (L-R) Me walking at San Felipe El Morro Castle. JS. Old San Juan. Angel Botello Sculpture at Galeria Botello. La Concha on Condado Beach, San Juan.
Nails - November 2010 Trina Talks...Nails Q. Hey Trina-- we hear you have your own nail polish color for the season? A. I do! It’s by a company called Julep. I was doing an appearance at Nordstrom in Seattle, and visited a Julep Nail Parlor—there are several around town. Jane, the owner, is a fan of the TT collection and she invited me to choose a color from their fall palette to be called “Trina”. Q. What color is "Trina"? A. It’s a dark purple with a little shimmer, I think you could call it eggplant or aubergine. We’re doing a promo on at trinaturk.com on Thanksgiving Day—if you place an order, you get a little bottle of Trina Julep polish as a perk! Q. Have you been wearing it? A. Yes, I love it. We used it on the models for our trinaturk.com holiday shoot. It looks great with the gold sparkly jewelry. Q. Are you a nail girl? A. Pedicure—always. Painted fingernails occasionally for an event or party. I usually have just buffed, natural fingernails. And I love a flowery pencil. Q. Any hot tips on where to go for a great pedicure? A. Yes! In Palm Springs I see Rebecca at Salon 119. My friends at the great shop C. Orrico in Palm Beach introduced me to Janine at the Edwards Salon—her pedicure was flawless and lasted forever. Julep in Seattle is excellent. When I’m in New York, I go to the Rescue Beauty Spa on Gansevoort Street since it’s right down the street from our Boutique! Q. Where do you go when you’re home in LA? A. That’s the problem! I’ve found all these great places out of town, but I haven’t found a great spot in the Silver Lake/Los Feliz area of LA! Or South Pasadena would work too—that’s near our office. If anyone has any suggestions, please share! I generally love strong color in polish and prefer no frost or sparkle. Here are some of my fave colors - clockwise from the top: Nars - "Hunger" - great for summer with a tan--a bright orangey red. OPI - "Kennebunkport" - a classic deep blue red for when you’re feeling Grace Kelly. Essie - "Little Brown Dress and Wicked" - variations on a theme. I love these for fall LBD is a delicious chocolaty brown. Wicked is a deep deep maroon Orly - this is the mystery color that our fit model Janel gave me. I don’t know the name of it! It’s a super hot pink with some depth to it. Love it for spring/summer OPI - "Hopelessly in Love" - if I’m feeling like a more natural colored pedicure (which is not very often) this color is perfectly feminine and pretty. Also, not pictured - I had a manicure with OPI’s "William Tell Me About it" for a recent event and the deep grapey purple was dramatic and chic!
New York Fashion Week - Oct 2010 Trina Turk, the company is 15 years old this year! To celebrate our 15th birthday, we decided to participate in New York Fashion Week for the first time. We incorporated the theme for our Spring 2011 Collection "Palm Springs Eternal" into our presentation by creating "vignettes" in our New York showroom. We designed 5 scenes inspired by the lifestyle of Palm Springs and the desert: "Pool Deck", "Refreshment Bar", "The Backgammon Challenge", "Palm Springs Party Room", and "Between the Sheets". Sets were created using vintage furniture and props, TT embroidered pillows and towels, and large cushions made in Trina Turk Indoor/Outdoor for Schumacher upholstery fabric. We also introduced our new bedding collection in the bedroom scene. Casting was a challenge. It was important to find models who had good energy and could maintain an enthusiastic attitude for the 2 hour duration of the presentation - easier said than done! A few who seemed vivacious at the casting didn't shine as brightly on the big day, but we did have a few stars. We provided vintage SX-70 Polaroid cameras so that the models could shoot photos of each other during the show. In the "Between the Sheets" scene, our girl modeled different looks for her "boyfriend" who was polaroiding her. Alex, the boyfriend, was cast at the last minute, and he turned out to be great - this scene was everyone's favorite. Those two ended up having a lot of fun. We wonder if they're dating now! Watch the movie of the event and a portfolio of the polaroids below. "The Backgammon Challenge" turned out to be for real. It was an international group - we had a Danish guy, and the girls were Russian, Malaysian and American. They all knew how to play backgammon except the American. She learned by the end of the day and the competition was fierce. In the end, I was happy with the vignettes - they accomplished our goal of portraying a California lifestyle. We had a great press turnout and received good reviews. A lot of editors commented on the format - they thought it was fresh and different. We've put together a list of just some of the links to stories and reviews of the presentation. Check them out! LA Times Lucky Magazine Beauty Blitz Blog Daily Front Row ABC News
25th Wedding Anniversary - Oct 2010 25 years ago today, Jonathan and I jumped into his silver Buick Skylark and drove from LA to Las Vegas. It was a blazing hot day there. We did a little thrift shopping, and then got married at the Justice of the Peace. The wedding cost $40. As far as we know, it's legal. In 1985, Las Vegas was still the "old" Vegas. There were no celebrity chefs or over the top new hotels. We celebrated that night with dinner at Ceasar's Palace. Our lives have been busy since 1985. We've restored 4 houses, travelled the world for work and play, seen hundreds of films, shopped flea markets, modernism shows, vintage clothing expos, designer boutiques, auctions and estate sales, explored buildings on architectural tours, and started a clothing company that has evolved into a mini lifestyle brand. Jonathan switched careers from fashion styling to photography. Luckily, we've taken photos along the way: First Date: Alki Beach, Seattle 1981 Love the fluffy hair! Jonathan had the foresight to take this photo with the self timer Seattle 1983 Jonathan and me with "models" - photo shoot of my student fashion designs Pinnacle Peak lodge, Outside of Phoenix 1988 Southwest Road Trip First House in LA 1989 Death Valley, CA Early 1990s 1995 Burlingame, CA 1995 One of our first BIG shipments of TT merchandise with niece Kalina and nephew Kima Monterey Coast, CA 1996 Whale Watching Palm Springs, CA 1999 New Year's Eve Los Angeles, CA 2010 In our backyard
Kelly Wearstler Book Signing - Aug 2010 We hosted a booksigning for Kelly Wearstler and her most recent book HUE at our Los Angeles Boutique on 8/19. The book is about Kelly’s love of color and color combinations. It’s beautifully photographed and an antidote to the beige, beige, beige decorating that weirdly seems to be so popular. I met Kelly in 2001. I had seen her work in the LA Times magazine, and kept tear sheets in a file thinking that she was amazingly talented, and I would call her if we ever did a retail store. We signed a lease for our first shop in Palm Springs in September of 2001. I contacted Kelly, who coincidentally was working on a hotel in Palm Springs--it was then called the Estrella Inn, and is now the Viceroy. I still love the Palm Springs shop’s décor, although I do occasionally curse Kelly for specifying white shag carpeting, which needless to say has been replaced countless times. But a great space needs to be maintained! Kelly has designed 3 of our stores, starting with Palm Springs in 2002, Los Angeles in 2003, and Fashion Island in Newport Beach in 2008. Each design is different, but there is a connection between them all—I like to think of them as siblings. Los Angeles Palm Springs Fashion Island Here’s me, Kelly, Lara Spencer, and the great custom pink- tiled floor that I’m still crazy about. Lara, in addition to being the host of Insider and a frequent TT wearer, is also a decorator. Kelly was so gracious and signed lots of books. We wished we would have had more of the chartreuse limited edition version of HUE—they sold out quickly. And the guy who won the raffle for the limited edition had already purchased one! Party Getting Started! Lovely Ladies in Prints Laura Spencer and Anya Sarre Looking cute in TT! Some of the great TT Team! (L to R) Elizabeth, Shannon, Carol, Jenn, Maegen, Natalie Jami, Me and Blogger Ashlina, the "Decorista" on the right
Big Sur Road Trip - July 2010 Jonathan and I took a 4th of July weekend road trip to the Post Ranch Inn at Big Sur and Sea Ranch. We had attempted to stay at Post Ranch 2 years ago, but were told not to come (as we were on our way) due to the forest fires that season. We didn’t recognize much evidence of those fires on this trip—the Post Ranch Inn’s setting is spectacular to say the least. The California modernist structures cling to the edge of a steep cliff that drops off dramatically to the Pacific. (1. Road testing the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and our Fall 1 Roamin' Romper and Scribble Zebra Essential Tote, 2. Road to Point Sur lighthouse, 3. Jonathan @ Pfeiffer State beach, 4. The Scribble Zebra Essential Tote-with me everywhere this weekend!, 5. Vintage Safari Jacket, Scribble Zebra Essential Tote and Excursion Shorts from Fall 1, 6. Pincushion Proteas @ Big Sur Bakery, 7. Inside the Point Sur lighthouse, 8. Fresh and local salads @ The Big Sur Bakery, 9. Kevin talking with his hands. The Sea Ranch...(Shev and me are rapt listeners) We did some reading and relaxing, yoga class in a yurt, had massages and took advantage of 2 amazing restaurants - the Post Ranch Inn’s own restaurant, Sierra Mar, and the nearby Big Sur Bakery and Restaurant. Sierra Mar is high end wining and dining in a room with an incredible view of the sunset, and the Big Sur Bakery is just the opposite, a hip/funky cabin next to an old roadside gas station - but fantastic local food and service. We visited Nepenthe - famously established in 1949 overlooking the Pacific - another cool modernist building - with the Phoenix gift shop next door selling everything to remind you of Big Sur in it’s hippie heyday. We toured the Point Sur lighthouse and hung out at Pfeiffer State Beach. On 4th of July we hit the road to the Sea Ranch in the very perky C63 AMG lent to us by Mercedes- Benz, who is sponsoring our upcoming swimwear runway show (7/15) in Miami at the Raleigh Hotel. Thanks for the car, Mercedes-Benz - a huge improvement over a Hertz rental! We spent a couple more days at Sea Ranch with friends Kevin and Shev. We discovered how to grill oysters -6 minutes on the grill - wow, were those good-drank lots of California red wine, and did the usual sea ranch trail walks with the ocean on one side and an unofficial architectural tour on the other. The weekend flew by! But we’ll be back to both places…
Sharon Jones - The cover of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings’ CD “100 Days, 100 Nights” has a photo of Sharon wearing a vintage gold lame cocktail dress against an orange backdrop. This is what caught my eye several years ago, at Colette in Paris of all places. I had never heard of Sharon Jones, and by the vintage look of the photo, I assumed this was a reissue of a ‘60s record. I bought it without knowing anything about the band—I just liked the cover image. I loved the music too—funky R&B fronted by Sharon’s powerful vocals and backed up by the amazing Dap Kings. Back in LA, my husband Jonathan, who is a photographer, was doing a model casting at his office in Silver Lake. There were “Trina Turk casting” signs taped up so models would know where to go. Sharon’s publicist, Judy Miller from MotorMouthMedia, happens to have an office in the same building. She saw the signs, came to the casting and asked if anyone could put her in touch with Trina Turk—Sharon needed some clothes! Jonathan said he might be able to make that introduction since he’s married to TT. We thought the random connection was cool. We pulled a bunch of dresses for Sharon, and have been keeping her in Trina Turk since. Our size 12 fits her like a glove. She’s wearing the “Palmas” dress on the cover of the newest CD “I Learned the Hard Way”. She’s worn TT for her last 3 shows in LA, including last Saturday night at the Wiltern, where she and the Dap Kings rocked the house. She reminds me of a female James Brown. Sharon loves to call audience members up on stage to dance and share the limelight with her. She has a penchant for selecting slightly nerdy guys who can’t really dance, yet are thrilled to be up there. It’s hilarious and charming. We love Sharon!
Trina Talks - Sunglasses Q: What is it about sunglasses that intrigues you? "Sunglasses give you immediate personality! They're the only accessory (other than makeup) that you wear right on your face, you can change them in an instant, and they add so much style to your look." Q: Speaking of changing, you seem to have quite a few pairs! "That's true! I've been collecting sunglasses for years and have amassed quite an assortment. Some are or were new, some vintage, lots of different designers, including our own Trina Turk Styles. Current faves are my vintage '80s Laura Biagiotti frames with blue lenses, and the TT Barcelona style-it's sporty and looks great on guys too." (See photo above) Q: Is there anything that all of these pairs have in common? "I like a graphic shape and all of them have a sense of fun to them. I would never choose a pair purely for function! Form is important, and I tend to go for the glasses with subtle logos or no logos." For more info on the pix below, go to our Facebook Fan Page at Trina Turk on Facebook Q: But do you have functional qualifications? "In LA and Palm Springs the sun is usually bright so I don't leave the house without at least 1 pair. They tend to accumulate in my car; you can usually find 5-6 pairs to choose from there. Some of the vintage pairs leave a bit to be desired in the fit and comfort department, but I'll wear anything to create a look." Q: Any advise for choosing a frame? "Don't stress over it too much. If you think they look cute on you then buy them. If someone gives you a second look on the street, that's a good thing. Don't be afraid to make a statement!" Trina Turk on Facebook
Father's Day - 2010 In honor of Father’s Day, I’d like to introduce you to my Dad, Jim Turk. His classic American sportswear style (and sometimes kimonos) still look great in these vintage kodachrome shots. I’ve taken the liberty of drafting what I believe he would consider important points on living: Jim Turk’s Guide to Life 1. Whenever possible, take the scenic route. 2. There is no such thing as coffee that is too strong 3. Sunbathe often 4. Never pass up an opportunity to chat up the locals, or anyone for that matter. 5. Crusty bread, cheese, fruit, wine and dark chocolate make a perfect meal. 6. At the holidays, abundant use of evergreen swags, branches and boughs is highly recommended. 7. You can never have too much reading material, therefore, always take the brochure. 8. Foreign languages are fun! (as are puns) 9. Point Lobos, near Carmel on the California coast is not to be missed. 10. Being called a liberal is a good thing. Happy Father’s Day to my dad - the original Mr. Turk!
Trina Talks - Jewelry We sat down with Trina to get an inside look at what's in her jewelry box... Q: Hey Trina - let's talk jewelry! You have a new line available. "Yes, I do! It’s really been fun putting it together, and the response has been great." Q: Everyone who knows you...knows you’re a big jewelry collector. When did you jump from being a collector to a designer? "Well, I’ve actually dabbled in making jewelry for many years. Before I started my clothing Company I had a small business making new designs from vintage pieces, but that was more of a hobby. Now we’re working with a company that can pretty much execute any idea we come up with. This is our third season." Q: What made you decide to do your own line? "A few things led to the jewelry collection. Our customers told us what they wanted by inquiring about vintage pieces we had used to style looks in our look books. We had already been designing a form of jewelry for swimwear hardware and we have always sold vintage jewelry in our stores that people really love, so it seemed like a natural progression to do our own line." Q: Do you have a certain criteria for what you collect and is it consistent with your new designs? "A graphic element always appeals to me -- dainty jewelry is just not my thing. I started collecting earrings in the early 80s; I went for bold statement pieces mostly from the 50s & 60s. I’ve always responded to color – whether it was glass beads, enamel, real or fake stones. When I was in college working as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant, I had very short hair and wore big earrings. The customers referred to me as 'the new wave waitress'." The first quality pieces I was interested in were Mexican sterling. It was the late 1980s, I had moved to L.A, and was very into vintage dresses paired with motorcycle jackets or vintage denim jackets. Mexican sterling was the perfect accessory. We went to the Rose Bowl, Long Beach and PCC flea markets. I started to pay more attention to how the jewelry was constructed – the metal qualities, the clasps, etc. Q: So what are you collecting now? "The Mexican sterling lead me into modernist sterling. I’ve been collecting that for many years and still love and wear my pieces by J Tostrup, Hans Hansen, David Andersen, Torun, Bjorn Weckstrom, George Jensen and Puig. I have also learned to love gold; hammered brass and colored stones are attractive to me as well. I am much less particular about collecting in a specific category now. I’ll add anything that catches my eye to my collection."
Austin, TX - April 2010 I’ve wanted to visit Austin, TX for years and finally made it! All my past visits to Texas have been work related—personal appearances mostly—but this weekend there were no obligations. We took an early flight from LA and arrived before noon. I naturally had a list of vintage shops and we stopped at Room Service Vintage first. No major treasures, but I did purchase a white 1970’s donut phone, and Jonathan found a teeny Hawaiian shirt for an upcoming baby shower for one of his colleagues. We fell for the cute neon sign at El Patio, but the lunch didn’t live up to it—was that Velveeta I just ate? eeww. We checked out a few shops on Sough Congress including Uncommon Objects, a crazy assortment of vintage stuff, artfully arranged. Hotel St Cecilia was right nearby: “A secluded estate in Austin’s Sough Congress District. Named in honor of the patron saint of music and poetry, these accommodations take inspiration from the experimentation of 60s writers like William Burroughs, the daring and extravagance of the Stones in the early 70s and the defiance of convention embodied by artists like Miro and Warhol in the late 50s and early 60s” Quite a brief for a hotel, right? I took that right off their website. Somehow it worked….A large old house and several new structures are arranged around a meticulously landscaped central “courtyard” highlighted by amazing 300 year old oak trees. That evening we walked across the river to Lambert’s for Texas BBQ. Delish! We were feeling the affects of the early morning flight and didn’t stay for the live music upstairs. Next day, more vintage shopping—Feathers was by far our favorite—feathersboutiquevintage.blogspot.com for lunch, we had amazing salmon tacos at Torchy’s—a taco truck on S. 1st St. That evening we saw “the bats of Austin”. Yes—every night, thousands of tiny bats that live in a bridge fly out at sundown to dine on tasty bugs while hundreds of people watch from on the bridge, on the shore and in boats in the Colorado River. I’m not sure if this is a year round event, but it was strangely interesting. A bit of a party atmosphere while waiting for the bats to emerge! Dinner at Wink— fresh, local, creative food in a non descript strip mall. www.winkrestaurant.com Sunday was Easter so we lazed around in the morning, visited the Capitol building got some slices to go at Home Slice Pizza and headed off! My favorite part of the weekend was the Hotel St. Cecilia—I recommend it!
San Francisco - March 2010 San Francisco is the first city I fell in love with. I was born there, but raised in nearby San Jose, which at the time was a rambling suburb still dotted with fruit orchards. Several times a year, my family would take weekend trips from our snug tract house neighborhood to the big city. San Fran was thrillingly exotic in comparison. We’d visit Fisherman’s Wharf, see the matinee of the ballet, wander the Japanese garden in Golden Gate Park, drive down Lombard Street, eat at The Iron Pot, cruise through the Haight looking at the “beatniks”. When I was around 5 or 6, my sister Lia and I would get to spend the weekend in the city (no parents) with a family friend Jackie, who was like an aunt to us. Her Victorian corner apartment with curved glass windows seemed like such an intriguing place to live. It was over a bar called “Cloud Nine” and at night you could hear the music seeping up through the floor. During the holidays we would walk for miles, up and down steep hills—visiting the big hotels to see their Christmas trees: the Fairmont (where we stayed last weekend, which is what sparked these memories) the Mark Hopkins, the St. Francis, the Hyatt and a florist called Podesta Baldocchi with gorgeous displays. I loved the steep hills, the views, the cable cars, the traffic, crowds and the energy of the San Francisco then, and I still do.
I love Miami - 02/01/10 In the last few years I’ve made several trips to Miami for personal appearances, the Miami Swim Show, and to visit our new Bal Harbour store. Here’s why I love Miami: The Architecture! Amazing mid-century buildings everywhere. Here’s the super cool Bacardi buildings downtown: The original blue and white tiled building from 1963, and the later orange pedestaled addition from the early 70s. Love the exuberant tile and stained glass! And of course I love all of the Morris Lapidus designed facades, at The Fountainbleau, The Eden Roc, and The Promenade on Lincoln Road. The Hotels! I’ve stayed at The Sagamore, The Standard (great pool and restaurant by the inland waterway), The W (nice art) , and Shore Club among others. Favorites so far are The Raleigh and The Tides, but there are many more on the list to try. it’s close to Palm Beach-but that’s a whole separate blog for later…. The Vintage Furniture Shopping! Favorite shops are Sabina Danenberg at 8300 Biscayne Blvd and M.A.D.E - across the parking lot. I bought a pair of white patent mushroom poufs on our last trip…maybe for a future store dressing room? Bal Harbour Shops - The only Lanvin shop in the U.S.! A Roger Vivier shop! A Celine shop-(love those new Phoebe Philo designed shoes) and of course, Trina Turk. They love TT swimwear at BH. Our Bal Harbour Boutique might have the least expensive clothing in the entire shopping center - but it’s working!
Trina on The Martha Stewart Show - 9/21/09 I'm going to be on The Martha Stewart Show on September 29th! I'm excited! Jonathan and I met Martha last April when she visited Palm Springs. A tour of architectural homes was arranged for her visit and she came to our house. She and her entourage also did a little shopping at both of our stores there-- Martha bought herself a taupe jumpsuit (!) and Kevin Sharkey (who works for her and has a long, complicated and fabulous title which i cannot remember) bought a bunch of books at TT residential. Anyhow, this visit led to me being invited to be on her show, which will be all about Palm Springs. We will do a mini-fashion show of "cocktails remixed" looks, since cocktails are an integral part of Palm Springs. Also, below see some photos of Martha Stewart from her modeling days. So chic! We were out in the desert this past weekend, and a highlight was going for a spin in JR Roberts just-arrived bright orange 1977 Gremlin X which he bought on ebay. (pics below and on the facebook fan page) This was after my first meeting as a board member of the Palm Springs Modern Committee. PS Modcom is dedicated to preserving the mid-century modern architecture of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. And one last thought--I was rooting for Kevin Dillon to win an emmy for his genius portrayal of Johnny Drama on Entourage, but he didn't win. C'est la vie. TT
Grace Coddington vs. Anna Wintour - 9/20/09 We went to see "The September Issue" on friday night. LOVED IT! The Arclight Hollywood audience was audibly and enthusiastically rooting for Vogue's creative director Grace Coddington in the war of wills depicted between her and editor in chief Anna Wintour. I'd love to see an issue (or two, or three) of Vogue edited by Ms. Coddington! After 20 years, doesn't she deserve it? Re AW: She's a bob-shielded perfectionist on a mission with no time for niceties. If she were a man, no one would care about her brusque behavior. And wouldn't it be boring if she were "really nice"? This is my first blog post! TT
Likes and Dislikes - Sept 8, 2009 Her earliest creation: Halter tops made from the same simplicity pattern. On double-knit polyester: It was the perfect fabrication for learning to sew in 1972. First job: At the local Burger King in Bellevue, Washington. The double knit polyester uniform with matching hat was so embarrassing. Weirdest pants: The ones I made from a bedspread when I was 14. Why she likes thrift shopping: You can learn a lot about how quality things are made. Early influences: Nancy Drew, That Girl with Marlo Thomas and Mary Tyler Moore. They all had great style! First job in the fashion biz: Design assistant doing endless spec sheets for Britannia Jeans. Where she learned to do printed fabrics: Designing OP surfwear in the ‘80s. On celebrities wearing her clothes: Of course, it’s great! It’s even more interesting to see stylish women who put our pieces together with their own things in unique ways. Her Description of a “Trina Turk customer”: What's the opposite of a wallflower?
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