After spending an hour debating whether I wanted to break down and buy this Joan Rivers piece from QVC the other week, because- do I really want to be a person that shops on QVC? I can now be pretty sure that I’ll cross that threshold when Janie Bryant, Mad Men’s genius costume designer, brings her wares to QVC. According to WWD:

The line will debut on QVC on September 29, with 20 pieces of outerwear, sweaters, pants, and skirts, and about 10-15 pieces of costume jewelry, priced from $26 to $138. The 50s and 60s-esque line features “fake-fur jackets and capelets, reversible satin swing coats, brocade boleros, pencil skirts, skinny pants and colorful crystal pendants and pins.” As Janie tells it, “I was inspired by my grandmother’s closet and jewelry box. I used to dress up as a little girl, and spend hours dressing and accessorizing my dolls, and this line brings back memories of a fond and fun time.”

You can also sneak a peek at season 4’s wardrobe.

Tried to find a better example of this on the web somewhere but the web version of this campaign doesn’t look the same. I love the type setting and the fact that the letters look like vinyl stickers peeling up at the edges. Brilliant, never mind the frightening illustration of Serena Williams.

One of my favorite pastimes in Tokyo is definitely their Purikura booths. It has all the makings of a great afternoon-photography, cuteness, instant gratification in the form of sticker sheets and lots and lots of pink. I love the premise: get in, take a bunch of goofball photos and then race against the clock to cram as many bows and smiley-faced hamburgers into each frame as humanly possible. The downside? It’s an 11 hour plane ride from Los Angeles.

But a recent discovery on Yelp, pointed me to Photosticker in nearby Garden Grove. SCORE! I will be heading out to investigate in the weeks to come and I will report back.

Major Lazer – “Hold The Line” ft. Mr. Lexx and Santigold from Downtown Music on Vimeo.

Anything with lasers in the title is worth a gander, and Major Lazer is definitely proof of that. Their twisted brand of reggae beats and off-the-wall visuals is at once bewildering and intoxicating. Check these crazy fools out on YouTube: “Hold The Line” Feat. Mr. Lexx and Santigold.

I love many things about Los Angeles, one of the foremost reasons is that most music acts stop in this city for shows. I can have my pick of the litter, what a litter we’ve had this summer. Which brings me to my two most recent shows, Lykke Li at the Wiltern and La Roux at the Troubador.

Both are young, stylish and buzzed about, but their performances and stage presence couldn’t be more polarized. If my karaoke career has taught my anything, it’s that performance is 7/10 of the law. It’s all about stage presence and performing the hell out of a song.

First up La Roux: Her performance was riddled with missed opportunities for show stopping moments from the second she missed her grand stage entrance down a flight of stairs. She also seemed really uncomfortable being a performer, she phoned in her outfit and they stage set up didn’t get the attention it deserved. Her opening act managed to upstage her in the presence department (IO Echo). All of this is shame because she’s got some kick ass dancey songs and her videos are the best I’ve seen in a while. None of that pizazz translated AT ALL and I found myself bored half way through the set- I didn’t want to be! I think she’s adorable! The only thing that redeemed her is that she pepped up for her big song “Bulletproof,” but not nearly enough to salvage the set. She needed a costume change or transition badly! Take a page from Liza Minnelli’s book.

Second up Lykke Li: Her songs are by and large sleepy and dreamy, so I was hoping it wasn’t going to be a “girl at her piano” kind of a show. In the opening moments of the show, I leaned over to my friend and whispered, “God I hope she has stage presence.” And did she ever, even in the nose bleed seats she completely dominated the stage from beginning to end. Her vibe was simultaneously creepy, sexy, haunting and cute. At times she seemed to be channeling Animal from the Muppets and then a Reggae dance hall queen. Her dancing, the staging, the lighting the band, her singing- flawless. My mind didn’t even begin to wander for a nanosecond, she was mesmerizing.

Winner: Lykke Li!!

La Roux is my most recent musical obsesh. Call me what you will, but I’m a sucker for a fellow redhead with a sassy haircut. Plus this pop-y confection calls to mind recent favorites like Yelle and Robyn. Enjoy….