Sophie Monet’s Malachite ring ($100) is the embodiment of a carefree, wear-with-anything summer piece. Perfect as an everyday staple or statement accessory, the shedua wood and green stone ring speaks to Monet’s usual aesthetic of handcrafted, California-cool jewelry.

Drawing on her home base, Southern California, for inspiration, Monet created a sustainably crafted line reminiscent of the area’s natural beauty. And Monet has remained true to the pieces that put her on the fashion map despite her quick climb from emerging artist to acclaimed designer. Her wood pieces are an ode to LA’s palm-tree-lined streets, and the collection’s gemstones, crystals, and gold-leaf accents perfectly combine the glam and earthy elements California is known for. For a list of California retailers or to order online, visit sophiemonetjewelry.com.

Previous Next

An SUV is a first from the British brand.

Photographs Courtesy Bentley

 

The car's competition is other luxe vehicles like the Range Rover and Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo.

Photographs Courtesy Bentley

 

Some features include the signature bold Bentley grille; a powerful 6-liter W12 engine that can make up to 600 horsepower; and an 8-speed transmission.

Photographs Courtesy Bentley

 

The back boasts luxury tailgating.

Photographs Courtesy Bentley

 

previous

next

Bentley made a statement the night before the Geneva International Motor Show during VW’s Group Night, where each of the parent company’s brands showcased their latest and most spectacular vehicles. The British luxury maker wowed the crowd with its first SUV concept, EXP 9 F.

Massive 23-inch alloy wheels; the signature bold Bentley grille; a powerful 6-liter W12 engine that can make up to 600 horsepower; an 8-speed transmission; a fold-down champagne cooler; and luxury tailgating fit for the Kentucky Derby, seem to overly exceed expectations of consumers looking to purchase an ultra-elite SUV. Bentley’s sports utility vehicle is in competition with other luxe cars like the Range Rover and Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo. While the design and composition keep all the usual Bentley trappings, it is unknown if this foray into SUVs will be met with negative or positive feedback.

Crawfish is the headlining dish at Dominick's Annual Crawfish Boil.

Gossamer Boutique and L.A. Canvas Host Venice First Friday Shopping Event
Friday, May 4, 7-10 PM
As May’s installment of L.A. Canvas's First Friday festivals, Gossamer boutique and L.A. Canvas join forces to host a charitable evening of cocktails and shopping. Ten percent of the event’s proceeds will be donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. 1410 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Ste. 101, Venice, 310-399-3988

Venice Garden & Home Tour
Saturday, May 5, 10AM-5PM
View 30 gorgeous Venice-area homes and gardens as part of the 19th annual design showcase held to benefit the Neighborhood Youth Association's Las Doradas Children’s Center. The self-guided walking tour explores beautifully landscaped and architecturally significant homes from creative owners, architects, and designers. Shuttle buses and food trucks are offered; bikes encouraged. Purchase $60 tickets in advance on venicegardentour.org, $70 at the door; children free. Starting point: NYA Las Doradas Children’s Center, 804 Broadway, Venice, 310-450-0327

Dominick’s Annual Crawfish Boil
Begins Saturday, May 5, 12-4 PM
Chef Brandon Boudet of Dominick’s cooks up his third annual Crawfish Boil brunch. Every Saturday in May, the New Orleans native boils 300 lbs. of Louisiana crawfish and serves them up with Big Easy specialties like Po’ Boys, oysters, and shots of old New Orleans spiced rum. Dominick’s regular brunch menu will also be available from 10 AM-3 PM. 8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-2335

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY DOMINICK'S

Parisian beauty Brigitte Bardot, one of the biggest screen stars and sex symbols of the 1960s and 1970s, has inspired a line of luxurious tees from French label, Maje. The limited-edition capsule collection comprises screen-printed shots taken throughout the actress’s career. Available in a variety of black-and-white and color photos, the women’s tees are available online at us.maje.com (pictured T-Shirt, $210).

Mozza’s executive pastry chef Dahlia Narvaez may have discovered her affinity for food by accident—she started out by preparing meals to help her working mother—but her flourishing career shows that her talent is no fluke. Today, Narvaez’s expertise has led to her second James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef. Known for putting Mozza on the dessert map with dishes like rosemary olive oil cakes and strawberry and fig crostadas, Narvaez chats with us about her inspirations, favorite recipes, and why she’ll always be an LA girl.

What ingredients do you like to work with?
DAHLIA NAVAEZ: I grew up in a seasonal kitchen so fruits are a huge part of my repertoire—really fresh, peak of season, perfect fruit.

What is your favorite dessert to make in the summer?
DN: I love a meringue—you can throw it together. If I was doing something for a family event I would make a big crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside meringue and then pile in fresh fruit or berries. Serve it with cream or ice cream and it’s perfect. It’s basically a pavlova and that’s my favorite.

Being from LA, did you always know you wanted to make your career here?
DN: I’m an LA girl. This job has given me the opportunity to travel all over the world, which I’m so grateful for, and as much as I love traveling I’m so much more happy on that plane coming into LAX. I just love LA. I don’t think I’d live anywhere else.

Where do you like to eat in L.A.?
DN: Pica, The Spice Table, Jitlada, and Park’s BBQ. LA is so immersed in different cultures and there is so much good food. I try to go toward the ethnic foods more than anything.

What career advice would you give an aspiring pastry chef?
DN: I would say just be willing to be in the trenches. Be ready to earn some respect and get down and dirty. Whenever I get an intern, I’m like, ‘Look you’re going to be doing not so interesting jobs but you have to keep your eyes open and you have to keep your ears open. When someone asks you for help, you have to take that opportunity.’

In her new book, LA-based journalist Lizzie Garrett Mettler sets out to prove the term “stylish tomboy” is no oxymoron. Stemming from her popular blog, TomboyStyle, Mettler’s Tomboy Style: Beyond the Boundaries of Fashion is a beautifully captured visual history chronicling 80 years of women who walked the line of masculine and feminine. With its look back at style icons like Katharine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, and Ali MacGraw, one can see the evolution of menswear-chic and the influence it has on today’s style.

As Mettler defines it, to be a tomboy is to “blend a rugged sensibility with classic, understated elegance.” This sentiment can translate into a variety of styles, which Mettler profiles with her seven tomboy archetypes—the jock, the prep, the rebel, the sophisticate, the naturalist, the adventuress, and the girl next door. Each category features a corresponding personality (Carolyn Bessette Kennedy exemplifies classic "sophisticate"); find out which one you are with this lovely summer read ($32.50). rizzoliusa.com

Red O margarita.

This year could be LA’s most celebrated Cinco de Mayo yet. Not only does May 5th mark the 150-year anniversary of the Mexican holiday, it also falls on a party-perfect Saturday. Here are five restaurant/bars with can't-miss Cinco de Mayo specials.

Red O
Known for upscale Mexican fare with a twist of California-style cuisine, chef Rick Bayless invites you to celebrate Cinco with Red O's special “Street Food Social Hour.” From 3-6 PM, guests can enjoy ceviches, corn and goat cheese tamales, and smoked chicken taquitos on the restaurant’s outdoor tequila lounge patio, accompanied by drink specials. 8155 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-655-5009

Malo
Boasting both Downtown and Silver Lake locations, this Mexican hotspot will be the place for Angelenos looking to celebrate. With more than 150 tequilas, blended margaritas, and a brunch full of traditional fare (including their famous ground-beef and pickle tacos), Malo will fill up fast, so reserve your spot soon. 4326 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, 323-664-1011; 515 W. 7th St., 1st Fl., Downtown LA, 213-985-4322

The Churchill
Not your typical Mexican spot, but the trendy gastropub is serving up celebratory Cinco specials. Choose from Mexican-inspired drinks and dishes, such as $5 Peligroso Tequila shots, $8 micheladas, $6 fresh fruit margaritas, and $6 carne asada tacos, and chips plus guacamole and chorizo queso dip. 8384 W. 3rd St., LA, 323-655-8384

Pink Taco
Harry Morton’s new Sunset Strip location hosts an all-out bash with a grand opening and Cinco de Mayo party rolled into one. Festivities begin at 11:30 AM with mariachis, luchadores, DJs, a plethora of food and tequila, and cocktail specials changing hourly. Tickets sold in advance at the Pink Taco Century City and at the door for $20. 8225 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-360-1003

Casa Vega
Come May 5th, this legendary Valley hangout will pack the house with traditional dishes, too-many-to-list margaritas, and festive decorations. For all those looking to continue the celebration (or recover from the night before), the restaurant is opening an hour earlier (10:30 AM) for a Seis de Mayo brunch on May 6th. Traditional Mexican fare like huevos rancheros and chilaquiles can be enjoyed alongside Casa Vega’s signature Bloody Marias and Absolut Marys (specially priced at $5). 13301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-788-4868

With the launch of her new namesake perfume, Linda Rodin once again proves her prowess for turning beauty products into gold. Formerly a sought-after stylist, model, and fashion editor, Rodin broke into the beauty world with the RODIN Olio Lusso line of golden-hued essential oils for face, body, and hair.

The perfume is Rodin’s first foray into fragrance, created because she wanted to harness the scents of her luxurious oils in fragrance form. Teaming up with perfumers David and Kavi Moltz of D.S. and Durga resulted in a fragrance with rich jasmine, a hint of spicy neroli, and lily of the valley. The finished product, RODIN Olio Lusso, Rodin Perfume ($220), is on sale today. Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400

Meat lovers, rejoice—pork-purveying Cochon 555 (named for its five chefs, five pigs, five winemakers premise) makes its LA stop on May 6. The now-national and annual tour began at the Beard House in New York before adding cities like Napa, Memphis, Portland, Boston, Miami, Washington DC, and Chicago to its roster. LA’s House of Blues marks its second-to-last stop before a food-filled finale in San Francisco.

LA-area chefs Chad Colby (Mozza), Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station), Neal Fraser (Strand House), Jason Neroni (Superba Snack Bar), and Micah Wexler (Mezze) will show their chops as they compete to create the best “snout-to-tail” menu. A winner chosen by guests and a panel of local judges goes on to battle other city champions in the Grand Cochon at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.

Held to support sustainable agriculture, the event also features local wineries: Turley Wine, Matthiasson Wine, Scholium Project, K Vintners, and Buty Winery, as well as some industry-favorite guests. General and VIP tickets (ranging from $125-$250) now available at cochon555.com. Sunday, May 6th; 4 PM VIP opening; 5 PM general admission. 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323-848–5100

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY COCHON 555

Tracy Reese Lace Easy Shift, $258.

Tracy Reese’s capsule collection for Anthropologie is perfect for LA women who are after airy, everyday dresses for the upcoming hot summer days. Known for fun, flirty frocks that stay on the right side of couture, Reese brings her trademark aesthetic to the new collection created as part of Anthropologie's Made in Kind designer collaboration showcase. Her seven-piece line will serve as the series’ May installment.

Comprised mostly of flora-filled frocks, the pieces were inspired by the lush gardens of Frida Kahlo’s museum. Delicate lace, colorful printed palettes, and modest hemlines adorn the dresses, making them great for both work and weekend. Available now at Anthropologie, the collection ranges from $248-$348. 1402 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, 310-393-4763

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY ANTHROPOLOGIE