where to shop if you are in denial of the recession: free city supershop

the free city supershop in the malibu country mart is one of those stores that i wish i could hate.  i mean, a store, that opened it's doors primarily to sell $200 t-shirts?  i would also like to go on to say that i would never dream of spending that much on a sweatshirt, but that would in fact, be a lie, as i own a few of them and they were worth every cent because i wear them all the time. i once had a homeless person walk up to me while i was wearing a green one, which simply read "free city."  he looked at me in a very mischievous and snarky manner and burst out "free city!  ha ha.  where do i find me one of those?"  buttery soft cotton, worn in but still new looking, and fitted to perfection, free city has been a los angeles staple for years, almost to the point of being totally played out.  once upon a time, it was only sold at fred segal on melrose, but a few years ago, designer nina garduno, who has worked for fred segal since the age of 17, opened the flagship "supershop" in malibu, offering much more than insanely priced t-shirts and sweatshirts.   walking into the store, is an experience in and of itself.  joni mitchell, the rolling stones, bob dylan, blare from the speakers.  bright colors, graphics, pop art, bicycles hanging from the ceiling.  peter mack art books, moccasins, susan sontag books, iggy pop albums from the 70's.  everything is cleverly displayed in an asymmetrical space with skylights splashing beams of sunlight around the room in a way that feels surreal.  if you are into design, fashion, art, music, or cool things in general, take a drive down the pch and pop into free city.  if you don't have the time, check out their website, which will implore you to make the time.  

www.freecitysupershop.com

3866 cross creek road

malibu, ca 90265

310.456.5651

enessa...a skin care line that is all natural...for real

though many skin care lines claim to be "all natural" or "organic", in reality, they are loaded with all sorts of ingredients most people would struggle to pronounce.  enessa, a line out of los angeles, is one of the few that really is, all natural.  using the highest quality essential oils out there, enessa has made a name for itself over the years and attracted such celebrity fans as courtney cox arquette, jennifer aniston, carmen electra, and cher.  as soon as you open the cobalt blue bottles, you are engulfed in an aromatic wonderland.  my favorite products from this line are the bio-exfoliant, which sloughs away dry skin with dead sea salts and the clove oil, which makes pimples going away without irritation.

www.enessa.com

my new obsession: cutler hair care

i am always searching for great hair products that don't set me back $50 a month.  at the grammy style studio this year, i came across the cutler line, and it was love at first sight and sniff!  i was anxious to test out all of their products, even though i am a bit skeptical of anything other than shampoo or conditioner, but i was pleasantly surprised to find that the entire product line was usable.  the shampoo and conditioner leave your hair feeling super clean, detangled, and moisturized, without any buildup and the flower and fruit extracts will make you smell like you bathed in the tropics.  the specialist fly-away control stick is great to keep down all those strands of hair which don't want to cooperate, and doesn't feel waxy or greasy like similar products.  the volumizing and protective treatment spray are great as well.  and the more you use, the better you smell!  all this, and the very chic and minimalist bottles even look great in your bathroom!  the products range in price from $14 to $25, which make them a beauty bargain in my book.  you can purchase them on amazon.com or at ulta.

www.cutlersalon.com

perfume on a budget: terra nova perfume oils

i own a lot of perfume.  from the fruity and chocolaty thiery mugler angel to tropical and beachy kai, i feel like fragrance is an important part of your identity.  your personal scent defines you and distinguishes you from a crowd.  i try and shy away from expensive, mainstream, perfumes, because who wants to spend a fortune to smell like the person next to you?  perfume oils are amazing, because they seem to last a lot longer then the spray ons, and are easily transported in your handbag for periodic touch ups.  i adore kai, miss marissa, and faith perfume oils, but with price tags topping $50, they are hardly a recession necessity.  i discovered terra nova perfume oils at a beauty supply down the street from me a few years ago.  they have oodles of different scents, including gardenia, white ginger, and tuberose, but my absolute favorite is pikake, which brings me back to the gardens of hawaii.  every time i rub this oil on my skin, people stop me on the street to inquire about the delicious aroma.  and the best part: 4 ounces of the oil for $15!

www.terranovabody.com

www.storeterranovabody.com

one of the last used bookstores standing: angel city books

if you like to read or just like the way that books look on your shelves, than you should definitely check out angel city books off main street in santa monica. most of the charming bookstores in la are shutting their doors, due the doomed economy and the fact that most people here only read scripts and perez hilton, but angel city isn't going anywhere!  though a bit cramped and not too aesthetically appealing, owners rocco ingala, jr and steve rodriguez keep the shelves overflowing with only the best in black and white print and the walls covered with interesting artwork.  whether you are looking for a book on philosophy, a novel to read on an airplane, or a guide to help you finish your script, you will find it here, and at a very reasonable price.  on their website it says, "we believe that selling literature is not like selling hardware and that the current trend of superstore is an inappropriate method for the handling of literature precisely because there is no distinction between the great and the mundane."  rocco, the long haired hippy behind the desk, has been a main street staple for many years, and is a bit of a character himself.  he is always open to offering suggestions, and will not let you down!  and for people who just like the way that books look, trust me: used books that look like they have actually been read look way cooler than brand new ones ordered on amazon.com.  after you grab your books, head next door and grab some java at novel cafe, which always makes for some interesting people watching.

rocco's favorite authors

henry miller

arthur rimbaud

rainer maria rilke

antonin artaud

jack kerouac

charles bukowski

218 pier ave

santa monica 90405

http://www.angelcitybooks.com

the new/old "it" sunglasses: carrera's

(singer estelle at left)

celebs are going crazy for these rediscovered shades, and they are perfect for the recession savvy consumer!  forget tom ford and marc jacobs.  celebs have been scooping these things up like crazy from solstice sunglass boutique at every gifting suite this awards season.  the jonas brothers, estelle, olivia wilde, david annable, and kanye west are among the following.  over the weekend at the 51st annual grammy awards gift lounge, rihanna and chris brown picked up matching pairs of the "vintage" syle which retail for less than $15o!  other popular styles include the "jocker" and the "safari".  you can find them at a solstice store near you, or by clicking on this link: www.poularglasses.com/product_category/sunglasses/carrera/