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Pink coral, mother of pearl earrings in 16K gold-plated hoops from Paradise Bungalow

Amy Jennings’ island-inspired jewelry not only comes from the time she has spent traveling Polynesia but also from a deeply personal experience.

The high school history teacher had made jewelry all her life, but it wasn’t until her grandmother fell ill in 2007 when she really started to focus on the art. Jennings would spend time with her after work, playing the ukulele, painting and making jewelry — anything to cheer up her grandmother, who was no longer able to walk. The jewelry seemed to make her most happy.

“My late grandma was so encouraging. After I’d make something, I’d show her. Watching her smile propelled me to make more,” Jennings said. “I would have never dreamed off all these jewelry designs burgeoning from this relationship.”

Now Jennings sells her simple-yet-stylish earrings, necklaces and bracelets through her etsy store, Paradise Bungalow. Some of the materials she uses include shells she has found on the beaches of islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand and Tahiti. Her husband, who is from Hawaii and Samoa, helps out by drilling the shells and carving mother of pearl.

Some of my favorite pieces include the pink coral, mother of pearl and 16K gold-plated hoop earrings (pictured above); sea foam blue chalcedony bezel and freshwater biwa pearl flake necklace; and the real red coral branch necklace.

Red coral branch necklace

Blue chalcedony bezel and freshwater biwa pearl flake necklace

All photos by Amy Jennings.

Stacy Keibler in Naeem Khan at the 85th Annual Academy Awards. From FabSugar.

I know everyone is talking about Jennifer Lawrence’s dress (and her stumble up the stairs to receive her award, which just seemed so fitting for her — in a good way), and Anne Hathaway’s nipple dress (why would you wear a dress with darts placed there?), but my favorite dress of the evening was hands-down Stacy Keibler’s Naeem Khan gown. With its head-to-toe sequins and well-placed patterns, Keibler looked positively statuesque. And her date wasn’t bad-looking, either.

George Clooney and Keibler. From Huffington Post.

Clarks Indigo Heath Harrier in taupe

I’m really into ankle boots at the moment, especially after my recent purchase of a pair of Clarks Indigo Heath Harrier boots. I’ve been looking for a comfortable, easy pair of boots that I can dress up or down, and I think I’ve found them. I got mine in taupe, though the color is more like a chocolate brown than the grayish brown color I saw online. No matter; they’re still neutral enough to match with lots of things, and the distressed material makes it so I’m not so afraid of scuffing them (which I totally did the minute I put them on, of course).

Even though I love these, I’m having a bit of a hard time styling them. Obviously I’ve worn them with skinny jeans, but can I wear them with other pants that require a larger cuff when folding them up? And then do I wear them with or without visible socks? I’m talking winter looks, not spring/summer looks with dresses and shorts. Any advice, dear readers?

den.m bar’s style options

If you wear denim — which, let’s face it, is most of us — then you’ve probably been on a life-long quest to find the perfect-fitting pair of jeans. And you may have thought about getting a pair custom made, but that just seems cost-prohibitive.

Well, maybe not.

Downtown Los Angeles’ den.m bar, which opened earlier this year, is offering custom-made jeans at a fraction of normal costs. For about $300, you get to choose your own denim (sourced from the United States, Japan and Europe), pocket lining, thread and hardware (buttons, zippers, rivets, etc.) to be fashioned into the style of your choice cut to the exact dimensions that fit you — all within the span of two weeks. I’d say that’s a pretty good deal, especially for a pair of pants you’ll probably wear a lot for years to come.

Denim choices

Thread, lining and hardware choices

Once your measurements have been taken, den.m bar will keep that pattern on hand for future purchases. And if you have a pair of old jeans that you love but they’ve just worn out, bring it in and the folks at den.m bar will use it as a pattern to make you a new pair.

Patterns

While the store obviously fits both men and women, as evidenced by my first photo, it turns out that most of den.m bar’s customers are men. Why am I not surprised? Ah, to be a single man with disposable income!

Hayden Harnett Barnard Crossbody

I’m currently coveting this pretty, pretty bag — Hayden Harnett‘s Barnard Crossbody. It’s a nice size (oftentimes crossbody bags are too small to be practical), the strap is adjustable so it can be worn as a shoulder bag or as a crossbody, and the navy color is pretty. Even the lining is cool! Oh, and the materials are locally sourced. One bad thing — it costs $450. Why?! Why do the purse gods hate me so?? Oh, well. I guess you can’t have every pretty, perfectly sized bag. SIGH.

Courtesy of Malibu Country Mart

Malibu Country Mart is hosting its first-ever Fashion’s Night Out event September 8, and it will be hosted by none other than celebrity stylist Taylor Jacobson, formerly of “The Rachel Zoe Project.” You’ll have fun with a fashion show curated by Jacobson followed by a Q&A session, complimentary food and drinks, a $500 gift bag giveaway, as well as discounts and activities at many of the shopping center’s stores.

The fashion show, which starts at 7:30 p.m., will feature looks from the mart’s retailers, including Earnest Sewn, Madison, John Varvatos, Planet Blue and the newly opened Rubin & Chapelle. Immediately following the show, Jacobson will take questions from the audience and the mart’s social media sites via Twitter (@MalibuCntryMart) or Facebook. You can also enter to win at the mart’s Facebook page a Fall Goodie Bag valued at $500 filled with Jacobson’s top seasonal picks from retailers at the center.

And with all this fashioning, you’re bound to get hungry, so the Malibu Country Mart will have complimentary Italian appetizers from Tra di Noi, ice cream from Coolhaus, and wine and liquor bars.

Many of the retailers will have in-store events, promotions and sales. Here’s a list:

Canvas: Malibu artists customizing Converse sneakers and specially designed FNO t-shirts, with proceeds going to FNO charity; tequila tasting bar hosted by Karma Tequila
Chrome Hearts: serving chocolates and champagne
Earnest Sewn: 25 percent purchases; with each purchase become eligible to win a $500 gift certificate
Encore: Isabella Fiore trunk show (handbags)
Henry Beguelin: 10 percent off all purchases; 15 percent off purchases of $2,000 or more
John Varvatos: complimentary photo booth
Juicy Couture: Viva La Juicy fragrance sampling; treats; 20 percent off all full-priced items
M. Fredric: enter to win a $100 M. Fredric gift card
Madison: participate in a styling challenge for a chance to win a pair of MOTHER jeans
Madison Gallery: Malibu jewelry designers Nancy Newberg & Irit Ehrlich offer a sneak peak at their newest collections
Malibu Lifestyles Soft & Man: enter drawing to win a $1,000 gift certificate with $200 purchase during FNO
Oliver Peoples: serving champagne
Planet Blue: Stone Cold Fox trunk show
Rubin & Chapelle: 15 percent off all purchases
Tylie Malibu: meet Tylie Malibu designer Lisa Popp; enter to win a Tylie bag; 30 percent off Tylie products
Vince: In collaboration with SUPER, skin care experts providing facials and skin care tips; champagne and cupcakes; for every $350 spent, receive a $100 coupon to use at SUPER, along with a 20 percent discount
Yosemite by James Perse: 10 percent from entire purchase of California Wildlife merchandise donated to the foundation

Malibu Country Mart
3835 Cross Creek Road
Malibu, CA 90265
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

I have been meaning to write about Spanish leather-goods maker LODIS for some time now. Ever since my mother-in-law gave me a LODIS messenger bag as a journalism-school graduation present, I have been hooked. The classic, clean designs coupled with extraordinary craftsmanship (I’ve had a LODIS wallet for about five years and it has yet to crack or come apart in any way) has made me a huge fan. It’s also pretty reasonably priced, which makes LODIS one of the best values out there for bags, wallets and the like.

I’m currently coveting a few LODIS products, including one of its brand-new belts, the Audrey Metal Buckle High Waist Belt. At only $34, it’s a steal!

LODIS Audrey Metal Buckle High Waist Belt

I’m also loving the Alegra Sabrina Satchel. I can’t decide which color I like better, though. I really like the blue, but I’m not crazy about the yellow piping, and I like the brown, but I’m not sure about the shade. But the shape and size are perfect for what I need.

LODIS Alegra Sabrina Satchel

The Odyssey Lexy Crossbody is another bag I would love to have. I’ve been looking for a good cross body for a while. This one might be it!

LODIS Odyssey Lexy Crossbody

Erin Gallagher's Judy necklace

My best friend turned me on to two of my new favorite jewelry designers, Erin Gallagher and viv&ingrid. She gave all her bridesmaids Erin Gallagher jewelry, and so did I. She also gave me a viv&ingrid necklace as a bridal gift, so both of these lines will always remind me of weddings — which isn’t a bad thing, right?

Both lines have designs that range from simple geometric shapes to the more complicated and colorful; there’s something for everyone, especially because there is also a wide range of prices. And both offer customization, though Erin Gallagher is more flexible, which is probably why it’s popular with brides.

Coachella. From Stereogum.

This is the first post by ShopEatSleep contributor Jessica Hagy, a fellow USC Annenberg alum and lover of fashion, relationships, travel, interior design, inspirations and life’s little eccentricities. You can read more from Jessica at Jessica Daily.

With the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival just over a week away, my thoughts have been wholly consumed by what’s on my packing list (aside from a flask and a spray tan).

I’ve spent an arguably unhealthy amount of time considering how I want to dress myself for the three-day festival and since I always aspire to dress like a hippie, I’ve decided that this is the time to let my flower child flag fly high.

These hippie aspirations have me longing for anything flowy, fringed, Stevie Nicks-esque or Native American-inspired (yes… feathers in the hair).

If your game plan includes online shopping, I suggest clicking over to Pixie Market, Nasty Gal, Topshop and Spanish Moss for cut-off shorts, kimonos, floppy hats and sundresses.

If you need to see, touch and twirl around in everything before you buy it (like yours truly), you might want to pop into Planet Blue for crocheted vests and purses. Its collection of Precious Hands crochet bags is refreshingly inexpensive, and the bags are perfect for carrying necessities without weighing you down.

And if you’ve got the time to sift through some racks, I’d also recommend my new personal favorite place to shop: Crossroads Trading Co. There are six locations throughout Los Angeles, and I’ve been to the Santa Monica location for the past two weekends in search of the perfect grungy rock tee. My valiant efforts were successful last Saturday, and I’m now in the process of making my men’s T-shirt into a cropped top with fringed and beaded sleeves. The jury is still out.

Regardless of my eccentric arts and crafts projects, Crossroads is the place to go if you need cheap shirts, jean cut-offs and bohemian scarfs to drape around yourself at Coachella.

I threw together a look to get your Coachella juices flowing. Try not to be alarmed if you see me stalking Lauryn Hill while wearing this exact outfit next Friday.

Coachella Couture by jessica hagy featuring flat shoes

View from the upstairs bar at Fig & Olive

A week ago (I know, I know — I’m behind!), the New York-based, olive oil-centric restaurant Fig & Olive opened its flagship West Coast location at the trendy corner of La Cienega Boulevard and Melrose Place. It was a scene, my friends: three nights of people in cocktail attire walking a red carpet complete with a step and repeat, as well as fashion presentations by Cholé and Fendi. All that for a restaurant opening!

To be fair, the restaurant is housed in a pretty awesome space: it’s huge, and features rosemary bushes and an olive tree in the main dining room. There’s even an upstairs space, which houses the Fig Champagne & Cocktail Bar, unique to the L.A. location.

Fig & Olive’s thing is olive oil, which it uses in place of butter in nearly all its dishes. You can even buy bottles of its special infused versions at the restaurant (blood orange-infused olive oil, anyone?). The cuisine is inspired by the Mediterranean, and that means the entire region, including France, Italy and Spain.

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