A Taste of New York in the 323

Okay, so a much needed trip to L.A. must be planned soon. I'm needing to get my hands on some items that can't be found around here. And I'm so over online shopping at this moment. I'm not asking for a week, just a quick weekend getaway. And this time, my sights are not set on Kitson, Lisa Kline or Madison (The Robertson Blvd. Elite). I'm off to Maxfield, Ron Herman and most importantly Confederacy, a relatively new store that is entirely unique to Hollywood. The concept of this store is old New York with bits of Americana and the 1940's. The goods are a mix of contemporary and luxury brands ranging from Alexander Wang to Givenchy to Rebecca Minkoff. There's a shoe living room and a 1950's/60's inspired tea room for private fittings for clients. And the best part includes vintage phone booths that serve as the dressing rooms. You summon the front desk via antique phones to get sizes and styles without having to step out of the dressing room. That is magic and so much fun! Not only can I shop for some amazing pieces from labels such as Commes des Garcon, A.L.C. and Olga Kapustina but I can pretend I'm in a museum, immersed in some serious east coast culture. This cleverly constructed store comes from the masterminds of actor Danny Masterson and Ilaria Urbinati, former buyer for Satine and Milk. Even the staff gets to wear uniforms designed by Rag and Bone and they constantly change to reflect the current collections in the store. Must be nice to have to wear mandatory Rag and Bone attire to work. They are even planning on opening the popular Brooklyn coffee spot, Gimme Coffee in the courtyard cafe. That's pretty legit. Got to hand it to Danny Masterson...didn't know what was going to happen to you post That 70's show, but you've done good, you've done me proud.

Whiz Kids: Danny Masterson and Ilaria Urbinati

*Images courtesy of shopconfederacy.com