Last week, I had a fantastic day in Beverly Hills.
I just met Ms. Lovey Dash who is a celebrity personal
shopper & stylist, but I felt like I’ve known her long time.
Lovey is a very friendly, happy and lovely person. She makes
people happy.
When I wrote her name wrong (I wrote “Lovely” instead of
“Lovey”) in my email, I wrote her, “I am sorry, I wrote your name wrong”.
She wrote me back, “No worries Bout my name. Everyone calls me lovely!!!!!! I will meet
you at BH conf at your designated time , if we don't float away with this
rain. I am a New York gal and I m
actually loving it!!!! any excuse to put
on a pair of boots!!!!!!!!!!! see you soon Lovey”.
Sounds like a lovely person, right?
Yes, I was right. She is such a lovely person.
She said, “Shopping is experience!”
Sounds like a plan, right?
Yes, I was right. We had a fabulous time in Beverly Hills.
We walked, talked, ate lunch (I had a hamburger & French
fries), walked, talked and had a cup of cappuccino & chocolate chip cookie.
It was a perfect day in Beverly Hills.
And I would like to share it with you.
I wrote a column about that day on the website of
Senken-Shimbun (the major Japanese fashion trade newspaper http://www.senken.co.jp).
***
Here is my translation into English from Japanese.
On Senken+
Updated on March 16, 2014 (in Japan)
“I Love Los Angeles by Yoko Fujimoto” (title of my column
series)
By Yoko Fujimoto
Writer in Los Angeles
Title of the new column: Beverly Hills = Queen Bee
“Beverly Hills” is the town that gathers well known high-end
brands around the world such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, and there are 5
star hotels, celebrity restaurants & spa salons and celebrities’ &
wealthy peoples’ homes that tour buses drive around.
Ms. Lovey Dash said with delight, “Shopping is experience!” Ms.
Dash has been living in this town for 32 years and loves this town. She used to
work as a buyer and store manager for some boutiques in Beverly Hills, and she was
a former VIP sales director for Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive, she is using her
career experience and now she is a celebrity personal shopper & stylist.
Ms.Dash guided us the half day, “I recommended Sama for
sunglasses which is Brad Pitt’s favorite, VHERNIER for a sophisticated
beautiful jewelry, Caramella is fun for a high & low unique style, Luxe
& Le Bra Lingerie for sexy feelings, THEODORE is the best high-end
California casual boutique. And you can enjoy the coffee break at the café of
the high-end chocolate Vosges Haut-Chocolat with chocolate chip cookie and coffee!
”
“Secrets of stylish people? A wonderful smile and a good posture”,
said Ms. Dash with her big smile. She gave us another tip, “when you don’t feel
good, you don’t need to try hard to be stylish, put on your big tops and leggings.
You will feel better.”
Photos captions:
Photo 1:
World famous high-end brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Cartier,
Tiffany, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hermès, Dior etc. are on the main street “Rodeo
Drive”. Back of the photo is Beverly Wilshire Hotel where is the primary
filming location for the movie “Pretty Woman”.
Photo 2:
Expert of Beverly Hills, a personal shopper & stylist
Ms. Lovey Dash. On this day, she was wearing all high-end brands except ZARA
tops & leggings. Her jacket & sunglasses were Louis Vuitton, her boots
were Valentino, her watch was Cartier, her bangle was Hermès and her bag was Tom
Ford. Ms. Dash said, “My favorite style is mixing with high-end brands and
reasonable ZARA items!”
Photo 3:
At the sunglasses boutique “Sama”. Salesperson Ms. Mona
Shalaby and Ms. Dash.
Photo 4:
Actor Brad Pitt’s favorite sunglasses (right side in the
back).
Photo 5:
Mr. Timothy Morzenti, the store manager of Italian jewelry
brand “VHERNIER” in Beverly Hills and Ms. Dash.
Photo 6:
Italian jewelry brand “VHERNIER”’s signature design’s motif
is chain.
Photo 7:
Many products can mix with high-end brands in Beverly Hills,
and enjoyable for the high & low fashion at this boutique “Caramella”. The
owner of this boutique Ms.Wei Meisner and Ms. Dash.
Photo 8:
At the attractive sexy underwear boutique “Luxe & Le Bra
Lingerie”. Ms. Dash recommended this
Hello Kitty underwear.
Photo 9:
“THEODORE” is a trend
setter, and the celebrity boutique. This boutique shows their 40 year-history from
their great customers.
Photo 10:
The owner of THEODORE Ms. Leslie Letellier and Ms. Dash.
Photo 11:
Ms. Dash recommended the high-end chocolate from Chicago “Vosges
Haut-Chocolat”. These are the main gourmet chocolates.
Photo 12:
The communications manager of Beverly Hills Conference &
Visitors Bureau (http://www.beverlyhills.org)
, Ms. Karissa Fowler introduced the guidance indicator in Japanese. “Beverly
Hills is between beach and Hollywood. The Beverly Hills Hotel was born in 1912,
since then there are many visitor and tourists from all over the world.”
Recommended spots are, Ms. Fowler said, “Celebrity chef
restaurants are Maude from Curtis Stone, Scarpetta from Scott Conat, Spago, Cut
from Wolfgang Puck, Bouchon by Thomas Keller. Gourmet food shops are Cheese
Shop of Beverly Hills, Sprinkles, Beverly Hills Brownie Company, Vosges
Haut-Chocolat, Edelweiss Chocolates.”
Photo 13:
The Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau displays
some souvenirs regarding the Beverly Hills name and zip cord 90210.
Photo 14:
There are mug cups of Beverly Hills and there is also a
bottled water of “90210” (90210 is the famous Beverly Hills zip cord).
Photo 15:
Beverly Hills was born in 1914. The City of Beverly Hills
has turned 100 on January 28, 2014. The city will host many events of this 100 anniversary
until end of 2014. There is a special event of 5 star hotels “Suit 100”, and there
are many more great events. (Please see details at http://www.beverlyhills.org )
This photo is from The Peninsula Beverly Hills. (© Beverly
Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau)
Photo 16:
There is a special event of 5 star hotels “Suit 100”. This
photo is from The Beverly Hills Hotel. (© Beverly Hills Conference &
Visitors Bureau)
Photo 17:
There is a special event of 5 star hotels “Suit 100”. This
photo is from L'Ermitage Beverly Hills. (© Beverly Hills Conference &
Visitors Bureau)
Photo 18:
“Hymn of Life: Tulips” The art of Ms.Yayoi Kusama who is a famous
artist in Japan. This artwork is at Beverly Gardens Park near Rodeo Drive. (©
Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau)
***
Karissa sent me more information which I couldn’t write
everything in my column page, so I would like to share her information on here.
** Celebrity chef restaurants:
*Maude from Curtis Stone, which just opened in February and
features a new menu each month based around a seasonal fresh ingredient http://www.mauderestaurant.com/
** Gourmet food shops:
*Cheese Shop of Beverly Hills – unique to Beverly Hills,
features more than 500 types of cheeses from around the world. Also includes
fine foods like chocolate, sauces and wines.
*Sprinkles - Lines wrap around the block for Sprinkles’
cupcakes and ice cream. The only 24-hour cupcake ATM in the world is
particularly popular.
*Beverly Hills Brownie Company - Decadent brownies beckon
from the counter here in unique flavors. Only in Beverly Hills.
*Vosges Haut-Chocolat - Samples are plentiful inside Vosges
Haut-Chocolat, including their popular Mo’s Bar (milk chocolate filled with
hickory smoked bacon and sprinkled with salt).
*Edelweiss Chocolates - Open for tours, Edelweiss Chocolates
was Lucille Ball's favorite and inspired her iconic “Job Switching” assembly
line I Love Lucy episode.
**Hotels:
** Shopping streets/areas:
*Rodeo Drive – filled with hundreds of designer boutiques
from Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton to Tiffany & Co., David Yurman and
Cartier. There are also lots of sights to see like Two Rodeo, the Walk of Style
and the popular bright yellow car parked outside of Bijan.
*Beverly Drive – neighboring Rodeo, this street is making a
name of its own with many hip new shops and some new eateries. North Beverly
Drive features shops like Iro, Sandro, Maje, Theory, Alice + Olivia and
AllSaints. South Beverly Drive includes smaller one-of-a-kind boutiques.
*Wilshire Boulevard – Also known as “Department Store Row”
features large department stores like Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, Saks
Fifth Avenue and Niketown.
** Other attractions:
*Greystone Mansion – Visit the sprawling grounds of
Greystone Mansion and Park. Built in 1928, the former Doheny Estate has a
fascinating history that includes murder and mystery. Celebrated as the largest
home in the city, the mansion has been featured in numerous films such as
Spiderman, Air Force One, There Will be Blood and Indecent Proposal. The
grounds are free and open for the public to roam. 905 Loma Vista Drive Beverly Hills,
CA 90210.
*Beverly Gardens Park – A walk in Beverly Gardens Park also
presents a unique opportunity to experience a vast and impressive collection of
public art and garden landscapes including formal rose and cactus gardens.
Significant art installations dot the landscape, particularly between Camden
and Rexford Drives. The 15-foot wide stainless steel Erratic sculpture by Roxy
Paine symbolizes a glacier’s erratic path as it is carried hundreds of miles
from its origin over time. Additionally, the park showcases Barry Flanagan’s
eccentric Drummer and the bold sculpture from Yayoi Kusama entitled Hymn of
Life: Tulips.
*Film and Television – Head to The Paley Center for Media
(465 North Beverly Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210) to peruse a library housing
more than 150,000 radio and television classics. The facility allows guests to
go back in time and view favorite programs, from Modern Family to Mad Men. The
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (8949 Wilshire Blvd Beverly Hills,
CA 90211), the motion picture counterpart to The Paley Center and home to the
Oscars, offers a number of rotating film-related exhibits along with screenings
of classic movies. Both venues are open to the public.
***
Oh… I finally finished with this translation… it took three
hours… the column is very short (only 600 words in Japanese), but I wrote 18 photos
captions with a lot of information… it makes sense… right?
Anyway, I appreciate Lovey’s and Karissa’s help for my
Beverly Hills column.
Did you like this column?
Do you want to visit Beverly Hills?
I hope SO…!!
By Yoko Fujimoto
Los Angeles March 15, 2014
Copyright © 2014 Yoko Fujimoto
