In the forecast: Cold days, chilly nights, cool fashion
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How often have you heard a leaf-like starlet in a parka whining about how cold it is in the sunshine? (Eat something, would ya?) Or seen a yoga mom in mukluk boots and a knee-grazing mohair scarf on a 75-degree day?
Well, finally we’ve got some real Ugg weather -- temperatures topping out in the 30s some mornings, swimming pools turned into slushies, the whole Currier & Ives scene in Malibu. But what’s a weather variation really but a fashion opportunity?
Cruising around Beverly Hills on a recent 40-plus-degree morning, it wasn’t just the Arctic breeze that hit me, but SoCal’s unique take on winter dressing.
“They’re $1.99 children’s gloves from Rite Aid, and I cut the fingers off,” hairstylist Giuseppe Franco said, brandishing his fingerless gloves at his North Canon Drive salon. “So I can use my fingers and keep my palms warm.”
Dean Leduc tied a jaunty Prada geometric print scarf over his suit jacket when he set out for work on Rodeo Drive. “It’s hard when the temperature changes because you forget to dress for it,” he said.
One particularly fashionable pedestrian layered short shorts over opaque tights and red legwarmers. But not even those relics of the Jane Fonda era could save her when the sky opened up on Wednesday morning. She broke out into a sprint in spiky stilettos, taking her black bowler hat and faux leopard chubby into an alley for cover.
Barbra Sanonian took refuge inside the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, warming her hands on a latte and keeping her coat on while catching up with a friend.
And why not? The turquoise full-length shearling, hand painted with images of fashion girls on Vespas, was fabulous -- a sartorial souvenir picked up in Spain.
And while it’s been unseasonably warm this winter in some parts, the fur business has been booming in Southern California, reports Ken Kaplan, president of the Southern California Fur Assn. “The tables have really turned. Whereas around the country, sales of longer mink coats are down because it’s been so warm, those of us in warmer climes like California have seen a stronger season.”
“People are buying things and wearing them out the door,” says Donna Pappas of Somper furs, on North Canon Drive, which is having its best January sales in decades.
More people are getting their furs out of storage too, up to 50% more than in past seasons, Pappas says.
Clients include Anjelica Huston, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand and Snoop Dogg, who special-orders his wild creations. The store’s hottest seller off the rack is a $2,495 reversible mink-lined raincoat that comes in several colors including powder pink, a Paris Hilton fave.
Twirling around in a honey-colored version, Pappas smiled. “Weather has definitely been on our side.”
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