Several weeks back I met up with Annabel of Blushing Ambition for a quick lunch and snapped a few portraits on the street. I’m so excited to get back into shooting film! I guess shooting several days a week for the business burned me out, but since we now have an amazing staff photographer, I feel like I can get back into doing it for myself. Isn’t she gorgeous?

xx
Sophia

Spent the day pounding the pavement (or carpet, whatever) for sweet stuff to fill the store with. Among my favorites were a strong-shouldered velvet blazer I’m dying to wear, a studded lapel biker jacket for under $100, and Jeffrey Campbell shoes of course! The first photo is with Ty of JC shoes, who helps us keep those amazing styles coming and helps me pick out each season’s winners. Took a moment to rest outside and snapped a few photos with Renee. I’m wearing my favorite new top by Natalie Encarnita, which will be hitting the store this week!

xx
Sophia

*Thanks so much to Geri Hirsch of BecauseImAddicted.net, my hands-down favorite blogger and Angeleno extraordinaire for including me in her weeklong domination/guest blogging for LuckyMag.com. Be sure to check back throughout the week to see what she’s up to!

Finding great vintage pieces can be a frustrating and time-consuming task, even for the most talented stylists and addicted shopaholics. A perfectly fitted sequined blazer, a Dior gown, or even worn-in cut-off Levi’s are much easier to come by if you know where to look. Thanks to Rachel Zoe, Decades and Decades Two are world renowned, and most Angelinos are aware of the gems found at the Fairfax Trading Post. But, what about the rest of LA’s vintage secrets? Secondhand guru Sophia Amoruso, founder of my favorite online vintage boutique ShopNastyGal.com, to bring you her top 5 vintage haunts.

Sophia, who is based in Berkeley, CA, takes monthly trips to LA, searching high and low for one-of-a-kind finds to sell on her site, which regularly caters to a roster of trendsetting celebrity customers such as Harley Viera Newton. Trust me when I tell you that Sophia does not reveal her vintage-digging secrets easily, so take notes!

1. CERRE
1647 North Las Palmas Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
“Cerre has one of the most tightly curated selections of vintage I’ve ever seen. They specialize in their own line of handmade suede bags and jewelry, but the vintage is what I swoon over. The entire space is made of reclaimed wood and metal, and has a very organic atmosphere.”

2. The Rose Bowl
1001 Rose Bowl Dr
Pasadena, CA 91103-2813
“Not a secret, but a great source for vintage in general. Tons of wholesalers and small boutiques set up shop every second Sunday of the month with every type of vintage imaginable. A great spot for people watching too!”

3. Lemon Frog Shop
1202-B N Alvarado St
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 413-2143
“Probably the closest in selection to my boutique, Lemon Frog Shop is a newish shop in Echo Park packed from ceiling to floor with fabulous clothing, shoes, boots, and jewelry. The owner has an impeccable eye and there is most absolutely something for everyone.”

4. Jet Rag
“Jet Rag is massive, but it’s their outdoor $1 sale on Sundays that keeps me coming back. There’s nothing I love more than digging through heaps of vintage!”

5. Replay Vintage
4010 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
“Albert has some of the best vintage boots and shoes around. Where he finds them I have no idea. Their vintage eyewear selection is also unparalleled.”

One of the best things about our work is getting to play dress-up pretty much all the time. Sometimes our shoots for the store are more rushed than we’d prefer, since shooting each vintage piece individually can be extremely time consuming. We were thrilled when our most recent editorial shoot rolled around, and three beautiful/creative forces were put to work.

The amazing Mackenzie was our muse of the day, and we teamed up with one of SF’s best photographers, Paul Trapani, to work his lens-magic. And as chief buyer/stylist, I was of course on hand to whip up a few great looks.

Getting warmed up.

Time for a touch-up!

A beautiful mess.

Who needs hairspray?

Nice jugs!

Ready for take off…

xx
Sophia

NASTY GAL made a rare live appearance at Paramount studios in Hollywood last night in support of The Duchess, a wonderful new film starring Keira Knightley, who appears bedecked from head to toe in some of the most splendiferous period costumes we’d ever laid eyes on.

The night began with an unparalleled shopping event along the entrance to the Paramount Theater, with a host of great boutiques and designers setting up temporary shops for the 300 fashionable attendees, including a few stars that we love. After shopping, guests went inside the theater for an exclusive advance screening of the film.

Christina with model Alexandra, waiting for the guests to arrive.

Alexandra manning the table.

The very stylish and sweet Juno Temple!

Rumer Willis in our soon to come Foxy Mama Glasses in PINK. She loved our stuff!

Kimberly of mark. cosmetics, in a freshly purchased vintage dress. How very NASTY!

Our stylish friends, Anna and Kate with Alexandra.

Vintage bags, rosaries, and glasses.

Our adorable totes, which we JUST received and will be in the store very soon!

When I began selling vintage online nearly two years ago, I was faced with a task that every business owner encounters: finding a name for their business. For me, it was important to choose a name that represented an attitude as well as an aesthetic. The easy route would have been to hop on the hippie bandwagon and name it something sweet–but I felt that approach was just a little too familiar, and much softer than what I was going for.

I used to spend a lot of time collecting hard-to-find records, and unearthing unpopular or otherwise rare music that had fallen under the radar–sometimes for decades. I consulted my library for inspiration, and after little time I’d settled on the name of funkstress Betty Davis’ hard-hitting third album, NASTY GAL.

Once the wife of musician Miles Davis and an ex-runway model, she was a true sex symbol. Her lyrics were unabashedly raunchy and sex-drenched, and were accompanied by one of the the best rhythm sections of the era (or ever, for that matter). To put it shortly: she’s good stuff. Need proof?

“She was the first Madonna. But Madonna is more like Marie Osmond when compared to Betty Davis.” -Carlos Santana

It’s true.

xx
Sophia