On this week’s Project Runway, straight off the bat the contestants are taken on a field trip with Tim Gunn. En Route, we learn about the extent of Blayne’s tanning withdrawal, which appears to be getting quite serious. He confesses to Tim that he needs to tan every other day to feel his best. His eyes scan the scenery outside frantically and I truly believe that if he’d seen a tanning salon, he would’ve jumped out of the window. Addicts are like that, you know. For his safety, I think he needs to hit a nice Orbit bed.

The crew arrives at their destination, The Armory Track and Field Center. There they see a dude inline skating around the track. They pretend to be excited but most of them just look bewildered, like, who the hell is this guy and why are we outdoors of all places? The dude turns out to be Apolo Ohno, hottie Olympian, 5-time medalist (2 of them gold) and the only Olympic athlete I have ever so much as had a twinge of a crush on. (I usually like pale, sickly dudes that draw or write, play guitar or have drug problems.) Apolo is there to be the guest judge for the week and to tell them their about the challenge. They are to design an Opening Ceremony Look for the Olympic Summer Games, following in the footsteps of great designers such as Armani and Ralph Lauren. Thankfully, they only have to design for the women.

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Watch out Beyonce and Jay, Angelina and Brad; there’s a new fashionable couple on the scene! The cutest Chemical Engineer majors ever spotted at UCLA prove that physics can be hot, too! Amber and Jason give us a taste of what wearing lab coats everyday and being in a loving relationship can do to your wardrobe.

What is L.A. street fashion to you?
Amber: L.A. street fashion is like saying “my personal style, meet the city of Los Angeles.” L.A. street fashion is about bringing your own flavor and allowing yourself to broadcast that. People are open canvases, billboards, and another form of mass media in my opinion. Some people may look at you and say “What was she thinking?” or “Wow, how did she think of doing that?” but either way it’s about infusing your own personal touch into what’s hot and trendy.

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1. The Shopaholic Sample Sale will feature samples and overstock inventory from “T Luxury, Leonard Street, Mynx, For Joseph, Jenny Hann, T Bags, Subtle Tones, Karen Zambos, Hale Bob, and more” (bargainsla). All is discounted 50 % off or more. I am a huge fan of Subtle Tones. There’s a boutique on Montana Avenue filled with lovely linens and silks, as well as beautiful home decor - for instance, sparkly chandeliers I’d buy for my house if I won the lottery. No, but seriously, there’s some nice and affordable stuff too: for instance, the black silk poof-y dress I got for $40 at the Montana Avenue Sidewalk Sale. Yes, $40. Proof that not all on Montana is outrageous, and proof that this sale won’t be either.

When: Saturday 8/3 and Sunday 8/4. 9am - 7pm.

Where: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Suite 104, Pasadena.

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1. The Shopaholic Sample Sale will feature samples and overstock inventory from “T Luxury, Leonard Street, Mynx, For Joseph, Jenny Hann, T Bags, Subtle Tones, Karen Zambos, Hale Bob, and more” (bargainsla). All is discounted 50 % off or more. I am a huge fan of Subtle Tones. There’s a boutique on Montana Avenue filled with lovely linens and silks, as well as beautiful home decor - for instance, sparkly chandeliers I’d buy for my house if I won the lottery. No, but seriously, there’s some nice and affordable stuff too: for instance, the black silk poof-y dress I got for $40 at the Montana Avenue Sidewalk Sale. Yes, $40. Proof that not all on Montana is outrageous, and proof that this sale won’t be either.

When: Saturday 8/3 and Sunday 8/4. 9am - 7pm.

Where: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Suite 104, Pasadena.

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Blayne: Alright, Tim, Holla atcha boy!

Tim Gunn: Holler at your boy? Is that the phrase? What’s it mean?

Blayne: It means, holla atcha dawg. Shout out!

Tim Gunn: Holler at your boy? I don’t get it.

Tim Gunn gracefully swoops out of the room, looking back over his shoulder to give his final words of encouragement to the frantic designers. “Make it work. Carry on. Holler at your boy.” Oh, Tim. Always giving the people what they want. This is Season 5 of Project Runway, folks. And Tim Gunn means business. He is, as Blayne says, “Timlicious.”  Indeed.

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From Bombay to the City of Angels, the orchestra musician, runway model, modern Audrey Hepburn incarnate Teji Kapadia breaks down L.A. Street Fashion like a pro.

What is L.A. street fashion to you?
Throwing together bright colors with the typical black. Dealing with the heat in fashion. A classy sexy. Layered clothing, creatively toped with equally creative accessories. Dressing with a mixture of thrift store and the biggest brands your money can buy. That’s the beauty of L.A., no one reps that they don’t wear their brands to make them look street. It’s accepted. L.A. fashion is very accepting

What pops out to you as a global trend that started in L.A.?
I’d have to say the amazing accessories. The bright Nike SB’s mixed with the preppy polos, or the beaters topped with a scarf and a chain that seems perfect for the outfit. The way L.A. cats accessorize has to be my favorite. They don’t seem scared to try new things or branch out. The low V-necks that fall off the girl’s shoulders seems to be the latest big L.A. trend, clothing wise from what I’m seeing though.

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So far, Season 5 of Bravo’s Project Runway is making me tingle in a good way. It’s giving me that TV buzz I haven’t had since Clay and Rueben battled it out on American Idol, since Eva the Diva was on America’s Next Top Model, or since they almost didn’t let Donna Martin graduate on 90210. I’m getting excited folks!

Episode 2 begins with the designers choosing their models. How to pick between a bunch of hot tall chicks in matching black slips? I don’t know but they do it and someone named Belle goes home. Ciao Bella! The designers then find out that the models they picked are also their clients. The challenge? To design a cocktail dress for their models using “green fabrics” (which are natural textiles that don’t hurt the environment). The big twist? The models get to do the shopping for the fabric, much to the horror of the contestants. So, models are running around Mood shopping, the designers are hating and I’m laughing because, let’s face it, drama is funny.

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Sushi fiend, future cosmologist, habitual line-stepper, and trendsetter Beverly M. takes a minute to tell us why L.A. Street Fashion is the shit.

What is L.A. street fashion to you?
Comfortably expressing individualism without having people giving a shit about your image since there is diversity all around you.

How has this city molded your style?
I have always been into the fashion world considering my major was fashion marketing or design. As far as fitting into the mold, I pretty much just get up on a daily basis and put on a kit to what I feel that day, whether it be plain Jane or just wild.

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I’m telling you, take advantage of these sales, because a lot of them are happening at stores that might not normally have such big sales, but that are simply because it’s summer. So buy up for next summer, unless don’t like wearing something from last season, that is… As for me, if I like it, I like it! Anyway, to the important stuff

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1. The Foley and Corinna Sample Sale will feature discounts from 30 - 80% on purses, retro dresses, tops, and much more.

When: Saturday, July 19 - Sunday July 20. Open 11am - 7pm both days.

Where: 8117 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 944-0169.

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Full-time student, journalist, and sports enthusiast, Justin brings a male’s perspective on L.A. Street Fashion.

What is L.A. street fashion to you?

L.A. street fashion = giving a damn about what other people think.

How has this city changed your style?

Honestly, this city has F’ed my style up. Wait, I take that back. This city has F’ed my wallet up! Why does all the “cool” stuff have to be so damn expensive? My clothes are always two years late because I wait until they go on clearance before I buy ‘em. I used to think I was cool in a Nautica jacket and jeans. But I guess that’s out of style now, isn’t it?

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Sale. Practice the word with me, because it’s going to be used a lot this month. Summer means stores getting rid of, well summer clothes. Hm, although this doesn’t make total sense to me. Shouldn’t they do this in, like, September? Nevertheless, a whole new batch of sales for JUST this weekend.

The following are all currently happening:

1. Guess I’m not “ultra-hip” because I’ve never heard of Mr Winter. But, the “ultra hip” fashion line is having a sale on their “tees, tunics, tops, hoodies, shorts, and leather goods”. All 50 - 70 % off and under $25. From the looks of the research I did, images or details about the line are found next to nowhere online. So you may have to take a risk and see if you like the clothing once you get there.

• When: Today, Sunday 7/13, from 11am - 4pm.
• Where: 4167 Center St., Culver City, 90232.
• NOTE: According to one source (bargainsla.com), the only form of payment accepts CASH. So yes, a very important note to consider.

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Angie Vasquez
L.A.’s very own artist and DJ, Angie Vasquez, tells LA.Cityzine why she’s on a mission to bomb your handbags. She also reveals how her independent clothing label, Girlfitti Love, was humbly conceived, distributed to the right people, and ended up on Pink’s superstar head.

What made you decide to start Girlfitti Love?

Well it was definitely by accident, but the story goes: I was in a mall and this chick was rocking a graffiti trucker cap. I knew I could do that myself so I went out and bought a trucker and hooked it up with the worst graffiti ever. (Haha!) I knew it wasn’t great graffiti but I was proud of what I did. So I hit the dancer scene in my new hat; before I knew it I had people asking me to do a hat for them.

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