While you can't turn a corner in L.A. without stumbling over a food truck these days, mobile clothing shops are on the rise as well. The latest to join the pavement runway is Le Fashion Truck, a pink outpost for both new and vintage items that blends the brands of a duo of local fashionistas.

"We are a collaboration of three local brands which include vintage finds by Better Than Naked and handmade jewelry lines Alex & Vina and Dollhouse Republic," owners Jeanine Romo & Stacey Steffe said over e-mail, adding that the truck will support fellow Angelenos as well. "We also feature a local artist/designer each month. This month we're featuring Besame Cosmetics."

Following the truck won't mean breaking the bank, either: "You can walk out of the truck with a full outfit, including accessories, starting at $70," the pair said. "Retro sweaters average at $22, dresses at $30, purses start at $15, handmade necklaces average $18 and earrings at $12."

Follow the pair on Twitter at @LeFashionTruck and let us know if going mobile is your style -- or if you'll stick to stores.

-- David Greenwald

Photo credit: Le Fashion Truck

Graft newstalgia with the eco-friendly ethos that's been prevalent for the last few years, and you get a hardy forest of wood and wood-toned accents — many of them in unexpected places. In the latter half of 2010 alone we've discovered high-end tool sets and flashlights by Jonas Damon in beechwood, Italian-made luxury wristwatches by WeWood in maple and ebony and a line of wholly functional wooden radios by Magno. That doesn't even begin to take into account enough sustainable-growth hardwood iPad cases and earbuds to keep a small-town sawmill in business. More photos after the jump.

Speaking of "Machete" -- if you're tired of your electric razor running out of power or sick of swapping out your Mach3 blades, it might be time for a more old-school shaving option.

Baxter of California, a Beverly Hills men's grooming staple since 1965, has the latest addition to the retro trend with a blade titled "not a replica," made with blue steel and tested at a Rockwell hardness of 63, which the company claims gives it the "sharpest and longest-lasting edge possible." (If nothing else, it'll probably impress your dad.)

Of course, switching to the single blade won't come cheap -- it retails for $240 without the pictured cordovan leather sleeve. Then again, you can always keep paying that electric bill. Visit Baxter of California's site for their local retail locations.

[Related: All The Rage's look at the Baxter Finley Barber & Shop]

-- David Greenwald

Photo: Baxter of California's "Not a replica" razor.

Throw out your college tees and trade up for stylish new activewear that will get you excited to strut your stuff at the gym in 2011. You might even get some compliments from that guy in spin class.

Oscar Mimosa

Oscar's edgy activewear, featuring cross body straps and form-fitting jumpsuits, could be mistaken for chic swimwear. Australian designer Sarah Harte felt that there was a niche waiting to be made in the market for well-made, designer activewear. Her first collection, Hot Neon Lights, focused on her love for pilates but her latest Demure Adrenaline collection was designed for all types of sporting activities. All her pieces are eco-friendly and made in Italy, using high performance micro-fibers that guarantee UV protection and resilience. Her garments alone are motivation to hit the ground running. Don't you want to rock that crop top on your next beach run?

http://www.oscarmimosa.com/

alo

The Los Angeles-based activewear company has true California values. Their brand — which stands for air, land and ocean — prides itself on being environmentally conscious. Not only are the styles fashion-forward, but they're made from recycled fabrics and bamboo jersey, which is anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic and breathes without the addition of harsh chemicals. Even their LA headquarters is green, complete with solar panels, skylights and motion detector lighting. While some brands trade marketing for design, alo does not. Their clothes are hip, with button-up hoods, asymmetrical lines and funky colors. Another plus? They have a men's line.

http://www.alosport.com/

Play by Sarah Reilly

Sarah Reilly is no stranger to design. Formally a designer for Abercrombie and Fitch and later for J. Crew and Madewell, Reilly decided to leave her commercial success behind and focus her creativity on her new found love: yoga. Play encompasses her appreciation for the exercise with simple, clean yet modern designs. All her fabrics are organic and eco-friendly, using ecologically farmed bamboo fibers. The New Yorker originally designed the line as a layering system — wear leggings and a sports top for morning yoga, put on the Obi dress for work and the Moonshell for a cover-up. Busy Angelenos could appreciate her line of comfortable activewear, which could be worn walking around Venice or having a cup of coffee in Santa Monica. http://playbysarahreilly.com/

Three more fit fashion options after the jump >>

NEW YEAR'S EVE ISSUE: Whatever your holiday fashion faux pas, there's no reason to be overwhelmed with the prospect of having to buy a new outfit for the swirl of upcoming social events. By adding an accessory or two, a little black dress or brown v-neck sweater can be instantly transformed into something festive. Think about rich fabrics such as velvet or satin, as well as things that shine and sparkle. But use these accessories—a clutch, a brooch, a belt—in small doses.

Literal touches of sparkle are easy to find this time of year and a little really does go a long way. Try wearing sequins or glitter by way of a neutral colored scarf, such as the nude version from Tory Burch that features one side of wool, the other decorated with a smattering of copper colored palettes. Henri Bendel offers stackable rhinestone bracelets fastened with a velvet bow, a piece that could dress up anything from a black suit to jeans and a sweater.

It's not so difficult to get seasonal. Just follow our basic rule: It's probably best to sparkle sparingly.

More photos after the jump >>

Emily Faulstich and Kimberley Gordon aren't your average Silver Lake thrift store shoppers. The best friends comb through vintage stores to get inspiration for their fashion line, Wildfox, which they launched in 2006. With social media saavy and strong business sense, the two have sucessfully tapped into vintage culture to create a hot new look that's being worn from Echo Park to Beverly Hills, where stars like Taylor Swift and Halle Berry have been spotted in Wildfox shirts. Now that their '70s-inspired garb is available in posh boutique Kitson and the Kardashians' store, Dash, the Wildfox founders took some time out from working in their Silver Lake design studio to talk about building their business, the L.A. fashion scene and where to shop for vintage clothing.

Brand X: What got you into fashion design?

Emily Faulstich: I never thought it was something I was going to do as a career. I studied fine art in college and I always loved illustrating and then I just kinda fell into it.

Kimberley Gordon: I've always loved fashion design since I was a little kid. I really died about Vogue and Seventeen magazine. I've been reading them since I was little. In high school I realized [what I liked about fashion] was the combination of a team working together, not just designing, but everything that goes into a photo shoot, preparing garments, working together to create a lifestyle image.

BX: When exactly did Wildfox start? Is there an origin story?

EF: Yes, actually … we came home from work one day and we were thinking about how we don't really have any clothing lines that we like, and there was a void in T-shirts and casual wear, and we looked at each other and realized we could make our own line. It was kind of an epiphany; we were standing in my kitchen.

More with Wildfox, including their favorite vintage stores, after the jump >>

HOLIDAY GUIDE 2010: Perhaps because of the hot “Mad Men” throwback styles or the not-so-hot-economy, blowout salons are making a comeback in L.A. These casual salons could become the next mani-pedi and an inexpensive option for a unique holiday hairstyle.

“There was a gap between high-end salons … and discount chains,” says Alli Webb, who this year turned her mobile blowout business into a series of studios, aptly named Dry Bar.

The bright and airy salon — with locations in Brentwood, West Hollywood and Studio City — is a bit more bar than salon, with flat-screen TVs, plenty of hair products, plus bubbly and wine on the menu. Also on the menu are cocktail-themed 'dos for $35, including the Mai Tai, with messy, beachy waves à la Kate Hudson; the Cosmopolitan with big, loose curls; and the Southern Comfort, “which is our big hair with lots of volume,” says Webb. Her holiday recommendations after the jump >>

Jewelry designer Amanda Thomas isn't the average 23-year-old. When she was 16, a Fred Segal buyer spotted the Los Angeles native, and her hobby catapulted into a career overnight. Her jewelry line called Luv Aj is now sold at the trendiest boutiques in L.A. including Madison and Kitson, and the designs make the perfect gift for a savvy fashionista.

Named after the way Thomas signed notes, Luv Aj has evolved with Thomas' personal taste, which could be described as “feminine rocker.” She manages to soften up the look of chains and spikes with delicate rose gold or an enamel flower.

“I like things that are a little edgier and chunkier [now],” Thomas said. “Whereas when I was 16, all I wanted was vintage charm necklaces … so it's just changing with the tides.”

In college, when friends were reading the tabloids to keep up to the date on the latest gossip, Thomas was checking in to see which celebrity was wearing her styles. During her first year at the University of San Diego, her pieces were featured in ELLE magazine.

At one point, Luv Aj sold totes. The celeb-oriented designs were plastered with the faces of the Olsen twins or the words “Free Martha,” for Martha Stewart. Never in her wildest dreams did Thomas think they'd get into the hands of the lady herself … in jail.

“Mark Burnett's wife was in Fred Segal and she saw it and Mark [producer of “Survivor” and “The Apprentice”] was going to go visit her in jail and he gave it to her,” Thomas said.

Thomas couldn't be more connected to her California roots. She grew up in West L.A., learned how to make jewelry at Madley in Venice Beach and left the University of San Diego for the famed Otis College of Art & Design, graduating last year. Continue reading >>

THANKSGIVING ISSUE: It is said that Southern California has no seasons, but we who live here have learned to recognize its subtle tonal shifts. When the sycamore trees flare crimson and giant breakers pound the empty beaches, my thoughts to turn fragrances that evoke both the melancholy of winter and the ancipation of joyous holidays.

As days grow chill and twilight comes early, I crave oriental fragrances laden with warm amber, spice and incense to sweep away gloom and envelop me like a pashmina shawl. It's then I reach for Guerlain's Shaliamr parfum extrait, Donna Karan's Black Cashmere and Hermes' Ambre Narguile. These rich, sweet, smoky scents are perfect for candlelit dinners, cocktails parties and nights on the town. They also lend succor on flannel-pajama nights when I retire early with a good book.

Sometimes a brisk hike is just the tonic for SoCal's winter's chill, and I fantasize moving through primeval Old World forests instead of the scrub of our Verdugo Mountains. So I spritz on Pino Silvestre, the old-school Italian cologne in the pinecone-shape bottle, created by a Venetian family in 1955. Pino starts with bergamot, lemon and bigarade, moves into French lavender, thyme, clary sage, juniper and clove, and sttles into a base of tree moss, cedar, sandalwood and amber. My bottle cost less than $15 online, a bargain at twice the price.

More seasonal scents after the jump >>

Call him the accidental trendsetter. Costume designer Michael Kaplan's futuristic-noir look for "Blade Runner" inspired an Alexander McQueen fashion collection. His "Fight Club" designs were soon being paid tribute to by his designer friend Marc Jacobs as well as Donatella Versace. And then there were the slouchy, off-the-shoulder outfits in "Flashdance," which triggered a rabid '80s trend that still has some life in it. So does this mean we might all soon be wearing feathered headdresses? Find out after the jump >>