Fashionistas Fashion the Future

I was so inspired by last week’s broadcast of What Women Want Talk Radio. We had fashion moguls Megan Grassell and Marissa Lewis on our live broadcast, two young, enterprising ladies making waves in fashion.

Megan Grassell founded Yellowberry, a brassiere company for teens and tweens, after she could not find an age-appropriate bra for her little sister. What I found interesting about Megan’s story was her ability to push back when all department stores offered were push-up bras for her young sister. So often we go with the flow, or resign ourselves with “That’s the way things are.” Megan didn’t accept the status quo when it came to bras for teens and tweens and has made it to a successful business.

Marissa Lewis, founder of Miss Jumpin, came to Los Angeles with dreams of making it as an actress but rekindled her love of fashion and now runs successful and philanthropic enterprise in downtown Los Angeles. Marissa always loved jumpsuits and quite literally followed her dreams to where she is today. Hers is a story of listening to her deep self and knowing when to pivot and adapt. Marissa also has tremendous commitment to her downtown LA community and she exemplifies the moxie and pay-it-forward approach of the millennial businesswoman.

Listen to this powerful conversation here.

Behind the Scenes of The Litch

This week, I got to have a fun part in The Litch, directed by James Balsalmo of Acid Bath Productions. It was a high-spirited, improvisational shoot. Coming out later this year, the film also stars Tom Sizemore, the legendary Lloyd Kaufman and fellow scream queen Genoveva Rossi. James is creative, collaborative and fun and I told our manager Matt Chassin that he was like the “Christopher Guest of horror”. This is sure to be a fun horror comedy.

Armin Nasseri of Seeking Valentina fame was also on-hand helping with our scene. It was great to have his positive energy there. I can’t wait to see it debut on the big screen later this year!

LIKE The Litch on Facebook to get all their updates!

The Concours d’Elegance, A Beverly Hills Tradition

Dubbed one of the “300 Unmissable Events” of the world, the Concours d’Elegance is a car show–Beverly Hills Style. Staged on famed Rodeo Drive on Father’s Day, hundreds of car aficionados come out to celebrate some of the worlds most sought after cars and have been doing so for 20 years. The event is free and open to the public and the public did come out in droves! The Concours d’Elegance is the largest public event held annually in Beverly Hills. A unique mix of guests, including car collectors, families and international visitors and residents from Beverly Hills and the Westside came out to celebrate Father’s Day in ambiance only Beverly Hills can provide.

From the hottest cars on the market today to the most rare vehicles of yesteryear, these cars are beauties. I was especially enchanted by the McLaren 720s from Auto Gallery of Beverly Hills.

The amazing cars on display included the 2015 Ford Mustang, a 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom and a McLaren 12C. The coveted automobiles are displayed along iconic Rodeo Drive for auto-enthusiasts of all kinds to admire up close. Here’s a few of my pics!

Pumping Up the Cash for Animals

Los Angeles is a tremendous city, but in terms of animal welfare, it is still not a no-kill city. Animal euthenization did hit a three year low in 2015, according to city statistics, but LA still kills 14,000 animals a year in its shelters, which even city officials admit is too high. As the mother of two feral cats that I tamed off the mean streets of the City of Angels, I am very concerned about the welfare of our city’s animals, which is why I went to Lisa Vanderpump’s Pump Restaurant last night to pump up some cash for the amazing St. Martin’s Animal Rescue.

pump red carpet — Kristin West on the red carpet to support St. Martin’s Animal Rescue. Photo courtesy of Bob Delgadillo.

St. Martin’s is unique in its mission and focus. Check out their inspiring Mission Statement:

Our focus this year is to create an innovative, self-sustainable, solar powered haven in Southern California. This exciting new eco sanctuary and learning center will welcome families to enjoy free and enriching activities. This will expand the minds of our youth in a positive way and give them a sense of community and the importance of their involvement in our precious world.

I really like that. Animal welfare and our planetary, ecological welfare are deeply intertwined and it’s exciting to see St. Martin’s come up with innovative solutions to address both. I also like their emphasis on education. Our children are our future and Founder Sky Valencia’s commitment to education is evident when you meet with her and discuss the issues she is so impassioned about.

Check out this short interview with Sky at the opening of What Women Want Talk Radio Show last week. I can’t wait to have Sky back on the show!

If you are interested in learning more about St. Martin’s click here and you can also donate here.

A #DayintheLife of an Indie Film Producer & Actress

I was recently invited by Mogul to give their readership an insight on what life is like being an indie filmmaker in Los Angeles. It was such an honor to share some of the highlights of my experiences.

Trick-or-Treating in the Tesla Model X

I have been behind the wheel of some fabulous cars in my time, but nothing beats being in the driver’s seat of the Tesla Model X. The innovative Los Angeles start-up, Green Commuter, gave me the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take one for a spin at last weekend’s Monsterpalooza and they are trying to give everyone in Los Angeles that chance too!

Kristin West

#kristinspiration

Tag: los angeles