TrendThrift is a weekly column, brought to you by our resident fashionista, Kate McChesney, as a review of boutiques and fashion events in and around the Los Angeles area.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you're probably aware that wholesome hip hop star and SAG veteran, Common, dropped his highly anticipated album "Finding Forever" yesterday, Tuesday July 31. "L.A.'s Finest Street Boutique", El Mercado (www.elmercadoonline.com) celebrated early last Thursday with a Universal/Geffen sponsored listening party. The boutique was bumping Common's "Finding Forever" all night, offering 15% off everything in the store, plus free pizza and beer!

More on Common and El Mercado after the jump...

TrendThrift is a weekly column, brought to you by our resident fashionista, Kate McChesney, as a review of boutiques in and around the Los Angeles area.

Last Thursday, July 19th, Mosci celebrated their two-year anniversary along with 944 magazine and Warning mag. Two ladies bravely modeled the latest Mosci collection on white platforms, which included several Colcci dresses and my favorite, a shorts-style one-piece metallic jumpsuit, while guests swarmed the small boutique's shop floor. The event was packed with a mix of fashion veterans and newbies (I actually overheard one metro asking another questionable metro who Roberto Cavalli is), munching on hors d'oeuvres of sushi, crabcakes, and cheese, plus champagne, Brazilian wine, and mimosas.

More on the Mosci event after the jump...

If the latter's name doesn't say it all, I don't know what does. Fashion industry veterans Jimi Lee and Todd Rosen's new fall line of men's tees are what legends are made from. In true vintage tee style, Legends of Style would suit the likes of rockers Joel Madden and Travis Barker to hip hop royalty Nas and Common. Legends of Style features vintage and hand-painted art on soft, cozy fabrics, obviously inspired by the LA graffiti scene. Their use of risky metallic paint and different colored tees are what set this line apart from Ed Hardy and LRG.

More about Lipstick Bandits and Legends of Style after the jump...

TrendThrift is a weekly column, brought to you by our resident fashionista, Kate McChesney, as a review of boutiques in and around the Los Angeles area.

Instead of making the trek to Robertson Blvd, West LA moms and UCLA women simply must take advantage of Wicati Boutique, located at 2318 Westwood Blvd between Pico and Olympic. Now until July 23rd, Wicati (named for owner Eve Newhart's three children, WIlliam, CAroline, and TImothy) is having their 50% off sale on dresses, tops, skirts, and shoes. Names like Nanette Lepore, Alice and Olive, Cythia Vincent and many more hang from Wicati's packed clothing racks. And with 50% off, the budget shopper can certainly splurge on a few classic, designer pieces.

More of Kate's Experience Shopping at Wicati after the jump...

After spending the week cruising the boutiques and bars in LA and Vegas with two rockstar friends, I came to appreciate true dude-in-a-band style. My friends are both young, in pop punk bands, and are not afraid to use their cojones when it comes to fashion. Always casual and cool, sporting thrift store finds, plus cutting-edge hoodies and sneaks, these kids sure know how to dress. The two told me about a bunch of online stores that sport hard to find band merchandise, original tees, hot prints, and vegan sneaks.

Interpunk.com boasts that it's the the "Ultimate Punk Music Store" and features over 80,000 punk, rock, ska and hardcore music and memorabilia. The site allows you to search any rock band in your 25 Most Played and hosts thousands of import CDs, vinyl, zines and clothing for guys and gals (click on the Babydoll Shirt link.)

More on Kate's online finds after the jump...

TrendThrift is a weekly column, brought to you by our resident fashionista, Kate McChesney, as a review of boutiques in and around the Los Angeles area.

Last weekend, LF had their annual 80% off Blowout Sale at their warehouse location in West LA. The deals were incredible with t-shirts going for only 6 bucks, shoes for $15, denim for $18, and original LF boutique clothing starting at only $25. The sale was a two day event with little advertising, but both women and men alike certainly caught word. Saturday's sale was packed, with lines snaking around the building, but Sunday was a little bit more mellow. This didn't stop the near catfights, as the tables were heaped with shoes and boots of different colors and textures and baskets stuffed with original LF bikinis and swimwear.

The shoe table was for sure the most popular; I picked up a hot pair of paint splattered leather boots, original $280 for only $25! I also snagged a couple pairs of summer flats; who can resist them at a mere $15 a pop?

Kate McChesney continues to be tempted by trendy bargains after the jump...

TrendThrift is a weekly column, brought to you by our resident fashionista, Kate McChesney, as a review of boutiques in and around the Los Angeles area.

This Saturday, June 9th, Apartment 3 celebrated its Grand Opening of their Brand Spankin' New Downtown L.A. location! Located in the heart of the Downtown Arts Community, Apartment 3's new SoHo-style loft is the perfect space to accompany their exclusive new clothing line, three-L.A. (www.three-LA.com). The boss lady, Kristin Knauff, is known for her infamous After Hours parties at her location on La Brea feauring DJs, free booze, and tasty treats. The Grand Opening party featured yummy pink lemonade and blueberry cocoa vegan cupcakes by Spork Foods (www.myspace.com/sporkfoods) that were ten times more popular than the hor'devoures of the last party I attended. Spork's MySpace page even had a comment that said he had to "wrestle someone to the ground for the last pink lemonade." Yup, they were that popular.

More on cupcakes and fashion after the jump...

TrendThrift is a weekly column, brought to you by our resident fashionista, Kate McChesney, as a review of boutiques in and around the Los Angeles area.

Santa Monica truly has it all; the beach, great restaurants, and most importantly: Marcia Bloom Designs. Marcia Bloom Designs is located on the famous celebrity shopping street, Montana Ave. It's funky, eclectic and above all else, fun--just like Marcia Bloom herself. It is my favorite boutique in LA. End of story.

Now I have to admit, I've been keeping Marcia Bloom Designs a secret. Maybe it's because of her beautifully handcrafted makeup bags, handbags, and pillows, or her colorful peasant skirts made for girls of all ages, or perhaps it's her wide selection of jewelry. Whatever it may be that's been keeping me from sharing Marcia Bloom with the world, the cat is now out of the bag.

More on Marcia Bloom Designs after the jump.

TrendThrift is a weekly column, brought to you by our resident fashionista, Kate McChesney, as a review of boutiques in and around the Los Angeles area.

I looove the summer--the beach, the sun, the barbecues--everything. There is not one part of summer in SoCal that I don't like. My favorite part of an Angeleno summer are the vast array of new colors and styles in the stores and on the streets. A good friend who visited LA last summer made the candid and profound declaration: "People in LA are not afraid of fashion." He's right. Perhaps it comes from all of the 'actors' in this town; everyone either already thinks they're someone, or they are dressing to be discovered. Who knows? Who really cares? What matters is, LA is a fashionable town.

Brazilian bikinis are all the rage these days. Two hot spots for Brazilian bikinis that won't break your bank are ToaToa: Brazil in Culver City and Mosci on Melrose. Both stores carry a wide variety of colorful prints, all Brazilian style (which means you wear the sides high and the bottom up your butt). Mosci is a little more expensive, starting at $45 and going up to over $90, while ToaToa: Brazil's teeny Brazilian bikinis start at $25 and go up to $55. If you're in the market for a teeny bikini, but don't want the full thong-thong-thong-thong-thong effect, check out American Apparel's simple, hip (but not trying to be hip) and very affordable bikinis and one pieces at stores or online at www.americanapparel.net.

Find out what Kitson is offering this summer as Trend Thrift continues after the jump.

TrendThrift is a weekly column, brought to you by our resident fashionista, Kate McChesney, as a review of boutiques in and around the Los Angeles area.

Mosci is the cutest and by far the most cheerful boutique on Melrose Ave. Located on Melrose and Fairfax, right across from Fairfax High School, and often overshadowed by its neighbor, Ed Hardy, Mosci carries a mix of high-end Brazilian lines. Colcci, Vide Bula, and Doc Dog are a few of the designers that feature high-quality, pretty, printed dresses and tops at Mosci.

With their amazing location, Mosci certainly has a star clientele; Janeane Garofalo recently stopped by to pick up the popular Colcci skinny low-cut jeans, as well as a few casual tops in fun colors. Stylists for Shakira and the Disney Channel have stopped by Mosci to find unique pieces from the well-known Brazilian lines. Colcci is a line that's just becoming big in Hollywood after years of popularity worldwide. Paris Hilton and Giselle Bundchen recently campaigned the Colcci line in Brazil, and Shakira was seen wearing Colcci at several publicity events in LA. No doubt all from Mosci.

More from Mosci after the jump...