Wearable Art at Taylor De Cordoba: End Your Love Affair With the Mall

There are two schools of thought in fashion consumption:

1. Buying cheap, disposable and in bulk.


2. Spending a little more for quality craftsmanship.

Most people shuttle back and forth between those two urges. If you feel like satisfying your urge for craftsmanship, or are sick of the uniformity of malls, go check out the stuff--dresses, jewelry, handbags--at Taylor De Cordoba. Taylor De Cordoba is Heather Taylor's sweet little contemporary art gallery in Culver City. They don't normally sell clothes and accessories (and the art usually appears on the walls). But they're doing a month-long summer project called L.A. Fashion Bloom (until August 8).

Five Los Angeles designers are featured: Annie Costello Brown, Gregory Parkinson, Jesse Kamm, Wren, and Clare Vivier. The work is amazing. I know "amazing" is an over-used word, but seriously. It's apropos in this case. The vintage lighting is from Empiric, the reclaimed wood shelves and tables are by local artist Tony Brown. Check out this nifty shelf, upon which Vivier's bags sit:

photography by Stefanie Keenan, courtesy Taylor De Cordoba

Nice bags. Neat shelf.

The prices are reasonable for the exquisite workmanship. Plus, a portion of all proceeds go to P.S. Arts, a local non-profit dedicated to restoring the arts in public schools. Does that mean we can write off any purchases as a charitable donation? Now that would be amazing.

photography by Stefanie Keenan, courtesy Taylor De Cordoba

photography by Stefanie Keenan, courtesy Taylor De Cordoba

photography by Stefanie Keenan, courtesy Taylor De Cordoba