Cultivating an Earthy Look
DRESS GLOBALLY, SHOP LOCALLY: Consumers who practice the late Buckminster Fuller’s advice to “Think globally, act locally” will find lots of wearable reminders at California Map Center, 3211 Pico Blvd.
Owners Sheldon and Barbara Mars have searched the Earth for products reflecting global consciousness:
Sterling silver “harmony balls” (Earth-like spheres that produce an angelic chime when you wiggle them); beautiful, blue-and-gold earrings and pendants of the Earth, and T-shirts printed with useful foreign phrases for travelers (printed upside down so the wearer can look down on his or her chest and know what to say).
For die-hard California jingoists, the Marses also have a few items celebrating state consciousness, such as a T-shirt printed with the California map on both sides.
FLAT OUT FREEBIE OF THE WEEK: To introduce her “California Sun” styles, makeup artist Marilyn Young is offering free samples of her custom-blended foundation, loose powder or concealer.
No purchase is necessary to obtain one of these “tan-without-a-tan” products, but you do have to make an appointment.
You’ll find Young on the leopard-print rug at the Yuki hair salon, 8640 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (310) 854-6968.
A BATH-AND-BODY SHOP THAT CONSIDERS THE SPIRIT, TOO: “Love Thy Body,” a new West L. A. shop at 1646 Sawtelle Blvd., offers more than the usual spectrum of aromatherapy oils and custom-scented body lotions, bath gels and shampoos.
This light, airy living room of a shop, outfitted with hand-painted furniture and fresh flowers, wants to help you heal your mind, not just your body. Along with candles, greeting cards and gorgeous French cotton T-shirts, Love Thy Body has palm readers, massage technicians, reflexologists, astrologers and aromatherapists to give private mini-sessions on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
An astrologer will speak tonight and a Tarot card reader will be present Saturday and Sunday. The fee for a reading is $1 a minute, with a 15-minute minimum.
“People come into my store who don’t know why they’re in there. But once they’re in they just hang out for, like, hours,” says owner Jodi Novak Slaten. “It’s the kind of place you don’t leave. It’s basically a hangout.”
