UNIFORM | Córka Rybaka Beanies


I'm not sure which I love more, the origin story of Córka Rybaka or the actual beanies—they are both so great. Córka Rybaka, which means fisherman's daughter in Polish, is a hand-knit unisex beanie label out of Warsaw. Monika Kucel hand-knits each and every Hemingway-esque beanie herself from 100% Peruvian Highland wool in her apartment in Poland. I mostly love how she is focused on one product, just one, and mastering it. The beanies (€65 / $82), which if treated well are claimed to last a lifetime, are shipped worldwide. You can shop the 2013 collection online. Now, if you're interested, check out the origin story here!



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ICON | Françoise Gilot




Photos of French painter and author Françoise Gilot in her studio in 1953 via AFP.

"For me, style is essentially doing things well. If you want to be outrageous, be outrageous with style. If you want to be restrained, be restrained with style. One can't specifically define style. It's like the perfume to a flower. It's a quality you can't analyze." —Françoise Gilot

UNIFORM | The South Pacific

Photo of unknown military personnel on Fassarie Isle, Ulithi Atoll by Carl Mydans for LIFE.

Being currently in Hawaii and having just finished the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, I keep looking at the ocean and the islands trying to imagine them 70 years ago when the world was at war and incredible and horrific things were happening on tiny islands all over the Pacific. Finding photos of women in uniform during WWII has always struck a chord, especially this one. I just wish I knew more about her.

Fair Ends Olive Waxed Cotton Cap ($48); Garrett Leight Milwood Sunglasses ($315) or similar Warby Parker Edgeworth Sunglasses ($95); Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($7); Madewell Cargo Workshirt ($55).

DESIGN | SDE Quilts

S.D. Evans out of Brooklyn is creating some incredible heirloom-quality quilts and wall hangings that are so great I can barely stand it. Each quilt is a handmade, one of kind piece made from natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, vintage yukata cotton, and leather. The quilts clearly honor traditional patterns, but S.D. Evans has effortlessly added a contemporary aesthetic. I think of these pieces not only as utilitarian crafts but also 21st century Americana at its finest. Prices start in the low $100s and go up from there. Keep up with Tomboy Style elsewhere: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK.

CONTEMPORARY | Sierra Prescott


Photos via @sierra_prescott.

Can we all please take a moment to acknowledge the radness that is photographer Sierra Prescott in Instagram? Lady can shred.

[Thanks Aja]

DESIGN | Coasters

Every year as gift giving season approaches (earlier and earlier), I find myself less and less prepared and more and more filled with panic. In attempt to get ahead of the game and simplify, I've decided there's one item that seems to work for everyone: a nice set of coasters. They are easy, fun, not too personal, one-size-fits-all, and work really nicely for a host/hostess gift (and can be cheaper than a bottle of nice wine). Here are a few I really like in case there are some people here that like to get it done early or also are suffering from pre-holiday anxiety. And, who doesn't need a drinking buddy, amirite?

Clockwise from top left: Merino Wool Felt Coasters ($24 for a set of four); Karen Kimmel Leather Moon Coasters ($36 for a set of four); Kilim Coasters ($30 for a set of six); Mazama Leather Coasters ($20 for a set of four); Geometric Coasters ($15 for a set of six); Fog Linen Coasters ($30 for set of six).

GIVEAWAY | California Tailor


California Tailor, the London-meets-Los Angeles women's shirting label that we fell in love with last year, has just released their Fall 2014 collection. Following their debut, Gill McLean's second collection maintains the original mission to create button-front shirts from fun-yet-classic fabrics that are super wearable and thoughtfully made.


We are also giving away one of California Tailor's so buttery soft TOMBOY t-shirts (how apropos!); it's 100% cotton and the roll-sleeve cut is inspired by one of Steve McQueen's tees from the 60s. To enter the giveaway leave a comment that answers this question: Are you more London or Los Angeles? 

Winner will be picked at random on Tuesday 10/21 at 5:00pm PST. Good luck!

UPDATE: The winner is Dresden who said: "Los Angeles through and through...long sandy beaches and Dodger dogs...hot sun over sweaters any day." Please email me: lizziegarrett(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your tee!

UNIFORM | Block Shop Scarves


My biggest retail weakness is no doubt lightweight scarves. I have...a lot of them. I think it's because they're an easy way to make basics unboring, and I love me a jeans and tee ensemble. Or maybe it's that Los Angeles is the lightweight scarf capital of the world? Either way, it's hard for me to pass on a good thin scarf. But Block Shop scarves aren't just good, they're freaking great. And their latest collection, just launched on Friday, is possibly their best yet. Under a jean jacket, over a sweater, draped with a dress, tied up with a Barbour, they work on everything. Check out the latest collection here and look out for more on Block Shop in the inaugural issue of Knit Wit Magazine.

AND. Lily Stockman, one of Block Shop's founders, just wrote the best article I've read all year >>>
Portrait of Marriage in Wartime: Why One Military Couple Left New York and Embraced Desert Life in Joshua Tree.

GEAR | Mountain Light Cascade Boots by Danner


I just finished the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed and really loved it. Anyone who has ever backpacked or been out in the wilderness for multiple days will relate to the intimate and kind of weird relationship you form with your backpack and boots. Portland, Oregon-based Danner Boots recreated the Wild boots for the movie coming out this December and I'm so glad they weren't simply turned into a prop. It's not so easy to find a classic hiking boot of high quality that doesn't look too techy—and these would look as great on the Pacific Crest Trail as they would with a pair of jeans in the city. Check these American-made beauties out here, and below is little vid about how the boots' role in the movie came to be.

P.S. Our factory visit to Danner this summer.

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BASE LAYER | Makeup for Tomboys


The intersection of makeup and tomboy style has always been an interesting one to me. Some of you will say, "hey, tomboys don't wear makeup!", and others will admit to wearing makeup every single day. It's a spectrum like anything else. I wear makeup on occasion, but never feel like I know what the hell I'm doing, so I begged celebrity makeup artist Toby Fleischman, a true tomboy, to give some simple advice on how to navigate the overwhelming and complicated makeup world. She helps contemporary tomboy icons like Ellen Page, Carrie Brownstein, and Evan Rachel Wood look good on the red carpet and on magazine covers (she even made up my mug once!), so I figured she'd know what's up and help us out with some everyday makeup picks that actually make sense and don't cost an arm and a leg. Thank you so much Toby!

Five Makeup Products for Five Minutes of Your Day
By Toby Fleischman 

I have a lot of friends who would happily and proudly consider themselves tomboys. I even have a few celebrity clients that would as well. While makeup can absolutely transform a face, it can also just be a simple and easy way to enhance one’s features. I get asked by a lot of girls who don’t necessarily want to be super “glam” what they should be using on their face to create a natural look for every day. The beauty world is enormous and can be more than a little overwhelming. So here are my favorite tips and product options for the the girl who just wants to look like themselves, only a little better.

SKINEven the most perfect skin can always benefit from a little evening out of tone and covering of typical areas that tend to hold redness like under the eyes and around the nose. There are great multitasking products on the market that can give you skin care properties like moisturizing and anti-aging benefits, combined with some pigmented color. There are tons of names for them these days: tinted moisturizers, BB creams, CC creams, even DD creams. Whatever you choose, it’s an easy way to take care of your skin, check off your daily sunscreen (many even include an SPF), and even out skin tone to create a more flawless complexion. Simply take a dime size amount in clean hands, rub together and apply all over your face as you would with a normal moisturizer. You don’t necessarily need any brushes or tools, just your fingers. Make sure to blend in the areas by your hairline, ears, and especially down the neck. Go ahead and use it under your eyes, and especially on your eyelids. If you need a little extra coverage for discoloration in this area, you might want to use a concealer on top of this step.

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Perfector BB Cream ($14); Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12 hour primer ($35); Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Mineral Tinted Moisturizer ($34).

BROWSEyebrows are the frames of the face and just a little attention to them can really make a huge difference. At the most basic level, run a clean mascara wand through them just to brush them into their natural shape (you can snag one at any makeup counter). A spritz of hair spray on the brush before you comb through them will keep the hairs in place. But my No. 2 product for a clean brow is an eyebrow pencil. The ones I list here look great on most anyone, but the general rule of thumb is to choose a color one shade lighter than your eyebrow color. A couple of swipes in the the direction of your brows will really pop your eye without a lot of fuss.

Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil ($22).

EYESI will admit, mascara is my one desert island item; it just really makes everyone look better. You don’t have to be scared, I’m not talking about Kardashian lashes, just a coat or two of black mascara, or even brown if you really want more of a natural look, will make you appear more awake and refreshed. Use a waterproof formula if you tend to see it transfer around your eyes. I’m a huge drugstore mascara fan, it’s inexpensive and accessible.

CoverGirl Clump Crusher ($7); Maybelline Lash Discovery ($8); L'Oréal Volumious Mascara ($8).

FACEPut some life in your face with a little bronzer. Choose a matte bronzer (no shimmer) that has a warm tone to it. Take the fluffiest brush you have and gently apply it in the shape of the number 3 on the sides of your face, in your hairline (top of your head to eyebrow), in the shallow of your cheek under your cheekbone, and under your jaw line. Dust the lightest bit on the top of your cheeks and over the bridge of your nose. This will create dimension to your face and bring some color to the areas the sun would normally hit.

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder ($52); CoverGirl Queen Collection Bronzer ($7); Physicians Formula Glow Boosting Pressed Bronzer ($15).

LIPSTake care of your kisser while bringing out the natural tones of your lips. The perfect lip color I always say is after you have been kissing for a long time. Bring out that flush with a tint or stain that also moisturizes. I love the products out now that adjust to the pH balance of your body and bring out the most personalized pout color. Or tinted lip balm in the chubby pencil size is a really easy way to quickly swipe on a light tint that lasts.

Tarte Lipsurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint ($24); Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($7); Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain ($9).

[Editor's note: colors, tints, tones are all picked at random in order to provide a link to the actual product—not reflective of specific recommendations by Toby, as those would be based on personal preference and skin color, etc.]

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UNIFORM | Levi's Vintage Clothing


It's lookbook season, and whenever that comes around I get excited to see what Levi's Vintage Clothing puts together. Their American-made Orange Tab collection for Fall/Winter 2014 lookbook is beautiful and epic as they all have been. Orange Tab was introduced for young Americans in the 60s and 70s as an affordable arm of the Levi's brand, and today it's made exactly as it was when it was first introduced. There's something so visceral about their images and art direction that makes me feel (appropriately) so nostalgic for Levi's of the past. The other good news is that LVC is now shopable online at Levi.com for the first time ever.


DESTINATION | Everywhere


Not sure if this is a right now thing or just something I've been noticing, but there's a lot of people getting off the grid and driving around for months or even years in pursuit of freedom, adventure, scenery, who knows. From Foster Huntington's book Home is Where You Park It to Vancrafted to Lucille & Found—the idea is definitely on my radar. Looks like there's a couple that seriously predates the trend though. BBC just profiled a couple who drove a Mercedes G-Wagen through 177 countries logging 549k miles over 26 years. Wanderlust in its purest form. Check out the entire story, it's so fantastic: Gunther, Christine and Otto: How a man met a woman and they set off on an epic journey across six continents in one amazing unbreakable car.


[Thank you Abigail!]

GEAR | The Vuarnet 002


Vuarnet's 002 sunglasses are nothing if not iconic. Debuted in 1960 by the French sunglass company and marketed by alpine downhill skier Jean Vuarnet, the mineral tinted sunglasses were worn by the European ski set and became a beacon of sporty fashion well in the 80s and 90s (I *think* Princess Di wore them skiing, but can't confirm). With so much popularity, and even an official sponsor of the 1984 L.A. Olympics, it's hard to believe that the company stopped distributing to the US in 1996 and ceased production all together on the 002 model in 2000. BUT! This September the 002s came back—they're being produced in France once again and are being distributed in the US as well (thanks, Westerlind). Clare Vivier in Silver Lake just got their stock today (the Clare V. store in NYC also has 'em) and Stag Provisions in Venice also stocked up on Vuarnets this week. I think these cat eye beauties might be hot hot hot commodities this season.



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Q&A | Alex Michelle

Alex Michelle, designer of the line Objects Without Meaning, is currently popping-up in Los Angeles through the month at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood. What a perfect time to dig deep and do a Q&A with the Australian designer whose L.A.-made designs are that perfect intersection of sophisticated and understated. But before the Q&A, can we take a quick station break to look at the photos of Miranda July modeling the latest collection.
And now back to Alex Michelle's Q&A...

If not in Los Angeles, I would live in...L.A. I’ve lived in many cities all over the world and L.A is my home. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!

My dream vacation would be to...travel to the beaches of Croatia. The sea and open air is where I can always relax.

My current obsessions are... 

Food: I love food so much! I enjoy so many different cuisines, but right now I'm really into Mediterranean fare especially, Greek and Turkish food.

Music: I'm a fan of jazz, funk, and disco. I’m pretty open to all kinds of music except for heavy metal.

Fashion: I’m not crazy about its current trends. I look up to designers like Dries Van Noten, Christophe Lemaire, and Stephan Schneider, a lot of male designers. I think it's because there's an ease to their collections. Always looking comfortable in clothing is something I live by.

The fictional character I most relate to is...to be honest I don’t really care for fiction. I tend to look at people that I can relate to in everyday life.

My favorite quality in a man is...honesty and selflessness.

My favorite quality in a woman is...being true to herself and standing up for what she believes in.

I'm terrified of...jumping out of a plane. I can't do it.

My dream car is a...something that can get me from point A to B. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it drives and has working air conditioning and music.

My cocktail of choice is...wine, but it has to be good. Otherwise, I drink Campari and soda.

My beauty product of choice is...anything natural. I usually go with home remedies. I like to use coconut, lavender, and tea tree essential oils mixed in with moisturizers. I also routinely do a cucumber and avocado treatment on my face.

My friends and I like to...have dinner parties. I love getting together once in while to break bread over dinner with good friends.

If I could go back in time for one decade it would be...I would rather go into the future.

As a teenager I was totally into...drawing.

I tend to splurge on...shoes, bags, and food.

Being comfortable...is what makes me have Tomboy Style.

If you're in L.A. check out the Objects Without Meaning pop-up at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood, it's open until 10/31.

NOISE | Harvest Moon

As October settles in, autumn fully takes its grip on most of the country. Here in L.A. October is typically even hotter than most summer months, only with more spiders—so you can imagine why we try to will fall's arrival even harder here. With temps currently above 90, I can't muster the strength to post about sweaters, but one song I always think about in October is Harvest Moon by Neil Young. 22 years old this month, I still remember hearing this album on heavy rotation in my house growing up when the album came out in '92. I discovered Jane Birkin's 2006 cover a few years back and that's really grown on me too. #octoberjamz

UNIFORM | Brook There


Photo by Christina Jarro

I've often been emailed and independently thought about the idea of a post on underwear for Tomboy Style, but never felt I'd found the right angle or label. Nothing had really caught my eye that both aesthetically and holistically felt right for this blog, until I found Portland, Maine-based Brook There. Designed, cut, and sewn in the state of Maine with a focus on organic and sustainable fabrics that are long lasting and comfortable, I quickly realized they were a company to take note of. It's a rare thing, at least I think it is, to find a women's lingerie label that creates pieces that are intelligent and undoubtedly sexy without being reductive, and Brook There is exactly that.

The duo behind the brand is husband and wife team Brook and Daniel Pepice, who you may know from the label and online store Seawall (one of my faves and more on that soon!), which they also design and run. What I really love most about Brook There though, which is already five collections deep, is the wide spectrum they produce; there are some super feminine pieces and some very boyish pieces, too. While I was about to say "something for everyone", I think it'd be more apt to say there's something for every mood. I think their quote says it all, "Comfort is primary—confidence comes from being comfortable in one's skin and one's clothing—and confidence is the underpinning of beauty in every form." So true.