Kid.Viskous

In a time where financial desperation calls upon our creative powers, the strong survive and make that survival look good. Just because some of us are lacking in the financial areas of life, we more than make up for it when it comes to creating and living. One such night where the revelry of living took precedence, a lovely bit of jewelry caught my eye. The piece embodied LA; it was shiny, plastic, and looked expensive. Layers of polished black chains adorned with Lucite Justice
crosses draped across her neck in an effortless yet oh-so-chic fashion.

As the conversation progressed, I learned this was Tiffany Lee, founder of KidViskous jewelry. Her current collection is playful, unique, and inspired by the nu-rave DJ explosion using bright neons, geometric shapes, and much larger Lucite pieces. Full of cultural references, such as pendant necklaces of the Daft Punk helmets, Ray Bans, and the aforementioned Justice cross, this current collection create an immediate aesthetic impact that reflects the lopped bass lines and synthesized sounds shaking LA dance floors for the past few years.

AVANT: Do you feel your designs represent LA culture? Why or why not?

Tiffany Lee: It’s inevitable that my work is influenced by LA culture, being that I’ve lived here for about 12 years now. KidViskous certainly became a representation of the electronic dance music resurgence and the outrageous neon street-style that accompanied it. But I think my third collection can be just as at home in LA as it can be at home in Paris, London and other epicenters of this international dance movement.

AVANT: Why do you love LA? (wait, you do, yeah?)

TL: I grew up in Ohio, so LA is the complete opposite of that in all aspects, which I absolutely love. We’re spoiled by the weather, good food, a multifaceted culture, beautiful people, and all the extremes of fashion, music, lifestyles, everything you could ever imagine or ever want. The city is more spread out, the parties are bigger, the opulence is more exaggerated, the pretension is off the charts, people are made of plastic and sold to the highest bidder. It sounds
horrible, but I love just how ridiculous it can get, you’re never bored.

AVANT: A lot of cities compete for the cool factor. What do you think LA has to offer to the competition?

TL: 1. Weather. You can dress as slutty as you want all year ’round without dying of pneumonia. It’s amazing how much the weather makes LA what it is. It gives us more room to dress outrageously because we’d never have to worry about our homemade Balenciaga sequin robot leggings, or our cardboard and foam Lady Gaga crystal shoulder pieces
getting ruined in the rain or snow.
2. Hollywood. America never had royalty like other countries, so movie stars and rock stars are the American aristocracy in my opinion. They’re everywhere here and constantly throwing parties, or playing free shows, or getting into trouble at the club you go to every week. I honestly think that if ever there was a terror attack on America, LA would be untouched because of them.

AVANT: Alright, we are going to do a quick word association game. Cool?
TL: Cool.

AVANT: Cowboy.
TL: F*cker

AVANT: Fuchsia.
TL: Spandex

AVANT: Honey.
TL: Lee (Honey Lee, Miss Korea 2007?, 2008? Exteeeensive plastic surgery)

AVANT: Flash.
TL: Back

AVANT: Death.
TL: Vegas

AVANT: Asia.
TL: Stewardess

AVANT: Madonna.
TL: Complex

AVANT: Passion.
TL: Fruit

AVANT: Yum, I love passion fruit.

***

KidViskous available at:
Los Angeles:
Rojas (Melrose, Hollywood) www.rojasonline.com
Em & Co.(3rd St, Hollywood) www.emandco.com
New High (M)art (Chinatown) www.newhighmart.com
X-Large/X-girl (Los Feliz Village); www.xlarge.com

Outside LA:
Diablo Rosso (Panama) www.diablorosso.com
Bring It Now (Moscow) bringitnow.livejournal.com

Online:
www.supermarkethq.com
www.shopflick.com
www.starsandinfinitedarkness.com
www.unsungdesigners.com

Coming Soon:
www.Artung.com (France)
www.Agitatto.com (Switzerland)

-bradley smith