Shop Scout: Lost & Found

By Jen Smith
January 14, 2011

Jamie Rosenthal

Jamie Rosenthal, proprietor of Hollywood boutique Lost & Found, inside her store

Shopping is the most fun when you do it accompanied by a style expert with an eagle eye for the best stuff, and that’s what it’s like to hit eBay’s vast online marketplace with Jamie Rosenthal. An indisputable trendsetter, Rosenthal is the owner of Lost & Found, one of L.A.’s favorite destination boutiques, a block-long collection of what is effectively six separate mini-storefronts, each one exploring a different element of Jamie Rosenthal's wildly creative imagination. Currently, Hollywood's Lost & Found store themes include: children's fashion; men's; women's clothing, fashionable accessories and home decor; the "wood gallery," the original art store/space filled with beautiful handmade wood utilitarian spaces made from all over the world; and the newest, most frequently-changing space, currently featuring a selection of vintage and industrial furniture.

For this Shop Scout assignment, going on a virtual eBay spree with her turned into a scavenger hunt through time. “This is how I buy for my stores, and my wandering eye has never failed me,” Jamie Rosenthal explained, as one great eBay find led to another. “I love coming up with an idea, or a story, and taking the journey, wherever it leads me.” Rather than fighting her mind’s way of side-tracking, Jamie Rosenthal goes with her gut. “Yes, my taste tends to be somewhat schizophrenic," she admitted. “But in my case, I believe that is my strength.”

What style trends does Jamie Rosenthal see as we move into 2011? “Right now I love the clash (or perhaps it’s a blend!) of Old World with '60s and '70s pop influences... I’m also moving further away from literal, spartan, mid-century modernism. Just look at images of Ray & Charles Eames’ home," Jamie Rosenthal said. “Among all the modern design elements are rugs from here, pottery from there… the layers you live with are what makes a home modern to me. I hunt for those missing layers, the soulful things.” Striped Bolivian blankets that Jamie Rosenthal uses as rugs, African trading beads, brightly colored telephone wire baskets, ironstone platters and Marimekko remnants are just a few items Rosenthal resurrects in her stores.

Inside Lost & Found

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Photo Credit: courtesy of Lost & Found

Jamie Rosenthal loves “found” images, along with the tools used to manufacture them—old polaroids, super 8 mm cameras, as well as popular art of the sixties and seventies. “The social messaging as well as that era’s aesthetic has definitely caught my eye,” Jamie Rosenthal said. “I still relate to the underlying messages of that time.” Pet rocks, vintage needlepoint craft, serigraph art of Peter Max and Sister Mary Corita Kent, plus graphic fonts and photographic illustrations found in the books of her childhood continue to move her. “Can’t you just picture Sister Corita Kent, wearing a Marimekko dress, looking at her pet rock?”

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to break my no-shopping- for- a- month resolution. Jamie Rosenthal couldn’t resist making a few online eBay purchases herself. See what eBay finds caught her eye this go round.

Roll over items for details

Peter Max Poster Book

Marimekko Vintage Fabric

Sister Mary Corita Kent Serigraph

Jonathan Livingston Seagull: Richard Bach

Laos Ikat Fabric

African Trade Beads

Alexander Girard Silkscreen Print

Pet Rocks

Native American Basket

1. Peter Max Poster Book
Jamie Rosenthal loves vintage poster art, especially in the form of a poster book because it makes art so accessible. “Peter Max captures the psychedelic spirit of the '60s and allows everyone a chance to own a piece of his art. It always brings a smile to my face. I collect his scarves too!” she raves.

2. Vintage Marimekko Fabric
“As a child, Design Research in Cambridge, MA was my favorite store in the world! Floor after floor was filled with endless bolts of Marimekko fabrics. The Nekku pattern is a version of one that I had in my room growing up. The contrast of Marimekko within a New England farmhouse shaped my eclectic aesthetic. I’ve been collecting these fabrics ever since, and sometimes make pillows and product for the stores from my archive.”

3. Sister Mary Corita Kent Serigraph
Sister Corita is a childhood hero of Jamie Rosenthal’s. Her serigraph artwork was all over the Boston area, and Rosenthal collected Sister Corita Kent cards and posters simply because she liked the simple graphic qualities. “It wasn’t until later in life that I understood the complexities of her social and political messaging,” she tells The Inside Source. “Sister Corita continues to influence me and my work. I had a major show of her work at my gallery space and was blown away by the response. Her messaging is still insightful and powerful. This particular print is a commentary on the oil industry and is as relevant today as it was in 1967 when this piece was made.”

4. Jonathan Livingston Seagull: Richard Bach
Jamie Rosenthal envisions a stack of this throwback '70s classic in her Hollywood Lost & Found children’s store.

5. Native American Basket
“Some girls never have enough pocketbooks…I never have enough baskets!” Jamie Rosenthal said. “I use them for storage in every room in my house. My stores are filled with baskets from all over the world.”

6. Laos Ikat Fabric
Jamie Rosenthal covets textiles old and new. Ikat fabrics are some of her favorites. “This vintage piece from Laos combines both color and pattern with depth and subtleness that is hard to find in some of the newer ikats,” she said

7. African Trade Beads
The largest category in Hollywood's Lost & Found boutiques is African trade beads. “I’ve always been entranced by them,” said Jamie Rosenthal. “The fancy Venetian/African mix reminds me of psychedelic art. The colors are just amazing.”

8. Alexander Girard Silkscreen Print
Jamie Rosenthal knows what style trends she likes. “As you can tell by now I have a thing for textiles and silk screen printing. Alexander Girard is one of my favorites. I carry new products from his designs in my stores whenever I can find them. These screens are great idea for showing off textiles.”

9. Talking Heads LP
“A Raushenberg designed LP art is such a fresh surprise. There were two listed on eBay and I bought the other one for my teenage son.”

10. Vintage Kilim Rug
“Even though I tend to lean toward more Old World textiles, the more modern colors in this handmade kilim are just too hard to pass up.”

11. Pet Rocks
“Somehow, my son Bennett caught wind of pet rocks and was thoroughly amused by the concept. Mine is long gone, but I found him a vintage one a few years back on eBay,” explained Rosenthal. “I’m pleasantly surprised to see them available again. It’s a new decade, but I want to try them out in my kids' store and see how the new generation responds to this 1970’s low-tech marketing sensation.”

12. Polaroid One Step
“I would buy this camera, especially for the rainbow detailing,” declared Rosenthal.

13. African Wire Basket
“African telephone wire baskets have the perfect balance of ethnic craft with a modern palate. They’re made in a zillion color-ways, but I always seem to be attracted to the brights. I see some Peter Max in this one!”

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