Hot Pink Surprise

Remember when I posted about my outfit for my aunt's wedding about a month ago? (In case you don't, you can click here.) Well, I finally found the time to post the outfit pic I promised:

Dress: Madison Marcus
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Clutch: Lauren Merkin
Watch: Cartier
Bracelet: No idea - from Nordstrom

Yes, I changed my mind about which dress to wear the very last minute...as in 10 minutes before we had to leave!!! Even the bride was surprised, lol. Oh, and of course, I had to take a completely gratuitous close-up of my shoes because they're gorgeous:

How NOT to Wear the Dillians

What is Vanessa Bryant thinking? Has she not heard of the concept of "overkill"?

Christian Louboutin's Dillians are a LOT of shoe to begin with. To add the matching python ruffled bag is just too much. Subtlety is key. Mrs. Bryant just ended up looking like she's trying too hard.

Burberry Drawstring Leather Tote

My heart just skipped a beat when I saw this Burberry Tote. Yes, it's not your usual run-of-the-mill "it" bag but that's probably why I love it. It has that slouchy, broken-in look that I absolutely adore. It's a pretty straightforward tote. There are no screaming logos and no fussy embellishments. Perfect.








Available at Saks for $550.

Because I'm a Sucker...

Everyone who reads my blog knows that I have a weakness for shoes. Only my close friends know I have a weakness for bikinis as well. I don't even know what link I clicked on which led me to a coupon code for 40% off on one clearance item from Victoria's Secret. Sweet, right? I couldn't help myself. I had to get over them to browse what they had. And with me, browsing ALWAYS (well, almost always) turns to buying. And I can't just get one, I had to get TWO. Such a sucker.

Here are the suits I bought.

Montana Ave. Sidewalk Sale

A few years ago, JJ and I ventured the Montana Ave. sidewalk sale. We were new friends bonding over shopping on a nice and sunny Saturday morning. I think it was her first time on Montana Ave. since she told me that she rarely shops at boutiques.

A few years later, recession and all, the Montana Sidewalk Sale is still alive and kicking. If you are in the area, check it out. While you're there, you might want to check out Aura - that's where I got my Nicholas Kirkwood slingback sandals back in March.

Sale Season is Here!!!

It's time to pull out your wallets ladies! It's summer sale time!

I don't even know why I'm so excited. I have never had great luck with sales and I shouldn't really be shopping anyway. So why is it that I am anxiously waiting to hear about the sale dates? Because as much as I'd like to stick to my list, my judgment gets clouded by sale prices. As soon as prices get slashed, all sense goes out the window. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels that way either.

Current CL Want/Need List

I think I mentioned before how I love making lists. I make shopping lists, grocery lists, to-do lists. Recently, I started a CL list since I wanted to restrict my CL purchases. Here's my list so far:

1.) Black Jazz DecolletesWe all need a pair of basic black pumps. I know CLs can be a little bit much for basic black pumps but the red sole adds a little kick to an otherwise bland/boring shoe. And yes, I, in fact, do NOT own a pair of black CL pumps. These need to be in my closet. NOW.

2.) Madame Claude in Hot Pink Patent or Blue Suede
I've posted about the Blue Suede and how much I love them. A couple weeks ago, I tried on the hot pink patent ones at Barney's and I fell in love too. I'm not sure which one wins in my book but I know I need a pair. Maybe even both.

3.) Something nude.
The Nude Patent Very Prive (not the one above) is probably one of the most sought-after nude-colored shoes out there. The CL boutiques received shipments of these shoes early this year and were pretty much sold out as soon as they received them. One day, I'll own a pair. At this point, they don't have to be VPs as long as they're nude. On second thought, maybe these aren't for me. Back in February, I tried on a pair of Nude New Simples and they couldn't find the mate. We'll see.

4.) Something fun.

This is always the best thing on my list. It doesn't really restrict me with my choices and I already have a couple in mind...both of which I've posted about before.
The Differa is one FIERCE shoe. Probably hard to pull off without giving off an S&M vibe which is why it's probably best in a softer color - bone or ice blue. As much as I love it though, I really have no where to wear it to.

The Dillians scream fun and spring. Although a little bit too girly for my taste, I still love staring at this shoe. Like I said in my previous post on these, if they go on sale, they'd come home with me.


Note: Wedding pics will be posted soon. Sorry for the delay on that. I'm also studying for the GREs and I have a paper due soon and finals coming up so I'll be posting sporadically.

All images above courtesy of Saks and Net-A-Porter.

Shoe Boxes

I never really paid attention to shoe boxes. Before I accumulated more than enough shoes, I used to toss my shoe boxes as soon as I got home. I realized later on that it was a bad idea since all my shoes that were on the shoe racks started gathering layers of dust. Then I started buying designer shoes. I couldn't let these babies get dusty so I kept them in their shoe boxes. Like I mentioned, I never really paid attention to what the boxes look like because I couldn't wait to get the shoes out of those boxes.

I was pretty satisfied with my Christian Louboutin shoe boxes:

At first I was a little put off by the simplicity but I realized that the packaging doesn't really matter because it's what's inside that counts.

Then I came across a Lanvin shoe box:

The box is so pretty. Every time you open one, it's almost as if you're opening a present. It's so pretty but when you really think about it, who has time to go through all that when you're in a rush in the morning. Hmmm, that might just be me. But yeah, impressive shoe box right?

I thought so too until I came across an Alaia shoe box:

The Alaia box looks like a little treasure chest! The belt might make it hard to open when you're in a rush, definitely much harder than the Lanvin box. But isn't the box gorgeous? I almost want to buy a pair just so I can get my hands on the box. Yeah, kinda sick when you really think about it, I know. *Sigh*

Stunning!

I love this pic of Kate Hudson. She has such a bright smile and it lights up the whole photo.

I think Kate Hudson always looks great on the red carpet. And while I love her boho-chic fashion sensibilities, I think she belongs on the red carpet. She can pull of such risque gowns without looking tarty or trashy (I think it's coz her breasts aren't obnoxiously huge). She also always manages to look glamorous without looking stiff. Love it!

Alternative Apparel

Lately, I have been on a shopping binge for basics. Basics are the backbone of a great wardrobe. They can be dressed up and you come out looking chic without trying too hard. They can be worn on it's own and you come out looking comfy and unpretentious. Casual but chic. It's not as easy as it sounds. A lot of people try but get it wrong. If not done right, one can look sloppy and unkempt. As much as don't like her, Jennifer Aniston is the queen of casual chic.

Even in jeans and a tee, she still manages to look great. A friend once told me that the secret is to have great hair and great skin and you'll be able to pull off any outfit. I think confidence is key as well. If you have the confidence to strut your stuff, sometimes that overshadows your outfit...which is a good thing because you can pretty much wear a potato sack and you'll still be able to pull it off.

So, like I mentioned, I went on a crazy basics binge. Normally, I buy my basics from American Apparel and Madewell. As much as it broke my heart to NOT buy from Madewell, I wanted to try a new brand - Alternative Apparel. I previously hear about them from a friend. He told me that they were a "higher-end" American Apparel. Their prices are slightly higher but the quality is much better. So, I decided to take the plunge.

Was it worth it? I'm glad to say it was. Their selection isn't nearly as huge as American Apparel and their shirts aren't nearly as soft as Madewell but the fit is perfect, for me anyway. Most of their colors are very earthy and they also offer an organic line which is great for naturalists. Oh yeah, and I also appreciate that they don't have those cheesy/raunchy model pics like American Apparel.

Some of my faves:

Wedding Outfit

It's my aunt's wedding on Saturday and I finally have my outfit. She didn't want any of the guests to wear black so I will be wearing a gray dress. This is the best pic of the dress I could find:

It's a gray Alice + Olivia pleated dress with sequins. It's not as "spring-y" as she wants but I think it looks festive enough for a wedding. I'm a little worried about the length though since she's having a church wedding. I'll be wearing the dress with my CL Cosmo Python Very Prives!

I'll FINALLY get to wear these babies out! I'm so excited. I'll be wearing these shoes all week in my apartment to break them in. Hopefully they'll have stretched out enough by Saturday night. As beautiful as they are, they are a pain to break in. Still can't wait though!!!

Now all I'm missing are accessories. I don't need a necklace since the neckline of the dress is already embellished. I also have a ring that goes perfectly with the dress so all I really need is a pretty bracelet. I've been contemplating on getting a Clic Clac H Bracelet:
I've been eyeing one since back in February and I'm pretty close to just caving in and getting one before Hermes has another price increase. I don't think I can justify the price tag considering it's made of enamel so I'm still on the fence. If only they didn't come in lots of pretty colors to tempt me. *Sigh* Hermes also has a leather bracelet that I like but I'm shopping for the wedding and I don't think leather is quite appropriate. I also think that the clic clac is better when worn with other pieces. It doesn't really quite stand out on its own.

My other choice would be a brass cuff from Elizabeth and James.

I love that it has sort of a harder edge. The color will match the bronze undertones of my shoes as well. Price-wise, it's a little cheaper (about $60) than the Hermes bangle but it's definitely not as wearable.

I'll shop around some more. I'll give you guys an outfit update on Saturday.

Lunch and Shopping and Chocolate Brown Dillians

I had lunch with some FAB tpf-ers yesterday and it was a lot of fun! We met up for sushi at Midori Sushi in Sherman Oaks. It was my first time there and I was pleasantly surprised. It's an eat-all-you-can sushi place and the quality of the food was not compromised. Granted I probably didn't get my money's worth but I think it definitely warrants a return trip.

After lunch, we headed to the Rachel Pally warehouse sale in Downtown LA. They had a great selection of stuff but if you have ever tried anything by Rachel Pally, you know how much the material clings to your body. Most of the stuff were also a tad too big for me but I still ended up with 2 tops and a cardigan.

Last but not least, we headed to Beverly Hills for some more shopping!!! I was actually a good girl - didn't buy anything although my list of wants just grew another inch. We went to Saks first because they were having their semi-annual Friends and Family event. We visited the shoe department (most of which were excluded from the sale) to check out what CLs they had in stock. Of course they had the Blue Suede Madame Claude that had me drooling, the camel and black patent decolletes that are my ban loopholes and copper VGs which I haven't seen anywhere yet. The shoe department was kinda packed, probably from shoppers taking advantage of the F&F discount.

Next stop was Barney's and boy was I in trouble there. They had my ban loopholes as well but in jazz leather (my first choice), the No Barres which looked so great on, the bone patent differas which I LOVE but I didn't have the heart to try on because my will can be weak, and these:

CHOCOLATE BROWN DILLIANS!!!!! These were my fave color for the Dillians and I was very much surprised when I saw them on display at Barney's. Even better, the display shoe was my size! Talk about kismet. I had to try them on and of course, I immediately fell in love. I didn't want to take them off but I did and gently put it back on the rack. They are absolutely amazing on but I am sticking to my ban. Aren't you proud of me?

Thanks L for taking pics! I'd love to hang out with you girls again!!!

Gerard Darel: 24-Heure St. Germain Bag

I've been lusting over Gerard Darel bags for a while now but I've never followed through on a purchase. Now that I've seen the Spring/Summer 2009 collection, I'm dangerously close to hitting the "buy" button.

As per the title of this post, my fave is the St. Germain in the 24-Heure size. Well, If I'm being honest, I actually prefer the Utah but since python is illegal in California, I'm going to go with something a little more feasible. The St. Germaine is made of calfskin in a wide array of colors. The color which I love the most would have to be Butter (left) and Sky Blue (not the actual color name). And although I have never really felt the leather, I can only imagine that it's buttery soft.

Gerard Darel's line is not widely available in the U.S. so it's pretty tough to actually "try" one of his purses. There's a couple stores in Southern Cali that actually carries his purses so I guess I can start there.

Note: This is probably the worst-written post in the history on my blog. I wrote the whole thing while watching "We are Marshall" so suffice it to say that I was a little distracted. I heart sports movies. =)

Gray

I think gray is my favorite neutral. Of all the neutrals, I think gray is the easiest to wear and pull off. It goes with ALL colors - which is the function of neutrals but you gotta admit that NOT all neutrals can say the same. And although gray is a color primarily seen in the Fall season, I think there are lighter grays that can be worn in the Spring and Summer especially if paired with something bright.I love this shoulder bag. The gray is perfectly light that it will match almost anything....ok, everything. It also has a playfulness to it that makes it perfect as a spring bag.


My gray cardigan (not the one pictured above) is the most versatile piece of clothing I own because 1.) It goes with everything I own and 2.) It can easily go from day to night. It doesn't look as "formal" as black and you can wear it with yellow or orange without risking looking like a bumblebee or a pumpkin.

I've only recently appreciated the versatility of gray jeans. I like dark jeans and most gray jeans teeter on that border of dark and light. What I realized was that gray jeans, dark or light, go perfect with almost every color boots available. I'm not a fan of black and brown together and since I bought gray jeans, I get to wear all my brown boots with them!

So don't be afraid to add a little bit of gray to your wardrobe. It'll do you some good.


All items above available from NAP.

What happened?!?!?

Why does Rihanna suddenly look like Michael Jackson? What's up with the 80s Jheri curl? So sad... I guess even trendsetters have their off days...

Matthew Williamson for H&M

13 more days!!! I'm kinda loving the jumpsuit.

The collection will be available at the following H&M locations:

Atlanta: Atlantic Station, 231 18th St.
Boston: 100 Newbury St.
Chicago: 840 North Michigan Avenue
Los Angeles: Beverly Center
New York: 34th and Broadway
New York: 51st and 5th
New York: 59th and Lexington
San Francisco: 150 Powell St.

Black Tie Affair

When I think of "Black Tie Affair", I think of men in tuxedos and coat-tails and women in long gowns and diamonds...something like the Oscars.

If you Google "black tie affair", you find this definition:

"Black tie affairs are social events where all attendees are expected to wear formal attire. Both males and females attending a black tie affair make efforts to comply with the dress code and choose clothing that is considered appropriate formal dress for the time of day, the season, and the nature of the event. A black tie affair is different from a semi-formal event, where there is a wider range of clothing options considered to be appropriate semi-formal attire."

Notice that there is a very clear distinction between a black tie affair and a semi-formal event.

If you go on NAP, they have a whole section of dresses dedicated to black tie affairs and NONE of these dresses are knee length. Why? Because knee-length (or even tea-length) dresses are considered to be semi-formal attire and semi-formal attires are only reserved for semi-formal events and NOT black tie affairs.

**End of rant**

Christian Louboutin Pre-Fall Collection

Christian Louboutin's pre-fall collection is now available at Neiman Marcus. While I am not totally blown away by each and every shoe, there were a few standouts.

This is my favorite - the Hyper Prive in Nude Satin with Lace Overlay. NM calls it the Bouquet Pump. The Nude/Lace combo is one of my favorite color combinations that CL ever came up with. This version looks totally elegant and classy. While the older versions were just as pretty, I think the lace in the new version makes a big difference.

I love pee-toe booties. I've been looking for the right pair for about a year now. While these aren't the ones I originally had in mine, I still like them. Maybe it's the suede (I've been told I have a thing for suede shoes). I also like that the ruching makes it a little bit more interesting.

I also have a thing for slouchy boots. And while these aren't tall enough (they look like calf boots), they are still gorgeous. I think I'd hold out for the knee-length version. Perfect for when I move to colder climates.


Available at Neiman Marcus.

Christian Louboutin on Gilt!

Mark your calendars ladies, Gilt will be featuring Christian Louboutin on April 8th! If you're not a member, I think I have a link somewhere on this blog. Some of the goodies that will be featured are:

JS Pump
Retail: $775
Gilt Price: $378

Decoltissimo (still full price at Neiman Marcus)
Retail: $575
Gilt Price: $288

I hope Gilt's server will be able to handle the mayhem that will most likely ensue. Good luck ladies!

Happy Dance Time

My order is at LAX awaiting customs clearance. Woo-hoo! Time to do my happy dance!!! Or should I reserve my happy dance when I receive my package? Hmmm... Well, I'm still doing a happy dance. Woo-hoo!