Speaking of Abbey Lee...

Vogue Korea, April 2010. So pretty.

Grevy's Wedges

Perfect for spring and summer with happy little dresses. If only these Sam Edelman babies were in stock in a size 6.5.

Laurent Mirrored Chest

Do you have $3200? I would like to purchase this pretty pink striped chest.

Vest Plus Dress

Some outfits need to be worn or modeled in order to appreciate the style. This isn't one of them. I love vests and think they add an interesting extra something to any outfit. Simple white shirt, jeans? Add a little vest and instantly add more style.

With this, I took a little inexpensive vintage-inspired lacy dress and topped it with the army green vest. Added some MJ wedges and a little gold cuff, and it's almost a complete outfit. I say "almost" because I didn't show a bag.

Dolly Forever

Now every girl loves Christian Louboutin (me mostly for his classic styles) and Barbie, but the most current "Dolly Forever" Barbie is horrid. The whole military/safari inspired outfit isn't so bad, it's those hot pink fringe "Forever Tina" boots that ruin it all. If anyone would be able to pull it off, it'd be Barbie. But even Babs looks like a cheap American Indian Military Safari woman-thing in this. Why, why?

(except the hair, the hair is nice)

Top Three

Three of my favorite runway models - Abbey Lee, Liu Wen, and Gemma Ward. When asked about favorite models, the most well-known are always the Victoria's Secret gals. Now don't get me wrong, the Alessandras and Marissa Millers are of understandable popularity, but what about the equally if not more interesting looking girls? The high fashion world and commercial world sees beauty differently, and I tend to agree with the more fashiony side. I'm looking forward to Miss Ward's return to modeling after a brief weight-related hiatus. She was the model for a while, so it's no shocker that she was also one of my favorites. Another favorite? Abbey Lee Kershaw. She's got that intriguing look that is similar to Gemma's - striking, enchanting- and has been a designer favorite for several seasons now. And of course, with being the first Asian girl to grace the VS runways last year, Liu Wen is another top contender. Plus, she's got some major cheekbones. Well, what more can I say? I can't help my tastes, the commercial faces are no doubt attractive, but I tend to see the most beauty in the less common, more exotic, and the Australian doll faces.

Wal Mart

A site to de-spire you. I understand that Wal Mart has some unbeatable prices, but if you must go, please don't commit these heinous crimes.

The Shoes

While I enjoy the images from Zac Posen's new line, Z Spoke, I couldn't help but love the shoes more. Black patent t-strap maryjanes. Yum.

The Garden Collection

This weekend, I made a trip to the Beverly Center to return a flat iron that failed my hair, and stopped at the H&M to check out their Garden Collection. Most of the collection (all?) is made up of organic cotton and materials, so I wouldn't have felt as guilty if I'd bought anything. Everything was the embodiment of spring - florals, pastels, lighter fabrics, short hemlines, etc. Most items were in stock, except for the red and white rose-skirted dresses that have been hyped up recently.


I loved the pink strapless ruffly-bust dress when I first saw photos for it, but I just didn't love it in the fitting room. Unfortunate, because they had both of my H&M sizes when I thought they'd sell out. The Bev Center H&M had a TON left, so it must be universally unflattering.

The floral-sleeved dress would be perfect for someone who hasn't eaten in about a week or two. It was so tight you could see the whole outline of my belly button! Some magical underwear would be required in order to pull this number off (and some purging).

As for the wide-sleeved top, it was the one item I almost purchased, but decided against it last minute because I really don't need it. It also came in pink. Great airy shirt for spring and summer, but I'm really needing more blouses, not knits.

Oh, and why is the women's fitting room line so ridiculously long? To all Beverly Center H&M shoppers - the fitting room on the men's side NEVER has a line.

Please excuse the poor photos, they were taken with my phone.

Pugs Not Drugs

From Dogs in Vogue. Lee Radziwill with her Pug Thomas, 1960.

Ooh la la

The other day I was watching the news, when some story came on about movies. They showed different actors being interviewed, and one was Sarah Jessica Parker. Immediately, I told my boyfriend I wanted the dress she was wearing. And what was this dress? Marchesa! I love the neckline. Oh how I lust.

Crystally

Look at my new perfume (?) bottle! Isn't it pretty? My poor camera phone doesn't do it justice, but trust me on its beauty.

Zac Posen for Target - People Style Watch

I need the pink dress in the top right corner. Yay! An item from a GO line I'm finally actually excited about.

Stress Remedies

What a stressful day! Some of my stress remedies include - but are not limited to - shopping, petting a dog, and baked goods that are comforting to the soul, but detrimental to the ass.

One of such goods is pictured above (I ate all my Samoas).

Why I love online shopping

1. No need to get off your ass.
2. You can find everything you need and want without leaving the house and making a trek through the city.
3. You can find the best deals online. In store, you only see the one item in the one store. Online, you can look at 50 different places and use coupon codes and such to get the best price.
4. If sold out in store, you can always find it online at several different sites and stores.
5. Sample sale sites like Gilt, Hautelook, Ruelala, Billion Dollar Babes, ETC. give you much better prices than 90% of stores would.
6. I just snagged these pair of Sam Edelman Dominique bow flats for half off on Gilt. Original price? $135.
7. Ebay and similar auction sites. The best source for sold out or hard-to-find items. I found my retail priced $285 boys RL blazer here and paid $50 or less (I actually need a new one, size 10).
8. It is the only way to shop while at work, or watching TV, or eating, etc.
9. Online stores never close.
10. Sure, you can't try on the items, but most sites offer great return policies so make sure you check those suckers before purchasing. OR you might find an item you like in store, but maybe you can get a better price for it? Try it on there, and then go online!

Why I want a cape

A Mulberry bag and Chloe boots wouldn't hurt either, but the main thang for me here is the cape. I don't want the Little Red Riding Hood kind, but one with armholes, please.

Hubba Hubba

Italian.

3.1 Phillip Lim

Last night I went to Cusp, one of my favorite lesser-known stores in this city. It's owned by Neiman Marcus so what they carry is similar to what you'd find there, or at a Barney's Co-Op. All I ended up leaving with were two pairs of Hanky Panky underwear (my firsts! & another post), but I DID try on this lovely 3.1 Phillip Lim number above. I didn't purchase it because it was too expensive for what it was, and because really, how often can I wear something like this that would make it worth the few hundred I'd pay for it?

But it's so precious. All 50s and conservative with the polka dots from the front, and then bam! Provocative back.

If you likey, get it here.

Love these wrap-ups from Net-a-Porter (sold for 500 million?!) of Fall 2010 Fashion Week. I've been on the hunt for camel, khaki, olive greens, and other army inspired shades and shapes. My favorites? New York and Paris.

Click on the photos to see full size.

First Look: Zac Posen for Target

A while ago, I mentioned Zac Posen was joining fellow designers Behnaz Sarafpour, Thakoon, and others by designing an affordable line for the GO collection at Target. Above are a couple of photos released - I actually really like the red dress. It'd be a fun party dress if it weren't made cheaply. I hope the rest of the collection is equally as appealing. I haven't really been wowed by any of the recent GO lines recently, so hopefully this one harks back to the Alice Temperley and Erin Fetherston days.

Loubie

Two of my favorite things about this time of year - the smell of night-blooming jasmine and the purple trees. Purple trees aren't quite in bloom yet, and they do litter and stain cars with their purple petals, but no matter to me. Nothing cheers me up like seeing my street (above) covered in purple.

And of course, the pretty smell of jasmine at night.

Bows!

With an exclamation mark because you know I like my bows.

Marant boots

I want these shoes

Minus the tattoos.

Daisy Jane

From Fall fashion week

Patterns

Some of my favorite things - textured patterned tights and rich purple suede shoes.

Claudia in Paris

Thrift Find

As written in a previous post, I've struggled with my closet for a while now and have tried to find several solutions. It's simply too small. I don't think I have that many clothes, but I do feel that my closet is inadequate in size to house my salary (because that's mostly where it goes).

My current room came mostly furnished, but I don't plan on living here forever, so I knew I needed to get some of my own stuff.

Luckily for me, I found this shabby chic-ish armoire/wardrobe at a thrift store I often visit on lunches near work. Although I felt this was perfect, I had a dilemma. My boyfriend, tired of my incessant complaining, got me a cloth wardrobe from Bed Bath and Beyond for Christmas (we had a $50 gift limit). It worked really well for a while, but it was a temporary solution. I knew eventually I'd want something more permanent, and when I wasn't even looking for one, I found it! Luckily, he understood. The one he got me has a year-long return policy (and it was very thoughtful - smoochie).

Now this future room of my mine has to have a shabby chic kinda theme, no? I guess I can always paint this sucker black if I decide to go in a different direction.

I knew I shouldn't have posted the blog link on my LinkedIn! My sisters and boss have both found it. Sigh. There goes my secret blog.

Hair

They smile and show life while I remain expressionless and show dead insides.

F*** Me Gently With a Chainsaw

When I was 17, my friend and I walked into Blockbuster without any idea as to what movie we wanted to rent. We decided to blindly walk down an aisle, close our eyes, and pick one. I forget which of us pointed it out, but we ended up with Heathers. It looked fun, so we took the Winona Ryder/Christian Slater flick home and watched it.

I really didn't remember much about the movie afterwards, just that it surprised me with the murder and all. My boyfriend recently suggested we watch it again (him for the first time) and he thought I'd like the fashion. Funny, because I don't remember the fashion the first time around, but definitely did when I watched it again.

GIANT shoulders, plaid prints, and big f'd up 80s hair dominated the film. I couldn't find many photos online, but I did enjoy Winona's outfit in the last photo. It was something I would probably wear today. Maybe I can whip up something similar to it.

Excuse the crass title of this post. It's a line from the movie.