Rain!

It's cool and rainy here in Los Angeles... and I love it! I'm not very good with actual cold temperatures, but I sure am fine with 62 degree temperatures! This weather also reminds me that I am seriously lacking in the sweater department.

(the picture is Carrie in Paris, not LA, because there aren't many fashionable photos of rainy Angelenos)

First Look: Lanvin for H&M

All inspired by Lanvin runways, the first four looks of the H&M collaboration have surfaced. I'm very interested in the dresses. The blazer has been done a million times over, so that doesn't do anything for me.

Neapolitan

Do I look like a bowl of neapolitan ice cream?

This is the other dress I got but didn't have a picture for below. It definitely does NOT work for my costume. It's more lovey dovey happy than vampire, so I don't know what I was thinking. I don't want to be what the stereotype of a vampire is (all black), so I wanted to use lighter colors mixed with dark. But this dress does not work!

As a dress though, I quite like it. The waist was a bit big so I just grabbed a belt to cinch it in a bit. I think if I keep it I'd use a lighter color belt. An obi belt would probably be ideal.

High

I get a high from shopping. When I find things I really like, my whole day gets better, and there's a happy tone in my normally very flat voice. I even say genuine hellos to people who are bitches to me at work. The elation I get from shopping makes me forgive!

My dilemma with places like H&M, F21, and Zara continues, but I can't help when I really like their stuff! For instance, I found this faux leather shearling jacket at H&M for $30. That's almost $20 cheaper than the F21 version, and I loved it even more. I also found this leopard drapey flowy dress and I had to have it. It looks kind of frumpy in the photo and you can see my super sexy nude bra strap, but the picture does it no justice.

I also got a possible dress (not pictured) for part of my Halloween costume, but it's pink and too big. I've been picturing my costume with a cream color dress, so we'll see if this works, but it could be more Valentiney than vampirey. I got it just in case I couldn't find anything else.

Oh, and if you're looking for a shearling jacket but can't afford the pricier versions, the H&M one is one of the best since it's super affordable and looks great on.

Red white and blue... and leopard

I love this photo from The Sart.

Maryna

Another of my top favorite models. I don't know if I would remember that Belarus even existed without her.

Vintage Niki Taylor

Just some of my most recent and favorite pictures I found online.

Seventies

I've been obsessed with this look for quite some time now. Remember my post on bow blouses?

Good thing the runways were all about the seventies, because I'm currently also all about the seventies. Not that it would matter. Hello flares...

Macarons

My current edible obsession. After a trip to the famed Laduree in Paris last year, I hunted them down here in little Los Angeles. I even tried making them, knowing they had a reputation for being extremely difficult to manage, and shelled out about $50 in ingredients for these lovely colorful delights (almond flour is expensive!).The result was a goopy messy failure. And unless you are an experienced macaron baker, I suggest you get your LA fix here:

Essential Chocolate Desserts - Culver City and inside Westside Pavilion Mall
Paris Bakery/Pastry - Westwood
Larder at Tavern - Brentwood (so pretty!)
Jin Patisserie - Venice
Paulette Macarons - Beverly Hills
Little Next Door - WeHo

This post was written while craving a delicious caramel macaron.

Puccini

I don't recall the first time I heard this song, but the first time it motivated me to find out more about it was after watching the wonderfully pugalicious Valentino documentary.

Since none of the lyrics were in English, and I had no idea who it was by or where to start, I had boyfriend hunt it down for me. He had the artist and title ready for me by the time I got back from the gym (gym? yes).

Fitting for Valentino's last show, it's a song about goodbye. Listening to it doesn't give me a sense of finality, though - it's more inspirational. It's most likely because I relate it to Valentino's success and the influence he leaves to his successors and the fashion world. Listening to this song takes me to the scene where Valentino does his final runway walk, post-show. Standing ovations, smiles, tears, hugs, kisses. All of this gushing emotion for cultivating a legacy in what he loved most - fashion design (and pugs!). And during all the celebration, this song plays in the background. Definitely a goodbye and bittersweet scene in the movie, but one of motivation and inspiration to me. Whenever I hear this in the future, it will always remind me of the attainability of dreams. Anything is possible with passion and determination. I often forget these little cliches in my de-motivating schedule of work and daily annoyances.

See the scene I write about here.

Pressures

I don't feel many pressures in my everyday life, except for one that started in June with a birthday subscription of Women's Wear Daily. While I enjoy reading each one, I find them extremely difficult to keep up with! These little fashion newspapers come almost everyday, and if you skip one or two days, they begin to pile up and overwhelm.

Since R Kells was busy working today and therefore kicked me out, I spent the day trying to catch up on my past WWDs. I got through about five. Ideally, I'd like to go through each one slowly, but with so many to catch up on, that ideal is lost. I pick the articles I'm interested in and focus on these. Since fashion week just ended, the issues are filled with reviews from every single runway show. I can't read each and every review (in addition to those on style.com) so I do the same as I do to the newspaper as a whole - I pick and choose. If only WWD had maybe a tri-weekly subscription, I would much easier be able to handle that, instead of having to discriminate between articles. But with work, my caffeine-free lifestyle (no, I will not start drinking coffee), and my very strong ability and desire to SLEEP, these WWDs sometimes fall on my list of priorities.

In addition to these, I have my magazines and books I'd like to read but never get the chance to.

I could use a vacation.

Striped

Details of today's outfit. I found the shoes in my closet this morning. I forget I even had them. They must be at least 3 years old.

Topshop Picks

Some of my Topshop favorites. I couldn't fit a denim shirt in there, so just imagine it ;)

F21's Burberry Version

UPDATE: Forever 21 just put this jacket up on their site. Get it here.

I visited the Forever21 near work at lunch today and found this great Burberry inspired knockoff. I was EXTREMELY tempted to buy it, but decided to wait and see if I still wanted it once I left the store (so far, yes, yes I do). My biggest issue with this jacket is it's made of funky cheap materials and the brown part should look a little more worn in or have more texture or something. That's what I should expect for a jacket that's $45 and from Forever21, but I tried it on and it looked good! Damn them for making it look even better on! What to do? I also have issues with cheap outerwear - I don't mind buying cheap dresses and tops and things sometimes, but I've always felt outerwear should be a little nicer. Come to think of it though, most of my outerwear is from fast fashion places. That's what happens when you live in Southern California where temperatures rarely dip below...I dunno, 50.

Can always count on F21 to provide the cheapest knockoffs of designer items.

Also, my picture makes the jacket look all dumpy, but it's just the way it was hanging.

Alexa Chung

Hello, I would like Alexa Chung's Valentino coat.

Thanks.

Chanel

And the Chanel show confirms it. More practical block heels and low platforms are officially the new 5 inch stiletto.

Colette Dinnigan

Girly and pretty, Colette Dinnigan's Spring collection was right up my alley.

Haider Ackermann

One of the highest praised shows of the season, Haider Ackermann's looks were extremely sensual. Erogenous zones were the focus - the hipbone, the leg, the bare back...

Isabel Marant

A coworker once asked me if I could wear only one designer, who would it be? At the time, I was overwhelmed by the choices of several great designers and couldn't answer. I later realized it was Isabel Marant. Her designs are always very wearable, feminine, and fun. I'm glad her great footwear is back (including the slouchy boot!) from a brief hiatus in her fall 2010 show.

A close second behind? Chloe. The looks aren't up yet, but I heard they're ballerina inspired. Already in love with the concept.

Oscar de la Renta

The gowns are what always capture my attention. They look like something classic Barbie would wear.

Ralph Lauren

Love love love every spring look Ralph Lauren showed. Whites, browns, gingham, pale pinks, fringe, large silver buckles all wrapped up into one fabulous Western themed show.

Christian Dior

John Galliano is definitely one of my top five designers.

Michael Kors

Was difficult to narrow down my favorites. I didn't even include the bathing suits.