Closet Therapy

2006-02-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

ANNOUNCEMENT!

I've moved!

http://www.closettherapyblog.com

Please use and bookmark the new URL... I will no longer be updating on this site!

*PS If the link isn't working, try typing www.closettherapyblog.com into a new browser. I'm having domain issues again :( Let me know if still not working!!

*edit again: Augh! Still having issues. Site might be spotty the next couple of days... I apologize!

Launch Update

2006-02-21T15:03:00.000-08:00

Thank you for all your input!

Along with the launch of the new design, new URL address... I will also have one more surprise. Unfortunately I cannot announce it until later... but I can't wait!

Meanwhile when the new site is up there will be at least 1 new post a day which will give me flexibility to post more about everyday things, fashion on a budget, and all of the other things you all love! I will add outfit pictures to the "Wearing Today" as well as keep all of your other suggestions in mind.

I will post the new URL later today as soon as it is up! :) :)

*edit: The "domain people" are taking longer than normal to get my site up and running. :( (Seriously, I bought the domain on www.domainpeople.com) But they promise to get it up and running by tonight so we'll see. :(

Wearing Today

2006-02-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

H&M Long black ribbed tank.
BCBG White drape-y 3/4 sleeve cardigan.
William Rast Stella jeans.
Balenciaga black wedge boots.

ClosetTherapy update:
I am finalizing the details in the new site. I will be working all through the weekend to make the final touches and i'm hoping to launch by Monday, Feb 20!

So as a last call... are there any features or additions or suggestions or ideas that any of you have for the new and improved Closet Therapy blog? :) If so please leave a comment and let me know what you'd like to see more of or less of in the site!

Wearing Today

2006-02-15T13:50:00.000-08:00

Rachel Pally green tee
Joe's Premium Mod Jeans
Black Havaianas

.... didn't realize this morning that it's way too cold for Rachel Pally and I didn't bring a jacket :(

Wearing Today

2006-02-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wearing today:
Luella black puff-sleeve tee with zip pocket.
Luella white tulip mini skirt.
Sue London gunmetal ballet flats.
Chanel tumbled calfskin black leather tote.

Wearing tonight:
Diane vonFurstenberg violet/pink slipdress.
Costume National grey/silver sandals.

Wanted!

2006-02-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

Opinionated (and bored) readers who are willing to take a look at ClosetTherapy beta and give me feedback!

I am getting ready to *move* so I've made some changes to the blog including a few new features. If you'd like a sneak peek in exchange for some honest comments, please e-mail me at closettherapy@gmail.com with "Beta Tester!" in the subject line. Then I'll e-mail you the link to the new site!

Posen V. Rodriguez

2006-02-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

Seeing both Fall shows you can't help but notice the underlying theme... black and white basics with a geometric twist. Narciso Rodriguez stays true to his roots and focuses on the female silhouette white Zac Posen dramatically exaggerates his geometric details.

My favorites from Rodriguez' show, a brilliant display of proportions to show off the female body. Flattering, fun and young yet classically timeless. These are two dresses I would definitely add to my wardrobe!

Expert tailoring combined with intricate pleating produces fluent geometric patterns. Creates movement and structure at the same time- what an art!

But back to the similarities...

The gold slinky dress. Posen's version adds a bit of ruffle to the hem and a more conservative neckline whereas Rodriguez' is plain, elegant and sexy. Which would you choose?

Both apron dresses combine matte with metallic textures in a tuliped shape.

The black shift dress. The quintessential cocktail dress. The best way to sum up either show: basic black in a female-flattering form. Posen's, again, boasts the geometric details such as the ruffling at the waistline or the triangular seams at the skirt. Rodriguez' clings to the body in a shapely way, revealing a lower yet more demure neckline.

February Coupon Codes... use VISA!

2006-02-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

Use your VISA card at any of the following online stores to get these juicy discounts. :)

$20 off $100 or more with code: VISA at checkout. (Exp. 02/28/06)

FREE SHIPPING off $75 or more with code: VISA06 at checkout. (Exp. 06/30/06)

FREE SHIPPING off $75 or more with code: 78915167 at checkout. (Exp. 02/28/06)

$15 off $100 or more with code: VISA2006 at checkout. (Exp. 06/30/06)

$5 off $39 or more automatically at checkout. (Exp. 06/30/06)

Click Here to view more offers from Visa

Wearing Today

2006-02-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

I've brought back the "Wearing Today" !!! :)

White Luella for Target polo shirt.

Meli Melo cuffed denim bermuda shorts.

Tan Christian Louboutin espadrilles.

Steel & White watch & bangle bracelets.

For later: Khaki BCBG trenchcoat dress buttoned up & belted to go on top.

P.S. Went to Target yesterday to pick up some Luella. Impressive... a little expensive for "Target" but I'd say it's kind of GAP quality with a better fit. I picked up 2 polos, a puff sleeve tee, a white tulip skirt, a blue cuffed dress shirt, a coin wallet (to transport feminine products) and an ipod case. All for about $130... not bad! Things were kind of picked over, but I'm coming back for more. I'm waiting for the rugby shirt, sunglasses and the bermuda shorts!

Rumor mill: the next Go International designer will be... Proenza Schouler? I sure hope so!

Shoe Trouble

2006-02-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

Occasion: Late lunch with a gal-pal at the distinguished City Club.
Dress code: Business casual, no jeans.

No jeans? No problem. I finally get a chance to wear those grey Theory cropped trousers I got on sale at Macy's in San Francisco. (I even got one of those Macy's Tourist 11% off coupons-- I'm talking $195 pants for about $50!) So I paired the pants with a simple black ribbed tank, my white McGinn fitted blazer, a white "H" Hermes enamel bracelet (which has become my single favorite Cruise 2006 accessory) and my Rayban gunmetal aviators. (What can I say... $450 for Chanel aviators? Better to go with the OG Raybans)

The outfit still needed some kick... black Chloe paddington flats or my black Prada pointy-toe pumps? My gal-pal's 5'7"... best to go with the heels.

Now have you ever gotten your heel stuck while driving?Good lord! I was stopped at a red light and somehow my foot creeped forward and I got the pointy toe stuck in between the brake and where it connects to the car... so I couldn't take my foot off the brake! Heart attack!

A few honks and a damaged leather toe later I got my foot unstuck and resumed my driving. So THAT's why they make car shoes.

But car shoes (or drivers) by definition are u-g-l-y. I think I will stick to the London Slipper. I now keep my beat-up spare pink ones folded up in its matching case in my glove compartment. I absolutely refuse to have a shoe-related car accident. That would be too embarrassing. :(

Still brewing strong...

2006-02-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 9 - Monday February 20.
Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Airport
Warehouse Sale Addicts, it's that time of year again! I haven't had a chance to stop by today but I will be there bright and early tomorrow. I'll race ya to the shoe racks ;)

FredFlare.com 25% off for V-Day

2006-02-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

Get an additional 25% off at FredFlare.com-- Pick up some gifts for your honey or your gal pals!

Enter coupon code dailycandy.0206 at checkout.

Got a pal with a new flame? Send her this tease kit~ $8 $6.

V-Day is always a good day for a self-appreciation gift! $8 $6.

Weekend getaway with the honey? ~~$50~~ $37.50.

Early Picks for Fall Trends

2006-02-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

With NY Fashion Week in full gear, it's time to start buying investment pieces for Spring that will transition into Fall. After all, who can afford to buy an entirely new wardrobe every season? We've gotta make it last somewhat. :)

Cut-outs are the new lace. They're on Louis Vuitton & Marc Jacob's Spring bags. They're on flirty Chloe blouses. Get one or two key pieces in basic black or white (but a creamy white) to pair with skirts in the Spring and black trousers in the fall.

The trench now doubles as a dress! Pick a trench that is well-tailored on the top and has a defined, belted waist. My BCBG version is more of a petticoat: 3/4 sleeves and has a flared skirt. Button up your trench and pair with stilettos or heels for the Spring for a dainty 1940's moviestar look. Then layer it over a ruffled blouse and pair with tights (not leggings) & slender boots in the Fall for a classic femme look.

Up the grandeur in your feminine tops with a scalloped lace border. Badgley Mischka extends their sweetheart neckline into thick scalloped shoulder straps. Tracy Reese softens a plunging neckline with a metallicized lace overlay. Y & Kei keep it simple with a low-key spaghetti strap dress adorned with a subtle scalloped straight neckline.

Empire waistlines are popping up everywhere. Trenchcoat dresses require a higher belted waist. The scalloped necklines as seen above are usually paired with an empire waist as well. So why not revive the empire dress in the evening? Previously reserved for the younger set, empire dresses are now an ageless commodity and streamlined for every body type.

NY Fashion Week :: Autumn/Fall 2006

2006-02-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

I have not forgotten! Festivities started today~ I will be looking out for these shows in particular... more updates & pictures next week!

Friday, Feb 3
Blecch, nothing in particular

Saturday, Feb 4
Alice Roi
Sass & Bide

Sunday, Feb 5
Tracy Reese
Diane von Furstenberg
Edun
Tuleh
Badgley Mischka

Monday, Feb 6
Carolina Herrera
Jill Stuart
Oscar de la Renta
BCBG
Marc Jacobs

Tuesday, Feb 7
Monique Lhuillier
Luca Luca
Iisli
Nanette Lepore
Heatherette

Wednesday, Feb 8
Peter Som
Anna Sui

Thursday, Feb 9
Vera Wang
Zac Posen

Friday, Feb 10
Project Runway

'Tis the Season to be Pre-Ordering

2006-02-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

It's time to put your name on the waiting list for Louis Vuitton's novelty Spring bags... unless you are one of the lucky few to have already gotten their hands on one.

On the top of everyone's list is the hobo embellished with the floral cut-outs in suede as featured in the Gisele ads. Comes in 2 sizes, 3 colors and with or without the cut-outs. The large hobo (pictured) is $3,500. Kind of steep for a suede hobo that's tough to work into Spring outfits! I'd be on the look out for the smaller hobo in brown with the cut-outs... just doesn't look right without 'em. (Looks a bit hole-y)

This one I'm a little more excited about... the Linda comes in 2 color schemes and comes either with alligator or calfskin trim. The alligator number will set you back over $5k so I'm sticking to the calf in the color pictured above ($2400). A little cutesy, more of an occasion bag but IMO a better buy than the hobo because of the detail & the limited production.

Monogram canvas gets yet another update: perforated with a color inlay. Comes with either pink, orange or green inlays in a multitude of styles. I'm on the list for a speedy ($1200) with the green inlay. Gives this line a youthfull flair. Though not limited production, these waitlist for these will be pretty long in the early months.

Recycle & Reuse

2006-02-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

Make your products work overtime! Here are some clever ways to recycle and resuse your products to assure your money well spent.

The next time you receive a Fragrance Gift Set (or a Sephora.com gift) don't throw away the box! These high-quality gift boxes are great for hiding girly things like tampons and panty liners in the bathroom. I've been using my Green Tea Bvlgari box to stow away tampons underneath my sink.

Forget about Anastasia and Benefit brow waxes, just use La Mer's Lip Balm to tame those unruly brows. Just dab a small amount and rub on your brows. Less shiny than a brow gel and more flexible than a brow wax. So small and portable they're also good on the lips ;)

Even though I've switched back to a foaming cleanser, I still use my Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil as a make-up remover. Just soak a cotton ball (not a cotton pad) with some oil and wipe around the eye area then rinse. Works better than cleanser alone!

I still haven't gotten used to the idea of a "facial mist"... moisten the skin? It wets it! I can't ignore beads of water on my face! So now I use the Shu Facial Mist (fancy words for depsea water spray) to dillute foundation for a sheer application. Works great with Shu's compact foundations or any other heavy foundation you'd like to wear during the day.

Other than just irritated eyes, Visine is good for a quick pick-me-up: put a drop in your eyes before a photo to make sure your eyes look bright and awake- not tired. And who knew it also works great to set eyeshadow? A friend showed me how to keep eyeshadow looking its best all day: after picking up some eyeshadow with a brush, dip the brush lightly in some Visine drops before applying to the eyes.

The same friend found a clever way to deal with the dried up lotion often leftover in your lotion pump... rather than discarding, use it as a cuticle softener! The dehydrated chunk of lotion is very concentrated and the solid shape makes it easy to roll over your cuticles.

What are your favorite products that you use in more ways than one?

New Sponsors

2006-01-31T19:34:00.000-08:00

I am hoping to make some changes to this blog to keep up with the traffic I've been getting. First of all, I am saving up to make a bid for www.closettherapy.com and I'm looking for more permanent hosting. Hence, I've added a little advertising here and there.

With the exception of the Google Ads I only advertise for online stores that I've personaly purchased from and recommend. So please, show your support and the next time you are planning to shop at eLuxury.com, Sephora.com, or a flurry of other online stores, stop by ClosetTherapy and link through. ~.~

Luella for Target

2006-01-30T18:04:00.000-08:00

Target takes after H&M's successful Karl Lagerfeld & Stella McCartney one-time-only collections and invites Brit designer Luella Bartley for a Cruise Collection. Just the kind of thing that gets me excited. :)

You can preview the collection now on Target.com which will be available in-store in a couple of weeks.

With these prices, this is a great way to pick up a non-committal cruise wardrobe :) Great for kicks, great for gifts. Here are some of the items I will probably pick up if I can get my hands on them:

Net tote comes in a variety of colors, $29.99.
Sling bag (perfect for the gym!), $29.99.

Cherry Print Coin Purse, $14.99.
Cherry Print Clutch, $16.99.

White Oversized Sunglasses, $16.99.
Cherry Print iPod Case, $12.99.

Beaded necklace comes in black or white, $14.99.
Bracelet Cuff comes in black or white, $12.99.

White Polo, $16.99.
Puff Sleeve Tee in Rose, $14.99.

Strapless Dress, $39.99.
(Loved it in blue layered over a blue striped tank like in the Target ads!)
Tulip Skirt, $24.99.

If I happen to find any of this left at Target, I'll be back with a report/review to let y'all know about the fit & quality!

Nautical Fun

2006-01-29T17:40:00.000-08:00

Speaking of flats...

I want to buy a pair of these Sperry Topsider Nautical Skimmers... but I can't decide on a color. Do I go with a simple White or the Green to pair with knee length skirts and bermuda shorts for a sweet cutesy look, or do I go for a more nautical pair like the Navy or the Black for a more "Cruise" look?

Which would you choose?

The London Slipper

2006-01-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

The most flattering pair of ballet flats I've ever had~ and at a size 10 trust me, most ballet flats look silly. These portable ballet flats by Sue London fold in half and come in their own carrying case~ making it easy to throw them in your purse or in the trunk of your car for high-heel emergencies. They are made of an ultra-soft buttery leather and the shape just molds to your feet. The soles are rubber and have enough support for all day walking. Now they come in a match-everything winter palette. I've used my Mermaid Pink (above - right) pair all summer & fall and just reordered the Slate online. If you purchase today, January 29th you can get an extra 20% off [normally $120] @ girlshop.com by entering coupon code: MESPREE06.

They are a little pricey for ballet slippers but they are worth every penny! They are so comfortable and easy on the feet. Also, they are simple yet flattering. Some colors are subtly metallic but this actually adds the right amount of sophistication.

They only come in whole sizes and run true-to-size but because of the stretchy leather I went down half a size. I'm thinking of getting a pair in Bronze (dressy) & Navy (nautical) as well for Spring!

Your Recommendations

2006-01-26T19:37:00.000-08:00

I decided it's time to invest in a set of make-up brushes. I've pretty much been cheaping out and sticking to promotional brush sets, the likes of Stila and Shu Uemura. And although great quality, they are too small and too "temporary".

So this is where you come in. It'll be much appreciated if you would help me out by filling out the short survey below of your favorite brushes. You can copy and paste it into a comment below this post or e-mail it to me at closettherapy@gmail.com if you'd like to privately submit your votes. Either way I will I review all of the submissions and report back with your favorites as well as the ones I ended up choosing.

So here we go... [I've filled in below with my current set as an example]

1) Powder/Face Brush: MAC Travel Blush Brush 129
2) Bronzer Brush: MAC Travel Blush Brush 129
3) Blush Brush: MAC Travel Blush Brush 129
4) Defined Eyeshadow Brush: Shu Uemura Portable Natural Brush 10
5) Blending Eyeshadow Brush: MAC Travel Tapered Blending Brush 224
6) Slanted/Eyeliner Brush: MAC Small Angle Brush 266
7) Lip Brush: Finger
8) Eyebrow Brush: MAC Small Angle Brush 266
9) Make-Up Brush Cleanser: Soap and Water

So yes, I basically reuse the same 4 brushes over and over again. :)

Straight from the horse's mouth

2006-01-25T23:37:00.000-08:00

I just realized that it's been almost a year that I've been working out with my trainer. I've picked up some great tips along the way, some that most of you have probably already heard and hopefully some will be new. So now I pass on the knowledge baton to you. :)

Training:
1) A balance of strength training and cardio is always best. First of all no machine is "better" than the other... just do what you like. Stationary bike, elliptical machine, treadmill, stairmaster... do whatever will keep you moving. On the days you strength train, 20 minutes at a fat-burning heart rate level is enough. For me, that's about 125-130 bpm. On non-strength training days, you should up your cardio to 30-40 minutes at a cardio-training heart rate level which for me is about 150-160 bpm. Ideally you should do this twice a week, which adds up to 4 times a week. Cardio has always been my weak spot~ I get so bored! I usually give up 5 minutes into a workout but now I keep my mind busy watching TV. You shouldn't bring a book to the gym because if you can concentrate on reading while you're doing cardio, you aren't working out hard enough!

2) For the fastest results (in terms of decreasing your fat percentage and burning the most calories) you want to concentrate your strength training on your legs. Your largest workable muscle group is in your legs so you'll burn the most in the last amount of time by working out your legs. Squats and lunges should always be incorporated into every workout session. Of course some will argue that the back is the largest muscle group and can burn the most fat & calories but to properly workout your back muscles you need at least 5-6 different movements so it's a little more difficult. With the legs you just make sure you're working out your quads and hamstrings evenly and you're good.

3) Keep your heart rate up doing strength training. In between sets of anything, grab a small step (just slightly shorter than your knee) and climb up and down. Start with your left foot up, bring the right one up, step the left foot down then the right foot down. Repeat 15 times. Then start with your right foot and repeat for another 15. Getting your heart rate up will help your muscles burn more fat and calories during normal strength training, even if it's something like working out your abs or biceps.

4) You hear stories about Britney Spears doing 1000 crunches a day and what not. If you're doing crunches the right way, you do not need to do that many to get the same results. First of all make sure you vary and do all the crunch positions so that you utilize all of your ab muscles. That means doing a set straight-up, doing a set of lower abs, then doing a set of twisties to target your obliques. For your regular straight-up crunches, the best position is to lie down on a hard surface and prop your feet up so that your knees are at a 90 degree angle, like a chair on its back. For lower abs, the best way is to grab something above your head, then slowly lift your butt up towards the ceiling, with your knees moving in a slow back and forth motion as you pick up your butt. Make sure you don't rock too much, you should only feel this movement in your abs and not your lower back. Obliques can be done on the floor with one foot propped up against the opposite knee, put your hands behind your head and aim your elbow for the opposite knee. I do 2 sets of 20 for each position. Also, while you're doing all of your other work outs you should keep your tummy tucked into your spine which will also help strengthen your core and tighten those abs.

Eating:
1) Drink a lot of water. We always hear this but this is seriously the easiest way to lost your water weight in 2-3 days. Your body holds on to whatever it doesn't get enough of. If you're not drinking a lot of water, your body will hold on to the water it does get which will give you a permanent bloat. By drinking a lot of water (think 2 liter-sized Smart Water bottles a day) your body will realize it doesn't need to hold on to water because you will always be consuming some more and you will drop your water weight. (And pee a gazillion times)

2) Don't drastically change your diet. Starting a diet like the atkins, zone, or south beach is often a temporary thing because you can't stick with that for your entire life. There will be nights out and special occasions where you need to eat real food. Instead make small changes. Eat out for dinner often? Get in the habit of ordering a side salad with EVERY meal and eat that salad first before you touch anything else. This will make you full faster, and fill you up with veggies so that you are a healthy-full not steak-and-fries-full. You will eat less of the fatty unhealthy stuff and eat more healthy protein and fiber.

3) Also another good tip for eating out: when ordering, ask the waiter to immediately put half of every portion "to go" and serve the other half. This will prevent you from eating too much: if you're like me, your stomach is slow to give the "I'm full!" signal and you always end up overeating. This way, you still get the satisfaction of cleaning up your plate.

4) Don't skip dessert, but try choosing fruit or sorbet instead. If you skip dessert when you really want it, you might cave in to your sweet tooth when you get home and end up eating brownies, cookies and who knows what else. Which reminds me of another tip, if you get a craving, give in to it but within reason. Crave some potato chips? Grab a small serving and enjoy it while you eat it. Once I was craving a French Bread Pizza. I decided to eat some chips instead... but they didn't satisfy me. Then I added a cookie, some candy and some cheese bread. Still not satisfied. I went as far as eating 2 more servings of snacks until I finally gave in and made myself some Pizza. So if I had eaten the Pizza in the first place, I wouldn't have had to eat everything else.

Of course I'm not an expert on dieting. I mean I rarely stick to mine. I find my biggest problem is forgetfulness. As in, I literally forget that I'm supposed to be watching what I eat until I finish eating. So this brings me to my last tip. Write down what you eat. Buy a cutesy little book (I got a black leather one from Coach) and every day write every little thing you put in your mouth. 2 Mint Milanos. 1 glass Orange Juice. 4 McDonald's Chicken McNuggets. 1/2 order of fries. Make sure you write EVERYTHING you eat right then and there. The next time you're about to sneak a Lay's Baked Potato Chip, you'll skip it because you're too lazy to take out your eating book.

So what tried-and-true methods do you have for working out or dieting?

Multi-Tasking

2006-01-23T15:34:00.000-08:00

I rarely do lifestyle-related posts but I've just made some recent discoveries that I absolutely-must-need to share with everyone.

Most of my apartment is hardwood flooring and tile. I've always wanted the Roomba but since I've bought the Dyson, I never had a use for it. Well just recently iRobot came out with the Scooba... a Floor Washing Robot. ($399 at Sharper Image)

So now instead of my usual vaccuum, dust, mop & dry ritual I can clean all my floors with the push of a button. Literally. And sad to say, but it does a much better job than me.

Which of course leaves me free to do other things. So now I've converted my "housework" into "me" time. While the dishwasher & Scooba goes I plop down on the sofa, light some candles, play Jack Johnson on my iPod and read my newest book while sipping on some Chamomile tea. The perfect way to wind down after a day while cleaning up the day's messes!

Mighty Leaf Tea Chamomile Citrus
Recently at Il Fornaio I had the perfectly brewed cup of Chamomile Tea. Instantly addicted I went online looking for it... Mighty Leaf. The perfect brew for the end of the day. Relaxing and of course since it's Chamomile, no caffeine.
$8.75 for 15 packets on Amazon.com

Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
Bushnell's 4th novel (Sex & the City) and her best since SATC. Smart, funny and a good read. I'm trying to pace myself through the book although the story just breezes through sometimes I'm tempted to finish it in one setting.
$16.47 on Amazon.com

In Between Dreams Jack Johnson
I know I'm a little bit late, but I just recently gave in and bought Jack Johnson's CD on iTunes. I've been listening to it all weekend (in the plane, in the car, in bed before sleeping) and I'm addicted. Laidback and mellow but light enough for background music while reading.
$11.99 on Amazon.com

Niketown Union Square

2006-01-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

While shopping in Union Square on Friday I noticed a line outside of NikeTown. Curious, I decided to go inside. (Heck, I need new workout shoes anyway)

Turns out they were having a private party for the release of the new Air Max 360. I didn't 'RSVP' so I couldn't buy the shoes until the following day. So I returned on Saturday to try on the shoes and they really do feel like walking on air. Air-inflated cushions at least. Always a sucker for buying new just-released items I picked up the Air Max 360 in blue:

I haven't had the chance to wear them yet to the gym but I'm sure it'll keep me on the treadmill longer. At least 5 minutes. :P

Weekend Getaway

2006-01-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

I've been in San Francisco since Thursday night & today is my last day. Expect some posts next week about my first time in... :)

Borba Skin Boosts

2006-01-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

This morning I stopped by Jamba Juice on my way to work. They have Borba Skin Boosts now! For 65¢ you can add Borba's Clarifying, Anti-Aging or Replenishing boosts to your smoothie. I love crossover collaborations.

A Faux-Glow during Winter's Lows...

2006-01-16T20:54:00.000-08:00

Yup, it's just about the time of year when our tan has faded to a pasty white and our cheeks, throat and collarbone has somehow turned into 3 different shades of pale. It's time to stop by Sephora and stock up on bronzer.

But what's the 'right' way to put on bronzer at this time of year? You don't want an overly sun-smooched look- Donatella Versace in the winter is not a good look for anybody. Sometimes it takes trial and error to find the best bronzer for you. For the winter months, I say you only need enough bronzer to blend into the shadows and contours of your face. Forget about the faux-golden-glow... use bronzer strategically to make your face look slimmer & that should be enough. Leave the bronze sun-kissed look for summer!

Well, back to trial and error. Here are some of the products I've tried. I've learned quickly that they are all equally good, they just differ in what they are good at.

Firs of all, if you don't already have NARS blush in Orgasm, this is a great duo to get. This NARS bronzer is slightly shimmery and works as a great highlighter. Because of the strong tone, I wouldn't recommend this one for lighter complexions or for every day use. But if you are dressing up, this is a good bronzer to highlight your cheekbones and browbone. Not such a good bronzer for contouring because of the shimmer.

MAC bronzers (and anything else) tend to be much stronger. This one is matte so it's great for contouring the sides of the face. Again, not for lighter complexions but good for shadowing right underneath the cheekbone and jawline.

Use Benefit's Hoola only if you are using a neutral foundation. A tinted moisturizer or any base with a dark or tan tint to it will accentuate this bronzer even more. Again, good for shadowing under the cheekbones, jawline but be careful because this one isn't very sheer. (It's very hard to blend-in any "mistakes") Also the brush that comes with this really sucks so I'd suggest getting a very loose face/powder brush to really blend this nicely on your skin.

Dior's Girly Blossom Palette is an eyecatcher. It's adorable, comes with two retractable brushes and a matching highlighter and lip gloss. Other than those things, this palette's crap. Okay, that was a little harsh. But this bronzer will get you more orange than Lindsay Lohan on a bad spray-tan day. I'd suggest this product only for those who already have tan/dark skin and need a little bit of a golden glow. Just brush on the matte powder to blend and even out your skin and use the highlighter on your cheekbones, under the eyebrows and maybe a tiny dab on the bridge of your nose.

Again, for those with an already darker complexion, NARS Multiple in Palm Beach is a great highlighter to accentuate a golden glow. Because this is more of a cream blush, I'd recommend it only on matte foundation and/or a powder base. Also because of the shimmer I'd restrict this one to evening make-up only for the winter.

I saved my favorite for last. I was quite hesitant to use Guerlain's Terracotta bronzer for a while because it just looks harsh. Actually it is surprisingly sheer and comes on natural-looking. I use a dense blush brush to contour my cheeks and jawline, then use a looser powder brush to blend it into the rest of my face. Perfect for a casual day look-- just enough color to look healthy.

S/S 06's single MUST-HAVE

2006-01-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already, pick up French Vogue's latest issue:

The Spring/Summer '06 issue contain 324 pages of the must-have looks of this season from 160 designers-- think of it as a Fashion Bible for S/S. It starts off with a compilation of this season's "Best Of"'s and then dedicates two pages to each designer to show off their key looks from the runway. (It beats browsing through pictures one-by-one at style.com) Also included are accessory reports from each design house. The ENTIRE MAGAZINE is a pictorial... so you don't need to worry about reading in French to understand it. :)

A worthy investment for $30. I'm going to scour the pages looking for my favorite looks, pieces and accents and bookmark them with post-its. It'll be my go-to-guide for Spring. The accessory pages? Think of them as a Shopping To-Do list :)

Today I'm starting off with a look inspired from Celine's runway (pg. 70):

My version:
A creamy ruffled blouse from Marc by Marc Jacobs.
Khaki bermuda capri's by Theory.
A Kulson trench jacket in Khaki.
Louboutin brown/pink heels.
Chloe Paddington bag in tan.

Missing in Action

2006-01-14T23:57:00.000-08:00

There were a couple of weeks in December when I went missing... supposedly redesigning this blog. Unfortunately I only had time to work on the redesign of one site, and it was for business not pleasure.

Voilá, the unveiling of the new TheWarehouseSale.com.

Please feel free to browse, test and let me know what you think!

Angelina Jolie for St. John

2006-01-13T00:14:00.000-08:00

St. John's campaign for a younger, fresher look started last fall with Gisele Bundchen. Angelina Jolie (photographed by the same photographer as Gisele's campaign) adds an ethereal touch to St. John's symbolic evolution.

These are 2 out of 4 shots of Angelina for this season's campaign. Notice something missing? The shot is without St. John's usual entourage of male models. A nice turn for St. John, methinks.

Free Stuff: Always a good deal!

2006-01-12T01:06:00.000-08:00

I was searching for some skincare items online today... okay actually I was trying to see if I could find a discount code for any online store that carries Cle de Peau. (Because of my freak obsessions of having all my skincare items "match") Anyhow, I ran into this link on Saks.com:

Complimentary La Prarie Cellular Nurturing System Deluxe Sample with any Saks.com purchase.
Coupon Code: LAPRAIRIE, Expires Jan 17, 2006 or while supplies last.

FREE is always good! Too bad Saks.com doesn't carry Cle de Peau. They did, however, carry SK-II. I am in bad need of a foaming cleanser. (3 months with Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil will do that to you) So I decided to pick up SK-II's Facial Treatment Cleanser. I don't know that much about it... I've been recommended this line countless times and the line "fine, rich lather" got me. :)

For those of you who aren't into La Prairie, Saks.com has another secret code. I call it secret because they don't tell you the code until you try to checkout. Just for TODAY, JANUARY 12 2006, when you buy from Saks.com or from Saks Fifth Avenue stores you will get about 10% back in the form of a Free Giftcard. So if you spend $250, you will get a $25 gift card. If you spend $500, you will get a $50 gift card. There are several tiers so check it out. The code for Saks.com is JANUARY5B (Enter at checkout)

Enjoy!

Top-down weather, patio lunching and afternoon yoga...

2006-01-09T00:31:00.000-08:00

Things to look forward to this Spring/Summer

Couture houses deviate from the norm as classic favorites are updated in whimsical printed fabrics. (Balenciaga & Chanel)

Collecting miniatures: micro-clutches and tiny totes in exotic skins. (Prada, Hermes & Marc Jacobs)

Chanel combines a soft leatherboot with a summer-ready thong.

Phoebe Philo's last collection at Chloe.

Rope details carried over from last year's Cruise Collections. (Prada)

Best-selling shapes are renewed with a certain casual chic. (Dior)

Old favorites are adorned with leather cut-outs. (Fendi Spy Bag with Wisteria details)

Christmas Gifts!

2006-01-08T23:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of some of the gifts I got for Christmas this year (In no particular order) :)

Canvas bag that says "Wow! Cute bag!" "Get your own bag b*tch!" Sums it up nicely :)

Trio of pill cases from Coach... very compact & convenient.

Yes I am a CSI addict. It is one of my many guilty pleasures. My other one is Passions. :(

Motorola H500 bluetooth headset for my cell phone, in baby blue!

I love this set of Apple hair products by Frederic Fekkai! I use it at least once a week. Well I mix around with my Kerastase & Ojon (see below), not that I only shampoo once a week. :D

My friend saw this Juicy Couture igloo charm on my blog earlier this year and got it for me... how thoughtful!

My sister got me this Cle de Peau Gentle Protective lotion. I love it! I definitely see a difference in my skin already... kind of a supple thickness. I can't wait to run out of my Shu Uemura, so I can try their foaming cleanser & clarifying toner! (I'm sick of rubbing my face with Shu Oil)

A small Benefit cosmetic bag & the perfect wear-with-anything lipgloss.

My sisters got me these 1.48 carat pink sapphire studs set on white gold from Saks Fifth Avenue. I haven't taken them off since Christmas!

"The People of Beautiful Hair" Ojon hair products are one of Oprah's favorite things and have generated a lot of praise lately. I got the shampoo-conditioner-hair restorer set... can't wait to try it tonight!

A rhodium-plated silver crystal gift from Swarovski.

Louis Vuitton Small Ring Koala Agenda with pink lining.

VS pj set with matching slippers & carrying bag.

Sudoku! My other guilty pleasure.

Panerai 40mm Luminor Power Reserve. :D :D

Also not pictured are a Chanel Tumbled Lambskin handbag, set of bronze beaded bracelets, a chunky necklace, pink leather thong sandals, pink shearling slippers, desk calendar, Best Buy gift card, Saks 5th gift card track jacket from Urban Outfitters, Frommer's Guide to Hawaii and a lot of CHOCOLATE!

I will add more as I remember them. It's been a couple of weeks so Christmas is a bit fuzzy. ~.~

Now here's a list of things I -didn't get- but were on my wishlist. I'm going to slowly hunt down each of these things this month =)

Alexander McQueen scarf in blue/white combo.

Guerlain multi-effect bronzing powder.

Shu Uemura face brush.

Chanel Aviatorspirit sunglasses in silver (S/S 2006).

Chanel 2.55 Reissue in Grey

William Rast 'Showdown' jeans in Smoke.

Gucci horsebit scarf in light blue to update my blue Guccissima hobo for Spring.

What was under the Christmas tree?

2006-01-05T00:38:00.000-08:00

I'm preparing a Christmas Gift post (with pictures!) with all of the gifts I received this year... it's taking a bit longer than I thought. (You know, with the picture-taking, cropping and, well... remembering) So I thought in the meantime we could all share what our favorite gifts were this year, as well as our worst!

You start!

A phone for the rest of us!

2005-12-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

The Nokia L'Amour collection debuted this month with one goal in mind: to please women. All 3 phones in the collection are compact and have feminine components in the design, like the brown leather backs or the floral etched pattern. I fell in love with the color palette and lucky for me it's time for a new cell phone. (My razr was not going to survive the holidays)

I had a hard time deciding between the 7370 (middle) and the 7380 (right). The girl in me wanted the 7380... the new jog dial acts as the centerpoint of the entire phone, much like the ipod click wheel does for the ipod. The color display is hidden behind the mirror in the front of the case. And this phone is seriously small. But could I live without the conventional keypad?

I was ready to settle for the 7370... the keypad swivels down from behind the display, so it is very compact when it's closed. This phone is a little more practical and has a larger and more vibrant display. Until I found out the entire phone only holds 10 MB of memory. How can a phone that can play video ringtones (yes, that's right, imagine a music video as your ringtone?) hold only 10 MB of memory?

So do I go for the practical phone with no memory to do my practical things (like take pictures, store mp3's, etc) or do I go for the novelty phone and give up functional things like SMS Text Messaging, playing games and browsing the internet?

This deliberation nearly killed me. So I let my boyfriend decide... and he went with the 7380!

This phone is small, and more importantly, it's cute. It's like the Nano of cell phones. :D

My favorite features:
-2.0 MB camera with zoom and flash. So now when I'm at the mall and need a 2nd opinion on those Marc Jacobs shoes I can shoot it in digital-camera-quality and send it to my bff via MMS or e-mail.
-The jog dial. It really makes life simpler than trying to scroll through a million menus. The user interface is very intuitive so it makes doing anything easier. Except for dialing. I've gone back to the rotary-dialing days. :p
-Predictive text. I thought I'd have to give up text messaging but this phone has a built-in predictive text dictionary that will put all the others to shame. The scroll goes through the alphabet, but once you choose a letter the dictionary gives you the 5 most likely letters to go after your letter (based on the English dictionary) and so on. Makes texting so much easier =)
-Voice recognition software. Rather than creating a "voice tag" of everybody's name in order to use the voice dialing, the Nokia 7380 has voice recognition software built-in so everything is automatic. You can even use your voice for commands like putting the phone on silent or checking the battery meter. You can use this when the phone is in your purse and you have your wireless headset on your ear.

So now I'm just waiting for Nokia to come out with the matching bluetooth headset.

:)

Daily Routine

2005-12-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

I've done more switch and swap and I have a new daily routine now. Check it out on the left column. ~.~

An apple a day keeps the oilies away.

2005-12-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

To combat the winter oilies, my friend gave me the Frederic Fekkai Apple Haircare set for Christmas this year. I haven't been this excited for shampoo since... well since ever. And I have been known to get pretty excited over smell-good beauty products.

First of all, the Apple Shampoo does what all shampoo should do: clean. Unfortunately most shampoos nowadays are too focused on scent or color preservation or thickening and they forget to clean. This clarifying shampoo cleans very well without drying out the hair. It also leaves a light "real" apple scent.

Once or twice a week now I use the Apple Rinse. It leaves the hair feeling very naked and light~ perfect for day-afters. You know, "day after I put all that gunk in my hair"

After using the Apple Conditioner I had a revelation. (Really) Whenever I use a new conditioner I immediately feel the softening effect on my hair. After using the Apple conditioner however, I realized that every other conditioner I've used up to this point coats my hair with its ingredients so it doesn't necessarily make my hair softer: it adds stuff to it to make it feel softer. So that "soft effect" you get after trying a new conditioner? That's not your hair honey, that's build-up. With this conditioner your hair feels clean light and soft. And this time I'm sure it's my hair.

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

2005-12-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

I've been sick with the flu but getting better.

I'll be back after the new year.

See you all then!

More than Gravity

2005-12-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

If you are like most women, then you don't give a second thought to the way you put on moisturizer, especially in these dry winter months. Most of us have developed the quickest possible way to slather that lotion onto our faces and off of our fingers. Unfortunately for our skin, that's usually a top-down motion.

The physical tugging down of our facial muscles combined with gravity takes a quick toll on our skin... making it prone to the signs of aging: wrinkles, sagging, etc. After all, the skin and muscles on our face are the most sensitive! And to think... we do this twice, sometimes three times a day! And if you take toner, make-up remover and foundation into account... that's almost 5 times a day of pulling down on our facial muscles, stretching out our skin.

Kick in a new habit in the coming year: apply your moisturizers, night creams and foundations in an upwards motion. Start with the jawline and use your fingers to spread the cream upwards into the cheek, then use your fingers to "fill in" the rest of your face like the forehead, chin, and especially the throat.

And now for the delicate eye area: there are a gazillion theories about how you should apply eye cream. First of all what most people don't know is that you don't need to apply the eye cream too closely to your eye... just around the eye area (about 1 cm away from your lashes) is enough for your entire eye area to suck in the moisture that it needs. So you should never get eye cream too close to your lashes! And #2... you have to be even more careful about pulling the skin around your eye area. The best way (at least for me) to apply eye cream is with my ring fingers and patting it on gently. This way I never use more than I need and I use the most gentle pressure possible. You'd think it was the pinky right? Nope- I've learned that the pinky can actually exert more pressure and it's actually more inaccurate (yes, I've poked my eyes a couple of times testing this).

Website Trouble

2005-12-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

P.S. The website hosting I used for all my logos, pictures and background just expired so unfortunately it's not working! No worries- I am working on a new redesign so sit tight until then. Meanwhile we'll enjoy the simplicity and I will continue to post throughout the weekend.

Rachel Pally Sample Sale

2005-12-02T22:18:00.000-08:00

Sample Sale weekend! This weekend and next are VERY BIG for sample sales in Los Angeles. Anybody who gets Daily Candy has probably scrutinized the long list of sales before the Holiday Season. Even we (The Warehouse Sale) are having ours next Sunday at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica.

So today I kicked off the weekend with Rachel Pally's cozy sample sale in Van Nuys. It was held at a private residence (hers, I believe?) and was actually better than I expected. The living room held items from this season, yes, that's this Fall and Winter, which were discounted to about 40-50% off. The back room was filled with colorful items from Spring/Summer which were discounted 70-90% off. Seriously. I was in Rachel Pally heaven. I mean this stuff is hard to find as it is... Planet Blue is almost always out. And it's tough to order online too... with the fabric and the shape of some of the pieces, you definitely have to try it on first.

Unfortunately my friend and I didn't decide to go until about 7:15pm... we got there in 15 minutes and only had about a 1/2 hour to shop. Actually, that may have been fortunate for my wallet :) Here is what I picked up:

This blousy top is 3/4 sleeve. I got it in a pretty mauve/nude pink color. They were only $55! They also had a cream and plum color available, but the cream was too big (medium) and the plum was too plum. F/W 05 Collection.

One of my favorites that I couldn't resist, even though I'm not sure when I'll have the guts to wear it (especially in the cold weather). This slip dress was $70 and in kind of a muted dark peach color... almost orange. (It doesn't come with the sash, but it is empire waist) It looked really cute over jeans and my Kors boots, so I figured I can try throwing my grey wool knitted vest over it and use it for Winter! F/W 05 Collection.

One of my favorites from this past summer, I got one in a Kelly green color with bird print and a soft grey one... only $25 each! I will use them as tops (not dresses) over skinny jeans... thinking of throwing a black BCBG shrug over the grey one and the green one will look great with a big, gold chunky necklace. Or even a black cropped blazer. S/S 05 Collection.

The basic tees were ridiculously priced... $15 each or $12 each if you buy two or more. These retail for $88 and are super-soft. The only downside is that they come in super bright colors... I found a safe green one. I had to size up to a Large for this, otherwise it's way too clingy. They also had colors and prints available from the F/W collection but those were $40. :)

LA Ladies... they will be around tomorrow (Saturday) 9AM - 6PM and Sunday 11AM - 5PM.

Tomorrow I will be stopping by Billion Dollar Babes (esp. to see what they have from Goldenbleu), James Perse, one with Ya-Ya and Meli Melo, and if I wake up early enough the 12th Street Cynthia Vincent and the one with Paige Denim & Ella Moss.

Caption This!

2005-12-01T15:44:00.000-08:00

I've always loved those make-your-own-caption contests... so here's one for you!

I'll start... "Victoria Beckham's got balls!"

2005-11-29T22:41:00.000-08:00

For me, winter brings an unexplained phenomena... skin hands and feet become ultra-dry while my scalp gets oilier. Time for a change of shampoo!

Ever since I dyed my hair mid-summer I've been using Kerastase's Chroma Reflection line for colored hair. Okay, I'll admit it. I colored my hair just so I could use this shampoo- it smells incredible. But now with the change of leather I am getting oily roots much too quickly between washes. Switch.

The bain divalent is specially formulated for oily scalps and dry sensitized lengths. In other words, long dry hair with oily roots like me. Then as a conditioner I use the Ciment Anti-Usure (which is for dry, damaged lengths) only at the ends of my hair.

Works like a charm.

Typically I have very heavy, very straight hair. Without care, my hair falls limp & flat against my head. I've tried numerous ways to combat the "Demi Moore" hairstyle and I've finally got a tried-and-true method. Forget the Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream, forget the Kerastase Leave-In's... my hair is heavy enough and all that extra weight just makes my hair straighter (albeit shiner).

Now I just spritz some Frederic Fekkai volume spray lightly into my roots, turn my head upside down and blow dry. I know- we've all read this a million times right? Well the trick is after your hair goes from damp to stiffly dry, get your head right-side-up again, use a round boar brush to brush out the hair starting from the sides (ears) from underneath and blowdry again from underneath... much easier than trying to master salon-style blowdrying from above.

Wishlist Season

2005-11-29T19:03:00.000-08:00

It's almost Christmas which means it's time to start thinking about Holiday wishlists & gift-giving! Yay!

So over the next few weeks I'm going to be listing a bunch of different things, kind of like an ongoing wishlist. :)

Let's start with these Margaret Nicole cable-knit clutches. If only I were talented enough to knit these myself =) They come in either wool or cotton and in two sizes: large (14 in. across, $150) and small (11 in. across, $130) They are lined in cotton and have a magnetic snap closure.

Perfect for gifting or a great winter accessory. My favorite is the chocolate with the blue satin ribbon.

The Start of Winter...

2005-11-24T01:12:00.000-08:00

is when the peeps up North fly down South in search of warmth..

and is also when the peeps down South fly North in search of snow..

I, from down South, have opted to fly even more South in search of a tan.

I'm off to Maui!

I will be back soon!

My turn to ask you...

2005-11-15T23:54:00.000-08:00

You bought a pair of boots.

You've been looking for boots like these for a while. They are perfect in every way- great color, comfy, great price.

They are a size too big. Not a half size, an entire size. And you have size 9-10 feet, so you are already self-conscious about how large your feet are. You are convinced these boots make your feet look even larger. In actuality, they are about .5 cm too long and maybe a little too big all around the foot/ankle. But you can wear the boots. Especially with socks they are pretty comfortable. They're just big. And what if they stretch out?

And now the store is sold out of them. You cannot exchange them for a size smaller, but you can return them or exchange them for a different style.

What would you do?

Thank you O.C.!

2005-11-12T00:22:00.000-08:00

What a great turn-out!

Even though the line went around the block, everybody was happy, friendly and cheery.

The Ballroom of the Holiday Inn @ Costa Mesa. The calm before the storm!

We're in business! As always, the jeans are organized by size. People are busily stocking up their Fall denim wardrobe!

Some happy campers patiently awaiting their turn in the dressing room.

Our next stop... SAN DIEGO!!

Swing by this Sunday, November 13 from 10-5pm at:
Courtyard by Marriott
San Diego Old Town
Fiesta Terrace
2435 Jefferson Street
San Diego, CA 92110

www.the-warehouse-sale.com to RSVP for free.

Stella McCartney for H&M

2005-11-10T19:25:00.000-08:00

Yay for Stella, boo for living on the West Coast. Today Stella McCartney's line for H&M is out in selected H&M stores. Being stuck in Los Angeles, I can only drool at the pictures online. So if I were in New York, I'd wait in line early in the morning to pick up:

Knitted Blouson, $79.90.

Tulip Dress, $99.90.

Strap Silk Blouse, $59.90.

Chiffon Dress, $99.90.

Today Only -- 40% off at Saks & Saks.com!

2005-11-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Choo bag, 1450 -> $870.

Luella tote, 1100 -> $660.

Tanner Krolle hobo, $1085 -> $651.

Marc Jacobs satchel, $995 -> $597.

There's an even better selection in the stores! At the BH store I saw some cutie Western Mulberry + Luella bags, flap-pocketed leather totes by Marc Jacobs, Celine and Rafe. I picked up a tweedy Stella McCartney... perfect for winter!

Saks Fifth Avenue

After-Gym Wipes

2005-11-08T23:53:00.000-08:00

Stila Petal Infusions H20ff

Works great (even on eye liner). Pretty packaging. Not too wet and sudsy. Doesn't smell too bad. Doesn't leave your skin dry. No lingering scent.

Very clean. Love it.

Weekend Summary

2005-11-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

In stock at Barneys New York. On Saturday I got a call from Barneys just as I was leaving that the Paddington Flats came in! In addition to this dark brown leather they also had black and tan. Tan was too matchy-matchy with my bag so I stuck with black. I figured it's a good classic color that will last me a long time.

They also got the loafer flats in-- very cute but not so cute in a size 10. Those were in dark brown and in the light beige. I loved the light beige! They also pinched my toes in a funny way. :(
...and... they restocked on the black boots! They were ridiculously gorgeous. I didn't dare try them on.

In other waited-all-fall-for-these-fall-items-to-come-out news, the Chanel Mademoiselle line is out. I'm not too into the bags (a bit mature for me) but I do love this clutch!

At $795 it is not a bad price for a Chanel, although somewhat steep for a clutch I'm not sure I need. They are having a Cruise Trunk Show at the Chanel in Beverly Hills this Thursday (12-4pm) so if I don't see anything there, then I'll reconsider the clutch. Meanwhile I've satisfied my Madamoiselle craving with a tri-fold key ring. ~.~

Also the Louis Vuitton Trapeze is out! Do you remember that post I wrote a while back about the page in Bazaar mag? Well turns out it was a Trapeze PM in Caramel. The Trapeze comes in 2 sizes, PM and GM. The PM is a slightly too-small tote and the GM is a slightly too-large tote. : Also comes in 3 colors, caramel (like in the magazine), rose (in the picture below) and beige which is a silvery-grey beige and looks almost white from far.

Bag shopping is endless! This season I'm going to skip the McQueen Novak bag (no matter how hot this bag is, it still reminds me of my childhood bowling bag) but I am starting to really like the Lanvin Kansas bag.

Does anybody know where in LA I can find one?

Do-It-Yourself Palette

2005-11-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

Neiman Marcus finally got the Limited Edition Shu by Ai palette/compact in! (It's already sold out on shuuemura.com) I've just finished putting together my Fall Day-to-Night compact:

IR Rainbow 900Y - Highlighter
Gold Silk - Fall's gold eyeshadow duo
M Brown 875 - Liner

The best thing about this compact is that it's compact. Smaller (and prettier) than Stila, MAC, or any other do-it-yourself palettes out there.

Too cute.

2005-11-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

I'm not so much a charm person, nor am I too much of a Juicy person. But this charm is just too cute not to share with y'all.

Do you see the yorkie warming his paws by the fire???

If I see this in person I may not be able to resist buying it for my car key.

Juicy Igloo Charm, Nordstroms.com

Someone stop me.

2005-11-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

Okay I've been on an online shopping binge. I really need to be stopped.

On a brighter note, I finally ordered a pair of boots. The Ugg Uptown was received too negatively by y'all and the Nomad still isn't available and who knows when they will be. (And yes, ever since someone mentioned they looked like leg splints I cannot get that image out of my mind) So I've given up on Uggs and looked to Michael Kors.

Apparently there is now a Michael by Michael Kors line of shoes. Perfect for a non-committal LA winter buy!

Both $178.95 at nordstroms.com

Guess which I chose?

While Supplies Last!

2005-11-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

Another gift with purchase... for a limited time only! With a minimum purchase of $40 from Sephora.com, you will receive:

0.05 oz Prada Eau de Parfum
mini Too Faced Lip Injection
15 ml Bliss Steep Clean Cleansing Milk
2 oz Philosophy Falling In Love Perfumed Body Lotion,
04 oz Givenchy Very Irresistible For Men Eau de Toilette
07 oz Tarte Glistening Powder in Sugar Daddy (soft bronze)
0.06 Benefit Dr. Feelgood
.08 oz Stila All Over Shimmer Powder *9 (champagne sparkle)
and a 0.05 oz DuWop Venom Flash in Gold tucked safely into a chic satin drawstring bag.

This definiltey rivals the gloss.com gift bag. So of course, being the sucker I am for a tempting offer like this i succumbed once again and decided this is the perfect time to stock up on Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer, which, coincidentally, happens to be $40.

Plus did I mention Sephora also adds 3 samples of your choice to your order? Very cool.

So take advantage soon. These offers never last. The code (entered at checkout) is WISHFOR6.

Edited

2005-11-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

Been eyeing Jessica's St. Grace pants? Teri Hatcher's Sweetees dress?

xxx is offering ALL of their merchandise at an additional 70% off. You do not understand how ridiculous this is.

St. Grace Marlo Capri's in dark chocolate and date for $22.50. That's about the price you would pay at Forever 21. (I got a pair in date)

Sweetees Ilyana dress? $12. Unheard of.

Je-Lee Palazzo pants, normally $105 now $31.50.

Pick up some basic white tees for $3.

Did I mention that shipping is FREE?

Enter coupon code xxx.

**EDITED** Due to the questionable reputation of this seller/online store, I've decided to take down the relevant information in this post. Although my friend and I both received our orders from this store, I have been notified that there were other customers in the past who haven't. I try to only recommend stores or items that I have had good experience with in the past and this fell under that category until it was brought to my attention that the owner of this store has a faulty record. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused anyone!

Free Beauty

2005-11-01T01:43:00.000-08:00

One thing I can never resist, beauty gifts with purchase.

So when a friend told me about the gloss.com promo... I searched through the site to find the best deal possible, the most bang for the buck... the combination of items that will have me spending the least, receiving the most [free goodies] all while purchasing only items that I need.

This is not an easy task!

First off let's get the requirements down. For the big bag of goodies (pictured above), you need a purchase of $75 or more. For the free shipping, you need a purchase of $85 or more. $85 it is.

Now for the individual "offers"... the free Stila lip glaze interested me for a moment... $35 of Stila junk I need may be too much for a lip gloss that might be too dark for my taste. Next up... Jo Malone. Now here's a line I've always wanted to try if it weren't for the steep prices! No minimum purchase... definitely doable.

So after searching, this is what I decided on:

Which got me these following free gifts:

Then don't forget to click on the "SAMPLES" link on the top bar for an additional deluxe-sized sample to add to your cart. (One per purchase) I chose:

Here is the summary of my damage:

$55 + $60 + tax - shipping...

Not bad!

Go Barefoot

2005-10-28T01:58:00.000-07:00

Rotten day?

Stressful week?

Whatever your ailment, I highly recommend a long bubble bath then an evening wrapped in bliss. In a barefoot dreams robe, that is.

I have been eyeing this robe forever. But who can justify a $130 robe? Certainly not someone who has about an hour of robe-wearable time in the evenings between my night shower and going to bed. But have you felt how soft this robe is? I mean, really. There are a lot of knock-offs out there and this is the softest one. Not to mention this is the only one guaranteed to stay soft after numerous washes. (Unlike other knock-off brands that tend to shrink, pill or stiffen up after the first wash)

Also available, the plush throw.

I can't think of a better self-gift for this winter. =)

Orla Kiely

2005-10-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

I need help. I want need must have this Orla Kiely yoga bag.

Fortunately, it is on sale from 99 GBP to 50 GBP. (approx. $90)

UNfortunately, shipping's a grip at $63 to the United States.

That is just wrong.

Plain wrong.

ID Anyone?

2005-10-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

Cute bag... anyone know who it's by? Looks so familiar...

Still Hunting..

2005-10-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Due to the overwhelming responses I've received with the Ugg Uptown boots I've posted earlier, I've crossed them off my list of contenders for this season's "casual boot".

So... whaddya think?

*Please don't bombard me with comments like "Noooo! Not Sienna Miller!" I've put up this picture for the sole reason that these boots are not released yet and she happens to be the only picture I can find of someone wearing these boots, and I wanted to show y'all the proportion of the boot when someone actually wears them.

In the Cocoon

2005-10-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Finally! Cooler weather in LA. Although it isn't quite "coat" weather yet, we can finally start wearing cardigans to dinner at night. Enter Christopher Fischer's sumptuously soft cashmere cocoon jacket. A shawl collar to keep you warm and low arm openings for a snuggly fit that hides upper arm bulkiness, if needed.

in Port, eLuxury.com. $395.

in Black, eLuxury.com. $395.

A more wallet-friendly alternative? Try Anthropologie's cobweb cardigan. Although this one sports full-length sleeves, the oversized body and shawl collar will still give you the "snuggle" effect.

Cobweb Cardigan, anthropologie.com.

2005-10-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday, 9AM - 5PM.
October 23, 2005.
Holiday Inn Costa Mesa
Plaza Ballroom
3131 S. Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(Just west of the South Coast Plaza)

http://www.the-warehouse-sale.com to RSVP.

Tara Subkoff for Easy Spirit

2005-10-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

Now high fashion doesn't necessarily mean we have to sacrifice our heels and toes. Tara Subkoff (former designer for Imitation of Christ) has taken up the challenge to create beautiful Frenchy shoes with comfort in mind.

Dola Kid Suede Pumps, $295.
Finally a pair of pumps that are comfortable enough for work and play in a classic shape (very Louboutin-esque) that will match just about anything.

Aralyn Gladiator Sandals, $170.
Pair with some white Da-Nang utility cropped pants. Or heather-grey Saint Grace wide leg pants.

Rhene Perforated Skimmers, $170.
Go vintage and pair these flats with some scrunchy, dark, straight leg jeans.

Elease Fold-Down Boots, $695.
Go rock-star with some cuffed up Rock & Republic jeans or go demure and pair with a flared knee-length skirt or a crisp shirt dress.

Recent Additions...

2005-10-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

...to my denim wardrobe.

No but really, I will not be adding ANY more jeans to my closet. Seriously, this has got to stop. These are the last four pairs for this season.

*edit: I meant 5 pairs.

Hudson triangle pocket in antique.
Believe it or not, I do not own any Hudson triangle-pockets yet! Well, except for my bermuda shorts, but they are not full length so they don't count! This pair is new for Fall... a dark stretch denim with contrast big white stitching and twisted inseam. Sound familiar? Even the Hudson reps dubbed this pair as the "True Religion" fit at the recent Project denim show in Vegas. These are comfy, slimming and have a 32-33" inseam... perfect to wear with flip-flops and flats!

Antik Denim with mismatched logo pockets.
I think way back when I might've mentioned this pair when I first saw them in the Nordstrom's catalog. Although Antik jeans tend to be stiff and uncomfortable, I love the way they make my legs look longer and thighs look slimmer. (Something about the double inseam)

Antik Denim with floral embroidery.
Something about the red/orange/yellow stitching in these jeans got me. At first glance these jeans were too loud for my taste but after I tried them on... well... didn't want to take them off. I love pockets that don't match. And I love the colorful whipstitching at the bottom.

Taverniti SO courtney jean in vintage resin.
Here's a brand I've ignored at first because most of their styles tend to be skinny tapered legs. Saw the patch, loved the novelty belt loops so I gave them a test drive... and I was surprised to see how flattering these were on! They are a tad bit long, but not long enough to hem up. I pair them with my tallest heels and they really make my legs look miles long. Something about the whiskering and distressing around the thigh.

Frankie B. rosarito jean in iris.
I've been eyeing these jeans forever! I'm not normally a fan of Frankie B's dangerously low 3" rise, but how can you say no to these cutie back pockets. One thing I can't get used to: Frankie B.'s super flared legs tend to look 5 years too young for me so I decided to cut off the legs, taper 'em, and cuff them up to look like folded up capri's. I'm picking them up on Saturday from the tailor so wish me luck! (I'm not sure he understood my plans for alteration)

And the piece de resistance... my first pair of boots, ever! I've given up on the Chloe's (a WAITLIST for shoes?? I'm not ready for that...) and the slightly metallic Marc's were much too metallic for me. I was leaning towards Jimmy's flat boots... but my legs are definitely not long enough (nor are my calves thin enough) to pull those off. Literally. They were pretty tight.

And one day while I was at Satine in search of "the world's comfiest ballet flat" I saw...

Oh geez I'd been drooling over these Balenciaga Boots since Style.com put it in their F/W accessories report! I put them on hold and spent 4 heart-wrenching days deliberating over the purchase. Then on Saturday I panicked (what if they sold my boots?), went back, and bought them.

Everyone Worth Knowing... Not Worth Reading

2005-10-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

Finally done!

It is a bad sign that it took me a week and a half to finally finish this book. (I can read through a Sophie Kinsella in about 3 hours).

First of all, I have to mention that the storyline is a familiar one: In New York, a working-class plain Jane is befriended by socialites who make it their project to introduce her into their new-moneyed world of designer clothing, trend-of-the-moment nightclubs and spoiled rich boys. After a crash course in this new scene, Jane is now unknowingly chic and gorgeous and scores a particularly jackass prince of a boyfriend, all the while she tries to ignore the cute but working-class but working-hard boy under her nose who turns out to be her soulmate. Of course Jane always has a couple of sidekicks: her best friend from college, a rare Park Avenue princess who is down to earth and rejects the New York social scene (against her mother's wishes), and either a friend, stylist, uncle or someone or the other that is flamboyantly gay, fabulous, whiny and, well, a b*tch.

I can name you 3 books within the last year with this same storyline but slightly different details. Okay make that 5. But that's why we read chick lit, right? Unfortunately this novel seems too affected and too scripted compared to her last one (The Devil Wears Prada). There was incessant name-dropping... I actually had to pause during my reading to reflect on this. Is it because I've read so much chick lit and tabloids that I feel like there was too much product and people placement? (Birkin, Page Six, Grey Goose, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton) No, I'm pretty sure it was because it was done in a tactless and very predictable way. In fact the entire book was predictable. Within the first 10-20 pages you pretty much have all the characters figured out, you know who she will end up with and you can guess all of the conflicts and even the twists.
So anyhow, to keep this short, my take on this book is:: "SKIP"

Daily Routine

2005-10-13T00:18:00.000-07:00

I've added a new info box in the left column called "Daily Routine"

This box will highlight which products I use in my "Daily Routine"

When I run out, switch, change preferences or add anything new, I will add it to my "Daily Routine"

And obviously, not everything in my "Daily Routine" is literally used daily. For instance, I don't use my scrub nor facial peel daily. But for simplicity's sake, this is just a guideline. Also notice I do not write the full names of every product in the little box because, well, it wouldn't fit. You are going to have to click through to view the specific product.

And also I'd like to define the "skip" in the "moisturizer" section. I have a very moisture enriching toner as well as a very moisture-ful SPF. And on the days I wear make-up, I use Stila's tinted moisturizer (which is really just a fancy name for 'foundation'). The only time my face is ever really dry is after I use a soapy cleanser. So for these reasons I do not use a regular moisturizer.

Addicted to Shu's

2005-10-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

In my neverending quest to try ever Shu Uemura product on this earth, (I even made my sister who is visiting Japan promise me to get limited-only-to-Japan stuff) I picked up a couple of new items this past weekend.

Turns out I've been using the wrong toner all this time. (Shame on you, Barney's woman) I've been using the Equiwater but since I do not have oily skin I should have been using the Nanowater. But no worries, there is now a Superwater! Okay, it's actually the ß-G Reinforcing Cosmetic Water which has anti-oxidant protection as well as firming properties. Sounds good to me! This "water" is more of a light gel... which is weird at first to use as a toner but it tones the skin well.

This was an impulse purchase. (Darn those little jars of treats on the counters I... cannot... resist...) But the lady said (yes, I am easily swayed) that it will moisten my lips, get rid of those little lines you get when your lips are chapped, make them more plump and all without a waxy residue. That sold me. (Yes, I'm easy) I like that it absorbs fast and leaves this light, matte texture on my lips. It also has a hint of sweetness.

Then as a last super-duper impulse purchase (seriously, they need to stop displaying products by the cashier, it really is a dirty trick) I bought this palette to house all of my shu eyeshadows. Okay, I'll admit... I was worried that I didn't have enough shadows to fill into the palette (since each individual eyeshadow is double-sticked inside the palette and I couldn't risk eyeshadows moving around because of one empty slot so I bought a blush.

Anyhow I went home with it and it turns out... even with the unneeded blush I am 1 eyeshadow short to complete the palette! Ugh! So I went online (shuuemura.com) to browse at other eyeshadow colors and then I saw this:

I am going to exchange my palette tomorrow... Technically I could have 2 of these compacts for the price of that stinky, huge, easily scuffable, too-heavy-for-my-purse palette!

I need help!

2005-10-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

Are these cute? Overplayed? Practical? Overpriced (at $180)? Good replacement for last year's Uggs?

If so, which color?

Burnt Olive or Chestnut?

I need warm boots for those freezing cold LA mornings when I walk my dogs. Oh who am I kidding, I don't wake up that early! and I don't really walk my dogs. I meant those chilly LA nights when I run downstairs to take my dogs to the nearest patch of grass available. =)

Accessories Report Pt II

2005-10-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more things I'm looking forward to next Spring!

Chanel embraces Springtime and youth with a flurry of patches in this new hobo shape... interesting!

Also looks cute in their signature shape.

A new twist on last season's gladiator sandals. The black/white combo and the ribbon lace-up is classic Chanel but I love the masculinity of the slouchy heel. Would look so cute with a crisp white shirt dress!

A new shape for Chloe... in the famed thick and textured leather as found on the Paddington. Office-y but the contrasted big thread stitching makes it stand out.

Letting things get a little hairy...

2005-10-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through the Chloe S/S '06 show when I noticed....

Do models not shave!?

The Warehouse Sale Update

2005-10-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

On October 2nd we were at Top Button's Shopping Sale. Here are some pictures! This is a great preview of the things to come at our Fall Sales. We are taking over California! Here are our upcoming events:

The O.C., Holiday Inn @ Costa Mesa: October 23. RSVP Now!
San Diego: November 13.
Los Angeles: December 10.

The-Warehouse-Sale.com

Everyone Worth Knowing

2005-10-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a while that I've read a chick lit book past the first few pages. Ever since The Nanny Diaries and the Shopaholic series made it big, there have been numerous mediocre attempts at illustrating the coveted life of Park Avenue princesses from the point of view of the hard-working, poor, but 'incredibly chic' young single woman who gets thrown into it.

So anyhow, here's another one! But from an author I trust to cleverly and eloquently tell an entertaining story and create unforgettable characters. In celebration of the making of "The Devil Wears Prada", I've picked up Lauren Weisberger's newest book at Costco ($13.29), "Everyone Worth Knowing".

I've just started reading tonight so I will review it later!

From the Publisher:

An irresistible tale about what happens when a girl on the fringe enters the realm of New York's chic, party-hopping elite.

On paper, Bette Robinson's life is good. At twenty-six, she's got a great deal on an apartment in Manhattan, and she's on target to become an associate at the prestigious investment bank where she works with her best friend. Her eighty-hour workweeks might keep her from socializing or dating outside her office walls -- but she's paying her dues on the well-trod path to wealth and happiness. So when Bette quits her job like the impulsive girl she's never been, she not only shocks her friends and family -- she has no idea what to do next.

For months, Bette gets out and about by walking her four-pound dog around her decidedly unglamorous Murray Hill neighborhood. Then she meets Kelly, head of Manhattan's hottest PR and events planning firm, and suddenly Bette has a brand-new job where the primary requirement is to see and be seen.

The work at Kelly & Company takes Bette inside the VIP rooms of the city's most exclusive nightclubs, to parties crowded with celebrities and socialites. Bette learns not to blink at the famous faces, the black Amex cards, the magnums of Cristal, or the ruthless paparazzi. Soon she's dating an infamous playboy who's great for her career but bad for her sanity -- and scaring off the one decent guy she meets. Still, as her coworkers repeatedly point out, how can you complain about a job that pays you to party? Bette has to agree -- until she begins appearing in a vicious new gossip column. That's when Bette's life on paper takes on a whole new meaning -- and she learns the line between her personal and professional lives is...invisible.

Thinking ahead

2005-10-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

Back to the Spring shows!

With the NY, London, Milan and soon Paris shows, I figured I should get a list of must-haves going. Okay maybe not so much as must-haves but must-wants for now =)

Living in LA, I tend to dress more New York than any of the European shows... I tend to accessorize more Milan than Paris... But I love the Paris shows more than any other... does that make sense? I dress casual, acessorize boldly, but I wish I were as soft and feminine as the Paris lines tend to be.

So let's start with dress, using New York Fashion Week as our visual cues.
- Exaggerated pant lines.
- A palette of nudes mixed in with whites and very soft colors.
- Away from boho and on to soho... feminine cuts, nice, neat and sophisticated.

So for me personally, here are my Spring plans... some are "goals", actually:
- Wear more collared shirts/oxfords. Crisp white shirts, exaggerated collars or lapels, fitted around the waist but boxy enough to lengthen my torso and I'll probably stick to 3/4 length sleeves.
- Start wearing dresses! Not just for the occasional Friday night but I will attempt day dresses, full skirts, bold prints and other girly things I normally avoid.
- Stay away from my slim bermuda shorts and find some loose-fit, flowy shorts in bermuda length.
- No more T-shirts, I'm going to start wearing knits! Yes, knits. Maybe even cutie "vests" a la Carolina Herrera.

And now on to accessories!
Okay not so much accessories as a handbag report.
There is one major emerging super important theme in the Milan shows when it comes to handbags. Okay, two. First of all we are going upscale and sophisticated, almost office-y. Of course the first clue was with Luella's tan leather flap tote. The shapes this season are very long, wide and flat. Which means at restaurants we will be tucking our bags behind us on our chairs rather than setting them on the ground.

And trend #2 seems to be canvas (or any other fabric) trimmed in leather, whether it be smooth napa, funky patent or exotic croc leather. Also we see a return of the bamboo at Gucci. [clockwise from the top: Gucci, Fendi, Gucci, Prada]

Also, F/W's "It" bags will be getting Spring makeovers, like the Fendi Spy Bag. The one in the middle is my new lust bag.

Even Bottega Veneta's infamous woven leather bags get an update this season after countless failed attempts this past S/S and F/W. Woven snakeskin on the left, and leather appliques on woven leather on the right. Very cutie but too mature for me.

I like Dior's turn from the ultra-feminine overly-sassed up logos and flowers to a more comfortably shabby chic. A nice twist to the been-there, done-that sadde bag! Probably the only dior bag I would ever get if I was forced to buy one. Heh.

Gucci takes the handbag a little too literally with these ultra-mini clutches. Nice embellishments, cutie fabrics, but come on! Some practicality please! Girls will have to convert to lipsticks in lieu of glosses to fit into these things.

And last but not least a shoe trend carried over from the New York shows, I absolutely love these Balenciaga versions. Missing the tongue but the same thick-trimmed look. I really like the one on the right but I have to think about those stones first. Don't want to look like Wilma Flinstone.

Now I shall wait patiently until October 9th for Louis Vuitton's Spring Show. My bit of anxiety is stemming from whether or not that bag from Bazaar will show up. Or maybe that's a Resort bag? Oh the suspense!!! I really hope it isn't available until January because I am not supposed to purchase any more bags this year.

Auuuggghhhh.

2005-10-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Will someone open their issue of this month's Bazaar to page 280 and tell me about this item!!! When is it coming out? What is it called? Is there a list? What season is it from?

You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it.

I'll post a picture later.

Life's only necessity is the need for unnecessary things.

2005-10-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

So my Miu Miu key holder is dying. The poor leather is over-distressed and showing its threads.

Let's vote!

Guccissima leather in Rust Brown or Royal Blue if they decide to make it.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis in a "denim blue" color.

Louis Vuitton Mini Monogram in the new Black/White combo.

I will take other suggestions too as long as it's a tri-fold key holder with at least 4 rings and will fit a credit card. Must be pretty too.

Other Fall Shoes

2005-10-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

Outside of the boot world, I think my life (or at least my Fall Wardrobe) would be complete if I could somehow score these shoes:

Chloe, $450.
I'm afraid to see these in a size 10 though... flats tend to look oversized and misshaped in my size :( But look at the details!

Christian Louboutin, $715.
Loafer pumps are everywhere but they tend to be too masculine or woodsy. These are the perfect ones.

Marc by Marc Jacobs, $350.
Such a cute shape to peek out of this season's trousers.

Bootiful

2005-10-01T20:55:00.000-07:00

I decided I need boots. Cutie knee-high boots. I've never owned a pair of boots. Really! The ones I've tried have always been too uncomfortable, but then again that was before I admitted I was a size 10 and I crammed my feet into 9-ers! So I am going to invest in a pair of boots.

Since I'm a first-timer, I'm going to need something simple enough to match a lot of outfits, something comfy enough to break my fear of boots, yet something cute and different enough to justify a major purchase. They have to be knee-high, above the calf. They have to be feminine and make my feet look smaller than they actually are. Slim enough to wear under jeans yet slouchy enough to wear with capris. Not too dressy, not to pointy and not too 'old'.

So far these are the ones I've liked, although I'm having a hard time finding them in stores to try on!

Chloe, $1015.
Can't find these anywhere. There is not a single store in Los Angeles that carries it, it seems. But I'm thinking these would be perfect. But might be too much for a first boot purchase.

Jimmy Choo, $940.
These looked cutie on the model in the Fall/Winter Choo catalog. But can I pull them off? Not sure if my legs are quite long enough. What do you think? Real world wear?

Marc by Marc Jacobs, $840.
I'm leaning towards these, although I'd like to know what they're made out of [it's called the silk something] and how shiny they are in person.

Marc by Marc Jacobs, $715.
I really like the shapes on these but I'm unsure about the metallic accents. Might look cheesy.

Studio Pollini, $680.
I like the slouchy shape of these but the color is too 'burnt orange' for me. Plus I wouldn't spend this much on a line I've never heard of.

KORS by Michael Kors, $295.
On a side note, what about these to replace the Uggs for this winter? For walking the dog, and for those super chilly Los Angeles nights. ;)

Pearly Whites

2005-10-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

I've never been excited over toothpaste before. All my life I've been using whatever is available. More recently I made the move to Mentadent because of the upright packaging. Sometimes at the toothpaste aisle I'm curious to try the more expensive brands at the top shelves but I always cheap out for the more well-marketed brands.

Then one day I ran out of Mentadent and tried my friend's NuSkin toothpaste. She has been an avid advocate of Nu Skin products since she's purchased the line this summer. (She swears it has made her skin completely different and much improved!) NuSkin has been around for quite some time but I'd never heard of it before. Anyhow, I'm straying. Back to the toothpaste.

$9.74.

So anyhow I fell in love with this toothpaste. It's not overloaded with a fake "minty" flavor or cute colors that mix together when you brush your teeth creating some totally new cleansing action... it's just hard-core medical-grade fluoride to clean your teeth, get rid of plaque and whiten your teeth. It's only been a couple of days since my AP-24 toothpaste has arrived in the mail but already my teeth seem whiter and less plaque-y.

Hopefully when I have time I'm going to check out some other teeth-whitening products. If anyone has used GoSmile I'd love to hear about it!

Zora

2005-09-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

Remember these? Who knew they'd be so comfortable! They are the Donald J. Pliner "Sportique" which means it has a sporty rubber sole. I wore these so much this summer that I went back to Shoe Pavillion to buy some more. Unfortunately, they were all out so I had to order them online instead. (shoepavillion.com, $49.99) They are out of the brown, so I opted for a black pair instead. (Maybe they look more Fall/Winter? Paired with some capri's and a pea coat?)

My friend who is a little bit "girlier" than I am bought another in the white:

Shaving Intuition

2005-09-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

Some of you may think that this article is a little bit "late" (after all, the Shick Intuition shaver has been out for months now) but if you've ever heard my shaving horror story (think 7th grade, generic razor, lotion and unstoppable bleeding for a half hour) then you'll understand my hesitance in trying new shaving products.

I've learned my lesson. NEVER shave without shaving cream. So even with the allure of this all-in-one razor I stuck by my Gillette Venus + Satin Care Shaving Cream combo. That and the fact that I bought a ridiculously large family pack of Venus refills at Costco. Oh and also because the Intuition is kinda pricy.

But last night I put the Schick Intuition to a test (endangering my limbs in the process) and tried it for the first time. Although nothing compares to the feeling of thick lathered up shaving cream, the Intuition really impressed me. There wasn't a time when I felt like I could get a nick or a cut (which actually comes quite often with the Venus) and I got a very smooth, very close shave. I love the convenience of the all-in-one, it made shaving quick, smooth and painless. Even on tough spots like the knees and underarms (where you would normally go over it at least a few times in different directions), the Intuition excelled. Not needing to reapply the shaving cream really cuts down the time and ups the convenience factor.

Soo... if you haven't tried it yet, you really should. ~.~

P.S. I just saw online that there is a new cucumber melon scented solid... my favorite scent! I'm going to have to check at home to see if mine is this new scent. =)

Eyelash Extensions Pt III

2005-09-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

Okay so I went for my 2nd Refill. I went for about 2 1/2 months without a refill and my eyelashes were BARE. Well, not any thinner or shorter than my original lashes before all the extensions but after being used to long lush lashes... my own lashes looked bald without the boost :(

This time I wanted a more dramatic look... She gave me 3 options.

1) She could use thicker lashes which will immediately make my lashes look much fuller, but this will compromise longevity of the lashes and I will need a refill in 2-3 weeks as opposed to 4-6 weeks. No can do.

2) She could coat the regular lashes to give it a permanent "mascara" look.... BUT... it can look a little "clumpy" Um, no thanks.

3) She could use longer lashes. LONGER lashes? All this time you had even longer lashes? So of course I agreed!

So she mixed in long, longer, and longest lashes. Towards the insides of my eyes were just the regular long lashes. Towards the middle she mixed in the long with longer, and the corners of my eyes were a mix of the longer and longest. Results? Wow!

Now everyone notices right off the bat that I have longer lashes.... but they still look natural. In the way that they don't look like clumpy mascara'd lashes. When you look up close you can tell that they're not completely my lashes.... they're just too long. But from a conversation distance (like 3 ft+... anyone closer than that to you is too close) they're much more subtle and look really good. They curl up much better than the ones I had last time and they really open up my eyes, making them much bigger.

I will post pictures soon. Unfortunately I forgot my camera cable at work :(

P.S. I've seen pictures of extensions done at the Jim Wayne Salon in Beverly Hills (reported in US Magazine as $295 a session) and they look HORRIBLE! Well, not in just the picture of Kimberly Stewart but I saw some pictures up close and it looks like they are very messy with the glue, giving it a very clumpy mascara look. I think Asian salons (Korean ones, in particular) still do the best job. My extensions fuse smoothly with my own eyelashes so they look like a single eyelash... you cannot see the glue at all.

==
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about...
read Part I ... and Part II.

**edit:
Here are some pictures that I took of a poster at my eyelash gal's salon. They're *not* of my eyes but my before and after are VERY similar. The same dramatic difference. My eyes just aren't as prettily shaped as hers. ~.~

Notice how much bigger her eyes look in the after? I think the weight of the lashes makes the double eyelid more prominent and therefore opens her eyes even bigger. It's been 2 weeks so far with these new "extra long lashes" and so far they're still long and curl up! :)

P.S. If you've had your lashes done and you are satisfied with the salon that you go to, please e-mail me the location, phone number and price of your extensions. I would like to put together a little directory for everyone so I'd appreciate the submissions. Thank you!!!

Halt on Summer

2005-09-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

Okay first of all I apologize for the halt on summer.... the weather just started getting cooler and I was thinking... I should concentrate in the "now" for now. Spring/Summer's great and all but it's time to focus on Fall!

First of all I had a lot of great jeans come in at the office... so I've added another 6 pairs to my wardrobe. I don't have THAT many jeans... I just counted the other night, this brings my total to 38 pairs. Leading the pack are my True Religions (5), Citizens of Humanity (4), 7 for all Mankind (5) and Rock & Republics (4). So recently I added a pair of 7 for all Mankind Havana's, Rock & Republic Scorpions in a dark wash [my old one in vapor was butchered by the tailor] and a pair of Capital Tailors denim trousers I'm planning on cutting into capri's. These 3 I bought on sale for $69, $59, and $10 respectively. Good deal!

The other 3 pairs I got were from a recent shipment for my office. I absolutely love them for Fall.

This is a pair of Antik's, new for fall with the copper stitching. I love the contrast of the whipstitching on the hem in a copper/yellow thread. Also this pair is in a much thinner and softer fabric than most Antik are. Kind of dressy but very "fall".

These are my favorite. They are a new special edition featuring embroidery in Japanese Style Art. It's a gold hawk in a pine tree... around the waistband and near the front 2 pockets are little pine leaves which look like soft white dandelions. Very cute. Very dressy and surprisingly very flattering when you put them on.

These are my first pair of Joe's Jeans. [Socialite in Light Credence] Well... actually my second but my first I bought over 2 years ago so those don't count. They didn't even have style names back then. Anyhow I have to admit these jeans are not that cute nor special... but once I tried them on I never took them off. Who knew Joe's Jeans were so comfortable? So these I've dubbed as my comfy 'everyday' jean.

[P.S. For those of you who live outside of Southern California, e-mail me at closettherapy@gmail.com if you are interested in any of the items we had at the warehouse sale...]

Meanwhile... my other obsession besides denim? Handbags of course :)

Remember this? Finally, huh? After... how many months on the list? Although I was told I got the "first one Saks in San Francisco has ever seen".

And also for those days I want to give my shoulders a rest, I picked up this cutie Marni shopping bag on sale:

I'm still getting used to those oversized handles.

Now it's time to shop for some Fall tops. Hopefully I'll have time this weekend to hit the shops!

TWS @ Sunset Stages 9/9 - 9/10

2005-09-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

Pictures from our last event!

This was our first weekend event at the Sunset Stages on Sunset Blvd.

The crew at Sunset Stages kindly put up a couple of dressing rooms for us... and set up some racks for the jeans...

Well... turns out we needed triple the amount of racks for all the inventory we brought with us!

Rows and rows of denim... and corduroy. And twill too. And actually... errr.. some velvet :P

Our C&C California table... most girls' first stop...

My two favorite racks in the whole sale... our selection of Grail T-shirts, ribbed tanks, thermals, dresses, hoodies, you name it.

The Frankie B. corner covered by the Grail.

Open for business! Look at the ladies walking around with a stack of denim on their arms... talk about a work out.

In the works: an OC event, San Diego, then back to LA in time for Christmas!

Carolina Herrera, S/S 06

2005-09-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

Most guests to a show are happy to wear the host's designs... but I wonder how these ladies felt at the Carolina Herrrera show? They all toted the Mercer needlepoint bag from CH's Fall line. And it wasn't just these 5 ladies here.. you can see orange straps in the backgrounds of all of these pictures! Looks like Carolina could probably account for every bag sold that season right here at her show! ^.^

Nevertheless..
Carolina's show was filled with easy chic pieces that allegorizes Spring's ultra pretty theme. Charming details in tailored dresses, skirts and shorts dominated the runway.

This is the closest I would ever get to the "suspender" trend emerging this Spring. I love the tailoring of the shorts and the proportions of the knit tank.

Again, proportions are key! We will see more of the short-sleeved blazer, much cuter now with the petite cropped waist and puffed sleeves.

My favorite combination of colors for floral prints; the empire bust is accentuated with a large girly ribbon, simply pretty!

More "tongue" action on heels! I'm liking this criss-cross look, but I'm more likely to buy Marc Jacob's version.

Marc by Marc Jacobs, S/S 06

2005-09-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

And the band keeps marching on...

There it is! Perhaps they sent the marching band to the wrong show?

The show felt a little high school didn't it? What, with the dancer, the drum major, the cheerleader and the wrestler... it felt somewhat like a pep rally.

But once you get past the teen spirit, we are reminded why it is we like Marc.

This skirt is so a-dor-a-ble. I love the flare yet the ruching at the waist because of the folded down waistband.

Hooray for spring prints. Flowery and delicate. I can't wait to try on this jacket.

Simple, elegant, so wearable!

P.S. Will all accessories go overboard next season? [har, har] Navy stripes, duffle shapes... looks like we'll be stuck with more canvas and rope.

Fall Layering Rules

2005-09-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

Autumn is on its way and we automatically think to layering. It's the best way to transition our summer pieces into the Fall. For example... the Gold Hawk lingerie-style cami's I bought on Scoopnyc.com (BTW - on sale for $19, no tax + free shipping) will be layered under thick scoop-neck knits. But here are some layering tips for things outside of our usual wardrobes.

What to do with our ridiculously long strand necklaces from this summer?

Layer them short! Take your super-long pearls and other trinkets and loop them around your neck 3-4 times to get a multi-strand layered look. Don't variegate the lengths, loop them so they are the same length!

And now on to make-up.
I got some really good tips from my last Shu make-over!

Layer blush with a highlighter for a more natural flush. I use Shu Uemura's Water Blushers in peach (middle) and mauve (right). They go on sheer and leave a cooling sensation on the skin.

Use the peach high on the cheekbones to the corner of the eye. This will reflect more light from the cheekbones to brighten up the complexion. Just smooth it on and blend up and back with your fingers. Then use the darker/pink color right on the apple of your cheeks and blend down and around (but not up) with your fingers.

Layer your eyeshadow with a similar shade for a multi-dimensional finish. Now that summer is over I try to stay away from bronze or orange golds and I stick to natural peach golds.

I start with a neutral beige to cover up any redness on my eyelids. Then I smooth on the peach (left) all over my eyelid, layering it thicker towards the inner eye. Then I layer on the gold near my crease and towards the outer eye. This color adds a very subtle but noticeable radiance to the eyes.

Layer your summer glosses on darker lipstick/lip liner for a new Fall look. Don't get rid of your pale, peachy colors.

I use a medium-toned caramel sheer lipstick as a base then I use a lip brush to blend this gold (Jasmine) gloss on top. It softens the lipstick and adds just the right amount of shine. (Not to mention it smells really good ~.~)

Marc Jacobs, S/S 06

2005-09-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

The opening marching band spectacle had me fearing yet another season of military-style marching band coats, but thankfully we were blessed with a sophistcated collection that breathed an airy elegance. Large, oversized collars and tie-belts dominated the runway with lofty and invigorating silhouettes.

This seemingly blank canvas holds all of Marc's S/S attributes, the oversized (but not overpowering) collar and lapel and the airy loftiness of the body. Does so much for such a simple shirtdress.

Two basics that embody this season's silhouette~ a high-rise skirt holding a tuft of air.

A trench with just the right amount of sheen and baggy bermudas seem to be next season's staples.

Also we get a peek into Marc's [fine?] jewelry line. I've been on the hunt for dainty minimalist necklaces (after this season's chunky woodsy necklaces I need something girly) and these are the perfect fit. I absolutely love, need, and want the one on the left.

The lift in these sandals and wedges are perfectly balanced with the thick cross-straps and small tongue.

And finally, Marc Jacobs' long-awaited launch into the world of time. As promised, his first pieces are dainty and lady-like with a strong vintage sense.

Luca Luca, S/S 06

2005-09-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

On a lesser note, one show that did not fare so well (in my opinion) was Luca Luca: an extravagant mix of frilly, overdone pieces in unflattering cuts. After all, if it doesn't look good on a model, then who will it look good on? Some of the dresses reminded me of a prom with a really bad tropical theme. Well, not even prom... some of the dresses were a bit junior high. (i.e. the first two) Even the separates managed to make the model look fat.

The only piece I did like, was this one:

Luella Bartley, S/S 06

2005-09-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

I'm still very partial about Luella Bartley. Partial to bags and now maybe shoes. Not yet partial to Ready-to-Wear. The nautical theme gave the show more of a "Resort" feel, which somehow makes it less convincing as a collection.

I did "feel" this bag though... structured and sophisticated. But are we still embelleshing our accessories with accessories?

The nautical theme did work well with this clutch. After the large hobos of this fall, a sleek, medium-sized clutch will be refreshing. I am planning on giving my shoulders a rest this coming Spring and stick to handhelds.

I think these boxy totes will be a big hit... I just can't wait to see what other [normal] colors and prints they will come in.

The peep-toe is back with a more dainty heel. The bow steps dangerously close to the 80's, but the contrast heels brings it back to updated status.

Let the games begin!

2005-09-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

My first shot at a runway review~

Doo.Ri, Spring/Summer '06
A prevalently nude and blush collection with remnants of last Spring's architecturally draped dresses. Doo Ri Chung's silk and satin creations will represent the femininely dainty side of Spring. Overall the collection was very muted and soft, allowing the individual wearing it to instill their own character.

My favorite piece in the collection is the trench coat with a stand-up collar.

This drape-y top is sure to become a red carpet favorite for casual events. I love the proportions~ also that it shows off the shoulders but has a conservative neckline.

The movement of this dress gives just a hint of figure. I love the flattering neckline as well.

This cocktail dress is the complete opposite of the previous one. Its structured tailoring (and a bustline that is reminiscent of Proenza Schouler's) and delicate sheen exudes simplicity and luxury.

New York Fashion Week! S/S '06

2005-09-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

The NY Fashion Week Shows start tomorrow! To celebrate, I've compiled some of my favorite A/W 05 runway looks that were worn by celebrities recently. Enjoy for now~ more to come on S/S '06 very soon...

Jennifer Lopez in Ralph Lauren A/W 05

Jessica Alba in Monique Lhullier A/W 05

Kirsten Dunst in Lacroix A/W 05

Mischa Barton in Gucci A/W 05

Hllary Duff in Dolce & Gabbana A/W 05

Sienna Miller in Roland Mouret A/W 05

Lindsay Lohan in Dolce & Gabbana A/W 05

Eva Longoria in Doo Ri A/W 05

Victoria Beckham in Gucci A/W 05

Jessica Simpson in Alexander McQueen A/W 05

Ashlee Simpson in Chloe A/W 05

Rachel Bilson in Derek Lam Resort 05

... and my favorite ...

Miss Piggy in S/S 05

Attention Cali girls!!

2005-09-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

It's denim sample sale time again,
with lots of jeans for both women and men.
We're the only sale with your favorite brands,
so bring your bf, you'll need two extra hands!
We'll be on Sunset for two whole days,
but to come in early, ya gotta pays!
The VIP preview will be lots of fun,
you'll get first picks and save a ton!
So come one, come all to our lovely sale,
but don't forget to RSVP and bring your e-mail!

www.the-warehouse-sale.com to RSVP for free.

September 10, 2005 :: 9am - 5pm

Sunset Stage
6063 W. Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
(One block East of the Palladium)

The Kitson Conspiracy

2005-09-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

This past lazy Saturday I stopped by Kitson on Robertson to conduct some denim "research"... bad decision. There was a barricade of papparazi and rabid fans holding up camera phones crowded on the sidewalk. I couldn't.. resist .. the urge ... to peek. (Besides, I was walking out of the parking garage next to the store so I was right already there anyway, right?)

Ah, no wonder.

Then as I strained my neck one last time to try to get a view of Paris' ring (again, couldn't help it!) I started to realize how extremely staged this entire "show" was. I've heard rumors about the Hilton Sisters' "deal with Kitson"... getting stuff for free... calling ahead of time to arrange visits so they can be sure papparazi is waiting... getting paid $10k per visit... lots of rumors.

But seriously speaking:
1) It was a Saturday. I've run into celebs in that store before, but usually on weekdays. It's only natural that they'd want to avoid the weekend crowds? But this was a Saturday, flat out in the middle of the day.

2) The TEAM shirts. What a shameless plug. May I add that within 20 minutes of the girls' leaving, Team Aniston shirts were all sold out and there were only 2 Team Jolie shirts left.

3) Oh Paris, do you really need to hold up EVERYTHING you're looking at really high for the entire store to see?

4) The girls visited every corner, nook and cranny of the store except for, of course, the cashier.

Neiman Marcus Beauty Event

2005-09-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

It's time to stock up on beauty goodies again! Neiman Marcus is giving out beauty bags with the following samples for all beauty purchases $85+.

• Laura Mercier Metallic Cream Eye Colour in Gold, 0.15 ounce
• Natura Bisse Diamond Ice-Lift Mask, 0.5 ounce
• Kiehl's Since 1851 Creme de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream, 5ml
• Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick palette
• Dior Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Parfum, 0.04 ounce
• PRADA Eau de Parfum, 0.05 ounce
• N.V. Perricone, M.D. Skin & Total Body Dietary Supplements packette
• Orlane Paris Pure Jeunesse Eye Contour Concentrate, 0.1 ounce
• Fresh V-Tonic Foaming Shea Butter Body Cleanser and V-Tonic Body Cream, 5ml each
• Valentino V Eau de Parfum, 0.06 ounce
• Molton Brown Rose Granati Fine Liquid Hand Wash, 30ml

And of course, it's always good to double up on the freebies by combining this with one of their beauty bonuses. My favorites:

Gift with $85 Prada purchase.

Gift with $85 Kiehl's purchase.

Gift with $250 La Mer purchase.

Gift with $100 Laura Mercier purchase.

Gift with $100 Trish McEvoy purchase.

www.neimanmarcus.com

2005-09-05T23:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know this thing gets more press than Paris Hilton. We've all read about how amazing and nourishing to the hair the T3 Tourmaline Dryer is... but how many of us actually shelled out $200 to try it? Exactly.

Especially since I don't do anything fancy with my dryer~ I mean, I've never mastered the whole dryer in one hand and brush in the other thing (so which hand picks up the hair to put it in the brush?!). I've only used a hair dryer to quickly blow out my hair just enough so I can go to sleep on a dry pillow. Anything fancier than that, I whip out my straightening iron. So I couldn't justify the $200.

Then I saw the T3 overnight dryer... I have a friend who uses the regular-sized "featherweight" version and she mentioned that it is still heavy enough to strain her arm. Well, this one is much smaller and lighter! (But still has 1200 watts of power) And this dryer is almost half the price of the other one, at $130. I decided right away that I needed one.

I found a great deal on eBay~ $79 + $5 shipping. [Once you've started bidding on eBay, you get this kind of rush and end up browsing for more =)] Can't beat that! And within a week I got my new dryer and tested it out. It definitely cut my drying time by about half! Also it's much quieter than my old Conair. I normally just blow the air while running my fingers through my hair, to get it dry. With my old dryer, the ends of my top layers would sometimes frizz outwards, making a small flip. Using the same method with this dryer, I got much smoother results.

So, the moral of the story is: this dryer makes my hair very happy.

Also I should give an update on the Phytomer hair & nails supplement I was taking. It's pretty darn hard to remember to take a vitamin every day. At my best I did it for about 4 days straight. My hair was softer and smoother immediately, but now I realize it was probably because of the change of shampoo. (To Kerastase Soleil) After about a month of off-and-on taking the vitamin, my hair seemed to grow a little faster, but not by much. And at about that time the effects of the shampoo seemed to be wearing off so I switched back to Kerastase's Bain Satin 1. My hair was super-soft again!

So, the moral of this story is: switch between shampoos and hair products to always get the best out of your hair. Too long with a certain type of shampoo and the results will plateau.

Getting in the mood for Fall..

2005-09-05T23:31:00.000-07:00

No matter what season it is I like to invest in basic pieces that I can work in with any trend-of-the-moment... but this entry won't be about that. I'm going to admit how cheap I am with trendy clothes... you know, the ones that start with Jessica Simpson in US Mag, last about 3 weeks (about 2 times wear?), then end with Britney Spears rocking it barefoot in a Malibu bathroom.

I'm still in a non-commital state for Fall Fashion... It's still too hot to go out and shop for Fall clothes (imagine TRYING ON sweaters and coats in this 90 degree weather!) But shopping online makes it much easier. And bargain hunting online is something I can do.

So I visit JT and Co's eBay store~ which somehow always has all the newest BCBG styles, to take a browse. Sure it takes about a week to get your goodies in the mail but that beats paying retail. :)

And this is what I've ended up with:

Baggy culottes in dark brown. So cute with pumps! I might wear these with some loafer pumps for this Fall, still looking for the perfect ones.

Cape-y cardigan in a creamy white. Flatters the figure really well, gives you broad but not chunky shoulders, and it lengthens your torso.

Printed skirt. Something about the color combination got me.

Long peasant skirt in avocado green. (Very light bleach-y green) Even though it's a very "summer" trend, I'm thinking of ways to work it into Fall, like pairing it with blazers, slouchy sweaters, etc.

Click here to view JTandCo's eBay shop.

Lust item for Fall.

2005-08-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

There hasn't been much reason to give Salvatore Ferragamo a second look... until this season. I've always regarded Ferragamo as looking a little bit old, or should I say mature, so I was pleasantly surprised to see their new "it" bag for the Fall Season.

The Crochet Bag is finally done tastefully right with an updated, slouchy shape and enough hardware to give it a young appeal.

I could do a ton with this bag.

But, I can also do a ton with $1390. So this shall remain on my "lust" list for now... I'm sure the trend will not last too long... and furthermore with my clumsiness it will be next to impossible to keep this clean!

...pssst....
One more lust item...

Fendi Embroidered Spy Bag.

On a Personal Note...

2005-08-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to address some questions~

Yes.. "Fall" articles are coming! The comic below illustrates how I feel about upcoming fall fashion... Okay, not really. I'm excited... I have a lot of ideas and thoughts I can't wait to write about... but it's hard to get in the mood for Fall Fashion when you have 102 degree weather outside!!! (Darn this heat wave in LA!)

And I typically update the blog in "batches"... Once I think of one thing to say I pretty much come up with another 5 or 6. I typically try to do a few articles a week but some weeks I'm busier than others at work. i.e. Right now we are getting ready for another Denim Sample Sale... after about 10 hours of seeing, sorting, trying-on, and just swimming in denim it's hard to think about clothes.

But I just got back from Shu Uemura's Fall makeover... so I will be writing about that soon! And I just got a new digital camera so I will be taking more pictures of recent purchases.

And I want to thank those of you who leave comments... if you ever have any questions or what not please let me know where you are from as well (in both comments and e-mails)! It will help me answer your questions. For example someone asked me recently about Winter coats... and depending if you're in LA or NY the concept of a winter coat is much different :P

Okay, well that's it for now. ~.~

Closet Therapy

Launch Update

Wearing Today

Wearing Today

Wearing Today

Wanted!

Posen V. Rodriguez

February Coupon Codes... use VISA!

Wearing Today

Shoe Trouble

Still brewing strong...

FredFlare.com 25% off for V-Day

Early Picks for Fall Trends

NY Fashion Week :: Autumn/Fall 2006

'Tis the Season to be Pre-Ordering

Recycle & Reuse

New Sponsors

Luella for Target

Nautical Fun

The London Slipper

Your Recommendations

Straight from the horse's mouth

Multi-Tasking

Niketown Union Square

Weekend Getaway

Borba Skin Boosts

A Faux-Glow during Winter's Lows...

S/S 06's single MUST-HAVE

Missing in Action

Angelina Jolie for St. John

Free Stuff: Always a good deal!

Top-down weather, patio lunching and afternoon yoga...

Christmas Gifts!

What was under the Christmas tree?

A phone for the rest of us!

Daily Routine

An apple a day keeps the oilies away.

Merry Christmas!

More than Gravity

Website Trouble

Rachel Pally Sample Sale

Caption This!

Wishlist Season

The Start of Winter...

My turn to ask you...

Thank you O.C.!

Stella McCartney for H&M

Today Only -- 40% off at Saks & Saks.com!

After-Gym Wipes

Weekend Summary

Do-It-Yourself Palette

Too cute.

Someone stop me.

While Supplies Last!

**Edited**

Free Beauty

Go Barefoot

Orla Kiely

ID Anyone?

Still Hunting..

In the Cocoon

Tara Subkoff for Easy Spirit

Recent Additions...

Everyone Worth Knowing... Not Worth Reading

Daily Routine

Addicted to Shu's

I need help!

Accessories Report Pt II

Letting things get a little hairy...

The Warehouse Sale Update

Everyone Worth Knowing

Thinking ahead

Auuuggghhhh.

Life's only necessity is the need for unnecessary things.

Other Fall Shoes

Bootiful

Pearly Whites

Zora

Shaving Intuition

Eyelash Extensions Pt III

Edited