Filed under: Fashion
Filed under: Random Musings
Happy Mother’s Day!
This Polaroid software totally saved my carnations picture from becoming like my food pictures- artless and devoid of its original beauty. I highly recommend you giving it a try when you need to beautify your pictures. It even gradually “appears” like real Polaroids, and during this time, you can save as you wish, capturing the different effects. Afterwards, you can also rotate it as you see fit. And the best thing is, it’s free!
This year’s theme was American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity. Frankly, I’m not quite sure what that involves, but everyone looked amazing! Here are some that actually inspired me to save post their pictures on my hard drive.
I was impressed with Oprah’s Oscar de la Renta, simply because it fits her SO WELL. It looks incredibly flattering on her, bringing out the best of her assets, while also being age appropriate too!
Anna Wintour and her daughter Bee defined glamour within their respective age groups. Anna in an elegant Chanel outfit, and Bee in a trendy Balenciaga Bee carries the nude/black lace thing very well.
Of course Milla Kunis looked great in Vera Wang’s frothy creation. But more importantly, doesn’t Vera look amazing in her own design? If I didn’t know better, I’d almost believe that Vera was actually a model/actress and not a designer!
For the next few photos, I noticed a trend. Apparently this season, I have an unconscious obsession with long one shoulder white dresses. I love this dress Kirsten Dunst is wearing from Rodarte for Gap. She looks incredibly pretty and youthful in this dress. I’ve already checked the Gap website, but didn’t see anything close to this! Maybe this is something coming out later. If so, I think I might just get in line. Though hopefully there is a shorter version of it. It might look a bit wedding gown-esque on me otherwise.
Aw…….. our little Hermione is all grown up! Emma Watson looks sophisticated and edgy in this Burberry dress.
See what I mean by the white (ish) long one shoulder dress trend? This is a surprisingly elegant piece from LAMB.
Maybe everyone decided to play it “safe” this year, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that everyone at the gala looked amazing. There wasn’t anyone in particular that was so awful that I couldn’t resist but report them to the fashion police. That is, until I saw Blake Lively, but that is only because I have high standards for Gossip Girls. This overworked Marchesa gown just doesn’t look great on her. In fact, this dress drags her down, which is quite a feat for the effortlessly cool looks great in everything S!
Image Source: Style.com
I’m sure some of you have read my many rants about how none of the froyo in Hong Kong tastes right. By right, I mean like the ones in the States. After trying out most of them, I concluded that it must not be because they aren’t capable of making froyo that taste exactly the same as Pink Berry but because after extensive market research they found that Hong Kong people simply like sweet and milky tasting froyo more.
Indeed, I consulted with my friend Leo who happens to be a froyo expert, and he confirmed my suspicions. He explained that the tart and refreshing taste we’re all so used to in the States is due to citric acid, which is not found in regular supermarket yoghurt (not unless you keep it a few days past expiration date, in which case lactic acid will develop and make it taste sour). He suspects that these places use a higher ratio of milk solids and sugar to water than in the States, which usually produces smaller ice crystals and gives a more creamy mouthfeel and milky taste.
I had my hopes up that I can get Red Mango with a quick visit to S Korea, but I have it on good authority that it is no longer “the trend” anymore and so they’re not there anymore. I guess I’ll just have to adapt.
For readers in L.A. do drop by Blanc at Beverly Hills and give it a try. I have it on good authority that they try to keep everything as natural as possibl, and the owner is super cute!
Filed under: Random Musings
If you had no worries or obligations in the world, what would you do with yourself? What are some of the things you’ve always wanted to do, but never got around to doing? I haven’t come up with my whole list yet, but here is what I have so far:
- Enter a beauty pageant: This is what I wanted to do when I was a little girl, so I’m not sure if this counts. Since then, I’ve convinced myself that I just don’t have the performing gene. Plus, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t make it in anyway
- Make a scrapbook: So many memories to choose from, but where to start? I’ll get around to this one some day……
- Go paragliding: I wonder what it would be like to glide through the sky like a bird
- Ride on a hot air balloon: Just think of the lovely image that would make!
- Write a book: But on what? And I’m awful at dialogues!
- Learn mandarin: I really should be doing this one now
- Travel: Doesn’t everyone?
- Inspire and make a difference in someone’s life
- Learn to be poise and a more eloquent speaker in person
- Get the CFA charter
- Read all the books I bought that I haven’t gotten around to reading, like the Snowball Effect
- Write time letters
- Redraft my “Falling” article from non-fiction creative writing class Spring ’08
- Find my life’s passion: the bane of every twenty something’s life
I have a lot of other more materialistic goals, like own lots of apartments and a haute couture gown, but that’s probably another decade down the line. What is on your bucket list for this decade?
Filed under: Fashion
I’ve always loved cute little floral prints, so I was thrilled to learn that they’re back this season. And when I saw this See by Chloe floral print dress hanging on the rack, I simply HAD to have it. I love the cute pink floral print over the dark blue background and I love the intricate details of the dress. It looks really simple, but it is actually VERY intricate. It is a two piece that is a one piece. The top is a button up, and the front and back part are not attached to the skirt. You can leave them hanging out if you want. But it is attached to the skirt on the side by a stripe of cloth. The skirt is high waisted with a zip at the back and frills on the edges that is simply adorable. It was designed for the front/back part of the button up top to be tucked inside it. To make things more complicated, there is also a bow attached to the skirt by two buttons at the back (that need to be unbuttoned everytime you want to get out of the skirt……..), for you to tie around the waist. The over all effect is very ladylike and very pretty.
After wearing it for a few times though I have three problems with it.
- WHY did they have to make this dress so complicated??? Couldn’t they just include all the details in there and make it an one piece with a simple zip at the side/back? Why bother making it a two piece that is an one piece? It is SUPER tedious to put on and get out of (especially when you’re going shopping!) and frankly I don’t see the value in the extra steps. The prints are so overpowering, that it wouldn’t make a big difference if I left the front part of the button up hanging out instead of tucked into the skirt (even if it did, it wouldn’t look especially refreshing). Am I missing something here?
- While it is hot in Hong Kong, it is still spring and can get a bit chilly. I need something extra to pair with the dress to keep me warm, except nothing I own seems to go with it really well. My black blazer is too dark with the dark blue and it looks a little like I’m going to work- except it’s not even appropriate for work with the short skirt. My pink cardigan made me feel dowdy and my yellow cardigan just didn’t seem to go. Maybe a leather jacket. Or a really long cardigan in a lighter color. Thoughts?
- I love this dress, but sometimes the monotony of the dark print is just so overpowering that it takes away from the design and makes it look bland (especially when I also have dark hair!). I need some kind of a twist to keep it chic. Something edgy and unexpected like the floral outfits below from the Net-a-Porter magazine, where they pair floral with a solid long cardigan/belt, or clash it with stripe prints and a structured blazer. Except this dress just seems to refuse modernization. I’ve tried putting a long sleeved striped tee or a frilly white shirt underneath to no avail. Putting somethig over it doesn’t seem to work. The only thing I can think of is to replace the floral print waist bow with a wide white belt to break up the monotony of the floral prints. Or I can just wear it with my hair up, and a white neckalce so it’s not so dark. Any suggestions?
Image Source: See by Chloe and Net a Porter
Filed under: Fashion
When I was a little girl, my mom would buy me mini crossed-shoulder messenger bags to carry, because kids could not be trusted to hold onto their purses and not lose it within 5 minutes. Since then, I’ve stayed clear of mini messenger bags, because I thought it was proportionally awkward for adults to carry small bags in such a manner and they reminded me of townies/tourists.
But then last year, I noticed one of my friends carrying a very classic brown mini messenger bag across her shoulders, and somehow it looked really good on her- in that charming old school kind of way, which unexpectedly juxtaposed really well with her chic outfits. As always when I first notice something, it then started to appear everywhere. Shopbop now has a whole section devoted to crossed-shoulder messenger bags.
The other day, even my friend mentioned to me that she wanted a small crossed-shoulder bag to go partying with, so that she wouldn’t have to worry about her purse while she’s dancing. She was envisioning a small Chanel flap bag, but since it was out of her price range (and it was for clubbing), she wanted to find something cheaper to achieve the same effect. I think these two edgy bags above from Shopbop is an excellent alternative.
I’ve often wondered why my mom has so many mini crossed-shoulder messenger Vuitton bags from back in the days. Maybe she had something going on there after all. The trick to not look like a townie or a tourist is to wear these bags with an understated effortlessly chic outfit. Don’t over accessorize, you don’t want to look like you are trying too hard. Admittedly, this look is very hard to achieve. So double check yourself in the mirror before you go out!
Image Source: Shopbop
For dear readers in Hong Kong, I wanted to share with you my latest discovery: Cher2. When I moved back to Hong Kong, I was slightly sadden that I can no longer go to Bravco in Chicago (on Oak Street) or order from Beauty.com (when they’re on sale) for cheap professional nail varnish. Luckily, while reading HK blogs, I came across Cher 2. It is an upstairs chainstore that sells cheap OPI and Essie nail varnish. For those living on HK island, it is conveniently located opposite Muji at CWB. You have to get in through an entrance next to the candy store.
The best thing about it, is that it is cheap at 40-50% off the original price ($70HKD for OPI and $60HKD for Essie). If you accumulate enough points in a year, you can even get an extra 15% off! The second best thing about it, is that it has a very impressive collection of both brands! You can literally get any color you want.
For the coming Spring/Summer, I’m thinking of the three colors above from Essie. The mint green and lilac would look great with the right outfit (though the matching part could be a pain). I think the brownish color, would be a lovely alternative to nude.
On the other hand, I’m forever drawn to these pink colors. I have at least half a dozen similar shades lying around right now. But somehow, my nails never end up looking like the above. And so I keep on trying, in an attempt to find the right shade. I’m beginning to wonder if it is my nails, or whether the skin around my fingers are too red or something.
Because the price for OPI is so cheap, they have to scratch the surface a bit after check out, to mark it as a “defect” to justify their price. Kind of like how they draw a mark cross the Manolo label, when you buy Manolos for cheap at the sample sale. Before you leave, they also open the varnish for you to check to see if they’re defected inside. So far, none of mine have been. Though both HG and my mom have complained that after trying out the Essie nail varnishes they got from there, they find it a bit more coagulated than usual. I’m not quite sure if this is a problem with the store or just individual preference, but hey, it still works! So no harm checking it out if you’re in the area!
I was walking along Pacific Place and was star struck again by Susie Bubble- except this time by cardboard versions of her outside the Joyce Boutique!
I grew up with Joyce being one of the premier boutiques in town (think Browns in UK). So when I saw Susie on display at Joyce today, I felt oddly proud. It was like seeing one of my own (kind of, though she’s a much more reputable fashion blogger than I am) on the cover of Elle Magazine.
Filed under: Fashion
Lately I can’t seem to get this image of a slouchy but structured, high-waisted pair of pants out of my mind, even though I can’t pinpoint where the idea came from.
My image looks a little like this (left) from the SS10 Stella McCartney runway. In fact, they both give off the same sophisticated, effortlessly chic vibe. The long jacket, tucked in shirt and light-colored heels with these pants are definitely a good match! Especially the light colored heels. Darker colors/flats would make you look short and stumpy, given the awkward ankle length of the pants. After much research, I finally figured out what they’re called- pleated pants. It is the extra pleats on the pants that gives the hip part the oomph that gives you extra wiggle room and accentuates your figure.
I tried on a beautiful pair the other day from Dries Van Noten, though they were a bit large for me even at size 2 (maybe the design runs big?). Regardless, it was out of my price range anyway. Luckily, I found a similar pair surprisingly from Elie Tahari (above). “Surprising” because I usually associate ET with more sophisticated work clothes- but I suppose these do qualify? They’re perfect, and I’m super tempted to put in my order. My only dilema is whether to get 0 or 2!
Another pair I have my eye on, are these ones from Zara (I’m almost 90% sure that these pants (right) corresponds with the ones from the catalog (left)). Though does anyone else think that this color reminds them of the safari? I suppose I can go and try them on and see where it goes from there!
