Author Archives: Barneys Girl

Valentino- Histoire Tote

04 Monday May 2009

Posted by in Fashion

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

When I think of Valentino, red dresses and evening wear comes to mind. I’ve never really associated Valentino with accessories. But as it is, the Valentino accessories sample sale is going on right now, and my friend got me thinking about the Histoire.

valentino-histoire

It is supposedly one of those “it” bags that everyone loves, comparable to the Balenciaga Motorcycle or the YSL Muse back in the days. When I first saw it a year or so ago when it was first popular, my first thought was,”…….it looks like that Mulberry bag.” And between the Chloe Paddington and the Mulberry Roxanne bag back in the days, I was always more of a Paddington girl. I get that it is really handy as it fits just right on your shoulders, has a neat shape, fits everything and has little pockets on the side so that your cell phone and lipgloss don’t get lost in the black hole that is a girl’s bag nowadays. But this one is just too much. The structure, the many side pockets, the flap, the buckles and the braids … all together just makes it look very messy and old. Like those over embellished dresses from way way way back. Less is more. 

The other thing that bothers me is that it is a rectangular shaped bag designed to be carried on the shoulder. Maybe I’m getting old and set in my ways, but somehow along the way it has been ingrained into me that this shape kind of bag belongs on the arms. It just seems very awkward and bulky to carry on the shoulder even if it fits just right.

valentino-nuage-hobo

When it comes to shoulder bags, I much prefer the slouchy hobo style, like the Valentino Nuage bag. It just seems more casual, relaxed and comfy. I am loving this one actually. The shape and style is classic, while the exxagerated bow on the side gives it that extra special girly touch that makes it cute! Now if you see this at the Valentino sample sale…snag it quick!

Image Source: Saks

Bulls vs Celtics: Game 6

02 Saturday May 2009

Posted by in Lifestyle, Random Musings

≈ 4 Comments

The other night, I went to my first NBA game (even though I’ve been around in Chicago for over 4 years). From all records, we picked a very good game to watch. I believe it was a playoff game, the 6th in the series between the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics. In English, it means the two teams play 7 games, and whoever wins 4 games first gets to move onto the next round. In game 5, the bulls lost, which meant that they must win game 6 in order to move on.i.e. this was a big game!

dsc04616

I must say, I enjoy watching basketball muchbetter than baseball. In the last 2 White Sox games I went to, we took a picture and left. I lasted through the entire 3.5 hours of this game, and there weren’t too many dull moments! To begin with, it is a much simpler sport to understand, with a much faster pace, that even an amateur like me can appreciate. More importantly though, with 95% of the stadium in red, the atmosphere was thrilling. I was surprised at how blatantly the audience and the stadium put down the other team, it doesn’t seem like a very nice/hospitable/good sport thing to do, but I suspecgt it is part of the charm of watching basketball- we all get a chance to let our inner high schoolers out. The scoreboards very creatively cheered the Bull’s on and called for defense when the Celtics attacked. The  audience too cheered the bulls and unabashedly boo-ed the Celtics, with the audience sitting directly behind the Celtic’s goal frantically waving shiny distractions whenever the Celtics had a penalty shot, in the hopes that they’ll miss. I especially enjoyed the half sober audience in my section, chanting things like, “Celtics sucks!”, I haven’t heard that in a long time! I would like to thank the one lone Celtic fan in my section, dressed in green, for providing me with such entertainment, as the people around shouted obscenities and threw fries at you. Yes, I take joy in other people’s misfortunes.

The game itself was pretty exciting. It was a super close call, with triple over time! At one point towards in the last quarter, the Celtics were winning, but then the Bulls swiftly caught up and pushed pass 100 points (yay, free Big Mac for us!) and they were tied. Then every time we thought the Bulls were going to win, the Celtics miraculously caught up (they hold up very well under pressure!). It’s amazing how 20 seconds in a game could matter so much in a game. I definitely got my money’s worth in terms of excitement, intensity and length of game. In fact, I personally thought it was a bit too long. After the second O.T, the boy who cried wolf came to mind. You keep on thinking this is it and you get all hyped up, but then the Celts catch up and you get another5 minutes. And it’s not just 5 minutes, no. Both sides kept on calling Time Outs, that the Love-a-Bulls cheerleaders were getting not so loveable. Finally the Bulls won by one point and all was well. It was straight out of a movie, where they struggle behind, but finally prevail in the end.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the entertainments in between the game. The tic-tac-toe, the doughnut race (too bad my donut came up short!), the people jumping on trampolines shooting hoops, the magicians who had a million different outfits (they must get ready reallyquickly in the morning), the plastic container drummers (even though I think they’re more impressive on the streets) and the parachuting tshirts. I’m by no means now a basketball fan, I’d still prefer a DVF sample sale any day, but it was definitely more fun than baseball.

Go Bulls tonight!

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

30 Thursday Apr 2009

Posted by in Random Musings, Travel

≈ 6 Comments

At the persuasion of a friend, I bidded for 2010 FIFA World Cup tickets back in March. It was the first phase of ticket sales, and tickets are selected on a lottery basis. I figured that I’d have nothing to lose. In the unlikely chance that I get good tickets, I can just resell them and earn a hefty profit on Ebay. It is the World Cup after all, the number one sport everywhere besides the US. There are bound to be lots of wealthy individuals eager for some good tickets. And if I do happen to get finals tickets…. well maybe then I’d consider trekking all the way to South Africa. As luck would have it….

Product Category No of Tickets Status Amount to Pay
Match 60, QF – W55 v W56 – 3 July, Johannesburg 20.30 CAT1 4 Successful 1,200.00
Match 58, QF – W49 v W50 – 2 July, Johannesburg 20.30 CAT1 4 Successful 1,200.00
Match 56, R16 – 1H v 2G – 29 June, Cape Town 20.30 CAT1 4 Successful 800.00
Match 62, SF – W59 v W60 – 7 July, Durban 20.30 CAT1 4 Successful 2,400.00

…. I did get pretty decent tickets. Out of the 7 requests I could make, I got 4 of them. I didn’t get the finals, but I did get 4 first class tickets to see the semi finals. And another 8 to see the quarter finals. That’s pretty good!

In case you’re wondering though, no, I have not forked out $5600 for these yet. Now that I have them, all my daydreaming about reselling them for a ridiculous amount has become a possibility and I’m chickening out. I’m getting worried about the reselling policies. I don’t want to fork out $5600 right now, just in case I can’t resell them (I don’t like soccer that much). Also, what if no one WANTS it? It IS the recession and it IS in South Africa. I’m sure that it is very civilized there now and they will clean it up even more before the World Cup (just like they did in Beijing), but still it’s hard to get the image of the apartheid and the stories you’ve heard over the years out of your head. I don’t mean to be small minded, but I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking this…….. which will definitely affect the resell value! And I checked, I don’t think I can just buy the semi final tickets. I have to buy them all. What to do…

I wonder why I’m  “lucky” enough to get a bunch of World Cup tickets and yet I’ve never gotten even one number in the lottery.

New York, New York II

29 Wednesday Apr 2009

Posted by in Dining, Fashion, Lifestyle, Travel

≈ 4 Comments

I’m baaaack! Besides my flight home being delayed by 2 hours even though the sky was clear on both ends (I’m baffled), I had a wonderful time. Some highlights/conclusions:

  1. Hair Kuwayama: I got the straight fringe! It’s a bit strange, but I’m starting to get used to it. So far the feedback has been mostly positive. Nari my hairstylist was also very cute, Japanese and careful. At first she chopped my hair off completely horizontally *which freaked me out no end*, but once she was done she did the side thing and layered it right *phew*
  2. Battery Park: I stopped by to visit a friend. It is SUCH a nice neighborhood. There is a harbor front that faces the Statue of Liberty. It totally doesn’t feel like New York, and yet it is super close to Wall Street!
  3. Peter Lugers: Out of the 365 days in a year it is opened, I picked the one evening when it catches on FIRE. I trudged ALL the way to Brooklyn in my heels (the subway station exit was kind of sketchy!) and arrived to two fire trucks parked outside and all the staff and customers sitting on the steps opposite the restaurant. It took us half an hour to figure out what was happening (it was definitely not going back to business that evening) and then another 15 minutes to figure out how to get a cab in the middle of nowhere- with a LOT of luck. Clearly Peter and I are just not meant to be. We ended up at BLT steaks. If you ever need a quick reservation on a Friday night at 8pm, this is a good place to go….

    4. dsc04591

  4. Maru: This place has gone downhill since the last time I visited (maybe a year or so ago?), but it still has the best lychee soju in town!
  5. Pastis: We got a table outdoors and I loved the atmosphere. The cobblestones, the open space, it felt like I was back in Paris again! It is also close to the DVF headquarters, so it’s super convenient 😛
  6. Top Shop: The line has abated. But it was not that great. Like Anthropologie, the website is better than the actual store. My experience there was exactly as I remembered it when I first went to the TopShop at Oxford Circus. I tried on a lot of things that I liked, some fit well, but then the price didn’t seem to correlate with the quality.
  7. Baked by Melissa: A little cupcake store just off Broadway near TopShop. They are seriously tiny for $1, but they are a tiny bite of heaven.
  8. Bloomingdales: The sales was not that great… I feel like it can be better. I did spotted a pair of Tory Burch thongs I now have my eye on!
  9. Marc by MJ: Seems like it has become more of a tourist destination if anything. The store was tiny, hot and crowded… I couldn’t wait to get out. The stuff were not worth it.
  10. Sweet Revenge: A delightful little dessert/wine bar in a quiet quaint area. The perfect spot to catch up with your girlfriends for a bit of afternoon gossip with some sweets and booze.
  11. Mara Hoffman Sample Sale: I didn’t think I’d find anything, because prints is not usually my thing. But I was pleasantly surprised. More on this later 🙂
  12. Dessert Truck: It’s a cute concept, but maybe fine dining just isn’t my thing. I tried the chocolate molten cake and while the texture was awesome, I found the salt on the cake really strange. I half wondered if they accidentally sprinkled on salt instead of sugar… but then the menu does mention sea salt.
  13. Ippudo: The wait was a hour, but you can always stop by the Dessert Truck while you wait (it’s right around the corner). The fried chicken thing was quite good and the ramen was very interesting too. The ramen didn’t look like regular ramen, but it tasted quite good!
  14. Chikalicious: I didn’t end up trying the tasting menu (long line and that place is TINY), but I did try a few cupcakes at the dessert bar across the street. Don’t like the s’mores one, but the triple chocolate is quite good.
  15. Joe’s Shanghai: I miss Shanhainese food because we don’t have any in Chicago, so I came here (I think this is the website). I’m not sure it compares to Hong Kong, but it’s definitely quite decent and satisfied my craving. They don’t have the traditional Shanghainese noodles though… what they do have is like udon.
  16. The Frick Collection: A beautiful collection. For a Sunday, it was not too crowded (at least not as crowded as the Met!). The atmosphere was peaceful, soothing and intimate. It really achieved it’s goal of putting art in the surroundings it was meant to be enjoyed in. There was also an interesting documentary about Mr. Frick, another admirable man.
  17. Crumbs: The verdict is out. I think I’m a convert to Crumbs. The cupcakes are HUGE (it’s really a small cake) and even after a day, the cake is moist. The icing is decent (not as sweet as Magnolia) and I liked the variety it offered. Also love how there’s stuff in the middle. So far the chocolate and the cookie dough is pretty good.
  18. Lady M: I’m officially OVER cupcakes and the likes and have converted to everything Lady M. Located in a quiet street on the upper east side, this small cake shop is elegant and chic. The staff were super professional and the decor was clean and elegant, with gorgeous displays of white calla lilies. But most of all, the cakes were simply divine. I tried the original Mille Crepes (SO GOOD) and the checker cake. Made of at least 20 layers of crepes in between cream, it was absolutely mouthwatering. You’d think the checker cake would be waay too sweet and dry, but it was perfect. It was not too sweet and it had just the right texture- light and fluffy. I’ve had a LOT of sweets and cakes in my 20 odd years, and seriously, these were one of the best. Even though they’re a bit pricier at $8 a piece, it is totally worth it. An absolute MUST go. Who needs Magnolia when there is Lady M?

Yes, it was a very sweet trip indeed.

Apple Garde

27 Monday Apr 2009

Posted by in Fashion

≈ 2 Comments

Today I came across the Apple Garde Rain and Stain Repellent. Like the UGG spray, this is a protection/repellent spray for leather goods. It is supposedly good for leather, suede and fabric. It apparently works amazing well:

“The Apple Garde was suggested to the ladies in the LAMB forum by a wonderful TPFer named Luna and she doesn’t know it yet, but she totally saved my MBMJ Dr. Q Groovee Satchel!!! I spilled an entire coke on the ground at the movies this past weekend and some got on my bag, but it all wiped right off because I had just treated it the night before with Apple Garde. After that little fiasco, I came home that night and went over the rest of my bags with it!!”

From a closer source, my friend G just received her bottle today. She sprayed it on one of her leather shoes, put it under a running tap and reported that the water just smoothly rolls off! One of her friends also uses it to spray the leather parts of her Vuitton bags i.e. the beige handles, which in my opinion is one of their biggest Achille’s heels quality wise. It is the first part to change color and give off the signs of age. But I hear that this product help slows down this effect remarkably well for her.gardebuyshot

Who can resist after all these raving reviews? Mostly I’m planning to use them on my leather shoes. They can definitely use some attention. I’m also thinking about my pale pink leather bag, which actually changes color whenever water gets on it. It kind of dries clear, but it is still kind of murky (though I’m not sure if it is the water or denim- maybe this will protect against denim stains too!). Though… is it weird to spray a whole bag with a protective spray?  The description says that the spray dries clear and would not affect coloring of light leather, but still…. Wouldn’t it affect the natural texture and beauty of the leather by putting a layer of gloss on it? I’m not too concerned about my shoes… but leather bags are infinitely more valuable! I guess I’ll try it in small unnoticeable patches first.

They are only $8.95 + $6 shipping cost. But from now until April 30th, if you want to buy this, there is a 20% off coupon you can use. If you manage to get together 2 other girlfriends (or guy friends) also interested in this, you can combine your order and effectively eliminate the shipping cost (I managed to gather 3 other girlfriends!). Time to show your beloved leather goods some love!

New York, New York!

23 Thursday Apr 2009

Posted by in Dining, Fashion, Lifestyle, Travel

≈ 6 Comments

So I’m heading for New York this weekend (tomorrow!) and here is my list of places I hope to hit while I’m there (in no particular order):

  1. Hair Kuwayama: I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard great thing about this salon on Yelp. I have a mind to try this hairstyle… but we’ll see how it goes and I’ll report back!
  2. Peter Lugers: Since steak is one of my all time favourite savory food, I simply must pay my respects to this legendary steak house! This trip, I finally managed to get a reservation!
  3. Chikalicious: The latest hotspot for dessert I’m told.
  4. Dessert Truck: Fining dining desserts on a truck. This is my kind of street food!
  5. Sweet Revenge: Just because the DABA girls said so.
  6. Pastis: A NYC experience wouldn’t be the same without brunch.
  7. Bloomingdales: Just because of the F&F event this weekend and there’s less sales tax in NYC compared to Chicago
  8. Top Shop: Even though there aren’t any great sample sales this weekend, I will hopefully be able to pick something up here- given that there’s no longer a line getting in!
  9. Lady M: The Mille Crepes look divine…..
  10. The Frick Collection: Since I’m sure the Met would be packed, I thought the Frick will be a bit different. Plus, the garden looks amazing.
  11. Ippudo: I’m not sure why Japanese ramen and yakitori is so popular in NYC, but I heard it’s worth the wait in line!
  12. K Town: For some lychee soju (at this bar you have to go up the elevator for, but I forgot the name) and maybe some Pink Berry? I still have not tried the magic of Pink Berry yet!
  13. Crumbs: Better than Magnolia? We’ll see….
  14. Magnolia: Just for old times sake, I think the icing is a tiniest bit too sweet! Maybe this time I’ll try the banana pudding instead.
  15. WD-50: According to Tina over at Fashion Prospectress, they have an impressive 5 course dessert tasting menu there

I fear my stomach stomach will not be able to handle all this!

Marc by MJ: Special Items

20 Monday Apr 2009

Posted by in Fashion

≈ 11 Comments

My friend R just got back from San Francisco andtold me that she got Marc by Marc Jacob rainboots for less than $30. My first reaction was, “are they printed with lots of hearts and M’s on it in a weird color?”

When she replied no, I thought “Wow they must be on really good sale!” and asked “Where on earth did you find such good deal in SF?”

“From the Marc by Marc Jacobs store and they were not on sale” she replied with a smile from a girl who knows she got a good bargain.

I was flabbergasted! How could this be? The cheapest pair I can find googling Marc by MJ rainboots is more than $40, and frankly they are not that attractive. Finally R resolved the mystery by pointing me to the Special Items section on the Marc by MJ website.

marc-by-mj-rainboots-28

Apparently it is part of a collection of “Special Items” sold only at Marc by MJ stores for a very low price. It’s been around for a while, but I guess I just never went into the right store or never noticed because I assumed everything is expensive in the store and focused my efforts on the key items that I liked.  I’m not generally an advocate of buying something just because it comes from a brand name, but these rainboots are seriously cute! They a classic and easy to match in black, with bright pops of color on the heel and buckle that makes it special, fun and young. I’m really kicking myself now for not waiting a little bit longer in buying my Target rainboots. After much consideration I had decided to go for the Target pokka dot ones, because I figured I can just kick around with them and throw them away without too much sorrow after a season. But now that I know I can get these ones for $5 more…….. mine pale in comparison. At the very least, with these Marc by MJ ones, I won’t have to worry about water leaking in (I read some pretty scary reviews on the Target one about water seeping in and the sole coming off!).

marc-by-mj-special

 Naturally other cute items on the website caught my eyes too. I especially like the lipstick pen and the bracelet!

Image Source: Marc by MJ

Sephora 15% Off

16 Thursday Apr 2009

Posted by in Fashion

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

It’s not everyday that a girl hears that Sephora is going on a 15% off sale (only in a recession). Upon hearing the news this afternoon, I immediately went onto the Sephora website to do some browsing. Apparently I was not the only one, because the website was down for a while. But relax ladies, this sale lasts until Tuesday April 21st, so we still have time to do some pondering.

sephora-1

My first thought was, wow what a coincidence, I was just looking for a new eye cream on MUA this weekend! A recent article on anti-aging in Allure prompted me to think about getting something with anti-aging agents like antioxidants and retinol, because it is never too early to start. I’m currently using La Roche Posay, Active C. I bought it on the recommendation of readers from I am Fashion. It has vitamin C and is very reasonably priced. It stings a little bit at first, but over all it is very light weight and seems to do the job. By that I mean that my eyes didn’t start to flake from dryness and it didn’t give me millia. Beyond that, I really cannot tell. I’m still waiting to discover the magical eye cream that will change my life. I’m thinking of trying the Clinique All About Eyes (because of good MUA reviews), Shiseido (it sounds very moisturizing!) or the MD Skincare one (my friend goes to Dr Gross and says he’s amazing. He also has amazing over all product reviews on MUA!). Any thoughts?

I’m also on the lookout for a good scrub since my Peter Thomas Roth one is running low. I’m trying to consider sticking to it or trying a new one like the Murad one. It has AHA or something and apparently prevents pimples! I’m also intrigued by MD skincare’s alpha beta peel set. It has some really good reviews on MUA (usually reviews are mixed, but this one clearly skewed to the positive). But I think I can wait a few more years to try this.

One can also always use another Tweezerman tweezer. I didn’t think brand mattered before for tweezers, but I noticed the miraculous difference Tweezerman made right away!

sephora-2

 Then there are the eye shadow palettes. I’m obsessed. I don’t even wear eye shadow palettes everyday, but I love buying them. This season, the trend seems to be romantic pink shades (I’ve conveniently ignored Smashbox’s call back to untamed lands). I always thought pink makes me look punched, but ever since I saw Michelle Phan’s video onValentine make-up, I’ve wanted a pink palette! I’m convinced that with her instructions and the right shades, I can make it work!

Image Source: Sephora

Lusting After…

13 Monday Apr 2009

Posted by in Fashion

≈ 11 Comments

bow front Miu Miu slingbacks!

miu-miu-red-slingbacks

 It meets so many of my criterias:

  1. I’ve always been a flats kind of girl, because I do a lot of walking, so comfort is pretty high on my list. I also walk weird and totally destroy heels. Recently though, my friend S and J have gotten it into my head that heels should not be reserved for special occasions. They wear it around the office all the time and they look fab, and I want to look fab too! These heels will be perfect for me. They are thick, so I’ll have a lot more support and they’ll be much more durable for my stomping than stilettos.
  2. That bow is incredibly adorable!
  3. HG thinks the slingbacks date to the 90s and looks a bit old, but I like it. The slingback and the peep toe makes it more summery, fun and casual.
  4. I’ve been wanting red shoes for THE longest time, but I haven’t come across the right pair. They were either the wrong style or it looked like ketchup. This ones definitely doesn’t look like ketchup. This could be the one!

Now if only they would half the price tag……..

Image Source: Net a Porter