Shopping makes me happy. Each purchase gives me a thrill. So you can imagine how dull the past two months have been given that it is only the beginning of SS09 collections and nothing is on sale yet (though they are about to start). I switched from stalking Shopbop and Saks to stalking the goods on Scottrades for a while, but even that has gotten too expensive lately. Luckily, the other day over steak with the girls, I was freshly inspired.

For the whole evening I couldn’t help but stare at my friends S’s huge flower ring and A’s adorable black/white camelia earrings. I thought the ring, being such a big fashion statement, must be super expensive and that the earrings, must surely be Chanel. I couldn’t help but confirm my suspiciouns anyway at the end of the evening and guess what? They’re cheap!  Yes, that’s right. Both are from Forever 21 for less than $10! I was so excited that I immediately made them go with me to Forever 21 after dinner. But alas, the one on Michigan Ave closes at 9.30pm on a Friday.

Of course I went home and stalked the website. After much perusal, I selected the above as the perfect accessories to start the SS09 season with:

1. A’s adorable dangly camelia earrings in white or magenta. I can’t quite decide. One is classic but summery, and the other is bright and girly!
2. S’s big flower ring in red (the bottom right one). Red just because it’s Spring (they have it in black as well that is very Chanel).
3. The multi color rhinestone ring, that reminds me a bit of Dior. Loves it!
4. Floral print mini skirt. I’m usually not a fan of Forever 21 clothing, because they never fit me or they break (either that or I’m deformed and am very careless), but this skirt looks safe enough. Pair it with a leather jacket, a gorgeous bag and some killer shoes and no one needs to know that the hemms are frailing!

The key to wearing the accessories without it looking the price is to pair it with something very simple but appropriate such that the accessory is part of the outfit. i.e. my friend paired her big ring with a simple black cardigan over her patent Members leggings and red Louboutin heels- perfect. And of course, knowing that you are worth a million dollars helps too!

If you are still clinging to the fall/winter (or cannot help but be due to the weather), here are some elegant classics. I especially love the black cube ring and the simple black pendant. The huge side bow of the purple headband may look a bit crazy, but I can imagine it being the center piece of a fab outfit (paired with a black tux jacket perhaps?)!

So if you are looking for some cheap thrills to last you until sale season, you know where to start!  

Image Source: Forever 21

I rather liked the McQueen collection. They were amped up pieces that parodied 20th century fashion landmarks from Dior, Chanel and his own archives. Take away all the theatrical jazz, they are actually very wearable and gorgeous! Not to mention the wealth of satirical meaning behind the collection. Check out the rest here.

I just have one problem: the make-up. All the models were wearing the identical, weird pasty face, sausage red lip look. He’s probably trying to focus attention on the fashion instead of the model by making them all a white canvas, but is that scary make-up necessary? How can the lovely Lily Donaldson (left) look like THAT? He might as well have hired a bunch of identical robots to for his runway.

Image Source: Style.com

Not the most impressive show, but I thought I’d mention it anyway since I’ve always had a weak spot for Chloe. Anyways, Hannah MacGibbon has been doing some serious cramming with the Chloe archives, because I’m seeing bits of the Chloe girl back on the runway.

Well, not so much the first part i.e. the first two looks above. There were just too much stuff going on, it looked confused. It needed to be more clean and effortless to be Chloe. Though those thigh high boots (first look) definitely has potential. What I did love was the latter half of the show i.e. last two looks. Doesn’t it look like these two looks are  from a completely different runway than the first two? You can definitely see the Phoebe Philo touch there. The velvet (third outfit) was a good effort on MacGibbon’s part on updating the Philo look- it’s gorgeous! But it looks like MacGibbon still has a lot of work to do to take Philo’s concept to the next level.

As Hiedi Klum says, in fashion one day you’re in and one day you’re out- and Chloe has been “out” for a long time now. So MacGibbon better hurry up and get her act together before we forget who the Chloe girl is!

Image Source: Style.com

I haven’t been paying much attention to Stella McCartney the pass few seasons, because her “sportier” sensibility didn’t go too well with my innate girliness and aversion to sports. But this season, Stella is back and the magic ingredient seems to be a pinch of tulle/lace.

There were the regular effortlessly cool jumpsuit dresses and boyfriend blazers that were pure Stella, and then there were the gorgeous tulle dresses that were just genius. Yes, Lily Donaldson’s slip dress does look a bit like a negligee, but that is nothing a good leather jacket cannot fix (think of the sharp contrast!). I’m loving the simple design, overlaying tulle and the vibrant green. The evening dress (far right) is also genius. It is revealing, but not quite because of the tulle. I’m not sure how a regular girl is going to wear that see through skirt part, but the concept is refreshing and fun.

Image Source: Style.com

Back to fashion, Karl Lagerfeld also came out with a gorgeous collection . I didn’t get his bicycle pants, feathers and fringes, but I get this return to the classics.

The collection was quintessentially Chanel, focusing on black and white, with a sprinkle of baby pink and green (to match the featured emerald colored jewelry). It featured cute ruffle sleeves that amazingly didn’t appear childish or anime-like at all. It was the perfect feminine touch to the austere black, very tailored, background. The baby pink was girly and cute. There was something there for Chanel lovers of all ages.

There were even eye candies on the runway. Dressed in handsome long black coats and what looks to be a cravat- they look like they stepped right out of a regency romance! I especially have my eye on Baptiste Giabiconi (above). Tall, dark and handsome anyone? *swoon*

Image Source: Style.com

Many old readers  may be curious as to why I haven’t blogged about the FW09 fashion week, when we usually do an extensive coverage of it on I am Fashion. The truth is, it is not one of my favourite topics. I can never decide whether to view it as an art or the fashion that I’m going to be wearing in 6 months time. Also with the sheer amount of runway shows squeezed together in these 4 weeks, it is hard to really appreciate a collection before moving onto the next. And frankly, up to a point, they all start looking the same to me. That’s why this season, I’ve waited for all my all-time favourite shows to come out first (i.e. the Paris shows) to comment, because really, why waste energy on mediocre shows?

I’ve not much appreciated Nicolas Ghesquière’s hailed “talent” before- I usually have trouble grasping his sci-fi outfits. But this season, I’m finally getting his true genius!

Maybe it’s because he’s toned it down for of the recession, but I am loving it. They look so much more wearable and translatable to me! That draped skirt (left) is absolutely divine. It is fluid and structured at the same time, the style is unique and yet I can totally imagine myself wearing something similar with perhaps a simple black top. He also does amazing things with silk and the tailored suits (second left)- an all time classic. But most of all, he is absolutely genius with the printed dresses he showed- unlike DvF whose printed dresses are more classic and ladylike, Ghesquière’s are hip and trendy. You’d think that the wide shoulders and the intricate ruffles/folding details on top of the the prints would be too much and even grandma like, but he definitely makes it work here!

It also looks like that next season instead of the two-toned Chanel tights from FW08, we’ll be switching over to small dotti tights a la Balenciaga FW09!

In case you still don’t know what to wear tomorrow (or just want to look at a pretty pink dress), I came across the perfect one this weekend from BCBG. I saw it from a distance and thought, wow that is so pink and pretty! Naturally I just HAD to try it on.

I love the simple design, I love the soft pink color (even though it made me look a bit pallid, I guess pale pink is not my color) and I love the pretty pink girly bow at the back. At first, I thought out of all the dresses on the rack, I’d pick one that was defective. But after examining the rest of the rack, I realized that the bow at the back (right) was deliberately askewed. Initially that didn’t sit well with me, but after staring at the picture for a while I think the crookedness is growing on me. There is just something about imperfection that makes it perfect.

For those of you that don’t have something quite that formal to go to (seriously, who does?), you can still look pretty in pink make-up. I came across this make-up video by Michelle Phan and I am seriously impressed. I always thought pink eye shadow would  make me look like someone punched me, but by adding some brown, it looks very pretty on her. I’ve also never been a fan of make-up videos because I can never see the difference, but I can totally see it here. She also has THE most soothing voice ever (she must be Taiwanese or something). I am now tempted to go out and buy a pink Stila palette!

Happy Valentine’s Ladies!

The other day, I was helping my guy friend pick out a vday/anniversary gift for his girlfriend. He wanted to get her something nice and special…. “like a dress or something pretty and useful like that.” It’s a nice thought, but you’d think that after 7 years, he’d have learnt the basic gift picking rule for girls.

Thou shalt not buy her items of clothing unless otherwise specified and you have been equipped with a picture, color and size.

It never occurred to him that she wouldn’t like what he picked out for her, but then she’d have to tell him she likes it anyway, and then be forced to wear it out in public so she won’t hurt his feelings before banishing it to the back of her closet. This is probably where I should come in, but did I mention that I’ve never met her before and therefore have no idea what her style is? After steering him safely away from the clothing section, we ended up back on the first floor of Neimans. I suggested skincare that she usually uses (he did say useful!) or some pretty accessories like a scarf, cute ear muffs or a simple clutch. Unfortunately they’d already cleaned out the winter stuff and all that was left that was pretty and useful were sunglasses. Against my better judgment, he bought her a pair of oversized Marc by MJ shades. I did my best to point him towards the most classic pair that looks like it would be versatile (I really have no experience picking shades for anyone else but myself, you really got to try it on!), but I’m sure it will be better then what he would’ve picked up since they “all look the same.” I told him to keep the receipt.

Wanting to get your girlfriend something useful is all very well and good, but useful is a refill for her skincare routine or a gift certificate to Bloomies. Useful is not pretty or romantic. Cute little trinklets and jewelry were invented to be pretty, not useful. But I definitely don’t mind a cute trinklet like the Coach keychains above. They’d look pretty carrying my keys or dangling around on my bag! And if your girlfriend doesn’t like what you picked out, at least it is a relatively small thing and it wouldn’t take up too much wardrobe space. Besides, it’s the thought that counts. The whole idea is just to get her a little something to show her your love and so that later on she can be reminded of the moment, no? (The above keychains have been arranged from being really lovey dovey to just cute depending on taste.)

If you really want to strive for useful, I think a classic bag like the hobo style Coach above (right) or a simple clutch (above left and right), can’t go too wrong either.

HG reminded me of another good place for Vday gift on her blog– Tiffany’s. How could I forget? They even sort it out for you on their website according to the level of your relationship! I am loving their soft pink accessories. The simple pink heart would make a lovely phone chain. The beaded pink bracelet would be a cute compliment to an outfit. I wish I’d seen this pink ring before, because my friend was looking for a ‘promise ring’ the other month and I think this one would’ve been perfect! And I love the design of this necklace, it’s pretty and elegant but not too typical Tiffany’s.

If you want to be even more thoughtful in your gift giving? Buy a gorgeous jewelry box and put the trinklet/jewelry inside. I guarantee you that she’ll love it. I suggested this to three guy friends last year and all their girlfriends loved it. I should’ve gotten commission for that. If you’re in Hong Kong, they sell some very exquisite and beautiful jewelry boxes in the Lane Crawford home store in Pacific Place that looks like it belongs to royalty back in the days.

Ladies, feel free to forward this to your significant other as a hint hint 😉

Image Source: Coach and Tiffany