Thursday, July 28, 2011

Using Now: Bumble and bumble Styling Lotion


Available at Sephora.com.
2oz $8
8oz $28

Review:  This is an awesome product!  To tell you the truth, I have no idea what it's supposed to do...BUT, it gives me what I want with my hair, soft and held.  :)

According to Sephora.com, this is the description:  This product lubricates, detangles, and gradually strengthens the hair. It gives hair soft, natural movement, light structure, and just the right base for a blowout. 

Let me tell you my problem first - my hair is pretty fine and wavy, and nothing really holds on it.  I would try to flat iron my hair, but after a few hours, my hair would return to having a wave.  I don't like to use a lot of products in my hair because my scalp is pretty sensitive.

In searching for the solution and conclusion - I noticed that whenever I come out of the salon, my hair will keep its shape.  How?!  I was intrigued.  I paid special attention to what my stylist used next time.  It turns out that he used about 5 products on my hair...well, THAT's not going to work for my daily routine.  So I did what I do best...guess it.  I picked the one product I remembered and know where to find and went with it:  Bumble and bumble Styling Lotion.  I went to Sephora and bought the 2oz size to try it out first.  The first time I tried it, I was convinced.  My hair came out soft and  it held its straightness throughout the day.  It's not a hairspray or a gel, so it allows my hair to move without the much disliked 'crunch'.  I went to buy the 8oz size after I finished with the small size.  I have been using the product for about one and a half month now and I have not seen any split ends yet (I wash and blow dry my hair every day so I used to get split ends fairly quickly).  So to date, I still don't know what a "styling lotion" means, but I know it softens, holds my straight hair style and protects my hair well from my daily blow-drying.  That's all I need!

Directions:  Spritz and saturate your towel dried hair.  I usually stay away from the roots and concentrate on the ends.  Blow dry and flat iron as usual.  That's it!  

Little tip:  If you decide to try the 2oz version first, keep the bottle so that you can fill it up when you are traveling.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Wearing Now: Cutoff Shorts & Long Lost Purse




Top: Chloe K from Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
Shorts: True Religion Joey
Purse: Chloe Edith
Necklace: H&M
Watch: Gucci
Sunglasses: Chanel
Shoes: Prada Sport
Drink: Fantasia Passionfruit Green Tea, so yummy

We had beautiful weather in the Bay Area this weekend, so time to go out with some shorts...never know how long we have this sunshine for!  I am obsessed with shorts and mini-skirts, strange because  I can really only wear them two days a week and three months of the year.  I just can't help buying them though!  I mean...I gotta have a selection of shorts in case I get to go on an impromptu vacation, right?  *wishing*  Of my shorts, my favorite are these True Religion Joey shorts - they make my thighs look a little slimmer than they really are, it's like magic!  ;-)  Okay...maybe not magic, but the key here is that the shorts opening flare out a bit instead of being straight and hugging the thigh.  Hugging thigh is no-good, very unforgiving.  If you have the same problem as me being self-conscious about the thigh when wearing shorts, try to find the shorts that have the flare and it will create the illusion of slimmer legs.

Second thing I am happy about besides the weather is...I found my long lost purse!  Well, I confess, I have neglected it because I keep wanting to shop for new things.  I know that's not really practical so I this time I shopped in my closet.  I pulled out my Chloe Edith that I have neglected and realized that it is perfect for the summer.  I took it out in the sunshine and fell in love with it all over again!  So if you haven't done so, go look in your closet and you may rediscover a treasure that will spice up your wardrobe again!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Wearing Now: Men's Tee

 
Top: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Skirt: True Religion Mandy
Boots: Diesel Pony
Bracelet: Metally (Brazilian brand)
Purse: Balenciaga City
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban RB4159

I LOVE a unique t-shirt.  Marc by Marc Jacobs brought back their classic Skulls graphic tee to celebrate their 10th Anniversary.  To tell you the truth, I couldn't tell they were skulls at first glance when I saw it online.  Then when I actually figured it out, it seemed a bit scary to be wearing that many skulls, so I dismissed it.  Fast forward a month while shopping in Waikiki, I happened to waltz into the Marc by Marc Jacobs store by coincidence (if Hubby asks you guys, please stick with this story...the big 'SALE' sign had nothing to do with it).  I saw this tee and actually loved the way they printed on it.  The white is so prominent on the black that it creates a cool contrast.  The super soft cotton was also a plus.  I tried it on, and took it home.  I didn't even think about that fact that it's a men's tee, I just liked the fact that it looks cooler than the normal tee.  So don't be afraid to wear a men's shirt, you just have to style it to make it work on you.  Love it and rock it.

I was lucky to be able to stick to my principle of buying things on sale.  If you love this tee enough, it is also available at Saks.com for $68.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

New Find: Sunglasses



I did some damage at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.  I always say that I will do better next year, but nope, it never happens, who am I kidding?  It's okay, hubby can *think* that I bought less than last year.  ;-)

I briefly touched on my last post on what to look out for in this sale.  What I forgot to add was sunglasses!  They had Tom Fords, Burberry, Ray-Ban and MbyMJ sunglasses.  I scored a pair of Ray-Ban's that I am loving right now.  My hubby actually hated it when I showed him in the store, so I got weak and gave up buying it.  I went home and could not get my mind off of it, so I called my favorite person at Nordstrom and asked her to get it for me.  She asked, "What does hubby think?"  I said, "I don't care!"  Haha, maybe I do care, but I am sure I can convince him to like it.  My excuse right now is, "I need a pair of polarized sunglasses for sailing.  I have to be stylish even though I'm sailing!"  He didn't buy that excuse, heh, I'll think of something else.

Ray-Ban RB4159 polarized sunglasses available at Nordstrom for $125.90.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Daily Sales: Ruelala.com Gucci Sale

Ruelala.com
Out of all the discount shopping sites, I order the most from Ruelala.com.  This sale here is one of the reasons for my frequent ordering...they just have better brands at better prices compared to the others.  I mean, I shouldn't say better brands, they are just brands that I am interested in.  Their ordering is also very easy and returning is a breeze, so I have been extremely satisfied with them.  Tomorrow, July 19th, 2011, at 11am EST is a the start of the Gucci sale.  Be ready, because these things usually get sold out fast, just make sure to check the return policy.  Shop at Ruelala.com at 11am EST sharp tomorrow July 19th!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2011


Everyone, RUN, don't walk, RUN!  The year's most important sale is here - Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  I always get super excited whenever this time of the year is here.  All the sale merchandise is actually from the next season, so you can get your Fall/Winter wardrobe here at a discount.  If you are a Nordstrom card holder, you will also get double points for the first few days of the sale.

Here are some of the things I would pay attention to -

  • Tory Burch boots that were sold out during the presale but now it is available online.  (*edit*  Just saw that the Tory Burch boots are sold out, but if you really want it, keep checking on it.  I have noticed that a lot of people return stuff later and it pops back up online or in-store.
  • Other great boots, Steve Madden, Fergie, and Frye.  I got these Steve Madden Lindley Boots, which has a purple zipper in the back that I love.
  • A few very cute Marc by Marc Jacobs bags.
  • Basic Men's shoes like loafers (Cole Haan, Ferragamo).
  • Socks, I know that's silly, but I buy a bunch of socks every year.  They have some very cute over-the-knee socks that look cute peeking out of boots.  I got these last year and wore them a lot.  I ordered another three pairs this time.
  • Flats for work, a pair of Joan and David pumps that I am very tempted to buy but hubby would give me the, "don't you have enough shoes already?" talk.
  • Basic layering shirts from Caslon and Rubbish.
  • Men's shirts - the Nordstrom Smartcare shirts are great work shirts for a pretty good price.
  • Clarisonic sets - I keep hearing how great it is, so I have decided to take the plunge and give it a try!

Conclusion:  I have to admit that I am not as excited this year about it, since the clothing selection is mediocre, but there ARE some good gems if you look carefully.  I hope this will help you with finding some good items.

What did YOU buy?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Love: Louis Vuitton Bow Pumps

Photos from Style.com


Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved mary janes, especially patent leather mary janes.  I still remember when my mom bought me two pairs of the same style of shoes for me, one nappa leather, and one patent leather, and I would always want to wear the patent leather one.  Girls love shiny things. 

I was flipping though a Harper's BAZAAR on the plane ride to Hawaii and saw one of the new Louis Vuitton shoes from its 2011 Fall RTW collection displayed in a shoot.  It was a pair of black patent leather pumps with three black bows on it and I immediately went ga-ga over it.  It brings back memories of me prancing around the house in my shiny black shoes.  Louis Vuitton modernized the classic mary jane with dainty bows, a high chunky heel, and different color combos.  I can definitely see myself prancing around the house in these, but at over $1000, I will only dream about prancing.  :)

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

New Find: Flip Flops




I apologize for not updating more often last week, it's been crazy!  We were in Hawaii enjoying the wonderful beach and weather that I was behind on the online shopping.  I did, however, do a little bit of live-shopping.  I got to Maui and find that I did not pack flip flops.  Major-fail for Vera.  I cannot be in Hawaii without a proper pair of flip flops, so shopping it is!  After trying out about ten pairs of flip flops, I finally found the most comfortable pair of flip flops there is out there: OluKai Amo W.  They have great arch support and are very comfortable to walk in.  OluKai's are actually the only brand of flip flops my hubby will wear because he claims that Havaianas hurt his feet.  If you are looking for something a bit more durable and have great support, I highly recommend them.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

New Find: Clutch

Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Eva Clutch
 
I blame my actions on the relaxing atmosphere of Maui that took away all my inhibition.  I have been looking for a clutch that I can easily take on a night-out so that I can stop using my hubby as my purse to keep my ID and lipstick.  While in Hawaii, I remembered that Louis Vuitton has a small bag/clutch that might work for this purpose.  It is also not my fault that the Louis Vuitton store is 2 minutes from the beach that we were at.  I just HAD to go in and take a look.  The saleslady very nicely brought this bag, Eva, out in all three prints.  The size and functionality is perfect.  It comes with a little gold chain that you can carry on your shoulder and also a long strap for you to carry crossbody.  Now I just needed to choose the right print - Damier, Damier Azur, or Monogram.  After torturing my hubby for 20 minutes, I narrowed it down to two.  Then just to make sure I wasn't delusional from being in the sun all day, I asked the lady to put it on hold until the next day.

I slept over it and actually dreamed about which one to pick...for those who know me, they are probably not surprised I dreamed about it.  I decided on the Damier Azur because it fits my wardrobe and my personality the best.  Now I will be on a ban for a while again...but it's a vacation-buy!  I am going to claim that everyone splurges on vacation - at least that's what I'm going to tell my hubby and I am sticking with it.  ;)

Friday, July 1, 2011

Shopping Emergency



My friend, Nisha, has a wedding to attend on July 4th weekend.  The week before the event, I get a -  "Vera!  I need to go shop for a dress.  Can you help me?"  My eyes lit up right away and I didn't even have to wait for her ask a second time, "DUH!!!  Of course!"  I love finding people what they look good and feel good in.  A lot of times, that brings an even bigger satisfaction to me than me buying something for myself.  We then agreed on Monday as our shopping date.

Monday comes along, and we decided to make it into a cocktail + shopping trip.  A couple of vodka-fruit infusions later, we are ready to hit the mall.  Nisha is a very good client, she will try anything that I hand to her.  I am not sure if that is because she is slightly intoxicated or not, but if that IS what did the trick, I'll do it again next time!  After going to a few shops, we find the dress that fits her perfectly at Nordstrom.  It's pink and pretty, perfect for a wedding in a winery.  Now the more important part...that shoes.  One must have the perfect shoes.  No matter how perfect your dress is, if your shoes are not killer, you will ruin the outfit. 

We wander downstairs to the shoe department and started at what I call the 'pretty section' - the salon shoes department.  Even though I try not to buy many things from there, I like to look...a lot.  Right away, we fine the pair of shoes that is PERFECT for her dress.  These Manolo Blahnik Bow-Toe d'Orsay in Fushia is out of this world!  I know right away these shoes need to be taken home by Nisha, but I know it's not a cheap pair of shoes.  In an attempt to look for an alternate, cheaper, solution, we look at the other part of the store.  Nothing is as nice as the Manolo's, and Nisha knows it.  She already gave her heart to the pink pretty bow.  After telling all the other shoes that they are not good enough for her, Nisha is reunited with her first love, and they live happily ever after.*

I can't wait to see pictures of our accomplishment.  I hope she gets some good pictures of her whole outfit at the wedding so we can show you what we accomplished in this shopping emergency!

*I know Nisha thinks I am crazy, but I am convinced that every pair of shoes is a love story.  She just doesn't know it yet.

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