Wearing Now: Stripes

Sunglasses: Chanel

Striped Top: Splendid

Jacket: Armani Exchange

Jeans: 7 for All Mankind

Belt: Men's belt from The Rail at Nordstrom

Watch: Gucci

Shoes: Prada

Work clothes are always the least fun for me, since my industry is not particularly creative or accepting when it comes to fashion.  One time I wore a dress to work, I got many inquisitive looks and "Did you run out of clothes?" from the men.  I always say I am going to ignore their comments and start wearing what I want, but I never had the motivation.  Luckily, I do get a lot of encouraging words from and "Where did you get that?" from the girls.  Hopefully with this blog, I will have the motivation to do it and create more fun outfits.  

The fact that the nails matched this shirt was a coincidence, but I was happy to see they did!  As my hubby said, "They are radiating."  I borrowed the polish from my friend and I am loving the brightness of the color.

Gotta say my first 'thank you' to my photographer.  I keep trying to get her in the shot and she keeps running away.

Sales June 29, 2011

Saks Fashion Fix - starts 12pm EST. You have to go through the link on this email to access the sale.  Have fun!

Neiman Marcus Midday Dash, Starts 11:30CT.  Shop here.

How to wear shorts

Ever buy a pair of shorts that looked great in the fitting room, but you go home and thought, how the heck can I wear this out?  It is an art to be able to wear a pair of shorts without looking cheap, especially with cutoff shorts that are so popular right now.  If done wrong, you maybe solicit the wrong type of attention.  Here to demonstrate the correct way of wearing shorts is my cousin, Grace.  *Applause*

 

 Top: H.i.p.

Necklace:  B.P.

Shorts:  Citizens of Humanity Cutoff Shorts (Love Potion Wash)

Shoes:  Seychelles 'Squeak' Sandals

Do wear a flowy or loose-fitting top to offset the shortness of the shorts.  
Do tuck the top in, at least the front, to give your waist some definition.
Do wear chunky heels/wedges to elongate your legs.
Do wear flat sandals if you want to look more casual.

So on the contrary, the don'ts are pretty obvious (unless you want that kind of attention):
Don't wear a skin-tight or revealing top.
Don't wear stilettos with an acrylic heel.


Everyone can follow these rules and pull of a great outfit with a pair of denim shorts!


Special thanks to Grace for showing up with this great outfit that inspired this post.  I attacked her and said, "You will be my model!"  Then special thanks to her hubby Paulo who helped take these pictures, which I won't ever be able to duplicate.  It was fun doing the shoot.  :)

Proenza Schouler PS1

I was browsing in Barneys this weekend, and one bag caught my eye, just one.  I am loving this Proenza Schouler PS1 medium leather satchel.  I have seen it online at different websites, but none of them 'talked' to me until I have seen it in person.  This teal color is so different from everything else I have seen; I LOVE it.  This is the perfect summer color that will bring a pop to any outfit.  Where else can you see find a bag that is functional and in fun colors?  The only other brand I know that does different colors on one style very well is Balenciaga, so I am looking forward to see what other colors Proenza Schouler will come out with.  Balenciaga City is still my first love, but this Proenza Schouler PS1 in teal is winning my affection very quickly.

Available at Barneys for $1595.

Sales June 27, 2011

Net-a-Porter Final Reductions

 

Take an extra 20% off of the sale price.  Shop here at Net-a-Porter.com. 

I snatched a couple of things.  I have have to share them when they get here!!!  Woohoo!!! 

7 for All Mankind Men and Women Sale at Hautelook.com.

7 for All Mankind still remains my favorite jeans in terms of cut, fit, and wash.  Get them here on sale!

Shoe-Love

 I have a love-love relationship with shoes.  That is one thing I cannot stop buying.  I wonder if anyone ever did some psychological research on the relationship between a woman's brain and shoes.  Let me google it really quick...nope, nothing really.  The closest thing I found was this quote - "Dutch brain scientists have discovered that when a woman sees cute shoes affixed to Sarah Jessica Parker's feet, her medial orbitofrontal cortex goes bonkers."  The 'bonkers' could be due to SJP or the shoes, who knows?  I just know that for me, it's the shoes.


My mom usually says to me about once a month, "New shoes AGAIN?"  What she doesn't realize or she just refuses to realize is that she does that same thing too.  Like mother, like daughter.

The shoes don't have to be ultra high or sexy or expensive to give my brain activity. These Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Tops in purple and black give the same effect.  It gives me a huge grin when I look at them.  It could be that I look like a teenager wearing them, but hey, I didn't have these when I was a teen, so I'm making up for it now.  I am proud of picking such a pretty pair for my first hi tops.

I love everything about them, the double tongue, the white stitching, the metallic purple against the black canvas, the purple trim.  Shoe-love defined.

Sales today June 23, 2011

Biotherm.com Sale

Couple weeks ago I recommended the Source Therapie7 from Biotherm here.  They are having a 20% off for orders $50 or more for three days.  Use the code SUMMER20 here at Biotherm.com


Ruelala.com DV sale

Ruelala.com is having a sale for DV by Dolce Vita.  They have some very cute sandals for as much as 66% off.  I have two that I particularly like:

Alright, I will admit it, I bought them...couldn't help it!  Get your cute summer sandals for a good price here.

Barneys Sale

Barneys is also have 2nd markdown for as much as 60% off.  Free shipping on any order.  They have tons of Manolos for 60% off.  I have big feet so they don't have much of my sizes, but if you were the regular sizes like 6-9, there is a huge selection for you!

Last one for today - L'Occitane 10% off 

Use the L'Occitane code for extra 10% off.  Shop at loccitane.com.  I personally love their soaps and hand cream.

Lace not Lingerie

I was re-organizing my closet last night and boy was it fun.  I have my hubby being the closet-commander and ordering(nicely) that I clean out the 'black hole.'  He labeled this corner a 'black-hole' due to the fact that things go in, and they don't see the daylight for a long time.   Even I forget what is in it...so time to let the pieces come out!

One piece that haven't seen daylight in a while is this Free People Miltered Lace Top in Magenta.

Now, now, I know what you are all thinking...that looks like lingerie, you can't wear that out!  Challenge accepted! (How I Met Your Mother reference)

Since today is a work day, I also need to make it work-appropriate.   Too much lace may look too grandma-y, or as my hubby describes it, look like a doily.  Also, most people know me as not a lacy/girly/romantic person, so I need to make it work for my personality.  Here are the rules I followed:


1.  Use it as a layering piece
2.  If I am wearing the lace top on the outside, make sure there is a tank or something underneath so that I don't look like I just walked out of the bedroom.
3.  Wear a plain tee/tank on the outside and have the lace peek out from the bottom (I got this idea from a friend of mine).  The tank should not have too much print on it or it will get too busy.













4.  Balance it out with more edgy pieces, like distressed jeans, chunky shoes, metal jewelry.

  

Black Diesel Tank, Free People Miltered Lace Top, AG Adriano Jeans, Prada Flats 

Follow these rules and you will be able to make take the full advantage of lace without looking like you just walked out of your bedroom.

Beauty.com 20% off and Theory Sale

Time to stock up on your beauty products and pretty clothes.

Offer expires Thursday, June 23, 2011, at 11:59 PM PT. Cannot be redeemed for cash, exchanged, or applied to previous purchases. Limited to once per household. May not combine with other offers. Valid on Beauty.com items only, excluding gift cards, gift certificates and Aramis, Arnette, Bare Escentuals, Darphin, DKNY, Donna Karan, Fresh, Jane Iredale, Lab Series, Maui Jim, Michael Kors, Missoni, Oakley, Ojon, Origins, Persol, Ray-Ban, Revo, Sean John, Smashbox, Tommy Hilfiger, and Vogue products. International orders are not eligible to receive this offer.

Beauty.com is having 20% for their best customers, and I can't keep this to myself!  Access the sale here.  I like ordering from here because there is no tax if you live in CA and also there is free shipping over $25.

For all the Theory fans out there, Theory 50% off sale starts today and you can get early access here.  Get all your work clothes and pretty dresses for 50% off!

To tuck or not to tuck?

There are probably those days that you are feeling a bit frumpy and it seems like your outfit is just not coming together.  If you one of those encounter those days, try this trick - tuck in your shirt.  For the last few years, I have been wearing a lot of tunics, so this trick was not so useful to me.  With the recent trends of high waisted pants coming back in style, I have re-discovered the magic of tucking.  Then, I realized that it works with low waisted pants too, as long as your shirt is long enough to be tucked in.  By doing so, you will give your outfit more shape and less 'blah'.

A picture is worth more than a thousand words, so here is the comparison.  I am wearing the exact same thing in both pictures, the only difference is untucked t-shirt and tucked t-shirt.  Notice how much more 'put together' the outfit looks with just one simple trick.  Your legs also look slightly longer since your top is not covering part of your bottom.

Shirt:  Marc by Marc Jacobs

Jeans: 7 for All Mankind Flynt

Shoes: Prada sport wedges

Belt: Rough Roses

Cats: Tippy and Tasha

Give it a try if you haven't already, it'll bring you a different look.

Saks and Neiman Marcus 2nd Markdown

Quick post:  Saks and Neiman Marcus just started 2nd markdown online.  Up to 55% off!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Sneak Peek

Are you ready for this?  Nordstrom Anniversary sale starts in 3 weeks on July 15th!  Nordstrom card holders can start pre-sale on July 5th, that gives you 10 days to do it before everyone else.  If you have not heard of this sale, you need to.  This is when Nordstrom puts new fall merchandise on sale for two weeks.  At the end of two weeks, everything goes back to regular price.  None of it are end of season, picked-over merchandise; you get to buy the latest trend for a sale price!  It is crazy.  This is actually the only sale that the hubby will go to shop at.  Every year, we get our clothes and shoes that will last us almost the whole year.  My cousin even got the Westin Heavenly Bed on sale at last year's sale.

The catalog has not been sent out yet...but Nordstrom uploaded some pictures to Polyvore.com and we are able to take a sneak peak here!  I am sooo excited that people might think I am crazy, but I don't care.  I am sure you will go once you have tried this sale.  *wink*

 
Legging (see more corduroy leggings)

Trouve sweater (see more ribbed sweaters)

Hudson Jeans jeans (see more stretch denim jeans)

Vest (see more zipper vests)

Halogen skirt (see more stretchy skirts)

Sanctuary vest (see more faux fur vests)


Did I say I am excited already?  I have three weeks to save up for this...not.enough.time!!!  For more pictures and details, go to Polyvore.com to start making your list!

Must-Have Grill

Happy Fathers Day to all dads out there!  My dad had this genius idea of having a barbecue today in the beautiful weather, which leads to a light bulb going off in my head:  all men like to grill!  I started with my dad, and he always liked to cook, so that is not a surprise that he likes to grill.  Then my hubby, he has no idea how to cook, but he likes to 'play' cook when there is a grill involved.  With all my friends, I cannot think of one person who has not expressed an interest in the grill.  There is just something with men, fire, and meat; they make up the ultimate triangle.

With that premise, what's my job here today?  All the grills I have seen are ones that I would not like in my house.  They all look like one giant box of aluminum with knobs on it.  Some are not even functional in terms of space.  We also have a smaller balcony, so I do not want the grill to take up half of the precious room I have outside.  I need something functional, stylish, and good.  I did not think such a thing exists, until one day, there it is!  I was in Crate and Barrel looking for a couch, but instead, there was this perfect grill that fits all my needs.  It was just standing in the middle of the floor calling my name.  The Weber Performer Grill is compact and adorable, and has an ignition system for coal, makes lighting the coals a breeze. There are also a bunch of different accessories you can get for this so you can customize it to you liking.  My favorites are the cast iron wok and the pizza stone.  Can you imagine the pizza that would come out of this grill?  YUM!

This would also make an awesome father's day present if your dad doesn't have one already!  I can't wait to get my hands on this.  The Weber performance grill is available at Crate and Barrel for $349.95.

I got the stamp of approval from my dad and my hubby!  Men approved.

Half Yearly Sale for Men at Nordstrom

The Half Yearly Sale started at Nordstrom today.  From July 17 - 19, it's double points on your Nordstrom card.  You can either shop online or shop in the stores.

Now, what use am I if I don't do some of the shopping for you guys?  Here are some of my picks from the sale.

I will focus on jeans for this post because that is always the first thing I hit since the sizes get sold out pretty quickly.

7 For All Mankind Relaxed Fit Jeans (West Cairo Wash) $99.90

Mavi Jeans 'Matt' Relaxed Bootcut Jeans $58.90

7 For All Mankind 'Standard Fit - Tracer Layout' Straight Leg Jeans (Simon Lake Wash) $125.90

Nudie 'Average joe' Straight Leg Jeans (Organic Sharp Used Wash) $134.90

 Levi's Red Tab 'Hesher' Straight Leg Jeans (After Dark Wash) $69.90


As for the rest, I will let you do the shopping.  I can't talke ALL the fun!  

Summer Dresses Under $100

This nice weather in CA is inspiring me to write a lot of summer related post.  Right now is the best time to wear those summer dresses and flaunt your feminine side!  The goal here is to look pretty without hurting our wallets, so I have come up with 10 dresses under $100. Besides under $100, I imagined these dresses to be something I can wear while having a picnic in the park, or walking around the mall under the sunlight.  I literally looked through almost 2000 dresses before I came up with 10 I like here, so I hope you like them too!

 A Wear Strappy Summer Dress
Ruffles brings an instant femininity to the dress

Available at Asos for $51.72

Free People Printed Fit N Flare Dress
Love the bird print and the flare on the bottom.

Available at Free People for $89.95

Free People Slinky knit Print Halter Dress
The halter along with the hem of the dress first caught my eye.  Loving the purple detail of the hemline.

Available at Free People for $69.95

Free People Parisian Bouquet Halter Dress $89.95 
Just like the name of the dress, very chic, very Parisian.

Availabe at Free People for $89.95

Forever 21 H81 Anita Slvls Woven Dress
The casual dress for a laid-back look. 

Available at Forever 21 for $16.90

Asos Halter Dress with Fold Over Neck
The red is so saturated and vibrant that it brightens up the whole look instantly.

Available at Asos for $51.75

Asos Tailored Double Weave Colourblock Full Dress
The purple-orange combo has been coming up all over the place.  I prefer a subtle combo like this dress here.

Available at Asos for $56.89

Aqua Sleeveless Scratch Print Dress
This dress can be causal with some flat sandals or dress it up with some heels.

Available at Bloomingdales for $88

Quicksilver CBD Dress
Casual, laid-back look for the no-fuss girl.

Available at Revolve Clothing for $88

DV by Dolce Vita Katie Dress
Not the boring black dress here.  The jewel tone colors on the skirt makes it ready for summer-wearing.

Available at Revolve Clothing for $88