Rags to Reverie

Merry Holidays!

2010-12-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

Warm holiday wishes, everyone! Hope you all have been keeping dry...I've been trying to here in ~~sunny~~ stormy California! Thankfully the sunshine has returned. As you might be able to tell in the picture above, the attendees of D&G's Turin Winter Olympics-inspired show of Fall 2006 experienced a bit of (artificial) snowy weather. Lovely to find some Christmas spirit on a February, right? Not for the guests wearing black under that snowfall! As kitschy as the show was, the models, including Gemma Ward and Tatyana Usova, looked quite cute in their outfits!

With the season's positive vibes, I would really like to thank you all for your readership. To know that people are still reading and commenting my posts REALLY means a lot to me! I've been juggling multiple priorities and unexpected domestic duties (living off campus calls for much experimentation in the kitchen!) so it's been really hard for me to update my blog. But please know that I'm ALWAYS keeping Rags to Reverie in consideration, whether I am throwing together an outfit or passing by a shopping center. There are so many things I'm excited to share, so I hope you'll continue visiting my blog for the rest of 2010 as well as 2011! Unexpectedly, I've been updating my Tumblr a lot so head over there if you need an eye candy or music fix, but be warned of my lolcat speech and unabashed tendencies to fangirl!

I also hope that John and Yoko's Happy Xmas (War Is Over!) video in the right column didn't bring you down too much, though it does make a point that war only causes more pain and conflict. To lift your spirits up (hopefully at least a bit!), here's an updated rendition of the Saturday Night Live holiday original, I Wish It Was Christmas Today, as performed by Julian Casablancas, The Roots, and SNL alums Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon. I've never found SNL amusing but this is probably one of my favorite songs to listen to in December! Enjoy!

Illustration made by me with images from style.com

Grace-ing Glossies

2010-12-16T23:43:00.000-08:00

Meet Grace Gao (高国芝), hailing from China's Jiang Su province*. Grace may remind you of Sun Fei Fei but those piercing eyes make her unique amongst fellow Chinese models. Grace is relatively new to the industry, just starting as a model last year*, but she's already making it big, appearing in every issue of Numéro China thus far and just recently signing with Viva Paris*. Can't say she's at the same level of Modeldom as Du Juan or Liu Wen, but Grace is bound to get there someday! Let's hope she walks the Fall 2011 runways!

Looking mysterious in monochrome for Mei Yuan Gui's "Less is More" editorial featured in Numéro China #1.

Trying to hide from the spotlight in the Beauty section of Numéro China #2, shot by Tiziano Magni.

I just LOVE this editorial. Those textures and the colors of the braids, dimly lit like that...IT'S JUST PERFECT. From "Snow White", shot by Mei Yuan Gui for Numéro China #3.

This editorial, entitled "Heiress", totally reminds me of that amazing, artsy editorial from the June 2008 issue of Vogue China, which I actually bought. Shot by Mei Yuan Gui for Numéro China #2.

Yes, she smokes. SAD FACE.

*Facts are according to tFS forum posts.
Images: tentalicious and Faith Akiyama of tFS

Like I Mean It

2010-11-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

I can't sit or stand still for my picture to be taken, even if it's in a studio, where, you know, I'm supposed to pose for photos. I'll either have to stick out my tongue or hold up a peace sign as a way to appear natural around the photographer and whoever happens to be nearby. Probably means that I wouldn't make a good model. Then again, perhaps the people who have photographed me are just not very good at making their subjects feel comfortable! I'll stick to that reason, just to make myself feel better. I somehow managed to pull a serious face for the photograph below, maybe because it was my younger cousin who was taking my picture. My friend and I were held an amateur photoshoot in her neighborhood's private lot, which is pretty much a quiet hillside that overlooks the city. Thorns and thistles were aplenty and the season's super early sunset provided us some ethereal lighting and annoying shadows. Forget ethereal lighting, I just want the sun to stay out longer. Shorter days mean less outdoor playtime.

Scarf, Jacket, Shirts, Gifts bought in China. Jeans, J Brand. Shoes, Doc Martens.

Celebrating Vogue China

2010-11-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

I've been told that I look "rich" because of the clothes I wear, which is REALLY a strange thing to hear since I strove so hard to break out of the cheap kids clothing that my mom bought me in middle school. What will really make me look like a spoilt, rich kid is this iPad I have floating around my house. Yes, a 32 GB iPad. I swear, my family is still low income. My uncle, who has the best luck, won this grand prize at a company raffle. Since then, he's been letting the youngin's in the family play around with it.

Recently, I added Vogue China's Fifth Anniversary image album to the iPad and it's absolutely gorgeous! Vogue China is one of my favorite fashion magazines in the world and it's amazing that it's distributed in the country my mother grew up in. High fashion was pretty much nonexistent in China during the Cultural Revolution and now, beauty ads plague the nation! The world's most dedicated fashion clients are Chinese! The first issue of Vogue China sold out! It's a strange shift, and I'm not ready to say whether it's good or bad. I will say that this app is definitely worth looking through and it's free if you have an iPad (search "Vogue五周年" on iTunes). But if not, here's a video preview of what the app looks like:

I start flipping through the images pretty quickly towards the end so feel free to pause and jump through the video. Can you believe that Vogue China almost never reprints spreads? Can't say the same about Vogue Australia! There's a gallery of all the Vogue China covers and some short biographies of Chinese models, including Du Juan, Liu Wen, Shu Pei Qin, Emma Pei, Fei Fei Sun, and way more. Glad my cousin can translate for me! I really need to start working on my Chinese again.

Congrats, Vogue China, for five years of groundbreaking style!

To my lovely readers, I can't finish this post on a Black Friday without leaving you with some deals!:

1. Beyond the Rack - $5 shipping for the entire day + 5 sales every 5 hours
2. Threadless - $10 tees sale!
3. Gilt Groupe - Designer Final Sale + Free shipping on orders of $50 or more
4. Poketo - Free shipping on orders of $50 or more + 75% off at Los Angeles warehouse sale on Dec. 4
5. Editor's Closet - Up to 82% off clothing, shoes, and accessories from Azzedine Alaia, Bulgari, Chloé, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, and more
6. The Outnet - Free worldwide shipping
7. ideeli - Multiple sales featuring Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Emilio Pucci, and more
8. Borders Bookstores - Free coffee or latte (TODAY ONLY!)

Punk'd, Halloween edition

2010-11-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

So what happened to October? It was Halloween before I even knew it! I kept telling my friends that I wasn't doing anything for Halloween weekend other than writing a paper, but I did attend a productive little get-together at a nearby lake on Sunday. Don't think I've ever mentioned this before, but Halloween is my least favorite holiday. I don't enjoy having the living daylights scared out of me and I needn't mention how these teenage trick-or-treaters smashed my jack-o-lantern when I was 10 because my mom shut the door on them when we didn't have the candy ready yet. Oddly, I've been dressing up for every Halloween since I was a kid and I think I only ever skipped my 6th grade Halloween (I was that traumatized by the event). Every other year, I have a bad costume moment and last year was one of them. I mean, is it that easy to mistake a Beatle as a business person? Should've gotten a wig. This year, per my roomie's suggestion, I went as my psuedo-alter ego...a punk!

Jacket, Valerie Stevens Petite. Shirt, Yellow Rage. Necklace, Skullcandy. Lanyard (not that it matters), LACMA NexGen. Belt (which you can't really see), Borrowed from roomie. Necklace as bracelet, Brighton. Chain bracelet, Gift from Aunt. Green bag, Free gift with Teen Vogue subscription. Blue bag, The Sak. Shorts, Mom's vintage from China. Tights, American Apparel. Shoes, Doc Martens.

One picture featuring my face is really enough. Do you know how embarrassing it is to pose for a picture while 10+ people raise their eyebrows at you?? I don't know how you fashion bloggers do these outfit posts! I love how my costume turned out but my friends didn't get it at first glance. Not that I really care! Despite the stiffness of the jacket and the fact that my shoes still hurt my feet, it was liberating to dress up like this! No wonder I do this every year!

Trying On Clothes I'll Never Have (Again)

2010-10-22T01:40:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back I stopped by a certain discount department store for the first time. My roomie's entire closet practically came from there and since I've always wanted to check out this store, I agreed to take us there (I have a car now, by the way -- I KNOW IT'S, A MIRACLE). Of course, whenever I'm at a place overflowing with designer goods, I scour the racks just to find stuff to try on. So with a mere $20 bill in my wallet, I go through all that Jason Wu, Phillip Lim, Dolce and Gabbana, Celine, and Fendi in my sights. The discounts predictably didn't meet the standards for someone who doesn't like to spend more than $25 on jeans. But that doesn't mean I can't try the stuff on! Side note, did you know that some stores actually charge an admission price? You can't even go inside the store without paying a fee. Ridiculous. I'm wearing a Jil Sander blazer (with matching pants that you can't see) in that photo up there. Obviously the blazer wasn't the right fit for me but I thought it would go well with my Beatles shirt. Because John Lennon wore a white suit for the Abbey Road album cover. Clever, right?!

These pretty pearls were from a Dries Van Noten bolero, which was totally not a size 4. Or was it a 34? Either way, that photo of me in Dries will never see the day of light. I tried on more than what you see here but most of that looked too embarrassingly frumpy on me. So this is all you'll see for now (until the next "shopping trip")!

Stella Loves Aussies

2010-10-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Wait, Fashion Week ENDED? Kidding -- I knew that already. I don't think I've even looked at most of the NYFW collections yet but I've entered to that time of the year (slash school term) when I realize that my "intense" studying, AKA hours of daydreaming, does little good for ~~my social life~~ me. Anyway, did you know that Stella McCartney has designed a second collection for Target Australia? Yet American Target hasn't managed to get a hold of just ONE collaboration with her. Big downside to this collection: the prices are still quite high, definitely not within American Target's price range. BUT STILL! You can get Stella McCartney pieces for less than $200! Don't mind the "for Target" label printed on the tag! The following pieces will be sold in select Target stores in Australia starting October 29.

Hey look, it's another Stella. That would be supermodel Stella Tennant wearing these looks. Sorry, Stella, but I'm going to have to crop your head out for the next few looks (darn Australian Target doesn't have proper full body images).

You know me...I love all things lace! And Stella does a stellar job (get it?) with lace.

I love this outfit! Looks better on the left.

The accessories. Mehhhh...

So what have I learned from all this? My family should've settled in Australia instead of America.

Image source: Target Australia

My Fashion's DAY Out

2010-09-22T00:57:00.000-07:00

Hooray, outfit! Glasses, Coach. Jacket, Macy's $1 sample. Shirt, Two Rabbits screenprints on American Apparel. Belt, Vintage Guess. Jeans, American Apparel. Shoes, Doc Martens. Bag, Levi's.

Just when you thought all the talk about Fashion's Night Out was over, I decide to write this post! As mentioned before, I planned on going to Fashion's Night Out in San Francisco and...I went! I didn't buy anything. But I was there! There was very little commotion and unluckily for me, stores closed right at 8:30 PM. No Saks DJ set? Fine. My friends, who were more intent on purchasing items that night, popped into stores with lower-priced clothing. Gap, H&M, Forever 21 *shudders*, and finally, Macy's. We stayed in Macy's until it closing (past 9:30PM). I was DEAD tired and everything below my hip was sore the next morning. Still, Fashion's Night Out was a good way to explore all the shops at Union Square. I sort of had to contain myself as my friends and I zipped past all the shiny window displays.

Modeling/styling/designing competition?

Gerhard Richter's 256 Colors (1974). My sleeve is extremely distracting.

September 10 was a LONG day for me so I'll backtrack a little more. My friend/hostess and I explored all four floors of the San Francisco Museum of Art, which might be my new favorite California art museum. Yes, the admission price is outrageous compared to that of LACMA's but there's no ban on photography! So I made the most of my $18 (forgot my student ID at home) and took pictures of pretty much every work that tickled my fancy.

Smiling in front of another Gerhard Richter work. I'd like him to paint my room.

Last rewind -- my first stop of the day was UC Berkeley to visit my cousins. Such an eclectic student population! And pretty much everything you'll ever need in life is within walking distance from campus, including food (restaurants on every block), clothing (American Apparel, Urban Outfitters), and music (Amoeba, Rasputin). Speaking of music, the UC Berkeley area is an AMAZING place to visit for all music lovers. Vinyl records, CDs and DVDs are aplenty but there's also this place on the bottom floor of Bear Basics (independent college merch store...cheaper than the Cal bookstore) called T-Shirt Orgy! You can buy official T-shirts from every band/artist you could legitimately call "amazing". Here's the dealbreaker: T-shirt Orgy only stocks men's sizes. NOT FAIR. But in retrospect, I really should've just spent $20 on that men's large Plastic Ono Band shirt.

By the way, follow my Fashion Weekers Twitter list to get the scoop on London Fashion Week! I'm constantly adding Twit folk to my list, as well as trimming the fat off (goodbye, fake model tweets).

New Shoes Turned Old

2010-09-13T00:48:00.000-07:00

Starting point: Los Angeles International Airport

I've been breaking in my relatively new Doc Martens quite nicely during my holiday (in which I rarely have time to sit down). Take a look at my shoes' Bay Area journey in short montage form and see how they've transformed to (slightly) more wearable shoes.

At UC Berkeley. My shoes feel hip enough to walk the campus but not quite smart enough.

On the BART

At the Exploratorium

And at the end of each day, I realize that those Doc Martens comfort insoles really are necessary. P.S. My birthday's next week.

Alive in SF!

2010-09-12T00:47:00.000-07:00

Sorry sorry sorry, I know I said I would be updating the blog but I've been so busy dashing from Oakland to Berkeley to San Francisco then back to Oakland! Oh, the places you go with quality public transportation and enough change. My verdict on the Bay Area so far: it's amazing! You know what might be even more amazing than the Bay Area? The fact that I haven't been keeping up with New York Fashion Week at all. But you totally can, with the help of my Fashion Weekers Twitter list! Follow and check up on the list to get multiple insiders' perspectives of what's been showing on the runway.

I won't get into details about my trip just yet, mainly because it's late and I haven't gotten much sleep in the past few days, but I PROMISE I'll return with stories to tell!

Why yes, that's my face up there! Apparently I wore my glasses too long. I'm in front of a Cy Twombly piece at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

Plan Your Fashion's Night Out NOW!

2010-09-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've put off talking about Fashion's Night Out until NOW because the epic event is just days away! It's kind of amazing how this fashion phenomenon has expanded to 16 countries and more than 100 cities in America. Sounds like a big deal. Even Los Angeles has set up an official Fashion's Night Out page on the city website, and just from looking at that list of participating LA stores, I feel a bit overwhelmed. It's all good fun but simplicity is enough for me! Coincidentally, I'll be at San Francisco's smaller Fashion's Night Out, which should still be quite the affair despite not reaching the proportions of LA's or NYC's events.

It's kind of funny yet devilishly clever that most stores aren't hosting sales during Fashion's Night Out. Rather, it's a way of getting people to see shopping as a fun activity, not an inconvenient one. At your nearest Fashion's Night Out, probably in some kind of urban environment, you'll find freebies galore and enough celebs to make you feel faint. Of all the events taking place in New York City, I would most want to attend Karen Elson's gig at the Balenciaga store. Here you'll be able to buy her latest LP and if you're as fearless as I am, you'd go up to her and ask her to autograph that newly bought album! Cindy Sherman's Untitled (Balenciaga) exhibit, which features her multiple Balenciaga-donning personas, will also be making its U.S. debut at the store. Seriously, this is the best event in NYC -- fashion, music, and art lovers will all get a treat! But I'm on the wrong coast.

Also, if you're at the Big Apple for Fashion Week, Mintbox has some exclusive offers for you. Sip on cocktails, model for a professional photographer, and enjoy a 30% discount at Vivienne Tam. Then trot over to a Paige Denim store for a free gift with every purchase and a 20% discount (works in LA and Las Vegas stores, too)! All you have to do is RSVP to these events here.

It's easy to be jealous of you East Coasters but California will be poppin' on the 10th. As if LA isn't congested enough on Friday nights! However, the Beverly Center is offering FREE parking! Or you can bus to shop-filled neighborhoods at no cost! Take my word--free parking is a BIG deal! This is the city that banks on home-grown traffic but on Friday, you have an incentive to get out and have fun! Had I decided to stay in SoCal all summer and venture to shop on this Friday, I'd definitely stop by Chanel for a free manicure. I go stupid for trendy nail colors. And since this is LA, food trucks will line up all over the city for you fashion AND food lovers. Lastly, you'll find a ferris wheel on Rodeo Drive. Yes, that Rodeo Drive. Just show a proof of purchase to get a lovely view of the evening mayhem.

Back to reality -- I'm going to be in SF this FNO and I know I'll be heading to Saks Fifth Avenue to have an artist transform me into a fashion sketch! Hopefully I won't need to purchase anything. By the way, if you live in or have toured the San Francisco area, are there any spots you'd recommend for me to visit? I haven't been in NorCal probably since middle school so I'm super excited to walk San Francisco without a tour guide giving me a 5 AM wake-up call and pushing me out of the hotel to enjoy the city before going back into the bus a couple of hours later (this is seriously what happens). I'll have internet access while I'm on holiday so I'll be sure to blog about my Bay Area exploits!

And for those who feel like they can't get in on the Fashion's Night Out fun in their area, fear not! On Thursday, September 9, LuisaViaRoma will host a Fun Fast Flash sale, slashing See by Chloé prices by 50%! Threadless is also having a $9 tee sale going on right now! Hurry hurry!

Images: BeautyIsDiverse.com, Hint Mag, Los Angeles Times website, earthtoandrea via Flickr

Audrey Magazine

2010-09-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

The good folks at Audrey Magazine kindly sent me their Fall 2010 issue featuring my photo submission! And to my surprise, the picture is the sole image on the issue's last page. *Blush* But that's not why you should pick up this magazine. Here's my story about how I found Audrey...

Whenever I'm home, I drop by the library to pick up a DVD and sometimes a book to flip through. I always pass by the magazine racks to see if there's an issue that's even mildly intriguing. Of all the covers I saw, the one that caught my attention featured a model probably no taller than 5'3". But that's not all...she was Asian! You'll almost NEVER find an American magazine featuring an Asian on the cover! I pick up this glossy, which turned out to be Audrey Magazine.

Since then I've scoured the library's magazine racks at least once a month for a chance to peruse the pages of the latest Audrey. I've even had to ask for it by name since my library constantly buries Audrey issues under Art in America and other glossies that start with "A". People of all ethnicities can enjoy this Asian American lifestyle magazine, as you'll find plenty of fashion in these pages. But what sets this magazine apart from the rest is that almost every face you'll see in Audrey is an Asian American one. Lots of Asian models and plenty of up-and-coming Asian/American designers and artists.

This magazine is SERIOUSLY what I needed because as you may not know, I'm quite frustrated by the media's unwillingness to put a people of color in the spotlight. Ethnic Studies Lucy can go on and on about what makes Audrey awesome. The only thing that Audrey could do to make me love them anymore is to feature more diverse models and actors, not just those who have Anglo facial features or European/South American blood. But I know that the lack of diversity is mostly a problem of the fashion and entertainment industries' and Audrey is doing an exceptional job of showcasing Asian American figures.

Cleaning Challenged

2010-08-29T16:09:00.000-07:00

You'd think that someone who folds and orders her clothes by color is OCD clean, but nope. I'm just plain dumb when it comes to putting stuff away and ESPECIALLY getting rid of what I "no longer" need. I refer to things I've long forgotten but somehow unearth once I attempt to clean my room. And of course I get carried away from looking at my findings for too long, coming up with new ways to put them to use. This happens over and over during the duration of my "clean-up". A few days ago, my mom (who happens to be OCD clean; I must've taken from my dad's side) gave me a motherly intervention and shoved boxes of stuff into my arms, implying that I had to get rid of anything I didn't need. Specifically...my magazines. I have tons in my room, mostly issues of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar but also Nylon, Time, and Reader's Digest (I read it in middle school?) I can't really distinguish rubbish Vogue issues from decent issues so I just put a good bulk of them away in the patio. Yes, I haven't gotten rid of anything but at least they're out of my room!

At the moment, my favorite magazine issues, including the ones I bought at newsstands, and the international glossies that I requested from vacationing family and friends are stacked under my bed. I'm still figuring out what to do with the rest of my issues. Probably will give them away... But as for the magazines I treasure, I'm not sure how to proudly display them. I won't do it bookcase style, which will wear the magazines' edges and I won't stack them up high for risks of ripping and toppling some glossies while pulling out an issue from the bottom. Are my standards too high? I can't stand pages from a "new" issue that are anything but crisp and clean. Any tips from fellow magazine lovers out there? I'm not sure what to do with this back issues warehouse...

Vogue for Martha

2010-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Following in the footsteps of Nina Garcia, fashion figures are popping up in a variety of TV timeslots, not even including fashion-related shows like Project Runway and America's Next Top Model (have you SEEN next cycle's roster of guest judges?? WOW). You'd be surprised by who appears on the tube -- Anna Wintour on Late Night with David Letterman, for example. Kind of an awkward episode, that one. And occasionally you'll be charmed by the chemistry between host and guest. Imagine...Grace Coddington speaking to Martha Stewart. Wait, you don't have to imagine, just watch the video above! Brought together by their love for cats, Martha coos over Grace's Persian felines and kitty charm necklace while Grace talks about her TOO CUTE picture book.

It's not so surprising to find such a crafty woman inviting fashion people onto her show. There was also the time the Rodarte sisters went on her show to discuss their Spring 2010 collection. Truthfully, that segment was one big yawn but you know who is NEVER boring? Andre Leon Talley! He always manages to make us laugh or smile, so it's no surprise that he appeared on the Martha Stewart Show more than once. In this segment, you immediately know he won't disappoint...check out that long leather apron.

Too bad you can't find a full uninterrupted (and embeddable) video of Andre and Martha chatting it up like old friends. A short summary of Andre's cooking lesson is viewable in the video above but you can watch the whole thing (and you should) on Jezebel. I love how Martha is so enthusiastic about a shirt and an apron but so nonchalant about Andre's messy deviled eggs. Cut him some slack...not everyone can make deviled eggs à la Martha Stewart, let alone know what deviled eggs are (eggs can be deviled?).

Links à la Mode

2010-08-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Fast Forward to Fall

Edited by: Florrie Clarke of Intrinsically Florrie.

The trends for the coming months were dictated back on the catwalks in February, but now as September draws closer it's time to get our teeth into them and have a good hard think about those all important autumn buys. Particularly seeing as while I type this the weather is strongly urging me towards a winter wardrobe.

This week's links both look to winter and bask in the remaining sun. We look at a fashion interpretation of the current oil spill disaster (intelligent or tasteless?), are inspired by gorgeous fashion illustrations and a chain bag DIY, debate the history of the 'prep' look and think about how all our choices determine our body shape.

Links à la Mode: August 16th

a la modest: High-waisted jeans (a.k.a. mom jeans) are back in vogue!
Beautifully Invisible: Steven Meisel's Water & Oil: Social Commentary or Tasteless Fashion?
Beyond Fabric: On men bags
Dramatis Personae: Gilda Su announce Revasseur & Pre-Fall 2011 Lookbook.
Embracing Style: How to make your own chain bag!
Fete a Fete: Review of Guerlain's new 68 Champs-Elysees fall 2010 makeup collection:
For Those About To Shop: Katharine Hamnett is the mother of eco-fashion and believes consumers have the power to change the world
Independent Fashion Bloggers: Can you Kickstart a New Career With Crowdfunding?
Intrinsically Florrie: Dream dress and dream shoes- the fairytale look
Kyoto Maiko: You Can't Buy "Prep," But You Can Own It...
Miss Jones & Me: Roll into the Wild Woolly West: A focus on Fall transition pieces because the temperature can't drop soon enough!
My Closet in Sketches: A hand drawn interpretation of the magic of white jeans (from the Gap men's department, to boot!).
Vogue Gone Rogue: tuscan vineyards and teal rompers. A lighthearted outfit post inspired by Tuscan countryside and wine.
Rags to Reverie: Sarah Mower's Fashion Illustrations for Vogue China and Vogue Nippon
Retro Chick: A very modern vintage manicure
Shoe Daydreams: Where do you draw the line with knocks-offs... what about when a blogger favorite retailer is doing it?
Shoeper Woman: Why does no one dress up any more?
Style Eyes: How to jump right out of a style rut - some ideas on how to look and feel great
Stylin' Girl: Kristen McMenamy. Collages & trivia about a timeless fashion icon!
The Demoiselles: What would you sacrifice for a more "fashion-friendly" body?
The Simply Luxorious Life: A dream of a shopping list for the fall fashions - staples that will enhance any woman's wardrobe.

Just want to mention how wonderful it is to be featured on Links à la Mode again! I know I haven't been consistently blogging in the past few months and I sincerely apologize to my readers for the strange moodiness that came through in the few posts that I happened to put out. But as you can tell, I'm back and feeling better for the first time in months! I'd also like to extend my thanks to Florrie who accepted my last-minute link submission (via email, too!). This is a great selection of links so check what these blogs have to offer!

Beauty Boarding Call

2010-08-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

From left to right: LAS - McCarran Intl. (scented!), ZRH - Zürich Kloten, DRS - Dresden, OSM - Mosul

Stuck at home without auto insurance or any income to spend on a spontaneous trip away from home... I now understand why so many of my college friends break out their bottles of nail lacquer during their free time. Boredom! As compared to, say, dying your hair (which I've never done), painting your nails is a good way to kill time and give yourself a little update without committing to an entirely new look. Uslu Airlines nail polishes are perfect for use during your downtime. Each color, with an airline code as its name, can figuratively provide a temporary escape from home (unless you already live somewhere exciting). But as much as I would like to take an imaginary trip to Ibiza (IBZ), Hong Kong (HKG), or ~~goodness forbid~~ Vegas (LAS, my favorite creation for Colette), I STILL need to pay top dollar for a bottle! Are you willing to pay 19 to 21 Euros for your favorite lacquer? Apparently, I am, but with nothing to spend for now, I think I'm content with being at home with the nail colors I already own...

From left to right: JAG - Jacobabad, CAB - Cabinda, BNI - Benin City, TDK - Taldy-Kurgan

From left to right: LAS - McCarran Intl., ZRH - Zürich Kloten, DRS - Dresden, OSM - Mosul

Smaller bottle, smaller price! At 11 Euros each, these polishes are a little easier on the wallet. Plus, for each bottle sold, 90 cents will be donated to Bread & Butter for Charity!

ONE - Onepusu

At first I was a bit confused by the WORLD LOVE MONEY text, but the one dollar actually symbolizes ONE World, ONE Love, ONE Money (as in one system of currency). Read about the cause!

Images: Uslu Airlines website

Sarah Mower - Fashion Writer and...Illustrator?

2010-08-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

That name rings a bell, doesn't it? You know -- Sarah Mower, the one who writes all those reviews on style.com. But did you know that she's quite the artist, too?? I too often notice the similarities between different magazines and while I was flipping through the glossies that my aunt brought back from her trip to China and Hong Kong, I found some illustrations in Vogue China that looked a LOT like those in Vogue Nippon. At first I looked at the photo credits near the gutters of the respective magazines but couldn't find the name of the illustrator. I glanced towards the byline of Vogue Nippon and there it was in plain English: "Text & Illustrations: Sarah Mower".

Who knew that anyone who worked for the duller than dull American Vogue -- other than Grace Coddington -- was capable of creating such visual whimsy? Look at the illustrations and sidenotes that accompanied Mower's "Sci-Fi Fantasy" article for Vogue China June 2010:

Seeing her illustrations really makes me want to pull out that pen tablet I purchased a few months back. Must I keep reminding myself that I have one? The following are for Mower's Vogue Nippon June 2010 article on dressing up for special occasions:

Images: My own captures of the aforementioned magazines

Shoe-In

2010-08-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Dress, Gap. Shoes, Dr. Martens. Book, Miss O'Dell by Chris O'Dell.

After about two or three years of wearing water damaged sneakers (damn those two weeks of heavy rain) with holes in the soles, I FINALLY got new shoes! Well, almost new...these shoes were pre-owned but never worn. Hooray for being cheap. I'm now the proud owner of a pair of Doc Martens, which are currently filling my bedroom with a nauseating new car smell. To wear a pair of Docs, I think, is to carry the weight of the concert-goer stereotype with you (in addition to that heavy leather). Goodness forbid I start wearing my shoes with ripped jean shorts and floaty boho tops. As much as I love the McCartneys and their veg ways, I mentioned before that leather is a guilty pleasure of mine. NEVER on the seats of a car (who would want to sit on scorching hot leather??) but on shoes, skirts, shirts, etc. I think the appeal lies within its sheen because I don't mind pleather at all.

Just a day after I received my Docs in the mail, I was a bit dumbfounded when my blogroll revealed an anticipated pair of Dolce Vita for Target boots. ...I liked them a lot. Had I remembered that Dolce Vita collaborated with Target to create an impressively refined collection of shoes, I probably would've considered buying a pair of their boots rather than the Docs I got. But at a retail price of $29.99, there's no doubt that the Dolce Vita boots' material is absolute crap. Not that I mind (much). So I guess in many respects I made a much better purchase with my Made in England Docs (cheaper than the Target boots, too). With an almost inevitable concert-goer look that comes with wearing these shoes, I'll need to get really creative with my outfits. It's a task I find difficult especially during this season of shorts and flip flops. A lazy Californian, I am!

Images: Meeeee, Target

She Has Your Gaze

2010-07-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

Apologies if this amazing video makes your browser crash. You may recall the video's images from a previous entry that I posted while I was near death (apparently, death is close to San Diego). They are part of Simon Procter's Renaissance-inspired photo editorial for Vs. Magazine titled 'The Fall'. A link to Procter's mesmerizing digital experiment found its way into my email inbox and I just thought I'd share. BEAUTIFUL and even magical, isn't it? Please watch this in HD, fullscreened! It's almost like peering into a creepy sort of heaven...with angels dancing to opera.

Art for Your Everyday, Everywhere - Poketo x Target!

2010-07-29T01:04:00.000-07:00

This morning, I checked my stuffed-to-the-brim email inbox during work and found the Poketo newsletter. Subject: Poketo for Target Sneak Peek

WHAT?!?!?

Just when you think Target's collaborations can't get any better, they...well, you can't really top Alexander McQueen but Poketo is totally breath of fresh air! Poketo is quite a young design company that plays an integral part of the Los Angeles art scene, IMO. The company has collaborated with over 200 artists, including some names you might recognize (Kate Bingaman-Burt) due to the viral status of their work. I found out about Poketo last year when the company brought out their merch for the first Renegade Craft Fair in LA. and since then I haven't forgotten their varied collection of colorful and quirky designs.

Anyway, I had to resist myself from posting the same images that you can already find on the Poketo + Target sneak peek site. Since this morning, a TON of blogs have re-posted them for your viewing pleasure. So what did I do? Search blogs for images that we HAVEN'T seen yet! Poketo actually announced the collaboration with Target (and Macy's!) in mid-June. Seems like one blog even posted the entire collaboration line!

No doubt about it, that spotted tote is going to be a big hit. As I just inherited my younger brother's laptop (yes...my YOUNGER brother's...it's terrible how technology advances so quickly), I'll be keeping my eye out for those laptop cases. These products will be available on August 10 at Target stores nationwide, so in the meantime, you can decide on your favorites!

Here's the roster of artists whose designs have been featured in this collaboration:
Betsy Walton, Camilla Engman, Catalina Estrada, Cole Gerst, Dan Funderburgh, DGPH, Joe Rogers, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Katharina Leuzinger, Leah Chun, Leif Parsons, Lisa Congdon, MAKI, Marco Cibola, Melissa Contreras, Mike Perry, Niels Oeltien, Oksana Badrak, Peskimo, Pietari Posti, Silvia Portella

Images: Unplggd, Poketo blog, HOW Blog

Shine On, Renegade

2010-07-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

Yeah okay, felt isn't really shiny but there was plenty of jewelry at Renegade Craft Fair LA this weekend. Once again, most of the merchandise I liked were a bit over my spending limit but at least my family members all left with something. I left with some free Etsy and Amoeba stickers, a Threadless bag, and a $7 off Threadless coupon. Let down of the day: issues of Uppercase Magazine weren't free......they were part of a free raffle, however.

My cousins, being the lucky minors that they are, scored limited edition Threadless shirts that were given out to kids for free. Did I really not pass as a kid? An eighth grader mistook me as a 14-year-old not too long ago... Note to self: find a baggy shirt to hide my chest (or whatever's there) and cute ankle socks. Should also wear my retainer at all times.

Best Picks From 2nd Annual Renegade Craft Fair LA

2010-07-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again! The 2nd annual Renegade Craft Fair in Los Angeles is happening this Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 7PM! Last year's event was located on the 13th floor of a high rise (not at all ominous), Renegade is moving its booths, workshops and festivities to the Los Angeles Historic Park, conveniently located at downtown (convenient because I'm from east county and everything tends to happen left of mid-city...did I mention that it's on ground level?). I don't recall getting any freebies last summer but a bigger fair calls for more stuff! Free photobooth, free raffles, and the best freebie of all........an issue of Uppercase Magazine. I KNOW. A relatively hidden gem (not many in American stores) loved by designers, artists, and indie enthusiasts, Uppercase Mag is TRULY something you'll want to try to get your hands on!

Moving on to Renegade's main attraction...the booths! Initially, I thought I was going to find a lot of Renegade alums in the list of artists showcasing their stuff for the LA fair but I actually found tons of merchants that weren't at last year's event. By the way, the artist list has been upped from "more than 200" to "more than 250"! The following items are my favorite products with each respective artist's info. Yes, I've looked through every artist's website! Start writing your to-buy list...

1. Verameat 2. mikinora 3. Chime Designs Made of cymbals! The earrings actually chime! 4. Thief&Bandit 5. The Harbinger Co. 6. Thea Starr
7. Paz Sintes Made of string!

1. Janie XY 2. raeburn ink 3. moth written 4. Prix-prix
5. Mary Mungoven (mmsomewhere) The images on that wallet were taken at San Diego. 6. PASTE

1. Fomato 2. Miriam Dema She calls this screen print 'Los Angeles Sky'!
3. Disconsolator 4. The Birds and the Bees 5. Sycamore Street Press 6. Studiobenben 7. DKNG Studios 8. Nate Duval

Speaking of events taking place tomorrow, Decadestwo is having their famous $150 and under shoe sale. Sure I would drive over there and camp out early in the morning if I had auto insurance and didn't have to ask family and friends for rides...

Those Were The Days

2010-07-18T01:54:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I should mention how much I LOVE my subscribers. LOVE YOU! Sorry that I haven't been posting much...life slows down during school breaks (but time doesn't, unfortunately). Either that or I really am busy. Who knew that sitting in front of a computer for eight hours a day sucked so much? Anyway, I've finally checked off two things from my Crimble wishlist from last December. That picture above should be a clue...I got a magazine internship! Interesting timing, because I've decided that I want to work for a non-profit. But I guess I'll try out publishing this summer! I also got a DSLR. FI. NAL. LY. I've been waiting for the perfect camera at the somewhat perfect price since high school! And not too long ago, Canon released the T2i! So....I BOUGHT THE T1i! It just made so much sense!

One great thing from being in the publishing industry is that I can peruse the old magazines to see what kind of content was in the stands back then. "Back then" was less than ten years ago, but nevertheless, I've found some cool advertisements. I ripped out a Prada ad from a 2002 issue of the magazine I intern for, thinking that it was the Jacquetta Wheeler ad mentioned by Daul Kim in her blog (that was a while ago, of course). Turns out that I have a poor model memory bank, but doesn't that model really look like Jacquetta?? Although that's not her, Jacquetta appeared in the same Prada spring 2002 campaign. The model you see above is Kristina Chrastekova.

I found another Prada ad -- a double-pager -- in a 2004 magazine issue. This fall campaign looks much busier with all that outerwear and accessories, not to mention the color. If you flip through fashion magazines at all, you can easily recognize Raquel Zimmermann as the model featured here. Not quite sure who the other two models are. Personally, I like the spring '02 ad more. It's simpler and even more endearing since it's focused on a model rather than smorgasbord of clothing. What do you think?

Images: bwgreyscale.com and meeeee

Stay Classy, Couture

2010-07-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

Couture -- a dying art? I've only been around on this planet since the early '90s (barely missing the '80s, thank goodness) so I have no idea what couture used to be like. So maybe people were more enthusiastic about high quality (and expensive) couture pieces. And maybe people just don't think about couture as much anymore. Should it be labeled a "dying art"? Look at what has come out of Couture Fashion Week. Materials are still of the highest quality and craftsmanship is still top notch. Perhaps not everyone is always thinking of couture because it's simply out of reach. Couture's not dying. The upper class are just jaded. There.

THAT BEING SAID, let's move on to...what else? COUTURE! This isn't a formal review because I really only liked a few looks (maybe couture is dying, in that case). But I can't tell if I like that red Elie Saab dress because it's gorgeous or because Liu Wen is wearing it. Both, I guess.

I never have a definite response for Chanel collections. Usually, I'm bored of the first half of the collection but I'm head over heels for the second half. But for the first time, I think I liked the whole thing! The flowy hair, those dark roots, the red lips, the brooding faces.......feels a bit vampish, doesn't it? I'm not going to go into the whole uh, you know, vampire/werewolf fad thing so I'll stop there. This collection is much darker than previous Chanel collections, partially due to that fall color palette of cranberry, bronze, and brown. But other colors added into the mix (aqua, royal blue, bright red) provide some relief from this gothic medieval vibe I'm getting. Armor-like silhouettes, voluptuous sleeves (reminiscent of peasant dresses), chains and medallions are balanced with pearls, florals (still very royal-looking, though), and cropped tops over flowing skirts. A really seductive collection...which Natasha Poly alone can prove with that dark blue dress! GORGEOUS.

I don't think I've ever written about a Christian Dior collection. Honestly, it seems like John Galliano does the same thing for two seasons, then switches to another theme that will inevitably carry over to the next season. So maybe he just got over an equestrian phase. This perfect-for-spring collection came out of nowhere! First of all, it's an autumn couture collection. We often associate this season with crunchy yellowing leaves, not blooming flowers. The backdrop remains orange but the models walk out in ombre dresses as well as pastels and fluorescents. We needn't a fancy box to gift these dresses, folded and cinched like tissue paper with ribbons as belts. I love the Stephen Jones human bouquet headwear though I can't help but think of the suffocation hazard. Whatevs, the models are adults. Most of them.

Images: Coutorture, style.com

Blue, Green or Both?

2010-07-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that the nail color you see in both those photos above are supposed to be the same?? It's the sold out Chanel Nouvelle Vague, a supposedly aqua color. But I swear that you won't find two swatches of this color that look the same (at least in magazines)! I thought I dropped $23 on a light baby blue lacquer but it turned out to be way more green than I thought, at least under room light. Once I'm outside under the sun, my nails look robin egg blue! That used to be my favorite crayon color, by the way.

So what prompted me to buy this overpriced polish? Hasn't the jade green fad passed? Actually, I didn't intend to buy another green nail polish. I wanted that light blue color on Shu Pei's nails for an editorial titled "Lollipop Girls" in Vogue China June 2010. My Chinese is a tad rusty but I've confirmed with my Chinese native cousin that according to the make-up details for this photo, the color is Chanel #475, described as a "lake blue". A quick Google search reveals that Chanel #475 is actually a blood red color called "Dragon" -- a similar match for the lips but not the nails! The closest thing I came up with after some additional searches was Chanel #527 Nouvelle Vague. I immediately ordered my bottle from the Chanel online shop, but I still wondered if Nouvelle Vague was just Jade with a different name slapped on.

I received my order and felt some regret, especially when I compared the Chanel bottle (13 fl. oz) to a bottle of Essie Mint Candy Apple (15 fl. oz). Chanel is so good at milking its makeup fans of money. I've become accustomed Essie's matte finish so once I tried Nouvelle Vague on my nails, I was impressed by the smooth finish and the slight shimmer. The color is hard to pinpoint, though. Sometimes it's obviously green, sometimes it's obviously blue and other times it's ambiguously in the middle! But I think I can conclude that it's a slightly metallic swimming pool blue color. Mostly green on a cloudy day but greenish blue on a sunny day.

All in all, I don't think I regret this purchase.......but recall that I was trying to find Shu Pei's powder blue nail color! That mystery has yet to be solved...

Images: My own webcam pics with color background from cafemakeup.com, my own capture of my Vogue Nippon June 2010 issue, Asian Models Blog, and ME again