Miss Couturable

Town & Country in the city

2009-10-21T16:09:00.006-04:00

My French midterm examination is tomorrow, and I am well-aware that my last update on Miss Couturable was more than four weeks ago. While I am still learning how to balance blogging with everything else going on in life, I already have a list of things I want to share with my fellow lovelies -- as soon I finish taking my last midterm examination next Thursday, of course.
To briefly update you on my life here at Columbia University, I am currently a fashion intern for Town & Country magazine. Indeed, I'm back at Hearst! I'm also working on starting Columbia University's first and only fashion publication, so stay tuned for updates on that -- 'tis amazing how talented and dedicated the students are here.

I am also trying to avoid swine flu. Don't worry -- Miss Couturable will be back and running as long as I can evade sickness for another week. Hope you're all doing marvelously well; toodaloo!

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Miss Couturable

Suit up in Hermès scarves

2009-09-27T20:17:00.003-04:00

If I were a guy, I'd want to dress in Hermès. My parents used to save the Hermès men's catalogs that arrived in the mail for me, and I fell head over heels for the polished well-dressed men within the matte pages -- one of the few moments in my life when I wanted to be a boy instead of a girl.
Today, after purchasing a copy of Star Von Bunny: A Model Tale from the Paper Magazine Mr. Mickey's Celebrity Sidewalk Sale at Screaming Mimi's (100% of the proceeds went to fund the building of the Vivekananda Public School in India), I trekked over to the Hermès sample sale, where I purchased two signature silk scarves -- one in a sweet baby blue to wear to Columbia University sporting events (ah yes, I do have school pride) and one in a delightfully rich Indian rose and gold.
All Hermès silk scarves measure 90 x 90 centimeters and are hand-printed using silk screens. Additionally, they are hand-stitched and can easily be tied around your wrist, neck, handbag, or head for timeless chicness (and this is one of those few times where "timeless chic" truly applies).

I would like to point that I was probably one of the youngest people at the sale today, as I found myself standing in line with grandmothers in cashmere sweaters and corporettes on a lunch break.

Some things, like Chanel 2.55 bags and Hermès silk scarves, are stylish beyond the whims of seasonal trends and age.

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Miss Couturable

Under my umbrella

2009-09-14T14:30:00.003-04:00

At Bryant Park two days ago, I received numerous compliments on my Guy de Jean Cancan Bis umbrella. In addition to its Moulin Rouge-esque froufrou look, it has a sturdy metal frame that has withstood countless strong winds while my friends' umbrellas collapsed under the pressure. It also doubles as a parasol with a sun protection factor of 50+, which is another excuse for me to carry it around all year, rain or shine.

What is your favorite practical -- or frivolous -- accessory?

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Miss Couturable

Announcements and exhaustion

2009-09-08T17:37:00.004-04:00

I've disappeared from the internet for a few weeks, and in these past few weeks I've moved to New York City, backpacked up the Catskills Mountains, evacuated a hurricane, torn a pair of shoes, spent a night at the emergency room in the hospital (thank you, my dear suitemates!), wandered around the city (with company) late at night searching for questionable videos, and got nerdy (classes began today and I'm so ready to work). I'm actually in the library right now, realizing that I can't finish my French homework because I left my earphones in my room.

As I recover from my phlegm-plagued sickness, I would like to share two articles I wrote for Mochi Magazine:

First, I interviewed the fabulously awe-inspiring and yet-ever-so-humble Susanna Lau of The Fashion Blog to Know: Fashion Blogger Susie Bubble on the Digital World of Fashion. If you're curious about her day job, about online journalism, or about how she got her nickname of "Susie Bubble," check it out!

Secondly, I interviewed the amazing Sheena Matheiken of The Uniform Project: Nothing to Wear? How to Invigorate Your Closet. If you don't know about Sheena and her wonderful efforts to raise money for the Akanksha Foundation, read this article and read her blog. Additionally, there are some great tips about how to spice up a "basic" outfit -- trust me, Sheena knows best.

I'm so blessed to have been able to interview two fashion bloggers who are making great strides in both the online and "real" world. I would also like to announce that I am going to be blogging for College Fashion, along with nine other fashion-savvy college students. If you didn't read College Fashion before, now is the time to start! As my introduction reads:

Noel – Columbia University – You probably already know her as Miss Couturable, but the fabulous Noel is going to be writing for CF this semester too! As a former Seventeen Magazine intern starting her freshman year of college in NYC, Noel will be writing about everything from wallet-friendly versions of runway looks to her adventures budgeting and shopping in the city.

Don't worry -- Miss Couturable will be staying alive, as always! There are two different approaches to these two different blog, and I look forward to getting in contact with everyone in both ways!

Now, I'm off to my next class. Hopefully, your school year is starting off relatively smoothly!

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Miss Couturable

Ciao, California!

2009-08-25T20:00:00.001-04:00

I found out that one of my favorite teachers from high school, Mr. Near, is dying. He has a few weeks left to live. I visited him on Saturday, and realized how terrible goodbyes are -- for all the goodbyes I have said in the past few weeks, this was the only true goodbye.

Mr. Near once said:

When I first started teaching, I substituted one day at my old junior high. One of my former teachers, upon seeing me and realizing I had become a teacher, actually said to me, "Oh, I always thought you could have done so much more." I guess in her mind I hadn't "done my best." And, maybe by her standard I hadn't. I would suggest that you find a different standard because I wouldn't trade my life or career for anyone's.

So, Mr. Near, thank you. People underestimate the importance of a well-taught class -- how the subject matter can grip you and run in circles through your head. People underestimate the importance of a teacher with a booming voice and a stern stare -- how one glance tells you that something wonderful is being taught. You taught me that a life well-lived is not determined by the number of times your name pops up on Google or the size of your bank account.

As for that booming voice of yours, I was at a loss for words (which I admit, is rarely the case) when I saw that it had become a raspy whisper on Saturday. I miss your voice.

I bid California farewell tonight. After I get off the plane tomorrow morning, I still won't know where I'm going in the next few years.

But as Mr. Near taught me, we might not have the future -- so live now, live hard, love now, and love hard. Mommy, Daddy, and Kathy -- thank you so much for a ridiculous past 18 years.

ex.oh.ex.oh

Miss Couturable

Batucada "Baroco" Bracelet mini-giveaway winner

2009-08-25T02:04:00.001-04:00

(Photo Credit -- Brooklyn5and10)

Before I head off to bed in my own room for the last time (at least, for a few months), I would like to announce the winner (randomly selected) of the Batucada "Baroco" Bracelet mini-giveaway:

Grace, age 18: My favorite piece of jewelery is a multi-strand faux pearl necklace from Forever 21. It's cream-coloured and has gold accents. I love it to pieces.

Congratulations, Grace -- you'll love this eco-plastic bracelet as much as I love my eco-plastic necklace. Please email me with your name and mailing address from the same email you provided in your entry.

I'm off to slumberland!

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Miss Couturable

Dorm room decorating

2009-08-23T01:32:00.001-04:00

A lot of my high school classmates have already moved into their dorm rooms -- I know this because Facebook albums with billions of dorm photos have popped up onto my Newsfeed. I've seen messy dorms, immaculate dorms, colorful dorms, and barely furnished dorms. Even though all of the dorms are different, everyone seems to have propped up their living space in the course of a day.

However, I don't think I could decorate and furnish my dorm room in the span of one move-in day -- I need more time to carefully pick out my decorations and furnishings. I have a few decorations ready to go, but I want to wander around the city and find pieces that spell out home to me, instead of racking up the Christmas lights and flokati rugs on a quick run through Target.
So far, I have a Breakfast at Tiffany's movie poster. I grew up watching Audrey Hepburn and I want to frame the poster for aesthetic appeasement.

(Photo Credit -- Frye's)

My daddy picked up this table lamp for me -- I like it much better than a plastic clip-on desk lamp. I'm a big fan of organic shapes with modernist touches.

(Photo Credit -- Amazon.com)

Okay, I know there's a mirror in the bathroom, but I need my own vanity mirror. This one lights up, magnifies to different intensities, and has a plug-in at the base for my hair straightener. There are many things I am willing to share, but I also don't enjoy fighting for the mirror in my suite's bathroom.

(Photo Credit -- Target)

For my down comforter, I purchased this duvet cover with a cream jacquard texture. I actually had a secret desire to make my own duvet.

(Photo Credit -- JCPenney)

I found a $100 gift card to JCPenney in my room. I have never shopped there before, but they had some great deals on twin XL sheets, which I was frantically searching for. I got two sets of sheets and pillowcases in bright mango and aqua blue.

(Photo Credit -- flair4all)

In keeping with my attempts to maintain a bright sunny room, I am pasting these crimson poppy wall decals on my wall. It's so easy and typical of me to opt for silvers, black, and whites for my room, but I do believe that a warm atmosphere can foster warm spirits.

I want to tear out pages of W magazine, which is always oversized, and tack them onto my wall. I also want to buy a French memo board and fill it with photos from high school. I'm not sure yet, and I don't think I'll have a "finished" dorm room for at least a month.

So, help me, please -- what are your favorite places for furnishings and decorations and art in New York City (or online)? Where can I buy poster frames at reasonable prices? How are you decorating your dorm? What are your decorating tips?

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Miss Couturable

P.S. Okay fine, I admit it. I'm also tacking up a Spice Girls poster.

Sharp words, sharp images

2009-08-21T15:31:00.001-04:00

I felt terrible after selling my copy of Perrine's Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry by to a rising senior who would be taking AP English Literature & Composition soon. I fell in love with poetry through this book and it was only senior year that I began collecting my favorite poems.

So, I would like to share two of my favorite poems with you:

Snow White and the Seven Deadly Sins
By R.S. Gwynn

Good Catholic girl, she didn't mind the cleaning.
All of her household chores, at first, were small
And hardly labors one could find demeaning.
One's duty was one's refuge, after all.

And if she had her doubts at certain moments
And once confessed the to the Father, she
Was instantly referred to texts in Romans
And Peter's First Epistle, chapter III.

Years passed. More sinful every day, the Seven
Breakfasted, grabbed their pitchforks, donned their horns,
And sped to contravene the hopes of heaven,
Sowing the neighbors' lawns with tares and thorns.

She set to work. Pride's wall of looking glasses
Ogled her dimly, smeared with prints of lips;
Lust's magazines lay strewn, bare tits and asses
Weighted by his "devices" - chains, cuffs, whips.

Gluttony's empties covered half the table,
Mingling with Avarice's cards and chips,
And she'd been told to sew a Bill Blass label
Inside the blazer Envy'd bought at Gyps.

She knelt to the cold master bathroom floor as
If a petitioner before the Pope,
Retrieving several pairs of Sloths's soiled drawers,
A sweat-sock and a cake of hairy soap.

Then, as she wiped the Windex from the mirror
She noticed, and the vision made her cry,
How much she'd grayed and paled, and how much clearer
Festered the bruise of Wrath beneath her eye.

"No poisoned apple needed for this Princess,"
She murmured making X's with her thumb.
A car door slammed, bringing her to her senses:
Ho-hum. Ho-hum. It's home from work we come.

And she was out the window in a second,
In time to see a Handsome Prince, of course,
Who, in spying her distressed condition, beckoned
For her to mount (What else?) his snow-white horse.

Impeccably he spoke. His smile was glowing.
So debonair! So charming! And so Male.
She took a step, reversed and without slowing
Beat it to St. Anne's where she took the veil.

Suicide's Note
By Langston Hughes

The calm,
Cool face of the river
Asked me for a kiss.

What are your favorite poems?

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Miss Couturable

P-p-p-pockets everyday

2009-08-20T10:57:00.001-04:00

{Batucada "Baroco" necklace from Brooklyn5and10, silk J. Crew belt with feathers, Lamixx wool pocket dress, ankle-strapped wedge heels from Belle International}

You see, I think every girl -- especially every college girl -- should have a dress with functional pockets. Deep pockets for when you don't want to carry around a purse (although, handbags are a basic necessity in my book). However, most of the "practical" dresses and skirts I've bought, from a $600 Marc by Marc Jacobs dress to a $200 BCBG Max Azria skirt to a $30 Erin Fetherston for Target jumper, have fake pockets or flimsy pockets which I don't trust with my keys. Why is it so hard to find a nice looking dress with usable pockets? What if I'm just running out of my dorm room for a quick snack downstairs and I don't want to bring my entire bag?

Enter the wool blend low v pocket dress from Jacqueline Rose of Lamixx. Like an ideal pocket dress, it's versatile and easy to manipulate. Here are five reasons why ladies need pockets too:

We don't always have the perfect purse or clutch for the outfit.
On top of all of the clothes in the hamper, do we seriously want to carry our purses to do the laundry too?
Sometimes, reaching into our pockets is easier than digging around a Balenciaga.
If men carry manpurses (or "murses") nowadays, we can ask for "manly" pockets.
We're prone to carry too much in our purses (well, at least I am).

My friends like this dress -- but they also think that it looks like a potato sack (an attractive one, at least). However, cinch the waist and you get a comfortable wool dress that can be dressed down or up. The wonderful thing about a dress with pockets is that it can be thrown on for a quick errand or dolled up for a night out. It reminds of the loose playdresses I wore as a child. I recall that those dresses had pockets too. I can still have playdates, right?

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

P.S. To enter to win the Batucada "Baroco" bracelet (I'm wearing the Batucada "Baroco" necklace), click here! Entries close on August 23rd, 2009.

Big baubles on bagues

2009-08-19T11:27:00.001-04:00

I like rings, but I don't like the delicate thin kinds. I like them gaudy, ostentatious, and usually big. I only thought about this when my friend Katie showed me her new cocktail rings. Two summers ago, I bought a giant plastic blue ring in New York City and I showed my teacher. "Oh...that's great..." she said, shifting her eyes away. I have to admit though, that was a tacky ring.

My two favorite ring designers are Miss Bibi and Mauboussin -- they not only make beautiful wedding rings, but they also make fun whimsical pieces.

(Photo Credit -- Miss Bibi)

Miss Bibi bagues call out to the romantic fairytale lover within me, from the Mickey Mouse ears to the giant heart.

(Photo Credit -- Mauboussin)

Mauboussin bagues, on the other hand, manage to be both classic and unique. Big colorful gems have never been this sophisticated.

(Photo Credit -- Limoges Jewelry)

But you know, Miss Bibi and Mauboussin rings are far from cheap costume jewelry. A more affordable alternative would be this opal cluster ring from Limoges Jewelry. All of the bling without the big bucks.

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Miss Couturable

Mini-giveaway: Batucada "Baroco" Bracelet

2009-08-18T18:32:00.001-04:00

{Sara Berman cropped tuxedo jacket, Uniqlo skinny jeans, Sonia Rykiel sandals, Old Navy ribbed tank top, clutch from Silk Street in Beijing, straw hat from flea market, Batucada "Baroco" necklace from Brooklyn5and10}

The remainder of my days in California have been spent packing, bidding farewell to friends, perusing the Iliad, and lounging at home watching Disney movies and eating homemade potstickers. I have packed most of my clothes, and now am wearing a daily uniform of tank top, jeans, and sandals. On the laziest days when I don't leave the house, I am probably wearing a raggedy pair of shorts and a giant t-shirt -- no really, I did pack everything.

(Photo Credit -- Brooklyn5and10)

Since I only have seven days left at home, I am hosting a mini-giveaway for a Batucada eco-plastic "Baroco" bracelet from Brooklyn5and10! As you can see, I am wearing the "Baroco" necklace, which is fascinating because the soft plastic molds to your skin, like a tattoo necklace. Reminds me of those tattoo chokers that were all the rage in elementary school, but much more interesting in an asymmetrical organic sense. It feels like nothing. While I've always been a gold, silver, and pearl snob, I adore the idea of jewelry that I can easily wear while swimming or exercising (the plastic is sweatproof and waterproof). I was actually doing research on "easy-maintenance" jewelry for an article I was planning to write when I stumbled across this collection.

To enter to win, just leave your name, age, email address -- and tell me about your favorite piece of jewelry. Entries close on August 23rd, 2009, and the winner will be announced on August 24th, 2009. Good luck, and more good luck if you've already started school!

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Miss Couturable

P.S. Yes, the selection of the winner will be random -- so feel free to enter if you happen to know me in real life.

In facialists we trust

2009-08-13T19:50:00.001-04:00

(Photo Credit -- Getty Images)

I discovered today that I am emotionally attached to my facialist. While I am loyal to my manicurist and hairdresser too, there is nothing like placing your trust in someone who extracts your blackheads (in other words, pops your zits) on a regular basis. It's always important to go to a licensed esthetician -- preferably one recommended by your dermatologist (my facialist, in fact, works with my dermatologist). You can always take a shower right after a bad perm, but the scarring from a bad blackhead extraction can last for a long time.

During my hour-long facial, my esthetician and I talked about college life and our terrible fascination with the students behind the television show NYC Prep. Alas, she ended up recommending the Glytone Flesh Tinted Acne Treatment Lotion with sulfur and resorcinol as a spot treatment for me. It smells like sulfur, but luckily I'm just using it at night.

Of course, after a facial, one's face is generally redder and more swollen than usual -- and more sensitive, as I can still feel the tingly aftereffects. As I bid my facialist goodbye this morning, I felt strangely stricken. I mean, I don't even let myself touch my face beyond my morning and night skincare regiments. I must have a lot of trust in her in order to let her touch my face for an entire hour.

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Miss Couturable

SophistiKATEd

2009-08-12T16:55:00.001-04:00

(Photo Credit -- Kate Spade)

Debuted yesterday, the Kate Spade clothing collection is nothing short of a delightful array of whimsical and ladylike frocks and coats -- a slightly more mature version of what Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl would wear.

With charming names such as the Bisous Lace Gail Dress and the Madeline Paulina Cardigan, the pieces in the collection boast of vivid color, simple lines, and classic versatility for the adventurous lady who prefers dressing up to dressing down.

'Tis no wonder that Kate Spade once said,"I think that playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends."

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Miss Couturable

Two weeks until takeoff

2009-08-09T02:11:00.001-04:00

"I wanted out. That was partly why I’d chosen Columbia. I like how the city seethed up against the school, mocking its theoretical seclusion with hustle and noise, the din of people going and getting and making. things that mattered at Princeton or Yale couldn’t possible withstand this battering of raw, unironic life. You didn’t go to eating clubs at Columbia, you went to jazz clubs. You had a girlfriend— no, a lover — with psychiatric problems, and friends with foreign accents. You read newspapers on the subway and looked at tourists with a cool, anthropologicial gaze. You said crosstown express. You said the Village. You ate weird food. No other boy in my class would be going there." -- Old School by Tobias Wolff

There are two reasons why I picked out this passage. First, it embodies everything about Columbia University that I hope to understand in the next four years. I'm thinking about studying Art History, Political Science, and Human Rights in order to gain a wide understanding of culture and society and what I can and should do about it. Second, Tobias Wolff is a beautiful writer and I think everyone should read his short stories, novels, and memoirs. I'm jealous that he's a professor at Stanford University.

This brings me to a topic I've always wanted to write about. Actually, no -- this brings me to a rambling of many topics, some of which I have never told anyone in person. And actually, no -- I didn't envision putting my jumbled thoughts in writing until last night, when I was in the car with a girl friend who would be attending The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania this fall. We started talking about college ambitions, graduate school, good careers for women, balancing family and career -- everything that two 18-year-old girls dreaming of bright futures could talk about.

And then she asked me how much I could make starting off in fashion publishing.

"Well, editorial assistants make around $35,000 a year, I think," I replied. That was about how much our high school tuition cost every year, to put things into perspective.

"You need to find another option then. There has got to be something else for you," she replied matter-of-factly. I stared ahead at the cars zooming in front of me.

Is there something else for me? Possibilities will always be endless -- there very well could be something else out there. Earlier this year, I revealed why fashion meant more to me than a law degree ever could. Fashion -- drapery, embellishment, reconstruction -- makes sense to me. Words -- beautiful, searing words -- make sense to me.

After interning at Seventeen last summer, there was nothing else I wanted to do more than to work in fashion publishing. To write. To edit. To publish. To create. To be in awe.

Sure, I know "money doesn't buy happiness" and I firmly believe that success is not measured by the size of one's bank account, but I want to give my children the best opportunities in life -- just like my parents did for me.

My parents came into this country with $200 in their pockets (borrowed, of course), and they've sacrificed plenty to achieve the American dream. My mommy wanted to be an artist; she would sit on street corners all day and sketch with charcoal. My daddy was a smart slacker who learned to work hard after he graduated college at age 19 (he would have graduated earlier but he skipped class for an entire year). However, both of them entered the United States as starving graduate students and eventually became successful professionals in their medical and engineering fields. My mommy gave up her creative dreams to have a well-respected and stable career -- and to give me the opportunities that she never had.

My parents didn't teach me about how to tie a scarf and they still don't know the difference between Vogue and Elle. My mommy comes to me when she needs to shop for make-up. They definitely didn't push me to love fashion or writing. However, my parents always did push me to be independent, from the day my mommy brought me to the lab and told me that I had to occupy myself with a copy of See Spot Run for the next few hours (I was three and I was teaching myself to read) to the first out of sixty days that they left me alone in New York City last summer. "Shut up and think for yourself," my daddy growled at me when I was six. I didn't learn to shut up, but I did learn to think for myself.

So I began to write. I won elementary poetry contests with rhyming dictionaries and terrible syntax. My first short story was in fourth grade -- about an Egyptian warrior princess. My teacher told me that I had a great voice, but I became lazy at the conclusion. I kept writing. I wrote a short story about fairies in seventh grade. My teacher gave me a "C" on the manuscript. My first "C' grade ever. A month later, I got my short story published in the Stanford Anthology for Youth. "Well, people have different tastes," she shrugged. I was published for the first time, and I realized that the only way I could become a better writer was by writing more.

I don't know where I'm going with this piece, which goes to show that I still haven't overcome my biggest problem in writing: conclusions. My fourth grade Egyptian princess story had a faulty ending and this blog post will also have a faulty ending. What am I trying to say? What have I always been trying to say?

I am surrounded by brilliant schoolmates from high school and college who will achieve great things in their life. All my friends know that I dream of being a published author and fashion magazine editor and Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and entrepreneur, but as you can tell from the 152 comments under Lauren Conrad's intern blog entry on Teen Vogue -- a lot of impressionable girls dream of the same things as me. My biggest fear is not that I will fall short of expectations for myself (for I always set lofty goals), but that everything my parents sacrificed for me will be in vain.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Note to self: Enroll in a creative writing class at Columbia. Figure out how to make that conclusion happen. And then keep making other things happen. Let the city and the school "seeth" up against you.

Cupcake (not cake) craving

2009-08-04T17:19:00.001-04:00

I've always found Louis Vuitton purse cakes and shoe cakes to be painstakingly fascinating and yet too much of an extravagance for a girl who rarely cuts even cake slices and tends to eat what is in front of her without looking at her plate (I know -- I should change this habit). Cake is cake. The giant confection will be sliced and possibly smeared all over someone's face anyways.

I do like pretty cupcakes though -- while they're relatively simple in decoration (in comparison to a full cake), they punch a lot of flavor and petite glory into a few bites.

(Photo Credit -- Therese Aldgård)

I could write on about cupcakes with the same enthusiasm that I do for fashion, but what prompted these sugary thoughts are these fashion-inspired cupcake photographs by photographer Therese Aldgård and prop stylist Lisa Edsälv. Why not have Vera Wang-inspired cupcakes to complement a Vera Wang gown on your wedding day?

Tragically, the last time I truly enjoyed a cupcake was at my eighteenth birthday party -- from Kara's Cupcakes, to be exact.

ex.oh.ex.oh

Miss Couturable

Drastic elastic

2009-08-03T01:50:00.001-04:00

(Photo Credit -- Bordelle)

I originally intended to make a giant back-to-school shopping list, but I got distracted by this Angela cage dress by Bordelle. It's not very practical or appropriate for class (even though I was so tempted to add it onto my list), but it is a beautiful deconstructed rendition of a Hervé Léger "body-con" dress. Femme fetale is a look that never goes out.

Plus, I mean, a pair of leggings (and a cardigan) could cover up the dress for class, right?

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Miss Couturable

Alma mater anticipation

2009-07-31T16:00:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I received my copy of the Iliad by Homer from the Columbia College Alumni Association.

Please accept this gift as a token of our support for the next generation of College alumni — you! (In preparation for your Columbia experience, please read the first 12 books within the Iliad.)

‘Tis a sweet way to frame 270 pages of summer homework. It even comes with a pretty sticker on the inside cover that reads, “Presented to the Class of 2013.”

It reminds me of the day my copy of the Odyssey by Homer arrived in the mail from Amazon, four years ago. And reading chapters from Edith Hamilton’s Mythology over the summer to prepare for freshman English. And spending my entire first semester of freshman year in high school trying to understand Homer’s words, trying to understand the ancient Greeks, trying to understand Odysseus. I was on my own odyssey, trying to figure out where high school was going to take me.

This time around, I’m not starting off from scratch. My high school taught me well to appreciate literature and to appreciate challenges. When I stare at this Richmond Lattimore translation and glance back at the Odyssey and Mythology, still sitting on my bookshelf and untouched since the end of freshman year, I realize that it’s about time that I get my brain juices flowing again. Graduation wasn't too far ago, but August is approaching.

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Miss Couturable

Wake me up when September ends

2009-07-30T16:34:00.001-04:00

There are a lot of reasons why I am super excited for September. First, the month of September always means Fashion Week. This year, for me, the month of September also means starting my freshman year of college and moving to New York City. It also means the release of the highly-anticipated documentary, The September Issue, which actually opens on August 28th in New York City but will expand nationally on September 11th.

The synopsis reads:

Anna Wintour, the legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine for twenty years, is the most powerful and polarizing figure in fashion. Hidden behind her trademark bob and sunglasses, she has never allowed anyone to scrutinize the inner workings of her magazine. Until now. With unprecedented access, filmmaker R.J. Cutler’s new film THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE does for fashion what he did for politics in The War Room, taking the viewer inside a world they only think they know. Every August a record-breaking number of people can’t wait to get their hands on the September issue of Vogue. The 2007 issue was and remains the biggest ever, weighing over four pounds, selling thirteen million copies, and impacting the $300-billion global fashion industry more than any other single publication. An intimate, funny and surprising look at Anna Wintour and her team of larger-than-life editors as they create this must-have Bible of fashion, Cutler explores the untouchable glamour of Wintour’s Vogue to reveal the extraordinarily passionate people at its heart. He takes us behind the scenes at Fashion Week, to Europe, on shoots and reshoots, and into closed-door staff meetings, bearing witness to an arduous, entertaining, and sometimes emotionally demanding process. At the eye of this annual fashion hurricane is the two-decade relationship between Wintour and Grace Coddington, incomparable Creative Director and fashion genius. They are perfectly matched for the age-old conflict between creator and curator. Through them, we see close-up the delicate creative chemistry it takes to remain at the top of the ever-changing fashion field.

Additionally, after September passes, you can purchase a copy of The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion, now available for pre-order on Amazon by clicking here(yessum, I've already pre-ordered). It debuts on October 5th, but you can catch a sneak peak of the book on lovely Teen Voguette Jazzi's blog and in the following video, narrated by Teen Vogue editor-in-chief, Amy Astley:

This sums up my feelings toward the book.

I know, I know -- hopefully we'll all still be able to concentrate on schoolwork too. The Iliad isn't going to read itself.

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Miss Couturable

chickdowntown.com giveaway: Tolani scarf winners

2009-07-29T13:04:00.001-04:00

Merci beaucoup to everyone who entered the chickdowntown.com Tolani scarf giveaway! I had a great time checking out all of your fall must-haves (and adding a few on my list!).

Using a random number generator on my good ol' TI-84+ calculator, I have the selected the two winners of this lovely blue/grey ombre scarf to be:
#51: Amanda T., age 26, who chose a lovely cherry red coat by BB Dakota as her fall must-have -- which, coincidentally, is also from chickdowntown.com.
#79: Carissa J., age 17, who chose this stunning Balmain jacket that I, too, have been craving for months! Fall jacket perfection, indeed.

Please email me your mailing address, Amanda and Carissa -- and to everyone else, please stay tuned for the next giveaway!

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Miss Couturable

Skincare solutions and spending

2009-07-27T23:05:00.001-04:00

I had an appointment with my dermatologist today, and I would like to say that I have immense respect and curiosity for dermatologists. The fact that she prescribes me medication to treat acne scarring while simultaneously injecting Botox into the forehead of the middle-aged peroxide blonde next door is mind baffling -- simply because these are all intimate matters of appearance that a dermatologist must address.
One thing I ended purchasing from my dermatologist today (and oh, 'tis frightening how many facials and creams and lotions a dermatologist may recommend for you) is the Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Skin Bleaching and Corrector Cream. It sounds like one of those whitening creams heavily marketed in Asian countries, but apparently it can be used for any "unwanted areas of melanin hyperpigmentation." This tiny two-ounce bottle cost me $91 -- and I haven't even started talking about the topical gel that I've been prescribed or the blackhead facial that she insists I get before I head off to college.
One of the most popular skincare trends in Asia right now (and Asian countries, obsessed as they are with pale skin, have excellent skincare products) is B. B. cream (Blemish Balm). It is part foundation and part (supposedly) healing cream, and it actually originated in Germany (although Korean brands have picked up on this trend). I picked up a bottle of Missha M Vita SPF 20 B. B. Cream at a department store in China, and the ingredients include everything from caviar cream to vitamin complexes. It actually works extremely well applied, smoothing out the skin without any extra oil -- my Korean-American friend adores it and I can understand why.

I bring these all up because skincare can be ridiculously expensive and complex, making me envy those who were born with blessed blemish-free complexions.

So, tell me -- do you think you're getting your money's worth on the skincare products that you use? And are you willing to splurge for your skin?

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Miss Couturable

I still love you, Marc

2009-07-25T12:30:00.001-04:00

In general, I prefer the designer item to the "inspired" versions or the, er, knock-offs. In most cases, the designer items have better craftsmanship, more detail, and fit better -- so I don't mind spending the extra money if I know it's a piece that can make a statement, the quality is high, it fits well, and I can't find a version I like more. And if I can come up with enough practical reasons for owning the piece (as much as I would have loved to wear the $8,000 Marchesa gown to prom, I could never justify it to myself or my parents).

(Photo Credit -- Nordstrom)

I always thought these Marc Jacobs Bow Gladiator Sandals were very adorable, but not adorable enough for me to spend $897 on them. It was one of those shoes that I would take a quick glance at, place back onto the shelf, and swiftly walk away from before the salespeople could look in my direction.
So, while I was in China -- I found a pair of similar sandals for the Chinese equivalent of $100. They were made of real metallic green leather and I preferred the brass bows on this pair to the leather bows on the original Marc Jacobs version! The craftsmanship on these sandals is excellent -- they're extremely comfortable and high-quality.

This is one of the few instances where I prefer the "inspired" version to the designer original -- even if both pieces happened to be the same price, I'd still choose my metallic green versions from China. However, I am still fatally in love with Marc Jacobs in every possible way.

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Miss Couturable

Time for change (literally)

2009-07-24T12:40:00.001-04:00

I am terribly guilty of stuffing whole dollar bills into my purse without even placing them back into my wallet. I've been doing it throughout my high school career, as my dear friends would gaze at my crumpled bills in half-horrified and half-amused visages. Part of me thinks that it's because I've been using a bulky and beat-up pink wallet from eighth grade. That wallet crumples up my dollar bills too, so why even bother organizing my change?
So, I purchased a blue Fendi long leather wallet. It's big enough to fit my money, credit cards, gift cards, and business cards -- without appearing bulky. It's chic enough for a college girl moving into the big city, while colorful enough to appear playful. Also to note: lizard print just makes everything seem more exciting.

Truth be told, I've been meaning to buy a new wallet for over three years (that's how beat up my wallet from middle school is), so I fell in love with quite a few lovely options, before I purchased the Fendi:

(Photo Credit -- Bluefly.com)

I was obsessed with Yves Saint Laurent "Y-mail" when it first came out, and I'm still looking to purchase a coin purse from the collection in the future. It's very whimsical and I admit that I wish I had that handwriting.

(Photo Credit -- Bluefly.com)

The Chloé Paddington has always been an it-bag classic, and the wallet version carries the same beloved brasstone lock. Plus, I like my wallets with a pop of color.

(Photo Credit -- Saks Fifth Avenue)

I've always thought that the original Prada wallets were somewhat boring, but I like shiny metal. A lot.

(Photo Credit -- Louis Vuitton)

Or maybe I just like shiny in general. Once upon a time, I saw that my friend (or was it her mummy?) had this wallet and it is probably one of the few monogrammed pieces that I don't find overbearing at all. This friend told me that everyone in Korea has this wallet in different colors.

(Photo Credits -- Louis Vuitton, Coach, Yves Saint Laurent)

As for coin purses, my favorites have been these eccentric pieces from Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Yves Saint Laurent. For some reason, I think coin purses should pack a lot of "kaboom" in spite of their small size.

What do you use for your wallet or coin purse? Do you prefer the long ones or the classics?

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Miss Couturable

Giveaways galore

2009-07-23T16:00:00.001-04:00

I know everyone loves giveaways and freebies -- so if you haven't entered Miss Couturable's chickdowntown.com: Tolani scarf giveaway, I suggest you do it before entries close on July 28th, 2009! Read the directions -- it's really simple to enter and the drawing is completely random.

If you have an extra 20 minutes to spare (and I'm sure you do), you should also enter Mochi Blog's Shoebuy.com contest for a $75 gift certificate. That can buy a pair of shoes, you know.

Additionally, if you have a website, blog, or social networking profile, you can win a $200 gift certificate from Lushae Jewelry just by displaying one of their badges. The competition is drawn every month and there are no limits to number of times you can enter! The details are here.

Anyway, I'm gabbing on about giveaways and contests because I just discovered free!gretchen today! It's a database of fashion-related giveaways and contests that you can enter and it's updated very frequently. If you're ever bored, just sign up for some giveaways and cross your fingers! We'll pretend it's being productive.

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Miss Couturable

Meet Madeleine Vionnet

2009-07-22T14:56:00.001-04:00

(Photo Credit -- Apple)

This sounds ridiculously geeky, but I named my new 13-inch MacBook Pro. A friend suggested that I give my future succession of Apple computers a "theme" in which to name them -- so, of course, I chose fashion designers as my theme.

(Photo Credit -- Les Arts Décoratifs)

Because this is my first Apple computer, I chose to name it "Madeleine Vionnet," after an early but extremely influential fashion designer. Vionnet introduced the bias cut to the fashion industry in the 1920s, and she believed in timeless style that accentuated the female body in fluid curves and drapes à la Grecian robes.

(Photo Credit -- Style.com)

You can definitely see the Vionnet elements in another one of my favorite collections, Marchesa.

Additionally, she fought for copyright laws in fashion. What a tough cookie -- hopefully, my new laptop will be one too!

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Miss Couturable

Color poppin'

2009-07-21T16:14:00.001-04:00

(Photo Credit -- Style.com)

I realize that I post about the Christian Dior Haute Couture collections almost every season, and I'm sure that everyone knows I would gladly don bright pink lipstick if it meant I could wear a New Look gown for a day (or, er, eternity).

What I love most about John Galliano's Dior couture is that he creates fashion that revels and explodes in color and vibrancy. I was sorting through my closet last night (pre-college clean-up), and I realized that most of the colors left in my wardrobe were dark in tone. Most of the clothes in my "discard" pile (many were clothes leftover from middle school) were pink, pink, and more pink.

And so as I glanced through the Fall 2009 collection, I lost my breath at the photo above. I had forgotten what it meant to wear color -- and I thank Monsieur Galliano for reminding me again.

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Miss Couturable