THIS IS WHAT ADULTS WEAR

Birchbox Fail

2011-05-06T20:19:00.002-04:00

Just returned from grueling bikram yoga and was all excited about picking up my delivery... BUT:

USPS.com says the package was delivered. My mailbox is empty, and my doorman swears he has nothing. So sad. As this is a new company, they don't have 24-hr round the clock service. Thus, it'll be Monday before I have any further updates. Seriously, what a bummer. SIGH. I guess this just means I shall have to drink myself into a dazed stupor tonight to alleviate the pain. ;3

Some adage about giveth/taketh away is appropriate right now, but I am terrible at them.

Hair & Makeup: Birchbox.com

2011-05-06T17:06:00.001-04:00

This is rather old news for a lot of you I'm sureee, but I subscribed last month to Birchbox.com and today just received notification that my first box has been shipped! USPS tells me it is out for delivery as I type. I'll be back presently to update you lot on what I got in my first goody box. Excitement brewing!

Untitled Update

2011-04-27T09:55:00.001-04:00

Oops! I know, I know. It has been a long time. I am a bad blogger (or have become one certainly). There isn't really an excuse, but I hope to get back to it! Actually I've had a lot of things I've wanted to post on in these past months, but well the thought and the actual getting down and doing it are two entirely different things, aren't they?

Thing is, I'll be leaving the workforce again, very soon! Off to bizzzznezzz school in Boston. :3

Anyway, OK... this was just a very quick update. I shall be back with more, hopefully? Maybe? Yes, yes. Oh, but this was a very interesting read. I love these New Yorker profiles of people where you can clearly tell the author is rather unimpressed with subtle jabs and mocking tone. Haha: Brand-New Bag: The Man from Coach Goes Upscale.

My Favourite (Non-Traditional) Christmas Song

2010-12-24T13:17:00.001-05:00

This "Aristocats" video someone made is pretty adorable. Heehe.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Arts and Letters: Playing on repeat

2010-12-11T13:59:00.000-05:00

TheHairpin is right. This song is addictive. Major. Playing it on repeat.

WIWT Weekday: 18/11/2010 & The Unicorn

2010-11-20T11:04:00.020-05:00

Down coat (Steve by Searle) / silk scarf (Missoni) / silk blouse (Ann Taylor) / wool skirt (Zara) / grown-up fishnets (discount from C21--best type of store for hose) / leather boots (inherited Xavier Danaud)

It's been awhile since I posted on an outfit. There will likely be more of these now that I have realised the bathroom at work is a fairly easy place to snap a photo with a goofy grin.

I wear a variation of this outfit pretty much daily: easy top, simple skirt, hosiery. Once at the office, I remove the boots in favour of one of the many pairs of office-friendly shoes stored at my desk. Modest heel heights. Unspectacular designs. This is the destiny of the office shoe.

Now onto another topic: down coats. I wonder why those pillow collars (see my down coat above / oh just found it online) were all the rage last year. Honestly, I didn't look very long for the perfect down coat when I purchased it. I was thinking more along the lines of, "Oh, it's cold. I need warmth." I mean, it's a down coat, for crying out loud. How chic can it get? Thus I settled on the first one that seemed to fit well enough and didn't make me a ringer for the Michelin man. Unfortunately, this also meant accepting a pillow collar because literally the entire store was just a sea awash with pillow-collared down coats.

Well, buyer's remorse. The very next month a French colleague popped in for a visit from London. She had an amazing down coat. Oh it was so chic! But ov course--zhe iz Fra-ench! Imagine a perfectly fitted military-style belted coat, but in nylon/polyester (whatever these coats are made of) and filled with down with a simple windowpane pattern of seams to hold the feathers in place. I mean, who knew down coats could look so fitted and streamline!? I just spent a bit of time trying to find the mystical coat I am describing. Not even Boutiques.com is cutting it. Perhaps the coat was a figment of my imagination, stirred to life by the sweet lilt of her French accent. Ah, the Unicorn coat. I will find you someday. Until then, it'll be the pillow collar for me.

<- This one from Burberry is kind of close, but still so far off. I mean I get that it's Burberry, but that check on such a scale really brings to mind lumberjacks--not iconic Burberry.

Current Events: Inflation/Deflation and Your Empty Wallets

2010-11-18T11:56:00.001-05:00

While economists are scratching their heads with worry over deflation, I really can't help but wonder "WTF" when it comes to luxury goods pricing. Back in July, Chanel had its unilateral 20% increase on its purses in the midst of our recession (/whatever, slow recovery), and they weren't alone. When I first became cognizant of super luxury goods just after high school, I recall thinking a $1,200 price tag on a purse or $400 for a pair of shoes to be unfathomable. These days, $1,200 for Chanel is a bargain and we're all quite unfazed with $800 pricetags on footwear. Are we really that much richer? No. Did we think we were that much richer? Yes, I suppose we did back when we thought our homes would never devalue and when credit was easy to come by, but what about now? Why do I still see people posting on forums about scrimping and saving (or worse, going into debt!) to buy the it-bag du jour? When I catch an old episode of "Sex and the City" and see Carrie's totally useless understanding of money, I just shake my head that these are the icons young women have. Nowadays with the proliferation of the internet, this is an even bigger issue. At least when I was in middle school and high school, my lack of awareness of the super rich shielded me from desiring things I couldn't and wouldn't try to afford. It's amazing how the luxury retail industry has managed to cast its super wide net these days to capture the imaginations of what, in my opinion, are minds that are way too young and impressionable.

Americans, and the other nouveau-riche nations (looking at you Russia, China), love to be outrageous. There's an entirely different attitude to luxury in the old world although even that might be changing with the power of marketing. Warning: stereotyping and generalizations to follow. One thing I love about Italy and many other European countries is that they don't seem to be obsessed with consumption. They like nice things, will spend to buy them, but also do so within their means and do not glorify the process. For instance, I was surprised in Vienna to see Prada being sold at a non-descript shoe store without fuss or pomp. What? This is just a regular ole shoe store? This is just normal life?

Windowshopping in Vienna

Having worked with several small-medium sized private Italian, family-owned companies now, I have noticed that the emphasis is not on growth and accumulating more and more, but instead on creating a valuable product for the family legacy, their employees, and of course, their customers. This is seen in everything from manufacturing goods down to mozzarella at the little deli on the corner. The attitude toward "things" or "wealth" is not about just wanting more and more, but it's seems to really focus on achieving the "good life." Thus, you see the lovely shoes just being sold in stores not to represent some achievement of status, but just because they are nice, quality things and deserve to be in everyone's lives--at least this was my interpretation.

On the one hand I do love nice things. On the other hand, spending a few thousand on a bag just seems like an awful waste with the shareholders of LVMH (et al) laughing all the way to the bank. Ah, internal conflict.

I type this as I enjoy my daily hit of Starbucks and $12 salad lunch. I'm not sure what I'm saying. I hate the cult of consumerism yet am stuck in it as much as anyone else. Oh, and also the price increases on luxury goods are just ridiculous. I mean ok, fine, the Chinese are doing a lot of the buying these days and they do have serious inflation, but still. It's crazy. Dead cow stitched into a nice shape with a honkin' shiny logo is not worth it (although I will gladly accept a gift haha).

All right, this blog post was totally scattered. Excuse me now while I go find some quality leathergoods, probably Italian-made by some small private company without a hefty marketing budget tacked on. Quality for the sake of quality--not for some imagined fantasy of status and wealth along with its 20% price increases! What-ever, Chanel.

Eat: Kimbab

2010-11-17T12:02:00.002-05:00

Out in what seems to be the middle-of-nowhere, Queens, across the road from the Broadway LIRR stop, we find Song's Family Food Inc. located at 16220 Northern Blvd. According to my friend's very proper Korean mother, Song's is the only acceptable form of "fast food."

Song's Family Food Inc. aka kimbab mecca beckoning you forth in the dark, cold night

(Excuse this shoddy photo taken with my blackberry camera)

Oh glorious kimbab, how I love thee with thine perfectly proportioned ratio of rice to pickled radishes, seaweed, fish cake, egg, and--as seen in the photo above--Korean bbq chicken. Other options include: pickled jalepenos, spicy squid, tuna, beef, mushrooms, Korean sausage, and so on. This comes served with a hot bowl of broth and don't forget to add a rice punch on the side. Delicious.

Of course, Song's isn't the only place to indulge in these tasties. There are lots of places in Manhattan's K-Town (or [insert your city here]'s K-Town) that don't require a trek out to Queens, but this is why it is good to have friends with cars.

Anyhow, it is true that kimbab is certainly not the most sophisticated of foods, but I do enjoy it so and have been eating it perhaps a bit too frequently this past week. Waistline is making a face. (Shush waistline! You're getting your ass kicked in bikram so calm yo-self.)

WIWT: Camel and Brown and Nude

2010-11-16T14:05:00.000-05:00

The easiest thing to wear in this weather is a sweater dress. Slip it on thoughtlessly, effortlessly when you're suffering from a spell of, "Oh, what will I wear today?" Your faithful sweater dress will be in your dresser, nicely folded, waiting for you. It will never really need to be ironed. Perhaps it'll even be a fabric that can withstand the delicates cycle in the washing machine--though in my experience, probably not. Nonetheless, it will be your good friend saving you the trouble of actually thinking about your clothes. Throw on some stockings, accessorize with a scarf or some baubles, and off you go looking fabulous.

See Thekla Reuten looking super hot in a scene from "The American"

Other things with which I am obsessed: drapey, shawl collared coats. Ideally without lining (unlike the one in my collage above)--something light, almost jacket-like, but roomy enough to layer comfortably with sweaters underneath to combat the cooler days. Yeah? Yeah.

Makeup: Clinique Superbalm for those dry, dry lips

2010-11-15T14:34:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the winter (of our discontent). So with the heater turned on through the nights these days, it's inevitable that one comes across chapped lips. Ahem, severely chapped lips in my case. As one with experience with many types of balms and sticks and lotions and whatever,* I must say the Clinique Superbalm has really come to my rescue in the past week. Thumbs up. But if you don't like super sticky, glossy lips, it's probably a thumbs down. That said, I don't mind it. It reminds me of eighth grade when I applied Wet n' Wild's clear lip gloss with reckless abandon and all the boys loved me... or not. Whatever, whatever. Details, details.

* the recent (as in within the last month) contenders that Superbalm has gone up against have been: Mac lip conditioner, JR Watkins, Burt's Bees, and gloSpa's mintBalm. Superbalm trumps all of these which seemed, for the most part, to leave my lips in worse condition a few hours after application.

(Ok, I am going to try to post more frequently now that I have--what--two (?) regular readers left hehe.)

WIWT: Cropped Pants for All

2010-10-08T18:36:00.002-04:00

Straight legged cropped pants. Infinite number of uses. Looks great with stiletto, pointy-toed pumps or chunky booties. Whatever the desire.

Why hello!

2010-09-19T22:11:00.002-04:00

How one spends a weekend at this age.

Untitled woo.

2010-08-23T22:47:00.001-04:00

Woo!

Makeup: When I wake up...

2010-08-20T21:55:00.001-04:00

In my makeup... too early for that dress.

Whoooop, what a blast from the past. No but seriously folks, this post is about makeup. Specifically, powder foundation and a fantastic gift opportunity. For the most part, I am thrifty about my makeup and tend to shop at CVS for my essentials of which there are only a few items: mascara, liquid eyeliner, pencil eyeliner (admittedly this I purchase from Sephora), blush, and some powder (occasionally foundation if it's really a special event).

Now about the powder/foundation: for perhaps no real good reason other than some marketing whizzes telling me it's important, I like to spend more money on these two items. Lancome. All. The. Way. Yes, Lancome mascara and eyeliner is just glorified L'Oreal (love L'Oreal eyeliner and mascara), but I really do think the foundations and powders outshine their drugstore-branded sister label. Maybe someday the veil will be lifted, but until then I will pay extra dollars and those executive fatcats can laugh away at my ignorance.

"But what about those medium priced brands, like Clinique?" you ask? Actually, I really like Clinique's Superpowder as a good, fairly light, easy to apply powder. However, Clinique's Superpowder is actually deceptive in its pricing. One compact case of Clinique contains 0.35oz of makeup vs. one Lancome Dual Finish case with 0.62oz of makeup.

$19 - $22 for 0.35oz Clinique = $54.29 - $62.82 / oz
$35.50 for 0.62oz Lancome = $57.26 / oz

Ah HA! (This is the GMAT'ting influence over me. I am a super biznezz lady.)

So there you go.

Why am I talking about this right now, the eve before my GMAT when I have been studying and doing not much else? Ah, because in my depressed/panicked state, I stopped by Macy's on my way home from work this evening and saw the huge signs strewn about: LANCOME GIFT TIME! Lucky me! I was just in need of some new powder! I believe this is a sign for good fortune tomorrow. I was in fact tempted to purchase a megamillion lotto ticket ($100mm drawing tonight!) thinking that if I won, I could give a big EFF YOU to the GMAT and everything else. Hah. I didn't. BUt I imagined. Oh the joy. But I digress...

So with a purchase of $32.50 or more, you get your choice of six gift items in an ugly bag.

This is the progression of the last thirty minutes:

And with that, I'm off... review a couple more things and then early to bed! Wish me luck!

F*CK!

2010-08-19T00:45:00.002-04:00

Nothing to do with French Connection.

This evening my one loyal blog follower (Hi L!) emailed me to let me know it has been awhile since I've updated. Well, the past few weeks have found me in a state of panic, misery, and bouts of self-flagellation. Why? Ah, well I am writing the GMAT this Saturday at 8am! (The self-flagellation for, "Why didn't I start studying earlier/study more?")

Well, so it goes. I'm aiming for a score of 730 and up; I'll be satisfied with a 720; I'll [probably] retake if it's below; I'll definitely retake if it's below 700. The mood in the TIWAW household is bleak. Standardized-testing is no fun. No siree.

WIWT Weekday: White and Gold

2010-07-29T20:10:00.000-04:00

Move aside, silver. Hello gold... though a rather dull gold, this one.

The whole outfit included some ankle length black pants and pointed snakeskin stilettos. Skinny pants + stilettos = oh, yeah! I have pointed shoes with stiletto heels! Forgot about those guys. Have been in all platforms all the time.

Eat: What to do with all those tomatoes

2010-07-19T23:35:00.001-04:00

This evening I went to grab dinner with a friend in Chinatown. While there, one can hardly avoid the incredibly cheap, incredibly ripe, incredibly abundant produce on display (Listen here for why produce is cheap in Chinatown).

As it is the season for summer tomatoes, I couldn't resist the look of these vine-ripened babies. So, I picked up two pounds of orange (high in beta-carotene!) tomatoes for one buck. Yeah. $1. That's right. $1!!!

What is one to do with two pounds of super ripe tomatoes on short notice? Well, I was going to slow roast them with garlic as I've often done in the past, but I opted instead to make an easy tomato sauce.

Step 1: Blanch the tomatoes. Cut a little x into the skin of each tomato at the stem. Pop them into boiling water for about a minute. Remove and quickly drain under cold water. You'll see the skins start to peel off with ease.

Step 2: If you're making a sauce (vs a soup), drain the tomatoes. Quarter them and remove all the watery, seedy innards (I usually eat them then and there as they are my favourite part). Totally destroy them if you are not into chunky sauces; otherwise, gently destroy for nice chunk. Set aside.

Step 3: Heat some olive oil. Sautee garlic and your choice of meat or non-meat if you're a veg. I opted for fatty pancetta. Onions are also good. So are peppers. So are mushrooms. Basically, sautee whatever vegetables you want. Throw in some dried spices. Salt, pepper, oregano, whatever.

Step 4: Add drained tomatoes. Simmer. Add cream (or not). Simmer. Add fresh basil (or not). Simmer. Add parmesan (or not). Simmer. Serve.

My version had: tomato, garlic, pancetta, basil, cream, and parmesan (and salt & pepper). I actually made this sauce for no particular reason other than to use up my tomatoes as I've already eaten dinner. I'll be using it tomorrow for lunch, and possibly breakfast. Instead of pasta, I'll be having the sauce over an over easy or poached egg for breakfast and maybe with some steamed lentils for lunch. Yeah, all that work and no pasta!

Ah, Summer!

2010-07-06T22:48:00.001-04:00

Eat: "Dukan do it" - DD

2010-06-23T00:28:00.001-04:00

Oh, another fad diet. Blah, blah. Yes, well, I'm jumping on this one simply because I really need to be bikini ready pronto and am not willing to go the starvation route. Instead, I will go the low-carb-put-your-body-in-a-tizzy route. Generally, I am quite satisfied with my body--that was until recently when someone snapped some casual photos and the result made my eyes widen. "My arms look like THAT?" Now I think twice before putting on a sleeveless shirt. So enough about me and more about the "diet."*

Hello, "Dukan Diet." It's pretty much a modified South Beach diet so everyone tells me (I wouldn't know since I've never researched the latter). Supposedly it's all the rage in Europe. Handily, the Daily Mail has summarised all the key tenets of the diet in the following articles. Tomorrow I start. I've already loaded the fridge with chicken, seitan, turkey breast, eggs, non-fat yogurt, and other goodies.

1. Introduction
2. Attack and Cruise Phase
3. Consolidation and Stablisation Phase

Honestly, at the end of the day, these fad diets are just one way of limiting your caloric intake. I mean of course I will eat less if all I can eat (for the attack phase of 3 days) is lean protein and non-fat dairy! There just isn't that much choice of what to eat when those are the only options presented. But there is definitely something to be said for the low/no-carb diets. After all, there is a difference between a calorie of protein and a calorie of sugar. Anyway, wouldn't recommend a strict protein diet for the long-term. Wouldn't want your body to become ketotic!

* If you aren't in a rush, I'd say to do what everyone tells you to do: eat, not too much, mostly vegetables... and exercise. However, I am in a rush and so we must whip out the big guns: adios carbohydrates.

Father's Day

2010-06-03T23:13:00.001-04:00

Father's Day is coming up (as is my own pop's birthday). Ceda gave me a great idea for a gift: Netflix subscription! Sign up now and have them delivered to your folks. As a side benefit, you can log in and access the streaming movies--ha! This is definitely a winner for my old man who is a huge movie buff, but a bit of a cheapo when it comes to treating himself to movies. I will also be sending a card so that he does not think this is some kind of mail-gimmick.

I have loaded up the queue thus far with some recent Oscar nominees and critically acclaimed films plus the BBC nature-documentary series, Life. Alas, Netflix only carries the Oprah narrated version (and not even in Blu-Ray!), but regardless, it is a must watch whoever the narrator.

Confirmation of "the secret"

2010-06-02T12:20:00.000-04:00

No, not the book. But that bra sizing secret I had mentioned in an earlier post. Seriously, do it. It will change your bra-wearing life.

Ceda X: man, your bra trick totall worked
       I got two 32 C bras
       and they fit better
       with way less side boob spillage

me: WORD
       TOLD YOU lol

Eat: Sweet Paul Magazine

2010-05-21T00:21:00.003-04:00

So much for that last post about posting more frequently! Super busy month of May. I'm moving house! So... forgive me but instead of original content, I will give you an amazing link that will get you salivating.

Sweet Paul Magazine - this amazing e-mag is self-published and created! Can you believe it? Certainly is sweet, Paul.

I, for one, plan on making this super easy apple and goat cheese (ahem, "chèvre") salad when I get a chance--that is, after I move. (Oh god, it's already the 21st and I don't even have a set home come June 1st! The dust settles tomorrow. Wish me luck!)

Comments are back?

2010-05-03T22:18:00.002-04:00

Now that I'm more regularly blogging once more, I'm bringing comments back--selectively. And now back to reading:

Good night!

Eat: May in Brooklyn

2010-05-02T22:10:00.002-04:00

Spent a lovely day in the Cobble Hill / Carroll Gardens area of Brooklyn with my friend, Han. Definitely got a little muggy outside; summer is here! I'm not sure how I feel. I was ready for a few more days of jacket-wearing, non?

We passed by a street fair on Court St. and stopped in at Prime Meats. Someone described it as Peter Luger meets speakeasy. Han noted the place was very British right down to the dual faucets in the bathroom (she is a newcomer to the city having just moved here after her four-year stay in London). I noted our meal was straight out of Prague--and delicious.

H. examines the menu

A bourbon spiked punch that was delicious.

Dinner: meat, cabbage, and dumplings. How Czech can you get? Had a bit of contemporary American (or traditional French if you so choose) flair with its red wine reduction sauce.
Anyway, today was a nice day to remind me how much I love this part of Brooklyn in the summer. Finish it off with some beer on the promenade--what could be better?

WIWT: The "Group Date"

2010-04-30T20:56:00.002-04:00

Inspired by Jezebel.com's Dress Code segment on "How to Dress for Date Nights," I thought I'd put together my own "How to Dress for the Group Date" interpretation. Having recently been in this position myself when attending a group, meet-my-friends, intimate party date and feeling regretfully overdressed in a royal blue frock and mile high shoes, I've decided this might be good to keep in mind for when you want to effortlessly blend in--and sometimes, blending in is really optimal.

As Jezebel.com describes, the first-time Group Date is:

Perhaps the most tricky of them all! This can be any number of things, from a bash at someone's house to a dinner party. Either way, it involves meeting people you don't know, who could be arch-hipsters or fashionistas or jerks or awesome or all of the above. There's really no one formula for these profoundly stressful situations.

So true.

Thus, my newly decided recommendation (and self-practice) for those first time group dates is just to go simple, classic black. No arch-hipsters, fashionistas, or jerks will have anything to judge you about if you give them this type of blank slate. And really, you want to make a positive first impression--one that is based off your charming personality.

So: simple black dress but perhaps with a little bit of interest in the cut... possibly short. Keep the fabric something casual--cotton, wool, viscose. Pair with flats or some equally demure, comfortable looking shoes. Do up your jewelry in some pewter or faded gold tones, and top off with a cute purse. Oh so effortless... and that is key.

Even if my royal blue frock and mile high shoes were effortless (to me), it was just a wee bit awkward being so obvious in a small gathering of friends who were strangers to me (and incidentally, they were all couldn't-give-a-shit-about-fashion physicists). I suppose this all depends on your personality. I, for one, have never much craved being the centre of attention.

WIWT: Upcoming Evening!

2010-04-26T21:05:00.002-04:00

I have an upcoming event Wednesday evening. Think casual cocktail party. While this ensemble isn't what I had in mind originally (I was thinking short and black), I am kind of in love with this dress! Indeed, I did do some lunchtime shopping today. The objective in my mind was a short-sleeved, fitted black mini with a tulip skirt bottom. This is pretty much the exact opposite of that. Still debating whether this one should stay or go!

Silk toga dress (Beatrez) / cream tuxedo blazer (Theory) / cut-out leather wedges (Modern Vintage)

WIWT: The Weekend Warrior Uniform #1

2010-04-26T00:03:00.002-04:00

For quite awhile now it seems there have been a few outfits that every girl (at least every girl in New York) wears on the weekends (or weekdays if your employ allows), myself included. Oh woe, how lacking in originality; what slaves to the trends; quelle horreur! Yes, it's all true... and yet... there I am: wearing the same damn things all the time.

So, here is Uniform Numero Uno. All you need is a decent blazer and some jeans! (Can mix and match any item):

Oops, lined paper was all I had handy!

As is the case with all uniforms, once you have it down, getting dressed becomes an cinch--even if a bit dull. And, since it's pretty much standard (I mean, who doesn't have a few blazers and jeans around?), no one will even remember you've been wearing the same thing the last 12 days.

Alternatively, replace blazer with leather jacket. Oh ho, that was a little foreshadowing of Uniform Numero Dos!

Arts and Letters: Reading/Watching/Listening

2010-04-25T11:23:00.095-04:00

I'm behind the times. You've probably already read/seen/heard everything I'm about to share.

This is what mindless fiction I've been reading:

Stieg Larsson's "Millennium" Trilogy comprised of: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (now also a Swedish movie out in theatres!), The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

Thoughts: Upon first starting The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I was thoroughly enthralled. Could not put the book down. Oh the mystery and the intrigue! By the time I finished the first book, much of that intrigue and thrill had dissipated, however this did not totally diminish my experience the first 3/4th of the book. So, for that I recommend it to anyone looking to be sucked into a book in the same way Harry Potter had once done. (I hate Twilight. Don't even go there.) Note: aside from the fact that both series kept me turning the pages, there is nothing in common between Harry Potter and the Millennium triology. In fact, if you're of the target age range for HP, definitely do not read the latter. Lots of graphic, sexual, abusive detail. Uhmm... yes... so...

As for book 2--not nearly as exciting as book 1, but I will be certainly book 3 shortly. Clearly, something's working.

I've never read any of America's favourite thriller authors such as: Koontz or Grisham. In fact, I've always fancied myself superior to such books. I wonder if the only reason I read Larsson was because my snobbism did not extend also to Swedish authors. Heh. I wonder if I'd like Koontz or Grisham or (gasp) maybe even Dan Brown?! Hmm...

This is the more thoughtful fiction I've been reading:

Alice Munro's short story collection called Too Much Happiness.

Thoughts: Fellow Canadian that she is, I found myself very much enjoying all the references to all things Canadiana in this collection of stories, but that is truly the most trivial comment I can make. Now, into the grit of the matter: it's truly a gift she has that within the confines of just a few pages, she can create such a rich life for these characters who make you totally understand even the most shocking and horrific acts they commit. Unlike the title would have you believe, there is little happiness in this collection. Instead, there is insight into the amazing depths of the human condition at its extremes. Those depths, I think, are surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly) placid.

The non-fiction I've been reading: newspapers and magazines, as usual.

An amazing story from The New Yorker's April 19th, 2010 edition,"The Ice Balloon," tells the story of one man's attempt to hot-air-balloon his way to the North Pole. The story was in one word: depressing. But oh, such emotions it managed to evoke (probably because I've experienced intense, intense cold while trekking, and those were the most miserable times of my life.)

Watching:

Marathon-watched (over a month) the entire series of "Six Feet Under." Fan-fuckin'-tastic. While it isn't quite "The Wire" simply because its subject was a little unrealistic given the morbid humour, it is definitely right up there in terms of best series of all time. Also, I dare you to name on television show finale that was as brilliant as this show's. So yes, it's a few years old now but if you haven't seen this series, time to get yourself a set and throw some popcorn in the microwave!

Also of shows currently airing: Breaking Bad, Treme, The Pacific, and Life (the David Attenborough version).

Listening:

Ah, this is way, way past due for anyone with any bit of knowledge of music, but basically I have been obsessed since December. First few listens of the album kind of washed over me without much notice, but then suddenly, you're hooked! The lyrics are just brilliant. Shocked they were only 19 when they wrote this album. If you listen to the album, you might recognize their guitar riffs from a certain Olympics commercial.

Here is my favourite song from The XX.

The Secret of Bra Sizing

2010-04-13T12:01:00.002-04:00

I know I have blogged about the amazing Maidenform lasercut bra in the past, and truly, it is amazing. But, in recent months I have discovered another secret of bra sizing (with many thanks credited to my flatmate!). Whatever your measured bra size is, try bras on of that size and then--hoho--try bras on that are one size bigger in the cup, and one size smaller in the band.

Example: you measure 34C. Try bras that are both 34C and 32D.
Example: you measure 36B. Try bras that are both 36B and 34C.

If you are like me, you will discover that the one size smaller band and one size larger cup is truly the ideal fit for lift and support! Further, you get a lot more shelf-life with a smaller band as bras tend to stretch out over time. And of course, you get the vanity points of being a larger boob cup and smaller body girth. Hah!

And remember, always use the widest hook on the band first and only move in a notch when the bra has stretched out.

Wanted: The Perfect Trench

2010-03-30T22:58:00.003-04:00

What I'm wearing (read: wanting). I needs one post-haste! It is spring, although the last couple of days of terrible weather would have you believe otherwise. And, in light of this fact, I have realised that I have absolutely NO (zero, zilch, nada) long, spring jackets here with me! My recent shopping--which admittedly has been very sparse--has turned up nothing that fits the bill. Le sigh. The closest I've come: a Ports 1961 trench that had it all... except it was white! No, no ma'am. Long, white jackets say one thing to me: doctor.

Makeup: Oh how particuliere!

2010-03-20T11:14:00.002-04:00

The "IT" colour of the season as seen on the Chanel runways back in September is "Particuliere." Balking at the idea of spending that much on a bottle of polish (if you can even find it!), I saw the Essie version at a Duane Reade and snapped it up.* I had never really thought of grey polish before, but my gosh I love it!

Voila, Essie "Chinchilly." (I am also informed that the OPI version is "You Don't Know Jacques.")

Personally, I prefer Essie to OPI since the latter seems to misbehave on my nails a lot more, but you might have OPI loyalty! I know I did for years.

All right... good luck getting your dishwater grey nails! Really adoring the colour--it's like a more forceful nude, but still reserved, quiet, and really just perfect for all seasons and the office.

* Duane Reade carries OPI and Essie! I had no idea!

Oscar favourites and not so favourites

2010-03-08T16:23:00.002-05:00

Loves: Carey Mulligan in Prada, Merryl Streep in Chris March, Vera Farmiga in that fuschia (!) Marchesa gown, Demi Moore in Versace, Amanda Seyfried in Armani Prive (the same cannot be said for J.Lo, who--in another dress from the collection--looked like she was swathed in bubble wrap), and GASP, Posh Spice in her own design!

For the most part, there weren't any disastrous dresses. There was J.Lo as I have already mentioned, SJP's dress that looked amazing from the front but the bizarre placement of the jewels beneath her bum on the rear was off, and even though she was the belle of the ball, Ms. Bigelow's gown was a do-not-want snoozefest. But as I said, even the bad ones weren't that disastrous.

Most tragic however, just because of how much potential was here, was this:

Oh Zoe! As the Fug Girls often like to say, this is one of those scroll down horrors. I absolutely love the bejeweled bodice, but what the hell is going on with the ruffles at the bottom? It makes me think someone murdered a muppet and decided to attach its skin to an otherwise lovely dress. No?

Shoes: Architect's delight

2010-02-27T16:22:00.001-05:00

I'd really like to see what this looks like on a foot.

Architect Julian Hakes's "Mojito" shoe composed of one piece of carbon fiber.

Via Dezeen blog.

Ferré's delicious woven leathers

2010-02-26T18:20:00.002-05:00

I've been liking a lot of the fashions for next fall with all the simple silhouettes and rich textures and super cute jackets (hello, Burberry!). But anyway, how awesome is this textured leather (middle two) from Gianfranco Ferré's talented design duo of Aquilano and Rimondi? It's like amazing leather brocade. I'm also quite a fan of the long sleeved sheath dress on the right now if only I had the gaunt body and face to pull something like that off.

Hey, it's Friday! And there are bucketfulls of snow outside! I think I'll be donning the ol' snowpants and sliding down some hills on top of trashcan lids tomorrow. Kids don't have a monopoly on fun, damn it!

Non-Sequitur: the times, they are a-changin'

2010-02-20T14:56:00.002-05:00

At my last job, we had planned a ski trip day for the office. One of my colleagues had claimed to be some kind of superstar on the Wisconsin slopes (ha!) which led to another colleague asking, "Do you even own snowpants?"

"No, I don't," he said matter of factly.

"WHAT!" --the response from the two of us, in unison.

"I don't wear snowpants. I wear jeans."

From that day forth, he was forever known as "Snowjeans"--a mocking name.

So the times have changed. Oh, how I eat my words now that the epitome of chic in snowpants as far as the kids are concerned is the faux-jean snowpants. Exhibit: two members of the US men's snowboard team on the podium in their lumberjack garb (<3 Shaun White <3):

So these Olympics have been pretty exciting, eh? Did you hear that for the first time ever, a tv show beat American Idol in ratings! Yes, the Olympics actually beat American Idol in ratings! What I also found particularly amusing is that they've been showing curling after 5pm on CNBC pretty much religiously this last week as opposed to the usual array of FastMoney, MadMoney, or whatever have you. Being a Canuck, curling holds a special place in my heart.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry: The Standard Hotel

2010-02-16T12:30:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend I received a call from a long-time acquaintance I had made quite randomly back in Chicago. He recently moved to New York and we've been trying to hang out but have had conflicting schedules. Finally, it worked. Received message as I was wandering around Union Square with nothing to do on Saturday afternoon: "Hey J, I have a friend is in town; we are walking down the High Line and are going to get a drink at the Standard. Want to join?"

Why, yes! Yes, I did want to join! I had heard a lot about the Standard Hotel and had admired this austere, concrete and glass structure. The place looks killer.

(photo from psfk.com)

So up I went and met up with the two of them on the 18th floor restaurant / cocktail lounge.

The decor upstairs was art deco with a modern twist (in the form of its hanging light fixtures). Wait staff was all appropriately dressed in matching white ensembles with the girls in reinterpreted cigarette girl ensembles.

Best part, however, were the bathrooms! Could literally sit on the john there for hours gazing out over Manhattan. They were all individual water closets with floor-to-ceiling windows. Amazing views!

While the three of us cringed at the $20 cocktails and $12 beers, those bathrooms were worth it--so was the cool elevator ride up featuring a digitized video collage of heaven and hell. Very weird. Very cool.

(Forgive my crappy photos! Low light, shaky hands, eek!)

Home Sweet Home: Featherbeds

2010-02-15T14:14:00.003-05:00

I just put a featherbed on top of my mattress. This bed is pure, pure heaven.

In case you're wondering, you can get them pretty cheap on overstock.com. Mine was about $60 if I recall correctly.

So, it's middle of the day Monday (Prez day), the flattie and I just hosted some friends for a scrumptious brunch, and I'm back in bed. Now I can't think of a single reason to leave. Oh, laundry can wait. I'll just buy some new underwear ;p

Home Sweet Home: Alice.com

2010-02-04T00:25:00.004-05:00

Finally! Alice.com is open for business! Just in time too as the toilet paper is running low here at chez TIWAW. (Well, kind of old news I guess, but I had heard about it awhile back and missed on its grand opening I guess. Oh well!)

Seriously, this service is a godsend for urban-dwellers without a car like me. What could be more tedious than having to pick up overpriced toilet paper every couple of days from the bodega because there is no place to go to buy the stuff in bulk (let alone carry it back on the subway)? Few things, let me tell you. Few things!

WIWT: Ski Edition!

2010-02-01T21:20:00.001-05:00

The last time I skied, parabolic skis were still in their infancy. I was 11 and on a class field trip. I recall demonstrating my perfected abrupt stop complete with a wave of misty snow at a the base of a lift-line. My elegant form was witnessed by the boy, Jon, whose name populated my 8th grade diary with plenty of hearts. He said, "Wow, you're really good." I think my heart melted.

Then there were what I refer to as the dry and subsequently flat years. Moved to Texas with step-family who did not ski. Moved to Chicago where the nearest "mountain" had 500ft of vertical which was effectively an icy graveyard (I broke my wrist on those icy molehills!).

But finally, sometime in my senior year of college, I returned to the mountains--to Whistler, actually. This time, I was armed with a snowboard of my very own. First run I decide, instead of taking a lesson, to ride the gondola to the mothereffin' summit. I used to ski, I thought. How hard could this snowboarding thing be?

Very hard, apparently--at least at first.

I cursed my life as I hesitantly edged my way down the mountain, falling here and there, over and over. Oh, I swore. And how! So Whistler, if you are unaware, is huge. It is a monstrous mountain--biggest in North America--with the longest trail being about 7miles top to bottom. It took me about the entire afternoon to barely make it half way as I was falling--a lot. Finally, the lifts had closed and ski patrol was doing its last run. They spotted me, clearly in distress, and gave me a ride down on one of the injured-skier toboggans. Embarrassing, yes, but a hell of a lot of fun!

Well, despite that tremulous start, I have somehow stuck with snowboarding over the years (broken wrist, mild concussions, injured shoulders, and all). I've also since returned to Whistler and without requiring the assistance of ski patrol. I'm curious to try skiing again. I wonder if I'll still remember how! Well, regardless of which version of the sport, the obsession returns annually. This time of year, I can be found frequently ogling trail maps at work.

All right, long introduction aside: what to wear to the ski hills, bunnies?

As demonstrated by Mrs. Beckham (google it), not this:

Really, Chanel? Really???

Yes this:

Arc'teryx "Sidewinder"

Holla, Canadian roots! I love Arc'teryx. As far as outdoor gear goes, Arc'teryx is really top notch for quality and design.*

A run down of why this is an awesome ski jacket:

Material: 3 layer Gore-tex pro shell (translation: You will never be wet or feel the wind, and yes, it does get windy on those chairlifts)
Taped seams (again, you'll never be wet)
Powder skirt (keeps the snow from gettin' in your pants if you're prone to falling)
Stowable helmet-compatible hood (good, again, for those wet conditions)
RECCO avalanche reflector (you know, for all that off-piste, backcountry stuff I do--ha)
Finally, BRIGHT, BOLD COLOUR! (easier for your mates to spot you in the masses of people crowding at the lift lines)

* Admittedly, the REI store's own brand of sporting apparel is probably 1/2 the price of Arc'teryx and just as good in terms of quality... but you know, we are label/design whores, and I'm a sucker for the better designs of the Arc'teryx gear. Plus, REI's stuff doesn't have RECCO reflectors hehe.

Yep. So basically this is on the wishlist right now. Have no real reason to purchase it because, well, I have two ski jackets (arguably three) already.

Now, what do I actually wear? Well, when it's pretty cold there's this:

The latecomers' BFE parking lot at Breck

Insulated ski/snowboard jacket (Roxy, hehe) / hyvent snowpants that I love (North Face) / fleece "turtleneck" / not shown: helmet & goggles, of course

And this for when it's warmer:

Posing in front of M's amazing "gingerbread" haus

Gore-tex shell (Arc'teryx) / those same North Face snowpants / Gore-tex mittens with snot guard and goggle wipers (Kombi--so warm!) / not shown: again, helmet (!!) & goggles

Uh, in conclusion: I love snowsports... and always wear a helmet! Oh, and I recommend goggles with yellow lenses.

Man, I shurrr do miss the Rockies.

The Uniform

2010-01-30T18:36:00.001-05:00

Things I hate wearing:

Office-appropriate pants
Fitted button-up shirts
Especially in concert with the button-up shirt tucked into the pants

I feel sorry for men for which this is the uniform.

There was a girl with whom I used to work who also wore the uniform. Every. Single. Day. Literally. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable for her whenever I saw her... and then I would imagine the closet of neatly hanging pressed shirts organised by colour. She was that type of girl.

It's just not comfortable, right? I mean there is the not being able to lift your arms to tie your hair up because the shirt will come untucked, the omnipresent gap between the buttons for those who are even just slightly endowed, and the constant need for professional cleaning because ironing those shirts with all the darts and the intricacies at home is an undeniable pain.

Update

2010-01-20T18:01:00.002-05:00

Yikes. The New Year has been busy o'er here. Have been working with a couple of organisations (more on that later) and have been partaking in a couple of ski weekends. So far, 2010 is off to a great start. I'm in a really good mood today ;p

Oh, plus it was my birthday just the other day and unexpectedly received this adorable card:

Also received unexpected flowers delivered to work (always a joy, really), had some fun times shared with friends over champagne, and an excellent meal at Tabla. Lucky me. :3

Nikon+Ipod=Happy New Year

2010-01-01T18:58:00.005-05:00

Inherited the Old Man's old introductory Nikon D50 over Christmas as he's upgrading to the D-whatever. Had some fun with a slow shutter speed!

Happy new year & decade everyone! <3<3

Non-Fashion: Get those buggers out!

2009-12-21T23:39:00.001-05:00

Had my wisdom teef (2 of them) extracted on Friday. [Insert expletives].

The evening was spent writhing in pain. Did not get to sleep til about 4-5am with my body sort of hunched over so a pack of ice could rest on my head. The prescription Tylenol 3 (with Codeine, my ass) were not doing it.

Take heed, young readers, get those suckers out of your mouth while you're still living under your parents' roof so you can:

1) have the expense covered
2) get it down while your young bodies are still quick to heal themselves
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
3) have your parents to coddle you!

Oh, how I longed for some coddling.

Thankfully, it was just one night of unbearable pain. The rest of the weekend was spent with much more tolerable pain and a grotesquely swollen jaw. Yeah, jowls--not so attractive.

That is all.

Heading back to the south tomorrow for the holiday! More later...

Shoes: New Discovery

2009-12-13T23:43:00.001-05:00

Was in the DSW in Union Square the other day while in the process of doing some holiday shopping and discovered this brand: No. 704b

I tried to google it and really can't find anything on it except that it's sold in DSW--perhaps exclusively? It seems to be a Canadian company as well so maybe they have other outlets in Canada? Or is this just a DSW brand? Anyway, the MSRP price point seems to be around $200 and default DSW prices about 2/3rds that and much less once the shoes hit the sales racks. Although I didn't end up getting anything, the brand does seem to have some very cute styles and the quality seemed to be pretty good too.

Go check it out: click click!

These pretties are only $30!!! (Would totally get them if I didn't already have 5 other pairs of the similarly styled shoes.. heh heh)

Undergarments: Old Ladies Know What's Up

2009-12-03T23:05:00.001-05:00

Control top pantyhose with reinforced toes. Stick with the brands your Aunt Gertrude wears.

The other day when I had a run in my stocking I made the foolish, rookie mistake of popping into the first store I could find for a replacement pair. The store happened to be Express. $16.00-some odd dollars later, I had a pair of black sheer pantyhose that didn't hold a candle to the cheapo $18.97 for a pack of 5 (or was it 6?) of Silks from CostCo. Unsurprisingly, this $16-Express pair busted over my toe in the six hours from purchase to the end of the night. Never again. I would have probably been better served getting the really cheapo kind from a CVS or something.

Earlier this evening, I stopped into Century 21 for some more tights-reinforcements. Since my latest modus operandi has been to never wear pants (gah, don't pants just suck sometimes?), I really need a lot of tights to survive the winter months. No Silks, but they did have this "Berkshire: In Control" hose. I bought a black sheer and navy sheer and was happy to discover that they have the built in biker shorts annnd reinforced toes. Pretty unsexy if you're trying to seduce Mr. Right, butttt for the casual office wear? Oh yes. Ohhh yes. And they were only $5.97 a pair!

Life (and Death)

2009-11-24T15:26:00.003-05:00

I was just in the middle of taking a bite of my bagel when Mom called yesterday afternoon.

"Hi?" she spoke tenuously.
"Yeah mom?"
"Have you heard?"
"What?" I was impatient. Tired. Ready to leave work.
"... I have bad news."

I knew where this was going. Unable to finish chewing, the tears started welling up and that was that. Through fitful sobs, I spat half eaten chunks of bagel into a napkin and nearly choked myself.

I was going to see her tonight. My flight leaves soon, and I should've been there. I was supposed to see her at least one more time and spend this holiday with her which is the most frustrating part of it all--the lack of a proper goodbye, you know? It was so close! It pains me to think about it. The last goodbye was hurried over the phone because I couldn't stand to hear the sound of her fragile voice and that calm, morphine-induced state of unaware bliss.

While I was looking forward to returning yesterday before hearing the news, today I am fearful. I have never felt so anxious about doing anything in my life. As I picked at my lunch earlier today with friends nearby, laughing at the appropriate times, smiling at the appropriate times, and just trying to hold myself together and maintain a semblance of normalcy (a table of stressed out guys probably isn't the best place in which to be a crier), all I could think about was the impending goodbye I'd have with them, and how I'd be thrown back into the wild to face this on my own. We can only escape the feeling of loss and sadness in the company of others for so long. Eventually, we have to retreat into ourselves and process--alone.

So, I prepare myself now for the solitary one hour trip to the airport, the solitary one hour wait at the airport, and the solitary two-hour flight home, and whatever other solitary moments I have between now and when I run into Mom's arms. Nervous, anxious, and.. well, sad above everything else.

My grandmother passed away yesterday morning. We were emotionally prepared. It had been a two year battle with cancer that has been painful to watch. What more is there to say? We all experience loss, and there isn't anything to say really. Just give me a hug. It will just take time.

Eat: in Berlin!

2009-11-22T21:57:00.001-05:00

No, I'm not in Berlin. However, the visit of my dear friend the other night brought back memories of when I was last summer, and oh the cheap eats I did enjoy there! Plus, my friend had his computer with and gave me some photos he had taken (long overdue!). Voila, a couple of Berliner eating hotspots and dorky photos of me with ratty, long hair:

This huge plate of shawarma and veggies at Rizani in Kreuzberg was only like 3 or 4 euros and absolutely fantastic. And of course you gotta drink delicious Bionade soda (I hear CocaCola bought this and are planning to bring it to the US?). The large Turkish population in this neighbourhood know how to work it; the döner kebabs were better than I had in Istanbul!

Another Berliner staple: currywurst. According to the flattie, currywurst is totally like a trashy food enjoyed by the underclass whereas equally cheap döners are enjoyed by all, but whatevs! It's totally delicious. Curry-infused bratwurst. And of course Curry 36 is a classic for locals and tourists alike.

Drink: Glühwein

2009-11-14T11:12:00.004-05:00

Haha, these are the remnants of the mulled wine; it looks rather gross, but I assure you it was delicious and quite a hit! My roomie and I threw a party last night, and in celebration of the cooling weather, we boiled a huge pot (well, multiple pots, actually) of this stuff for the guests: Glühwein!

Immediately upon entry, guests were greeted by the sweet scent of cinnamon and cloves and were sure to comment on how appealing it was especially in last night's chilly weather :D

Here are the rough proportions if you want to give it a try.

RECIPE: A&J's Party Glühwein

750mL of red wine (no need to use expensive stuff)
6 cloves
1/2 - 1 orange (stick the cloves into the orange peel to avoid ladling them out to guests)
1 stick of cinnamon
As much sugar as you want; more sugar needed the crappier the wine
Lemon zest and some slices of lemon, if you desire

Multiply recipe for however many bottles of wine you are making.

Heat over low heat for at least 1/2hr before serving. The longer you warm it, the more spicy it will become! We kept the stove on all night and added more wine as we ran out. All together, we went through 12+ bottles of wine! The exact count is a little hazy as, after we ran out of our own, we began using the bottles our guests were bringing. Point is, there is a lot of glass in the recycling bin next to our building today.

Don't forget to spike the stuff with a shot of rum/schnapps/whatever before serving!

WIWT: Like, Everyday.

2009-11-08T22:02:00.001-05:00

The "Urban Poncho". Seriously wear this practically everyday. Such a versatile fall piece. It is essentially just a large U-shaped piece of fabric. 100% baby alpaca... best 300 peruvian soles I ever spent. hehe

Boo!

2009-11-01T14:40:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a fun Halloween!

WIWT Weekday: 19/10/2009

2009-10-24T10:43:00.001-04:00

Navy. Charcoal. Brown. A winning combination. Sorry the colours aren't more clear. It's hard to get the exposure right with these crappy point-and-shoot cameras! I was a little bored with this occasionally frumpy dress but wow, what a little belt can do!

Heading to Philadelphia shortly. Will be spending the day/evening/possibly next morning (?) with friends and also the step sister. Am looking forward to having my very first cheesesteak. Yes, oh yes. Happy weekend!

Linen and wool blend dress (Piazza Sempione) / charcoal cardigan (Halogen) / cinch belt (Forever 21) / cut-out pumps (Pollini)

Videolog: For the love of the Ugg

2009-10-17T02:09:00.002-04:00

Disclaimer: the views expressed here are those of Richie (with wine in hand) and not necessarily those of TIWAW. heeheehe

Arts and Letters: Storm King

2009-10-16T18:32:00.003-04:00

It's Friday, oh Friday!

Tonight's agenda: wine. cheese. apples... in my wonderful, warm living room with friends.

Was supposed to go to Storm King tomorrow but it looks like the rain is refusing to give way. Boo! Anyway, perhaps I'll be able to make it out there soon. If you're in the New York area and haven't been, you really should go! It looks amazing.

Photo from the Storm King website.

500 acres in the Hudson Valley sprinkled with enormous sculptures. I imagine the leaf-changing right now means it's even extra, extra beautiful out there.

Accessorize: ring pops :p

2009-10-11T10:56:00.000-04:00

Me gusta mucho ring pops! I always send engagement announcements when I eat one.

Future potential spouses: take note of the size of that thing. Hohoho. I keed... maybe.

Home Sweet Home: Lamps!

2009-10-09T18:24:00.004-04:00

A rather crappy mobile photo, but how neat is this lamp atop a vintage land-surveyor? I showed it to my friend and he said they have these now at Pottery Barn (but of course, not cool nor vintage-salvaged) which is kind of a bummer. I've been loving really unique lamps lately.

Have another one to show you shortly (if my stupid mobile will successfully email it to my gmail account already, hot damn!).

Update: Here's that other awesome lamp. I love this art deco styling! And you really have to see how fantastic the on/off "switch" is on this thing. I use "switch" in quotes because it's actually not a switch at all and rather hard to describe. Anyway, it's a gorgeous lamp.

Anyhow, lamp envy. ;3

WIWT Weekend: 03/10/2009

2009-10-03T18:07:00.001-04:00

R* is in town for the weekend. Pity the weather is such crud! We wandered around the city and ended up returning to this side of the bridge. Love this graffiti wall in DUMBO.

Alpaca hair poncho/cape (purchased in Peru) / short sleeved sweater (Mint) / leggings / classic navy blue "12R harness boots" (Frye)

WIWT Weekend: 19/9/2009

2009-09-28T22:37:00.001-04:00

Here's that wedding cake dress again--given a little edge. Nothing particularly interesting, but look what a little change in shoes can do! It was a Saturday night to be spent in the LES. Gotta try to blend in at least a lil. Notice something different with the hair? Yeah, I had that done over Labour Day weekend. We're back to bangs, however mostly they're brushed to the side as I realized they don't look as good with my overall hair also being short.

(My undereye bags are a little pronounced huh? Eeks. Time to get my required 8+hours of sleep!)

leather jacket (No Name purchased in Buenos Aires) / grey, cashmere scarf (Nordstrom) / heather grey, tiered, silk dress (Banana Republic) / nude, slouchy, suede boots (used, Ebay)

A little offensive, but...

2009-09-27T10:21:00.000-04:00

The following scans are from Japanese Bazaar via Jezebel.com. Click here for the full spread.

So clearly, a little offensive, but ...

Am I really alone in liking these creepy, life-sized doll photoshops?

WIWT Weekday: 15/9/2009

2009-09-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

Here I am sporting the "wedding cake dress", I joke. I do love tiers. Loose tiers that drape the body really hides the flaws, I think. So while we've retired the whites with the passing of Labour Day, it is my belief these soft pastel neutrals (grey, beige, etc) work wonderfully in the fall as long as they aren't in a light cotton fabric. This one is a misty silk that is almost summer weight, but one thing I love about silk is that it's a fairly versatile, season-less fabric. If anything, it's better to wear silk in the cold because boy do sweat stains look visible when in the heat! Thoughts?

Sorry I cropped my face off--my eyes were looking particularly baggy. Time to get into a steady eye-cream routine, methinks. Certainly ain't 16 no more!

heather grey, silk, tiered dress (Banana Republic) / black, merino wool cardigan (Uniqlo) / sheer black tights / vegan grey pumps (S. McCartney)

Yeah, you may have noticed I am a little fixated on cardigans. I really need to get some boat-neck cardigans--all I have are these v-neck ones!

Shoes: The Hidden Heel

2009-09-19T20:06:00.002-04:00

There is a reason why the "kitten heel", as usually unattractive as they are, is a popular option for women in the workplace: they're modest. Thoughts of heels beyond 3" for most working women harkens imagery of the working girl--as in the one on the street corner. But damn it, I love my tall heels!

And then my flatmate brought home a pair of Lanvins (on sale from the Summer 09 collection) and I had a revelation!

At first glance, her Lanvins looked a mere modest 3" at most, and so imagine my surprise when she remarked, "Oh god, these are uncomfortable!" I took a closer look and look what I noticed!

The hidden heel! (Forgive my horrible diagramming lol)

I also noticed my Stella McCartney pumps had a similar sort of optical illusion at play which explains why I never feel trampy when stomping around the office in those, but do when I wear some of my other pumps with similar heights.

So ladies, if you are like me and feel a little uncomfortable exposing that much heel at the office, be on the lookout for these delightful optical illusions in shoes! Those shoe designers are just so smart :p

And a happy Saturday evening to you!

The Blog: Quickie

2009-09-15T17:29:00.001-04:00

We've finally decided to stop borrowing our neighbour's wifi. I've put my foot down on what I will accept, and the aluminum macbook just doesn't have as good of a wifi-receiving power as its plastic counterpart. The flatmate has agreed to the terms. Hehe. So this means: wow, I'll have usable internet at home again! And subsequently, more updates! The cable guy will be coming by this Friday to install the goodies. Woohoo.

WIWT Weekday: Date Forgotten

2009-09-10T23:34:00.000-04:00

I forgot when this was taken... it was at least over a week ago--one of the brief days of colder air in the past few weeks. Currently, New York is quite chilly, and aside from the impending doom of winter, I do love the fall and fall fashion!

Pink silk shirt with brown tie (from Anthropologie) / pencil skirt (Ann Taylor) / grey cardigan (Uniqlo) / grey and brown suede pumps (Zara Woman)

So the reason I've been so lackadaisical with the updates is two-pronged:

1. Haven't found a good camera position with good lighting (haven't really bothered looking but I think these photos above are ok, right?)
2. Internet is choppy and all I want to do when I have free time and a strong signal is sit on the bed and read my RSS feeds (so busy with everything else!)

Anyhow, I'll try to be more regular with the updates going forward. In fact, I'll write another post right now for future publication! Might as well while I've got fodder!

Shop Talk: One Stop Shop for Party Dresses

2009-08-26T20:27:00.005-04:00

Aside from an occasional internet shoe purchase, I hadn't been shopping in ages--that is until this past weekend (and only very briefly for a couple of hours). In light of the recent heat wave here, I've run out of my hot, hot heat summer dresses for nights out. I had a mission, and the flatmate led the way to... Forever 21. Oh yes, Forever 21. You'll always find something there if you're desperate.

... Like this adorable Lanvin-inspired leopard dress ($22.80)!

And this is one of many, many more. Ah, but perhaps buying cheap, disposable clothes at F21 is not exactly responsible consumerism. Hmm. I bring my own bags to the grocery store and recycle all my bottles, but I'll always have this vice. (I'll keep my purchases to a minimum).

WIWT Weekday: 11/8/2009

2009-08-11T20:42:00.000-04:00

Using the Panda head again. Why? Ah, because by the time I get home I am drained of all life from the heat outside. Makeup is all in disarray and hair is all a mess. However, halfway through stripping myself of my clothes, I remembered it had been awhile since I posted an outfit blog. Might as well do so tonight!

Today I wore black--black silk, black wool, black patent (oh, and a black non-patent leather purse too though not pictured here). It was one of those days.

Black silk, ruffled shirt with tie collar (H&M) / black wool crepe pants (United Colours) / buckle front, black patent leather pumps (Carshoe)

Gosh I sure am tired tonight! Was going to head out with a friend for a drink in an hour, but I really have no energy.

Shoes: Flats for the road

2009-08-09T18:21:00.001-04:00

"Hang on a minute," I told him as I balanced myself on one foot with a hand against a structural column down in the subway. I was taking off my flats and pulling on a pair of strappy, 4.5-inch sandals.

"What are you doing?" he looked appalled.

"Duh, changing shoes. Everyone does it."

"They do?"

I hesitated. Do they? The flats were going to be tucked neatly away into my purse and no one would be the wiser that I had saved myself a $15 door-to-door cab ride in favour of taking the trains that weren't quite door-to-door. Isn't that what all fiscally responsible (and, ahem, environment-conserving) women do? Oh, don't think I didn't notice that pile of shoes under your desk at work!

My friend didn't believe me. Instead, he attempted to comfort me with, "Don't worry. You'll get used to it soon enough" (implying, of course, that he was a dyed in the wool New Yorker used to the trials and tribulations of living in this city whereas I was the fresh-faced implant who still changed shoes--psshawww heehee).

Unless they're those extra comfy Frye's I keep raving about, walking over 20 minutes in heels does get to me. Not to mention, these city streets are shoe-destroyers. Getting the shoe guy to change your taps every week can become an expensive habit.

Speaking of those Frye's, they came in last Monday and are fabulous and so comfortable:

I especially love this shade of brown because it goes so well with black... comme ça: Prada FW2006 (the lover of black in me loves that collection).

WIWT Weekday: 03/8/2009

2009-08-04T00:30:00.003-04:00

Oh, it's been awhile since I posted a WIWT! So here's what I wore to work today. I had already undressed when I decided to post an outfit update so this is what you get. It looks rather sad and dead just hanging on the doorknob.

I feel a little bit like that outfit right now: exhausted! Been extremely busy lately with hardly a moment to myself or even a square meal for dinner! Tonight, for example, I was at the UN Headquarters for a reception and had three glasses of chardonnay and a few coconut shrimp hors d'oeuvres for dinner. This was later followed by frozen blueberries as I laid prostrate on the couch watching the latest episode of "True Blood" (Godric and Eric <3<3<3).

Oh, but fret not--I love this dress and wear it frequently. I'm sure you'll be seeing it again soon. For now, it's time for me to pass out. Night!

silk, shift dress (French Connection) / light wool cardigan (Halogen) / leather, cinch belt (H&M) / leather, "snakeskin" sandals (Boutique 9)

Oh by the way, I ended up getting the Fryes (see previous post) in brown. They arrived at the office today. I was delighted. They are lovely and so sturdily built--perfect for navigating the shoe-destroying streets of this city.

Shoes: Brown or Black?

2009-07-28T19:35:00.003-04:00

One of my favourite breaks to take during the afternoon lull is to browse the very well-organized ShopBop 70% sale section--particularly for shoes. Unlike another favourite site, Yoox, ShopBop's selection is not overwhelming thus making it perfect for a quick 2 minute break at the office. Also, they carry one of my favourite casual brands, Frye (not just for boots!).

Today I discovered these Frye "Heidis" on sale for $59.40.

Certainly, they're not amazing shoes by any stretch of the imagination, but like all Frye boots and shoes, I suspect these are incredibly comfortable and well-made. They're one of the only shoemakers that I can trample around in 4"+ heels all night with nary a blister. Plus, these look perfect for the office in fall. Now, should I get em in black or brown?

(Gut feeling was to go for brown but then remembered that I don't have any non-patent black shoes... hmmm!)

In other news: moving to my new place tomorrow! This was just a quick post, but I fear I'll be MIA again for another few days while I'm settling in! See you in August and am looking forward to catching up on my blog-reading!

In Brief...

2009-07-22T21:36:00.002-04:00

All right--so clearly I've been a little busy and thus not much going on in terms of updates. I'm hoping that once August rolls around, things will start settling down. In the meantime, check out some of my favourite blogs in the links on the sidebar (or read Alice and Kev)>>>>

(Moving to Brooklyn Heights and am mad about the new apartment! Beautiful molding, absurdly high ceilings, 12 minute door-to-door commute to work! No complaints... except for lack of central a/c. That's how it goes here unfortunately!)

Accessorize: keychains

2009-07-16T02:13:00.002-04:00

I'm currently doing some last minute packing for my "move" to New York tomorrow. Two suitcases and a carry-on is all I'm taking! While packing, look what I discovered!

He's my little Robot Keychain made from old odds and ends of electrical waste, nuts, and bolts. He's missing an ear, and the other one is sort of falling out so I think I'll remove it and keep it safe for him.

I got him last summer at a little knick knack stand in Shanghai. I wonder if he was mass produced or just a one off from some local crafty person; he was the only one of his kind being sold... In any event, he's great and will be my new keychain from now on (it's been a year and a half since I've had a keychain or had need for a keychain--unbelievable!).

Even though I'm an "adult", there are still certain things I own that are distinctly childish: a couple of stuffed pandas, a collection of miniature toys (see below), and well, keychains. Even though I have fantasies of decorating my room with a painted wrought-iron bed (in white) laden with a few select stuffed pandas and such (this might still be a reality; we'll see how I feel in the new home haha), I feel that actually doing it would give friends and potential suitors the creeps. So we limit such childish folly to the small things: keychains. Yeah, you'll never see me sporting a Cartier keychain.

This leads me to ask you: What do you use for a keychain?

More toys: I got a collection of these little guys in Kunming last year and took this fellow out around Beijing for some photo ops. This little character is sporting traditional Beijing opera-style facepaint and posing with his fellow painted faces outside the Summer Palace.

How to: Get Photographed by the Sartorialist

2009-07-15T17:55:00.005-04:00

Excellent graphic from Refinery29

Funny, but also kind of a depressing statement about how unoriginal fashion actually is.

Since starting the blog, I've also increased my own subscriptions to fashion bloggers and uh, well, I have to admit that I kind of enjoyed it more when I was only subscribed to a few. Oversized cut-up t-shirts over tight jeans or short florals dresses kind of gets boring to look at after awhile. This is also why I've personally not been contributing a lot of "What I'm Wearing" posts. I'm not wearing anything that interesting--nothing that hasn't been seen a million times already. Summer uniform of late: white skinny jeans + grey t-shirt + nude belt + some necklaces + nude sandals. Snore.

Don't get me wrong--there are still quite a few of you that I love (I think you know who you are hehe), but the rest... the updates go sadly unread until it starts cluttering up my reader and I hit that "Mark All as Read" button.

I'm hoping I'll have more original stuff (or at the very least, "original" insofar as there won't be a skinny jean in sight) to post once I'm starting work and forced to wear corporate, work-apropos stuff all the time. That is the point of this blog after all.

Decoding Craigslist Rental Ads (New York)

2009-07-13T14:15:00.003-04:00

"Charming" - serious, visible flaws that might be considered "charming" to the blind
"Cozy" - fits a twin bed if you're lucky
"Near [X Neighbourhood]" - not at all near by any human-scale of comparison
"10 minutes to Manhattan!" - Jersey City
"No Fee!" - Fee is hidden in the rent
"Great for students!" - share a kitchen and/or bath
"Awesome deal!" - no kitchen and/or windows
"Spacious" - larger than 200 sq ft

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...?

2009-07-11T15:38:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of updates! I'm currently in Toronto staying with my Mother and helping her renovate her home. As such, I've been spending the past few days involved in hard manual labour (removing wallpaper and painting the walls). These hands are actually callused! The last time these paws were callused was circa 1990, 1st grade recess, monkey bars--hah!

Also, I'm moving next Thursday and starting a new job on the 20th and need to do some last minute apartment hunting with hopes of getting a place to actually call home by August 1st. Ahh, busy! If you know of anyone with something available in New York, let me know!

WIWT (Wedding) Weekend: 04/7/2009

2009-07-07T12:58:00.000-04:00

Man, am I a great looking panda or what?

While my American friends south of the border celebrated Independence Day with burgers and beer, a few of us had gathered our things and headed north to Toronto for the celebration two souls in love (with cake and champagne!--ahem, French 75s!).

The daytime ceremony was held in a beautiful cathedral downtown, a time and location that was perfect for this summery, embroidered, floral dress I purchased last year. Check out the awesome embroidery detailing on the mustard-coloured flowers!

While I realize a few posts back that I mentioned wanting an asymmetrical dress for this very occasion, I've since decided to make a turn toward thriftiness! Aside from saving money, I know I have enough in my existing wardrobe (as was made painfully evident in my recent bouts of packing and repacking). Anyway, if you want true thriftiness, craftiness, and sustainable clothing, go check out "The Uniform Project"--one woman's quest to wear one dress for one year! Now that's dedication!

Floral dress (Phillip Lim 3.1) / strapped sandals (Modern Vintage) / Panda head

Drink: French 75

2009-07-06T14:11:00.004-04:00

Concocted by legendary French WWI pilot, Raoul Lufbery, the French 75 is my new favourite summer cocktail. Apparently he liked champagne but wanted more of a kick, which is exactly what we were thinking when we ordered ours perched in the aerie of the Globe Bistro.

Ingredients:
- gin
- fresh squeezed lemon
- sparkling wine (or more properly, champagne)
- touch of sugar

Prepare in the following ratio (or thereabouts--just don't skimp on the gin!):
- 1 part gin: 0.5 parts lemon: 1.5 parts sparkling wine: sugar to taste

Liking it so much, we headed to the liquor store the next day and picked up a bottle of Tanqueray, a couple of bottles of cava, and a few lemons; back at the hotel, we ordered room service to bring up six champagne flutes and a knife.

Unsure about the proper proportions of the alcohols at the time, we sampled different mixtures and enjoyed an afternoon of comfortable drinking before heading off to the wedding pleasantly tipsy.

After the reception, fellow wedding-goers came back to the hotel with us to drink the rest of our purchases (hence the extra champagne flutes). It was a smash hit! Will definitely be keeping it in mind for future entertaining purposes.

Oh, housekeeping!

A good party idea: mix a punch bowl of gin, lemon juice, and sugar. Keep unopened bottles of sparkling wine nearby and serve freshly made French 75s as the guests want them!

The happy afterparty revelers. 6 flutes were clearly not enough.

Hope the rest of you had a great Fourth o' July weekend! Though I was in Canada not celebrating the red-white-blue, I certainly partied like I was! (Minus the barbeque hehe)

My Muse: Remembering Kelly Kapowski

2009-07-03T12:29:00.001-04:00

We contributed to the latest post on the fashpack.com with a nostalgic trip back to the early nineties. From the gracefully assembled collage by Jozee, we can all enjoy the stylings of a certain Ms. Kelly Kapowski.

For more, click here.

Arts and Letters: Colette

2009-06-29T04:43:00.006-04:00

One of the films currently out in theatres is "Chéri", starring Michelle Pfeiffer and a hot, young, male-ingenue, Rupert Friend.

Watch the trailer
The movie is based off the eponymous book written by Colette back in 1920--a book I happened to pick up (along with The Last of Chéri) at a book fair in Chicago a few years ago. I loved the books as I knew I would--as I do all romantic, historic fictions.*

Aside from the fabulous looking costumes and male eye candy, there is the fact that the story is totally sexy. I'm looking forward to watching it soon!

Lastly, I wanted to add that I was further inspired to post this after coincidentally seeing a blog post on Fashion Preserve about Lady Una Troubridge who was the original translator of Chéri to the English-world. Some more googling of her revealed a treasure trove of androgynous style from her and her partner, Radclyffe Hall.

Left: That hair! That shirt collar! That monocle! The right amount of cuff! Hot!
Right: Smoking jacket with silk skirt on Radclyffe Hall! Too fabulous.

Oh, what a luxurious coat! And that monocle again!
Wish I could pull such a thing off with such panache!
Images via NYTimes, Observer, Fashion Preserve
* If you are like me and enjoy such wonderful historic fictions, I highly recommend Guy de Maupaussant's Bel Ami, Stendahl's The Red and the Black, Michael Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White, Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, & William Thackeray's Vanity Fair. I'd also recommend the Jane Austen collection except I've always hated reading her books (the heroines and their conversations bother me) and much preferred watching the BBC mini-series instead (hehe).

If you have any other suggestions in this genre that I've not mentioned, please recommend!

Icon: MJ

2009-06-25T23:49:00.001-04:00

When I heard the news earlier this evening, I was shocked! Michael is one of those figures whose iconic status renders him almost superhuman. One does not expect that he will ever die until perhaps he is truly old and out of the public's conscience altogether at which point a death would sort of make you shrug and nod understandably, "Well, he was old."

Well, he was not old; lived a tragic life; and suffered a terrible downfall. One can't help feel sympathy and sadness over this loss.

And he had some damn good style, didn't he?

And let's not forget the music and the moves: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.

Accessorize: those hipster glasses go mainstream

2009-06-24T15:55:00.001-04:00

The Wayfarers (and their un-iconically named cousins) have been back for awhile but more and more you see them being used without the tinted lens.

Yes, those big poindexter glasses circa when my dad was a college student (the old family albums show him in that style quite prominently) are certainly back and they're not just for hipsters anymore!

Just take a look at those hotties on the left! I am madly in love with James Franco and as such the man can do no wrong so my opinions may be biased, but doesn't he look especially sexy in those glasses?

Image source: Star Magazine via Jezebel.com

Recently when CR and I were in New York, we tried on our friend Richie's glasses (his are from See Optical--locations throughout the US), and I kind of fell in love with the look for us womenfolk as well.

They may be hipsterry, but I also think they'd look awesome in a very prim and proper professional getup (even if they make me feel like my pants are two sizes too tight).

Best. Bra. Ever!

2009-06-21T11:08:00.004-04:00

This evening while admiring my fine visage in the mirror, I also noticed my 25 year old c-cup breasts looking quite perky. Why, I might even deign to say they looked like a spritely 16 year olds'! Hoho!

In all seriousness though, my boobs aren't sagging--or at least, they aren't noticeably sagging. Despite all this, my breasts did look quite nice in the mirror, and it's all thanks to Maidenform's "Softwear™ Lightly Lined Demi". Short of trying ever single bra known to existence, I have to say that this bra is fantastic--especially if you have larger breasts and want lift without the bulky padding!

Image and bras can be purchased from Kohl's
Ceda actually introduced me to these Maidenform bras last "Black Friday" when we did some hurried shopping together. She had discovered them at an outlet mall in PA when she worked her consulting gig there and relayed the wonders of said bra back to me. And so, on "Black Friday", I managed to score a couple of these (the last ones in my size at the store) heavily discounted at $12/each from a Maidenform store.

I only started wearing them recently and now I feel as though it's below me to go back to any other bra. Regardless of price tag, these puppies have outshone my wardrobes full of Calvin Klein and Victoria's Secret.

The material is this awesome, thick nylon that is pre-molded and seems indestructible. Also, there are no seams--everything is laser cut and this line of laser cut Maidenform bras also claims to reduce back fat lumps. I haven't noticed anything to that end as I never really pay attention to back fat lumps (but maybe I should). In any event, if you've got boobs, go try to find them at a store (a lot of stores carry Maidenform) and let your life be changed!

WIWT Weekday: 19/6/2009

2009-06-20T17:01:00.001-04:00

Went to a family dinner last night and wore this. It's hot here in Dallas but once indoors, the a/c seems always to be set on the low 70s thus making long pants seem like a reasonable proposition. Shirt is an extra-small men's from Faconnable, which is also what I typically wear for women's shirts. Could probably stand to get those trousers hemmed an inch for a more professional, clean-cut look, but I think it works as is.

About the glasses, they're from ProDesign. Remind me to post about their awesome glasses in a future post; they are an absolute must for Asian noses! Heehee.

Cotton, gingham shirt (Faconnable) / summer wool, fitted trousers (Piazza Sempione) / "vegan", patent, grey pumps (Stella McCartney) / brown, plastic glasses (ProDesign)

Jet Set: Central Asia

2009-06-19T13:14:00.002-04:00

When randomly googling about Kazakhstan I came across this photo:

(Source: Unknown)

Was instantly charmed by his regal, wise mien and stylish accoutrements.

I don't know how I could have ignored Central Asia on my world tour last year, but it's on the list for my next trip. The closest I got was the border of Tibet, and already there you could witness the intense genetic and cultural diversity.

I can honestly say, "Seen one European city, seen them all" (ok, not exactly 100% true though the general point still remains). If you've got vacation days to burn, save Europe for retirement when the oxygen thin environments of Central Asia could incapacitate an older person! Besides, no matter how lush the Swiss mountainside may be or how fanstastic the shopping in Paris is, I guarantee you'll speechless in the shadows of the Himalayas. Suddenly, materialism loses its purpose *wistful sigh*.

Jet Set: Easy, breezy 4-wheel luggage

2009-06-18T12:55:00.001-04:00

Ever the intrepid traveller, I've gone through my fair share of luggage over the years. Although I frequently use a large satchel for weekend trips or a large backpack for those roughin'-it expeditions, the recent death of my Samsonite carry-on wheeler meant I needed a replacement for grown-up travel longer than 3 days. Welcome the Hey's 4WD Carry-On. Currently, it's on sale on Overstock.com (along with a plethora of other styles and colours): Hey's 4WD Carry-On.

I took it on my recent weeklong trips to Chicago and New York and have hardly any complaints. The 4-wheel wheeling--a feature now found on many a carry-on--is a God-send. Oh how easy to slide the luggage sideways down an airplane aisle!

Aside from the 4WD, this luggage is unbelievably light. No worry about going over the ever more Draconian weight limits. It also looks deceptively small and while I was initially worried it wouldn't hold enough, it actually holds a lot and has an expansion feature! It certainly holds more than my old Samsonite and the interior design makes it great for dividing shoes and clothes, for example.

My only complaint would be its lack of an exterior pocket to stuff a laptop or something. Of course, that's what extra large purses and laptop covers are for I suppose.

Anyway, this post isn't intended to heap laurels upon Hey's alone; just saying in general, if you're still using an old school 2-wheel carry-on, it's time to upgrade.

WIWT Weekend: Asian Posing in New York

2009-06-15T17:06:00.004-04:00

Originally I wanted to make a video together but due to excessive drinking and sleep deprivation, we called the whole thing off and just made "asian poses" (ref: asianposes.com).

CR always insists on having her bedroom eyes in photos. Here we demonstrate the "nyan nyan" and CR's version of the "victory" except hers is "victory fail" as it's backwards. Ha!

CR redeems her asian posing with this fabulous "puffy cheek" AND "double victory" pose along with J's excellent "puffy cheek" and "random pointing-to-self".

Lastly, Rich and I ape Lady Gaga with our teacups and a wide mouthed "victory" thrown in for good measure.

Jozee's wearing: silk, graphic dress (DvF) / silver, leather purse (Givenchy)
CR's wearing: ? (I'll let her fill in the blanks).

(I'll retake some outfit photos later--possibly.)

Yay or Nay: Ruffled Bib

2009-06-12T16:50:00.003-04:00

Apologies for the lack of posting! Been very busy. This weekend CR will be joining me here in New York so I anticipate some great entries to come :D

In the meantime, here is a shirt that I am not sure what to do with. I love the shape of the shirt and the structure on the sleeves, but I am not a fan of the crazy ruffle bib collar. Don't get me wrong, I love a good ruffle and even a well done ruffled bib, but these ruffles are a little over the top perhaps especially when paired with those sleeves.

What say you?

Also, this isn't the most flattering shot of the shirt either--hah. In fact, looking at it I'm almost a little embarrassed to be posting this! I'll see if it is salvageable at all with the right outfit next week when I am reunited with it in Dallas.

shirt: Phillip Lim 3.1

How to Wear It: The Jacket

2009-06-08T18:41:00.002-04:00

In all matters of style, for some, it's just intuitive. For others, it's about learning "the rules". Of course, I really hate the idea of "rules" in fashion (and in anything artistic), and oftentimes following the rules results in disaster as much as not following the rules could result in great style. Nonetheless, some guidelines are helpful. I was thinking of this recently as I was pairing up various skirts and blazers for my summer wardrobe, and that is the issue of jacket + skirt hemlines. While long pants and jackets of any length always work, the same isn't necessarily true for skirts.

Here are some quick & dorky sketches with explanations:

In summary: jacket and skirt hems should be around the same area unless we're dealing with the traditional proportions and shapes of a skirt-suit combo. Alternatively, a cropped jacket (that is, one without any "waist definition") can be worn with pretty much any length of skirt. Just be careful to avoid showing too much skin if worn with a mini skirt.

Eat: No-Knead Bread

2009-06-07T17:27:00.003-04:00

A couple of years ago, the NYTimes published the recipe for "No-Knead Bread". I finally got around to trying it out. Mine is currently in the oven and smells delicious. I'm hoping to recreate experiences of bread-gasms had in France. I'll post some photos when it's ready. In the meantime, this recipe is so simple that you must try it! Recipe here.

Update: only managed to snap a quickie with the phone before it got devoured. Excellent! I used to pay $4 a loaf for these artisanal breads at Fox & Obel in Chicago. This cost like $0.30 in flour and yeast. The only downside to making this in the summer is heating up the whole house.

WIWT Weekday: 08/6/2009

2009-06-05T17:57:00.008-04:00

Back to the old work attire, I made my first purchase ever of a .... * drum roll * cardigan! Yes, I have actually never owned a cardigan until the recent belt+dress+cardigan trend compelled me to do so.

This is a sleeveless dress, which I absolutely love because the lines are so clean and flattering. Its also made from some sort of shiny linen-like fabric that was perfect for when I had to bring business attire along with me to abysmally hot Thailand in January. Not to mention it miraculously survived a trip in my backpack without getting too wrinkled.

Unfortunately, in spite of the popularity of Michelle Obama's guns, its still considered unprofessional to go sleeveless in the workplace sooooo enters my demure cardigan and I'm once more fit for working amongst my colleagues. For those of you small-waisted petite women, Anne Taylor Loft had the ONLY extra-small skinny belt that fit me. It saved me a trip to the leather shop to have holes punched in the belts I already own.

PS— I'm scowling because I'd rather be back on the beach. Just kidding. Kind of.

Grey linen dress (Club Monaco) / cardigan (Nordstrom)/ patent skinny belt (Anne Taylor Loft)/ patent faux croc heels (Kenneth Cole)

WIWT Weekend: 27/5/09

2009-06-02T10:55:00.014-04:00

Some years back while living in Charlotte, I went through this odd period of buying embroidered sequins tunics. The weather in the steamy South misled me to believe I could dress as though I were perpetually on holiday. My less fashion-conscious brother once proclaimed I looked like Penelope Cruz from Blow and the tops were retired to the bottom drawer.

Fortunately, in Malaga its totally appropriate to look like a cocaine dealer's girlfriend. Just kidding... but one really ought to leave the flashy for sunnier European coasts where it'll only serve to complement the ever present techno music. I even brought a mini dress made mostly of gold sequins that didn't get a chance to debut but will surely get an opportunity by some craps tables in the near future...

Pairing this top with some fantastic matchstick jeans from J. Crew, gold heels, and sweet Malaga wine, I fit right in with the locals! Or maybe it was my Spanish-speaking... details, details.

Side note: The picture was unfortunately taken in b&w mode on the camera. The top, though, is a light reddish color.

Sequins embroidered tunic (boutique, Charlotte NC) / white matchstick jeans (J. Crew)/ gold metallic heels (Aldo)/ gold shell earrings (Forever 21)

WIWT Weekend: 25/5/2009

2009-06-01T10:01:00.015-04:00

Lindas, I'm back from sunny España. Though I promised to post from abroad, I was remiss due the reliance on my iphone for any internet connection. Fortunately, I've come back to find that Jozee is has taken us to the next level of mobile blogging. I look forward to testing out this function soon.

Its going to take some time to readjust to work after experiencing the glamourous life along the Mediterranean. I must say those Spaniards are well-dressed! I fought to keep up as best I could with the svelt glitterati of Costa del Sol. The dress pictured was worn on the first night out in Puerto Banuz, a ritzy area near Marbella with clubs open until after sunrise. Though my heels look monstrously uncomfortable they held up quite well until the 7am closing time.

A certain Middle Eastern celebrity who shall remain nameless claimed he was quite charmed by the outfit and so I'll go ahead and consider it a great success. Vale!

Halter jersey dress (Club Monaco) / beaded scarf (Mango)/ metallic platform heels (BCBG)/ faux diamond cocktail ring (Banana Republic)/ silver ball earrings (boutique in Turkey)

WIWT Weekend: 30/5/2009

2009-05-31T15:05:00.007-04:00

Boring grey jersey dress made less boring:

I have a Benetton jersey dress from two seasons ago when all things maternity-ish and shapeless were really popular. In the first picture, you can see this dress resembles something close to a sink full of dish water. After the usual perfunctory whine of "I have nothing to wear" at my closet, I decided to belt the damn thing, but with a scarf since the flowing lines of the jersey would have made an decidedly ugly bunching effect with any "real" belt. I added a layer of contrast with a metal snake-like necklace I found at Kokoroko. Add one pair of gladiator sandals from a brand called "Nickels" and my outfits is both comfortable and loses its annoying formlessness.

Grey, jersey dress (UCoBenetton) / gladiator sandals (Nickels) / scarf used as belt (?) / snake-like necklace (Kokoroko)

Eat: Simplest Apple and Berry Tart

2009-05-29T18:34:00.002-04:00

What could be more summery than berry tarts and galettes? As blackberries and raspberries flood the farmer's markets, get 'em while the gettin's good! I adapted an easy tart recipe into an easy and relatively healthy one with berries (only a couple of tablespoons of sugar used!). The Smitten Kitchen Simplest Apple Tart really lives up to the name. Instead of just apples, I ended up layering some fresh raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries as well. Next time, I think I'll bake the apple tart as is for 15-20minutes before adding the berries over top.

(Lacking a tart pan, I used a pie pan. As you can see, I still need to work on my pie-crusting abilities. Let me just say, it's damn hard getting a perfect looking crust! Practice is definitely required.)

With the left over crust, I cut up some more apples and made a mini-galette:

(The galette is so much easier. Beginners, just stick with doing a big galette or many little ones! Next time I think I'll just make a batch of mini-galettes instead of a big tart.)

So, go on with you... get some berries & follow that recipe; it is pretty fool-proof. One thing to take note, especially if you have no experience with making pastry: when the recipe calls for "just-softened butter", it really means "just-softened butter". Anything softer will result in dough disaster. And try not to work with the dough for too long: the warmth of your hands will affect the texture of the buttery dough.

Lastly, the recipe's "glaze" calls for using a lot of sugar, but I don't think that's necessary at all. Simmer the peels in water with a little bit of sugar on low for a long time and the fructose will naturally result in a good glaze that isn't overly sweet.

The Blog: Updates May 2009

2009-05-27T17:19:00.002-04:00

Ceda will now officially be joining the fold. She kept gchatting me suggestions for posts so it's really silly for me to continue posting on her behest! Her contributor bio is to come.

Also, take note that there is a "Mobile Photo" section in the sidebar now. The girls and I will be sending various mobile (and occasionally non-mobile) photos there. Thanks for reading! Let us know if you have any other site suggestions!

/End updates

WIWT Weekday: 20/5/2009

2009-05-27T01:47:00.000-04:00

Be prepared to be seeing a lot of this this summer. That is to say: dress + blazer = instant work outfit. I really can't emphasize enough how much I love a good dress. To think that I essentially went through my entire childhood refusing to wear anything that didn't individually sheath each leg in fabric! Why was I so naive? Was I being a feminist or simply buying into the phallocentric world of pant-wearers? Heh heh. Anyhow, whatever the reasoning behind my misguided worshipping of the pant, I'm making up for lost time.

Wore this last week when I was in Chicago and went to grab dinner with a former colleague and one of her business acquaintances. I absolutely love this dress. It may be from Target, but the fit is excellent and looks a lot richer than it is. It's probably one of my favourite dresses.

The panda face is to cover up my own dour expression. Didn't want to frighten my readers off again with a nasty sneer. Instead, I'm luring you in with a delightful panda head. Oops about that visible bra strap.

Black, lightly pinstriped, light wool blazer (Zara) / ruffled, multi-tiered, graphic dress (Target's Go International) / black, patent leather, buckle pumps (Carshoe--they make more than quality carshoes)

(I just returned from Phoenix an hour ago and am still quite awake. Posting this a little late!)

Question to the Readers: Non-Matching Suits

2009-05-25T20:46:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers:

As I was deciding what to wear for an interview in the mercilessly hot temperatures of Phoenix, I found myself tempted to mix a pair of white, linen slacks with a navy, linen jacket. But then I thought to myself: does anyone wear non-matching suits to interviews?

I've never done this in the past and truthfully, I've never seen anyone do this. In general, it's a dull sea of black or charcoal suits with crisp, white, starched shirts. I'm always playing with my suit-colour combos, but I've never ventured into the non-matching world for interviews.

What are your thoughts? Can non-matching suits be done in a professional, corporate interview, or would you just stand out like a sore thumb in a bad way? Much appreciate your input!

In other news, here is what I'll be wearing for that interview in Phoenix tomorrow (opted for the matching route):

They're flying me out around noon, and I'll be on a return flight late in the evening. Then it'll be off to New York in another week or so!

Cotton, khaki, skirt suit (Ann Taylor) / yellow, patterned, silk blouse (Club Monaco) / grey, vegan, patent pumps (Stella McCartney) / let the record show that I never wear pantyhose.

Eat Like an Adult by Understanding the Menu

2009-05-22T14:57:00.004-04:00

Guest post from Ceda. Frankly, I think she should join the regular blogging fold even though she's fearful of commitment; ha. In any event, she's my guide to the best Chicago fare these days, and in fact I spent last night at the recently opened Grocery Bistro upon her suggestion. Nothing better than fine dining and BYO. Delicious!

Without further ado, here is her delightful guide for the burgeoning foodie:

Ceda aping Anton Ego at (omg, suh good, worth killing for) Alinea
My diet in college was more gulag than the USDA food pyramid. Now that I have stepped out of the Progresso-soup pantry of my youth, its was time to try eating items not made from corn starch or construction cone orange. If menus full of annoying food vocabulary pisses you off, this is the article for you. Because underneath all that blather of foams, geles, and soupcons there’s some damn tasty food to be had.

Amuse bouche – Too bad this has nothing to do with the seminal dance band from the 90s; it is a one bite appetizer that’s suppose to tickle your senses.
Prix Fixe – In college, I couldn’t tell you Prix Fixe from prize leeks, but now I know that sometimes, this is a great way to score an appetizer, entrée, and desert for a set price usually less than the menu price.
Roulade – Think little Debbie swiss rolls. Now imagine them in meat form. Now in chocolate. Now in corn meal. Yes, the roulade is merely the SHAPE of the food, not necessarily the contents within.
Chèvre – it's cheese, goat cheese baby.
Charcuterie – meats; plenty of cured meats usually served on a platter.
Crudo – raw fish; think Italian for sushi, but no rice.
Ramps, morels, chanterelles - the mushrooms for the food connoisseur.
Quenelle – a spoon shaped scoop of ice cream or whatever food which can be scooped. Spherical scoops are like the silicone implants to the elegant, naturelle form of the quenelle. At least this is the impression I get from other foodies.
Amish, Berkshire, Heirloom, Artisanal – if these are mentioned near the ingredients, you can be sure that the restaurant is charging more.

Costa del happiness

2009-05-22T12:34:00.007-04:00

Photo by Bruno Dayan

Hello lovelies! I apologize for the lack of updates lately as this wannnabe fashionista had to get through her dreaded econ finals and papers. I'm now thankfully done with it all and will soon be departing for a much needed vacation in España. I'll try to post from abroad and keep you updated on some of the travel wear. I have a sneaking suspicion the Andalusian sun makes everything look fantastic.

Wish me a sexy time!

Shopping List: Asymmetrical dresses & tops

2009-05-16T16:19:00.000-04:00

Asymmetry has been an oft-referenced style in the fashion canon. For a long time, I dismissed the look as asymmetry always brought up visions of asymmetrical fishtail hemlines circa my high school prom--a look I've never liked. The recent return to asymmetry is much more Athena and a lot less Vegas showgirl. I'd like to get one such dress for a wedding I'll be attending this summer. Below are a few I've pulled from ShopBop.com after a quick search for "one shoulder":

dresses all on ShopBop.com. I'm not especially craaaazy about any of these, but they're good examples

There is also a distinct 80s vibe with the oversized necklines and the ensuing falling-off-the-shoulder effect, another look I quite like when done right as demonstrated by none other than the first lady herself:

Image via Getty & Jezebel

Who makes this pleasant blousey top? Anyone know? I especially like the motley of graphic prints going on there. Great, modern look.

WIWT Weekend: 02/5/2009

2009-05-14T15:35:00.004-04:00

I unfortunately (or fortunately depending on who you're talking to) live in a city with few opportunities to showcase one's interest in fashion. In Washington, you're more likely to get judged by your choice of reading material than by your choice of shoes. I therefore look forward to the Virginia horse races, otherwise known as Gold Cup. Just out of that memorable scene in Pretty Woman, its all about the clothes... and hats! This year, I thought I'd take a different approach with a empire waist and halter. God knows there's enough floral sun dresses to go around. The day was rainy and my hemline is completely covered in mud. Nothing a few mint juleps didn't fix though.

Empire waist dress (Tommy Hilfiger) / wide-brimmed hat (J. Crew)/ gold linen scarf (India) / sunglasses (Prada)

Drink: DIY to Drunken Bliss

2009-05-14T15:26:00.002-04:00

Another guest post from the beloved Ceda! Tough economic times call for boozin'; empty wallets call for boozin' on the cheap. Ceda gives us the at-home rundown on the Violet Hour's classic Prohibition era drinks.

Waking up this morning with unexplained bruises meant that last night’s effort at stay-at-home cocktailing went a little TOO successfully. As much as I love food, it is safe to say that I would spend my last ~~$11~~ $12 (prices went up; boohoo) dollars on drinks at the Violet Hour. If you are in Chicago, get thee to the unmarked door at 1520 N. Damen quickly. If you’re not in Chicago, then there are alternatives aplenty in New York, but what to do for the people unwilling to drop ~~$11~~ $12 per drink in these tough economic times?

I present to you DIY Violet Hour. My eating partner had a former life as a bartender so this means that we had a little bit of advantage going into this experiment—however, I think a proper stab at Violet Hour drinks can be made by anyone. We tried three gin based drinks: The Riveria, Fox Hunt, and Briar Patch.

Fox Hunt

From the Violet Hour menu, the Fox Hunt is Tanqueray, Pimms, Lemon and Cynar. We prepared in these porportions for two drinks: Expand for full post.

3 oz gin
2 oz Pimms
Juice of 1 lemon
Splash of Cynar

Thoughts: Despite the pretty picture, this drink was bitter enough to drive a loner away from the prospect of true love. I think that the formula must need more tweaking because the bitterness of Cynar totally overwhelmed any other flavors.

The Briar Patch

From the Violet Hour menu, the Briar Patch is Plymouth, Lemon and Blackberry Syrup. Lucky for us, our local farmer's market grocer had a sale on ripe blackberries, which we boiled with water and sugar to make the syrup.

We made the drinks in these proportions for two drinks:

3 oz of Bombay gin
Juice of one lemon
4 tbs of Blackberry Syrup

Thoughts: The tartness of blackberry syrup was delicious with the cool gin. I would drink this again (and boy did I).

The Riveria

From the Violet Hour menu, the Riveria is Pineapple infused Beefeater, Lemon, Egg White, Campari.

We made some emergency pineapple infused gin by dropping pineapple chunks into the gin.

For the Riveria, which was this gorgeous color between the ruby Campari and the pale pineapple juice color, we used these proportions for two drinks:

3 oz Bombay gin
1.5 oz Campari
Juice of half lemon
1 egg white
Splash of pineapple juice

Thoughts: Not only was this drink delicious, it was gorgeous to look at.

Cost Savings: We each had about 5 cocktails that night which would have cost us 10 X ~~$11~~ $12 = ~~$110~~ $120... thus ~~$132~~ $144 including tip. (Ed. note: Indeed, we have all had 5+ drinks/each nights at the Violet Hour; even if we don't remember them, our credit card statements do.)

Our total liquor costs were: Gin $20, Campri $20, Cynar $18, Pimms $18, Juices $4, Blackberries $2 for a grand total of $82.

Yes! ~~$40~~ $62 dollars savings! And not to mention we have enough of every ingredient to make twice as many drinks as consumed. Now if I could only get the lighting in my apartment right…

At Home with Julia Restoin Roitfeld

2009-05-12T22:46:00.003-04:00

Photos are from The Selby (click to see the rest of the photos). Ceda introduced me to this site, and it really is fantastic. As described by its owner, Todd Selby, the site features "interesting people and their creative spaces". Go check it out!

Some well worn shoes. It's always nice to see that the soles. I always imagine the wealthy/famous have closetfuls of shoes that show no use.

Hey, I have a bunch of these things too. :d

Lots of Paris Vogue, ov course.