gotta love sales!

Isn't it funny that we can't seem to stop shopping even though we all have humongous credit card bills to pay after the holidays? But who can resist when so many places are having great sales? I'll just have to go out for lunch less this month. UrbanOutffiters has some cute pieces at very reasonable prices. Perhaps we can all still pay the bills after this.

Lux Floor Length Pleated Dress $29.99 (from $78)! I can't believe you can get this gorgeous sleek black dress for almost nothing. And I love it how the model has a pretty lacy pink bra peeking out from underneath. That's a really good idea to add a little va-va-voom ;)

Kimchi & Blue Deep Pleat Skirt $34.99 (from $58). The model's legs look miles long. Is this skirt's doing? Well, she probably has mile long legs anyway. I hope the skirt can help mine or just make me look cute overall.

Kimchi & Blue Chiffon Abbots Blouse $34.99 (from $58). I'm a sucker for chiffon anything. You can also pick purple or peach for this one, they are all so pretty.

Lux Satin Babydoll Dress $49.99 (from $88). So it seems like the mini-dress will continue into 2007, which makes me very happy. This little black number looks versatile to me, you can dress it up with some bling bling or dress it down with a fitted top underneath.

Free People Daintiest Pointelle Hot Pants $29.99 (from $48). Now I don't know how I could wear these in the middle of January, but these are just too cute! Well, if I can't wear these outside, I'd wear them lounging on the couch in front of our new LCD HDTV :p

We don't need 10 face creams?

There seems to be a movement towards to simplistic skincare regimes in the new year according to this article The Cosmetics Restirction Diet in New York Times. One doctor even says what you really need is a good cleanser and a sunscreen! Wow imagine only 2 bottles by your sink! I cannot. I am guilty of having too many bottles and tubes and jars of stuff on my bathroom counter. But I'm trying to clean out the counter, throw away the ones that I don't use and store the ones I want to use later. I have too many blemish-control products (some don't work) and lots of sunscreens (none is perfect is for all seasons, all weathers, and various conditions that my skin is in at the moment).
One thing I don't do is succumb to the glamour of some ridiculously priced skincare products. The article keeps emphasizing that. I'm a big follower of Paula Begoun. She does wonderful truthful reviews on most of the beauty products on the market and recommends the drugstore brands over the expensive department store brands if the former does the same job, like Dove Sensitive Essentials Fragrance Free Day Cream I recently picked up. It's been working wonderfully for me so far and it cost me only $10.

I guess the ideal situation would be to have a cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen that are perfect for your skin's needs, but that would require a great amount of research and trial and error, which is easier said than done 'cause before you know it, you end up with 10 different bottles of stuff again.

New trends in the new year?

I wonder what trends will continue into 2007 and what new trends will pop up. Remember back in 2006, many fashion magazines said that grunge would be big again, and we saw it on Marc Jacobs's runway, but it never really took off?

I personally was glad that it didn't. Instead, women went with the pretty/dressy/nice structure route with fluttery tops, flowy or body-hugging dresses, sexy tunics with leggings and tights, fabulous fitted jackets and coats, super skinny jeans, and ultra glam boots and pumps...but not all at the same time!

So what will be the next biggest thing after the skinny jeans (or are the skinny jeans going to be over soon?)? Are patent leather heels going out or it's still not too late to get a pair if you haven't gotten one yet? Are the gigantic totes going to get even bigger? What trends do you want to see stay for a long time and what trends are you happy to see them go? In the end, we wear what we love and what we feel comfortable in and what suits our tastes and expresses our personality the best. Nevertheless, it'll be interesting to see. Hopefully 2007 will be a great year for Fashion again!

Bikini Boot Camp

It's a little early to talk about bikini season...or is it? As trite as it sounds, a lot of people will still tell you that their New Year resoluation is to lose weight/get in shape/go to gym regularly. I also signed up for Goodlife Fitness club for the entire year (I do like their yoga class). More importantly, I just want to get some exercise and get away from my laptop more, I spend TOO much time in front of my laptop. Anyway, there's this article about Bikini Boot Camp in the Toronto Star today. If you live in Toronto, you can get into this program. I don't know if it's North-America wide, but apparently "...celebrities like Heidi Klum have jumped on the bikini boot camp bandwagon, espousing the benefits of similar hardcore weight-loss programs." The article compares the Bikini Boot Camp with actual army's basic training in various categories. I especially like the category Disobedience.


Bikini boot camp:

Nobody has cried yet, assures Scott. But if clients don't come to class attentive and ready to work, they'll be forced to do laps while everyone else is working out.

For those who do all of their reps at home, prizes like Lululemon merchandise and gift certificates for facials, massages and manicures will be given out.

Army:

"I can't really talk about that," says Abramczyk. "There are push-ups, though. I can say there are a lot of push-ups."

Boot camp punishments are a thing of legend, myth and secrecy. It takes a certain kind of person to have enough patience to clean out a latrine with a toothbrush, or to cut a lawn with scissors.


Well, I'd definitely do all my reps at home for some free Lululemon stuff and facials, massages and manicures. That'd be motivation enough for me.

So do you have any new year resolutions regarding your health and fitness? I'd love to hear about it, leave a comment :)

Babydoll baby!

(Versace, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Blugirl...Spring 2007.)

Happy New Year everybody! How was your New Year's Eve? Did you have a wild rocking fun night? I sure hope you did!! :)

So as you know I've been browsing for dresses. Looks like the babydoll dresses will still be popular for Spring 2007. It's one of my favorite dress styles. It's tres girly, makes you look younger and playful. I wouldn't recommend this dress if you were going for a corporate job interview ;P


Aqua Babydoll Tank Jumper Dress $68 at Bloomingdales. Oh my God, isn't this the cutest jumper dress ever?!You'll be the envy of your friends if you get this one this winter!

Lauren Jane Orchid Silk Crepe Babydoll $330 at ravinstyle. So adorable with a bit of '60s flavor with the boots.

Rachel Pally Puff Sleeve Baby Doll Dress $190 at Shopbop. The puffy sleeves are so adorable!!

Juicy Couture Babydoll Top $88 at Bloomingdales. Classic! It looks so soft and flowy and the pretty ruching definitely enhances the chest area.

Guy's perspective

When I browse the Internet for new clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, I like to ask my hubby "what do you think of this?" when I see something interesting/pretty/cute/funny/outrageous/etc., he always has something funny to say. You really know that when it comes to fashion, men and women truly think differently. Whether I agree with him or not, I always get a good chuckle.

Here's what he thought of this shoe when I was looking at shoes (I'm always looking at shoes). I said I must share this with my fashionista friends.


When I first saw these style of shoes I thought "What the Fuck." I assumed they were for women who had (through means of a genetic mutation) a ridiculous long middle toe. Apparently that's not the case and women choose to actually wear these things for "fashion." My first thought is "Wicked Witch of the West." The crazy-pointy style just makes me think "witch" for some reason. Sometimes it also brings to mind some type of segmented flying insect like a hornet or a wasp. Needless to say I find this style ugly, I really can't justify it more than that. Did I mention I'm allergic to wasps?

Want more dresses

Tonight we're getting together with some friends for pre-New Year's dinner. I like to wear one of my light chiffon dresses with a top layered underneath for a casual but a little bit dressy look. I just got this dress on eBay. I can't stop shopping even though the after-Christmas sales have been disappointing. So I've been looking on eBay as usual. These are from a couple of my favorite sellers, Ever-PrettyUS and Aaronkai2006 Online Shopping Mall.

Strapless bra...it's a tricky thing

(source: NY Times).



Have you decided on what to wear for New Year's Eve? I'm thinking of wearing one of my black strapless cocktail dresses, which will require a strapless bra. Over the years I've bought so many that don't work. Finally I bought one at La Senza that cost an obscene amout but it's actually pretty good and secure. I also have a NuBra, which stays up but is not the most comfortable thing to wear, and it's a pain to peel it off. I only wear it when the dress is very low-back or backless. I think most of us don't like to wear strapless bras, but we like strapless dresses, so we keep searching for the perfect strapless bra. New York Times has this interesting article about strapless bras. An Annual Letdown: The Strapless Bra.

From nipple covers that resemble baby jellyfish to stick-on bras that look like rubber yarmulkes, today’s high-tech designs are reusable, lightweight and often more comfortable and natural looking than traditional strapless bras, particularly when worn under sheer or thin fabrics. But they are about as sexy as surgical bandages or, as more than one woman put it, chicken cutlets. Removing one in front of a lover conjures cooking with Paula Deen, not the romance of French lace.

Haha! Isn't that the truth?

Christmas gifts

Here are some of the cute things I got for Christmas. Cute knick-knacks and accessories are always my favorite among other gifts, even the big expensive items. I can never have too many of them and they don't cost much at all.

So I got some fashion necklaces, a boat load of headbands 'cause I'm obsessed with headbands at the moment, some knee-high socks, a fat stuffed cat that feels so soft and squishy (great for cuddling on the couch), a StarBucks gift card (to get my frappucino fixes), a white leather clutch (a surprisingly roomy one that can hold my wallet, cellphone, BlackBerry and keys), and my favorite one of them all is the Happy Bunny cellphone charm that says "I'm not spoiled. I deserve all my stuff". Haha! I love Happy Bunny.

Boxing Day shopping

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas!! I got a bunch of cute knick-knacks for Christmas, which I will post as soon as I take some pictures.

I went shopping on Boxing Day (after-Christmas sale) today. It was PANDEMONIUM, I tell ya. All the stores were PACKED, it was a battle to get to the good stuff. So after only a couple of hours I was exhausted. I was disappointed at the sales this year. There weren't lots of good sales, I didn't end up buying much. Here are some of the stuff I bought. Luckily Boxing Day sales continue throughout this whole week, I'll probably go shopping again tomorrow, hopefully it won't be so crazy.

I"ve been looking for a plaid jumper dress for quite a while and I finally found one. It has belt loops around the hips, so I might experiment putting a belt there. But it might not need a belt at all. I'm happy with this dress, I can layer all kinds of tops underneath it. I also bought a bunch of turtle-necks for layering.

I bought this belted tunic and the skinny jeans at the same store without even trying them on (you couldn't get a fitting room without waiting for an hour). Thank goodness they fit...well kind of, the jeans are a little loose :(








I also wanted a sweater dress, so I was quite a happy to find this red one. It's quite form-fitting, I just have to remember to wear a thong if I don't go with the jean route, haha!

Happy Boxing Day Shopping!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody!!

And a wish to my fellow Canadian fashion divas -- hope you all have a fruitful Boxing Day on the 26th! (I'll be getting up at 6 a.m. We plan on buying a digital camera and a big HDTV at Future Shop and BestBuy, and lots and lots of clothes and shoes and bags....Hopefully I'll have things worth showing here afterwards).

Mikey and Minnie

I don't know why Disney cartoons seem so festival during this time of the year. I just love them! Mickey and Minnie especially, even since I was a kid. I really want this Swarovkis Mickey and Minnie Bangle!
Swarovski Mickey and Minnie Bangle $180. It is ridiculously cute and pretty! I also want this Mickey Mouse Mobile Phone Accessory $90. My phone would look so charming with this. I'm putting them on my wist list for my birthday (it's coming up in January ;).



Mickey Mouse Charm Necklace $16 and Pink Crystal Minnie Pendant Necklace $17.50. These two are steals!!

Wow is that Tara Reid?

Tara Reid at the LA Premiere of Black X-Mas at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Wow...just wow. She looks gorgeous there. I could hardly believe it's her. She really cleaned up her looks, 'cause for the longest time all we saw in trash mags was about how horrible she looked, how much she was bearing her fake boobs, and how terrible her style sense was (along with how drunk and how big of a party animal she was). This is such a pleasant surprise. Her champagne-colored dress is so elegant (LOVE that dress!), her hair-do is very cute and her makeup is soft and perfect. And I think she trimmed down a bit too(maybe little lipo? but it's all good).

Guitar face or O-face?

Well...this one doesn't have anything to do with fashion, but I had to post it 'cause it's hilarious!

"The disheveled mane and squeezed-shut eyes. The sweaty brows and parted lips. Without the audio cues, some emotive rockers bear an uncanny resemblance to porn stars. Take a closer look at these facial acrobatics and see if you can tell who’s nailing a solo and who’s straining to deliver a big finish."
Go to Men.Style.com to see you can guess if each picture is a rock star or a porn star. It's fun!!

(Can you tell who it is in the picture? Got me fooled.)

What trend have you not given into?

So out of all the current fashion trends, skinny jeans, leggings, opaque tights, cropped jackets/capes, etc., which one(s) have you not given into? For me, it's the ankle boots!

I know, shocking, isn't it? I'm probably the last person on the planet who hasn't bought a pair of ankle boots this year. I just can't bring myself to like them. I actually do own a pair of ankle boots that I bought in 1999 I think (woah that was a LONG time ago!). They were the platform ones too. I'd take a picture but they are in storage at my parents'. I don't know what possessed me to buy them, I guess it's like every other trend, it seemed like a good idea then. I just think ankle boots look great on tall models with skinny legs, but on people of average height, they make your legs look shorter because they cut the line off at the ankle. Am I making sense? It's the opposit of pointy-toe pumps which elongate your legs. And ankle boots draw attention to your calves somehow, so you better have shaplely calves! I'm sure lots of girls out there disagree with me and rock the ankle boots. The only way I'd wear ankel boots is with wide-leg pants, but then I'd just rather pumps instead. If I want to wear a dress or a skirt, I stick with knee-high boots.

Here's a piece of advice on how to wear ankle boots with a skirt from David Clemmer, co-founder of the artist rep agency Judy Inc. and wardrobe consultant for W Network's Style by Jury, in Loulou magazine. "A pencil or trumpet skirt works best -- especially if you're going for an upscale office-gal look. David does caution against pairing ankle boots with an A-line skirt, though: "The look can easily come across as frumpy.""

I'll also add that it's best to keep the tights and the boots the same color tone to keep your legs streamlined.




(Proenza Schouler)

Louboutin

What kind of person are you? By that I mean, are you a bag person, a shoe person, a jeans person, etc. I'm a shoe person by far, perhaps a bag person come close second, and a dress person third. I love classy pumps, sexy sandals, funky boots and cutesy flats. I admit I have an addiction to buying shoes. I have shoes in my closet that I haven't worn yet.

Nevertheless, that doesn't stop me from buying more. I dream of the day that I could own a pair by Christian Louboutin. Louboutin has definitely been the "it" shoe label this year. It is being lusted after like Manolos were. With price tags go from $700 and upwards, only the rich and famous can afford them. There are so many knock-offs out there. Thesedays, it seems every girl is sporting the flatform pumps. But no matter how they try to make the knock-offs look like the real thing, they can never come close. Imagine your feet in this beauty...*sniff sniff*

Off white satin, gold lace pumps with the Louboutin's signature red sole. I don't even want to know how much these cost. Unless I mysteriously acquire $1,000 this week(just an estimate for this shoe), I'll have to be looking for knock-offs. Any of you shoe divas have seen any good knock-offs for this one yet? I take a slight lower heel and non-red sole *again...sniff sniff*.

What's your must-have skincare product?

The cold winter weather and dry indoor heat is not good for anybody's skin. What's your skincare routine like in the winter? Do you have a must-have product? It seems no matter what new cream I try, I always end up going back to Signature Club A by Adrienne's Advanced Formula 5 Essentials creme $24.95. Signature Club A has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I first got introduced to it when they were selling it on Canada's Shopping Channel 6 years ago. Then they stoppped selling the line at the Shoppping Channel. *So sad*. Now I'm forced to buy it on eBay. It's definitely not an expensive cream by any means (Have you seen some EXPENSIVE ones out there? OHMYGOD!). I just love this stuff. You get face cream and eye cream in one package. It's loaded with Vinoplex grape polyphenol antioxidants, AHAs and retinol. Compared with a lot of other moisturizers I've tried, its texture is unbeatable. It feels so clean and smooth on the skin, gets absorbed quickly, not greasy at all (I have combination skin, I don't need more grease on my t-zone), but it also keeps the areas around my eyes well-hydrated throughout the day, 'cause it's so easy to get fine lines around the eyes (I just hate that!) after sitting in the office for a day. If you are looking for a really good anti-aging moisturizer, I definitely recommend this one. And for you lucky fashionistas in the States, you can easily order it on HSN!
I've also become a big fan of Tint of Color Morning Pearl Creme with Dead Sea Minerals and Caviar $19.50. Mmm...caviar, so luxurious for the skin.

Adrienne always has fantastic kits at great prices!

Pretty Sarah Michelle

Sarah Michelle Gellar strolls along on the set of 'Suburban Girl'.
Source: Page Six

How pretty is Sarah Michelle Gellar's outfit! I love the top, it's so feminine and lady-like. I love tops like this, soft texure, rich solid color, and pretty ruffles. Does anybody know what top this is from?
I'm not a fan of leather pants, but these work in the whole ensemble. Also helps if you're slim like Sarah Michelle. And the shoes and the bag are just freakin' fabulous too. She looks sex-and-the-city hot rather than "suburban", that's for sure!

Purse Boutique

I recently discovered this online handbag store Purse Boutique. Perhaps you fashionistas all know about this one. I don't know why I didn't find it earlier 'cause I absolutely love their bags! You can find tons of designer-inspired handbags at fantastic prices. And many (especially the big ones) look high-quality and sturdy, which is very important to me. We certainly don't want to tote around a cheap-looking bag, even if we can't afford crazy expensive designer bags *sigh, I'm still waiting for an invite to a Prada sample sale*.

There are so many I want to get. It's really hard to pick and choose.

Beige Double Ring ''Trista'' Purses $29.95. I really like the braided shoulder straps, just the right amount of details added to a simple creamy smooth looking tote.

Blackened Brown ''Eva'' Alligator Purses $34.95. Love this rich-looking alligator effect on this bag. You'd look like one of those society ladies who luncheons (hehe :).

Red Oversized Kelly Bags $39.95. For those of us who can't afford the real Kelly bag, this is a good alternative. Unfortunately this red one is out of stock. Darnit. They still have it in black and brown, both are cute, but of course the red one was the cutest. Hopefully they'll re-stock it soon.

Beige ''Bauletto'' Weekender Travel Bag $39.95. It's a great travel bag, with the dimension of 9" height, 15" length, 6.5" width, you can put a lot of your travel essentials in there.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

Christmas is fast approaching. How's everybody doing with their Christmas shopping? I'm so not done. The gifts I ordered online haven't arrived yet. I really really hope they get here before this Friday. For myself, I don't really need anything, so I didn't ask for much, just some cute knick-knacks, cute socks and inexpensive fashion jewelry 'cause you know I like cute little things that don't cost much money :D

I'd like to wish all you fabulous fashionistas a very
Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year!!
I hope you get everything you were wishing for and more, and your loved ones LOVE everything you got them too. But most importantly, I hope you have the most wonderful time with your family and friends and the most precious memories to hold dear to your heart!