Chopped Tsuey

2013-01-29T19:22:00.006-05:00

Prabal Gurung for Target coming February 10th.
Just in time for spring. I'm really digging the floral prints and neons.

Versace for H&M

2011-10-21T02:18:00.001-04:00

Who still wears Versace?? Did anyone ever? Well...I knew a few guys back in high school but I won't speak of them now. Here is the entire collection on fashionista.com. I don't really have anything against Versace, just that it still looks like its stuck in the 90s with their gaudy prints and douche bag shirts. The H&M version just makes it more affordable for you to achieve the Eurotrash look. Donatella even added in pink oxfords for the guys. Perfect for Perez Hilton. You would think the pieces alone would work somehow, but NO. They don't. Some of her dresses look okay, but she IS Versace, so of course there's lots shimmer, bedazzling and their signature border. Will they ever change? Do we want it to? On one hand, its an establishment that is so familiar its comforting to know that some things don't change. On the other they're unwilling to stray from their gaudy prints and colors, making them predictable. Which no one wants to be.

Bold Shoes

2011-10-06T17:08:00.002-04:00

Never one to shy away from a bold shoe, I had to share these Alexander Wang Metallic Loafer Pumps in PINK! Penny loafer heels were my favorite shoe to wear in the 90s. I wish I could have these for my wedding. But we are on a budget and I'm going to prove I can stick to it! I need to go dig up my old burgundy pair, cause I can't afford these.

This next pair is also bold and creepy. They remind me of a Tales from the dark side episode that scarred me so deeply I never wore my favorite pair of red mary janes again.

What was Prada thinking? It doesn't look as bad when its on the foot, then it just looks like flesh colored socks. But the flesh color just reminds me of a prosthetic. And the image of the severed dancing legs from that Darkside episode still haunts me...

Ethereal Gowns

2011-05-17T18:28:00.001-04:00

I'm really digging ethereal gowns that have chiffon layers and bodice detail.Fortunately V.Wang is always spot on with trends and never dissapoints. Her Spring 2012 was ethereal, elegant and detailed as always. I love that she gives so much attention to the back of the dress and makes it just as pretty if not better than the front.

This one is on my short list from Spring 2011

Derek Lam + eBay

2011-05-10T15:53:00.000-04:00

As you can see, Derek Lam has designed 5 dresses exclusively for sale on eBay. They are much cheaper than his own line, but the dresses are not obnoxiously high priced. Probably because of the fabrics used like polyester. Seems like eBay is jumping on the collaboration wagon. I myself love it. Only problem is you can't try it on. And you don't have to outbid someone else. Its all buy it now.

now would be the time to get that beauty gadget at Sephora

2011-04-18T21:25:00.000-04:00

Beauty And The Blog: It's That Time Again: 15% off for Our Beauty Insiders

Elie Saab 2011 S/S

2011-04-07T02:01:00.007-04:00

I'm sure they had Weddings in mind when they drew these up, even though they have a separate wedding gown line. This season's haute couture dresses are undeniably more beautiful than their wedding line. Fluid dresses with delicately draped overlays. This is why I haven't gone dress shopping yet, I want it all!! Notice the Asian girls in red, think they're trying to appeal to the Asians for weddings? Its worked on meee~ I'm ready to shun my custom made cheongsam for the flowing red one. I have already picked out what I would wear for each part of the wedding. OOoh wishful thinking.

Ceremony, I love the sheer layer for a lil extra coverage.

Chinese Ceremony, Just a touch of lace peeking out

Reception, SHINY

Day After Brunch, for a lazy Sunday

Okay maybe not for brunch, Its a bit excessive, but I would like to just wonder around in the flowing dresses. Somewhere windy...on a boat. I need to find someone with a boat...

Anyways, heres a few more of my faves and the runway vid if you want to see the dresses flow~~~

Their actual wedding design

Wedding Blogs

2011-03-30T23:31:00.000-04:00

Seems like everyone knows someone who is getting married~ so here are just a few blogs that I frequent for inspiration.

AustinWeddingBlog I read this one since we wanted our wedding in Austin, We heart Austin! The culture, the mood, the food trucks, and all the things to do there~ but we settled for Dallas.

Weddingchicks is a regularly updated blog that show cases vendors and real weddings. They also provide free templates for the DIY bride.

Bridalsnob is good if you're a visual bride or illiterate.

DIYBride for the obviously DIY bride. (What I'm aspiring to be)

Cost Helper tells you what others pay for their wedding.

Eggs, Bread, and a Wedding Dress

2011-03-05T01:12:00.000-05:00

Its no secret the wedding is a multi billion dollar industry. So it makes sense that everyone is trying to get their piece. Now what does every woman think of first when it comes to weddings? The dress. Maybe after the ring. And what kind of wedding dresses specifically? Vera Wang, and she has been tapping into the mass market through retailers like Kohl's, and now shes just revealed a more affordable line at David's Bridal. But when you think affordable you don't think of Vera. Well you probably don't think of the next retailer as affordable either but more economical? Costco. Yup, Costco got wedding dresses. They run 700-1400 which is not bad if you want a one stop shop for your wedding. Dress, check, rings, check, flowers, check, hors d'oeuvre, check. Oh and don't forget the honeymoon package! Imagine the cash you'd get back if you had the Costco Amex card

Dresssessssssss

2011-02-26T18:00:00.000-05:00

My friend kindly reminded me that I needed a wedding dress. So I dove back into dress hunting and found some lovely new dresses from Johanna Johnson, LOVE her glamorous Hollywood throwback dresses. She complements them with bejeweled veils and cuffs.

Sephora Hello Kitty and Tokidoki 2011

2011-01-31T19:05:00.000-05:00

The Hello Kitty Line finally came out and I have to say I'm very disappointed. It looks and feels cheap. I was hoping it would be as cute as like the Jill Stuart line but it looks like play make up for 10 year olds. After ordering almost one of everything, I ended up keeping only the nail polish. Definitely cute but it might not be worth the $10 for some people. The perfume bottle was extremely adorable but was $55 and smelled like a drug store generic. The eyeshadow palettes were predictable and not enticing enough to play with. Over all I guess my expectations for the Sephora Hello Kitty Line were too high.

But new Tokidoki is out! and its even cuter!!
They have a new character Siberia Brush, and palettes

Siberia Blush

Polpettina eyeshadow palette

Eyeshadow tin with stickers and nail file

Much much cuter than the Hello Kitty Line, I just hope they improve the HK line next season.

Tired of teaching your parents?

2010-12-23T12:43:00.000-05:00

Let google do it. Everytime I visit my parents I have to reteach my mother about email and browsers. This time google will do it for me. They have a site that is simple enough to use. With Teach parents tech you just check a series of boxes appropriate to your situation, and they send how-to videos about what your parents want to learn. I've just sent one to my mom, now I just have to wait till I see her to show her how to access her email and watch the video.

Hello Beauty

2010-12-13T16:19:00.001-05:00

Was just wandering if Sephora had any Hello Kitty products, and so a search on their site turned up this message indicating that they will have some soon. Yay! Hopefully its not too childish looking. But who am I kidding its Hello Kitty!

Lanvin for H&M

2010-11-02T15:57:00.002-04:00

I'm all for collaborations between designers, and H&M is notorious for theirs. This is one I actually like because H&M managed to make it still look like couture with out compromising Lanvin's designs. Lucky mag has a preview and a video.

Update:
The release day quickly approaches and you have to decide if you want to wait in line for a piece of Lanvin. I'm having 2nd thoughts since the H&M in DC will be opening at 8am tomorrow and I don't wake up at 8 for anyone. Last time I did that was for the Running of the Brides and that was a tremendous waste of time.

But I do have my eyes set on this skirt and that dress up top. The dresses are priced at 199 and 249. The skirt below is 59.95.

LANVIN FOR H&M. SEE THE FULL COLLECTION AT HM.COM

Hipsterburg NY

2010-09-21T12:50:00.000-04:00

Wandering around Willamsburg for the first time we came across the darling jewelry shop Catbird. They carry designs by independent artists. Most of their jewelry is quirky, cute, and delicate. I immediately fell in L O V E. I wanted everything! Tiny diamond rings, bunnies humping silver rings, and mini books with mini revolvers hidden in them. I didn't get anything that day but no worries, I can shop online at Catbirdnyc.com

Tokidoki Sephora bringing more cuteness to you

2010-09-13T20:54:00.000-04:00

Tokidoki is releasing more eyeshadow palettes, eye liners, and beauty tools all adorned with our favorite characters. Obviously available at your local Sephora and online.

Cynthia Rowley Dresses up Band-Aids

2010-09-07T14:49:00.000-04:00

Limited Edition Band-Aids designed by Cynthia Rowley and Housed in a classic metal tin.

One dollar from the sale of each tin will go to Design Ignites Change, an organization that engages high school and college students in design and architecture projects that address social issues in their own communities. You can get them online at www.cynthiarowley.com

Chinese paper cuts

2010-08-20T16:57:00.000-04:00

I finally started to get the hang of putting on false eyelashes so I've been on the look out for a good brand. So far I really like the soft eyelashes of Dolly Wink. But I just came across these falsies on Urban Outfitters beauty shop. Its Chinese Paper Cut-out inspired. I'm curious as to when would be the appropriate time to wear them. Halloween? New years? Chinese new years?

My 1st Digital Perm

2010-08-13T20:03:00.000-04:00

Having craved wavy locks for ages, I finally decided to get a perm after reading about digital perms. So its supposed to give you looser curls. I went to a Chinese beauty salon after looking up every salon in NOVA that had one. Most were Chinese or Korean salons and there was one American salon that charged 300! I paid $150 and that included a cut. First there was a wash, then a cut to thin out my hair. Now I have never gotten a perm ever so I dont know what these steps are called so I'm just gonna make em up. The 1st was some kind of conditioning with a hot rotating halo for 20 or so mins. Then the hair was rolled and hooked up to the digital perm machine for like 20mins. Then I sat under a blowdrying dome for 10mins. They then put a horseshoe shaped dish around my neck and rinsed the perm with a solution. Finally wash and blowdryed a bit. She insisted that my hair be air dried. And this is the result after air drying.

Here I'm nervous about the perms cause the rollers looked small.

I have to wait a week before I do any major styling, but I think I can get the big waves I want with blow drying. And then color! I'm leaning towards a dark caramel color but that may be too far on the blonde side. But then again its almost fall so I could do a red color. Decisions Decisions

Paul & Joe gets Catty

2010-07-31T00:58:00.003-04:00

I just got my Paul and Joe Beaute Fall Cat lipsticks! So so cute. I want it to meow or purr every time I twist the barrel. I also got the matching eye shadows just to have. The size is smaller than your typical tube of lipstick but the pussy cat makes up for that. You can get yours at your local Paul and Joe Cattery. I got mine at Bergdorf Goodman.

ROTB (Running Of The Brides)

2010-07-17T23:02:00.000-04:00

Filene's is having their annual Running of the Brides. You know the event where anxious crazy women line up to horde bridal gowns in the hopes of getting that perfect gown for their wedding day. Well one in my area is coming up on July 30th. And I don't have anyone to go with me. Everyone works on Friday! I'll just make one person take off and go with me. You know who you are. I don't care if your a guy! You're going!

Its gonna be tough. (start "Eye of the Tiger" tape now) I'm gonna have to hit the gym so I can carry the gowns, and load up on power bars so I don't get dizzy from hunger. And no coffee, cause there ain't no facilities to relieve yourself. Then study bridal mags to mesmerize what I want and get mentally focused. I'm gonna have to wear something that I can put a dress on over. Cause there are no dressing rooms or not enough. They say women just change in the aisles. I'm actually scared and excited at the same time. Hope I get a dress and not knock anyone out in the process. The eye of the Tigeeeer~ the eye of the Tigerrrrrerrrerrerer (stop tape)

Boater Hats

2010-07-17T20:32:00.010-04:00

Currently the accessory to have in your wardrobe. Boater hats you ask?? You mean the ones the GOP party goers wear at conventions? and the hats favored by Barbershop quartets? and, and the ones those Venetian canal singing-boat paddlers wear in Vegas? Yes.

Unfortunately they're hard to find here in the states. Its taken awhile to catch on. Marc Jacobs had them for his Spring 2009 line but that didn't last. So Tokyo has reignited the trend fast and furiously like all trends they embrace. So well probably be seeing more hats soon as the trend trickles down.

Fortunately for you I did some shopping for you. You're Welcome. Forever 21 has a black or tan one, and UO has a felt one, which I imagine wouldn't be wise to wear in this heat.

They're all over the Japanese fashion mags, and even on Gossip Girls. What you think? I like them, they remind me of the 90s when hats were really in. I'm also a lover of old movies, so I've always wanted one since seeing them on actor-dancer-singer Fred Astaire.

Check out Tokyofashion.com it shows the craze in Japan. In fact it shows girls going into the shops wearing boater hats just to get more boater hats. Its that hot.

Its Summer!! and that means shopping for Fall!!

2010-07-17T02:05:00.000-04:00

So you should check out your local shops and see if they have a pre-season sale going on. Like Nordstrom's does right now. They put all their new fall pieces on sale for a couple weeks. I just provided some of my favorite samples of this Fall's offering. You'll notice they're all jackets and coats. Cause that's all I usually shop for. Everything else under the jacket I'll just layer up.

Tibi Ritz Tweed coat
I love that its convertible. I feel I get more for my money.

And Tweed is a must for Fall.

This Burberry coat is a throw back to the 50s Big Baggy Coats that hid everything, but you know lurking under there were some curves. Also a timeless classic that will last generations.

Catherine Malandrino textured wool coat

Loveeee Oversized, coats with this one its all about the Ruffles.

Don't forget the boots! or booties.
Sam Edelman Torin Booties, Suede also a must for fall.

L.A. Food Trip

2010-07-11T04:06:00.000-04:00

So I was Pei's eating buddy on this food trip to LA. And I have to say I failed her. Her appetite has surpassed mine. Which is not saying much, since I eat a lot less now. But on this trip she managed to awe me with her endless appetite. So here are the pics of stuff we ate. I recommend clicking on them to see the food in all their macro glory~

Din Tai Fung

Better than when I had it in Taipei. But probably because we were ravenous from our plane ride.

Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen

Apparently we went to the wrong branch...it was average. I got the ramen with char-sui bowl. That's not char-sui btw~ thats just deep fried pork chunks. I was dissapointed.

Father's Office

Cozy lil bar with every man for himslef seating and order at the bar. Though we didnt get a chance to eat our burgers till they were cold, it was still good. So I imagine they would have been even better.

Daikokuya

BEST DAMN RAMEN EVER. E V E R . EEEEEEEVER!!

Do you see the long strips of succulent pork in there? Do YOU?!?! because that was the best part!

Sea Harbor Seafood

Super sized portions~ so we ordered what we would usually order in TX and it turned out to be too much because of the gigantic portions. Still it was good.

Duck House- No pics here cause we just met our friend's friends and were too embarrassed to act like tourist and bust out the cameras. But the Peking Duck was gooooooooooood.

Inbetween that we went to Laguna Beach to tan and burn. I like how efficient this boutique is.

Anime Expo to let out our inner child, and Club to get our drink on till 1:30 in the morning cause thats when last call is in LA apparently. Boo~ Checked out Ktown and Little Tokyo~ next time, I have to get my Korean BBQ on!

We must go back soon, the weather was pleasant as always, and the people were lovely.

Its about Time!

2010-07-11T00:27:00.000-04:00

Forget the Iphone 4, and Droid. My next phone is gonna be Hello Kitty~~ Someone has finally made a 3D Hello Kitty Head Shaped Phone! I've been waiting for well over 10 yrs now. But there are some design flaws, like when you open it and talk into it, the Face should be on your ear not upside down by your mouth =( I think it retails for about $11900NT = $370 US and comes in 4 colors. White, pink, fusia, and black. I'm not gonna deny that I want it. I WANT ALL FOUR! But I will settle for a black one to use and a Pink one to keep on ice. I'll have to remember to pick up one up in Taiwan when we go back. Taiwan is a hotbed for hello kitty phones. None have been worthy of high sticker price, but at least this one got the concept down. You can check Katoon's site, they got a video where its featured on some talk show.The light colored ones come with straps, earbuds and some other junk. While the black and fuscia one comes in a black makeup case, with strap and ear buds.

They also make a Doramon one~ ^-^*