Monday, March 31, 2008

Must Have Shoes and Sandals

One of my weaknesses are shoes (sandals). Whenever ever I like one, I'll never have the "inner peace" until I own it. It's funny because sometimes I tend to have nightmares about them.

I enjoyed the article posted on Net-A-Porter. It was entitled as "Sole Searching", an "IT" list of some must have shoes and sandals for women who are always on the go in terms of fashion. It also include some fashion tips and tricks on how to flaunt the shoes and sandals. Here they are:







Funny that a pair of really nice shoes make us feel good in our heads - at the extreme opposite end of our bodies. ~Levende Waters




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Kate Hudson's WildAid Photo Shoot in Africa

Last year, Kate Hudson teamed up with celebrity hairstylist David Babaii to endorse a new line of hair care and styling products, "David Babaii for Wild Aid". The products contain natural ingredients and are free of sulfates, chemical preservatives, animal products and animal testing.

This year, Kate and David had a photo session in Africa with the lions and will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the global wildlife conservation organization, WildAid. WildAid campaigns worldwide to end illegal wildlife trade, works with governments and communities to raise awareness and stop the buying of endangered wild animals and products.

Here's the sneak peek of the making of the new ad campaign in Africa. In this "In the Wild" photoshoot, the pair celebrated “the nature in beauty and the beauty in nature.”








Photo Source


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Peacock Pretties By Tricia Fix & More

Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might... have any of these peacock-inspired dresses by Tricia Fix, Milly and Hayden-Harnett.

You totally expected some peacock rhyme, right? Well, I am lazy, and nothing rhymes with peacock, so here are the dresses.


($275, Tricia Fix, Couturecandy.com)


($330, Tricia Fix, Couturecandy.com)


($259, Milly, Neiman Marcus)




Oh Hayden-Harnett. I just cain't quit you.

Bearded Confusion

Do you remember this chap from the sartorialist? Are we witnessing the comeback of the beard? Are razor sales about to plummet? If you can't be bothered to read the below post, I'll tell you...the answer is no...for the lazy readers out there, my conclusion is that the fashion of beards (like most fashions) is cyclical. Read on if you want to see and read about beards...


The reason for this post is that I came across two articles this weekend where the author declared the comeback of the beard! I wouldn't go as far as calling the emergence of a few celebrities sporting facial hair, alongside a small increase on the streets of London choosing to put down their razor. I also have to add that the week before in the Observer (I think) one columnist discussed the return of the freshly shaven look and went into great detail on how best to shave (more on this point later in the week!) so I am pretty confused to be honest...I don't know if I'm coming and going (whichever it is as I can't grow a beard myself so I will always be pretty clean shaven).. regardless of which particular razor standpoint is making a Rocky style comeback right this second I want to talk about beards with you now.

A bearded George Clooney one of a growing number of celebrities flirting with facial hair.

I can see Leitch's point where he says "Stubble was for pouting, knitwear-sporting continentals, while an unfettered facial flourishing was for ecological protestors and other antisocial elements" as in recent years facial hair has been up against it. How different from the Victorian era, when beards - a mark of wisdom, gravitas, moral rigour, imperial paternalism, you name it - were de rigueur in England. The emergence of a number of celebrities opting to grow bards has reassured the general public that it is again fine to put down that razor. No longer is the beard an object of feminine disgust, masculine ridicule and universal suspicion. That said in some circles full beards have been seen as an emblem of masculinity, an advertisement of one's importance, competence or integrity. Sir William Golding without his beard looked like an awkward chemistry teacher; with it, he was King Lear. An aged Sean Connery without facial hair would still be a good-looking man, but his pointy white chin makes him regal, noble, a grizzled knight worthy of respect.


This is the beard Bond would have grown had he retired from the service. Neat and tidy but not obsessively so, it has charm, maturity and manliness written all over it.
Facial hair comes in and out of fashion. It’s cyclical. Most men at some point in their life flirt with it. I am still waiting for my last push of puberty before I can ever dream about the possibility of growing a beard. In the meantime I will stay confused but will enjoy looking into the the wonderfully inspiring and slightly weird world of beard:

World Beard Championships, Beard Community, 10 Most inspiring beards of all time,
all about beards

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Sheer style or sheer madness?

I was fortunate to visit bStore yesterday and ventured downstairs into the basement to peruse through the delights on offer during their sample sale. I walked away with an unexpected buy...a sheer shirt by U - Handmade in England. Such a buy was far from my mind when I set off for the day (although I did want to get something from the label as I've been an admirer for some time) but I fell in love with it, in my mind it is one of the best buys I could make for the upcoming Summer season and what a bargain!

One of my favourite looks of the season - Jill Sander s/s 08

There can be little doubt that sheer clothes have strong connotations with femininity but recent menswear shows have explored sheer fabrics. Sheer popped up on a plethora of Spring/Summer menswear catwalks (Topman Design, Deryck Walker, Dries Van Noten) my personal favourite being the technical meshing of Jill Sander (as shown above)

Of course though, runway trends do not necessarily translate well into everyday wear. My advice would be to approach this trend with a little caution and subtlety but ultimately (as always) with confidence. Use sheer as a useful tool when layering - think of bright colours under sheer shirts/cardis/jackets or for a more subtle look sheer scarves layered to add texture and something different. Please see me modelling the shirt with a variety of colours, giving off different effects...
The recent issue of fashion156 is if by magic The Sheer Issue and the editorials within it demonstrate the myriad of ways of playing with sheer fabrics, as expected in womenswear but the boys are not forgotten! I will leave you with an image from the Man editorial...

Image from the recent fashion156 issue - The Sheer Issue - check it out if you can, the editorials are pretty awesome!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Pretty Actress: Kitty Zhang Yu Qi 张雨绮


Name:Zhang Yu Qi 张雨绮
English name: Kitty
Nationality: Chinese
Place of birth: China
Occupation: Actress
Height: 1.7m
Weight - 48kg
Measurements: 35D、24、35
Qualifications: Shanghai Drama school












Totally Sanitary Target Purchases: Gryson For Target

Pweeeease hurry up and let it be April 6th already! That's when the shopping herds can trample down upon the Gryson for Target capsule collection. These leather-esque bags look to be some of the nicest pieces I've seen in the GO International collections in quite a while.

A few of my faves:




In select Target stores from April 6 - June 21. More at the fabs FabSugar.com.

OH! And, AND, AND: next up: Botkier bags! WhutWhut!

Friday, March 28, 2008

More Evidence BK Target is GHETTO SQUARED

So I was trying on a few things in the Brooklyn Target just now, and I have to tell you what transpired. I was bringing in this item:



Xhilaration tie-dye bikini, $30, and the very nice Jamaican lady attendant told me that there had been "a problem" and I was not allowed to try on the bottoms. Shady, huh? So I tried on my stuff, and the bikini was great, by the way. On the way out I asked the lady if it was at all Targets or just this one that you couldn't try on bathing-suit bottoms, and she said just this one, and repeated the ominous phrase "there was a problem." I asked if someone had bled on them. She nodded sadly, and then there was a whole "aren't people disgusting" exchange. And then she added that it had happened more than once. WTF people? Who is so hard up for emergency swimwear that they have to do this? Gross. Just gross.

Anyway, here's what I "purchased" (that Christmas gift card was burning a hole in my wallet) in addition to the bikini:



Skinny patent-leather belt, $9.99 in store. Apparently I'm in a skinny belt mood these days, despite the fact that I'm not really a belt person at all.



Mossimo printed hoodie, $19.99. So cute.

Thanks Mom!

Spring time!

Click for bigger! Background found here

So Spring is here, even if it is colder now than it was in February (or at least feels that way). I always find in Spring that I'm suddenly aware of the new year and start really thinking about what to do with my life/year/wardrobe, but in an excited way, rather than the 'ohmygodit's2008whatthehellamIdoing' real new year way.

Of course, this is just my way of leading up to my Spring 'if I was a boy' wishlist/inspiration boards. I realise that I'm doing a lot of inspiration board type things at the moment but... well, it's been raining pretty much constantly for a week and it doesn't look like stopping so these have been a welcome distraction. So here we go:

1. This chap, courtesy of the Sartorialist, I'm sure you must've seen... he's wonderful. If I were you I'd be scouring second hand shops for a similar jacket and swearing off skinny jeans and trousers forever.

2. Umbrella from Fulton Umbrellas. I would've thought this was a pretty obvious one. This is tiny and would probably fit in the pockets of a decent sized overcoat, or in that manbag you should be carrying. I know some men don't like carrying umbrellas (more on that at a later date) but frankly, if it's pouring down with rain it's better to carry an umbrella than to get soaked.

3. Slim wallet from QuietDoing (another Etsy find!). I've never been one to have a 'long term' wallet. You know what I mean: leather, expensive, faaaahbulous stichwork. So Spring is the right time for me to get a new, fun wallet and mix it up a bit with my accessories. Plus you've been carrying that hideous wallet you got for Christmas for 3 months now, you're not obliged to use it any more.

4. Adidas Grey Marl trainers. I know, I know, get over the Adidas already but I really like these. The look really fresh and I think you could dress them up a bit or just wear them with jeans. Plus, I'm blatently going to get them as soon as they're in the sale.

5. Another Sartorialist chap. Aside from the fact that this man is godDAMN gorgeous, I really love this look. His shirt is absolutely fantastic; the little flecks of colour in it look fantastic against the plainness of his coat... and what a coat! Also, if someone could arrange for me to have his hair, that would be great.

6. Mjolk Stone trench coat, for obvious reasons. Trench coats are everywhere at the moment, but I especially like this one which is part of Topman's new season LENS collection.

7. Blue Fairtrade cotton hoody. This is a bit of an odd one out, but I love the colour, it's in the sale and I love the buttons. Plus it's Fairtrade if you're bothered about that sort of thing.

8. Engineered Garments Overnighter bag. I know it's a bit pricey, but it's also beautiful, and handy if you go visiting a lot.

9. Silver Converse. I could say I'm influenced by the Converse worn by 1., I could say I'm influenced by the reflections in the puddles, but really I just like shiny things. I'm a simple soul.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

World’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities by PETA and Maxim

After tens of thousands of votes have been counted, PETA announced that Kevin Eubanks has been voted PETA’s World’s Sexiest Vegetarian man for 2007, while American Idol superstar Carrie Underwood was voted World’s Sexiest Vegetarian woman. The runners-up includeKristen Bell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Ausiello, and Jared Leto.






If PETA´s got their list, Maxim magazine got theirs also. Natalie Portman has topped Maxim Magazine’s list of Top Ten Sexiest Vegetarians and beat out Rachel Leigh Cook, Joss Stone, Sophie Monk, Alyssa Milano, Avril Lavigne, Petra Nemcova, and Pamela Anderson.






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