Fashion Babble

2008-04-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been posting recently, sorry. :) I've been very busy, but recently, my holiday to the US has inspired me to do a post.

when I was in Vegas, walking around sightseeing in the casinos, I walked into the Bellagio's shopping area. saw Prada, and decided to take a look. no harm in that right?

I wish.

took a short walk around the place, and BAM! it hit me.

the Prada Tessuto Fiocco Bow Clutch.
I know it's not this season's bag, but who cares? the bow, the colours, the shape! genius. it was so gorgeous, I would have run out with it if I had my way. stood gaping at it till the shopkeeper asked if I wanted to see it. it's small, compact and made out of nylon. it felt like expensive nylon, not like LeSportsac. (not like that's cheap though) they only thing that bothered me was that the strap is long, so it sits at your waist. I prefer it being under my arm. not only that, the bow on it isn't just a decoration, you can slip your hand through it and carry it like a clutch. Beauty AND brains.

anyway, I was oohing and aahing, asking my mum if I could buy it (it cost $535 without tax!) but no avail. siiigh. it looked so good with my dress, and there is was in turquoise, black, white and pink. there are more colours like coral, aqua marine and aluminium.
well, I'm planning on saving for it and buying it for my birthday next year.

TRY TO STOP ME.

I'm googling Prada bags now, and I came across this bag.

the Prada Tessuto Fiocco Tote
yeah, it's in the same family as my dream Bow Clutch, but it's roomier, and there's a bow too! I love the crimson colour, so rich and deep. it's not that much more expensive than the Bow Clutch at $595, so I think this'll be more of a better buy. too bad I didn't see it in that Prada store.

so what do you think of the bags? I adore them :)

You're Nobody till You've Been Talked About;

2008-02-09T23:30:00.000-08:00

I don't think there's a person who hasn't been swept up in the Gossip Girl whirl. the clothes in the shows are just fabulous, even for the guys. don't we all wish we could have guy friends who wear khakis and blazers all year 'round?

here's a simple guide on how to dress like your favourite GG star;

comfy yet chic dress from Milly, the prints are so bright and vibrant! very classy with an oomph. looks great with those stark white shades :)

dress by Phillip Lim 5.1 studded with Swavroski crystals will set you back $650 at Barneys Coop. just so you know, Blair wore it in episode 5. my favourite by far

Serena looking serene (ha ha) in this pretty and flattering dress by Vena Cava for Spring 2007.

picture credits: shopdiary

Charmed, I'm sure.

2008-01-29T01:54:00.000-08:00

charm bracelets are can come in many different forms, from designer to cheap and chic, huge to tiny, pretty to drop dead gorgeous. a need for the fashionable teen to the affluent adult. today I'm review the designer charm bracelet with huge charms and is drop dead gorgeous. :) I'm talking than no other than Juicy Couture's charm bracelets.

Juicy Couture Jetest Charm Bracelet

who can resist a charm bracelet which has the classic red English telephone box and an Eiffel Tower on it? also has other iconic landmarks such as the Hollywood Star. everything blends in beautifully. :) a must for avid holiday makers
PROS: 10 charms!
CONS: charms not detatchable.

Juicy Couture Cupcake Charm Bracelet

I am usually a sucker for anything cupcake, and pair that with Juicy Couture, you'd think I'd be over the moon right? wrong. eventhough I love the cupcake charm, I really do not like the other two heart shaped charms on the sides. one reads EAT CANDY (pink one) and the other reads Juicy. also a huge fan of bows but it doesn't work here. it's a very tween bracelet for me, it'll be a crime for anyone over 11 to wear it.
PROS: cupcake!
CONS: charms not detatchable, kiddish

Juicy Couture "Charmed I'm Sure" Bracelet Watch

if you want a piece of Vegas without breaking the bank, get this bracelet watch. with the cute roulette table cum timepiece, dice and chip, it's casino-friendly and available to teens everywhere
PROS: charm bracelet AND watch altogether!
CONS: silver tarnishes

Juicy Couture Sweet Shoppe

14-karat gold plaited sweet treats, yum! it all looks so delicious, minus the calories! from a gorgeous piece of cake to a Swarovski® studded strawberry, where can you go wrong? packaging looks delicios too.
PROS: tasty!
CONS: pricey for six charms

Juicy Couture Antique Faces Charm Bracelet

oh, how vintage! look the part with this old looking bracelet, with old coins, a pearl and other intricate charms. very Mary-Kate and Ashley.
PROS: different
CONS: not detachable, clustered

Juicy Couture "Class of '07" Charm Bracelet

a fresh graduate? ease yourself into college with this pretty graduation charm bracelet! everything on it oozes GRADUATION :)
PROS: classy
CON: not detatchable

Runway Accessories

2008-01-24T21:43:00.000-08:00

without good accessories, the whole outfit would be ruined. here's Viktor and Rolf Spring 2008 range

makeup's fresh and clean, with the look concerntrating on the lips. love the rosy pink sheer shade. it feels like they have an old-fashioned theme for the makeup.

the pom-poms on the edge of the shoe makes it more playful, and the peep-toe is so cute! love the pale pink colour and the contrast of the heel.

this black one looks more serious with the colouring and the cutting.

the details are perfect, the lace looks gorgeous with the black cris-crosses. sexy yet romantic.

the pale pink makes it look more innocent that it really is, good idea!

a glam looking, nicely porpotioned clutch with the simple chain around it. like the pale gold colouring too.

and to conclude this post, I was thinking, "who would actually wear something from the Fall 2007 V&R runway show? sure it looks good on the runway, but in real life?!"

looks like Roisin Murphy took the 'ready-to-wear' phrase too seriously. she even wore the clogs! death wish or fashion forward? you tell me.

Runway Work

2008-01-24T00:56:00.000-08:00

FALL 2007
Viktor & Rolf's Fall 2007 runway show is the only runway show that literally makes me go wow. how can you not admire them when they added huge steel lights as part of the clothes? apart from it looking like it weighs a ton, they had to wear those chunky, rather ugly brightly coloured clogs. the lights brought direct focus to the clothes, which I find smart. but the clothes were nothing really special (save for a certain some)

the runway show was widely criticized because of the work the models had to go through, and I wouldn't want to be the one on the runway wearing sky-high clogs. but hey, it's different and new. see it for yourself

this piece looks very suitable for work, with the cozy looking top and the neutral coloured skirt.

another casual looking piece-the dullness of the top and the skirt really brings out the red. like the contrast with the clogs too.

I would wear this piece! looks so chic and warm yet light-weight, perfect for cold nights out.

looks like it's from the Victorian era, with the material and the cutting. like the way they made it younger by adding a skinny black belt.

another Victorian looking one. I don't like the material, it looks like the wallpaper of the Queen's room. I like the way it's clinched to the side, a very bias cut. but a very grandmother-y dress all and all.

love the dramatic deep crimson, the huge neckline and the cute. the red choker completes the outfit. lighting on the dress is makes it look almost perfect.

this is probably the most dramatic piece of the collection. she looks like an dreamy angel. the white fabric on the back is (thankfully) connected to the dress, so it doesn't look like a bedsheet.

my favourite piece. what's a dress without bows? love the way the ribbon is draped on the light, and the drapes on the top of the dress is heavenly. very light, satin-y look to the dress. absolutely gorgeous.

SPRING 2008
Viktor & Rolf's latest runway show can't be any more different to the last one (above). this collection is in pretty shades of white, cream, and pink with touches of black. very classy and pretty. dramatic dresses and violin accessories on the other hand was in the collection to make it edgier. some pieces are to-die-for, and others are, well, clownish.

don't a fan of long flowly pants (as in the first two pictures) but the second one looks good. like a reinvented suit for women. like the last one best cause it looks like what a high society horse riding person would don. chic yet practical.

these dresses look good enough to eat, with the creamy colouring, the ruffles and the simplicity. I love the center one, looks like a tiered wedding cake. the last one reminds me of Zac Posen somehow..

these look oh so wrong! I don't get how they fit in the collection of classy, dreamy and clean clothes. the first one looks like it was constructed by a bad Galliano. the second looks like she was dressed by a violin-loving recluse. the third one looks good execpt for the violins littering the botton. cringe worthy.

these few pieces are nice, given, but bland. the silhouette in the first one looks very familiar. the tiered-wedding-cake-like dress looks bad long, she looks like a human cloth stand. the last one is so stark, it hurts my eyes.

these ones look alot better than the top two, thank goodness. love the pale romantic pink. the first one looks like a trench coat and dress combination. looks different. love the bag and dress in the second one and the huge bolero gives it volume. the third is classic and comfy looking. very sleek, all of them.

the best part about Viktor & Rolf's latest collection? the details.

image credit; Style.com

Balenciaga's Gladiators are taking everyone down.

2008-01-23T00:09:00.000-08:00

there's been alot of talk on Balenciaga's Gladiator Boots for some time. some people love it, some loathe it, and I actually really like them.
they're edgy and sleek, and I've seen them in loads of fashion editorials cause they just jump out at you. this is probably the one shoe (or boot) that can overshadow your clothes. not to mention that they look oh so intricately made.

they come in 5 different colors, and I like the the black and white one best.

problems with these boots:

1) everyone would stare when you wear these out- there's not one occasion that I can think of that requires footwear like that. maybe in Rome?
2) you have to have model-like legs to pull these off. or else your legs would look like a strangled animal in a cage. not a very pretty sight.
3) and what kind of outfit can actually go with gladiator boots? gladiator garments don't count. I'm thinking a LBD (read: very short one) with minimal accessories.

but I have to say, those boots look good with the clothes on the runway

the puffy sleeves and the hip-widening part of the dress is really nice to look at. I like how the fabric doesn't really match the boots, which makes it even better to look at. this type of dress combined with any other boot/shoe would look weird and they did a good job by pushing the boundaries

this simple sleek outfit really does a good job of letting the boots take center stage. it looks tailored and futuristic which isn't as in-your-face as the one above. the only thing I have a problem with is the tailoring on the chest. it's the first thing your eyes go for cause everything is so smooth until BAM! you hit that part.

and now for the use of Balenciaga Gladiator Boots in magazines aka eye candyy:

Elle, February 2008
really dislike her glasses. it's like what Ozzy Ozbourne would wear.

Vogue UK, Feb 2008
I think Daria looks heavenly in this one-it's fab what lighting and choice of backdrop can do.

(sorry, don't know which magazine it's from)
Sasha looks like the poster girl for Balenciaga. she looks dreamy and so feminine in this shoot. love the imperial looking background too.

and for the most disappointing part of the gorgeous Balenciaga boots?

yes, it's Balenciaga's very own advertistment. Jennifer Connelly fails big time in this shot. her left leg does not do justice for the gorgeous boot-it looks like rubber. and her posing is just plain weird. they should have stuck with a real model such as Daria or Sasha.

but Balenciaga, I still love your boots!

credit to the people who own the images :)

the art of cupcakes: Part Two

2008-01-22T00:05:00.000-08:00

cosmetics are really important. do you remember the time when you were stuck on a date with this boring guy, and the only means of occupying yourself came from liplgoss application? or a juicy shade of lipgloss to complete your look? or the right amount of 'ooomph' that you can only get from a fragrance?

but what happens when you combine something super sweet like cupcakes with something very important like cosmetics?

you get a whole new line of deliciously cute cosmetics.

Natural Products: Mini Cupcake Lipgloss

I've seen these yummy pots of lipgloss being sold at $3 each online, but the only place I know that absolutely has them is Kitson. and they don't come in cheap either at $18 for a box of four. I have two out of the four (my best friend bought them at Kitson and gave me two) and they are SO cute. the lipgloss on the other hand, is very, eew. low quality and sickly sweet scents. only splurge if you really love cupcakes and liplgoss.

Jessica Simpson Dessert Treats Fragrance in Cupcake

the cupcake on the top of the bottle looks pretty. everything else on the other hand... it's just too pink, (who would eat those poisonous looking super pink cupcakes?) everything from the bottle to the background. even pink sugar on the ground! and I always have a feeling that fragrances like this would smell sickly sweet, like melted cupcakes on you. a bit too much, don't you think? props to the idea, just not the way it was marketed (and probably how it smells too)

Miso Pretty- Iced Cupcake Lipgloss

I love the brand name: Miso Pretty. it's so catchy and makes me think of yummy miso soup. not too sure about the product name though, 'Iced Cupcake'. isn't an un-iced cupcake a muffin? so calling it 'Iced Cupcake' is an oxymoron. or maybe I'm mistaken, but I'm pretty sure it's should be just 'Cupcake' or 'Iced Muffin'. :) the packaging looks pretty well, cheap to me (too kiddy-ish) and I really dislike lipglosses like that-all watery and clear. my Sephora Girls Strawberry lipgloss had this kind of texture (or lack thereof) and it was fake tasting and yucky. can't really judge if I haven't tried this one though. $12

cupcake cosmetics are pretty limited, and I only found these and one other one (Cupcake Cult @ Hottopic) which wasn't really impressive. so overall the only thing that was really 'cupcake worthy' to me is the four pots of lipgloss one. so far, I think the real butter-and-sugar cupcake still reigns over the artificial scented ones.

the art of cupcakes.

2008-01-21T01:21:00.000-08:00

my mum's convinced that cupcakes are just a fad, a passing trend. I beg to differ, since I believe that the cupcake 'phase' isn't a phase, it's a lifestyle. I'm not obsessed, I prefer the word dedicated. what do cupcakes (besides being sweet and pretty) have to do with being associated with such a big word-lifestyle?

Fashion:
have you seen a piece of clothing that reminded you of a cupcake? it might be the bright colors on a dull base, or it might be the flow of chiffon or the details on the lace. so go on, take a risk and indulge in these gorgeous creations-plus they're free of calories!

Louis Vuitton

Matthew Williamson

Valentino

Jonathan Sanders

Tickled Pink

Dream Cream

Sunshine Lemon

Ore-Oh!

any resemblance, hmm?

Part two: makeup

due tomorrow :)

btw, I baked those cupcakes with the help of my cousin. all by ourselves!

of candy and lipglosses

2008-01-20T00:56:00.000-08:00

little girls love recieving candy. big girls on the other hand, adore receiving lipgloss. it doesn't matter if you don't need 15 tubes of lipgloss when you only have a pair of lips, or buying and hoarding tons of candy when you know you're never going to finish it all. there is only a small difference between candy and lipgloss:
♥ both lipglosses and candy come in loads of colors and flavours
♥ they both come in cute packages
♥ a sure way to make people (fine, only girls) happy.

and the one point to make everyone like lipglosses more than candy:
♥ lipglosses don't have any CALORIES! :)

today's topic is on lipglosses, and I'm going to review most of the lipglosses I have and the ones I want.

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lipgloss in Slice of Heaven

it seems that they've changed the name of Slice of Heaven to Piece of Cake. oh well, I've got the earlier one, and I personally think Slice of Heaven is a more appealing name. I got it from my mum's friend as a gift (they don't sell VS stuff here) and it smells really nice. :) like cupcake with thick icing. I wouldn't consider this lip gloss, but rather lip frosting, since it reminds me alot of the icing you put onto cupcakes- it's sticky and sweet (both the taste and smell) it's not the stickiest lipgloss I've used, but it's pretty sticky. I find the tube a little big too. 13g for lipgloss? I'll never use the whole thing up, such a waste. $7 at Victoria's Secret
PROS: reminds me of cupcake icing, yum!
CONS: too big!

Bobbie Brown Shimmering Tube Tints (mini)

I don't have those colors, but they're the same size and all. I have Glow Shimmer which is a cream colour, Dusk Shimmer is like the darkest one above but without so much shimmer and ligher, and Bare Shimmer which looks like tanning lotion color. they have this subtle peppermint smell which can not be tasted. a shame for me, but people wouldn't be crazy since peppermint reminds many people of toothpaste. the colors are nice, but a little too old for me. I didn't buy them, my aunt gave them to me, and I think Bobbi Brown is more for older women (35+) than people like me. not too sticky, but stickier than the Victoria's Secret one. the only thing that stands out to me is the size: it's small enough to put into a small handbag or even your pocket! $28 (set of four) at Bobbi Brown
PROS: small and cute
CONS: pricey for something usual.

Clinique Glosswear for Lips in Whisper

they don't seem to sell the shade Whisper anymore, which is such a shame. it's one of my favourite shades, since it's very shimmery with a very faint hint of light pink. I really like the packaging since it's really thin and small. one of my first few 'designer' lipglosses, I remember using it loads! it's the only lipgloss of mine that has reached half of the casing. I didn't even buy it, it came with the 3 step starter kit I bought ages ago. it has no scent or taste whatsover, and it's the stickiest lipgloss I have! too sticky, made me talk like I had paste on them. not one I would buy again. $13.50 at Clinique
PROS: pretty shade, small casing
CONS: too sticky, not worth the price

Squeezy Lip Smacker in Pink Lemonade

I didn't buy this myself (since they DO NOT sell Lip Smackers here) and practically 'stole' it from my friend who bought loads from the US. :) I refused to give it back and so it's mine now. it's my favourite lipgloss. everything about it is good. it smells exactly like what lemonade should smell like, without the fake chemical smell and all. it also tastes like lemonade! it reminds me of what the Snapple Pink Lemonade drink tastes like. yummyy. the tip is a slanted one, so it makes applicating effortless. the tube itself is cute and sold in bright attractive colors. loads of other flavors are sold such as Strawberry Limeade, Watermelon, Blue Raspberry etc. it's really high shine, and the only thing I don't like is the lack of color. but I guess it's for kids, and color would make it too 'grown-up'. to make up for the lack of color is the high shine. all the better for us, as we can layer it on top of designer lipglosses, giving it the yummy lemonade touch. it's also the most moisturizing of the lot. it's really affordable too! :) $3 at Lip Smackers
PROS: scent and taste
CONS: no color

Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Silk Fuchsia

got it for my Christmas present from my cousin (thanks again!) and boy, was I pleased! it was like getting candy you never thought you'd get. Silk Fuchsia is slightly too bright for my taste, but that's okay since I don't have a color like that. it's shimmer-y and not sticky. the thing that impressed me most when I opened it up (the Dior embossed wrapping paper was a nice touch too) was the casing. it's solid and sturdy, and when you closed the top, it gives this nice 'click' sound. very impressive. plus the DIOR letters on the bottle, with a slight margin between gloss and edge of casing looks very classy. the only thing is that when I use it is that I feel like we're paying for the casing, not the gloss. but I'm not complaining, using it makes me feel, well, classy. oh, and it says that the lipgloss plumps your lips too. won't know much about that since my lips are pretty plump already, haha. $25 at Dior
PROS: gorgeous packaging
CONS: gloss is nothing to shout about

done with the lipgloss reviews :) and now it's on to the lipgloss wishlist:

YSL Beaute Lip Twins Duo

the packaging is so genius! the YSL brush stick doubles as a key, and there are three panels to choose from: the two different shades and the mirror. it looks so classy, it rivals the Dior one above! it feels really gadget-y, it's something a female Indiana Jones would have in her pocket. the name, on the other hand, doesn't roll off your tongue easily. I would definately buy it, but the price is steep. besides, what if you lose the lip-brush-cum-key? or it breaks? or the tube jams? my Christmas pressie people! :D $30 at YSL

Rimmel Light Beam Lipgloss

looks simple enough right? wrong. this lipgloss comes with it's very own light! a little bulb is embedded in the bottom part of the cover, and once you press a button-waaa laaah! easy application, even in the darkest ally (not that anyone would want to do) they say the gloss itself isn't anything to shout about (read reviews online), this is one liplgoss where people pay for the casing, not the gloss. looks like the female Indiana Jones has another thing to stuff in her pocket! and at this price, it's pretty affordable. $11 at Rimmel.

pilot post: hairbands

2008-01-19T00:47:00.000-08:00

let me get right to the point: hairbands.

let me get this straight- I've always liked hairbands. they don't really serve a purpose (since I don't pull my hair back along with it) and it kinda hurt after awhile, but they look really chic and cute, and it works well with hair that's long and short. but my passion for them kinda died after a few months, until....
watching Blair in Gossip Girl don hairbands in every episode! I realized that it doesn't matter if they hurt or not, wear them! she completes every outfit she wears with those gorgeous hairbands.

this blood red hairband looks great with her dark hair, and has this really 'preppy' feeling to it. I adore it! it'll look good with a LBD or a plain jeans and tee combo.

I would have liked a more similar looking one to the red one Blair has, but I couldn't find anything like that unfortunately. this is one of the closest I could find. $13 at Blooming Bows
Blooming Bows

this is by far my favourite hairband of Blair's. it has an old fashion feel, with all those colors. and the neat little wrap at the top is perfect. combined with the loose waves of her hair, this combination is a clear winner

not exactly the same, but it has the same tri color combination and the cute wrap on the top. it's a little pricey at $75 and it wouldn't really stand out if you have brown/black hair, but it comes in several other combinations (unfortunately, no green/gold/red like Blair's) $75 Jennifer Ouellette
Barneys

Blair pairs this hairband with a comfy looking yet classy dress, and the hairband blends in perfectly, not overshining her outfit. perfect for a sleepover.

I really like the bow on the side, and I think it's affordable too. not the same champaign-y color though :( $22 at Evita Peroni
Hair Boutique

credit to the owners of the pictures.

there, I'm already done with my first post on Fashion Babble (: comments, anyone?