Tag Archives: fashion

Weekend Acquisition

Colette in black satin – Loeffler Randall

We went to Las Americas Premium Outlet again this weekend.  Deon got a few things at the Nike outlet, but we didn’t find anything for Dominic.  I made a point to stop by Coach to use my 20% off coupon.  I couldn’t decide on what I wanted, so I’ll go back again next weekend.  However, I did find something very cool at Neiman Marcus’ Last Call yet again.  

I know this pair are from a couple of seasons ago, but that’s ok.  The ruffle detail is still very current, and will dress up any outfit.  I bought a few pairs when they had their Go International line at Target and I truly like their style.  They are Colette black satin shoes by Loeffler Randall.  

I almost bought them when they were half off and I decided to wait.   Originally, they are about $425.  With all of the discounts from the sale that I posted a few days ago (“Last Call Does it Again“), I was able to get them for $57!  

Bargains are out there my friends, but you do have to do quite a bit of searching.  Just remember to check if your shopping buddies are willing to stay for the hunt (and make sure there is food close by)!

Poetic Licence

Good Vibrations - Poetic Licence

Aren’t these shoes adorable?  I bought them during the “Sex and the City 2” spa day (see the Girlie Stuff entry).  After my spa treatment and while the other gals were getting their treatments, I went shopping.  I initially saw the shoes at Nordstrom, where they were originally $98, but on sale for about $69.  Since we were getting ready to head to lunch, I said that I would come back for them at some point during the day.  

We then went to the movie theater, and in that same strip mall was a Marshalls.  I found the same exact shoes on sale for $29.  I snapped them up in a jiffy!  

The shoes are called “Good Vibrations” from Poetic Licence London.  They are ultra feminine plaid peep-toe pumps with cute floral details.  Leave it to me to find a UK brand without even trying!  The company launched in 2005 and can be found in stores everywhere.  They run about a half size larger than you’re used to.  I’m normally an 8.5 in heels, and I had to get an 8 in these.  

They look great on, and even their regular prices are still hard to beat for these fun shoes.  Try a pair on and I’m sure you’ll fall in love like I did.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

I’m always checking out fashion websites for things that are a little quirky, yet ultra cool.  Here are a few of sites that I visit often:   

Studded Ballet Slippers – Bona Drag

Bona Drag – I found this site through Lucky Magazine.  My favorite items from this site are the studded ballet slippers and the $95 leather motorcycle jacket (YES, that is the price).  Who cares if it’s “cheap leather” as in the description, it’s still leather, right?  

Plumo – Again, the wanna be Brit in me is always drawn to the UK sites.  I purchased a very cute dress on sale from this site, so you should definitely check out their most current clearance sale.  Keep in mind that sizes may be in UK measurements, so use the newly added link above to check the most appropriate size for you.  

Caro London – Another UK site.  But the reason I went to this site is because the dress I bought from Plumo.com came from Caro London.  I ended up finding another color and print in the dress I originally bought and found other beautiful items that I liked as well, like nightwear, robes, accessories, decorations and children’s clothing.  They even have cotton or waterproof printed shower caps.  Their sale section is also good, and their prices drop significantly.  

Blue Vintage Dot & Floral Bib Dress - Caro London

ASOS – I’m a very big fan of Topshop.  At the launch of their US store in NYC, they also updated their prices to include US dollars.  This meant that the prices were no longer subject to exchange rates!  If you pay attention to the fluctuating rate of currency, sometimes the British Pound is up, and sometimes it’s down a little.  ASOS is a great site with tons of current fashion (they have sales often), but their prices convert to US dollars, meaning that they don’t have separate prices for us Yanks.   Plus, their shipping has changed to a flat rate of $6 (before, it depended on international postal rates).  Parents: they have a great children’s clothing section.   

Topshop – I mentioned how much I love this store and I still do, even if their online shop updated their site to include US prices.  Nevertheless, I can’t resist their true British style and fantastic shoes.  Although I’ve been to the SoHo location in NYC, I much prefer their Oxford Circus location in London.  Granted, the last time I was in London, I was 5 months pregnant.  Did that stop me?  Not when they have a maternity section!  That maternity dress I bought is so stylish that I can still wear it today by cinching the ties a little tighter in the back.  

Just a few sites to check out when you have time.  I guess when it comes to shopping, doesn’t everyone?

Razzle Zazzle

Mei-Lin and her mama

I’m definitely one for making gifts rather than buying them, but sometimes the time and energy is just a bit much.  Still, I enjoy the satisfaction of giving something of my own design and creativity.

For Mother’s day this year, I designed a t-shirt for my sister on Zazzle.com.  I didn’t want to make the typical picture on a shirt design, so I “rocked” it up a bit by choosing a baseball style shirt, used a black & white version of a picture I took of my niece and added “Mum says I ROCK!” for more of that Brit flair.

I was very happy with the result!  I have one that I made of my son as well (I’ll post it later).  I took a picture and submitted it to Zazzle’s blog to get a coupon on my next purchase (my mom wants one, too), and I received an email that they would post it to their site at some point.  Click on the picture on the left to be taken to their blog and you’ll see my sister and her daughter on Zazzle’s website (you have to scroll down a bit to the July 2 entry, under “Foto Friday”).

(Isn’t my niece cute?  She definitely knows how to pose for the camera.  Believe it or not, I didn’t teach her that.)

Photo by Cyrillynn Chen

Last Call Does it Again

50% off all color stamped clearance

 

Neiman Marcus’ Last Call has yet another sale!  Check the flier for more details.

I’m hoping that this means it’s an additional 50% off after the color stamped percentage off.

I guess I’ll just have to go to the sale to find out…

 

Channeling Angus Young

H&M shirt with tie, Circo shorts (Target), Baby Gap hat, Converse sneakers

While we were in Las Vegas (where my husband grew up), grandma got Dominic a little shirt with a tie from H&M, so I took it a step further.  He was going to audition for AC/DC, but decided to have a snack first.  Priorities, man.

If you haven’t visited H&M’s kids section, you should.  For the price, you can get your kid miles of style.

Net-A-Poseur

Never Mind The Bollocks skirt from Idil Vice

Ever since my teens throughout the eighties, I have made sure that I could never be considered a poseur.  Even now, I would hate for someone to think that I was trying to be something that I’m not, just to fit in.  I’ve always prided myself on the fact that I am unique and that my tastes are that of my own and the influence was directly from the source and not because I was needing acceptance into a group or by an individual.

I had a discussion with my husband about concerts and bands that we’ve seen throughout the years.  I really like tour shirts, and my inner punk rocker enjoys mixing in these shirts with my regular wardrobe.  There is a designer named Idil Vice who does a great job of giving an alternative to the musical t-shirt by making dresses, skirts and jackets of bands and artists that I love.  I have my eye on a Depeche Mode dress, Joy Division and Sex Pistols skirt.

In my discussion with my husband, I mentioned that I just can’t wear a shirt of a band or artist I haven’t actually seen in concert.  He says that it shouldn’t matter, that if you like a band then you should be able to wear their shirt.  But when someone says “Cool shirt, have you seen them in concert?”  I would feel like a complete poseur if I said “No, but the shirt is cool…”

As justification, I’ve come up with “work-arounds” for the shirts I have of artists and bands that I’ve seen in some incarnation (solo or group).  Here is a list so far:

1.  Joy Division – I have 3 shirts that I wear proudly.  Although I was too young, not living in England during their initial rise, and had no way to see them because of Ian Curtis’ suicide, I wear them because I have seen New Order in concert.   New Order is essentially Joy Division with Bernard Sumner as the singer, right?  Yes.

2.  Sex Pistols – I have seen PiL in concert, for which Johnny Rotten is the singer.  He was in Sex Pistols, so I can wear their shirt should I choose to do so.  I don’t have one yet, but now that I have made that justification, I will now wear one.

3.  Bjork – I saw The Sugarcubes in concert, for which she was the singer for before venturing into her solo career.  Enough said.

I make these mental justifications so that I can escape being a poseur.  Now if I can just come up with a work-around for The Beatles shirt I have…

Girlie Stuff

I’m typing from my kitchen eating chocolate covered bacon (my sister picked it up for me at the San Diego Fair…so healthy!), “Olivia” from Nick Jr. is playing in the background as my son and niece are arguing because he “spit on me”.  My son loves to terrorize my girlie little niece.  

Speaking of things girlie, here are a couple of things that I like right now: one is 2 years “vintage” and the other I bought about a month ago when I went to see SATC2. 

So I went to SATC2 (Sex and the City 2 for the novices) with my cousin and my best friend.  We made a day of it: Spa, lunch, shopping, the movie, dinner and drinks.  We all got prettied up for the day, so I bought these shoes to complete my outfit.  They are much more comfortable than they appear, and they do look great on.  Such a great color for the summer. 

Corlette wedges from Aldo

My other favorite thing right now is something I found in my purse.  I’ve had it for about 2 years, and I bought it from her store in Las Vegas.  It’s from Anya Hindmarch and it’s a perfect little wallet/mini clutch purse.  It’s a very light metallic gold leather, and anytime I take it out, I get compliments galore. 

Girlie Stuff purse by Anya Hindmarch

We are off to Las Vegas tomorrow for the 4th of July weekend.  On Saturday, my husband and I are going to Mesquite for a “mini-break”.  Dominic will stay with the grandparents.  I’m getting a spa treatment and pedicure (thank you honey!) while he plays golf during the day.  Then we’ll relax at night with drinks and dinner along with a stay at a hotel before heading back to his parents for 4th of July (we can buy fireworks in Nevada, so we plan to shoot off our own again).  

I hope to do a little shopping at the Fashion Outlet at Primm Valley on the way back home on Monday (they have the only Burberry outlet in the West Coast).  If I know my husband, we’ll also be making a stop at Jimmy Johns and Capriotti’s for sandwiches (we were SO sad when we discovered that Capriotti’s was no longer in San Diego).  

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Independence Day weekend!

Photos by Cyrillynn Chen