Tag Archives: Las Vegas

Vegas Style Vintage

At the Matt Goss Show 11.28.2014

Here are a few shots of what my husband and I wore to Matt Goss’ show at Caesars Palace last week (original post here).  How handsome does Deon look?  We felt the velvet jacket, bow tie and fedora was a must to compliment my lovely little vintage inspired dress.  We’re so glad we chose to do it up right because the venue really called for it.  I believe in the same philosophy as Matt, where it’s impossible to overdress for any event, which is why I wanted to really play the part of what it would be like to go out on a night on the town in old Las Vegas.  Judging by the compliments paid to us by Matt himself after his show, I think we made the right choice!Voodoo Vixen Dress 1

Voodoo Vixen Dress 2

Voodoo Vixen Collage 1The picture of my nails on the right is what Matt stated he saw on Twitter on the night of show we attended (nail color, “My Private Jet” by OPI)!

Voodoo Vixen Dress 3Outfit:  “Bobbie” dress c/o Voodoo Vixen; Restricted shoes; ASOS Scallop Clutch Bag (sold out); Topshop necklace; Kate Spade bracelet; Karl Lagerfeld watch; rings by Suki Bijoux and Hannah Lois Designs; Lookmatic glasses; “Wicked” Velvetine by Limecrime (sold out)

Matt Goss 11.28.2014I’m sorry, but I had to include one more picture of Matt for good measure…enjoy!

(Please note:  The last photo was scanned from the double frame we received when we purchased the top photo from the show.)

FTC Disclosure:  I received product and was asked to review the product in return.  Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Lovely Las Vegas: Swingin' with Matt Goss

IMG_4316 (2)Does anyone remember Bros?  You know, the UK pop super-group featuring Matt & Luke Goss and their childhood friend Craig Logan?  No?  Well, I remember Bros very well.  My sister, our friend Susan and I were a part of thousands of  “Brosettes” back in the late 80’s, fans of the British sensation.  I even joined their fan club called “The Bros Front” because we were desperate to get any and all information on a band that was so scarce in the US.  After Craig left and after their second album, I sort of lost track of them.  It wasn’t until Luke Goss appeared in a few movies my husband likes that I wondered what Matt was doing.  Lo and behold, as we were driving through McCarran Airport with our newly born son in tow to show off to our Las Vegas family back in 2009, I saw a huge billboard with Matt Goss’ gorgeous face on it, larger than life.  I vowed that we would see that show one day.

Matt Goss Collage 2That day came last Friday, when I decided it was high time we take in Matt Goss’ show at The Gossy Room in Caesars Palace while we were on our Thanksgiving holiday with the family.  I was SO excited to see his show because I purchased VIP tickets to ensure we would meet him.  To really make the night special, I made sure my hubby and I were dressed in our retro finest.  As we entered, a photographer took our picture, which we could purchase at the end of the show.  Since we were VIP, we were treated to my choice of where I wanted to sit, so I sat us both right up front, taking in all of the musical action up close and personal!

I really don’t think words could describe exactly what we witnessed that night.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, except to see more of what Matt did on The Queen Latifah show when he performed the single, I Do, from his latest album, Life You Imagine, which I thought was brilliant.  Both my husband and I were in awe of what Matt brought to the stage.  To say his voice has matured is an understatement.  What I remember from the days of Bros has evolved into a strong, yet soothing voice where all of his feelings are reflected so powerfully.  The show was interactive, energetic, entertaining, funny, full of emotion and lots of respect for those who came before him in that very hotel.  His band was fantastic, back up singers were adorable, and those lovely yet sultry “Dirty Virgins” dancers complimented him perfectly, adding just the right bit of sexiness.

Matt Goss Collage 1I knew Matt would perform some Sinatra songs (he did Lucky Be A Lady and I’ve Got The World on a String), but he also played his own takes on Hotel California by The Eagles and Superstition by Stevie Wonder.  Matt also played songs off his new album, but what surprised me the most was hearing swing versions of Bros songs.  In fact, he leads into the songs by saying something about he’s not going to play Cat Amongst The Pigeons, don’t ask him to play Drop The Boy, but he may play I Owe You Nothing (all off Bros’ first multi-platinum album Push).  So in my excitement, I squealed out loud, “You have to play When Will I Be Famous!”  Without missing a beat, on came a swing version of When Will I Be Famous, followed by I Owe You Nothing.  It felt like I was a part of the act because it happened so organically, but I knew it was by design.  Matt definitely understands that British patrons would know who he is and where he came from, in addition to diehard fans like myself, from back in the days of Bros.

Signed Life You Imagine 11.28.2014There were definitely heartfelt moments, especially when Matt brought up the recent passing of his mother and that his step father was in attendance that night.  I could tell that there was a lot of emotion coming out of him during the song Strong and another lovely song off the new album called The Day We Met, which I interpret as a song of hope and regret: the regret of a past love, but the hope of moving on and finding love again.  The show ends with full energy with the song Lovely Las Vegas, Matt’s ode to the town that he has come to know and love in this stage of his career.

With Matt Goss 11.28.2014

After the show, guests who were VIP were treated to a meet and greet, where you could have items autographed and take home souvenir pictures taken by a photographer.  Originally, I was going to bring my old Bros 12 inch singles for Matt to sign, but I’m a bit glad I didn’t this time around because it gave us more time to chat with him.  Matt is kind, gracious, funny, confidently dapper (his Christian Louboutin shoes were to die for) and extremely good-looking in person (I’m sorry, but I had to state the obvious).  He was very complimentary towards us, mentioning to Deon and I how he really loved that we came dressed up to his show.  I explained that I was a Bros fan back in the day, and that I wasn’t sure what to expect, but that I was pleasantly surprised and thought his show was spectacular.  He thanked us again, and asked if we could spread the word about his show down in San Diego.  He and Deon had a bit of a discussion about their toppers, where Matt mentioned he was going to be dabbling in millinery, designing his own line of hats.  As we were leaving, Matt kissed my hand, did a double take and said, “Wait!  Your hand was on Twitter!”  This flattered and shocked me all at the same time because I did post a picture of my new manicure on Instagram (which is connected to my Twitter and Facebook accounts), which I did hashtag with his name!

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Although the show was simply amazing, and I will definitely be back to see it all again, the highlight of the evening was after the show.  First, I went back inside to get our picture with Matt autographed (pictured above), which resulted in another hug (*squeal*).  After we officially left The Gossy Room to go visit Deon’s friend Katie at Planet Hollywood, we sat down in the casino for a bit to recover from all of the excitement.  I went to take a picture of Matt’s poster when he and his entourage passed by us.  We waved at him, and he waved back, then sauntered over to us and said “Group hug!” embracing the both of us.  He asked what I was doing, to which I sheepishly replied “Taking a picture of your poster…”  He then suggested “Why don’t we do a selfie?”  REALLY?!  Of course, my phone took that opportunity to fail on me because I used up all of the memory.  I said exasperatingly, “My thingy isn’t working,” which prompted Matt to reply, “Your thingy isn’t working??”  In comes Deon to the rescue and his phone was used to take the AMAZING selfie below, which I immediately put on Instagram.  He then mentioned again how much he loved our attire and said we should dress like that every time we to out, and with a wave good-bye, off he went into the night.

What an amazing time, all thanks to an amazing man.  Thank you Matt for making us feel absolutely special.  You are a true entertainer, and an even truer gentleman.  To my readers: if you are spending the weekend in Las Vegas anytime soon, I highly suggest and wholeheartedly recommend seeing Matt Goss’ show.  You will be treated to one of the best shows on The Strip!

IMG_4323 (2)(Edited to add:  Thank YOU Matt for Tweeting this blog post…YOU are so sweet!)

Simply Red

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These pictures were taken last November in Las Vegas outside of the famous Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, at the Fremont Street Experience.  Believe it or not, although my husband was born and raised in Las Vegas, this was the first time he had ever been to the Fremont Street Experience (more pictures to come).  We were able to snap some pictures of my comfy yet pulled together outfit, amidst all of the craziness of the evening.  I’ve always wanted a simple red coat, and I was so excited to have the opportunity to own this one, courtesy of J.Jill from their grand opening at Fashion Valley (post here).

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I think seeing Spider-Man (in the mirror above) inspired my boys to strike some hero poses.

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Photo bombing is always going to be a hazard when taking pictures in a busy area.

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Outfit:  Cross-Town coat in Perfect Red (c/o), Double-Faced plaid shirt & necklace from J.Jill; H&M mini-skirt; Target tights; Hue knee-high socks; Unknown brand ring from Nordstrom; Rampage boots (old); Wilson’s Leather Flap-over Backpack; BonLook Cavalier glasses in burgundy

(Black) Friday, I’m in Love

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I have been waiting to wear this lovely sweater coat I purchased on Etsy earlier this year, and Black Friday was the perfect day to wear it since the weather was sunny but very brisk.  These pictures were taken right after our excursion, and my sole acquisition of the day was that beautiful leather and suede purse from Topshop.  Being married to someone born and raised in Las Vegas allows me to see so many things outside of The Strip.  This is Charlie Frias Park (located on Tropicana Avenue and Decatur Boulevard), which is en route to The Strip, as is seen in the background of the pictures below.  Although we did visit The Strip to go Black Friday shopping at Fashion Show Mall, and to visit my cousin for her husband’s birthday, we primarily stay away from The Strip.  Las Vegas is quite lovely as a city, and I want my pictures on our frequent trips there to showcase what else Sin City has to offer.  My next outfit post and photos of Las Vegas will feature places even my husband never experienced, and it was fun for the entire family!

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Outfit:  Sparrow sweater coat (purchased on Etsy from Fuzzybellas as “vintage from the 80’s”); Red Engine jeans; Lucky Brand shirt; unknown brand ring from Nordstrom; Suki Bijoux necklace; Michael Antonio “Adan” wedges (full shoe seen here); Topshop leather and suede plated tote (was £85/$140, but I paid only $56 on Black Friday!); Eva glasses in Sepia Kiss c/o BonLook

Vegas Vittles: Monta & English’s

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My last post about my recent Las Vegas trip will be about the two new places we ventured for noshing:  Monta Japanese Noodle House and English’s Gastro Pub.  Deon’s Uncle Junior has been talking about Monta Ramen for a while, and since every restaurant has air conditioning, having hot soup actually sounded appetizing, despite the heat.  The restaurant is pretty close to the strip but very small, which caused a line to build quickly after we were seated.  We started off fried rice and gyoza, our favorites.  Apparently the gyoza is placed in a press that fries it on each side.  It’s also made fresh to order, and I can definitely say it’s the best gyoza I’ve ever had.  Finally, we had the ramen, which was again, the best I’ve had.  If you’re willing to venture away from The Strip, this place is definitely worth it.

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Fried Rice

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The. Best. Gyoza. EVER.

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From the Monta Noodle House menu:  “Tonkotsu-Shoyu Ramen (pork bone and special shoyu base) has a cloudy white colored broth. The broth is like a mix of the Tokyo and Kyushu style blend. This style is the newer trend in Japan.  Basic toppings are green onions, two slices of chashu, bamboo shoots and kikurage.”
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Englishs Collage 1

On the Saturday before we left Vegas, Deon’s mom suggested we try English’s Gastro Pub at the Town Square Mall, also off The Strip.  Being the Anglophile that I am, I jumped at the chance to bring a touch of England back into my life.  My mother-in-law actually suggested we do Afternoon Tea, but since all of us were eating there for an early dinner, we decided to have actual meals this time round.  My husband and father-in-law kept it simple with burgers and chips (my hubby added the house salad below).  Not pictured is the child’s version of the burger meal, which was with a slider and chips, and included a drink for only $5.  My mother-in-law had the cod and chips with crushed peas (aka mushy peas).  I decided to go all the way English and had the Toad in the Hole.  All of the food was good and fresh, and I loved the gravy of my Toad in the Hole.  The last time I had tea was in London last year at Harrods (post here), and I think I’m due for another go.  This visit to English’s just made me feel all nostalgic, and after seeing a few people who had the tea service, and I vowed that the next time we would be in town, my mother-in-law and I would venture on our own for Afternoon Tea.

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Photo 1: House salad (leaf salad, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, croutons); Photo 2: Burgers & Chips.

Englishs Collage 4Photo 2: Cod & Chips with crushed peas.

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Toad in The Hole:  Mini Yorkshire pudding wrapped bangers, onion gravy, mash.

Electric Lemonade: Hot Place, Cool Vintage

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As part of our Las Vegas adventures last weekend, I decided to seek out vintage stores in and around town.  I convinced my husband to take me to a store I discovered called Electric Lemonade, which led to the discovery of the Las Vegas Arts District (aka 18b).   When I think of Vegas, I definitely think of the nightlife and shows as it relates to what’s available on The Strip.  Since I’ve been married to a Las Vegas native for the last 6 years, I’ve definitely come to know Vegas as an actual town with schools and family life.  Now that I’ve stumbled upon 18b, I feel I’ve discovered a cool little secret that not many people know about.  More about 18b in a later post, I promise!

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Electric Lemonade Collage 1

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Although, I have to admit it was quite hot inside because their air conditioning broke, Electric Lemonade is a cool spot for vintage (I love the marshmallow/pill couch). When it’s a bit cooler, I’ll go back because while I love to try things on, it was just too hot to try everything I would have liked to.  However, my husband did find a couple of cool things.  Dig if you will the awesome pattern of that floral shirt.  He said that he wants to wear it with my linen fedora and shorts, for a truly tropical vintage vacay look.  The best story is behind that Buddy Holly shirt.  Deon found it when I was trying on clothing.  I heard him telling the two people working in the store about how he saw the show in London when he was in high school.  He showed me the shirt, and of course I had to add it to my vintage t-shirt collection.

Electric Lemonade Collage 2

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Below are some pictures we took while walking towards an event called “First Friday“, which looks to be like a street fair.  Although we wanted to and we did try, we didn’t stay out too long because it was just way too hot.  But I’ll be sure to do another blog post about the Arts District and First Friday…when it’s cooler!

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A flier showing stores in a section of 18b called “Antique Alley”.

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Two more very cute vintage stores:  The Gypsy Den and Glam Factory Vintage.

DSC01786 (2) (961x1280)Art is everywhere!

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Love this adorable storage unit.  So happy!

Weekend in Pictures: The Fourth in Vegas

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This past weekend, Deon, Dominic and I all went to Las Vegas to spend the 4th of July.  We try to make to Vegas for the 4th every July, but we missed last year there because it was on a Wednesday and I was watching my days off for my London/Paris trip.  This year with plenty of vacation time and a new job, we spent most of last week with the in-laws.  I will have a flurry of posts about our stay because we visited a few new places (well, new to me) that were definitely post-worthy.  In the meantime, here are a few random pictures and a video of the “Lucky Leprechaun Fountain” firework, lit just for Dominic because his favorite color is green.  Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!

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Photo 1: Finally settling in after arriving in Vegas.  Photo 2: Gretel in a dress. Not sure how she felt about it…

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Fashion’s Night Out

From the official Facebook page:

ABOUT FASHION’S NIGHT OUT: Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) is an unprecedented global initiative created to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence, boost the industry’s economy, and put the fun back in shopping. For one night last September, in New York City and twelve other cities around the world, designers, celebrities, models, and fashion editors staged exciting, one-of-a-kind events in stores open after-hours to the public. Shoppers were able to see Sarah Jessica Parker singing standards with Oscar de la Renta, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen tending bar, as well as Michael Kors, Justin Timberlake, Kate Hudson, Rihanna and Gwen Stefani (just to name a few) at various stores throughout NYC supporting the industry. Retailers saw a surge of new shoppers and increased sales, while customers relished the street-party atmosphere.

Fashion’s Night Out will be September 10, 2010 in New York City.  I will be attending an event that will be happening simultaneously in Las Vegas at the Neiman Marcus in the Fashion Show Mall to celebrate FNO (a post with pictures will follow immediately after the event) .  For those of you in San Diego on September 10, visit the official website for Fashion’s Night Out to find out events in our area (there are events at the Neiman Marcus in the Fashion Valley Mall). 

If you can’t be there, the making of Fashion’s Night Out will be the subject of an hour-long, prime-time special on CBS, Tuesday, September 14, at 10 p.m. EST.

I’m very excited!  This will be a fun event to celebrate everything fashion.  Hope to see you there!

(Note:  I’m not sure what kind of access I will have to the internet this week, but I will definitely post my blog entry with pictures once I return!)