I want it.... in no particular order

Twin Day

Matching outfits is fun! We are wearing white v necked shirts, dark rinse denim, converse, and leather jackets. Since Ryan's jacket has a built in hoodie, I layered my jacket with a short sleeved hoodie. His scarf is striped... which matches my striped hoodie. Yay. :)

My specific outfit details are as follows:
Jacket: theory
Hoodie: kritik
T shirt: gap
Jeans: earnest sewn
Shoes: animal camo printed converse

All items were purchased heavily discounted... I probably spent about $225USD.

New to Makeup?

If you are... you might want to check out this set from Lorac (super cheap) and Stila

NEW! VIP DISCOUNT
VIP STARTER SET
Only $18.50
A $160.00 value

Only available at loraccosmetics.com
While supplies last.

3 Eye Shadows in "Cappuccino", "Harmony", and "Persuasion"
2 Lip Polishes in "Delicious" and "Bliss"
Front of the Line Liquid Eye Liner in Black
2 Cream Lipsticks in "Eloise" and "Charity"
Mini TANtalizer Baked Bronzer
Double-Ended Eyeliner/Shadow Brush

As Good As Golden ($60 Value) @ Sephora.com
What it is:
A baked bronzer and silky-smooth finishing powder duo that creates the ultimate sunkissed glow.

What it does:
Give your skin a luminous, lit-by-candlelight look—sans the harmful rays—with this dynamic duo. The Stila Sun Shade 2 contains SPF 15 for daily sun protection and the Finishing Powder goes on silky smooth with its hand-milled and baked formula. Each is perfect for any skintone and you can wear them alone or together for the ultimate bronzed glow.

This set contains:
- 0.28 oz Stila Sun Bronzing Powder SPF 15 in Shade 2 (sheer warm matte bronze)
- 0.317 oz Illuminating Finishing Powder in Gold (light golden champagne sheen)

The fashion posts for J-town will have to wait... my bf's computer got infected with a virus and he is the photographer/photo editor 98% of the time.

Black Light

Isn't it great? I'd love such a light fixture in my room (well, for the day when I have my own place with a large bedroom for myself...). I think this can go with many different styles of decorating, including ones that may not match the chandelier type of lighting normally due to the black color. :)

Head Eating Bows

This look is from a wedding I attended in socal on the weekend of July 31. I don't have any good pictures of the whole thing. But, here are the details about the look:

Dress:
Jessica McClintock cocktail/prom dress (so cheap $24 including tax... sorry I had to brag here)

Accessories (not that many of them are visible)
Faux black pearl necklace : Express
Heart necklace : Judith jack
Heart Earrings : Unknown, from a shop in SF Gift Center/Jewelry mart
Lace acrylic bangle (not visible) : H&M
Hair bow with netting : H&M
Shoes (not visible) : Pedro Garcia

Makeup
Eyeshadow : Visee compact
Liner : YSL liquid liner (grey)
False Lashes : Some cheap ones from Daiso, no mascara
Foundation : MAC Studio Sculpt (NC25)
Brows : Shu Uemura seal brown
Cheeks : Nars stick bronzer (Tuomota), Shu Uemura p peach 40 (main cheek color), Shu Uemura p peach 40a (highlight)
Lips : MAC Gitane lipglass

Due to a flat tire, the photos from Japantown will have to wait. >_<

Mega Manga Madness

The local manga cafe is closing (sad!) and I had been wondering what they would do with all of their manga. Well, the answer is... they're selling it all! For extremely cheap... $1 per volume to be exact. All of the manga are in good condition, some of the spines have some color faded from it, but it's not horrible. The pages are all crisp and have that "manga smell" (mmm good lord this sounds very otaku) and even come with the plastic jackets (good for my anal personality?).

I bought the complete series of Rurouni Kenshin and Angel Sanctuary, which as anyone who knows me... rank up there as some of my favorite manga of ALL TIME. Score? I think so... My bf was thinking about getting Initial D and at $1 per volume we just caved and bought it anyway.

Other good shoujo series I saw for sale that I really wanted to get was Basara and Red River (aka Anatolia Story). I didn't get Red River because they didn't have the complete set (a few volumes were missing), but I'm still thinking about it even as I type this. >_<

There was a jpop event going on in Japantown and I'll make a separate post about that since it involves fashion and the new building that houses gothic lolita clothing. :)

My Name Is ...

Jonas...? Imelda Marcos?!

I do however have 86 pairs of shoes. I plan on selling a couple pairs... but I guess I do not "need" any more shoes especially after these last bouts of sales (goldenbleu, barneys, etc). I have put all of my shoes into a spreadsheet with style/color/material descriptions so I can see where the deficits are and what I keep buying. That way, should I be "dying" for a pair of shoes, I can compare it easily to what I own.

I know, I'm brilliant. But why didn't I do this before? I didn't really have THAT many shoes (or at least that's what I thought) prior to all these sales.

I think I'm in love...

With the Jill Stuart wedding gowns... :)

Not that I'm getting married or anything, but these gowns are truly feminine and pretty. Would I want such a gown for myself? Perhaps. But at the same time I think I want something that isn't precisely a traditional wedding gown... and something cool. Whatever that means. Heh.

Click here to see the lookbooks

Marc Postcard

I received this postcard in the mail about a Marc by Marc Jacobs event being held at Bloomingdale's. I like how it was done (the colors.. font...etc). Please ignore the ugly (and incorrect) time snap on this photo.

Barney's Warehouse Sale (SF)

Though I was initially sad about missing the first days of the sale, I guess it was fine after all. From the various posts about the LA and NY sales on purseforum, it seemed the best deals were to be had at the tail end of the sale anyway.

The markdown schedule was as follows:

Aug 6-7 - Shoes/Denim/Designer/Men's Suits/Ties/ an additional 40% off. Accessores an additional 50% off.
Aug 8-9 - Shoes/Denim/Designer/Ties/ an additional 50% off. Accessores an additional 75% off. Men's Dress Pants/Suits were an additional 40% off.

At some point before Aug6, the markdown was an additional 25% of shoes/designer items, but I'm not exactly sure which day that was.

I bought...
1. Knee-high flat chocolate leather Lanvin boots
2. Maison Martin Margiela Line 22 Ankle Boot Sandal in dark pink

3. Earnest Sewn straight leg jeans

I nearly bought a pair of Lanvin flat sandals in the prettiest metallic blue leather... but decided against it. On the last day of the sale, my bf bought two pairs of jeans (Citizens of Humanity and Earnest Sewn) and a pair of theory dress pants.

I also spotted a girl wearing the fabulous YSL cage booties at the sale... wish I snapped a photo of her! Those aren't exactly shopping shoes... but I was excited to see them.

:)

SF Finally Gets a Barney's Warehouse Sale

I just realized I am going to miss the first day due to a wedding. :/ I guess I'll see what slim pickings are left at the end of the sale.

Barneys Warehouse Sale Details

50-75% off Regular prices on our selection of the finest designer clothing, shoes +accessories for Men+Women, as well as gifts for the home.

Thursday July 30th - Sunday August 9th

Thu-Fri Jul 30-31st 8am-9pm
Sat Aug 1st 9am - 7pm
Sun Aug 2nd 10am - 7pm
Mon Aug 3rd, Thur, Fri 7th 10am-8pm
Sat Aug 8th+Sun Aug 9th 10am-7pm

Fort Mason Center
Herbst Pavilion
415 268 3497

Wanna look like a F1 driver?

If you want to look like Sebastian Vettel or Nick Heidfeld, look no further than a pair of Ray-Bans. I believe Ray-Ban is actually an official sponsor of F1! If I was a F1 driver I'd like to be sponsored by Shu Uemura for some free makeup... hohoho. Free clothes or bags from my favorite brands would be acceptable too.

If Ray-Bans are out of budget (cuz honestly Vettel's and Heidfeld's sunglasses are quite questionable looking), you could buy a knock off at Urban Outfitters. UO calls these sunglasses "80s Racing Sunglasses." How oddly appropriate? The lovely photos of the drivers are from motorsport.com.

Oh my...

Cut the crap

I now know what to do with the unattractive XL sized t shirt freebies I have amassed from my company (besides giving them to my dad haha). Just shred it and make a necklace...


It's quite easy, there is a tutorial here at cumbersome.com.

Brand dilution?

Designer collaborations with mass market retailers and fast fashion chains are nothing new. The latest brand to succumb to the trend is luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo. Is this a wise move? To bring the "luxury" to the masses - where luxury is defined by marketing and celebrity cult status ... hmm perhaps. Maybe more aspirational shoppers will be attracted to the mainline of Jimmy Choo and boost up their long term sales.

I know, this news is quite old by now. The shoes and handbags will be available starting November 14th, and I don't think I'll be queuing up for it (I doubt my boss will understand the merits of it...!). I am eager to find out about the quality of the items, since the promotional pictures look quite attractive.

The price points are a little high for H&M, but I suppose they are on par with their other designer collaboration price points. Supposedly flat shoes will run for approximately $60USD, with boots going for $130USD, and some handbags for $276USD. To be quite frank, I'm hoping that some of them will linger around for 50% off sales but I doubt that will happen. I'm not quite willing to pay full price for these items seeing as how I can buy a good quality sale shoe for the same prices (though of course without the Jimmy Choo label).

Jill Stuart Eye Jelly Madness

In the spirit of the release of the "new" eye jellies from Jill Stuart, I have decided to post a photo of the eye jellies I own. I actually own one other shade, which is Ruby Romantic, an awesome reddish purple that does not make my eyes appear redder than they already are (quite a magical feat in my opinion). :) Please click the photo if you would like to enlarge it.

The new eye jellies come in most of the same colors, but they took out the more interesting shades in my opinion (mainly green butterfly and gemstone green). I'm really glad I have the ones that I do, since they are no longer in production! The new eye jellies feature a more ornate jar and supposedly have the same net weight (6g) of product in them. I would like the color #9 Midnight Shine at some point, but I have many many cream shadows. =(


By the way, Jill Stuart is no longer a Japan exclusive brand. It can be purchased in Hong Kong (this is old news... but who cares?).

Gel Eyeliner Tutorial

So... gel liners have been all the rage for quite awhile and I think they are here to stay. Every major cosmetic brand has a gel liner, and they are getting knocked off in the world of e-tailer cosmetic brands.

Honestly, I loathe them because of their inconvenience. You have to use a separate brush and you have to wash it after using it, otherwise it will dry and cake up your brush (gross!). What an inconvenience! Give me liquid liner any day.

But, honestly, there are certain pros to gel liners. Gel liners often do not smudge for those who have oily eyelids (do note that not all brands perform the same... so you may need to try various brands if one brand ends up smudging on you), they are solid so those who desire the look of liquid liner (but with shaky hands) can achieve crisp lines and cat eyes. The gel liner can also be used as a shadow base and smudged out, perfect for smokey eyes!

I have often been complimented on my eyeliner... so I will share my technique for gel liners. This is only one method, if it doesn't work out, keep trying, there are other methods of application out there!


Materials:
- gel liner
- pointed brush
- mirror

Method:

1.
Dip your brush into your gel liner. Don't be afraid of using too much, in fact, I like to "overload" the brush. The thickness of your brush will determine the thickness of your line. If you want a thin line, use a fine brush. I prefer using a lip brush made of synthetic material (easier to clean). Starting at the inner corner of your eye, dot the gel liner across your lashline (or in between your lashes if you are tightlining).

2.

Continue dotting the liner to the outer corner of your eye.


3.
Work quickly to blend your dots of liner into one continuous line. If your liner is uneven in width at this point (i.e. not intentionally so), fix it now by adding a bit more in the areas that are "too thin."

4. Optional step


If you wish to have a cat eye, you may "wing out" your liner at this point. Simply flick your brush/wrist quickly as if checking a checkbox on a form. It will take some effort to practice this to get them symmetrical on both sides.

Good luck, hopefully this has helped.

To be purchased ... someday

These boots are just adorable. They are whimsical and remind me of the boots worn by Victorian ladies.

I'll have to try them out at the John Fluevog store at Haight and see whether or not they live up to the reputation of comfort...

MAC Cosmetics Friends and Family

Even cosmetics giant MAC must be feeling the pinch. I remember a time when MAC NEVER went on sale (except at the authorized Estee Lauder outlets). I mean, with their limited edition factory producing new collections every two weeks to feed the frenzy, why bother?

At any rate, the Friends and Family even is up and running now on maccosmetics.com. You can save 25% off your total purchase with the code SUMO (yes, as in sumo wrestling...). The code expires on June 18, so act quickly before all of the limited edition goodness sells out. :P

Only in dreams

This gorgeous Lanvin shoe is now on sale! If I was getting married I would be all over this shoe... the only problem? Depending on the budget, this pretty shoe might cost more than the wedding gown.

Approximately $700 @ Net-a-porter.com

New Shu Uemura Collboration

There's a new Shu Uemura collaboration for June 2009. I think it will be a big hit, just as big as the Yamaguchi Ai collaboration (my favorite to date!). This time, Shu Uemura is collaborating with manga artist Moyoco Anno!!!

Everything is super cute and I want it... I haven't wanted anything from Shu Uemura for awhile.

The images for this collection were taken from lifestyleasia.There is also a limited edition brush set and makeup box. The makeup box is SUPER CUTE and also super pricy, priced at $2,200HKD (roughly $300 USD). I'm not too keen on gold used on this version of the makeup box, but the inside of the box is terribly cute: there are gold imprints of the girls' faces as crests on the inside of the box. The outside of the makeup box features a stylized chysanthemum on the front. It really is too bad the makeup box is made out of CARDBOARD and a terrible value for the money. I think it's meant more for the collector and avid Shu Uemura fan.

What will I be purchasing? I think three cleansing oils (Fresh, Original and A/O formulas). I hope this collection will be released in the USA because it is already for sale in Asia.

There is a post on Hong Kong beauty blog beautytalk about the makeup box. Check it out!

Free Palette Promotion

Shu Uemura USA is promoting its custom palette system by offering a free palette with the purchase of any of the following product combinations:

1. 4 eyeshadows
2. 2 eyeshadows + 1 glow on
3. 2 glow ons

The design on the palette is quite pretty and I am a little tempted by the promotion. However, I have most of the Shu items that I want ... so it is kind of tough to justify this purchase when it is not really a "good deal." In addition, what I really want to buy are the Tokyo Kamon Girls Limited Edition Cleansing Oils! I must have at least two or three of those...

Bug Eyed Glam

I kind of have a thing for sunglasses. I like to admire and buy them... despite not wearing them that much due to contact lens issues.

My latest love is a pair by Chloe, style CL2142. The are large oversized frames, which give a slight bug eyed look. But, it somehow looks nice and slightly retro, not ridiculous and pretentious. I also find that this style looks equally good on my friend, but due to our different face shape and personalities, the sunglasses seem to morph on each of our faces. The frames come in three color options: brown, black, and ivory. All of the colors are flattering. Those who do not look good in white sunglasses should give the ivory a chance. The slightly yellow tone is much more forgiving and easier to wear for certain skintones. They're a bit expensive, retailing at $300USD, but on sale (or online) they can be had for less.


Now the question is... have I succumbed and purchased a pair? Why yes, bien sur~

Shu Uemura Pink Collection

Shu Uemura has released a collection of pink lipsticks and lipglosses. They claim that the pink pigments have been specially formulated for them and are therefore more intense than pinks from other competing brands. The makeup artist I spoke with claimed that the pink pigments were special, and they were not formulated using the traditional method of mixing red and white pigments together. Based on what I know about color theory . . . this really confuses and confounds me. How can this be true?

Either way, the promotional image for the pink collection is absolutely gorgeous and wonderfully intense!

Concrete Rose - An Informal Fashion Show

Date:	Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Time:	7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:	Azul
	1 Tillman Place
	San Francisco, CA

Classic lines. Impeccable tailoring and detailing. Feminine clothes that flatter the body. A riot of color for Spring/Summer. This is Karen Millen.

Come see what is new and hot this season from Karen Millen at our informal fashion show.


More detailed info about the venue:
Cross streets: Grant St. and Sutter St.

49 square miles sample sale

For sale: Handbags, Belts, Accessories, Small Leather Goods (wallets, coin purses)

Location:
333 Bryant Street (at 2nd)
Suite #350
San Francisco, California 94107

Times:
Wednesday 4/22/09 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Thursday 4/23/09 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Friday 4/24/09 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Sale prices range from $1.00 to $250. (Original retail prices range from $30 to $750).

I will go since they sell belts very cheaply there... last time they were 2 for $5.

Going Victorian

I have long been a fan of all things Victorian inspired... I just love ruffles! The romantic in me can't help but be drawn to them. Guys can get into the spirit of an era gone by wearing an ascot (or cravat) instead of a traditional tie.

I happen to like the ascots from local designer Blind Bunney Couture. The blind rabbit patterns are quite whimsical and cute. I really should have bought one at their sample sale . . . the purple one is calling my name!

Check it out! http://blindbunney.com

A Dress for A Mad Tea Party

Isn't this a great image? I totally love the model's doll-like hair and oversized silk flower ... not to mention the dress. I just ordered this delightful dress by Pamela Thompson... it makes me feel like I should be cavorting with mad hatters, chasing after white rabbits, and drinking tea in rose garden.

Here's another photo:


And the best part? It was under $60 including shipping. :)


Now, hopefully a size 2 will fit my flat-chested self . . .

An Icon's Birthday

It's Vivienne Westwood's birthday today! Let's all take a moment to think about an icon who has influenced fashion on many levels... from punk to Sex in the City.

:D

Happy Birthday Vivienne Westwood~ I hope there are still many more to come!

65% off Jenny Yuen Accessories

Jenny Yuen is a relatively new designer in the higher end handbag market (about the same price points as Rebecca Minkoff and Botkier). Right now, the code JYLUXE09 can be used to save 65% off the retail prices of the bags available on Jenny Yuen's e-commerce website.

The bags are all made in USA and are made of soft and supple leather. The bags are casual and vintagey feeling... and are definitely not for everyone. But do check it out, maybe there will be something for you!

Website: http://www.jennywashere.com

It has been done already...

Someone at work commented "You must have enough clothes to rival a department store." That is not entirely true. I only have clothes that fit my body and my taste... but oftentimes I have wished that I could just open a store where I could rent out items that I am tired off or sell them off completely. And now, it seems someone has created such a place in San Francisco. Forget selling them to Crossroads where they rip you off and look at your goods with complete disdain as they offer you a pittance for them. You can now head over to La Library in San Francisco, which is essentially my dream boutique concept!


La Library
380 Guerrero St.
415-558-9841


I read about La Library originally on 7x7:

http://www.7x7.com/content/fashion/la-library-sell-or-rent-clothes-citys-first-socialist-boutique

dutchy handbag / accessory sale

Another major sale from a local designer, I hope she will keep her website/online store available. I own one handbag and coin purse from this line, and the quality is pretty good. I have an issue with my handbag's zipper (the zipperhead constant scrapes the bag, so there are marks on it... but they are not visible on the outside due to the design of the bag. The bag that I have is called the "Doc Nana" bag). The coin purse I have is cute, but not too functional as it is hard to get to the coins due to the design of the coin purse. Nevertheless, I think the sale is worth a look if you are in San Francisco or will be in the area. Be prepared for terrible parking in that area. Consider yourself warned. =D

Here is the information I found about the sale:

dutchy says goodbye to Studio 3579!
Nothing over $59
(for Savvy and Storm collection!)

Last chance to see the entire dutchy collection in one place. dutchy will say goodbye to retail in San Francisco with this blowout liquidation.

DON'T MISS IT!

Bring a friend and you both receive a complimentary dutchy eco-bag!

Where: Studio 3579
499 Dolores St. x 18th St.
San Francisco CA 94110
415-626-2533

When: Saturday and Sunday, March 21 & 22, 12-7pm ONLY!

Audree Halasz
designer/owner
dutchy
415.341.7331
415.341.7331

www.dutchy.net

Hair Love

This couple was first spotted by me from behind. The girl's hair shone brightly in contrast to her dark clothes and I thought to myself "I should really dye my hair that color some time in the future." I then noticed her clothes, which were quite cute. This girl is quite petite and thought the grey fleece top emphasized her petiteness since it was slightly baggy. The above-the-knee blue plaid shorts have a bit of volume as well at the cuffs and were paired with black tights and boots. Overall I thought the combination was quite adorable, and her nails matched too!

I also liked the boyfriend's outfit as well. At first glance, he seemed to be sporting a typical outfit (a neutral top with jeans and sneakers). Upon further inspection, I saw a bit of his personal style. He was not afraid to mix patterns, as his knit top had horizontal stripes on the body of the garment while the shirt underneath had a blue and white checkered pattern.

Aside from their clothes, this couple had a good energy and happy attitude which would cause people to pay attention to them regardless of what they were actually wearing!

Clothing details:
Unknown for both

Greyscale

Despite wearing very dark colors, this girl did not appear drab and gloomy. I think she could pull of the dark colors due to her high contrast coloring. Wearing her hair up was also a good choice, it showed off her porcelain complexion.

The black double breasted coat fit her well and the length of the sweater dress elongated her body, especially her legs. Armed with a drink from Starbucks (and maybe a new iPod or iPhone?), this girl looks ready to take winter head-on.

Clothing details:
Black double breasted coat: Unknown
Grey Sweater dress: Unknown
Opaque grey tights: Unknown

Grey Stripey

Grey will probably never replace black, but this look may just convince me otherwise. Everything fit well and the mid tones of grey prevented this outfit from being overly dark. I liked how the design on the sides of the shoes sort of echoed the striped pattern of the hoodie. I think some guys forget about accessorizing when coordinating their outfits. This was not the case here, an interesting razor blade necklace and black tote bag completed the look.

This is perfect casual weekend wear, it is stylish yet comfortable. Who says you need to dress like a slob whilst walking a dog? Dog owners and walkers everywhere should take note!

Clothing details:
Striped shirt/grey pants/razor necklace: All from Bangkok

Pet details:
A very cute minature poodle named Pantone. (At least I think it is a minature poodle!)

Cool Urbaness

My eye was instantly drawn to this person due to her height (I am always envious of tall girls!) and her cool air (mainly channeled via aviators sunglasses). However, do not mistake the 'cool air' for unfriendliness, she was far from unfriendly. She was unsure of the brand of her scarf, but checked the label for me!

I liked this outfit because I think it was a good example of casual urban chic, with pieces that may not scream 'chic' individually. However, the way they contrasted made it chic... The scarf had a camo pattern, but was made out of a luxurious material. The black leather jacket was fitted, to avoid the 'biker chick' look. In addition, the long wavy slightly-wind-blown hair added an easy natural feeling to this look.


Clothing details:

Leather jacket : From LA
Camo print Scarf: From Paris (ocal apparel)
Skinny jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Black boots (not visibile): Stuart Weitzman
Handbag: Prada (I believe it is the Napa Madore Bag from Fall 2008)

Polka Dotted

I really loved the overall look of this outfit. The black and white polka dotted dress was cute and fit this girl well. The brown belt was an interesting choice, I think most people may have used a black belt. At any rate, I think the brown belt worked and it accentuated her slim figure. What I liked best about the dress was the silhouette, it was feminine and a bit flirty without being overly revealing. I liked the purple tights she wore, this is an easy way for anyone to add some color to an outfit. The carefully styled hair and friendly dimpled smile just added to the charming look of this outfit.

Clothing details:
Polka dotted dress: Thrift store
Belt/tights: Unknown

Burnt Orange

Bright colors are always attention grabbing, and this case is no exception. This outfit is a good example of how to dress up a casual hoodie and jersey dress. I like that the blazer is left open, so that it does not appear stuffy. My favorite part of the ensemble are the booties, the shape at the toe box is very cute (a picture of the bootie will be posted later).


Chloe
Occupation : Sales associate

Clothing details

Burnt orange jersey dress : American Apparel
Black Blazer : Vintage item
Cognac leather booties : From Wasteland (picture coming soon)

Viva La Vie Boheme

Fur coat : Thrift store find
Grey shirt / printed peasant skirt / metal bangles / chartreuse and navy scarf : Unknown


Feeling cold, I noticed the fur coat before anything else. How warm this girl must be! The heaviness of the coat is balanced out by the airy peasant skirt. This girl channels a 1960s Bohemian vibe which is enhanced by her jewelry and wavy hair.

I don't work for MJ

Clothing details :
Seal brown coat with furry collar : Her friend's thrift store coat
Greige cardigan / black jeans : Unknown

This outfit is eye catching due to the dramatic nature of the coat; with its collar flipped up, it appears almost cape-like. With her heavy blunt cut fringe covering her eyes, this girl exudes a mysterious air.

Euro Chic

I love everything about this outfit: The different tones of black, the fun flirty jumpsuit, and of course the boy's blazer. The handbag is also great, it has a few pockets useful for organization and it looks like it can easily hold a magazine and other daily essentials. The bag can also be worn in different ways because the crossbody strap and the top handle. I also like how the cuff she is wearing balances the length of the blazer's sleeve.

Ana
Occupation : Intern for fashion designer / Sales associate
Misc details : Travels a lot, especially to Austria

Clothing details

Black jumpsuit : Topshop
Grey blazer : Boy's jacket
Shoes : White tap dance shoes
Bag : $10 bag from Austria

Classic Casual

Hiroko looks like she stepped out of the pages of JJ or CanCam, which are Japanese fashion magazines that target females aged 18-25. My favorite part of her outfit is her handbag, which is extremely cute and feminine.

Clothing details :
White collared shirt : Guess
Black wool coat : BCBG
Geometric patterned skirt : Ann Taylor
Grey sweater : From Japan
Printed rabbit fur handbag : From Japan

Makeup details:
Mascara, eyeliner, watermelon lipstick

Mixing It Up

Being a lover of hats, but seldom actually wearing them, I took notice of Judy. Judy mixes different textures, patterns, and lengths in her outfit. Somehow it all works, perhaps because of the subdued colors. Whatever the case, it looks extremely cozy and comfortable.

Note to self: wearing hats and scarves together draws the attention to the face in a good way.

Judy
Occupation : New York Fashion Designer

Clothing details:

Skinny jeans : JBrand
Plaid fedora : Urban Outfitters
Black leather boots : Vintage boots from New York
Black and white checkered scarf : From New York
A blue-grey hoodie layered with a cropped cable knit cashmere sweater

Not the Mother

Believe it or not, this fashionable lady is not the mother of the cute little girl, but the grandmother! Her overall look is understated due to the grey and black color palette, but it is interesting due to the stipe and checker combination. She commands attention because of her confident aura.

Grandmother's clothing details:
Leather jacket : Ann Demeulemeester
Grey and black checkered scarf : Theory
Black belt : Brighton
Black boots / skirt : Unknown

Makeup details:
Black eyeliner, pink lipstick


Granddaughter's clothing details:
Lavendar swing jacket : Unknown
Lavendar floral print dress : Unknown
Accessory: Kewpie doll with pink bathtub

Misc details : The granddaughter was so cute, she was quick to correct me that she was wearing a printed dress, not a skirt!
A future fashionista in the making, I'm sure of it!

Sign of Spring

Taylor
Occupation - Sales Associate
Misc details - She is not a big shopper, most of her clothing comes from clothing swaps. In addition, she professes to wearing a lot of white, even past Labor Day.


Clothing:
White cotton eyelet dress : Unknown, from her mom
Brown t-shirt : From a store in Montana
Multi-color belt : From a clothes swap
Brown cable knit stirrup tights : Unknown, from her mom
Grey flats : Unknown

Taylor really stood out, not too many people are wearing white yet. The white and brown combination is a bit winter-like, but the light floaty cotton dress says spring is just around the corner. The bubble hem is fun and the multi-colored belt adds some color and sparkle.

No Name Shoes

Local brands from Asia tend to have hilarious and often non-sensical brand names, and this sport shoe is no exception.  Due to the blue and grey color combination, the logo shape, and the type set used on the logo, I initally thought the brand name was Old Navy!  Upon closer inspection, the brand is actually "No Name."  Funny, isn't it?

Goldenbleu Warehouse Sale for San Francisco

Although their website looks cleaned out, I guess they still have inventory at the warehouse.

Sale details:

Thurs: Feb 12, 7-9pm

Fri: Feb 13, 12-7pm

Sat: Feb 14, 12-5pm

Location:
Goldenbleu SF Warehouse
2963 Mission St. (btn 25th x 26th)

Pricing details:
Shoes 25 USD
Boots 45 USD
Bags/Clutches 35 USD and up.


I'll be there... gotta have more shoes right? =p

Goldenbleu going out of business

It's unfortunate, but Goldenbleu, a local San Francisco handbag/shoe brand, will be going out of business.  I had a hunch that they were in dire straits with their frequent sample sales last year and incredible price drops at each subsequent sale.  I sincerely hope that they can clear as much of their inventory as possible with this final sale before selling the stock to jobbers.

I will miss the brand, their designs are fun and colorful.   I will treasure the two pairs of boots I have from them, they are surprisingly comfortable!

I wish them the best... hopefully they can restart the line or launch a new line when the economy picks up again.

There are still a few cheaply priced bags on their website, so check it out.  

Goldenbleu Official Website

$truggling $tudent

Money is tight for everyone these days, especially students. That is why I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Club Monaco offers a 20% discount to students with a valid ID. What a perfect way for students to build or enhance their professional working wardrobes.

Other tips: Club Monaco can even flag you in their system as a student so that if you forget your ID card on another occasion, they will give you the discount! If by chance you do not have a student ID with you, they may accept a valid student email address instead (however YMMV on this one, it is up to the discretion of the store manager/personnel).

Update: I have also found that J.Crew offers student/teacher discounts as well! The discount there is 15%, just enough to save me from the California sales tax and then some. :P After searching a bit online, it seems that this discount cannot be combined with other promotional offers (e.g. the additional 25% off clearance items that happens once in awhile).

En Pointe

No, having resorted to taking a college ballet class pass/fail, this post is certainly not about the finer points of classical ballet. It is however about shoes. I am always on the lookout for cute and comfortable shoes. Typically I resort to flats, though I have been known to sacrifice comfort for style (i.e. a high heeled shoe).

I have found a shoe where I do not have to sacrifice comfort for beauty! Bloch Shoes has manufactured handmade ballet and pointe shoes since 1932 and they now have fashion shoes that anyone can wear, including me!

I have purchased a pair of round toed burgundy patent leather pumps. The pumps are accented with burgundy suede detailing and finished off with a ballet slipper-like ribbon. They are really sweet feminine looking shoes! And... they are actually comfortable. The soles are flexible, especially around the toe/bunion area, which is a hallmark of a typical ballet shoe! The leather seems to be good quality and I do not feel the need to break these shoes in. In fact, I ran about 5 long blocks along Market Street tonight to my class wearing these shoes for the first time!

These shoes retail for $330USD, but I paid about $100USD.

Photo source: revolveclothing.com

Links:

Bloch Shoes Online

Revolve Clothing - these shoes are available for purchase here