RAZMATAZZ

LOW LUV x ERIN WASSON

2011-03-25T14:23:00.000-04:00

Even though I am not a fan of Erin Wasson's face (No offense, Erin), I am a BIG fan of her style and her contributions to beauty and fashion have not gone unnoticed. Take for instance her collaboration with Low Luv jewelry....great stuff at great prices. I'm rocking the Double Finger Ring in plated 14kt yellow gold today, although I had to remove it to do anything that involves my hands at work, so basically I've gone ring-less all day.

I found it on sale on tobi.com and used a coupon code for an extra 15% off sale items, not too shabby! My hands are tiny, and the ring is quite large, but it's okay it's a bold statement piece and I'm not ashamed of my midget hands. Now I get to join the ranks of celebrity fans such as Rhianna and Miley Cyrus who have also, more literally, "rocked" this piece.

JULIAN LOUIE x ALDO COLLAB

2011-03-25T09:52:00.000-04:00

I'm loving the newly launched Julian Louie for Aldo collaboration.

They have 2 different open toed wedge bootie styles with 2 different mixes of prints (well 1 is just a solid taupe for an easier pairing). I popped into the Aldo store on 5th Ave yesterday and almost bought these suckers on my lunch break, but figured it might not be such a good idea to walk back into my office with shopping bags.

All priced at $125 a pair, these limited editions are going to go like hot potatoes. Since I'll be in suburbia this weekend, I might pop into the local mall Aldo and see if these are available. If so, watch out wallet!

恭禧發財! 紅包拿來!!

2011-02-03T10:36:00.000-05:00

(Gong xi fa cai! Hon bao na lai!!)

Rough translation: "Wishing you a prosperous New Year! Give me red envelopes!!"

2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. People born in the year 1963, 1975, 1987 (and every other year plus/minus 12 from those years) are born under the zodiac sign of the Rabbit. I don't think it's particularly auspicious for people who's signs fall on the year of their sign, but I'll leave the horoscopes and superstitious stuff to people like my mom.

Everybody should enjoy a nice meal with sticky rice, a whole fish or chickens and noodles, all which represent longevity and long life, which is a very good fortune if you ask any Chinese person. Also, wear lots of red and gold.

Live long and prosper! *Vulcan salute* (maybe Spock was part Chinese?!)

SNOW SNOW & MORE SNOW!

2011-01-27T13:50:00.000-05:00

(Last year's blizzard and me looking like an Eskimo)

These non-stop snow showers are really taking their toll on my mental sanity. I've been stuck indoors for most of this week and when I did leave the apartment all I saw were people slipping and falling on the slushy snow covered sidewalks in NYC.

Other than small children and Eskimos, I don't think anybody else really enjoys these blizzards....well maybe online retailers since their sales must be doing very well among all the bored men and (mainly) women stuck indoors with no access to their traditional brick and mortar retail therapy.

With that being said, I've been receiving a slew of "Snowed in" sale emails and one-day discounts for online retailers who are obviously trying to take advantage of us being stuck indoors with nothing but a computer and a credit card (a very dangerous combo). Although it is clever.....these days, it takes more than a 10% coupon code to get me to order anything. Let's try a little harder, guys.

MY 2010 YEAR IN REVIEW (A BIT LATE)

2011-01-21T13:45:00.002-05:00

I know I'm a few weeks late, but I feel it necessary to post a 2010 review on here.

2010 was a pretty great year, I must say. Even with my limited budget, I was able to take advantage of my time and enjoy my life fully and do all the things that I love with the people that I love - Travel, food, pilates, and more travel.

I don't really feel like rambling on and on about all the places I've been or all the delicious foods I've consumed in the past year, so here are some of my favorite highlights of 2010:

- meeting my current boyfriend (almost exactly 1 year ago at a friend's karaoke birthday party)

- Taste Nirvana's Real Coconut Water w/ Aloe (the best coconut water out there. Seriously, I've tried them all)

- discovering the benefits of pilates

- moving out of the Lower East Side (thought it would never happen)

- de-cluttering my apartment...and life (i know, so profound...)

- a new apartment with enough space for a REAL dining table

- staying in and cooking healthy meals

- catching up on sleep
- finding the perfect travel partner, finally.

- "out with the old, in with the new" has never been so true

- "SKINNY2010", my 2010 motto that never really came to fruition :x, but there's always SKINNY2011, right?!?

- learning Spanish so I won't be completely lost when I go there in May

- reconnecting with old friends (abroad!)

- meeting new friends (local!)
- realizing my love for nail polish

- my crazy addiction to cash back reward sites has made me a lot of free $$

- no handbag purchases made in 2010. i don't consider this an accomplishment, but more of a shock that I was able to not blow my new unemployed budget for an entire year! at least not on handbags :P

I don't know what 2011 will hold, but I'm pretty excited to find out. My mother, the obsessive horoscope reader that she is (Chinese zodiac, Japanese, regular zodiac, numerology, etc) has told me that 2011 will be my super awesome and lucky year, and according to a friend, it is also my "Golden Year", which is when your age corresponds with the day you were born on, so I'm 28 and born on the 28th day, and apparently good things are supposed to happen. I'm not that superstitious and I take horoscopes with a grain of salt, but I'm definitely staying positive and making myself open to as many great opportunities that may be bestowed upon me this year.

HAPPY 2011!!!!!!!!

BRR....IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

2011-01-12T18:21:00.000-05:00

If 2010 was one of the warmest years on record....does that mean 2011 will be the coldest?

This freezing cold and snowy start the New Year is making me consider buying a new puffy coat or some new cold weather accessories. My trusty Andrew Marc black puffy coat has kept me warm for over 4 years and I'm starting to wonder if these sorts of things have expiration dates. Probably not, but I can't justify purchasing a new puffy coat if my old one is perfectly functional.

So what about this Maison Martin Margiela Fur Headdress that's on sale for $3,115.00?!?! If this thing doesn't keep you warm, I don't know what else will. Also, it reminds me of Domokun :)

RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH AWESOME SALES!

2010-12-28T11:10:00.000-05:00

(extra 20% off sale at shopbop.com. GO!)

Start the new year with a bang....in your wallet! I love all of these end-of-the-year sales on top of sales. I just wish I could partake in all of these said sales. But, as I've stated many times before, I am on a strict shopping diet and cannot make frivolous purchases because, quite honestly, I have everything I "need".

Although a pair of these Alexander Wang booties at 60% off wouldn't hurt. But no no no, don't you worry. I'm sticking to my diet. BAH HUMBUG!

PATIENCE IS THE GREATEST VIRTUE....when shopping

2010-12-22T09:45:00.000-05:00

Persistence and patience are most certainly great virtues and as they say....it usually pays off to have those said virtues. Especially when you are holding out for a great sale on something you really want.

Not only were these huggable hangers by Joy Mangano on sale (20% off!) but they shipped for free on HSN.com. I ordered 150 lavender huggable hangers, and after spending over 2 hours ridding my bedroom and coat closets of my bulky old hangers and re-organizing them with these new hangers, I still don't have enough. I had to order an extra 30 to complete the bedroom closet and thank god for the free holiday shipping!!! And you all know how I feel about paying exorbitant shipping and handling fees for online purchases (see previous huggable hanger blog post from 11/8).

I'd also just like to say how wonderful my boyfriend is because he not only bought these hangers for us, but he also let me get them in a pretty lavender color. Now our closets are streamlined and I love the way it looks with the brass and lavender hangers consistently hung throughout. It really does make a huge difference....I just wish I made the big switch ages ago. To any organizational freaks and people in dire need of a closet make over, these hangers are worth your money and time.

Here is the finished product:

EXCLUSIVE HELLO KITTY BEAUTY @ SEPHORA

2010-12-19T13:30:00.000-05:00

I know I'm 28 years old, but I still LOVE Hello Kitty. I just got an email from Sephora for an exclusive Hello Kitty Beauty event for their VIB's, so of course I jumped on it and bought some unnecessary but adorable products. A lot of the products sold out within 24 hours, luckily I still got to order a couple of the things I wanted, such as the chrome compact mirror in the shape of Hello Kitty's face, some nail art stickers and a lip gloss stick. Prices weren't bad, but I'll have to wait and see if the quality lives up to the Sanrio standards.

HAPPY FRUGAL XMAS!

2010-12-15T12:19:00.000-05:00

In an effort to conserve our monies this holiday season, my boyfriend and I have agreed to not buy each other Christmas presents. We're at the point in our lives where we've already accumulated way too much "stuff" and we don't need any more material goods. We're willing to forgo unwrapping Christmas presents this year in order to save for more practical purchases such as apartment furnishings and future vacations.

I have also realized how wasteful the American culture is, and I am no exception. This New Year, my goal is to waste less, conserve more, and just be more aware in general. I know I have a long way to go, but being in Asia this past month has really opened my eyes on how ignorant and wasteful Americans really are. I guess I never noticed before when I was living in Taiwan and Japan because I was younger and immature, but now that I know the environmental repercussions, I will no longer be part of the problem.

BACK LIKE A HEART ATTACK!

2010-12-14T06:40:00.000-05:00

My 2 week vacation turned into a 1 month stay in Asia. When we were in Singapore, JP bought the PUMA x Hussein Chalayan collab sneakers - the collab project is called Urban Mobility and it's been out for a while, we just never noticed it in NYC.

JP bought these for himself...

...and then decided that we should be twinsies so he bought me the matching women's sneaker:

The men's sneakers are way cooler, I know. I mean, they're pretty much Justin Beiber shoes, but it's okay. My wedge sneaker boots are really cute and I love the added height. We're still planning the day to wear them out together, don't laugh. It was JP's idea.

MORE GOLD!

2010-11-18T12:01:00.000-05:00

While I'm on the topic of gold glittery nails....I saw this double gold manicure on bellasugar.com.

I am going to try this glitter-tip technique as soon as I get back from Asia! (I leave tomorrow morning!!) Except I don't have gold metallic nail polish. I think I'll try it with a darker shade instead, maybe black or dark green with gold glitter or grey with silver glitter. I have a stack of 6 different colors cosmetic glitters by Estey International that I purchased back in *eep* high school. I'm a pack rat and hate throwing things out so of course they're still in my sephora train case filled with other make up I barely use.

Also, my nails are pretty short, the "dipping" technique probably won't work for me so I'll let you guys know how it works out with a brush. I can't wait to try this out!!!

BLACK GOLD!

2010-11-17T14:28:00.000-05:00

No....I'm not talking about oil here...

I am obsessed with OPI for Sephora nail polishes and I finally picked up the "Only Gold For Me" top coat, a clear top coat with large and small gold glitter, after eying it for the past couple months. I applied it on top of my "What's a Tire Jack" matte black polish (also OPI for Sephora, currently discontinued) and made a very sparkly slash celestial combo that I can't wait to wear again!

* I didn't do a great job with this manicure, I was in a rush so sorry for the messy edges! Plus, it looked a lot better in person :)

HUGGABLE HANGERS, are they worth it?

2010-11-08T10:03:00.000-05:00

I love to organize things. This may explain why I have so many things....just so I can organize them.

Closet organization is one of my favorite past times. Why you ask? Because I need to make the most out of my small NYC closet space and make sure that as much of my wardrobe is visible to me. You know that old saying, "out of sight, out of mind". If I can't see a top that's buried in the back of my closet, I definitely won't be wearing it any time soon, which is a damn shame if you ask me!

So I've been e-window shopping and looking for new ways to spruce my closet up and am really considering purchasing these huggable hangers by Joy Mangano from Home Shopping Network.

I've watched several of her HSN shows and she seems like the ultimate organization freak and I'm obsessed with her products. Although the only Joy Mangano product I've actually purchased is her mini travel steamer (in lilac!). It's travel-friendly and small apartment friendly as well. My boyfriend and I use it all the time to steam out wrinkly clothing and we even took it on trips with us, it's that handy. So back to these hangers. They're a bit pricey, about $0.90 - $1.00 per hanger depending on what set you purchase. But that's not what's stopping me from buying them...it's the fact that HSN.com charges you an arm and a leg for shipping and handling. They charge you S&H PER item. So I have 2 items in my shopping cart, hosiery by Twiggy (super cute designs, btw) and a set of these hangers. The total for the products is only $62, however they are charging $13 for the shipping - $5.50 for the hosiery and $7.50 for the hangers. I can't seem to find any free shipping coupons online and it's driving me crazy because YES I am THAT stubborn that I refuse to pay shipping for online purchases. Especially when I feel like it's such a rip off.

What to do, what to do......anybody have any suggestions on where else I can get a good deal on these hangers and if they're even worth it? They have great reviews all over the place. Maybe if I wait it out, HSN.com will offer free shipping soon. What do you guys think?

UGGS IN ASIA

2010-10-18T00:45:00.000-04:00

Guess who's going to be rockin' her UGGs all over Asia next month?

THIS GIRL!!!!

According to the Wall Street Journal, UGG boots are all the rage in Hong Kong. Too bad they're not waterproof. I'd certainly get more wear out of them when I travel around Southeast Asia during monsoon season. But I just bought my first rain coat by Patagonia, so at least I know that will keep me somewhat dry during the torrential downpours in Singapore and Malaysia.

PS - why is Patagonia so expensive?! $200 for a fleece? Get out of here!

Jobless Degenerate or Lady of Leisure?

2010-10-11T15:59:00.007-04:00

I'm ashamed that I have neglected my blog for so long. Tsk Tsk on me.

I've been busy the past couple months- moving, decorating/settling in, baking up a storm, resisting the urge to buy things I can't afford....and most importantly, JOB HUNTING. It's completely frustrating that after 3 months of actively searching and interviewing that nothing has come to fruition. If I were bombing my interviews, I'd understand. However after having 3, sometimes 4 interviews with several companies and being told that I'm being seriously considered....I'm about to throw my arms up in defeat.

But, I know better than to give up. Mama didn't raise no fool....or a giver upper. I am still on the hunt, even knowing that THIS is the brutal reality of the current job market in the US and unemployment is still close to its peak of 10%.

In the meantime, I've picked up some new hobbies and resurrected some old hobbies to help bide the time during my jobless funk:

1) As I mentioned earlier, I've been baking up a storm in my new *large* kitchen, if anyone in Manhattan wants any cupcakes, brownies, cookies, buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, or anything else I happen to bake, holler at your girl (me!!!). I love baking, but it yields too many servings for 2 people to consume (without gaining weight), so you'd be doing me a favor. Honestly.

2) Learning new languages - I love studying languages, especially Asian languages, however I decided that I need to pick up another romance language. 5 years of high school Latin may have helped me with the SATs, but not so much with actually speaking with people. I thought learning French would be helpful, however learning French to me is probably what learning Chinese is to a French person.....completely frustrating to try to pronounce. So I thought, why not learn a language that is as widely spoken as Chinese.....so weekly Spanish classes will commence this week! Hopefully if I continue with the classes long enough, I will be able to speak full sentences to people when I get my ass to Spain sometime next year. As if I needed more motivation to go ;)

3) Sewing! Sometime over the course of the last 8 years my old Brother sewing machine, that was bestowed upon me by my grandmother in high school, has been misplaced. Leaving me with no sewing machine and forced into paying ridiculous amounts of money for small alterations I could otherwise do myself. IE - hemming pants.
My boyfriend bought me this awesome Hello Kitty sewing machine by Janome and I've used it to hem jeans/pants, tank top straps that were too long, fix a split seam in a pillow. Basically, odd jobs around the apartment. It's been useful and LOOK AT IT, IT'S SO EFFING CUTE!!!! I need to find more projects to do with it :) Any suggestions?

4) Pilates. Oh pilates. I never knew such a "low impact" exercize could make my body so sore. Amazing how much difference such slight movements can make. I'm a bit of a nomad when it comes to pilates, going to different studios around Manhattan, basically wherever I can find a sweet deal on Groupon or Lifebooker (I am unemployed after all). I vow to continue with my pilates machine classes as soon as I start making an income again. 4 months of classes is not enough. But until then, I will be burning off all the buttery baked goods at the gym.

5) Traveling. Since I left Kiehl's almost 10 months ago, I have been using my new abundance of time to travel as much as possible. Using my mother's frequent flier miles, staying with friends abroad, finding amazing last minute deals online, et cetera, I've been very fortunate to have the opportunities to travel that I've had. But even still, it's not enough to satiate my appetite for travel. My boyfriend and I found an almost too good to be true package deal to travel all over Asia for a couple weeks, including airfare and hotels. We'll be hitting up Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia all for the price of what I used to pay for airfare to Asia alone. Needless to say I'm super excited, we're both total nerds and have already startws to prep for this trip even though it's still several weeks away.

See? I'm not a complete jobless degenerate :P

NEW ACCESSORIES

2010-09-01T15:44:00.005-04:00

Just wanted to share a couple of new accessories that I have acquired recently...

Alexander McQueen's Twin Skull Bracelet in Antique Silver:
My boyfriend bought this for me for my birthday, so sweet :)

Chloe's Sugi Sunglasses in Gold:
I bought these for myself for my birthday from ideeli.com (YAY for discount shopping sites!) :)

Okay, that's it. Haven't done much shopping lately

NEW OBSESSION: WHITE SHIRTS

2010-07-29T14:14:00.005-04:00

Yes, you heard me correctly. WHITE shirts. not BLACK shirts. It is summer time after all...

I've been seeing a lot of really cute white button downs that pair effortlessly with distressed cut offs or with dark skinny jeans for a more dressed up look. Of course, Elizabeth & James does the white button down perfectly. I picked up these recently:

1. Elizabeth & James Zip-Back New Cohen Shirt, it's fitted (thanks to the zippered back), and perfect tucked in or tails out! Picked it up on sale a couple months ago at Neiman Marcus!

2. Elizabeth & James Embellished Placket Artist Shirt, loose and boxy, perfect for a cool summer night with my favorite distressed cut offs. The embellishment on the collar placket is really pretty and gives the shirt just enough something extra without being obnoxious. $80 (marked down 76% from $325) at berdorfgoodman.com!!
3. This last shirt is NOT made by the Olsen twins, I promise. Allsaints Spitalfields' Lorelei Top, a cute, sleeveless white top. A little more work-ish than i usually wear, but I bought this top in hopes that I'd land a job by the end of this summer! Oh and it was 50% off :)

DOMO FAN!

2010-07-23T12:42:00.003-04:00

As you all can probably tell, I'm a little obsessed with all things domo-kun.

I picked up this domokun collapsible fan at Toy Tokyo last weekend when my BFF (the toy designer) was visiting. I felt a little silly as i was dressed in my semi-formal interview attire fanning myself with little domokuns on the subway platform. but as you've all probably suffered from the heat wave firsthand, a little fanning relief outweighed any weird looks i may have received.

ALLSAINTSxLAURIE LIPTON

2010-07-13T12:20:00.004-04:00

ATTENTION: AllSaints Spitalfields is having a really great sale!!! up to 50% off!!!

More importantly, all of the great Laurie Lipton collab tees and tanks are included in this sale. So now, if you have a gothic skull addiction like me, you can get all the creepy skull shirts you want for 50% off! I picked up a couple tops and an awesome large black patterned scarf for $66 (original SRP $150!).

MOVING AGAIN

2010-07-08T09:03:00.007-04:00

In preparation for yet another move to a new apartment in NYC, I am frantically trying to sell off anything I can on craigslist.org. Well, I guess you could say the primary reason would be that I need some cash money FOR the move, since I am 7 months unemployed. (womp womp) But getting rid of "stuff" really frees up a lot of valuable space in my already cramped apartment.
It's not until you have to move that you realize how much crap (and I mean pure crap) that you drag around with you just for the sake of having it. Now, I'm no hoarder, but I definitely have hoarding tendencies. I used to call myself a "collector" in high school, which then turned into "pack rat" in college but after living in NYC for several years, I've realized that I just don't have the space to be a pack rat anymore. I threw away close to 25-30% of my earthly possessions during my last move (not even a year ago) and honestly, it wasn't that difficult to let go of most of it. Screw sentimental value, I hold on to most things because I feel uneasy without it. I like to have a well stocked apartment and I hate running out of anything. I keep extras of just about every toiletry item you can think of, you know...."just in case".

I hope that after this move, I'll be able to have a closet that isn't vomiting up clothes, a 50-shoe shoe rack that actually holds all my shoes, and a bed with nothing shoved under it. Good thing I'm starting 2 months ahead of time.....and speaking of which, gotta run to Buffalo Exchange, time to sell more clothes :/

Oh, PS - if anybody is interested in the items I'm selling on craigslist, I have a Flip Cam and a Toshiba DVD player for sale right now. SingStar + PS2 bundle coming shortly!

HIP BABIES

2010-06-29T16:48:00.001-04:00

When did babies become so cool? Limited edition denim diapers?! What the.....

SALLY HANSEN NAIL ART PENS

2010-06-16T16:52:00.004-04:00

Today I was so bored that I decided to give myself a french manicure with this new Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen (in white):
This is the outcome of my ghetto, make-shift french manicure:
Now here's my assessment of this "nail art pen". For $7.29 per pen, I think Sally needs to revamp her formula. It took me 3 coats to get the white to actually look opaque white. I could have done this faster with a white out pen, no kidding. PLUS, the "nail polish" was hardly a polish, it was a matte white, JUST LIKE WHITE OUT.

There are some pros to this product....I like that she offers 8 different colors and tries to spiff up the packaging of the "pen" with a cutesy little flower....but (back to the cons) it's not worth the money. I'd rather spend my money on actual nail polish in a bottle orrrrr save up towards a calgel manicure!!

GOODY SPIN PIN

2010-06-10T11:52:00.004-04:00

More drug store product reviews! (Hey, so what if I've been on a budget lately, and Duane Reade carries some great products!)

Introducing the *NEW* Goody Spin Pin (SRP: $5.99 for a pack of 2):
After seeing a television commercial for Goody's new line of simple styles hair styling tools/accessories, I immediately was on the hunt for these new products. Since I'm all about immediate gratification, I marched right into my local Duane Reade store and looked in their hair aisle. Nothing. Asked the cash register girl. Nothing. Okay, after trying another 2 Duane Reades and a CVS, FINALLY someone carries this new product! SCORE!

Goody claims that each spin pin does the work of TWENTY traditional bobby pins to create the perfect "undone bun". I've always loved the low, loose, off-to-the-side buns, but had a really hard time keeping mine up. I have thick, silky, Asian hair that falls out of pretty much any style I try to assemble on my head. This product did the job. I'm obsessed. I might even try the other updo tools! They have a great offer right now on their website, the entire collection of 4 tools + a storage pouch for $14.99 + s/h! The tools come in 2 shades, blonde and brunette, I'm a bit offended that they don't offer all hair shades including red and black, but the brunette works fine I guess.

THIN, BRITTLE NAILS NO MORE!

2010-06-09T12:02:00.003-04:00

Growing up, I always bit my nails. Sometimes, I still do. I can't help it, and as a result my nails are soft, thin, and break very easily. I've tried so many products that boasts miracle "strengthening", "hardening" and "growth". Well, browsing through Duane Reade's nail section, I noticed Sally Hansen's new line of "Continuous Treatments" for.....get this.....Growth, Strengthening, and Hardening! HAH. I picked up the Hardening formula, packaged in a opaque, square pink bottle and figured, why not! The carton claims that its "exclusive Blue Algae Formula locks in nourishment to protect nails for 10 continuous days so severe, problem nails can grow. Patented Time-Release Technology continuously fortifies and revitalizes."

After using this milky, semi-transparent nail treatment for 2 weeks (reapplying every 3 or 4 days), I noticed my nails become significantly harder, healthier and longer (only because they don't break as often). The treatment is great by itself for a natural looking manicure or under color polishes as a base coat. Retailing at $9.99 at drugstores everywhere, this product is worth purchasing if you suffer from thin, soft nails as I used to.

REPETTO LORELIE

2010-06-09T11:47:00.004-04:00

Last month, I picked up these black leather, peep-toe platform slingbacks by the always classic yet stylish brand Repetto. I love the brand for its signature leather ballerina flats, but even more for their super comfortable leather booties. They pair effortlessly with almost any outfit and the black leather gives it just enough edge, while still maintaining its franco-prissiness. Great for summer outfits, but I will get my moneys worth by wearing these in the fall/winter with some thick tights.

Per usual, the sizing for Repetto footwear is a full size too small, so size up. But act fast, these babies are 40% off at Saks.com right now!!!

COMME des GARCONS

2010-05-25T10:00:00.008-04:00

In desperate need for a new leather wallet, my Rebecca Taylor wallet purchased in Tokyo circa 2002 starting to fall apart at its leather seams, I found this COMME des GARCONS wallet @ Bloomingdales.com on sale. Not only was it on sale + extra 25%, bloomingdales.com sent me a "we miss you, come shop with us again" coupon code for another 25% off my entire purchase order, then another 15% off for using my bloomingdales store card and an extra $25 off a purchase of $100+. All in all, i purchased this wallet for over 55% off the original SRP of $230!!! I just checked the bloomie's site again and the wallet is now back to the original non-sale price, so i'm glad i bought it 3 weeks ago :)

SAMPLE SALE-ING

2010-05-21T15:50:00.003-04:00

I finally made it to some sample sales this season!

Stopped by the VPL, 3.1 Philip Lim, and Elizabeth & James sample sales in midtown this afternoon with a friend. This year's sales just aren't as exciting as previous years.....what happened to the steep 85-95% discounts? But this afternoon's trip was at least mildly successful. Out of the 3 separate sales, i did manage to buy another VPL Breaker Tank for $40, regular SRP of $175. They had tons of different color combos in the petite size, however petites apparently aren't suitable for my chest. With far less colors to choose from in the small sizes, i found a cute light blue and nude top, nice for summer. The other 2 breaker tanks i own are dark colors; still wish they had that all white breaker tank in small though....sigh!!

Oh and the Philip Lim & E&J sales were filled with old (not to mention some dirty and wrinkled) merchandise from 2-3 seasons ago. Prices were marked down and additional 25-30% since today was the last day of the sales, but even still they were much higher than their worth. so sad.

OPENING CEREMONY

2010-05-13T16:53:00.002-04:00

I'm a tad late on this, I've been bad with posting lately but the Opening Ceremony Sample Sale started today and goes through Sunday. For all you non-unemployed/trust fund hipsters out there....go take advantage. I want to hear of your spoils!

HOTPINK!

2010-04-21T11:37:00.006-04:00

As summer is quickly approaching, bikini season is looming...like a dark cloud over my not-so-skinny 2010 ass. Alas, i have no choice at this point but to succumb; i will be in Belize with the BF this Friday in 90 degree heat. I know i've been going on and on about the whole "skinny 2010" thing with my size 25 jeans, but i've been on so many "vacations" this year that my work out routine has been suffering. I just returned from a 6 day trip to Japan where I ate half the country. Now i'm expected to squeeze myself into a very small bathing suit that I ordered from Victoria's Secret online.

I have 2 more days of trying to "make it work" before i head off to the beach, but other than my own bodily insecurities, i really love this bikini. Hotpink twist bandeau top and cheeky bottoms:

They will pair perfectly with my hotpink flip flops that i purchased from J Crew last summer! Remember these?

ALLSAINTS SPITALFIELDS

2010-03-22T14:16:00.004-04:00

Following up on my UK trip and my previous post about "Anglomania", I have discovered my new favourite British clothing label. All Saints Spitalfields out of London, even though I first saw the store in Cardiff, Wales.

I had to harness all of my self-restraint and control to limit myself to purchasing only 1 singular item. This top was worth the whole 85 quid that i spent on it.

The Oedipus Top has a interesting pattern of foliage and birds wearing studded collars. The front of the top is like a long scarf that is wrapped around the neck to form a cowl neck line. Anyways, enough with the technical details, this brand is dark, filled with vintage leathers, and a little goth. I can't get enough of their t shirts, i'm not usually one for "graphic tees" but throw some gothic skulls and animal heads in and i'm their number one fan.

They have a US ecomm site with free shipping, and some of the merchandise is actually cheaper after calculating the exchange rate. Yes, i quickly memorized the prices of several key items, denim was 65 quid, graphic tees were 45-65 quid. I don't know how much longer i can restrain myself....the skinny jeans and skull tees are screaming my name.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD + MELISSA

2010-03-01T22:33:00.004-05:00

In anticipation of NYC's rainy season, I decided to pick up some new rain booties.....

ACTUALLY SCRATCH THAT, that's a lie. Here's the truth: I walked by a cute boutique on Orchard Street called Kaight and saw all these adorable plastic Melissa shoes. Then I went in for a closer look and realized they were the new collab with Vivienne Westwood, Anglomania!!! AMAZING.

I wanted to buy 2 pairs (impulsively), but luckily they ran out of my size in the flats that I wanted so I left with only the adorable rain booties (below) and spared my credit card of an extra $130. Phew! that was a close one >.<

MORE HI TOPS

2010-02-23T01:16:00.004-05:00

While we're on the subject of hi tops.....I saw these Chuck Taylor hi tops in Soho the other day and really like them. Found them online (on sale) for $49.99... I really like the all black leather + double velcro straps.
What do you think?

NIKE HI TOP DUNKS NYLON

2010-02-23T01:07:00.002-05:00

I am on the hunt for these hi top dunks. Black nylon with a hot pink leather swoosh, so siiiick.
If anyone knows where i can find these in a children's size 4.5 either in the NYC area or online, HOLLER!!!

HAND ME DOWNS

2010-02-16T10:27:00.006-05:00

My Mom's LV collection is pretty impressive, she started collecting when she was 18...fresh off the boat from Nagoya, Japan. She let me raid her walk-in closet the other day....Hermes, Prada, and about 10 monogram Louis Vuitton bags in all different styles. She kept trying to pawn her old lady-ish totes and shoulder bags off on me, but i resisted. Then i saw this vintage Deauville top handle. I'm not a huge fan of the classic monogram, but it's large enough and has tons of pockets inside, which i looooove. So i yoinked that shit faster than I could say.....

VINTAGE CHRISTIAN DIOR MONSIEUR SUNGLASSES. My Mom found them while cleaning out some of my Dad's stuff and there they are, in pristine condition....my dad was a cool ass dude in the 70's. Total Chinese Hipster.....check out his leather jacket, skinny jeans, hat....AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE ACCESSORIES (scarf, huge belt buckle, watch, ring, etc...). I just wish i could find a pic with him in these glasses! But they're mine now....mwahaha

THANKS MOM & DAD, Love you!!

SAVE DONATELLA!

2010-02-16T01:19:00.003-05:00

Will someone please buy this for me:

I can't justify spending $65 on an american apparel t shirt, but Christopher Lee Sauve's "Save Donatella" screen is soo good. It's even better than his "Save Anna" shirt. Donatella is a hilarious caricature of herself, Sauve actually makes her look almost human.

Size small, mkthx!

J BRAND DENIM

2010-02-15T19:08:00.007-05:00

Some of you may be familiar with my new "SKINNY 2010" plan that i've been campaigning all over the place. The plan is simple, work out every day and eat less. When I have a moment of weakness and crave junk food, my new SKINNY 2010 bestie puts me in my place and I forgo whatever it is that i wanted to eat (usually french fries).

SO....a lot of my friends were like "Jen, you're crazy, you're small enough"....well little did they know that right before i started this plan, late last December '09, my favorite pair of J Brands SPLIT RIGHT IN THE CROTCH AREA when i tried shimmying them on. I immediately threw them in the trash and told myself that was the last time that would happen.

These 10" skinny jeans (in Gypsy; SIZE 26!) cost me $170! RIP.

Since i started the SKINNY 2010 plan on 12/31/09, I have been able to fit into my first pair of J Brands that i bought 4 years ago, the classic 10" Skinny Ankle Jeans in INK....SIZE 25! It has been years since i have been able to wear them comfortably, but now.....they fit perf! Even better than when i originally bought them!

Now that i'm back to size 25, I'm ready to re-purchase the deceased Gypsy wash jeans, and maybe even another pair in Ink if i can find a good coupon code online somewhere. YAY FOR SKINNY 2010!!! NOW WHO'S CRAZY, BETCHES!!!

AMERICAN APPAREL NAIL POLISHES

2010-02-12T13:37:00.003-05:00

So even after the huge Nail Polish Recall last month.....i was still interested in checking out American Apparel's new foray into color cosmetics. They have since replaced all their inventory with bottles that do NOT shatter.

Their new line of 18 hipster-friendly shades of nail polish cost $6/bottle or $15/3 bottles. I picked up 3 shades: mint green (far right on top row), grey(left of mint green on top row), and royal blue (second one from the left on the middle row). I just put a coat of the mint green shade on my nails, replacing my bubble gum pink that i originally applied in the spirit of Valentine's Day. The pink started chipping and i came to the conclusion....FUCK VALENTINE'S DAY. Mint Green it is! It definitely rivals Chanel's hot new hue of the season, Jade. Well AA's nail polish is just as minty green and cost $18 dollars LESS than Chanel's SOLD OUT shade.

Sorry Chanel, this girl's on a budget this season....hope we can still be friends. xoxo

RIP MCQUEEN

2010-02-11T10:50:00.001-05:00

Shocked and so sad.....

Alexander McQueen committed suicide and was found dead today.....

:(

SKINNY 2010!

2010-02-02T10:41:00.003-05:00

This is my new SKINNY 2010 gear, new black&pink Nike Free 7.0 trainers and matching black&pink Casio Baby G. I haven't had a Baby G since junior high, and I miss having a "sporty" time piece. I only have 2 watches and I doubt I could wear Dior or Cartier to the gym :P

A BREAK FROM BLACK

2010-01-27T21:37:00.004-05:00

As far as you know, my entire wardrobe and apartment is a monochrome of black, grey, and a little bit of white. BUT, you're wrong, I actually do enjoy colors!!

Green is my favourite color, and lime green is definitely tops. I like this 5"x7" frame by John Murphy of Philadelphia. $55 a piece, they come in all sorts of fun, poppy colors to brighten up any boring white wall. I want! I want!

McQUEEN

2010-01-26T23:51:00.003-05:00

I WANT THIS.

This is a variation on last season's Knuckle Duster Clutch. If anybody has $1,495 and wants to buy me a really nice present....this would be extremely sweet. THANKS :)

UGGZ

2010-01-26T22:29:00.003-05:00

After all my teasing and bashing, I broke down and bought a pair of UGGs. But I have a good reason: after spending a day and a half walking up and down those hills in San Francisco, my high heeled Dolce Vita boots were 1) not warm enough, and 2) eventually going hurt my feet. And there was a huge UGGs store a few blocks from the hotel I stayed at, so WHY NOT?!

San Francisco is certainly casual enough, NYC....not so much. Although I also thought, I might as well take advantage of being jobless right now and wear things around the city that I normally would not, yoga pants, UGGs, American Apparel leggings (non stop). I feel so liberated, hah.

Now if you spot me at a bar/club/restaurant wearing any of the above (maybe not the leggings), slap me. kthx.

BLACK APPARENTLY IS NOT THE NEW BLACK...

2010-01-05T20:19:00.002-05:00

WAY TO BLOW UP MY SPOT NEW YORK MAGAZINE.

I am deeply upset reading that black clothes on the "wrong" skin tones (4 out of 5 skin tones) can accentuate the worst flaws, such as under eye bags, spotty eye whites, etc etc. makes me sick to my stomach thinking about all of the black clothes i wear. Especially now that it's freezing in NYC, i'm layering like 8 different pieces of black clothing and winter accessories on my wrong skin toned body and probably looking like a beat up, fat garbage bag.

boo-urns.

E&J OBSESSION CONTINUES...

2009-12-30T22:26:00.008-05:00

At 80-95% off retail prices, last year's Elizabeth & James' sample sale event was pretty unbeatable. It certainly made it very difficult to purchase any more of their pieces at typical department store discounts, and god forbid.....FULL RETAIL PRICE *gasp*.

Thank god for Black Friday and After-Christmas sales. I found these pieces at 60-75% off at Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's. They may not be sample sale prices, but certainly much better than the typical 40% off discounts.

1) I got this E&J Back Button cashmere cardigan during the black Friday sales at Neiman's.

2) E&J Black Leather Blazer.
3) E&J Schoolboy Striped Shirt
4) E&J Origami Tank (in oatmeal, not grey)

TWO FINGER RINGS!

2009-12-18T18:22:00.005-05:00

So i lost my (current) favourite ring by Erica Anenberg last week while i was out (drinking, obvi). It's tough with the two-finger rings because I need to take them off everytime i wash my hands, and that's bad news when i'm under the influence :(

This is the one i lost, and promptly replaced:Then while i was online looking at the rings, i saw this other Erica Anenberg two-finger ring and felt the need to buy that one too. It was 20% off and i got a free set of fresh water pearl earrings so it's okay. right?

BLACK LACE ADDICTION

2009-12-04T22:37:00.007-05:00

Black is the new Black, and that's cool and all...But what would make black clothing, shoes and accessories even better?? BLACK LACE!

Check out some recently acquired black, lacey objects of my addiction:

Dolce Vita Beam Lace Pumps (purchased for 25% off during Dolce Vita's Friends&Family sale):

Free People Scandalous Lace Top (only $48.00!!):

Diane von Furstenburg Lace Mini (40% off @ Bloomingdale's Private Sale):

Blue Life Sexy Back Tee (Discounted + extra 40% off @ Bloomies):

I don't have much more to say about this topic....i'm all gothed out. goodnight!

D&G TIME

2009-11-21T20:32:00.002-05:00

I'm a little obsessed with this new D&G Time commercial:

SIWY ACID WASH JEANS

2009-11-18T20:36:00.004-05:00

So i finally broke down and bought some 80's throwback acid wash jeans. Siwy has a super slim cut throughout the leg and ankle, and a 28" inseam, which unfortunately is still a tad bit long for a shortie like me, but it's better than nothing!

What do you think? Wardrobe-worthy?

DOMOKUN @ 7-Eleven

2009-10-15T12:30:00.002-04:00

I know i'm on a roll today with the random posts, but i figured i should make up for over 2 months of not blogging.

Domokun - a strange creature that hatched from an egg who lives underground with a grandpa rabbit. what's not to love? i've been collecting domokun paraphenalia for years, since i first laid eyes on my first domokun fuzzy stickers in Tokyo 2002.

Fast forward to now, 2009, 7-eleven is selling their coffee in little to-go cups that feature domokun's face. at first i thought it was a strange collaboration, but then i remembered that 7-eleven is one of Japan's most beloved "conbinis" aka - convenient stores.

Anyways, not much to say other than I LOVE DOMOKUN. and shout outs to my coworker, Jeremy, for getting me a domo-cup!!! THANK YOU!!!!

SPIDERWEB SCARF

2009-10-15T12:24:00.002-04:00

Can't wait to get this new scarf I just purchased off hautelook. LOVE the black and white spider web pattern. 80% wool, 20% silk. I think it's safe to say that this scarf will pair effortlessly with my recently acquired all-black wardrobe.

ALEXA WEDGE BOOTIES

2009-10-15T12:16:00.004-04:00

Got my name on the waitlist at LF already :)

I know they're total Acne knockoffs, but come on! sooo cute. Actually both limited edition Jeffrey Campbell shoes are great, but I like the wedges better. Also, please refer to my previous two posts "black is the new black" tyvm.

NEW BLACK OBSESSIONS

2009-10-12T20:50:00.008-04:00

Continuing my quest for an all-black wardrobe, here are some of my newest obsessions (that i cannot afford):

1. REPETTO Black Distressed BB Flats
2. BOTTEGA VENETA Black Suede Platform Pumps3. ALEXANDER WANG Kim Tall Boots (!!!)4. TORN Jayne Should Pad Long Sleeve Shirt
If you haven't noticed, i'm all about textured black leather, structured heels, and a little bit of 80's throwback right now - love the shoulder pads/puffy shoulder look.

Now who wants to send me some early christmas presents? <3

FLUORESCENTS

2009-08-07T22:48:00.006-04:00

I just ordered this cute little turquoise mini from urban outfitters.com. i really dig the origami folded band at the bottom hem.

I also bought these neon pink flip flops on sale at J.Crew (even though i usually condemn flip flops; RE: Havianas in NYC) for Suzanne's beach wedding next weekend in the outer banks, NC.

She explicitly instructed me to wear flip flops and not heels, so because it is her so-called "big day" i will obey her request. plus the hot pink goes with the hot pink on my Milly dress that i bought 2 years ago and FINALLY have a real occasion to wear it to :)

SEPHORA BY OPI NAILPOLISH

2009-07-27T22:49:00.005-04:00

I love giving myself mani/pedis. it's kind of like, why pay someone for something i could easily do myself? So instead of spending money on manicures and pedicures, i spend it on buying bottles of nail polish instead, hehe.

everyone loves hot pinks and bright corals for summer, but i just picked up a bottle from the new line of "sephora by OPI" nail polishes in Ocean Love Potion (and by "pick up" i really mean ordered online from sephora.com)

A really pretty shade of a rich, sea foam green. I usually stay pretty loyal to essie nail polishes, however this new line has so many fun, new shades it's really worth picking up at $9 a pop!

DOLCE & GABBANA

2009-07-26T23:52:00.003-04:00

I know this is extremely late, but i forgot to post about the best sample sale purchase ever made, and it wasn't by me!

My friend (who used to work at dolce & gabbana) was kind enough to pick up this red satin corset top for me at their last sample sale in June. I was unable to attend the week long sale because i was in Europe on vacay, but i asked her to pick up a corset top if she could find one under $100. AND FIND ONE SHE DID!

Original SRP of $1395, purchased for $70. I'd say that's SOME DEAL. annnnd, the top fits me perfectly and looks great with jeans or a black pencil skirt. it makes me happy just looking at it :D

HELLO KITTY CREDIT CARD

2009-07-26T23:41:00.003-04:00

Oh, also while i'm on the topic of Hello Kitty....

Maybe i should get one of these babies to help me pay for that adorable hello kitty luggage in my previous post:

I saw some girl at the kid robot store in soho pay for her toys with this card and was immediately JEALOUS. I don't know if i can justify having another credit card, but it's too cute to pass up. You can get one from Bank of America here.

HELLO KITTY LUGGAGE

2009-07-26T22:41:00.006-04:00

I, like most other girly girls out there in the world, love Sanrio.

I also love luggage - a subcategory of "bags" that i continually find new excuses to purchase. I like them to be functional, obvi, but when functionality meets CUTE, this happens:

If i had an extra $280 to spend on cute, pink luggage that i don't "need" because i don't have time (or $$) to travel like i'd like to....i would most definitely spend it on this.

PLUS -- sanrio.com is giving away a free rhinestone hello kitty face watch with purchases over $150.

VPL TANK

2009-07-20T22:42:00.003-04:00

Picked up this VPL Breaker Tank in "tar" for $50. Not bad, it usually retails for $154. I never thought i'd be into VPL, some of their pieces look like they'd ONLY look good on Vicky Spice, and god knows how much praying (and donating $$) to Lord R.L. Hubbard can apparently make you sickeningly thin (and i only say "sickeningly" because i'm envious) :P

A WANG COCO MINI DUFFLE

2009-07-10T19:00:00.008-04:00

Why is the Alexander Wang Coco Mini Duffle so elusive? The effing bag hasn't even hit stores yet(expected mid august/september) and pre-orders online have sold out everywhere! Maybe it's because people have spotted an Olsen Twin (MK, not Ashley) toting it around town. Or maybe it's because metal studs and textured black leather is so HOT right now (Hansel). Whatever it is, I WANT ONE.

BUT.....I am desparate for a new bag altogether, and had to resort to purchasing this other A. Wang bag as a sub-par (yet still very attractive) alternative:

The Betty Flap Bag; i think this tote and i will have a beautiful, long life together :)

OH! and i got the bag for 35% off at Mick Margo, a boutique in the West Village. I took advantage of the "LuckyBreaks7" coupon code and snagged the bag for $450 (SRP was $690)!!! SWEET! Now if only i can find the Coco Mini Duffle at a discount....this will surely be tough.

Post Script: For those of you who are in the NY area, the Alexander Wang sample still is still raging. Started yesterday and goes until Saturday at 7pm at 83 Wooster. No A. Wang accessories, sadly, but new merch and better discounts will be put out as the sale goes on....so maybe i'll see you there tomorrow if i can stand the lines :)

LUCKY REWARDS

2009-07-03T11:48:00.003-04:00

To any of you online-shopping addicts like myself out there....I hope that you have all been utilizing cash back websites that give you a % of your total spent as long as you access a company's e-comm site through a link on their site. And if you haven't been using one (such as bing.com or ebates.com) i implore you to START NOW.

I received a free, 1-year Lucky Magazine subscription through ShopBop.com about 10 months ago and discovered their own cash back site - MyLuckyRewards.com. They have thousands of websites related to cosmetics, fashion, travel, electronics, home goods, etc and i realized right then and there how silly i was for not utlizing a site like this much much earlier. I've been shopping online since i was in highschool (thanks Ebay) and always use coupon/promo codes (when available) but never thought to sign up for cash back rewards. I've earned over $150 in the past 6 months from myluckyrewards.com buying stuff that i would normally buy online anyway. Rewards ranging from 4% at hotels.com to 7% at drugstore.com to 9% at yoox.com, and even 12% at proflowers.com at one point. Also, they keep their site updated with new discounts and promotions at all affiliates e-comm shops.

Anytime i need to spend any money online, i check with myluckyrewards first to make sure i can get some cash back.....cause it's not about how MUCH you spend....but HOW you spend it, right?

AMERICAN APPAREL SALE

2009-06-27T16:26:00.002-04:00

I am "fortunate" enough to live across the street from the American Apparel flagship store in NYC. And when i say "fortunate" i mean "lucky to see the not so skinny hipster girls in gold lame bathing suits playing in an inflatable kiddie pool in the middle of Orchard street on a Sunday morning." And if you couldn't tell by my quotation marks already, i'm being a sarcastic bitch.

So today i woke up to the sound of hundreds of young hipsters lining up across the street from my apartment waiting for the huge American Apparel Factory Flea Market sale open its doors at noon. Literally across the street from my apartment. thank you hipsters for ruining my morning.

Maybe when the line dies down (it was wrapped around the corner....all for some crappily made in the USA cotton t shirts!!) i'll venture out there and see what all the hipsters are trying to get their greedy little hands on...apparently items starting at $2. JAWESOME.

DON'T STOP TIL YOU GET ENOUGH

2009-06-26T17:35:00.004-04:00

Here's my obligatory "RIP MJ" blog post.

Sad he never got to show off his Balmain on his 50-city tour...

But on for some good news! MotelRocks.com is quickly becoming one of my favorite websites for cheap/cute dresses. They're not only having a great sale on lots of print dresses and tops, but i found a sweet coupon code online for an extra 20% off!

Use code summerfun and stock up on fun printed dresses and even a romper or two if you're into that sort of thing (i know i am!) xoxo

ELUXURY IS DEAD

2009-06-15T23:29:00.003-04:00

Another one bites the dust.....

Sad but true, eLuxury.com the online retailer of luxury goods is shuttering its e-doors at the end of the month. it's disturbing and sad, but i think we all have high hopes for all the fallen companies out there to re-emerge once this recession calls it quits.

So in the meantime, get your designer merch at up to 60%+an extra 50% off right now. GO!

STILL OBSESSED

2009-06-15T21:57:00.003-04:00

I'm still obsessed with the proenza sandals (see below).

And has anybody else noticed that Elizabeth & James' new shoe line is bares a more than slight similarity to Proenza Schouler's previous collection?? I know cut out booties are popular, but really?

PROENZA SCHOULER

2009-06-06T22:01:00.003-04:00

So remember last month when i said i would blow my refund check on those HOT proenza sandals? well i just did. 45% off retail. IN YOUR FACE!

UNDREST ON HAUTELOOK

2009-06-04T00:36:00.004-04:00

I love those fake "private" online sales, like gilt.com, hautelook.com, and ruelala.com.

Once in a blue moon I will actually find myself PURCHASING something off the "private sales" at hautelook.com. Last week they had a sale on underwear and nighties from Undrest. A great LA brand of girlie girl underwear and then some. Great deals, but then i find out that most of the "great discounts" offered in the "private sale" were already available on the company's website.

Do yourself a favor and check it out if you're in the market for some cute panties with ribbon ties or nighties and robes made of luscious supima cotton and lace starting at $9 and up...

BARNEYS PRIVATE SALE

2009-05-19T22:40:00.002-04:00

Barney's is having a private sale starting today. Lots of bags and shoes on sale.....but only up to 40% off. Oh i miss last year's warehouse sale, why can't they bring that back? Didn't their Dubai investors, Istithmar, put more money into them recently? COME ON PEOPLE!

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

2009-05-19T22:35:00.003-04:00

I scored these Oscar de la Renta python and suede pumps at the Gilt Warehouse sale today. The price for the shoes weren't listed so one of the guys working the sale gave them to me $79. I came home and looked them up and the original SRP is $795. WOWZERS.

TEMPRANILLO

2009-05-18T11:29:00.003-04:00

The BF and I went on a serious wine shopping spree on Saturday @ Astor Wines. We bought a case of Bodegas Real Tempranillo 2008 for about $5 a bottle!!! What an amazing deal. It was on sale and we were a little scared to commit to a full case of a wine that neither of us had tasted before. But Perez is a sommelier and is very familiar with this region, but not the specific manufacturer. Well we uncorked a bottle immediately after returning home and we were more than pleasantly surprised with the quality of this wine. For all you Spanish wine lovers out there....this is definitely a steal! Go buy a bottle and enjoy it with your dinner or favourite charcuterie plate tonight!

BEST SAMPLE EVER

2009-05-16T19:58:00.009-04:00

So as most New York ladies have probably heard, Elizabeth and James had a HUGE sample sale that started on Friday and goes through Sunday. A friend took me to their friends & family night on Thursday to shop the sale before it was open to the public and it was SO amazing that we went back today after they restocked. We skipped Friday (the first day it was open to the public) because the line was neverending and wrapped around the block - INSANITY! I might even venture back tomorrow for their final day, they'll be putting the coats out. Although i don't know if i really need to spend $100+ for a furry/feathery/pouffy coat. But the deep 85%-90% discounts are calling my name....

SO here's the skinny on my conquests:

1) The After Party Dress (sample) in Black

2) Elizabeth IV Blazer in Plaid
3) James Blazer in Black
4) Lillian Blouse in Slipper Pink
5) Safari Shirt in White

6) Cohen Shirt in PlaidAlso 4 other "basic" t shirts, asymmetrical one-shoulder tees, a wife beater, and oversized t shirts. I pretty much bought a whole new wardrobe consisting of only Elizabeth & James. i wish i could personally thank Mary Kate and Ashley for providing such an amazing line and allowing their employees to put together the BEST SAMPLE SALE EVER!

ELIZABETH & JAMES <3

2009-05-14T10:00:00.003-04:00

I just received the new Elizabeth & James draped skirt in the mail, but for some reason it is HUGE! I purchased a size 2 because the 0 was out of stock, and i figured with the elastic waist band, it should fit fine. But when i tried it on the elastic was SO BIG, it was literally 1-2 centimeters of space between the elasitc band and my actual waist. I was shocked!

Hopefully i can return it to saks.com and find something at the friends & family sample sale tonight in soho. gotta love sample sale season :)

PROENZA SANDALS

2009-05-09T18:54:00.004-04:00

As if the keiffer v. proenza brawl at the Met Gala last week wasn't amazing enough.....their spring shoe collection makes me so giddy.

But these patent leather nude wedge sandals are the ones i really want (see below). They're on sale at Sak's Fifth Avenue, but the discount isn't enough. What happened to the days of deep deep 70%+ discounts on designer goods like last holiday? god i miss it....

BVLGARI

2009-05-06T22:31:00.003-04:00

For my 16th birthday, my parents bought me a big Bulgari Sole pendant on a thick black leather choker. My parents always buy me things that I'm questionable about, but act ever so gracious to receive. The only time i actually refused a gift from my parents was one time in highschool when they bought me a Dior messenger bag that said "I <3 Sex" in graffiti on it. They told me to use it as a school bag....WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?!

Well this bulgari sole pendant i thought would sit in its beautiful leather box in my jewelry armoire forever....

BUT, as i was watching my DVR'ed reruns of SATC, i noticed Carrie wearing MY necklace. Well the smaller version of my necklace. And i realized that its time has come:

Yes, the pendant is proudly hanging off of my cheap gold chain that hits above my belly button. So 10 years of collecting dust.....for its debut on a rainy day in NYC. what a proud moment. now if only the REAL sun would shine....

CHANEL NO. 5

2009-05-05T10:05:00.003-04:00

FINALLY! 5/5/09 - the release of the new Chanel No. 5 commercial directed by Jean Pierre Jeunet starring Audrey Tautou.

I've been waiting to see this full length version (2m22s) for months:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch08Lt1Beo4

However, i'm much more excited about the US release of this feature-length movie:

AKA - Coco avant Chanel.

SPOTTED: SUMMER ROBERTS

2009-05-01T21:22:00.004-04:00

SPOTTED: Summer Roberts walking out of Whole Foods on Houston Street.

I'm a huge fan of The O.C. and Summer was definitely my favorite character. Rachel Bilson is utterly ADORABLE, just LOOK:

SHANG = THUMBS XIA

2009-04-28T09:57:00.004-04:00

For you non-chinese speakers out there, "shang" means "up" and "xia" means "down". So my post should make more sense now...

I know I don't usually post about food, not that i have that many posts under my belt anyway, but the BF took me out on a date last Friday night and i must discuss. We went to Shang, a new "chinese" restaurant that opened in the Thompson LES hotel (literally across the street from my apartment building). I've been keeping up with the reviews out there, Frank Bruni's being the most obvious and scathing, but i kept an open mind and stomach.

I know i can be a harsh restaurant critic, especially when it comes to Asian fare (my grandfather was a master chinese chef and my parents own several very successful Japanese restaurants). But COME ON! Shang was a joke. First off, I get what Susur Lee is trying to do, trying to bring back the gourmet, high-brow dining experience to Chinese cuisine. Well honestly, my grandma makes better spare ribs. My grandma makes better everything!! But again, i tried keeping an open mind, we tried 4 different dishes and 4 different wines. We skipped dessert because seriously, unless they give you fruit or sweet almond tofu at the end of your meal, it's not a real chinese dessert.

My take on Shang is definitely thumbs down.

NEW MJ FIG EDT TONIC

2009-04-22T19:56:00.007-04:00

The new limited edition Marc Jacobs Fig EDT Tonic is pretty amazing. I just received it from Sephora when they had their 15% off promo last week. 10.0 fluid ounces for just $57 (originally $68)!!! This will last me years i bet, considering i have a few (okay like 5) other fragrances that it has to compete with. I love my MJ, and this "Fig" scent boasts notes of yuzu zest, tusacan cypress and of course FIG!

I like this scent so much that i'm not even upset about getting turned down after interviewing with Marc Jacobs Fragrances at Coty, Inc. 2 years ago. All is forgiven!

TOM SACHS

2009-04-22T00:10:00.006-04:00

My friend Jessica took me to the auction at Phillips de Pury after work today. Yes, I got drunk off free booze, but more importantly, i saw this very expensive and small hello kitty...

Guess how much it's going for? around $20-30k. thank you kind stranger for buying this awesome and tiny Tom Sachs piece for me :)

SHOPBOPSALE!!!!

2009-04-13T15:52:00.005-04:00

Shopbop.com is having a "tax break" sale -
coupon code: taxbreak09

$25 off $200
$75 off $400
$125 off $600
$200 off $800 (25% OFF!)

I've been waiting for a good reason to buy this Alexander Wang bag:

KAREN MILLEN

2009-04-12T10:32:00.002-04:00

So her clothes aren't all that. a bit stiff and well....boring for my tastes, but KAREN MILLEN'S SHOES!!!!! OH THE SHOES....

I saw this pair in Lucky Magazine a few months ago and never realized they had store locations in the US since it's a UK company. Bought them at KM's Tyson's Corner store in McLean, VA. Love the mall :)

DOLCE VITA

2009-04-07T21:29:00.004-04:00

Dolce Vita is having a sale. Stock up on your leather boots and cute flats now!

$25 off $100 purchase - coupon code: 25off100
$50 off $200 purchase - coupon code: 50off200
$80 off $300 purchase - coupon code: 80off300
$115 off $400 purchase - coupon code: 115off400

Not Bad! Scored these sweet Wendy Boots for $75 (factoring in the discount)

MOTELROCKS

2009-04-03T15:45:00.004-04:00

Currently obsessed with this UK ecomm shop - MotelRocks.com

I will most likely be purchasing this within the next few hours:

And yes, you did see Lily Allen wearing this dress. And no, I don't need topshop!

TOPSHOPMANIA

2009-04-02T15:38:00.001-04:00

So with all of this Topshop-mania going around, I think I'm going to have to stay away from the vicinity of broome & spring for the next week or so.

Luckily i'm going home to Maryland for Easter anyway so I'm hoping the huge lines of teenage girls will subside by then and the store will have replenished their depleted inventory.

MY TAX REFUND WILL BE SPLURGED

2009-04-01T23:22:00.000-04:00

On this Chloé Paraty bag:

Let's just hope I actually get that much back this year. Damn you NYC!!

READY FOR SUMMER

2009-04-01T21:34:00.001-04:00

I am addicted to buying accessories, and that includes sunglasses. I just bought these 3.1 Phillip Lim Castor sunglasses from eLuxury during their 40% off sunglasses sale last week.

Sweet deal, thanks Phil!

AN INTRODUCTION

2009-04-01T20:02:00.000-04:00

Since this is "technically" my first "blog", I'd like to introduce myself....

My name is Jennifer and I live NYC and I work in the beauty industry. I love cosmetics, fashion, leather accessories, shopping, wine, traveling, Japanese subcultures, and kawaii mono (for those of you who aren't in the know, that means "cute things" in Japanese).

This will be my little slice of the world wide web where I can divulge all of my deepest, darkest (fashion related) desires, my most coveted possessions, and my current obsessions. This can/will be anything related to the following: online shopping, travel plans, new designers I like, fashion accessories, restaurants I love, delicious food, even more delicious wines, other blogs, beauty industry news, and anything else that pops into my mind.

ENJOY :)