Not much to say except today I'm invoking Karl Lagerfeld. Love him!!!
Oh, as a side note, I ran into a girlfriend at the coffee shop this morning and she says to me, "looking slick, G, I love it." I say thanks and tell her it's for RC and she says, "oh, I thought you were supposed to be Super Fly!" I said, "nope, but you just gave me a killer Halloween costume idea!" :)
(Vintage Jack McConnell hat; thrifted scarf; Brooks Bros. Button down; Diane Von Furstenberg pantsuit; Stuart Weitzman platforms)
Sometimes the way to make less boring a conservatively cut dress is with color and a bit of texture that is interest but won't immediately jump out at you. Here is a very simply cut dress in my favorite bold orange over a pair of lightly chevron patterned navy tights. I like look down and count the chevron layers on the tights during meetings. It makes me seem focused and thoughtful. :)
I don't suppose that this photo can pass as the kind of drag shot that gigi is referring to. Rather, when I wear this dress, I feel like a modern day flower child. I say modern because my flowy chiffon dress has these cool pockets that create a billowing draped shape that I see often in more modern designs. The pockets are too thin and shallow to be any good for holding stuff, but they are oh so fun to stick the hands in. To tie in a bit more of that 60s feel, I threw on a vintage coin belt gigi and I found on our vintage shopping excursion a few months ago. The funny thing is, here in Shanghai, the flower child concept is not well known, but I got quite a few compliments on putting together a very "pop star Korean look." Whatever that is, I am sure it's pretty cool too. :)
I love it when the bf takes my picture, he just snaps away while I do silly stuff. It was his opinion that I try to act more natural, but every time he went, "okay, 1-2-3," click!!, I'd strike what I considered a 'natural ' pose. Honey, every last one of them came out looking crazy. I looked like a drag queen! The worst one (which I will never share with the world) was of me getting my side profile on while sucking in my cheeks and arching my shoulders! So moments before this photo was snapped, my bf says, "um, you might want to scrap the "natural" bit cause you're coming out a little dude-ish looking. A pretty dude, but still a dude!" Man, I laughed so hard and before I knew it, the camera went, 'click!' So bf hands the camera back to me and says, "see, that wasn't so bad now was it!"
(one of my so-called "drag" shots! LOL!!!)
Le freak, c'est chic! Hello, hello! This is my tribute to the late 70's/early 80's era. Don't get me wrong, I hate 80's style. I'm sorry, but I just do. I don't get it. I guess I'm old and set in my ways, but I just don't get it. Anyhow, this is for all you gals dying to wear harem pants and anything neon, I pay tribute to you. I don't even want to know what the guys are wearing. That's a lie, yes I do. Please comment and tell me what 80's item is hot on the men's side. Muah!
I am sorry to put out this kind of headless shot, but I was running out of the door and was running out of time. It's raining in Shanghai again. I hate this wet and cold weather that chills one to the bone. Even in the family house, where a separate heater pipes in hot air in every single room, there is still a zip in the air outside of the bedroom. So I pretty much wear my jacket around even indoor. This spotted thing is the perfect length and weight to suit most cooler conditions and can be dressed up or down for most occasions. As such, it has become my favorite travel jacket and has gone with me to at least three continents. It looks about sturdy enough to survive a few more, I think. :) Hope you are all keep warm wherever you are.
Serious business engagements are the same whether one is back home or here in Shanghai. Too much flash or creativity in clothes in these cases do take away some of one's credibility in certain circles. So here is the appropriate, if not most interesting, suit getup for a meeting. At least I didn't go the route of the matching suit separates, at least they fit, and at least I have the red shoes and scarf for some color. I thrive in the at leasts on these days. :)
When I was little, I wanted a pony. Not really sure why as I grew up in the concrete jungle, but that's what the fairy tales tell you, so that's what I wanted. Got on my first horse when I was 21 and I was scared to death. I suppose he knew I was scared too. It didn't help that his name was Psycho! I'll never forget the instructor telling me, "whatch out for Psycho, cause he likes to kick the other horses, so don't let him get near the others." Hell, I could barely stay on the thing, let alone keep Psycho in check! He did what he wanted. Thankfully, he decided to go grazing instead of kicking anything. I assume that's what he was doing. Anyhow, instead of staying in formation with the rest of the trail, he decided to go off into a field and chew on lord knows what. I was just along for the ride. I sat there and waited til' he was done and then we moseyed on along. Honestly, I think Psycho sensed I was scared shitless and gave me a break. After it was all over, I brushed his coat and sang to him. I think he liked that. He gave me a very slimy horse type kiss. I suppose he liked it. Anyhow, that was in West Virginia. Who knew you could have fun like that in West Virginia!
Hi all, we're back from sunny Florida and what a wonderful and relaxing trip it was. Yes, that's right, I wore heels to the beach! I always do. I had a pair of beach sandals in my bag, but that was for later. Style first! :) Sorry I could not post earlier, but I was in a remote area called Tarpon Springs. Okay, it's not all that remote, but I wanted it to be and thus, that's what it became. I turned off my phone, left my computer at home and read nothing but a trashy novel while sipping piña coladas! I needed to decompress. Besides, my ox fortune told me to travel lots this year and that's what I plan to do. Why not? I've only got this one life (that I know of). I plan to live the hell out of it! The shot above included the bf. I had other shots, but thought why not include him, since I talk with him so much about this blog, it's as if he's a part of it too really. After all, the "skirt" I'm wearing was once his Ed Hardy t'shirt. He didn't like all the rhinestones and it was terribly large for him as a shirt anyway. I didn't like the shirt as a shirt, but thought it would make a killer skirt! And so that's what it became. The bf didn't mind too much, he's so encouraging when it comes to my love of clothes. He's always sure to remind me that when one door closes, try a window and if there is no window, well... tear down a wall! BTW, that advice goes for everyone out there, not just me. :)
(Better close-up of the former Ed Hardy t'shirt, now skirt!!)
Please excused the startled look on my face. There was no intruder in the house, just an unexpected double flash. Gigi is off to Florida on vacation today, but we have agreed that we'll try to keep up with the postings on the road. This applies to her as well as me, especially during my upcoming travels to China. So we'll see if she pops in with her post.
A loft is not for someone who likes to hoard stuff. Despite what people may think, I am not a hoarder. In fact, I share a single non-walk-in type closet with the husband EQUALLY and he gets about 80% of the dresser space in the house (I hate dressers). I am not saying that he is obsessed with clothes. He is not. He just likes to save all the old t-shirts and his clothes are a lot bigger. :) Anyway, the point is despite the limited closet space I have, there are enough goodies in there to play with and I never forget exactly what I have. I think the secret is to have lots of dresses that can play on their own or with the jackets/cardigans that you can mix and match with the dresses. Very few of my things wrinkle, so when packing, I can roll everything into a ball and it'd be just fine. People are always surprised that I can pack a single overnight bag and dress out of it for a week and don't look like I am repeating. So here is a dress and jacket combo again. I got quite a few compliments today and everyone thought the skirt was separate. So dresses that look like separates are even more interesting and flexible to play with. :)
Well, I guess I'm a hoarder. I have two walk-in closets (though one is not really used properly) and two very narrow closets. Along with another temporary closet type looking thing my bf got for me. Does the bf have space for clothes? I suppose he does, but he's quite practical and doesn't require much. Thank goodness, as it would be crazy here. Oh, I forgot about the trunks I keep too. They are for last season's clothes. What that means is, that my spring/summer clothes are packed into trunks and fall/winter go into the closets. When I'm sure we're over the cold snaps, then fall/winter will go into the trunks and well... you get the routine. I honestly don't think I have a lot of clothes. My problem is shoes and coats. Yeah, I gotta lot of those. I suppose it comes from my youth. My mother was a single mom, working as a waitress to support three kids. And I had some type of foot issue that required I wear special shoes. Only problem was, I continued to grow. One season I'd get a coat, the next shoes as that's all she could afford. So while one thing fit, the other didn't. I guess subconsciously, I collect coats and shoes for that reason. BUT, I make sure I use everything I own. If it does not get used, I give it to charity or to friends and so forth.
Gigi and I decided that we'd have a lot more fun taking this little hobby of ours out to the more colorful world. What do you think? All I can say about her photo is "FIERCE"! :)
Welcome to my home! In case the husband happen to see me wearing shoes here, please know that I've disinfected the soles before stepping on the carpet. :) Yes, we Asians are paranoid about such things, but I'll assure you that it's very nice to live in a house free of outside dirt. The really interesting part of this outfit is what you don't see. This Marciano dress is incredibly sheer on top and low cut to the point that I'd probably never wear it without something to cover it. But covered this way, it actually passes as a pretty fun scrunched skirt. I am so happy to be able to wear the orange slides now. It just says summer to me. Orange is the color of happiness, I am certain of that.
Ok, this will be the first and last time I'll talk about something other than the outfit here. I am going to ask Gigi to put post #44 back on the blog. If gigi feels compelled to remove her words, at least we can have the photos back? When we started this humble little blog of ours, we had only wanted this to be a place for beautiful things. It's a happy place where we intend to generate happy memories. We thank you for visiting and hope your short stay injects a little lightheartedness into your busy day. Neither of us, I think, is so ungrateful as to bite the hand that feeds us and makes many of these beautiful things possible. Let's just all be happy. :)
I have decided to take up the art of haiku. Enjoy!A sapling
Cannot grow
In the shadow of a mighty oak.
(Egyptian beaded scarf; Zucca jacket; Saks Fifth Avenue tank; thrifted pants; Etienne Aigner boots)
Photos of post #44 back from the deleted bin :)
Over the weekend, I attended a clothing swap/sale type of event. It was held at a colleagues home and was done up quite proper. She and about 5 girlfriends decided to either sale or swap clothes that they were no longer using. There were hors d'oeuvres, champagne, and lots of smiles to go around. I didn't quite know what to expect as I've attended this type of event before and was utterly disappointed. This event, however, was very different. Not only did I score some killer clothing at prices that were unheard of, but I also got to mingle with an eclectic group of women. All were gorgeous. All were artistic. And all were so encouraging. Let me tell you, that's odd. Being a woman, I know. It's rare to find a room full of women where there is no drama. Rare! How inspiring it was to speak with ladies following their passions and living their lives on their own terms. Mesmerizing to say the least.
After seeing gigi's killer jacket, I was so jealous! Most of all because I had to skip the event, not because I wasn't invited, but because I was working! I know, what a reason. But the job is what pays for everything nice in my life, so I gratefully deal, most of the time, until I am reminded of what I missed. :) To be honest, the job isn't bad, at least I have a window, unless it's a day like today, where the mist pretty much covered up everything outside. What's a girl to do for a little bit of sunshine? She has got to bring it herself! It's all about positive thinking, right? I think these bright bright pants did the job nicely. What do you think?
A guest! J walked in on us taking photos and graciously accepted our invite to appear on this humble little blog. I'll see if I can get her to say a few words about her cute little jacket. Doesn't she just have the best smile?
Remember the whole cherry thing started by Carrie Bradshaw quite some years ago? Well, this Marc Jacobs jacket goes back that far. I'd say that it's the first real designer piece I own. Since then, I have had the great fortunate of having friends in fashion who are able to find some incredible deals for me overseas, but this one is what started it all.
Well, we're moving on up! I decided it was high time we made good use of C's space. And boy, will we. These shots look more lively than the plain ole' wall we've been using. Oh, honey, ya'll ain't seen nothing yet. I'm thinking perhaps a circular throw rug in the corner and various backdrops for our everchanging fashion moods. I figure, why not. Some call it perfectionism, some call it obsessive compulsive disorder. Me, I see it like this: 'any job worth doing is worth doing well.' I don't want people to stop coming to our blog because they know what to expect day in and day out. My bf of 7 years still can't figure me out. Don't get me wrong, I'm a straight up creature of habit when it comes to certain things. I always pay my bills on the same day of the month, every month! I always walk my dog the same route, every day. Stuff like that. But when it comes to matters of style, WATCH OUT! C & I are like a box of chocolates, you never know whatcha' gonna get! ^_^
For me, today is all about these gold chains that you can't see so well unless you click to enlarge the photo (as gigi pointed out, we are still trying to figure out her very awesome new camera). My husband and I got the heavy gold stuff as a part of a traditional Chinese wedding set. You should have seen his face when he opened the box. I feared for the one who would ask him to wear his. Luckily, no one did. Since, for luck reasons, we can't sell the gold for money :), I thought I'd work it into my wardrobe. What do you think? They sort of go with this otherwise low key outfit? 
So as I walk into C's office today holding a rather large camera bag, she says, "ooh, you look like you're going on safari!" I had to laugh. It was funny. 
Okay, better camera, but still need to figure the darn thing out. Everything in life requires work, I mean everything. Anyhow, my shots look nice, thanks to C. I totally jacked hers up. But remember, I'm new to this whole blogger world so you've just got to be a little understanding. As I practice, the shots will get better and better. So I'll stop obsessing now and talk fashion. Let's see, it's 80 degrees today and I thought linen was the order of the day. It's one of those items you either love or hate. Especially if you have a wrinkle phobia. If you do, don't wear linen. It took me about a month or more to get over the wrinkles. Now, I see it like I see my hairstyles. My attitude now is more so, "am I bothered!"
close up of Kors belt
What can I say, I am all about lace this season. And this one had me at first glace. I have a feeling that we will have a long and beautiful relationship for a long long time!
Love is most definitely in the details.
Again, Gigi's comment below provides such a poetic description of what I would otherwise call my short-legged shuffle. :) The truth is, when one is as vertically challenged as I, one learns very early on to work with high heels. These shoes are actually amazingly comfortable despite their look. The sole is padded and decorated with a Japanese motif. Maybe that's where Gigi got the geisha idea. There is another element of this outfit that is Japanese though. The shirt component here is actually a dress with a shinny silk skirt that I bought when I passed through Japan a few years ago. This morning, I tucked the dress bottom into the skirt you see here to avoid looking too done up for work. The double layer worked very well to keep me warm in the slightly cool morning air.
Okay, so I'm getting a better camera tomorrow. Actually, I already have it, but don't really know how to work it so I'm taking pictures of my dog for the moment to get it just right. At some point, I'll deck him out in outfits too. I'm sure he'll be thrilled. HA! Anyhow, I titled today's post "geisha sandal" because as C moves around the office, her walk is with very tiny, yet swift steps. Like a geisha! She has on cool but rather intimidating mules. The vamp is a braided fabric strap and the wedge heel appears to be lucite with a hollow middle. She's brave, I would so fall in that shoe. But my reasoning of bringing up the camera was to mention that I really want to capture the details of C's outfits on this blog, as they are AMAZING. I also wanted to post her other pic, just because the shoe detail was much better, but now that I have a newer camera, there will plenty of time for that. Baby steps.
I was going to wear an orange dress today in honor of C, but then saw a photo of some new "IT" girl in jacket and jeans, pumping gas. Since it's still a tad cool, just a tad though, I opted for the "IT" girl pumping gas look, instead. I can wear orange on Monday.
I have a pair of black jeans that gigi loves and comment on every time I wear it. It's one of the few pairs of jeans that I can tolerate because it stretches and doesn't feel tight around the thighs. But it's impossible to wear it under thinner dresses, which is the way I prefer to wear my jeans, because all the details at the waist, such as pockets and belt loops, show awkwardly through the dress material, forming weird shapes. Finally, I've found a solution, Japanese jean leggings, the perfect child that inherited the best of both contributing parents. The waist stretches and fits smoothly like a pair of leggings and the leg portion has the weight and texture of a pair of jeans. Best of all, the length is just right for my height. Gigi didn't even notice that this was not the same pair of jeans she saw before.
This morning, my last minute husband informed me that we'd be meeting some "big time interior design" clients of his for dinner. Whatever that means, they sounded like very interesting and artsy people. So at the last minute, I had to put together something that would take me from the office to dinner and not look too boring. Luckily, the weather has warmed up to a spring-like 65 degrees. Yeah! That opened the door to those sleeveless dresses I have been waiting to wear. This particular one has a shiny black silk bodice with a large bow, which is connected to the chiffon skirt that looks like a separate piece. Being a fairly lazy dresser, I am all for two-in-one constructions. Fearing being cold in the office and looking too simple, I decided that an extra layer would be a good idea and, what do you know, this lace vest was hanging right next to the dress. Just the right size to fit snugly over the dress and let the bow come through the collar. Another serendipity moment? I think so. 
Upon C's suggestion, I decided to tell the real story behind this jacket. Enjoy!...
Not much to say really except it's warming up nicely and I'm trying to wear all my wintry items while I can. Today's look is my tribute to Anna Sui.
Sadly, the waist details, the best part about this dress, can't be seen in this photo. Essentially it's a silk trimmed piece with buttons that makes the dress looks like two very fitted pieces. When I bought this vintage dress, the label read "secretary wool dress." I had no idea what that meant, until I saw glorious Joan on Mad Men. I don't know if there is a specific type of dresses that the Mad Men wives worn (I guess those involved more puffy skirts), but the secretary dresses are perfectly awesome! 
I encouraged gigi to get this suit she wore below based solely on description. Boy, was my advice sound! :) Doesn't it just look amazing on her? Me, on the other hand, had trouble getting excited about an outfit this morning. Dreaming of chiffon and lace, sunlight and flowers, I woke up to sub-zero temperature. What? Aren't we in March? I reluctantly browsed through the sweaters and decided on one of the softest, thickest, and blackest, like my mood. Not one to dwell in such a dark place, I brighten it up with a vintage fifties dress and the yellow BCBG I seem to be wearing a lot this winter. Maybe subconsciously I have always been trying to bring on the sunshine. Let's hope tomorrow will be a dream come true type of day.
You know I had so much fun invoking Joan Jett yesterday. I felt so powerful and I don't know, cool perhaps. I would not have even thought of her had it not been for the 'ole Ipod. So I decided to try that serendipity thing that C's always raving about. And since I had no idea what I wanted to wear today, I once again let a song inspire me. This morning, I chanced upon the Beatles "Lovely Rita." So Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, today's outfit is for you! 
We finally got snow in Atlanta, but alas, it's gone. Typically, we get a light dusting like every 5 years if we're lucky. But this time, some places saw up to 4 inches! I know those who live in snowy areas are just shaking their heads, but know that for me (a Georgia native) it was a huge deal. I just wish it could have lasted 72 hours at least. But just 72 hours.
Gigi always gives me way too much credit for my outfit when she is the one rocking leather pants on a Monday! Lacking her endless layering skills, I tend to stick to my tried and true jacket and dress combination. Truth be told, for me, everything revolves around the dress. The jackets are bought and worn simply because I can't get away with walking around in shoulder-bearing dresses all day, at least not at work. Over time, I've grown to love the jackets too. Especially the ones with little details, like the white piping on this one. It makes me feel very fifties housewife. Although only in looks. Thank goodness, I don't have that "charmed" suburban life. 
