I Only Want EVERYTHING

How does it all happen so fast?

2009-02-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

I just read someone's 25 things on facebook, and it really made me want to blog again. I like the idea of sharing a little piece of my life with the world, even if the rest of the world may not find my life all that interesting.

It's really amazing how much has changed this year or since September 2008 when my second year of college started. I haven't been writing very much, here or to myself in my journal. It makes me sad because I like documenting my life. I always make time to go back and look at what I wrote.

So this is what happened:
-I lost a loved one for the first time in my life
-Crossed the Pacific for the funeral and returned to school all in a span of 5 days
-Fell in love
-And watched as so many relationships fell apart
-Witnessed my friend lose a loved one too
-Allowed myself to open up to someone more than I've ever allowed myself before
-Had more bloody noses and thrown up more than anyone should in such a short amount of time

And all the while I laughed. For myself. At myself. And it's been relatively okay. I'm not happy all the time, but I don't know if many people can say that they are.

There are so many ways that I can improve my life too, and I think if things got busier around here, I would feel better and much more occupied. It seems like you just can't have it all. Last year when I had a very pathetic social life (more like none at all), I had so much time to read leisure books. I ripped through at least one novel a week on top of all my school work. I watched more tv shows than I can count on one hand, and I always had time to keep up with fashion blogs.

This academic year, I've read exactly 2 novels I think. The only shows I watch now are the ones the boyfriend likes: Survivor Man, The Family Guy, Myth Busters, and whatever else happens to be on Adult Swim. What happened to Gossip Girl, House, Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, and The Zoe Project? I miss that. At least I'm expanding my horizons.

I still can't believe I'm twenty. I'm too young to be twenty years old.

"After great pain, a formal feeling comes--"

2008-10-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

I have bruises all over my arms and legs. I need to stop tripping into elevators and running into bushes.

There's always something positive in the negative. But I feel like it's entirely inappropriate.

I can't wait until next week when we'll all be together. How did it all go by so quickly?

"October's the month of love"

2008-10-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Week 3 of fall quarter has ended, so basically things are in full swing. I feel it. I really do. My desk is messy, and my roommates are driving me mad. Occasionally they'll do something cute to set things right again, but as of now I'm officially peeved.

We were so happy during Week 0 and 1, and then things went to shit. But I have faith, as always, that things will sort out in time.

I decided that I can deal with messy but NOT dirty. I'm a messy person. I've accepted the fact that I am going to be one of those annoying girls who are always just a little bit late to things, a little bit disorganized, and a little bit frazzled by life in general. But that doesn't mean I'm dirty. I can't stand dirt, germs, bugs, and people putting these things on my bed by using my bed as a sofa.....that's another story for another day.

I haven't read the Sartorialist is soooo long! And I just caught up on a month and a half of posts, and it's almost too much to handle.

How do these people do it??? HOW? This girl looks so cute and that background is so perfect. I think her shoes are Marc Jacobs and I almost bought them. Now I wish I had.

Are you seeing this amazing picture? I love it so much. If only everyone in the world walked around dressed like that. I would die. I would walk every where! hahah. They're Teen Vogue editors (another reason why I want to work there and why I love the magazine THAT much). Remind me why I'm in college studying economics.

And this. Oh my God. This is so ........perfect. The best part is that her dress is just the double u-neck dress from American Apparel, which I own in black. But I would never look like that. This is going to be my new wallpaper on my laptop.

All pictures from thesartorialist.blogspot.com.

Indian Summer.....so bittersweet

2008-09-17T01:19:00.000-07:00

My posting is very sporadic. I'm actually really disappointed in myself because I'm usually so good at documenting my life. Lately, writing (and just about everything else) has become a non-priority. I've left my personal journal blank for almost two months. To be perfectly honest, not much has been going on in my head.

I've been obsessing over DIY projects and buying STUFF. It's not the buying part that gets me, it's the actual feeling of having possession of STUFF. Terrible, I know.

So here's what I've been doing really.

1. Shopping like no other. My style is evolving once again. I'm kind of linking my super girly side with some of that LA hipster stuff that seems to be getting so popular. But ruffles, full skirts, feather and lace are still my favorites. This is what I did in one day...I just really couldn't help myself. Especially since I was in a foul mood--shopping makes it all better. And then I ended up returning a good portion of it just because I either found better deals or felt guilty for spending so much money.

2. Nails and Nail Polish and Makeup

I totally blame my friends for this one. I was a no makeup kind of girl before! Now I can't leave the house without some Posietint and Mascara. Maybe a little concealer. Sometimes when I have extra time, Mac lipstick in Myth.

Then there's the huge collection of nail polish I've amassed. It's kind of disgusting, but now I just want every color ever made. BAD BAD habit. This isn't even all of it. I have another 7 or 8 bottles lying around the house.
Then there's the hair products! Hundreds of dollars spent on hair serum and dry shampoo and regular shampoo and conditioners and curl enhancing sprays.

3. Obsessing over my iphone cases! I can't decide on which one to buy. The thought of spending another $35 on a piece of plastic seems really ridiculous to me. I love the phone though so it's probably going to be a good investment. My only problem with the iphone is the volume of the ringer! It's WAY too soft. I have it all the way up and it's still inaudible. Sorry in advance for not picking up my phone. I miss my blackberry curve--that thing was deafening.

4. Scrapbooking. I'll put up pictures of it later when I've finished. If I ever finish. It was supposed to be a Christmas 2007 present for a friend. I'll be lucky to finish the sucker in time for THIS Christmas.

What I really should be doing is sleeping now since I'm supposed to be going to Disneyland tomorrow. I should also get to the stack of books I ordered from Amazon at the beginning of summer! I'll post more pictures soon!

Love City Living

2008-07-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

I am a city girl. Something went wrong and I ended up being born in the burbs. But really, REALLY I belong in the city.

I really like taking taxis. First, you don't have to do the driving yourself. You also don't have to waste time and money for parking. Especially in China, the taxi fares are relatively affordable. Can't say the same thing about Taipei though. I spent two weeks in Taiwan and blew half of my allowance on cab rides.

Shanghai is a city of a much higher caliber- you really can't compare this place to Taipei. It's like the New York of Asia. Mostly, I'm impressed by Sherpa's. It is a delivery service that will deliver any kind of food to you from a huge list of restaurants. They have their own menu which you can order from in like 17 different languages. The array of restaurants is pretty comprehensive, but it's all international restaurants. The fee starts at around $2 US to $15. I think it's a good deal since traveling there yourself might cost more if you don't have your own car in the city. And the food??? It looks amazing (they've got pictures) which is another thing I love about big cities--the diversity in foods! So tomorrow I'm definitely going to try out the service. I'm a foreigner so this crap really appeals to me.

I find it amazing that people can still tell that I'm not from China when I'm walking in the streets. I speak in Mandarin to all the waiters and sales people and yet they still try to talk to me in English.....

I went to XinTianDi today on my own. I'm rather proud of this act of independence since I very rarely am allowed to venture off by myself. I successfully ordered a Chai Latte in Mandarin, then asked for a specific magazine at the cafe (this took like 5 or 6 attempts). I'm only allowed to do this because my father left me here for 3 days straight while he attends to business in a neighboring city. So, I have no one to take me out. My dad's former driver quit, and everyone else is busy in the office.

Here's some photos from my time in Taiwan (there really isn't much; I'm so bad at remembering to take pictures).

This was at the restaurant called Modern Toilet. The decor, food, etc. is pretty self explanatory.

This is at the restaurant called GanBei. If you make-out for ten seconds, you get a free plate of meat. They also take a polaroid of you and post it on the wall. :)

This was my $30 Asian -style manicure.

At a seafood restaurant where all the seats were swings. There was sand on the ground too.

Summer is escaping through my fingers

2008-06-25T00:25:00.000-07:00

I just want to start off by saying that I really LOVE my family. There really is never a dull moment in the Sun-Lai-Chen-Fu Family.

My uncle randomly wanted to treat me for dinner. He claims it's a celebration of completing the first year of college (telling him I got straight A's over dinner was just the icing on the cake), and he also wanted a going-away dinner before I left for my dreadfully long vacation in Asia.
*After today, I will never underestimate the food at Outback Steakhouse again. I haven't been there in years, and I was really shocked at how good everything tasted. Or it could have been the fact that I was extremely hungry. *

I have noticed that I am definitely the favorite in the family, and I am seriously reaping the benefits of being the favorite niece and granddaughter. hahah I feel evil for admitting and acknowledging the favoritism that's going on, but I feel like it's not undeserved. I am the only one who can speak Mandarin fluently. I also am the oldest. I was a good student and still am. I am very nice to my little cousins. I am extremely talkative when it comes to adult issues. I always say the right things at the right times. I buy my cousins ice cream and take them to dumb kiddy movies. I drive people around. I was everyone's flower girl.

______________________________________________
It has come to my attention that the Internet is a scary thing. You really can't control it. People will see what they see, and people will most definitely judge you based on what they see. We just have to be careful, and we have to learn not to be embarrassed. I know posting some of this personal stuff will come back to bite me in the ass later. But you know what, I'm at the point in my life where I can care less about what people are thinking. (uhhhh I might not feel the same way for long).

________________________________________________

These shoes, by the way, are actually $945..... yeah definitely worth going back to the house for! Didn't Louise say they were $400, then Carrie corrected her and said they were $525??? Well they were both wrong!

______________________________________________
My summer ends tomorrow!!! I am so sad. Then I'm off to Taipei and Shanghai until the 28th of July. I'm going to miss my friends. They really are the best part of my life right now aside from my family.

I couldn't help but wonder...

2008-06-18T00:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm a Sex and the City fan. Aren't we all these days? But in case you're not, the title of today's post is an homage to Carrie Bradshaw's column.

Anyway, I have seen the movie twice--in a span of 7 days! You may judge me all you want. Obviously, I thought it was fabulous, and so far, I don't know anyone who would disagree. It was certainly darker than the series but definitely a feel good movie.

The one thing that really bothered me though was that with such an extensive wardrobe budget and the abundant amount of free clothing from all kinds of glorious designers, why did Pat Field recycle the shoes on all the women? It was most evident with Sarah Jessica Parker's outfits.

Exhibit A: The Zebra Print Manolos

Exhibit B: The White Sigerson Morrison Booties

And finally, with the most appearances, Exhibit C: The Dior Shoes

In case you want these for yourself, they're available on Neiman Marcus's website.

Did you count them? That's 4 different outfits with those shoes! Pat must have LOVED them. But I must say that this is quite realistic and practical. Real women would and do wear their designer shoes over and over again with different outfits. These shoes make it easy by being so versatile because they can do both dressy and casual. And at $780, I would definitely wear them more than 4 times. WAY more.

Cleaning Out the Closet

2008-06-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

When I got home yesterday, without even thinking, I decided to throw all of my clothes onto my mom's bed simply because my own bedroom is way too small. (*sigh* this is where I start missing my room in Irvine). After the birthday celebrations were over, my mom forced me to put all the clothes away. Problem is, we have no closet or drawer space to accommodate all of it. I guess my wardrobe increased significantly in the past few months while I was at school, but I was totally unaware. Well, I should have foreseen this happening since I spent a lot of time at South Coast and Irvine Spectrum in attempt to cure my loneliness. If school were more challenging or if I actually had a social life, I could have saved myself from spending so much money. Oh well.

So, I reluctantly began to clean out my closet yesterday. It shouldn't be a big deal since I don't wear a single thing in my closet anymore. All the things in there are from my painfully dedicated preppy Abercrombie days c. 2002-2005. Although I've certainly grown out of that style (and of the clothes physically!), I can't bear parting with them. What if pleated plaid skirts and striped oxford shirts become fashionable again? And what about all those sherbet colored polos? I decided on packing them away for the future. But the hot pink fleece zip-up from Gap Kids can definitely go...

In the process I found my frayed denim shorts from 10th grade. Miraculously I can still squeeze into them, but HOLY SMOKES they are so short!!!! Can you say "skanky"? I cannot believe I walked around in public like that. The only time I will wear these again are at the beach where you can get away with wearing almost nothing. It's kind of mortifying just thinking about it.

Garage sale happening sometime in the future. Most definitely.

Goodbye 74 Sandpiper and Hello Summer '08

2008-06-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

I finished my last final of my first year of college this morning at around 8:50am. Got back to my empty apartment (it's actually more of a house) and started to pack up. Let me tell you, it was a bittersweet process. As much as I hated school this year, I'm too damn sentimental not to feel a bit sad about it ending. Well, it's mostly because I enjoyed having my own room for the last quarter and then having my own house, essentially, for the last 2 weeks. It was such a nice, spacious bedroom--such a shame to have to leave it. That, and I also have no where to live next year... but let's not think about that right now.

Today is also my mother's 50th birthday! What a way to start the summer. I don't think she'll appreciate me announcing this on cyberspace seeing as how she very rarely discloses her age to anyone, but it's not like people would believe her. She does not look anywhere NEAR fifty. I only hope to look half as good as her when I get to that age.
Took a long shot today by buying her some balloons, a cake, and a card. We never celebrate her birthday so this will be a good surprise. I'm just afraid she is going to think that this was a waste of money, or even worse, I'm afraid she'll be angry at me for reminding her of how old she really is.

The card I got her sings!!! I'm such a sucker for useless things, but at least it's cute. Now I just have to wait until she gets home from work!

We All Move On

2008-06-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

I officially declare the death of my fashion blog. Over the past year or so, my passion for fashion has evolved. I've always known that my love for clothes was just that. I never harbored ambitions to create clothes. This blog was sort of bordering the creating aspect of it...sort of. While I am still the fashion blog whore I was 2 years ago (more so than before I think), I can't continue doing this while the rest of life itself is out there calling for attention.

But...I'll continue to blog. About other stuff.

Quotes of the week:

"What does the 'M' in MTV stand for again? Mature?"- J. Wang

"It's more like eating cream cheese with bagels on the side." - J. Huo

"I doubt I'll be able to say that I love my job." - J. Hsu

EDIT:
I'm supposed to be studying. Finals really are the worst.
I can't concentrate because I drank probably 4 cups of coffee in one day and I feel incredibly dizzy. The only thing I CAN do is sing Lindsay Lohan's new song.........

It's actually not that bad, but it's the worst song to have stuck in your head. Here's a sampling of the lyrics:

I'm just a little bossy
I get it how I like, when I like, and that's how it is
I'm just a little bossy
You got a problem with it?
If I want it I get it now
La la la la
la la la la

OKKKK. I didn't say it was the most meaningful song I've ever heard. In fact, this song cannot be more unfitting for me. Since when did I get what I want?

I Can't Help Being a Girly Girl

2008-02-12T16:45:00.001-08:00

I think all people go through phases and all people have ruts. I think I've been in a kind of fashion rut ever since I started college mainly because I never bring enough clothes with me to school. I end up wearing the same clothes over and over again. I'm not the only one though....Lindsay Lohan needs to step it up. I am so tired of seeing her on the streets. What happened to her trend-setting days with Nicole??? I'm just glad she decided to go dark again with her hair. The blonde only made her look cheap and tired.

Here she is with her dead looking blonde hair. She looks great in her Herve Leger dress though.

Yay for Brunette hair! I prefer red but at least she's making some progress. I would improve the facial expressions. She never smiles anymore! Not loving this outfit either...

I am officially trying to get out of my so called fashion rut. I have been wearing a lot of black since summer ended. Actually I was wearing a lot of black during summer too. I can say that I am done with my "edgy" phase and ready to go back to the old me.

RUFFLES AND LACE AND PETER PAN NECKLINES AND BALLET FLATS.

Deep down, I am as girly as it gets. I prefer preppy over hip anytime. That's probably why I am attracted to anything that's got ruffles. These J. Crew tops are on the top of my wish list for spring.
Note the ruffles on both of the collars...
Actually the whole J.Crew website is pretty fabulous. The newest collection's ads were taken in Rome, and the pictures and film are gorgeous. Go see it for yourself!

If I had some fancy event to go to and lots of extra cash to spend, I'd get my hands on this Escada dress! But I unfortunately, I have fulfilled neither requirements. I was okay with just looking every time I passed by the window display at South Coast. It's no longer there because the new Spring collection just came in.

And.....I just thought I'd put this out there: I really want to get nonprescription glasses. This girl (photograph from The Sartorialist) is the reason why I want glasses. I only know of one place that sells these "reading" glasses- American Apparel. But at $50 a pop I'm going to have to keep thinking about it.

Size Matters

2008-01-27T11:58:00.000-08:00

While doing my laundry the other day (yes one of the many new experiences I've been forced to undertake since entering college), I came upon a quite appalling discovery.

I was hanging up my ratty old t shirt from Abercrombie that I've had since the 7th or 8th grade and I thought that maybe I had shrunk it in the dryer. It looked awfully tiny hanging next to my white t shirt from The Limited. But I realized that I never even put it in the dryer. So out of curiosity I decided to measure my two shirts against each other. This is what I discovered: my Abercrombie shirt in a size LARGE was considerably smaller than my Limited shirt in EXTRA SMALL!!!!

That just tells you that you cannot depend on sizes. Sizing differences are extreme in some cases! Well we all know what kind of body types Abercrombie is advocating. I was always a little ticked off when I went shopping with my mom in that store because she always grabbed these huge sizes but now I realize that there was a good reason for it.

It may not make you feel good about yourself when you reach for that size large but know that it does not mean that you are fat. Here's my advice for the day....Claudiaism #6 Always go for a size up because wearing clothes just slightly looser can make you look slimmer. You should always try clothes on before buying (that's probably an obvious one) but honestly, you never know. It may look good on the rack but it might look terrible on.

The INs and OUTs for Dec. 8

2007-12-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Next week is finals week....I'm home for four days because my first of two tests isn't until Wednesday. Trust me, if there were no consequences (i.e. failing life itself) I would consider blowing off school entirely this week in preparation for my trip to New York. There are just so many things to do...hard decisions to make about my wardrobe. I know one thing is for sure, I'm taking the EXTRA LARGE suitcase for my 7 days in the Big Apple. Ahhhhh what I wouldn't give to actually live there.

This opportunity to be in such a fabulous place at the most fabulous time of the year is almost stressing me out. What will I wear? What will I bring? It's time to start digging through mom's closet. The only problem is that my mom is going on vacation too, two days before me. This means war. I have to fight for the shearling boots and the Andrew Marc jacket. I deserve this!

Anyway, this preoccupation with my wardrobe needs also means goodbye to studying oligopolies and Descartes...

Here's my weekend agenda (aka shopping list):

Olympus stylus 790w. I just got a new camera not too long ago after destroying my last Sony Cybershot somewhere in the Costa Rican rainforest. But my mom has decided to bring our new 12.1 MP Sony to Cambodia with her which leaves me cameraless.
I can't go to New York without a camera!!!! At 7.1 MP, it may seem like a downgrade but for the waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof qualities, I think it's a fair trade off. You know....in case I decide to leave behind my shopoholic ways to become some adventure geek, a camera like this will be perfect.
Tights. I need them because I can't stand wearing jeans anymore. Hopefully Old Navy will have some cute and affordable textured ones made of wool. I would die for some gray tights.
American Apparel skirts. I was drooling over this pencil skirt that my friend bought during Thanksgiving weekend. I decided that I have to get one for myself.

This blog is turning into more of a journal than a fashion blog, but oh well.

Here's a snippet at what's going on in my head this week....

In

Mrs. Beasley gift baskets
The Row by Ashley Olsen
The Olsens themselves
Nicole Kidman in The Golden Compass
Red red nail polish
McDreamy finally moving on and leaving behind the very annoying Meredith (I'm crossing my fingers for this one)
High waisted skirts
knee high boots
Peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks
Erin Fetherston for Target
watching the completely useless Sex and the City Movie trailer over and over again

OUT

Lindsay Lohan's post rehab outfit choices
Brody and Lauren...get together already! You make me sick. I don't know why I watch that show.
The hype over Gossip Girl clothes. I don't get this either. Some of the things they wear are just UGLY and not chic at all.
Moms who miss you but pretend not to when you actually come home
Moms who think they're hot stuff. Ok, EVEN if they really are: Mom can you just shut up about yourself for one second?
Frozen foods
Dirty dishes that never get washed because of lazy roommates
Racist hypocrites
Juicy Couture anything....
PDA
Using the word "fucktard"

For some reason I can't remember all the things that I loved to hate as I began writing. More to come!!!
I'm sorry for being so lazy about pictures. I'm the laziest person I know when it comes to.....everything...life. Hey I found a New Year Resolution. Yay for me.

More Holiday Gift Ideas

2007-12-01T23:25:00.000-08:00

I think that the best kinds of gifts to give are the ones that are completely indulgent but basically useless. Well it's useful in the sense that the receiver feels absolutely spoiled and loved. I think giving practical gifts defeats the purpose of gift giving. The items that people absolutely need are things they would eventually spend money to buy on their own, meanwhile those special luxury items or quirky knick knacks aren't things that people will hand over the money for without a lot of guilt.

Some personal preferences (aka knickknacks I don't need but would love to have):

Monogrammed Stationary
Having quality note cards or stationary on hand for those special correspondences is a nice luxury. I enjoy sending and receiving handwritten letters and cards. It's much more personal and thoughtful than a text message, email, or any other form of electronic communication. Monogrammed stationary adds the right romantic touch.

Coffee Table Books
I can spend hours in a bookstore just looking at books and matching the book with a person I know who would love it. Those large, hard-covered books with a bunch of photographs are the best kind of books when in the gifting mode. I love looking at the ones about my favorite icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. I also like the ones that show pictures of cool hotel rooms around the world, castles in Europe, etc. Most recently I came across a book about weird California landmarks that was really interesting and has inspired me to plan a roadtrip with some friends next summer. Anyway, identifying an interest of the person you have in mind will help you find the perfect coffee table book. You really can't go wrong with a book.

Leather-bound Journals
This one is for the writers out there. I am always, always forming sentences in my head. I have to stick a notepad in my purse sometimes for those random thoughts that I know I will forget if I don't write it down. As much as I love technology, some thoughts are meant to be private and what better way to record them than in a beautiful leather journal in jewel tones. I love the ones at jcrew!

Sleepwear
I also have at thing for cute pj's. You've probably noticed since I included some in my Christmas list this year. There's just something very appealing about winter sleepwear. I suppose it's the coziness and the idea of warmth that cute pj's induce. Check out the sets at Victoria's Secret, especially the sweet thermals. Not everyone is willing to spend loads of money on clothes that nobody will see (unless he/she attends a lot of sleepover but I think past a certain age, those kinds of engagements cease to exist), so give a little warmth and fuzziness to that somebody special who deserves it.

Good Old Fashioned Boardgames
I don't know if many of you even play boardgames, but let me tell you , it can be extremely fun. My family and I occasionally spend quality time together over intense games of Jenga and Uno. I know these aren't exactly boardgames but they still are old favorites. I appreciate any kind of activity that doesn't include having your eyes glued to a monitor. I've recently become hooked on Scrabble. I also miss playing Apples to Apples, the Settlers of Catan, Scattegories, and Pictionary. Boardgames are nice to have around on those gray, cold and wet afternoons.

Pets
Don't go out and buy your best friend a dog. It might make them extremely happy, but it might also be a complete burden that they are NOT ready for. But something manageable like a fish would be a nice gift. I personally want a Beta fish in a Martini Glass Fish Bowl (I saw one in the recent Petco ad). I would name my fish Archie or Pea. I haven't decided yet. You can think of it as home decor.

Have fun shopping everyone! You only have about three weeks left. Oh and if all else fails, jewelry is the ultimate luxury.

You know you love me.
Claudia

I love Neiman Marcus and the Olsens

2007-11-10T22:30:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to distract myself from the endless ways college has failed me, I went out shopping last Thursday and purchased the Chanel Black Satin nail polish. It better not be going out of style any time soon. I really want skinny jeans to leave. It's just so unflattering. That and the fact that I have gained so much weight that I can't pull it off anymore.

I bought the most gorgeous pair of shoes from Steve Madden last week. They are pretty simple black pumps but it only set me back about $80. The reason I'm so excited about them is because I went to Neimans yesterday and found a some Christian Louboutins that looked almost exactly the same. Only, these cost about $620. I should probably say that it was the Steve Maddens that resembled the Louboutins, rather than the other way around. This was very very exciting for me. I still have to take my new stilettos out for a spin though. They are currently sitting in my lovely and very well organized closet in Irvine.

Anyway, I am loving Neiman Marcus for other reasons too. They carry Elizabeth and James and Twenty8Twelve on their website. I know people have mixed feelings about all these celebrities coming out with their own clothing lines. But these two are legitimate fashion lines. I truly believe that. Who better to have their clothes for sale at Neimans than MK and Ash! Their style has been under such scrutiny ever since they started at NYU. Ok, occasionally I question their outfits (clearly their taste is much bolder than mine and very very original, to say the least) but they are responsible for the boho chic movement. If they want to have their own collection of highly priced clothes to add on to their billion-dollar empire, I say more power to them! Sienna Miller is also another important celebrity trendsetter. I remember first hearing about her in the weekly tabloids for her interesting choices in clothing BEFORE I knew that she was actually an actress. Now that says something, and she is collaborating with her sister who has an actual fashion/design background. So, you know Twenty8twelve has to be pretty good. I viewed the collections on Neimans. There are definitely some things that I would buy (if I had the money that is).

I also checked out Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker. The positive: it's very very very affordable. Nothing in her entire collection is above $19. 98. The negative: it's just so boring. It's all stuff that you can buy at the Gap. I don't really see SJP in this which defeats the whole purpose of putting her name behind the clothes, right? Besides, who's heard of Steve and Barry (which carries her line exclusively)?

Speaking of collaborations, I totally forgot to check out Roberto Cavalli at H&M at South Coast on Thursday. I really should have taken advantage of such an opportunity since the collection is only available at 10 stores in the US. That's really ridiculous, but it's really not to my taste anyway from what I've been seeing online. Too much fur and too much animal print. I also heard that South Coast sold out in the first 20 minutes so I would have missed it anyway even if I remembered to go after my Humanities class.

I'll post pictures of all these things later. For now I must go write an essay on Descartes' Meditations on the First Philosophy. I'm not even sure if I got the title completely right, but college has been kicking my butt. I have to tear myself away from style.com.

P.S. check out Forever21's new collection. It's so fabulous. I bought something a couple weeks ago from the Twelve by Twelve collection without realizing exactly what it was. It's a little more expensive but so much more hip. I love love love it. And when I say things in three, you know it's true. I hear that there will be a separate store opening up in Beverly Center called Twelve by Twelve. I know...what's with the number 12 lately?

Christmas 2007 Wish List

2007-11-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's been so very long since my last entry. I must say I still love that dress. My prom dress didn't even come close to the color, cut, or length, but I still loved it. So many things have happened since January that I never ever ever ever in life expected. That's just how it goes....

Anyway, here's the glorious list. You'll find that this year it is some what abbreviated and features items that are much more realistic. Only a couple posts before this is my list from last year. You can do some comparisons. I think one item made the list again...which means I really want it and still don't have it. In no particular order:

1. Chanel Pearl Necklace (costume jewelry section of course)
2. Palm Treo (I was supposed to get this during the summer but I kept getting in trouble so my mom decided I didn't deserve it anymore)

3. Elbow Length Leather gloves from Club Monaco (in black please! I am obsessed. I want these soooo badly)

4. Origins body lotion....(I can't remember the name of this but Jasmin knows! Was it white peach or white ginger or white something?)

5. Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack Season 3

6. Chanel Nail Polish in Vamp and/or Black Satin

7. Chinese Laundry Gray 'strate' boots

8. Marc by Marc Jacobs White Tuxedo Jacket, shopbop.com

9. hair straightener (I can't believe I lived 18 years without one, but I'm only now realizing how much I need one)

10. Style A to Zoe by Rachel Zoe, amazon.com
11. Michele 'Deco' watch in Silver (no diamonds; it's too much bling for me)

12. Aerie Fair Isle Pj's in blue, ae.com

That's all for now!

Christian Lacroix

2007-01-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS DRESS!

THE END.

Why the UK is better.

2007-01-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

Cold weather is a gift! We should literally cherish it. I know I am. It's about time I updated this thing. It's just that lately I would rather read a book than follow up on couture shows for SS 07. Weird, I know, but I think it's just my exhausted state of mind.

I've been forming many ideas lately. First, why IS the UK better, you ask? I have one word for you: Topshop. I've been dreaming of going there for several years. It's been at the top of my list of must-visit places ever since H&M happened to Southern California. Sadly, that was kind of a let down after waiting for five years. Anyway, check out what I'm talking about at www. topshop.com.

OH. And we Americans are being totally gypped with urban outfitters. I came upon the UK website and their clothes are amazing! I'd move to London just for the clothes. Seriously, I would.

Christmas Shopping

2006-12-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

Shopping for some people is really hard. I think I make it really easy for others because I'm always telling people what I want. You know, it's really not a bad thing...How else do you expect to get what you want? If you haven't already, start making copies of that secret list you have on your computer and pass them out to all your friends. There are still a few days until Christmas so don't be shy!!!!

Here's a rather complete list.

Claudia’s Christmas List 2006

Quilted Chanel Handbag
Tory Burch Reva Flats
Gucci Sunglasses with Buckle detail in Black or tortoise shell
Miss Sixty Yvette Sweater
Solid Slouchy Beret (Urban Outfitters)
Kimchi & Blue Jacquard Deep Stripe Pleat Skirt (Urban Outfitters)
Cashmere Mist Donna Karen body lotion
Sex and the City Complete Series
One Special Summer
by Lee Bouvier, Jacqueline Bouvier
Eloise at Christmastime Dvd
Hello Kitty Metal-ring watch
Eloise:The Ultimate Edition by Kay Thompson
Chanel Nail polish in Vamp
Philosophy 3 in 1
J. Crew Argyle socks
Godiva Hot Chocolate Mix
Vans Plaid Slip ons
Burberry Snowboots
Prada Flats
Tarina Tarantino Barbie earrings

Gift Cards from:

CO-OP Barney’s
Zara
South Coast Plaza
Saks Fifth Avenue
Club Monaco
Amazon.com

Most people would only be willing to buy me numbers 5-17 but I can always make my father buy me the rest.

Anyway, I think gift cards are the best kind of presents to give. Some people just have really weird taste so it's best to let them choose their own gift. Just make sure it's not from a store like Old Navy. I buy stuff from there occasionally but still....

I can't believe it's only days away.

Candy Shoes and Perfect Hair!

2006-12-06T17:32:00.000-08:00

I found a new item to add to my wish list this Christmas!

Prada flats in an assortment of flavors! This is almost too much of a good thing: Prada, ballet flats, and Gemma Ward all wrapped up in one ad. I want every single shoe in this photograph= lots of boxes under the tree.

On an entirely different note, I really want to change my hair. After my drastic haircut last March I'm being very cautious about what do next. Right now it lacks style and I really want bangs! But I'm really thinking this through and looking back, bangs have never really worked for me. First, my forehead is too small to wear bangs. Most people have the three-fingered forehead, but I measured mine yesterday and it's about 2.5 fingers wide. Bangs need to be cut so that it hits the top of your eyebrow, but on my abnormally small forehead the bangs will look extremely dorky. In the past I've always gotten them longer but then it obstructed my vision and I just hate hair in my eyes!

The reason I love bangs? Nicole Richie. That's girl's hair is never out of place. It really makes me wonder how she gets her bangs to stay so secure. It's immaculate in every single picture!

It's beginning to smell like Christmas

2006-11-26T23:39:00.000-08:00

UC application deadline is Thursday but all I can think about is how much I love Christmas.

The things I love about this season:
-Trimming the tree and seeing it glow in the dark when I go downstairs for a midnight snack
-Drinking hot chocolate every night before I go to bed
-Getting cards from people with warm wishes
-Holiday music! Nothing is better than singing along to hokey songs.
-Going to the mall when it's all festive and then bringing home bright red shopping bags from most stores. Except Saks always has those black bags covered in pretty snowflakes.
-Eating cookies and cakes people bake. The holiday season tends to send some people who never cook to the kitchen (myself included).
-Wrapping presents. I have this weird obsession with wrapping gifts. Putting presents in gift bags is almost cheating but I admit that I am guilty of doing it too.
-Getting all dressed up in many layers and feeling terribly cozy.
-GIVING AND RECEIVING PRESENTS!!
-and of course major family time and that cheery mood everyone is in.

What's on Claudia's Christmas list you ask? Brace yourselves. This is more of a fantasy wishlist.

Hermes fedora. I've really been into menswear lately... like suspenders, loafers, riding boots.

This Chanel charm bracelet. I love it. I have no idea how much it costs but it doesn't matter.

Gucci sunglasses with buckle detail. I saw Kyndra wearing them on Laguna Beach. Yes, I watch that show.And I still want a classic quilted Chanel purse like I do every year. And every year my mom says no.

My take on Uggs. TOTALLY OUT. If I had my way, I would make anyone who wears them to school take them off and I would personally turn them into ashes just for them. I'm such a nice girl. Wear them at home because they're comfy but please get some real boots for the streets.

Chase Johnson is hot. He has the best style ever!!! I want a boyfriend who dresses like that. Actually, I'd settle for a friend too. Go to mtv.com and watch the video called "Laguna Beach: The After Show (Style Star)."

HAPPY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!

The Heat Leaves Me Uninspired

2006-11-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

You know you live in Southern California when you leave the house on a November afternoon and proclaim that it's cold when it actually is about 75 degrees outside. That is exactly what I did today. I had to slap myself for second and realize that this was fall and that no, this weather is not cold and should never be labeled as such ever again.

I can't even begin to describe my frustrations with the weather. I'm still very much wearing shorts and tanks everyday. Summer to fall....nothing has changed. What would I like to wear?

BOOTS. SCARVES. CASHMERE. COATS. That's what.

I am so jealous of these people. It's my new favorite site. I'm obsessed.

I'll leave you guys with some things I'm in love with at the moment.

Foley for Foley + Corinna
I like sequins. I'm in a sixties kind of mood. And it's the holidays what can I say?

The only thing remotely affordable on today's piece of retail therapy. It's $50 and you can buy this lovely little bracelet for me by Rachel Leigh.

I love Pedro Garcia's shoes! I just discovered him today. Too bad I will never be able to afford these.

Mike&Chris

This little cropped jacket has a little hoodie! I love it.

I really like ruffles if you haven't noticed. This one is by Gerren Ford.

Mini dress by Allice + Olivia. It's definitely a holiday dress.

If only my budget matched my taste.... By the way, you can find everything in this post at shopbop.com.

My Have to Haves for fall

2006-09-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry for not updating in almost a month: between school, dance, homework, car washes, camp, and trying to stay alive (since my mom has been leaving me home alone), I just haven't had the time.

I haven't been this in love with fashion for a couple of seasons now. I can't get enough of the boyish silhouettes and the dark colors. So I made a list of "Have to Haves" for this season and I tried to keep it concise but it's rather hard when you love almost every trend out there right now.

First, you have to get a few mini dresses. This one is by Anna Sui. Gotta love the peter pan collar. Mini dresses go well with a variety of shoes like boots or wedges.
This one by Marc by Marc Jacobs is almost too cute to handle. And of course the model wears it with tights and patent leather platforms (tres cute).

The ultimate accessory of this season are gloves!!!! I am obsessed with them except I'm afraid to wear them in California because I might look weird. Plus right now it's way too hot. I like these but I also would want some opera length ones and some fun fingerless gloves. Seriously, wear these with everything!

Everybody NEEEDS a sweater dress for fall. It's just so chic and easy to wear. Dresses are really very comfortable. Again, it's all about layering. Throw this Ya-Ya sweater dress over skinny jeans or tights. Finish with some cute shoes and you're set. I really like the details on this dress, and white is just such a classic color.

Now shoes!!!!!!!! My favorite part of any outfit. So the ULTIMATE shoe trend are ankle boots. I must say, it is an acquired taste and not everyone will like them. But I think they are so so so cute. These black ones are Steve Madden and I LAVVE them!

Another huge trend is leopard print and I think the best way to pull that off is with shoes. It's subtle and that's the way to go with something as loud as animal print. I can't get over these Steve Madden calfskin pumps, but I can't decide whether to invest in leopard print flats or these pumps. Help!

One of my favorite designers is Michael Kors and his lower end shoe line, Michael by Michael Kors, is to die for. These shoes are my favorite shoes from the collection and it's a definite staple in any closet.

Ok and this is what I want to look like all fall and winter. A cute knit hat, textured black coat, opaque tights, and wedges. FAB. This picture is from Zara's fall 06 catalogue and can I just say "I'm in love"?

Splashes of Red

2006-08-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

In my research for lovely fall clothes I discovered that among all the dark themes of this season, there were subtle but still rather effective hints of red on the runways. I love red and purple this season. I'm not one who can stay dark and depressed for long periods of time, so splashes of color is good news to me.

I came upon the designer Alice McCall and I completely fell in love with this little red coat in her collection.

Another favorite red piece of mine is this Badgley Mishka dress.

Hmmm. This makes me wish Christmas would come soooner.

TOKYO!!!

2006-08-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Tokyo yesterday and I have just so much to say about Japanese fashion. There will definitely be another trip to Tokyo sometime soon and I'll probably take some friends with me. First of all, the people are there are SOOOOO trendy. I could have spent an entire afternoon just sitting at a cafe in a department store in Shinjuku and watching people walking by.

So here's what's cool in Tokyo:

Very tan skin and frizzy, strawberry blonde hair. There were tons of girls like that teetering on 4 inch heels all over the place. It was too over the top for me, plus the tans were very fake= tacky. The only thing I admired about this group was their skinniness. They were so skinny they looked unhealthy.
Jeweled nails. There were even nail salon booths at the airport! Fake nails were sold everywhere: from top department stores to the corner pharmacy. It's like the wilder the design the better.
Fedora hats are very in. I actually like this trend though. And the Japanese girls pulled it off ever so chicly. So I've been doing some research and it looks like the top hat designer now is EugeniKim. I have yet to buy one.
Surprisingly cowboy boots are popular in Japan too. I, personally, would not be caught dead in cowboy boots now. They were very 2004/2005. But I saw them on quite a few girls in Tokyo and I saw even more for sale.
CHLOE. To my delight everyone there loves Chloe. I saw 3 girls wearing the same See by Chloe t shirt that read "I love Chloe."
Skulls. I love skulls too...I know that sounds kind of morbid but I find this trend very cute. There were shirts, necklaces, bags, etc featuring some sort of skull design. I myself purchased quite a few things.
Plaid. Oh those Tokyo girls, always one step ahead of everyone else! I mentioned before how plaid is coming in by storm for fall.
Yanuk jeans and Taverniti So jeans. Haha and this is not a plug for Blue Holdings (the company my mom works for). But yes everyone in Japan is wearing designer jeans and especially a lot of those two brands. I don't get how they can wear skinnies or any type of long pants for that matter in that humidity. I wore shorts and halter top dresses the entire week I was there and I STILL sweat like monster.
Cell phone art. There were tons of little places I like to call "Blinging Stations" where you can get your cell phone decorated with colorful, shiny, and artsy designs. I was very tempted but decided not to get it done after my last DIY fiasco. I also decided I like my phone plain and simple.
RAINBOOTS! If you know me well, you know I love rainboots. It was lovely to see almost all the Japanese children wearing cute rainboots (many adults too). People there were well prepared for rainy weather. A couple typhoons arrived during our stay in Tokyo which foiled our plans to visit Mt. Fuji. The weather was nice though, a least it was little bit cooler (but still REALLY hot).
Knee high socks. It kind of grew on me at the end of the trip but at first I really hated them. For some reason people in Tokyo have to wear socks with skirts and shorts. One day I was walking around Harajuku and everyone was staring at my legs. Later I found out that bare legs was not a common thing in Tokyo, but I'm from California and we wear short shorts.

I discovered a department store that I absolutely fell in LOVE with.........Lumine 1 located in Shinjuku. Everything was gorgeous and I wanted to buy everything but here's the thing I hate about Japan- Everything there is so tiny because the people there are tiny. So I couldn't buy a thing because I was too fat AND because my feet were too big. The biggest shoe size they carry in most stores is equivalent to 7.5. Yours truly wears 9.5. I wonder what all the big people do in Japan. I feel for them, I really do.

I also liked Laforet in Harajuku located on Omotesando. Speaking of Harajuku, I did go to the famed district and I found the shops on Takeshida very much to my liking. That was where I spent the most time and money. The best part of vacationing during late summer are the sales. I bought tons of clothes! The fashion there was pretty crazy. I managed to sneak a photo of some random girl at the vending machines (a common fixture in Tokyo) but she's a very toned down example. I was too scared to take pictures of the hardcore Harajuku girls. AHAH notice the guy's shirt in the background. There were lots of weird shirts with weird sayings. Sorry guys, I'm having trouble uploading pictures so come back tomorrow to see the Harajuku girl.

I missed home though. Tokyo required way too much walking! But I must say I am quite good at using the subway now. I'm also kind of use to the outrageous prices in Japan. Except I refused to buy a $7 issue of TeenVogue. I didn't want to wait until I got home to read it but after seeing the price I gladly put it back on the magazine stand. Tokyo is also the land of $8 gelatos and $10 coffees, something I had to partake in several times after exhausting days filled with shopping. The walking was good for me though because it balanced out all the chocolate croissants, mango ice cream, cream puffs, candy, banana chocolate crepes and pastries I kept eating. I don't even really like sweets all that much, but the sweets in Japan are top notch.

But it's really good to be home. I love California weather.

You Are Too Much

2006-08-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

That's what my mom always says to me: "You're too much." Sometimes she's right, but I think she's usually wrong. I don't think I'm TOO much because I like my life and the events that belong in it the way they are. That includes my fashion. So I am absolutely in love with these Juicy Couture shoes (picture) and I found similar shoes at Aldo. But of course my mom objects...she's always ruining my fashion highs. I invision the perfect fall outfit for when it really gets cold around these parts (god knows when that will actually happen): a big flouncy blouse, some sort of grey/black colored baby doll dress over and those shoes. Well, I'll just have to get my mom work with me here, just like those times when I convinced her to buy me mini dresses and short shorts (it's hard work to get her to budge since she can't wear mini dresses and short shorts).

Number #1 reason I need the shoes is because I love Chloe and they look so much like the Chloe Summer 06 shoes. See to get the real look you would need to shell out $670 but you can get the Juicy ones for $300 or the Aldo ones for about $90.

Other things that she doesn't like but I absolutely love....

Jumpers. I'm crazy about them. I saw one at Zara that was too cute to handle. By the way, the entire fall collection at Zara is to die for.

Turtleneck dresses like this Diane Von Furstenberg at the right. No one else can make dresses like her. No one. (Ooo....and those shoes on the model, I want those for homecoming.)

Purple. Anything purple. She hates. I LOVE. It's my new favorite color. Other than red, but that's another story for another day. Apparently the color is too harsh for her taste. Whatever.

Marc by Marc Jacobs wallet. But I agree that it is outrageously overpriced for so little patent leather. It IS very cute though. Just not worth all $450.

So I'm leaving for Tokyo tomorrow and it's rather hard to find the proper things to pack when one is going to one of the largest fashion capitals of the world. You know that term "traveling light"? I have never been capable of doing that. I always end up bringing like 5 pairs of shoes for a 3 day trip or 10 pairs of jeans for a one week vacation. It's horrible. Looks like this time is going to be no different. See you guys in a little bit!

LBDs!!!

2006-07-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

Inserting images on here is ridiculously annoying, but I refuse to give up.
So this summer I've developed an obsession with dresses. I purchased six this summer so far and I plan on buying more. Despite all the dresses I have seen and purchased, I still have to say Claudiaism #5: nothing beats a classic LBD. Here are my favorite picks off the runway.

The one above is by Thakoon. Isn't it adorable? I'm not normally a crochet girl, but I like this jumper style. It's girly and innocent but sophisticated at the same time. And of course I like the tights underneath paired with those cute ankle boots. The reason I love autumn/winter fashions is because you always have the option of layering which basically gives the effect of quadrupling your wardrobe without really having to get more articles of clothing.

This next one is by Badgley Mischka, and I like it for the jewel neckline. It's a total party dress...just think, you don't even need jewelry for this one. I like the shapeless shift silhouette and the pleats, both of which are big trends this season.

This one (above) is my favorite dress off the Rochas Fall 06 RTW. It's not exactly "little" but I just had to pay my respects to Rochas. :( This is the last season of Rochas- Proctor and Gamble decided to drop the label but everyone has been saying that a designer as talented as Olivier Theyskens will not fade away forever. I'll be waiting for more stuff from him!

But my MOST FAVORITE LBD is this last one by Oscar de la Renta! I am in LOVE with the dress and it needs no explanation.

More Fall Fashions 06

2006-07-25T22:56:00.000-07:00

I was much too tired to continue last night. So here is Part 2.

Plaid is in. I'm usually not a fan but I can't help but love these looks. From top to bottom: Zac Posen (his entire collection is to die for!), Balenciaga (you can obviously tell by the riding hat), and the last is Aquascutum. It's all looking very demure. I just have to pull out my old plaid minis and hope they still fit.

Dark Angels. Even the designers who like to keep things fun, colorful and light have taken a stab at joining the dark side. The dress on the left by Anna Sui is very reminiscent of the gothic Victorian age. It is also very uncharacteristic of Anna Sui. I love the iridescent purple/black taffeta, and how she also keeps it short, young, and fun. The one on the very bottom is by, surprise surprise, Jill Stuart. I dig the deep plum lipstick she used on all the models. It's very Adams family (something I'd never be able to pull off).

RTW Fall 2006: I am absolutely in love.

2006-07-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

I love winter especially in this heat.
So being completely as bored as I am, I went through a lot of the runway pictures for this season and picked out my favorite looks and trends.

Volume. Big poofy skirts and large extravagant sleeves. I love it all. I also love volume in my hair but the weather seems to be working against me.

Above: Louis Vuitton. Notice the interesting shape of the sleeves. Gray also happens to be a hot color for fall. Jessica Stam is also way too cute.

Right: Lanvin. Talk about serious volume. I kind of like it. I'd wear it if i were pregnant. teehee

Structured and Severe. I have always been a firm believer in being sexy without showing a lot of skin. This season supports my argument fully. Lots of catwalks actually featured models wearing thick glasses which I found quite amusingThe Zac Posen look below is very structured but what gives it the wow factor are those skin tight cigarette pants in snakeskin. Below: Dries Van Noten. Not so much structured, but it gives off that severe sexy librarian look. My favorite part of the outfit is the long grandpa sweater with those large pockets. I know for a fact my mother is hiding a sweater that looks exactly like that in a high quality cashmere and I am going to dig it up and wear it come fall. You also have to love the cut the skinny cut of those trousers.

Sharing a Brain with My Mother

2006-07-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

I seriously think my mom and I have a fashion-brain connection. I swear this is like the fourth time this month that I went into "our" closet looking for a specific article of clothing only to realize that my mom took it and wore it to work. I adore my mom to death but this has got to stop. Why is it that we want to wear the same exact thing on the same day when we have more clothes than our entire apartment complex combined? There are definite perks on having a mom who's about that same size as you (she's actually smaller), fashionable and happens to work in the fashion industry, and loves clothes almost as much as you do. But I worry- when I go to college, how will we split our clothes? Right now I'm reaping the benefits of getting double the amount of clothing I should but the future seems...well... not so great.

Dark Victorian Romance

2006-07-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

I'm much too influenced by my surroundings to keep from getting hyped about fall fashion. I know this is going to come out lame but I'm only going to say this once:
Black is the New Black for fall.
It's going to be dark and gothic and exciting. Lovely Victorian silhouettes. Haha. I can see us having tea with ivory and black laced china with black doilies in our deep plum frocks and feathers in our hats. Next we'll wear plaid skirts and big puffy sleeved jackets to go walk our poodles in platforms.

Trend for the Rest of the Year: Tights!!!!

2006-07-04T22:55:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait any longer to make a new post about my new favorite trend. I've been holding off on this trend for a long time because I just never really took a liking to wearing something so pretentious or so I thought. But after relunctantly listening to my mother and pulling out her surprisingly well stocked supply of microfiber tights and other sheerer varieties, I have officially fallen in love. Tights are in for this summer but they won't be going away for a while. The July Vogue featured an entire spread on tights being the trend for fall winter 06. Well the options are endless but stick to dark colors like black and navy blue because they make your legs look slimmer. And footless tights are probably best. For summer I like seeing tights worn under dresses or long tunic like shirts. Remember tights are for layering purposes only really, so don't wear it by itself unless you want to look like a fashion victim trapped in those horrible 90's leggings. I love the versatility of footless tights: you can dress down with flip flops and flats or you can dress it up with cute heels. My creative wheels are churning very quickly and I can already picture so many outfits for the summer. Flowy white dresses over black tights, black dresses over black tights.....mmmm exciting.

My fashion icon of the now is Lindsay Lohan. We have to hand it to her lovely stylist Rachel Zoe for all of Lindsay's fabulous outfits. I am majorly jealous but I just don't have $3000 to spare each day to pay for a stylist like her. Anyway, Lindsay sports the footless tights trend ever so chicly. I love the loose white dress and the huge handbag.

And...Jessica Alba looks cute here doesn't she? She's got her sundress on over a pair of footless tights and she wears big Jackie O sunglasses. I like the black on black look, and I like how she keeps it casual with ballet flats.

Don't you just love love love tights??? I do!!! I can't wait for winter to come- tights paired with long knit sweaters, cropped jackets, chunky scarves, peacoats, and ankle boots......

Well for now let's just try to stay cool because summer still has a long run especially in California. But invest in some tights because they are here to stay.

It's Missoni Everywhere

2006-07-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

Two summers ago the "it" print was Pucci but now all I'm seeing is Missoni. The brand's unmistakable print of zig zag stripe madness kind of grows on you after a while. I'm loving it actually. I also love the family heiress Margherita Missoni. The Missoni empire's own little traveling advertisement does quite a good job being an Italian socialite who hits up all the right press events. Her picture is in quite a few magazines, and she's actually cute unlike other privileged offspring (ahem, Paris and Tori).
I would buy this little dress if it didn't cost $2,300. But a girl can dream.

Yay for Dolce and Gabbana!

2006-06-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through the latest issue of Elle Magazine when I came upon the new ad campaign for Dolce and Gabbana. To my surprise and, later, delight, I saw none other than Crystal Renn...the plus size model as the new face of Dolce and Gabbana! And she looked pretty hot and luscious clad in a leopard print corset and reclining in a very wild looking setting. Quite voluptuous I might add. Who is she? Well I first came to know her name in the February 2004 issue of Teen Vogue (yes I even remember which issue). There was a story about her struggle with weight. In the end she decided to become a plus size model, and ever since I have seen her face everywhere- in Vogue editorials and as the model for plus size lines like Lane Bryant and Torrid. You can actually see pictures of her at Torrid in our local mall. But being in a Dolce and Gabbana campaign...that's just a whole new level. Yay for her and yay for the fashion industry!
I would include a picture but I can't seem to find one.

Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?

2006-06-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

I get my inspiration from a lot of different places but I like to stay loyal to a few of my favorites: Teen Vogue and celebrity tabloid magazines. They have never failed me. The two of them serve very different purposes. The former is for those high fashion but wearable days and the latter is for those hip but casual days.
Warning: this may start to sound like a complete plug for Teen Vogue but that just shows you how much I love that magazine. It is seriously the best magazine because it usually skips the riff raff (you know, like that ever present teen mag curse, the quiz titled "Is He Really Into You?"). Plus the magazine has a great balance between couture and affordable clothes ( however, leaning on the side of expensive), but I think that's good. I like to be left with a little bit of room for dreaming. Plus it's not like they expect girls to run out and copy those exact outfits featured in the fashion spreads. THAT is why I like to call it my inspiration. It gives me ideas. Fashion is about self expression and that is exactly what i do. Claudiaism #4: Don't let fashion become a chore. It should be complete fun.
Now Us Weekly is by far my favorite guilty pleasure. It has a lot more fashion than most of you think. Well think about it, we have to constantly keep tabs on the who's who of Hollywood and what can be more important than what they're wearing (other than their fascinating love lives)? Why are tabloids such fashion powerhouses you ask? Well the celebs wear the best. I would trade places with Nicole Richie or Lindsay Lohan any day. Those lucky girls get YSL Muse bags for free AND I think they have like hundreds and hundreds of Chloe (my fave designer) and Jimmy Choo shoes. AND they get them for FREE. Ooops I just said that twice.
But I don't just get inspired by periodicals. I get inspiration from the girls at Disneyland, my favorite fashion icons Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy, and movies. Like just recently I watched The Breakup and I fell in love with all those simple dresses that Jennifer Aniston's character wears to her job at the art gallery. This season is all about t shirt dresses, sundresses, wraparound dresses, just DRESSES!!!
Happy dress shopping girls and be on the lookout for inspiration! It can be right around the corner.
Love you much,
Claudia

You Can Never Have Too Many Pairs of Shoes

2006-06-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

My life has finally calmed down and I am in the right state of mind to write about fashion, the first love in my life. A good outfit obviously requires good taste, and I'm sure a lot of people think they have good taste but sometimes people forget about the ACCESSORIES AND THE SHOES!!!! Claudiaism #3: No outfit is complete without shoes and accessories. Back in those middle school days I wore everything with athletic shoes. Everyone had about one pair of shoes and that was about it. But it's high school guys!!! We can branch out and change things up a little. Sooooo I dedicate this entry to shoes.... Since the summer season is well on its way (and we only have 4 more days of school!) I have nothing but garden parties, beaches, and popsicles on my mind. These images come accompanied with shoes. Espadrilles to be exact. Ahh. I even like the way the word sounds. These are the ones I've been eyeing for a while from J Crew. Aren't they very picnic-in-the-park cute?

Now as all of you know, I live in ballet flats. My favorite ones at the moment are my purple velvet Marc Jacobs ones. But I've been on this mad rampage in search of Ferragamo flats. All the ones I've seen are so grandmaish. I went to the Ferragamo store in its temporary location at South Coast and their selection was pretty limited. Why can't I just find those classic ballet flats with the bow and the logo? I refuse to believe that they would discontinue something I consider to be such a staple in a good shoe collection. My mom actually has a pair of navy blue ones that she bought in Italy years ago, but I can't wear them because of my stupid big feet.

I'm not giving up anytime soon, but I like these BCBG flats too! Aren't they adorable? BCBG makes some pretty hot shoes this season. I like almost all of the ones on Saks.com. I think ballet flats work on tall people and it says a lot if you can pull off the look. And another thing- they're pretty darn comfortable. AND Audrey Hepburn wore them...at this point you should be running off looking for flats at the mall!

The trend for this season are wedges and platforms. Not really flattering on people with short legs though, they sort of make people look squatty and if you're not careful they can make you look slutty. I'm not a very big fan of them, but I DO like these patent leather shoes by Jessica Simpson. They very much resemble those Christian Louboutin shoes( $500+) that you've been seeing on celebs for the past few seasons. But I like these better cause I can afford them.

Have fun with shoes this summer, but PLEASE do me a favor....don't buy any clogs. I can't stand them. They are big, heavy, ugly, and they make the most irritating sounds!!!

XOXOX,

Claudia

Prom: The Prequel to My Wedding

2006-05-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

Being the genius that I am, I purchased a black jersey dress. It's amazing what my mom can talk me into sometimes. I can lose ten pounds and still look like a tub of lard in that dress.

Sadly, I'm beginning to think that prom is way overrated, but I wouldn't know yet since I haven't been to one. Despite all these negative thoughts, I'm still quite excited. Like a typical girl, I have been waiting for this day to come since I started picking up teen magazines at the age of 9. Back then, I wanted a pink ball gown. Now I'm more into that sleek sophisticated look, and frankly, I find those generic fluffy ballgowns to be ridiculously skanky.

So here is what I'm wearing to prom: a black jersey and satin floor-length column dress with a very interesting design in the back, black ankle strap satin shoes, my mother's patent leather ferragamo clutch, and a hefty pair of chandelier earrings that I spent a fortune on. I'm still deciding on hair. It will definitely be up but I just don't know how.

Corsages. I hate them. But prom just wouldn't be complete without it I guess. So I opted for a single white orchid, cymbidian to be exact. Most likely, I won't be wearing it most of the night because it just ruins the "lines." That's a ballet term that my old teacher used (he wouldn't even let us wear hair rubber bands around our wrists).

I think it's hot when boys don't wear ties. I like that messy, I-don't-even-need-to-try look. But of course, you DO have to try unless you're like Adam Brody. My friends call it the Hugh Grant look. But I was thinking more along the lines of those actors in the Korean Soaps who are pret-ty good looking. I also like the bow tie but it's too stuffy for an event like prom. BUT I have to say I absolutely abhor vests. AGHHHH. The thought of them makes me cringe. It's bad enough that boys wear them, but when they try to match with their dates- that's just disgusting. Claudiaism #2: Matching is not always a good thing. This may come as a bit of shock but it's REALLY ok if you show up to prom in a purple dress and your date decides to wear a black tie. I mean it's great and all romantic but honestly, I don't see parents getting dressed in coordinating colors for dinner!

Have fun at prom boys and girls!!!!

au revoir!!

Claudia

Life As We Know It.

2006-05-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

AP testing is officially over for me, and yes, we can all let out a collective sigh of relief.

The second half of May= free time. For me that means I'll be spending a lot of extra time with a good friend I call THE MALL. There's something about retail that makes me content. Personally, South Coast Plaza is the best. I mean, I love it. Whenever I get the "mean reds," South Coast is my destination of choice (it also conveniently has a Tiffany's). If you haven't been there, I suggest you go, right now. I mean, you're really missing out. It's like every fashion obsessed woman's fantasy, a candy store for all little girls who grew up on fashion magazines and are crazy enough to place old issues on their bookshelves for displaying purposes. I once read that it's an official tourist destination in southern California- I'm not lying.

I bet you're all dying to know my favorite fashion trends at the moment. So here they are:

Headbands. Remember those innocent elementary school days when you were too lazy (or in my case too uncoordinated) to do your hair? Well headbands are making a come back and are hopefully here to stay. They just scream "good girl." I don't know about you but I find trying to act bad ass all the time sort of difficult. Tip: the chunky satiny ones are super hip. I just can't seem to find any that I like under $40 so if you have an suggestions let me know. I like to look good but, honestly, it's not worth forty dollars to make myself look innocent right? (not that I'm having trouble or anything). I shouldn't have thrown out those oh-so-cute headbands from the third grade. Claudiaism #1: NEVER throw out old clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. You never know when you might need/want them again.
Skinny Jeans. Call 'em drainpipes, straightleg, whatever. But I absolutely adore them. You can say I'm a little obsessed since I own about 10 pairs, more or less. They make your legs look miles long AND they just look freaking cool. You can wear them with flats a la Sienna and Lindsay, with stilettos a la Nicole, or tuck them into boots like SJP. But I must warn you, these don't look good on everyone...wear what flatters YOU and no one knows better than you! I'm lusting after those jeans that Imitation of Christ made especially for Scarlet Johansson. AND NO FOR CHRISAKE- they are NOT only for "scenesters."
Stripes. I know they're not the most flattering of patterns. But you must realize that patterns in general aren't flattering. My tip is to not wear tight striped shirts; it'll only accentuate your curves: something not so good if you're an aspiring annie. I went out and got a little crazy a couple weeks ago and bought three striped shirts in one day. I love them because they can channel such different looks: you can go from mod to nautical. Don't you just adore the options???

Wear what you wear best!

You know you love me,

Claudia