Happy New Year, Happy New Shoes!

Year 2009 has been the year of the shoes for me! Since I started blogging in May, I collected about 32 pairs already. That's like one pair a week, oh no!!!

I intend to slow down this crazy shoe shopping in 2010. I need to save up for one or two nice purses because my closet is now overflowing with shoes and begging for purses.

But before that, here's to cap off the year with these 4 new pairs I got at Barneys in Beverly Hills and the Prada Outlet in Palm Springs.

Without further ado, please join me in welcoming...

Givenchy Bianco booties

A few things I love about these booties: the classic black color, the rich supple leather, the round toe with seam detailing, the side buckle accents, the rock glam design with the front extending out... and best of all, 60% off! This is my very first Givenchy and my first purchase from Beverly Hills!



Dries Van Noten with python heels

You know you love what you shopped if the first thing you do when you get home is try them on, walk around the house wearing them and repeatedly ask the hubby what he thinks about your newest foot candy! This is my first pair of Dries which is also from Barney's in Beverly Hills.


Prada crackle brush pumps

I don't have any pumps in this color yet so this purchase is justified. Plus, it was hard to resist them at 65% off!!



Prada suede booties

Not entirely over-the-moon with this purchase. I think I love the box more than the shoes, hehe. Contemplating on selling them. ;)

* * *

We had so much fun during our holiday in SoCal.
I have a lot of pictures to share but for now, here's a few.

my travel outfit

-- Theory blazer -- Saks cashmere sweater -- JBrand jeans -- Stuart Weitzman OTK boots --
-- Express knit scarf -- Target knit hat --



1st day of holiday

-- Saks cashmere wrap -- Forever 21 leggings -- Debenhams tee (from London) -- 9West boots --



rodeo drive

-- XOXO sweater dress -- Bijoux Terner wrap -- Stuart Weitzman OTK boots --
-- Prada Vit. Daino purse --


Happy New Year, dear friends!
I'm so excited with what 2010 will bring us!!

Deck the Halls

Before our holiday schedule gets any crazier with meeting work deadlines and preparing for a holiday trip, let me take the moment to greet all my friends here...

Merry, Merry Christmas and wishing everyone a Blessed New Year!!




Precious Moments Nativity



Precious Moments carolers



Oh Christmas Tree!!

Work Inspirations

In my current project, I work with 15 creative thinkers. They are all guys. None of them "speak Prada" and none of them gives a hoot with how I look everyday (read as: overdressed from Monday to Friday). I'm sure it's a torture for them to deal with me coz I will never be one of them and will always be this "girly girl"! =)

Here's how I motivate myself to go to work everyday....

Monday
(Gotta go to work, I have a nice outfit to wear!)

-- dress: Diane von Furstenberg -- halter top: Badgley Mischka -- belt: from Manila --
-- burgundy patent pumps: Chanel --



Tuesday
( Gotta go to work so I could peek at the pre-sale goodies at lunchtime!)

-- cropped wrap: Max Mara Weekend -- dress: Anne Taylor -- over-the-knee boots: 9West --



Wednesday
( Gotta go to work so I could pick-up my pre-sale goodies at Neimans!)

-- sweater: Neimans Excl. -- pleated skirt: Max Mara Weekend -- belt: Mimi di N --
-- black pumps: Louboutin Decoltissimo --



Thursday
(Gotta go to work so I could wear my new Loubies!)

-- dress: CK. -- cashmere top: JCP -- belt: CK -- scarf: from Paris --
-- slingbacks: Louboutin Picador --



Friday
(Gotta go to work coz I just made a big purchase from barneys.com last night!! )
Yes, I did!! Will post about it next week when it arrives!
Hint: it's an exotic skin!

-- tee: Hard Rock Sydney. -- jacket: Gap -- jeans: JBrand -- scarf: from Paris --
-- suede pumps: Gucci --


PS - As shallow as this post may sound, it's really just in the name of blogging fun, so don't take me seriously. I do love my work and don't need these motivations to come in everyday, hehe! =)

Birkin Scare

Friends, this is how to effectively lobby for a shopping budget...

Me: Hon, can I buy a new bag?
Hubz: Sure.
Me: I want a Birkin.
Hubz: I thought you want a bag?
Me: Birkin is an Hermes bag!

Hubz: How much is it? $1,000?
Me: Maybe for the key chain.
Hubz: HuWhat?!?! $4,000??
Me: No....
Hubz: $10,000??
Me: Hmmm, yeh... I think I could get a decent one for $10,000.

Looking at me with a penetrating look as if I just committed a deadly sin...

Hubz: Can you just get a Prada instead?
Me: Ahihihi, I just did!

Hubz looking so relieved!!

...Am I sly or what?!?!! ;p

* * *

-- NOT a Birkin: Prada Vit. Daino in deep red (it looks too red here but it's actually almost burgundy)---

And because I did him a favor for not buying a horrendously expensive bag, I got away with two new pairs of shoes as well!

-- Louboutin Picador slingbacks ---

-- Gucci suede pumps ---

I even think if I really push my luck harder, I could still get one more purse! Please help me decide:

Purse Survey
	Balenciaga Giant Brief
	Chloe Paraty
	YSL Muse
	Lady Dior
	SAVE it and buy an ounce of gold instead!
pollcode.com free polls

PS - I know I have been away for too long and I still cannot exactly figure out what happened to me but I was so close to shutting this blog down. It just seemed that blogging lost all its fun all of a sudden. Everything felt like a chore: posing, posting, commenting. I guess I just needed a healthy doze of vitaMinn S (S for shopping!) to keep me going again.

Who knows when I'm going to have another of this random bouts of blogging indifference . Maybe once or twice more before winter is over. But for now, I'm back! =)

Thank you so much dear Martina for all the encouragement!!

One Skirt, Many Ways

There are some things that are just meant to be... just like this Max Mara black A-line skirt and me!

When I tried this on at Saks and checked the price tag, I swore I heard my wallet let out a tiny gasp. When I paid for it, I simply ignored the usually very practical side of me insisting that I should get a few index funds instead.

No, thanks. There's no amount of index fund that could ever hide my hips and match with the rest of my closet to come up with these outfit ideas!

A wee bit formal

-- skirt: Max Mara Weekend -- ruffle top: Bass -- belt: from Manila --leopard peep toes: Beverly Feldman --

I don't usually get invited to presidential inaugural dinners so if I end up wearing this for jury duty, fine by me!



Safari meets jitterbug

-- skirt: Max Mara Weekend -- scarf: vintage Chanel -- safari top: Banana Republic --
-- belt: Oscar de la Renta -- booties: Sam Edelman --

Hubz: Are we hosting a 50s party?
Me: No, I'm wearing this to work.
Hubz: Is your work hosting a 50s party?
Me: No.
Hubz: Is your work hosting a Safari party?
Me: No, this is NOT a costume!!! It's an outfit!!

Peace honey!



What to do with a bridesmaid dress

-- skirt: Max Mara Weekend -- top: Bridesmaid dress -- shoes: Alaia --

If I can find new ways to wear all my bridesmaid dresses again, I'll be happy blogger. This is the second now! First one was here.

Skirt + Dress = Skress

-- skirt: Max Mara Weekend -- dress: from Manila -- belt: Mimi di N --

I got a few stares when I wore a dress + skirt combo to work. I will probably even get more stares wearing this PLUS a wild animal around my waist! Thanks to Kat for convincing me to get one and thanks to Martina & Lynn for showing us how to stylishly make space in our closet for wild pets!

Managing Deals

-- skirt: Max Mara Weekend -- angora top: Banana Republic -- vest: Forever 21 --
-- over-the-knee boots: Stuart Weitzman --

This is probably a bit on casual side but I wore this to a client meeting this week aptly talking about a proposal on how they should be 'managing deals'.

Now excuse me as I load these outfits to my Closet app! Ever tried this app before? I instantly loved it after test driving it for a few minutes and immediately bought the full version. Although it does have a few limitations (you can't upload outfit sets, it does not track cost/wear, needs tagging function), closet organizing has never been this fun! Try it! It's the best $2.99 I've spent ever!

* * *

Special shoutout of a thousand thanks to Antoine of Florilege d'Esthete, for his kind words and for giving me a lovely award. I won't dare paraphrase what he said, so here it is. Who won't be ticklish with such words?! Thanks Antoine!

Wishing everyone a fun week ahead!

VitaMinn SW

...is for Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots with bold silvertone studs and grommeted buckle straps.

"Wow, those are badass boots", one of my co-workers said as I walked in late for a meeting.

I was so tempted to reply back, "Oh thanks!!!! I found these at Saks and I really liked them the first time I tried them on. But I thought it was too pricey so I passed at first. Then later that day, it was so difficult to concentrate with work coz they were all I could think of and so after office, I immediately went back and bought them! I'm so glad I did coz I really like them soooo much! It's got all the elements I wanted for in a boots this season: buckle, studs, platforms and it's over-the-knee! And you know even if this over-the-knee fad fades, I could still wear them by folding the top and revealing the rich, supple gray leather underneath!"

But then it was a formal meeting with 7 of us in the room so I just smiled and graciously said, "thank you."

Here's a few ways I styled them since I got them.

-- skirt: Moschino C&C -- sweater: Banana Republic -- jacket: RL -- over-the-knee boots: Stuart Weitzman --

-- sweater dress: XOXO -- belt: CK -- over-the-knee boots: Stuart Weitzman --

-- top: Julie's Closet -- mini: Gap -- over-the-knee boots: Stuart Weitzman --





-

-- blazer: Theory -- tee: Debenhams -- skinny jeans: J Brand -- over-the-knee boots: Stuart Weitzman --

-- eyelet skirt worn as top: Christopher Kane for Topshop -- jacket: RL -- tights: F21 --
-- over-the-knee boots: Stuart Weitzman --

Not only did they pass the styling test but they also passed the comfy test. Even at 4 inches, I could wear these boots all day without an aching feet after. I even tried walking 10 blocks wearing them and was still alive after. And hey, if Fergie could rock, dance and jump around with these on, maybe I could even run a 5K wearing these studded, grommeted & buckled platform beauties, why not?!

photo credit: coolspotters.com

Have a great week ahead!

Halloween Ole, Ole, Ole!!

Halloween is my favorite event of the year! I love it when I can dress up and be a totally different person for a day all in the name of fun! I love it when friends come up with the wackiest and silliest costumes that are the source of laughter and entertainment for hours and hours. I love it so much that as soon as it's over, I long for the next one. And usually, I can't wait til the following October for the next dress-up opportunity so we usually have mini themed parties all throughout the year!

From last year's, dressed up as a sorceress and a dragon fly lady....

From earlier this year, fashion feverish in a mini dress, platform boots and poufy 'do at our '70s disco party!

This year, for a mere $5, we were a Spanish señor & señorita!




The mantilla was just a lacy scarf I have already and the dress was bought from Melbourne long time ago. I hiked the slit a bit and pinned a rose to make it muy caliente! ;)




I wish this makes for a prelude to enjoying an authentic tapas,
sangria, jamon & paella.
Viva España!!

****

PS - the winner of the Paris Vogue/scarf giveaway is Ela of Extra D.O.T.S!
Special thanks to random.org for making the winning pick so painless & easy. I was so ready to pick the winner the geekiest way: cut & paste the names to an Excel doc, generate a random number and invoke the mathematical mod function by a factor equal to the number of entries.

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween!!

Travelogue: London, Bath, Windsor & Stonehenge

Bath

England will always have a special place in my heart. It was the very first trip the hubz and I took together back in '04. We had such a blast then and vowed to come back. We managed to keep that promise and now after 5 years, we are back!

-- mini: AE -- jacket: Target -- scarf: Benneton -- boots: Hot Kiss --

This time, we wanted to cover a few cities in the London outskirts. I didn't want to stress myself doing all the planning myself (this is an anniversary trip afterall), so I just booked a tour for us. For $125, we covered three attractions all in one day: Bath, Stonehenge and Windsor. The rest of our stay, we window shopped and day dreamed along Bond and New Bond streets, ate fish & chips, watched West End shows and experienced a Topshop overdose.

With its steep history and fabulous citizens, I cannot get enough of England! I enjoyed it so much and so we vow to be back again here. Hopefully, sooner than 5 years.

Windsor Castle




Stonehenge





West End

-- dress: Prairie New York -- ruffle cardigan: Banana Republic --
-- belt: Oscar by Oscar dela Renta -- thigh-high boots: Nine West --


London

And with this ends my Paris/London adventure posts. We had such a blast and felt like we stepped out of our normal lives and lived stree-free for a full 7 days. It was such a good break and felt so blessed for the opportunity!

If you haven' done so already, please join my Paris giveway here. It's still open for a few more days and a winner will be picked on my next post. =)

Have a happy mid-week everyone!