Sunday, February 28, 2010

Dare to Stare

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One day, as I was going about with my own business around the downtown skyway, I couldn't help but notice a few long, flat-out stares directed at me. Made me wonder why because as far as I'm concerned, I looked very normal that day. I wasn't wearing anything that is begging for attention nor was I showing any skin (which btw, I never do! Or at least, not too much!)


stuart weitzman - carly - over the knee
-- Theory blazer -- striped top -- JBrand jeans --
-- Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots -- Banana Republic necklace --


I got so paranoid I even stopped at a store to check myself out in a mirror and sure enough, everything was normal. Zipper up? Yep! Face markings? Nope. Visible stains? Nope. And then it hit me... Gosh, do they think my hips is laughably too wide? Nah, can't be. Some of those who stared had hips wider than mine! Could it be that my over-the-knee boots look hoho-ish? Nah. Maybe if they're patent red. So what then could it be?? My golly goodness, confusion in the universe!

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Stuart Weitzman "Carnaby" over-the-knee boots


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Welcome to our office bathroom!


That leaves me with just one plausible explanation: maybe they found me interesting enough to merit the 5-second stare. Maybe.

And so it begs this question, when people stare, do you:

Stop them dead in their track and shout "Care Bear... STARE!!!"
Smile a big smile and strut like a runway model.
Feel conceited... how do you even know they're staring in the first place?
Curse the entire outfit for garnering such unwanted attention.
Hand out business cards for your blog.
pollcode.com free polls

Have a great week ahead!


Sunday, February 21, 2010

Mixing Prints


Q
: What do you get when you mix a black leopard, a lion head and a snake?
outfit4 - mixing prints
photo credit: Google


A: An outfit!
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-- Michael Kors leopard print black blazer -- Mimi di N lion's head belt --



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-- vintage Givenchy skirt --



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-- Sam Edelman faux snakeskin boots --

Have a great week ahead!


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The "Art" of Shopping

A few days ago, the fabulous WendyB blogged about a topic that hit me right at the very heart. Read it here or else miss out on this life-altering piece of information!

Guilty on 3 counts, that's me. My closet, to this day, is a constant reminder of my previous life as a hoarder of cheap stuff. If it's 70% OFF, nevermind if I don't need it, nevermind if it's the bazillionth (insert any item that you already own a bazillion too many) item in my closet, I gotta have it.

Price is primary. Style is secondary. Quality is... what quality?!?

As much as I love my old ways, it didn't really work for me. After all the shopping and hoarding, there was not a single piece of clothing and not a single pair of shoes that stood out. Nothing was special. None was a favorite.

My closet was screaming for change. (Don't get me wrong though, I am not wishing that only designer pieces would ever touch my skin! ...On the second thought, won't that be completely fabulous?!? )

I still have the same shopping budget as before. I still go thrifting and consignment shopping. I still, and will always enjoy hunting for treasures from the clearance racks - be it at Marshall's, Neimans or Saks! Asking me to stop buying sale items is like asking Monet to stop painting water lilies! He won't because he's mastered the art of it (pun very much intended)!


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Monet's Water Lily Series at l'Orangerie - October 2009


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Monet's Water Lily Panel at the MoMA - March 2007



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Monet's Water Lily Pond at Musee d'Orsay - October 2005


The only big difference is that now, before I pull my credit card to pay for that SALE merchandise, I ask myself these questions:

  • Is the piece truly worth its original price? Or is the marked-down price should have been its original price? Intrinsic value! Determining it is an art unto itself!

  • Can I come up with at least a dozen outfit ideas with this piece? My closet is a prime real estate. Storing one-hit-wonders is not the best use of that very limited space.

  • Will I lose sleep if I walk away from it? If I have to stalk an item for weeks just to test if I truly like it, I would. I did it here.

  • Does it fit me perfectly? Or will it fit me perfectly after a minor alteration? This last is very important. Had I asked myself this, I would have saved me from a few years worth of wasteful spending. I bought a lot of clothes that fit me perfectly if only I'd lose 20 more pounds or undergo liposuction. That's no minor alteration! Sure enough, they all went to Goodwill at the end of the season, tags and all, and in the same shopping bag they came in with.

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Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam - January 2008
Me: If it doesn't fit, don't buy it.
Van Gogh: If the ears don't fit, get a knife.



So now, if someone asks me how many favorite pieces of clothes and shoes do I have, my response would be this: As many artworks as there are in the Louvre!


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Mona Lisa reproduction at the Louvre gift shop - October 2005

Well, probably not as many as 35,000. Just 57 to be exact and all painstakingly documented in a few of my posts in this blog.

I know that none of my blogged pieces here will be in my neighborhood Goodwill anytime soon. Not to worry though, I still have LOTS of things to sort out that will keep them in business for years to come!

Price. AND style. AND quality. Gotta have all three now to make me happy...

Change has come! My closet will soon be my masterpiece, my Obra, the by-product of my artful shopping that will hopefully stand the test of time!

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Venus de Milo dating back from the 100BC. Certainly something that has stood the test of time!

End of melodrama. Thanks for listening! Now allow me to slip back to my usually calm self in 3, 2, 1...

Sunday, February 7, 2010

A Shopaholic's Letter to the President

Dear Mr. President,

You will be pleased to know that I am doing my part in propelling this ailing economy of ours with a purchase that, at the same time, provides an essential nutrient for my sanity: a healthy dose of vitaMinn G.

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vitaMinn G - Gucci flats from The Forum Shoppes at Caesar's in Las Vegas


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...love the interlocking G's! It's like these shoes were custom-made to bear my initial! :p


I ask nothing in return for this act of responsible citizenship. But if you must insist, a shopper's credit does not seem like a bad idea at all. I promise that any such refund will be invested back in the retail economy for some other important nutrients I lack:

photo credit: google
coveredgiantcity_pomengranate
vitaMinn B - Balenciaga City bag in pomengranate


photo credit: google
chanel large flap classic - jumbo
vitaMinn C - Chanel jumbo in any buttery color!

Sincerely,
Grace aka Gracie aka G

Monday, February 1, 2010

Travelogue: Viva Las Vegas!

If you could, would you quit your work and travel the world for a year?

Our friend from Melbourne did just that. She quit her job, packed her bags and bought a roundtrip ticket around the world! Now at the tail end of her journey, we caught up with her in Las Vegas before she headed to Hawaii to cap off her grand holiday. It was so fun hearing about her adventures from New Zealand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma to London, NYC, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia and LA!

And so I couldn't help but ask myself: Can I forgo 100 pairs of Loubies (or 20 Chanel bags) to see the world?

Gladly, there's no dilemma there. With a mortgage to pay and retirement accounts to fund, the next 30 years of my life is already devoted to unceasing toil.

Vegas will have to do...

Besides, you see the world when you see Vegas anyway, yeh? It's like traveling from Cairo to NYC to Paris to Venice, to Monaco & Lake Como all in one strip.... nowhere else in the world has that!!!

I'm pathetic, I know. But enjoy these pictures anyway!


The Strip
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Wynn Encore

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living area

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study

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bedroom

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foyer

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bathroom

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vanity


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more vanity!

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-- brown sweater dress -- Banana Republic belt -- F21 leggings --
-- Prada camoscio brown booties
--

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City Center
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2-story Prada & LV shops at the City Center


Cirque du Soleil's LOVE
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Freemont Street Experience presents Aliens
freemont presents aliens

freemont street experience

* * *
And the winners of the wine holder giveaway are:

Congratulations "Woman" & Normie! I'll be contacting you soon. Hope you enjoy it!

I already opened mine and used it today for our wine with dinner! It's beautifully-crafted, perfectly-packaged and so slick-looking, love it!

* * *


Again, thank you CSNstores.com for the lovely giveaway!

UPDATE: Just received this Hi-Fashion award from Che of Adventures of a Pinay Neska.
Thanks Che!!


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