Design(er) Diagram - Part 3

VitaMinn DVN

photo credit: style.com

...is for Dries Van Noten pumps with python-covered curved heel.

My hubz call them the "cow" shoes. Look closely and I think you'd agree. ;)

Whenever I'd wear this pair, I always have colleagues and complete strangers tell me, "Wow, those are some shoes!" I wonder if they really meant to say, "Wow, those are some COW shoes!". =)

Doesn't matter. I'll keep mooing in these!

-- H&M gray sheath dress -- black blazer -- CK belt --
-- Banana Republic necklace -- Dries Van Noten python-covered curved pumps --

Here it is appearing on the FW 2009 runway:

photo credit: style.com

Pronounced as: Dreez van NOH-ten... not Know-ten... not Note-en. Short "o" and short "n".
This is according to a very reliable Dutch/Flemish source. =)

Have a great weekend everyone! Moooo!!

Something Frilly, Something Fishy

-- cami: The Limited --- skirt: Carmen Marc Valvo -- belt: Calvin Klein --
-- watch: Fendi -- shoes: Guess --

I spotted this skirt a few weeks ago and didn't want to try it on at first. I'm glad I did because it was love at first try right at the dressing room! The ruffles and the way the chiffon hugs my curves, they're an instant prettifier!

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Close-up of the ruffle details!

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It was such a steal as the dress version of it was still selling for $350 at bluefly.com!

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(End of the "frilly" post)

N ow on the "fishy" side, I'm just so jealous of Thumbelina's recent post about her $15pp 4-course brunch! In my neck of the woods, if I wanted a 4-course meal for $15, I'll have to cook it myself.

Just one shrimp tempura roll is usually at least $15; throw in a few sashimi and sushi and it'll cost you a skirt - a Carmen Marc Valvo chiffon ruffle skirt!!

One of our fave sushi places here is Wasabi.
We are regulars at this place ever since it opened 3 years ago.

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They fly in their fish daily and that probably accounts for half of the cost of the items in their menu!

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Too bad you can't fish salmon, white tuna and squid from lakes because we have 10,000 of those!!

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Wishing everyone a happy work week ahead from the "land of 10,000 lakes" and expensive sushi!! =)

Be My Valentino

-- Cotton cardigan: Valentino -- Sheath dress: Calvin Klein -- Burgundy patent pumps: Chanel --

I normally won't buy $60 for a cotton cardigan. But if it's a Valentino originally priced at $1,390 and marked down 95% OFF, it's a no brainer, the credit card was out faster than the speed of light!

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$1,390!! I can't believe my luck!

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With the iconic Jackie O as inspiration, I pulled the biggest pearls I had in my jewelry box and voila! But now if only I have a pill box hat, gloves and those oversized Jackie O sunglasses...

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...And here's another way to style these beautiful scalloped trim!
Oh the possibilities!

¡Ay, caramba!

S ummer is (supposedly) the season characterized by warmer weather but apparently, Minnesota did NOT get that memo! Today was colder than usual; our high was only in the low 70's. But we did not let that get in the way of our plans for some taste of Latin music at the Mill City Museum!

-- Calvin Klein floral top -- white shorts from Woolies (in Aus) -- Calvin Klein sunnies (useless today) -- Prada Vit. Daino hobo -- Forever 21 necklace -- Banana Republic mettalic flats -- Banana Republic cropped bomber jacket --

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It brought back memories of our few months stay in Miami last year where on some weekends, we'd skip going back to the Twin Cities to enjoy some Latin singing and dancing at Bayside Marketplace. And after losing all energy from dancing and watching other people dance, we would mosey down to David's Cafe (corner of Lincoln and Meridian) for an authentic Cubano treat!

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If not for the cold breeze and the fact that I had to wear a light jacket, I would have been taken back to Miami just by listening to this band, "Charanga Tropical".

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Their style of “charanga,” is a unique sound that is rarely heard outside of Cuba and so it was a treat to hear and dance to!

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Can't wait for the warmer weekend!

The Pleated Skirt Dress

-- Calvin Klein pleated skirt dress -- Banana Republic belt -- Christian Louboutin pumps --

Keeping the accessories at a minimum makes this dress speak out for itself in a simple,
subtle and classy kind of way.

I don't have the kind of body to pull off a pleated skirt dress. But that did not stop me anyway from buying a few in the past. I only stopped wearing them when one time, a complete stranger asked if I was pregnant! To my shock, surprise and embarrassment, I just answered "Yes" and smiled (with one hand tightly clenched behind my back to stop myself from giving him a big, fat slap!).

Last week, as I was doing my weekly (err DAILY!) rounds of retail stalking at Off Fifth, I gave myself another chance to fit into this cut. And I think I may have just found a perfectly suitable one in this Calvin Klein piece. It was NOT perfect, just perfectly suitable. But at 75% off (originally $144), it was good enough. And for me, good enough is great!