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love notes: ladybuds
2008-01-24 06:04:00
These are a great idea! They are earrings with earplugs attached --Ladybuds earplug earrings -- good for concerts & airplanes. They are easily accessible and re-usable after a rinse. I have a couple of packs of earplugs in my tote right now left over from traveling and the occasional studying in public places. These would be a good substitute, but I have just one complaint. Is it just me, or do they look like candy corn? Not a good look.
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rhi rhi's bag
2008-01-23 07:10:00
Marc Jacobs Collection Large Rihanna BagCrackled metallic leather. Antiqued silver metal hardware. Rolled leather handles. 4" drop. Detachable chain link shoulder strap with interior clasp attachments. 17" drop. Front flap with twist-lock closure and gusseted patch pocket underneath. Silver metal logo plaque on one side. Open top Interior zipped pocket. 15.5"x 11.5"x 7.75" Made in Italy. $2,075 Conversation in design room...MARC: Did I tell you that I met Rihanna the other night?INTERN: Really.MARC: Beautiful girl but she kept going on and on and on about how she wanted a bag named after her.INTERN: Really.MARC: Yeah...say Pascal, do we have any scraps of leather laying around?INTERN: Actually it's just Paul.MARC: Whatever, Paaaauuuuul. Leather, Paaaauuuuul.INTERN: Well, we have these.MARC: That'll do. Look, you have 15 minutes to show me something. I'm on break.Seriously, I would love to see the day Marc Jacobs makes and names a bag after me. I am just glad it isn't this one. T...

is he gonna pay restitution?
2008-01-22 22:04:00
I read an article today about a man who was sentence to 45 days for stealing 1,613 pairs of panties, bras, others....his thieving ended up weighing 93 pounds! My question -- Is he going to pay restitution to all the women who lost their panties, bras and "others"? Do they not know how expensive undergarments are these days? I wouldn't want my items back, that would be creepy, but I would like a gift certificate to my favorite shop.photos: the onion
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badu leopard
2008-01-22 21:14:00
I've always liked Erykah Badu for her individual style...making fashion wrongs look so good. Here she is rocking the geek chic look. But I would like you to divert your attention to her footwear. She is wearing the Yves Saint Laurent Platform Loafer available @ Barney's.Canvas platform peep toe loafer with leopard toe. Patent leather decorative strap and trim. 105mm patent covered heel. Leather sole. Fabric/leather upper. Available in Beige/Dark Brown. Made in Italy. $675 It goes to show that when picking up a trend, you don't have to take it literally & wear it head to toe. photos: splash & barneys.com
More About: Leopard

doc: unfolding florence
2008-01-22 06:33:00
I saw "Unfolding Florence :The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst" this weekend which is a docu-drama based on the life of Florence Broadhurst. I would describe Broadhurst as the Australian CoCo Chanel in the sense that she kept re-inventing herself to stay on top. She made up her own storied background which included her being British, a close friend of the Queen Mother and a memeber of a wealthy cattle family from Queensland.The film goes from her birth to her murder in 1977, reading from her personal letters & with interviews from family, friends and others who knew and worked with her. She was this amazing, feisty, determined, sometimes unethical woman who toured the world in the 1920s singing, opened her own boutique in London in 30s, became a painter in the 50s and a wallpaper designer & socialite in the 60s. Overall, it has a dark comedy feel and disbelief of what this woman thought she could (and did) get away with.Even though I would probably be a little scared if I h...

car clearing
2008-01-22 03:41:00
I am selling my car which means that I have to clean it out. I started this afternoon and got as far as I could before my hands froze off. I have found the usual loose change and receipts. But then I started finding things that I either completely forgot about or had no clue where they came from. I have found -a tape measure3 mugsa movie script (two copies!)a font reference guidepantone cards and paint cardsan art history manuala tea guide2 novels5 magazines4 mapsa cell phone charger (from two phones ago)a make-up bag2 gift bagsa box of envelopesinfinity of pens (never could find one when I needed!)a highlightertwo 9" shiny gold stars7 shoes (not 7 pairs, just seven shoes that may or may not match)2 rosaries1 biblea t-shirta pink topa dressa sweater5+ water bottles (stopped counting)3 totes bags Where exactly am I going with all of this stuff?!? Most of the stuff was shoved under the seats, in pockets behind the seats or in the tote bags, but still! I tried to imagine if a str...
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this might sting a little
2008-01-21 07:37:00
I had the ladies over Saturday night for a viewing of the first three episodes of Cashmere Mafia and a couple of bottles of red wine. I know a lot are against me on this, but we actually liked it. Here's why.We are all in business school, which is how the Cashmere Mafia met. So here is a group of women looking at our futures? No! Don't you know TV isn't real. But we do talk about how we are going to balance being married, having children, having a social life, all while dominating the world. (inset wicked laugh here). We don't see ourselves as a housewife (yes I'm calling out Desperate Housewives) wearing the velour suit (funny joke from ep.2) and I don't see myself as this woman who has to sacrifice a life to have a career. And I personally DO NOT see having to sacrifice my wardrobe.And during the late night study sessions, impossible formulas, research and networking I hold on to the hope that I am doing all of this to have a fabulous life in the end. Gotta stay positive rig...
More About: Sting

mj's shoes
2008-01-20 22:04:00
Nope, not Marc Jacobs. Nike and Michael Jordan are releasing the 23rd edition of Air Jordan shoes called the Air Jordan XX3. These are Nike's first basketball shoe designed under its "Considered" ethos, which aims to reduce waste and use environmentally friendly materials wherever possible. They will be released in 23 select retailers ($230) this month and launched nationwide ($185) in the spring.What's the deal with the number 23? It was MJ's jersey number. There is talk that this might be the last shoe in the Air Jordan line. An end of a legacy, since 1985?I have one final question. I know that they are environmentally friendly, but are they sweatshop free too? I kid! But seriously....photo: ap/nike
More About: Shoes

more groceries
2008-01-20 22:03:00
Speaking of bags...if you don't want a plastic bag substitute, how about a paper bag substitute?It is called the Grocery Tote from Porter/B Yoshida. It looks exactly like the paper bag that you get in a supermarket. Instead it is made of cotton & poplin with a light blue lining. The material is eco-friendly and a vinyl-alternative. What's really weird interesting is that it mimics a brown paper sack down to the handles and triangle edges. Again, I like this replacement bag because it is understated. They also carry a smaller version. The large runs for ¥13650 ($127.50) while the small is ¥10500 ($98.07) photos: allbeams.com
More About: Groceries

save the planet and don't crush the eggs
2008-01-20 14:24:00
A show of hands. How many use their I'm Not A Plastic Bag or similar as a true substitute for plastic bags? That is what I thought. The reason is probably because you spent too much time, effort and/or money and don't want it smelling like cheese.Solution: Baggu. They are made of nylon, come in 12 different solid colors and hold the contents of 2 to 3 plastic grocery bags. They are also light and fold into a flat 5 by 5 inch pouch that easily slips in a purse.I am pretty into these. I like the idea of carrying my own plastic bag substitute without trying to make a fashion statement, just an environmental one. They aren't see through (I have a problem with nosey people) and don't have a giant logo of any kind (I don't believe in free advertising). And they are pretty inexpensive for their use - 1 for $8; 3 for $22; and 6 for $38 - you can mix & match the colors.photos: baggu.com
More About: Eggs , Planet , Save , Crush , The Planet

on the advertising front: lanvin redux
2008-01-20 02:12:00
These are so ridiculous pretty! Plus they aren't that scary! These are why I like looking at the advertising more than the editorial content sometimes(sorry!) I like how the edges are blurry to give it a surreal, painted look. photo: tfs/original sin and luxx
More About: Advertising , Front , Lanvin

anna vs hillary
2008-01-19 21:17:00
Anna Wintour wrote the following in her February editor's letter after Hillary Clinton backed out late last fall before a photo shoot for US Vogue. Hillary canceled for fear of appearing too alluring/feminine. Let's see how Mz. Wintour felt about that..."Imagine my amazement, then, when I learned that Hillary Clinton, our only female president hopeful, had decided to steer clear of our pages at this point in her campaign for fear of looking too feminine. The notion that a contemporarywoman must look mannish in order to be taken seriously as a seeker of power is frankly dismaying." Wintour continues: "This is America, not Saudi Arabia. It's also 2008: Margaret Thatcher may have looked terrific in a blue power suit, but that was 20 years ago. I do think Americans have moved on from the power-suit mentality, which served as a bridge for a generation of women to reach boardrooms filled with men. Political campaigns that do not recognize this are making a serious misjudgment."Didn't ...
More About: Anna

trapped in the webb
2008-01-19 07:28:00
At cocktail party hosted by Veronica Webb and Donna Karan Thursday night at Urban Zen Boutique in New York City. OK, doesn't she have a style show with Tim Gunn? My first reaction was to rip into Ms. Webb, but the more I looked at her, the more I want to try it. She is rocking the two scarves twisted together with a large beaded necklace around both. Interesting...you know have have to try this now. I like the dress, but then I got confused with the red tights and tap shoes. Arrrggg! I want to hate it, but I can't!

mag rac: french vogue
2008-01-19 01:13:00
The French Vogue 's February 2008 issue w/ Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. i thought I would be more impressed. photo: TFS/Vini

word of the day: bedraggled
2008-01-18 23:07:00
be·drag·gled (b?-dr?g'?ld) adj.[1]a. Wet; limp.b. Soiled by or as if by having been dragged through mud.[2] Being in a condition of deterioration; dilapidated"Amy Winehouse ? her newly platinum-blond hair looking bedraggled ? came to her husband's support at the hearing." I saw this on the AP, and thought what a great word to use to describe her hair.photo: AP/Sang Tan
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love notes: purple bay
2008-01-18 22:12:00
Purple is one of my favorite colors, I thought I was a little hypnotized by this one. I asked a classmate though and she gave me the thumbs up. This is the Chloé Bay Patent Hobo available for pre-order ($1760) at Saks. I love the gold and violet combo. It is made in grained patent lambskin, with a 8" drop and magnetic closure. 12"W X 13"H X 4"Dphoto: saks
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mag rac: w website
2008-01-18 22:01:00
W magazine has gotten its own website. Thoughts?
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pom-pom
2008-01-18 04:14:00
I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately. Nothing serious, but I am cutting back on my dairy intake. This means instead of a 50/50 coffee/tea split, I am depending more on tea. My fav after green tea....Pomegranate Pizzazz "don't forget your jazz hands " Herbal Tea. The highlights -- 100% Natural. No Caffeine. No Calories. No Carbs...if you care.It has pomegranate, apple, orange, hibiscus, and blackberry. It is naturally sweet, no sugar needed. Also, they are individually wrapped in foil packets so they are good to take on the road...no stray leaves at the bottom of your handbag.photo: bigelowtea.com

say it ain't so!
2008-01-18 01:08:00
I guess it just didn't really sink in. I had heard that Isaac Mizrahi was named creative director for Liz Claiborne earlier this week. internal thought: good for him!. Now, I realize that this means he will no longer design for Target. internal thought: bad for me!He has designed for Target since 2003, doesn't it seem longer? And Target will carry his collection until the end of this year. internal thought: stock up.source: reuters

your bag is talking to me
2008-01-17 07:40:00
It is snowing outside.* Earlier tonight I went to a meeting for a new group that is forming here. Nothing fashion related but it is an all womens group and while I'm living here I might as well make new friends.This was the third meeting they've held (the first I attended) so I sat in the back. There was an empty seat in front of me with a handbag beside it. Immediately upon seeing this bag, I wanted to be friends with the owner.The bag said, yes I am about business but I know how to have fun. I imagined going on shopping trips together, having brunch together, having cocktails together and going to live shows together. I had plotted out an entire three month social calendar in my head within a five minute period. That is, until the owner of my precious new friend sat down.Oh. My. Fug. What happened?!? How could there be such a huge discord between handbag and shoe? The dream was gone.*Sometimes I just like telling stories (not as in lies), but just observations in daily life. Som...
More About: Talking

mission organization
2008-01-16 14:01:00
I left the house last week with the sole mission of getting the house organized. Seven hours later, I came home with a wondrous supply of organizational gadgetry and two additional items I smuggled in under a Rubbermaid lid.Rimmel Extra Super Lash MascaraLast year...A girlfriend & I were out running errands.Her boyfriend called to invite us to this supersonic party.Not enough time to make it back to her flat & my hotel to get ready.His flat was closer.Pit stop to H&M and Boots to get party supplies.My refusal to buy expensive make-up that I already owned.Needed cheap substitute.This is one of the best mascaras that I've come across for the price. It is really inexpensive, yet it does not dry out and really builds up my lashes. I now use it on a regular basis. You can go to the Rimmel site to find out where to buy.What I was really excited about was this Erin Fetherston dress from Target. It is currently available online for $31.49 on clearance. However, I found it in th...
More About: Organization , Mission , Organ , Missi

milan's men
2008-01-16 13:22:00
I usually don't pay much attention to the mens shows, but I've come across a couple of the runway images and well...I tried to look at them in the context of being for the man in my life, to edit myself. But halfway through I am always like "forget him! I like this & this & this..." For example - Alexander McQueen Fall 2008I can't imagine on my best day and he on his worst, convincing him to rock this. I on the other hand, would at least try it on...it just looks so cuddly.With the men shows, I find myself making fun of the designs for being so ridiculous whereas if it were on the womens runway I would probably call it "innovative." It is hard for me to look at the shows with the same eyes because it doesn't apply to me and that means, well...I don't care.I do actually like going in the menswear department. The paisley ties call out to me. There are times where I wish that my man was more fashionable. He describes his style as preppy (pause) even though his closet most...

flattery, the best form: fila vs. prada
2008-01-16 07:08:00
I don't really care for either one, but then again, I am not a boy.The shoes in question are Prada 's Linea Rossa Collection. They are at Nieman Marcus for $390. The lookalike are Fila 's Helmsman, available at Finish Line for $89.99.On first glance, I thought they were so similiar, but now looking at them, not so much. Do you think they have a case? But if you really want to walk around with ugly shoes, the Prada pair look better.
More About: Form

malandrino
2008-01-16 02:32:00
Angie Harmon & Debra Messing at the the opening of the Jimmy Choo Flagship store on Rodeo Drive, benefiting the Entertainment Industry Foundation?s Women?s Cancer Research Fund. I LOVE Angie's Catherine Malandrino skirt & top and Debra's handbag...Jimmy Choo? Let's just sit and admire. From the S/S 2008 collection. Model: Coco Rocha photos: Donato Sardella/WireImage; Marcio Madeira/style.com

the doctor and his shoes
2008-01-15 09:20:00
I have a shameful secret. I am a huge Doctor Who fan. But that is not the secret. I have had the last three episodes of series 3 on my DVR for months. MONTHS. Shameful. They just sat there, unwatched, looking at me every time I went to "My Recordings". I just could not bare to let go, plus I just haven't had the time to watch them in a block. Now, I already knew what happened thanks to my trusty wikipedia list of Doctor Who serials. It is twisted, I know, but I hate surprises. But at the same time, I catch myself, breathless during an episode, on the edge of my seat, even though I already know what is going to happen. I have bad nerves. Or it could my itsy-bitsy crush on the Doctor. Who knows.I finally watched these episodes because my boyfriend has instituted a 'no longer than three months' rule for the DVR and Torchwood is about to come back. (I promise that I am not a sci-fi geek. Those are my only two exceptions.) While watching my mini marathon, I couldn't stop giggling dur...
More About: Shoes

on the advertising front: lanvin
2008-01-15 05:02:00
Vogue US January 2008 for Spring 08 campaign. Model:Olga Sherer; Photographer: Steven Meisel Every time I see this Lanvin ad, I get a little scared? You? It is a beautiful photograph, but it still makes me want to look over my shoulder...photo: tfs-faith akiyama
More About: Advertising , Front

flattery, the best form: the green dress
2008-01-14 16:42:00
Sooooooooo, we knew it was coming. Faviana has created a "duplicate" of Keira Knightley?s green dress in Atonement. Right now, you can pre-order it for $238 and it will start to ship around mid-January/February. They are promoting it as the "IT" prom dress of the season.Shall we start taking bets on how many girls show up in the same dress to prom? How embarrassing. I can already see the "accidental" punch spillage, the glaring stares & whispers and the good old fashion cat fights. *meow* Just from the picture, I can see that it is the wrong type of fabric, color and cut. This dress is one of those things where we just need to admire instead of trying to copy. No one is going to believe that you actually bought the dress from Atonement. I am trying to imagine if I walked into an event and saw a woman wearing this dress. I can't keep help but to think that I a small smirk would appear on my face.
More About: Green , Dress , Form

flattery, the best form: footless socks
2008-01-14 05:11:00
If you ask me, just buy some knee length socks and introduce them to your scissors. But if you are not feeling very crafty, you can get a pair of Prada-esque footless socks at American Apparel for $12 (below). photos: prada & american apparel
More About: Form , Socks

love notes: bulga
2008-01-13 23:17:00
I don't know why I don't post more about handbags. I make them in my spare time, which currently is never and I have a closet devoted specifically to handbags and other small accessories. Sounds more glamourous than it really is. I am still trying to find my direction in the whole blogging world, but I basically started Style Musings becasue I wanted 'someone' to talk to about my favorite hobbies - fashion & shopping. To write about the things that I found interesting, both practical & lustful. So with that detour of a introduction, I am currently clawing over Bulga. They are simple, but with unique detailing. A great everyday bag.Buckles BagColor - London ? Leather with logo printed fabric lining ? Measures approx 15"W (at bottom) x 12"H x 9"D ? Strap measures approx 26" with 11" drop ? Zip top closure ? Buckle detail at two front compartments ? Two snap closure side compartments Clutch Color - Moscow Red Patent ? Patent leather with printed fabric lining ? Measures ap...
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yeah, i knew that: drying rack
2008-01-12 21:34:00
It seems that an overwhelming amount of my clothes are either dry clean or hand wash. During the process of organizing my closet, I discovered a pile that fit into one of these two categories. I don't know how it got to this point...actually I do. I looked at the label after buying & wearing and made the decision that I would get back to them later. And here we are. I feel like I should be in a cotton commercial.However, I am not throwing my clothing out the window. While sorting through the pile, I made the executive decision, to avoid having a $100+ dry cleaning bill, that I was going to do some hand washing. This might sound...normal, silly, boring...but let me introduce you to my two little friends - Also known as my lingerie and intimates washbags. Why do they have male names? Well, don't they look like an Henry & Sam?I got them at Bed Bath & Beyond for $4.99 each. I use them to wash my tights, camisoles and other items that I know that my washing machine will eat...
More About: Rack , Yeah