The Style Lounge

2010-10-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

now that the ss11 rtw shows are wrapped up, the reviews shall begin... but where to begin?

1. let there be white.

stella mccartney. easy, breezy..

helmut lang. the twisted lapel and the cut of the shorts... love!

derek lam. clean, minimalistic and just plain pretty.

celine. phoebe philo came in w/ such high expectations that it's hard to say whether she's met them yet. i like the soft, chic mix of white and neutrals in this collection

hermes. they did white right with the sexy equestrian look. i absolutely adore the first look, especially with that classy pouch!

2. soft and flowy

derek lam. oh the print!

hermes again. enjoyed this collection as much as the aviator-inspired collection he did a few seasons back

jil sanders. she used interesting, oragami-like construction without losing the softness of the fabrics

3. and some edgy-ness to balance out the soft season

balenciaga. how cool is every piece in that look? down to the shoes!

balmain. yes they do it every season but they always do it right.

and some other notables:

lanvan. construction=impeccable, as always.

and the return of american designers:

calvin klein. simplicity is so underrated.

ralph lauren. who knew the wild, wild west could be so fashionable?

max azria. a shoutout to one of my best friends angie lee who designed these two particular fab dresses. major kudos!

(all photos from style.com)

Lanvin for H&M: "a happy collection for happy people"

2010-09-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

i was almost kind of skeptical about writing this post because i didnt want to spread this news any more than it's already been spread. my dear friend tom reminded me last night and it hit me that it's actually happening...

LANVIN's releasing a collection for H&M on november 20!

the first time i heard this i had mixed emotions. i HEART alber elbaz & lanvin and as much as i wanted to leap for joy that i can afford to purchase something created by the genius himself, i don't feel completely settled with the fact that the brand's appeal which partly stems from this idea of unattainable perfection will be tampered with. i mean, even celebrities have said that Lanvin is one of the most coveted brands and price tags can sometimes be jaw-dropping. (after doing numerous competitor brand analysis, i must concur.)

anyway, do i have a say in this? no. if i did, would i endorse it? not sure. am i excited to see what will be released in november? absolutely.

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Autumn

2010-09-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

I have to say that Autumn is probably my favorite season in New York. Not only is the weather amazing (not too humid, not too cold), it brings about a sense of novelty...like writing on the first sheet of a fresh new notebook or opening up a box of new crayons. Maybe this has to do with the fact that this time of year means back-to-school for students. As ecstatic as I would get when school got out in June, I would be just as anxious to get back into school by the time September rolled around. Playing everyday could get restless. Or maybe it was because back-to-school actually meant back-to-school shopping--yeah!

Last fall, I moved to NY and landed in the merch department at Louis Vuitton. This fall, I've settled in and found a brand new job, which I'll be starting on Monday. See, this time of year does mean new beginnings, at least for me.

It no longer means back-to-school shopping but delving and purchasing some FW10 fashion goodies would be just as, if not more (ok, infinitely more) divine.

Marc Jacobs is probably the most fashion-forward American designer we have today, but what he does with LV is always quite different from what he does for his own collection. The former usually elicits more elegance and sophistication with a MJ twist, of course. The FW10 collection took a lot of people by surprise; i mean it was definitely elegant and sophisticated but it was just SO feminine. While most designers were striving to go further into modernity, Marc Jacobs took a leap back into time and actually brought back CURVES! so unheard of in a world that exalts emaciated, starving models.

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. I know a lot of these styles risk making an average, even curvier American woman look like Little House on the Prairie, so I shall begin by saying this collection is definitely not for everyone. But just being able to see the workmanship on these clothes in person makes me appreciate them that much more. Plus leather is so fab and he makes it look so amazingly supple...

(style.com)

A lot of designers are beginning to catch on to this more womanly look. Even Zara's doing their own version of it:

(zara.com)

As much as I dig the masculine, androgynous look that's been in for quite a few seasons, it's refreshing to get back in touch with my feminine side.

...and no season is complete without a colleciton full of wonderfuls from Mr. Elbaz:

(style.com)

Just pure, seamless perfection! His first US store is now open in UES on Madison, which I got a chance to go to about a month ago. It's like dangling candy in front of a baby... anyway, I will have to dedicate an entire post on Lanvin one of these days. Can't wait to see what he's going to do for SS11!

Oh and another reason I love autumn: my birthday! A glimpse of my bday weekend:

Jamesport, Long Island. In front of Jedediah Hawkins where I stayed: http://www.jedediahhawkinsinn.com/ which houses the unbelievably scrumptious Luce Hawkins restaurant. NY Times recently said it's a Don't Miss: http://events.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/nyregion/05dineli.html. I could have told you that!

At the renowned Paumanok Vineyard sipping on some dessert Riesling. Great weather, wonderful food/wine plus lovely company. Cheers to autumn!

2010-08-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man had taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flight School

2010-07-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

I miss designing and being inspired. You would think that being in NYC would have put me in a creative frenzy... sadly, i feel like it's been the opposite since my move here 10 months ago. i think i was so caught up in the adjustment process and transitioning from designing to merchandising that my creative juices have almost dried up--or so i thought. but that desire is starting to creep up on me...

some of my designs from my fw10 group Flight School that i designed and created about a year ago. (photos courtesy of Eric Chu; model: June Park, my graphic design partner)

Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, CA

Hooded scarf shirt and high-waisted pants with pleats

Hooded scarf shirt and cropped jacket

Close-up of jacket and shirt

Pleated, sweetheart dress

natural obsession

2010-07-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely enamored with flowers... i know everyone loves flowers, but they actually have a lasting emotional impact on me.

when im graciously treated with a bouquet, it puts a smile on my face every time i get a gentle whiff of its sweet fragrance. ill share some here that have lifted my mood in the recent months... some from my thoughtful and sweet bf, some from my best friend's bridal shower. although these pictures don't do justice (partly due to the fact that a few were taken from my blackberry camera), i hope they add a little bit of warm fuzziness to your day.

My boyfriend arrived at my apartment with a bouquet of these beautiful pre-blossomed white roses (2 dozen of them!) a few nights ago. After they were de-leafed and their stems trimmed, they left my room feeling softly romantic.

A close up their dainty succulence...

A few days later--softly blossomed... love...

My best friends and I took a trip to downtown LA flower mart to choose some fresh flowers for our beloved friend's bridal shower. I forget the name of these but they really took my breath away... (photo courtesy of angela cho)

(photo courtesy of angela cho)

A fresh and bright arrangement of spray roses, hydrangeas and more

Gorgeous peonies

Gerber daisies aren't usually my choice of flowers but they definitely can brighten up a room

and finally, my favorite: peach roses, the definition of soft elegance... combined w/ red velvet cupcakes: heavenly.

the silent sentence

2009-08-21T03:28:00.000-07:00

my dad finally returned a book he borrowed from me 3 or 4 years ago... my most treasured might I add.

Not only are the contents of this book sacred but the author's personalized autograph inside makes it all the more precious. When I was still attending UCLA, I had the privilege of hearing this North Korean renegade give his eyewitness account of the horrific day-to-days in a concentration camp (yes, they still do exist!) and North Korea in general, where more than 3 million people have died from starvation alone.

i re-read the book in 2 days and felt a mix of emotions linger within me. i can't believe these tragedies are still occurring as we speak and at the moment, i feel all the more closer, being on the southern portion of the once united country. kang chol-hwan is one of the fortunate few that was able to escape this horrible regime. it takes a lot of courage to break the silence about such a grey issue with the risk of getting reactions such as disbelief, ridicule or even worse, indifference.

let's keep North Korea in our prayers.

oh, for old time's sake!

2009-08-12T00:26:00.000-07:00

How time flies... it's been awhile hasn't it? I suddenly felt an urge to revisit my blog of random fashion outbursts and nostalgia instantly swept over me as I read the few posts from years back. I forgot how excited I used to feel about trends and good buys (even though reading my overly excited posts made me blush a bit.)

anyway, im currently in Korea (and yes, South Korea for all those people that were wondering. For the record, you cannot enter or leave North Korea because it's under the rule of that cruel dictator and it is a completely separate country from the South.) Apologies--I've digressed. so I've been in Seoul for a little over a month now. And as most of you know, a different environment can have you view things in a whole different light. Fashion here definitely shines differently than in the States. One obvious way you can tell is by stepping out into the streets. Without a mistake, an American will stand out like a sore thumb not just by his or her size in comparison to the smaller framed Koreans but by his or her toned-down sense of fashion as well. Another way is by turning on the tube. Celebrities are clad in funky fresh brights, ruffles and lace that would put Queen Elizabeth to shame, unthinkably wild prints or other types of clothing that a typical American would try to avoid at all costs.

So sparks have been flying in my head. I've been counting down the days till the first Spring 2010 RTW show but examining fashion in a different country is almost, if not just as exciting. A couple looks that I'm eager to explore:

1. Bleached Denim

So these have been out in the market for a fair amount of time but haven't received the positive buyer reaction that it once got in the 80s. I think this has to do with the fact that this look sits on a very fine line between haute rocker and tacky trailer trash (ouch, that was a bit harsh but that's the harsh truth.) When done right (as in paired with a sexy pair of to-die-for stilettos and a posh blazer or something of its chic equivalent), it can make a girl's head go spinning in fashion fantasy world. so i exaggerate but it does have a captivating appeal.

Celebrities show the 80s inspired trend some love.

Balmain Acid Washed Jeans

Dark Bleached Denim

2. Lace tights

Please let's stay with black for these. I love colored tights but colored lace tights might be pushing it a little far. I've seen a few on the streets of Seoul and I had to hold back from going Lady GAGa on them.

yes, yes I know. Megan fox can make almost anything look good.

DooRi Fall 2009

A more detailed look at the exquisite lace. Could it be that DooRi's Korean heritage had something to do with its popularity in this country, or coincidence? I haven't seen too many people in the States with them. Fishnets, yes (ugh.) Lace, unfortunately, no.

3. The Mushroom haircut

Han Hyo Joo, the recent star in what was one of Korea's hottest dramas: Shining Inheritance

Song Hye Gyo, the flawless beauty who recently came clean about her relationship with my crush Hyun Bin

Suh In Young, the pretentious yet lovable Jewelry group member

So this is NOT a look that I'm eager to try out for myself but definitely something that I'm intrigued by. It's not really a flattering look, even on these celebrities who definitely make the above average cut in the looks department. But for some strange reason, the mushroom bug must have bitten the entire nation because there's an influx of commoners who are actually walking the streets with this do aka the bowl cut. Hmm. I did think it looked cute on me--when I was 3!

I have to admit though, the look has somewhat grown on me over the past month. It's fresh but again, not flattering. I'm kinda digging Han Hyo Joo's blunt version of the cut but more for its aesthetic value in the editorial than everyday. And depending on how it's blown out, you can have several looks in one: sexy, sophisticated or cute, respective of pictures above. I'm still not convinced but I have learned that the natives here are pretty bold. They're not afraid to try something new even if it means risking looking somewhat like a smurf.

Nice Booties!

2007-10-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

although they made it on the runway last year, it wasn't till this season that people started obsessing over ankle-length boots, cleverly named "booties." i have yet to find the perfect pair even though i have noticed a couple that make the "nice" cut.

steve madden aplegate in black leather... i was pretty close to making the purchase but changed my mind at the last minute. only if the heel was a tad bit higher

me too-"ramira." the fold-over makes for an interesting design. i love them in this color also but definitely not the kind of boots you can sport often

and personally, my favorite out of the three, michael kors' "studio." the higher heel is sexier and dressier but unfortunately a bit pricey-er than the previous ones (just under $190.) it's do-able and it'll be worth it, at least for this autumn/winter season!

and a repeat photo from the previous entry but kate moss is rockin these booties... great way to dress up a casual outfit.

i lovee these black leather ones with the chunky knit jacket/dress on marykate... lovn the chanel with the outfit also!

photo credits: stevemadden.com, nordstrom.com, usatoday.com, boston.com

Kate Moss for Topshop--Autumn/Winter Collection: Better Late Than Never

2007-09-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

If there's one celebrity/model's style I really dig, it's Kate Moss's. She has mastered the really chic but I'm-not-trying-too-hard look which now every woman is trying to pull off in her own personal vicinity. and who can blame them for trying?

Like mentioned in the previous entry, everyone needs to discover their own sense of style and adapt it so it becomes personal. However, when someone like Kate comes along and makes such a huge fashionable impression on anyone with eyes, it's inevitable she's going to have followers. And with her second collection of clothes now available at topshop.com and Barneys, she just made it that much easier.

Floral Smock Dress

And the Perfect Pair of Brown Leather Boots to match

Zig Zag Dress--might be a bit dizzying but the cut and scarf is too cute to pass

Scarf Neck Vest

These are just a few of my favorites from her new Autumn/Winter collection. I love how all her pieces seem really strong yet still contain the perfect touch of femininity. Unfortunately, most of the stuff have already been sold out and it hasn't even been a month since its release! AND if you haven't heard, her line doesn't carry any sizes bigger than a 6.

Photo Credits: stylebytes.net; katemosstopshop.com

The Skinny On Wide-Leg Pants

2007-09-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to indulge in the new and improved wide-leg trend. And it seems as though it is gaining more popularity among the masses than the skinny-leg look (although I personally still have a fetish with them and sincerely hope they don't go out till a couple more seasons. but that's for another post.)

The high-waist and the low-rise are both cute in different ways. So far, I have one of each and while I love them both equally, I tend to wear the low-rise more often.

Here's The High Waist Pant from Express. As we all know, Express pants tend to run a little big. I'm in-between sizes 0 and 2 there but I HAD to have a pair of these. The SA had told me while I was trying on these pants that the 2 was a little too bulky and the 0 was "absolutely perfect" on me. Well, they didn't feel absolutely perfect... I had to suck in to get them buttoned and was nearly suffocating to fasten the belt on the last hole. Nevertheless, I made the purchase and after getting the hems altered (they run a little long for me too), I've worn them exactly once. Not because I don't love them, but because they're just so hard to get into. But the one time I wore them, I discovered a funny little secret: I can actually wear them unbuttoned and go unnoticed because the huge belt covers the button area. So I had some breathing space... anyway, if the sizing isn't a problem for you, these are the pair to buy! and even if it is--how can you resist?

7 For All Mankind... Ginger in Mercer wash. I get lots of compliments when I wear these out. The fit is perfect and they're reeaaally comfortable (as opposed to the high waist trousers.)

Gap also has some on the market and the ones from Hudson are so striking that they might just become my next purchase...

While most feel a little timid to wear out the newest trends before the masses do, I say if you try it and it looks good, what's stopping you? These pants are already becoming more consumer friendly... but before it becomes too common for people to notice, turn your sidewalk into your own personal runway with these hot, new pants.

PICK UP A TREND. MAKE IT YOURS.

2007-09-24T02:15:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs to discover his/her own style... not every fashion trend will flatter every fashion ethusiast, no matter how chic she might be. Similiarly, not every shopper will be thrilled by every new item for the season even if it is her favorite brand. While I hope many will be able to relate with my taste in fashion, please feel free to use this forum as a place to share some of your thoughts and ideas as well! Shopping with a friend is always more fun than shopping alone...

My very first entry will be dedicated to the new Louis Vuitton bag that'll be coming out in November of this year (or so I hear.)

Despite the label of Monograms as "classic" pieces, I was beginning to get sick of all of the ones that have been out solely because--literally--everyone and their moms seem to own one. Well, I should mention, everyone and their moms excluding me and mine. I have yet to gain the privilege of being in this social league, not necessarily due to financial reasons but because I can't seem to choose one that I absolutely love. I'm a practical girl that loves fashion and I try to make sure that I'm completely ecstatic about (almost) every purchase. I mean, otherwise I'm just taking up my closet space with junk I'm going to be throwing out the following season right?

WELL, I found one that's worth every penny, nickel and dime. It's the new Tivoli!

Isn't it absolutely adorable? While it has the classic monogram print, the shape is a novel design with adjustable handles that can be shortened/lengthened. The slouchy-ness can pull off a casual look but at the same time it can definitely be dressed up! It'll go along perfectly with everything in my wardrobe. What ya'll think?