Just Purchased: Y-3

I love designers collaborating with more mainstream lines because it's a little bit easier to access. Sometimes I can't believe the prices of the "lower line pieces" but I just guess you have to deal.

I was excited to find this Y-3 blazer in olive with black outlining. It's going to be a fun piece to wear back in sunny California. I don't own anything that is Yohji Yamamoto yet, but this will be a good a small transition.

What to Wear Daily: Day 2

(Prada navy short coat, GAP brown belt, Marc by Marc grey thermal cashmere shirt, Rock and Republic black jeans, Dior Cannage brown boots, Nordstrom grey cashmere hat, red and mustard scarfs)

It's freezing cold to me here in Manhattan and one of the best things to wear is cashmere. It seems like anytime of the year it's great to wear. It's soft and warm when it's winter and it's soft and cool during the spring. I found these really warm thick cashmere thermal long sleeve shirts from the collection store on Maiden Lane. I bought them solely for cold weather like this. It is rather large because it's a men's small, but they do the job well. Here are the details:

If you haven't noticed on the blog, I love navy. I almost like it more than black. It literally goes with everything! This was one of my first Prada pieces I go from Saks ad I still treasure it.

What to Wear Daily: On a Night Out in the Town

(Custom olive coat, Diesel black skinny jeans, Ann Demeulemeester boots, Banana Republic leather-cashmere lined gloves, skeleten key necklace)

I'm a pretty big night go-er, except I don't like to take pictures when I go out really. Last night, John's boss went ahead and emailed a few friends here in Manhattan about places to go have really great cocktails. We ended up at Employees Only in the West Village, which was a really great bar. We got hooked up fat on drinks and the bartenders there are really friendly and fun.

Shoe Collection: Deja Shoe (Cherry Edition)

While strolling around in Barney's, I found these Stella McCartney shoes for $795:

They are like the version I have at home, I got about 5 years ago at Saks, which I love. But these have a high-heel and wrap ankle strap that can run all the way to your knees.

Stella just loves her cherries.

We've landed

So we got off the plane at 7am (Eastern time, of course) and been walking aimlessly in the slushy snow. Its raining and its freezing and I can't check into my hotel until 2pm to take a proper hot shower. Its really difficult to be writing a blog on a BlackBerry Storm. I went running around to look for a USB cable so I can have proper internet access to post pictures while I'm here.

Stay tuned.

Work Citing: Nancy Pelosi

(Photo from Financial Times)

Nancy Pelosi's family resides in SF... so it was weird to see her at my work with the Secret Service all over the place. She has such a warm and sweet smile. She looks so young and beautiful still at her age. I have the most random clients sometimes.

Taking a Trip back: NYC

So...

I've been on a hiatus because I actually got a position with my company in Manhattan, but lost it on Wednesday because of the economic crisis. It's crazy because in the business that I'm in, we haven't been in the red at all. A part of the company that we collaborate with went down under... so my transfer is now put on hold. Ugh.

I hate it. It's funny though because everybody is glad I'm not leaving. Plus, I have this feeling like I'm not ready to leave SF quite yet. But I'm going there to take a vacation anyways because I need it. (Also, my hotel and plane tickets are nonrefundable.) So, hopefully I'll be able to post some things while I'm there.

I hope everyone is having a great Lunar New Years!

What I Want: From McQ for Target

My friend Vee sent me an email with the look book for McQ for Target. Here are my choices for his diffusion line (that have surfaced so far):



Also, did you guys hear about him finally doing clothing for Puma? I'm really looking forward to it. (:

Shoe Collection: Pony Haired Mouse flats

I got these mouse flats about a year and a half ago from John as a gift. I have been collecting the original Marc Jacobs collection mouse flats for years (I think I own 10 pair) but his lower end line Marc by Marc started to produce these a few years ago. These are definitely a seasonal shoe and I enjoy wearing them during the fall and winter.

New Year: Wearing down the closet...

Here is what my external closet looks like. I almost can't stand looking at all of my stuff anymore. Just all the stuff I have collected and have not worn in so many years. This year, I'm trying to cut it down to the bear minimum. I've been doing a lot of things to condense my closet down. I'll give you an update in 3 months just to see how I've progressed.

Shoe Collection: Olivier Theyskens for Rochas

I love these shoes! They have this amazing cork texture to them. When I found them at Nordstroms I literally had a heart attack! I rarely ever saw Rochas anywhere and was even more surprised that Norstroms had them.

Olivier Theyskens is such a talented designer... it's a shame that Rochas closed house a few years ago. But it's funny that they are reviving the brand during a economic crisis.

Target: Go International Designer is..

(Picture from NYMag.com)

Tracy Feith!!!

According to WWD, he "will bring his sun and surf aesthetic and signature charming vintage-y styles to Target as the retailer’s 15th guest designer for Go International.

The broad collection, which features about 60 styles and 15 original prints, will bow May 17 and be available through June 27 in most Target stores nationwide and online at www.target.com/go."

The Great Frog

I love jewelry but I rarely invest in it. Sometimes something cheap and disposable from H&M, just because I will misplace it, but nothing more than $10. There are the rare times I do spend money on something that I vividly record in my mind that I have to have.

Something I've been looking for is a great skull ring. Really, any kind of ring that is very distinct and is well crafted. While I was looking at the current issue of Interview Magazine with Cate Blanchett, I rediscovered the London based label, The Great Frog. She wore a ton of different outfits and displayed so many different characters in the spread. I love that Blanchett is such a chameleon. She always looks effortlessly flawless. My favorite was her rock n roll inspired outfit with The Great Frog rings.

(Photos I took from Interview Magazine)

Some history about The Great Frog from their website:

"The Great Frog has made their name within the International fashion & jewellery industry catering to a niche clientele of rockers, bikers and those on the edge of the mainstream.

Every piece of jewellery sold within the walls of The Great Frog is hand carved and crafted on site, at the shop on Ganton Street, Soho. Having produced bespoke pieces for a cross section of the fashion & music industry since 1972, including the Worlds Rock legends; Metallica, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Slash & Aerosmith, The Great Frog are pioneers in hand crafted, iconic statement jewellery."

It reminds me of my endless quest to find a not-so-tacky skull ring and they have so much to choose from. It reminds me of when I was a teen.

Here are some top picks for rings:

I particularly like the first one because of the movie "Donnie Darko." (:

Fashion history through books...

Whenever I go to a used book store, I immediately go to the fashion section (of there is one) and check out what they have. I found A.L.T. : Andre Leon Talley at a cool book store in the mission for $6. I never really realized he wrote a memoir in 2003. It's a little different than what I'm sue to reading when it comes to fashion. I never read a book about an Editor before, but I figure I need to start somewhere.

Andre is such a stand out character in fashion. While watching Fashion TV as a kid, I always thought to myself, who is this large African American man in the biggest fur coat I've ever seen on anyone. I never really realize his influence he had on the fashion world. He first started at Interview Magazine, then later did American Vogue, WWD and a Costume Institute consultant with the ever so famous Diana Vreeland (former Editor-and-Chief at American Vogue).

It's funny to read this memoir and watch him in clips because he is so sophisticated and proper.

I want to know as much about fashion as I can, so instead of just looking at pictures in magazines, I want to know the past and I want to see it through another persons eyes.

What to Wear Daily: Structured Stella

(Stella McCartney Jacket, black vintage skirt)

This is one of the first Stella McCartney jackets I purchased back in Fall 2004 at Nordstroms. I don't think I ever wear it enough. It's such a beautiful statement piece. I love all of Stella's designs, especially since they are always vegan friendly.

This is how it was styled on the runway. I should have a bit more fun with the tie on the jacket next time.

Happy New Year!

(Me: Custom-made coat, made in Ho Anh, VN; John: Merona peacoat and emerald green scarf)

I hope everyone's new year is going really well. I had such a great time with all of my friends that came to SF. We had about 5 people staying at our apartment, which was a lot of fun. We kept it pretty low key, just hanging at our place, then to Elixir and to Pier 39. It was a nightmare trying to get back to our apt. It took almost 2 hours.