All posts by Shirley

Ten Best Holiday Dresses for 2014

12/07/2014 Shirley

The winter holidays are a time for all kinds of parties. Everyone wants to look their best, so holiday dresses are an important part of the season. Here are my top ten holiday dresses for winter 2014.

Alice + Olivia – Kimber Embellished Dress – $595 via Nordstrom

Alice + Olivia always has some great dresses for party. I like it’s Kimber Embellished dress in pink. The stretchy mesh material on this dress adds some sexiness to the look.

Alice + Olivia Zilla Leather-Trim Dress – $698 via Saks.com
A black dress with scoopneck top and flared skirt might be a common design, but this Alice + Olivia Zilla Leather-trim dress is no ordinary silhouette. The contrast materials (leather and nylon/spandex) make the swingy design stand out, and leather trim makes this dress perfect for parties or a night out in Winter.

BCBG Maia Jeweled Illusion Dress – $398 via Saks.com

Red dresses are the must-have for holiday parties. The jeweled neckline on the dress complement the red dress well. And the tulip hem of the dress shows off the legs and make them appear long and lean.

Carmen Marc Valvo Embellished-Neck Halter Dress – $595 via Saks.com
I am a big fan of halter top dresses that show off the shoulder area. This Carmen Marc Volvo’s black dress with embellished neck is perfect for parties. The dress is also available in red and ivory.

Diane von Furstenberg Zarita Lace Dress – $348 via Saks
I like dresses made of lace and love cobalt blue. The two elements combined in this silhouette really stands out in the crowd.

Donna Karan Long Sleeve Boatneck Collage Dress – $2,195 via Donna Karan
This Donna Karan red long sleeve boatneck collage dress is ideal for more mature women for a business holiday party. The unique cut-out with the red mesh insert adds some sophistication to the silhouette.

ERIN erin fetherston Dolly Lace & Metallic Pique Fit & Flare Dress – $355 via Nordstrom

In my opinion, this dress seems a bit conservative compared to most party dresses, but it’s elegant and classic. It might be right for you!

Marc Jacobs Sequined Eyelet Shift Dress – $3,200 via Saks
This Marc Jacobs shift dress is covered in purple sequins with a jeweled neckline. This is perfect for holiday parties and special occasions.

Parker Kenzie Sequined Body-Con Dress – $396 via Saks.

I like the black and blue sequins on this dress. The dress also has a deep scoop back, which adds some sexiness to your look.

Shoshanna Cindy Flared Lace Dress – $385 via Saks
I like the scalloped edge and the flared design on this dress. The green color reminds me of the holidays!

All Posts, Fashion, Holidays

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Layered-Effect Plaid-Skirt Dress

12/05/2014 Shirley

I was browsing dresses from Marc by Marc Jacobs and came across a dress hat instantly caught my attention. I absolutely love the combination of the black top with red plaid. At first glance, the dress looks like two separate pieces — a plaid skirt with a black sweater-like top. But, in fact, it’s one dress with two layers.

I love the plaid look for the winter holiday season, especially the black and red color combination. I can see myself wearing this outfit to work, or on a Friday casual outing with friends.

So, I bought the dress!

The material is not too heavy, but it keeps me warm. In other words, it’s a perfect cold weather dress. The back of the top part the dress has a very interesting design. On the back, the top part of the dress is split, with a hook on the top and a nice ribbon. The ribbon can be tied in creative ways, especially when wearing your hair up.

I intend to pair this cool dress with black tights (just like the photo here), and a new pair of Frye’s booties in black. The layer-effect plaid-skirt dress from Marc by Marc Jacobs may not be perfect for everyone, but you should give it a look!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Toto Plaid Crepe Dress – on sale $358.95 (originally $598) via Nordstrom

All Posts, Food, Holidays

2014 Winter Holiday Meals

12/04/2014 Shirley

For the 2014 Thanksgiving holiday, I decided to cook a homemade meal (well, almost entirely homemade). I somewhat cheated on the turkey by buying a pre-cooked turkey breast with stuffing. But I made almost everything else from scratch.

For mashed potatoes, I got a recipe from Williams-Sonoma, online. I bought raw potatoes from the supermarket. The recipe called for sour cream instead of milk, spices, and butter. The mashed potatoes turned out really well; exactly the way I hoped.

In addition to mashed potatoes, I baked sweet potatoes. I like diced mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows and brown sugar, but this year I aimed for a little bit healthier option.

Cranberry sauce is one of my must-haves for Thanksgiving. I usually buy canned cranberry sauce (but not the jellied type), which I like, but this year I made cranberry sauce from scratch. I used a recipe for “cranberry chutney”, from Williams-Sonoma. I boiled raw cranberries, added sugar and water and orange juice, and a cinnamon stick, with orange and lemon zest. The recipe called for port wine, but I left that out. The result was super good!

Homemade Cranberry Chutney with Lemon & Orange Zest

Now, I’m mildly embarrassed to admit that I heated up canned corn and added lots of butter. Canned corn is a guilty pleasure for me, and to be honest, I prefer good canned corn to fresh!

For green vegetables, I did not go with the traditional American green bean casserole. Instead I made a classic asparagus side dish.

All things considered, I think my 2014 Thanksgiving meal was a great success. I intend to follow up with a homemade Christmas meal!

All Posts, Food, Travel

The Bearfoot Bistro Restaurant in Whistler, Canada

12/02/2014 Shirley

Recently, my friend and I decided to take a quick, impromptu weekend trip to Whistler, Canada. Whistler is a fantastic ski resort area about two hours north of the Washington (state) border. On our first evening in Whistler, we decided to eat at the Bearfoot Bistro restaurant, Unlike most upscale restaurants in Whistler, the Bearfoot Bistro is not located inside a hotel; it is a standalone establishment.

Overall, I’d give our experience a rating of 8 out of 10. Both the service and the food were very good but not amazing.

I’d describe the Bearfoot Bistro as a modern restaurant with no particular emphasis. To cut to the chase, out total bill, including wine, was about $115 per person — certainly a bit pricey, but not crazy expensive.

My friend and I both had a five-course meal. My meal started with albacore tuna tartar, garnished with spicy octopus/calamari. This was followed by foie gras and chicken liver parfait. It was good but not exceptional. Next was wild mushroom risotto with parmesan cheese; I added scallops and it was excellent! My fourth course was braised lamb with Brussel sprouts and squash puree. It was light and not gamey and I liked it a lot. My fifth and final course was my dessert; I had the pecan and bourbon ice cream tart. It was very good.

Albacore Tuna Tartar - w. Octopus — Albacore Tuna Tartar – w. Octopus

If you’re ever in Whistler, Canada, I recommend that you give some consideration to the Bearfoot Bistro. It’s a bit pricey, but overall, well worth the experience.

Foie Gras & Chicken Liver Parfait - with Fig Puree — Foie Gras & Chicken Liver Parfait – with Fig Puree

The Bearfoot Bistro Restaurant at Whistler, Canada — Wild Mushroom Risotto with Scallops

Pecan & Bourbon Tart - w. Pear & Bourbon Tart — Pecan & Bourbon Tart – w. Pear & Bourbon Tart

All Posts, Fashion

Mary Jane Pumps by Saint Lauren

11/24/2014 Shirley

Do you own a pair a Mary Jane pumps?

I really like Mary Jane style pumps. When I was young I often wore that style. Recently, the Mary Jane style has been updated and modernized. In particular, Saint Lauren recently released five creative designs that are especially interesting.

Saint Laurent Patent Leather Mary Jane Pump Nordstrom

Of the five Saint Laurent styles — Gold Glitter Leather, Patent Leather with Silver Glitter Heel, Animal Print, Patent Leather with White Stripe, and Patent Leather with Multi-Stripe and Kitten Heel — my two favorites are the Gold Glitter Leather and the Patent Leather with Silver Glitter Heel.

The Gold Glitter Leather style is beautiful but I think it could be worn only on special occasions. The Silver Glitter Heel is the most versatile. I can imagine myself wearing this style to work or for an evening out almost anywhere.

I wondered about why this particular style is called “Mary Jane”. It turns out that the Mary Jane style, which is characterized by a closed toe and one or more thin straps, has been popular for many decades. The style first became called “Mary Jane” starting in 1904 because a hugely popular newspaper comic strip called “Buster Brown” featured a young girl character named May Jane who always wore the style.

My male friend especially liked the Saint Laurent Animal Print model. He thought that style combined classy and sexy. But I thought the Animal Print style was better suited to a younger girl rather than a woman. What do you think?

Mary Jane pumps have been fashion staples for over 100 years. If you don’t have a pair, consider adding one or more to your wardrobe for the Winter or Fall seasons.

Saint Laurent Glitter Mary Jane Pump

Saint Laurent Animal-Print Mary Jane Pump

All Posts, Food, Travel

Breakfast at the Tableau Restaurant in Las Vegas

11/04/2014 Shirley

Las Vegas has some of the best hotels and restaurants in the world. But I’ve always been sort of surprised that there aren’t too many super nice places to eat breakfast in Las Vegas. Las Vegas isn’t really much of an early-morning city.

There are plenty of places to eat breakfast in Vegas but most of them are either buffets or very casual cafe-style restaurants. Probably my favorite restaurant to eat breakfast at is the Tableau restaurant in the Wynn hotel. Tableau has a great menu, great service, and great ambience.

The menu has the basic breakfast items such as eggs with bacon or sausage, and pancakes. But Tableau also has some special items. I love Tableau’s orange and chocolate French toast. And the special Tableau breakfast potatoes are like little potato pancakes.

Breakfast at Tableau, Las Vegas

The presentation at Tableau is always just right. The jams come in elegant little ceramic containers, and there are cute little salt and pepper dispensers. The service at Tableau is a perfect balance of semi-formal and casual.

If you are a breakfast person, the next time you are in Las Vegas, consider making a reservation at the Tableau restaurant in the Wynn hotel.

For more restaurants in Las Vegas, read “Five of My Favorite Places for Breakfast in Vegas” and “Top Ten Restaurants in Las Vegas“

All Posts, Fashion, Travel

Traveling Outfit for My California Trip

10/31/2014 Shirley

After being in the rain in Seattle for weeks, it’s really nice for me to go to sunny Orange County, CA, to visit my brother and sister-in-law and my niece.

Last night while I was packing I knew exactly what I was going to wear to the airport! I wanted something light, layer-able, and that would keep me warm while I went to work in the morning, and then would make me comfortable when I flew out in the afternoon .

For my top, I wore a short sleeve light gray t-shirt and my most recent favorite cashmere hoodie sweater. I also wore a moto faux leather jacket that I bought last Spring. I always love the combination of hoodie weathers with a short jacket/blazer. It’s a casual and stylish combination.

For bottom, I worn my new Citizen of Humanity skinny jeans in black. They’re so comfy; almost like a legging. Usually I prefer True Religions with crystals for skinny jeans, but the comfort of this new Citizen skinny made it an easy choice for me.

Citizens of Humanity Skinny Stretch Leggings – $178 via Nordstrom

For shoes, I wore my Vince Blair 5 slip-on sneakers in black. If I really want to upgrade my look after I arrive to Orange County I can always take off my cashmere hoodie and put on my red slingback Christian Loubouton.

Vince Blair 5 Slip-on Sneakers – $195 via Nordstrom

Of course, my outfit is not complete without a handbag. Since my clothing and shoes are all in neutral gray and black, I wanted something to brighten it up. I choose my Louis Vuitton Alma in the new Cerise – bright orange color.

Now, I am really ready for the sunny California!

All Posts, Fashion

Walley Smock Sweater by “Marc by Marc Jacobs”

10/22/2014 Shirley

Recently I bought a sweater that’s unlike any I owned before. It’s called the Walley Smock Sweater by Marc by Marc Jacobs. It’s an over sized, loos fitting, sweater with a chunky knit material and crewneck.

I was looking at new Fall apparel and came across the Walley online. I knew I wanted it right away! The styling is casual, but trendy. The sweater is hard to descript in words, but in some ways it’s sort of like a cross between a sweater and a sweater dress.

When I bought the Walley, I already knew what I’d wear it with–a black legging or skinny jeans, a long sleeve black or white blouse, and tall black boots.

The first time I put on an outfit featuring the Walley, I was very happy with the way it all turn out.

The Walley comes in three colors: black, gray, and olive green. All three colors are nice and your choice should depend on what you plan to pair the Walley with.

I highly recommend that you check out the Walley Smock Sweater by Marc by Marc Jacobs. An unusual sweater like this is a great way to try something new!

All Posts, Fashion

I Love My New Frye Phillip Harness Riding Boots

10/17/2014 Shirley

Last year I bought a pair of Frye Phillip Harness Riding Boots in Burnt Red. I liked the style and color very much, and so when I was in San Francisco for a birthday gathering a few days later, my friends and I went shopping and we all bought a pair of boots from Saks. I got the Frye’s.

(To buy the boots click here or the image above.)

After I bought the red pair, a few days later I saw the same style in Black. I really liked the Black, but I hesitated because, first, I had just bought a pair boots (the Burnt Red Frye’s), and second, I already have several pairs of black boots.

(To buy the boots click here or the image above.)

But I really wanted those black Frye’s!

So, several months after my trip to San Francisco, one night I was browsing online and discovered the Frye Phillip Harness Riding Boots in Black, on sale! This time I didn’t hesitate and bought them immediately.

Fast forward a week later, I received my boots. I wore them to work the very next day.

I love the way the boots fit me, their feel, and their look. I was in great mood all that day long. As Lady Gaga sings, “You are who you wear it’s true. A girl’s just as hot as the shoes she choose”.

All Posts, Fashion

Fall 2014 Trend: Over-the-Knee Boots

10/13/2014 Shirley

Boots that are over-the-knee have been around for many years. You might remember in the movie “Pretty Woman”. Juliet Roberts, when she was “working” (as a call girl), met Richard Gere, and was wearing black patent, over-the-knee boots with high heels. At that time, such boots were considered a bit too sexual.

Fast forward to Fall 2014. Over-the-knee boots are the current fashion trend. In 2014, tall boots usually come in either high heel style or flat sole style. These boots come in several different materials, including leather (both with and without a pattern), suede, and combinations of synthetic and leather materials.

My current favorite is Frye’s “Shirley Over-the-Knee boots“. I am a big fan of all Frye’s boots and what could be better than Shirley wearing a pair of “Shirley’s”! The leather on this style is soft, unlike some boots which can be a bit too stiff. And the style is versatile enough so that the boots can be worn with skirts, jeans, or casual dresses.

If you’ve been thinking about a new pair of boots for this Fall or Winter, check out over-the-knee boots.

Frey “Shirley” Over-the-Knee boots – $477.95 via Nordstrom

Shirley Style

All posts by Shirley

Ten Best Holiday Dresses for 2014

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Layered-Effect Plaid-Skirt Dress

2014 Winter Holiday Meals

The Bearfoot Bistro Restaurant in Whistler, Canada

Mary Jane Pumps by Saint Lauren

Breakfast at the Tableau Restaurant in Las Vegas

Traveling Outfit for My California Trip

Walley Smock Sweater by “Marc by Marc Jacobs”

I Love My New Frye Phillip Harness Riding Boots

Fall 2014 Trend: Over-the-Knee Boots

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