Category Archives: Fashion

The Ten Best Holiday Dresses

12/06/2012 Shirley

Additional links:
The Ten Best Holiday Dresses for 2014
The Ten Best Holiday Dresses for 2013

December is always the busiest month for holiday events. Are you still looking for the dress to wear for your next holiday party? Here are my top ten picks, listed based by the designer name in alphabetical order. Four of them are currently on sale (40-50% off)!

Aidan Mattox – Cold-Shoulder Sequined Cocktail Dress – Red is one of the essential colors for holiday dresses. This is a contemporary design with a twist of sparkling elements. The cutout shoulders are perfect if you want a dress with a sophisticated touch.

Buy Aidan Mattox – Cold-Shoulder Sequined Cocktail Dress

Alice + Olivia – Alicia Sequined Silk Dress – This long sleeves dress with allover sequins embellishment and exposed back zip is classic with a hint of sexy for any holiday party. This is good for women of any age. (50% off)

Buy Alice + Olivia – Alicia Sequined Silk Dress

BCBG MAXAZRIA – Woven Strapless Dress – This strapless dress comes with straps that can be hidden or exposed. It has ruffled appliqué on a skirt made up of three shades. I think it’s a fun and versatile dress for women in their 20s.

Buy BCBG MAXAZRIA – Woven Strapless Dress

DKNY – Sleeveless Lace Sheath Dress – I like the sheer lace overlay on this dress and its scalloped hem. I also love the green color, which is one of the fall’s most popular hues. (40% off)

Buy DKNY – Sleeveless Lace Sheath Dress

Monique Lhuillier – Sleeveless Beaded Gown This is a formal dress I can’t resist including on my list. I love the red color (which is my favorite), deep V neckline, and the beaded chiffon. The dress makes any women sexy instantly.

Buy Monique Lhuillier – Sleeveless Beaded Gown

Notte by Marchesa – Strapless Sequined Cocktail Dress – This strapless sequined dress is unique not only because it has sweetheart neckline but also because the contrast of the non-sequins material on side and back makes the dress even more elegant.

Buy Notte by Marchesa – Strapless Sequined Cocktail Dress

Robert Rodriguez NM+Target Fit-and-Flare Lace Dress Don’t miss out this lavish lace dress with A-line skirt and scalloped hem. How often do you find a dress made by Robert Rodriguez at such a low price ($99)? (The answer is rarely!)

Robert Rodriguez NM+Target Fit-and-Flare Lace Dress

Rachel Zoe – Irena Sequined Shift Dress This sequined chiffon dress with beaded boat neckline helps to show off the collarbone and shoulders in a subtle way. It’s a great dress for slim and tall women.

Buy Rachel Zoe – Irena Sequined Shift Dress

Theia – Sequined Deco Gown I love this formal dress with allover sequins in a chevron pattern. Whoever wears this to a formal holiday event would take the spotlight upon her entrance. This dress is what glamour is all about.

Buy Theia – Sequined Deco Gown

Theia – Sequined Sheath Dress The design of the dress might be typical for cocktail dresses, but the blue sequins really make the dress stand out in a crowd. It’s too gorgeous to be missed. (40% off)

Buy Theia – Sequined Sheath Dress

Are you looking for the perfect shoes to go with your dress? See The Ten Best Shoes for Holidays and Evening.

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Salvatore Ferragamo Handbags in Turquoise

11/25/2012 Shirley

Salvatore Ferragamo recently launched its handbags, wallets, and accessories in a new hue, turquoise (sky-blue). When I first saw Ferragamo handbags in turquoise it instantly reminded me of the Tiffany & Co. signature color. It’s an eye-catching hue, but I couldn’t image who would want to buy a “Tiffany branded bag” and carry it around. It’s like promoting the Tiffany brand with no commission!

After I saw the Fancy Leather Mini Shoulder Bag in turquoise, I have to admit I really like the color. The mini shoulder bag comes with a long silver chain and it looks the best in this light color versus in black (too plain) or red (nice but not as unique as turquoise). This bag can be used for both day (as a cross-body bag) and night (as a clutch with a short strap). The turquoise hue is also available in Ferragamo’s popular Gancini Icona Saffiano wallet, Afel Leather Envelope Clutch, and Sookie leather satchels. (See the pictures below.)

After seeing so many handbags and accessories in dark shades for the fall, it’s very refreshing to see something light for a change. The handbags and accessories Ferragamo launched in this new shade are proving to be very popular. The saleswomen in the local store told me that the items were sold immediately after they arrived. If you are interested in trying the Ferragamo handbags or wallets in the fabulous turquoise color, better get them soon before they run out for this holiday season!

FerragamoIn Handbags and Wallet in Turquoise — Ferragamo Handbags and Wallet in Turquoise

Ferragamo Gancini Icona Saffiano Calfskin Wallet (For more available colors, see the Ten Best Wallets for Fall post.)

Buy Ferragamo Gancini Icona Saffiano Calfskin Wallet from Nordstrom

Ferragamo Gancini Zip Around Wallet

Buy Ferragamo Gancini Icona Saffiano Calfskin Wallet from Nordstrom

Ferragamo Afel Leather Envelope Clutch

Ferragamo Fancy Mini Leather Shoulder Bag

Ferragamo Sookie Small Leather Satchel

Buy Ferragamo Sookie Small Leather Satchel from Nordstro

Ferragamo Sookie Medium Leather Satchel

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The Ten Best Wallets for Fall

11/07/2012 Shirley

There are many gorgeous wallets available for this fall. Here are my top ten picks, listed in no particular order.

Alexander McQueen Skull-Detailed Fold Wallet – This is a classic wallet with the iconic Swarovski® crystal-encrusted skull and logo embossing inside. In my opinion, this goes well with any outfits.

Balenciage Classic Continental Zip Wallet – It comes in various colors, such as gray, pink, and black, so you can match it with any bag, But I like the yellow one the best. It reminds me of the LV Monogram Venis Zippy Wallet in yellow (launched in early spring), which is one of my all time favorites.

Gucci Burnt Orange Shiny GG Leather Horsebit Chain Wallet – The shiny GG leather wallet comes with iconic gold horsebit hardware and a short chain strap that makes it a versatile and elegant accessory.

Gucci GG Pierce Flap French Wallet – I love the champagne leather trim and the dangling goldtone GG logo charm. The wallet size is perfect to fit into any size of handbag.

Juicy Couture Upscale Quilted Zip Wallet – A fun design with diamond quilting and resplendent logo plaque. It’s ideal for younger women.

Louis Vuitton French Purse – I love LV’s French Purse. I have it in several colors. The great thing about this is that it will never go out of style.

Louis Vuitton Zippy Wallet – LV’s zippy wallet is my current favorite. It’s very roomy; eight credit card holders and extra compartments.

Prada Leather Wallet on a Chain – This chic wallet with a removable laced-chain can be used for both day (as a wallet in handbag) and night (as a clutch). Also in light pink.

Salvatore Ferragamo Gancini Icona Continental Wallet – I like this fold-over wallet with a chic logo flip-lock closure. It’s easy to open and comes in red, black, and turquoise (read more). The design is classic and elegant.

Salvatore Ferragamo Icona French Wallet – This is a smaller version of Ferragomo’s Gancini Icona Continental wallet. If you are looking for a compact wallet that fits in a smaller bag with only essential things, this would be the one. It’s available in dark orange, black, and silver.

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The Ten Best Coats for Fall

10/23/2012 Shirley

There are so many fabulous wool coats available for this fall. Here are my top ten picks.

Alice + Olivia-Mariska Wool Trenchcoat – This classic wool coat is a timeless piece to add to anyone’s wardrobe.

Badgley Mischka ‘Madeline’ Coat – Scalloped eyelash fringe with lace makes the already classic coat even more elegant.

Burberry Brit Double-Breasted Wool-Blend coat – This ladylike wool and cashmere coat is modern and edgy! It goes well with both dresses and skinny jeans.

Calvin Klein Faux Fur Trim Duffle Coat – The wool duffle coat with detachable hood and faux-fur ruff trimming. It’s a versatile coat with its own style.

Elie Tahari Shawl Collar Wrap Coat – A classic coat with stylish shawl collar transforms the traditional coat to a different kind of elegance.

Helene Berman Single Breasted Reefer Coat – “A fit-and-flare silhouette lends feminine polish to a bright-colored coat crafted in a wool blend softened with cashmere.”

JCrew Toggle coat in wool-cashmere with Thinsulate® – This traditional coat made in cashmere is simple but timeless. It will keep you warm and stylish year after year.

Purchase Toggle coat in wool-cashmere with Thinsulate® from JCrew.com

Kate Spade New York Faux Fur & Wool Coat – The faux-fur collar and hemline on the bright color wool make it a must-have fun coat for the season.

Mackage “Sohie” Belted Coat – The removable belt highlights the already chic style in an eye-catching bright color.

Nanette Lepore Lord & Lady Coat – Military inspired design with defined shoulders and goldtone studs make it perfect for both casual and elegant occasions.

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Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 Handbags

10/07/2012 Shirley

I watched Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 runway show a few days ago. I was very excited to see what LV offers for the upcoming spring and summer 2013. Damier (LV’s classic check print) was definitely the main theme of the show; you can see it on the handbags, clothes and even on the runway stage. I am sure any Damier lovers would love this collection very much.

A few minutes into the show I was a bit disappointed. I saw too much of Damier and wanted to see something else in the rest of the show. I do like Damier and have them in both Damier Azur Canvas and Ebene Canvas, but I was hoping this collection to be as sophisticated as the Cub from Louis Vuitton Spring 2011, or Kalahari from Louis Vuitton Spring 2009. Those collections definitely offered eye-catching handbags that I always love! Also, the color and shapes of some Spring 2013 bags reminds me of Spring 2012 bags. I wish there were more differences between them.

However, as I continued to watch the rest of Spring 2013 show I saw many nice handbags that I would love to have (see below images from Purseblog.com). Now, I am looking forward to see what will be available from the runway show next March.

LV Spring 2013 Handbags from Purseblog.com

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Top Five Picks for Handbags

09/17/2012 Shirley

There are so many fabulous handbags available for this fall. I’ve narrowed them down to my top five picks. They are Emily Antique Rose Guccissima Leather shoulder bag from Gucci, Speedy Bandouliere 25 from Louis Vuitton, Rockstud New Tote from Valentino, 2Jours Calfskin Tote Bag from Fendi, and Floral Spazzolato Doctor’s Bag from Prada. See below for more details.

Emily Antique Rose Guccissima Leather Shoulder Bag-Gucci

It is a classic piece with Gucci’s iconic horsebit details. I love its rose color and the leather tassels. It will go well with classic black dresses for day and night.

Speedy Bandouliere 25 in Aurore-Louis Vuitton

Speedy bag is one of LV’s iconic designs, which has been reinvented all the time. This bag in aurore, Monogram Empreinte line, is perfect for fall.

Rockstud New Tote in Prun-Valentino

I mentioned how I like the Rockstud Calf Hair New Tote in my earlier post. This bag also looks good in textured leather in prun. Both bags are classic and stylish, but one is more sophisticated and the other is more versatile.

2Jours Calfskin Tote Bag in Forest Green/Cape-Fendi

This is Fendi’s latest iconic bag, also available in black, honey, dark red/cherry, etc. The two green shades complement each other well; makes this already sophisticated bag stands out even more. This bag can be paired with a simple dress for a professional day look.

Floral Spazzolato Doctor’s Bag-Prada

When the bag first came out, I thought it was a vintage bag with a girly and cheesy look. Now I learned to appreciate its beauty. The design is unique and playful. The flowers definitely stand out!

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Accessories in Handbags

09/12/2012 Shirley

I am always amazed with how much stuff my friend carries in her handbag on daily basis. Besides her wallet, cell phone, card keys, and sunglasses case, she has a makeup bag full of stuff, such as floss, loose powder, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, and etc. I can’t believe how much extra weight these little things can add up. For her, this is part of her routine.

This might sound a bit mean but when I see a girl or woman with a bag that is filled with stuff, it reminds me of a mom with a diaper bag. Most nice designer bags aren’t intended to hold everything from groceries to a sleeping bag. So my point is, if you have a nice bag, please don’t become an old lady and fill your bag up with ten years worth of expired supplies.

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Fashion’s Night Out

09/06/2012 Shirley

I went to the Fashion’s Night Out event and had a great time. Although the runway show was shorter than I expected, it was stunning. I like the ways they mix and match clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories from various lines. It helps to bring out the best of each piece. For examples, pairing a Diane von Furstenberg’s Kate studded leather jacket and dark color legging with Miu Miu’s eye-catching bootie shows off the unique materials on the shoes, and pairing a red fur coat with a graphic print dress and Christian Louboutin’s bright green animal print pump helps to balance the contrast of the mixed color.

Among all the fabulous items I saw during the fashion show, I have a few favorite picks: Miu Miu Glitter-Heel Lace-Up Bootie, Christian Louboutin Very Prive Python pump (Menthe Green), and Valentino Rockstud Calf Hair New Tote.

Miu Miu Glitter-Heel Lace-Up Bootie-The bootie stands out when paired with legging or skinny jeans. The navy suede front caught my attention and the glittered-fabric back makes me love it even more!

Christian Louboutin Very Prive Python pump (Menthe Green)-The dyed green iridescent python and coral peep-toe make it a great accessories to go with outfits in various hues.

Valentino Rockstud Calf Hair New Tote-The exotic leopard-print on this ladylike bag makes it one of the classic items on my want-to-get list. I also like its mini studded trim, which blends with the leopard-print nicely.

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Accessories for Animal Print Dress

09/05/2012 Shirley

Neiman Marcus will be hosting a Fashion’s Night Out event (the fashion’s biggest night of the year) tomorrow night. I missed it in the past years because I had to work late. But this year, I am planning on going. I am excited to see the trend presentations and get some beauty tips & tricks for fall.

For this event I am going to wear an animal print dress bought from BCBG for this summer. The dress is in light beige color with brown animal prints. To go with the dress, I am thinking about wearing my Stuart Weitzman “Daisy” pumps in red and “Cub” clutch from Louis Vuitton’s Spring-Summer 2011 runway collection. I am also debating if I should wear nude color pumps instead of the red pumps. I guess I will have to wait and see what I feel like tomorrow.

Stuart Weitzman “Daisy” pumps and LV “Cub” clutch

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Cashmere Polka Dot Sweaters

09/01/2012 Shirley

I love to wear cashmere sweaters in fall and winter. The cashmere is so soft and keeps me warm in the cold weather. I also like clothes with polka dots. For this fall, J.Crew rolls out polka-dot sweaters in cashmere, which is a perfect combination for me. The sweater is available in five colors, see J.Crew cashmere polka-dot sweater for details. My favorites colors are dusk black and cabernet fuchsia.

Dusk black-wear with jeans or black slacks. I will pair it with Valentino’s Extreme Printed Patent Pumps. See my post-“Cap-Toe Pumps for Fall”.

Cabernet fuchsia-it’s a fun color combination for fall. Goes well with light color jeans or gray ankle pants.

Shirley Style

Category Archives: Fashion

The Ten Best Holiday Dresses

Salvatore Ferragamo Handbags in Turquoise

The Ten Best Wallets for Fall

The Ten Best Coats for Fall

Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 Handbags

Top Five Picks for Handbags

Accessories in Handbags

Fashion’s Night Out

Accessories for Animal Print Dress

Cashmere Polka Dot Sweaters

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