Category Archives: Fashion

Spring 2017 Fashion Trends

No Spring wardrobe is complete without the traditional pastel hues and brightly colored accessories. But for the Spring 2017, there are some other unique fashion trends that stand out.

Below are some of my suggestions for you to consider when you update your Spring collection this season.


Clashes of Patterns for Boldness

For Spring 2017, we’ve seen some unexpected pattern combinations in outfits, such as plaid with polka dots, and flowers with animals. They key to success in such a trend is to keep your accessories to solid colors to complement your patterns. (As seen on Altuzarra’s Spring 2017 Runway.)

Of course, if you don’t think you are bold enough to wear two different patterns on yourself, try the simple mix-and-match of the solid color with one of patterns.


See-through Silhouette for Sophistication

For this Spring, be ready to show some skin via sheer silhouette! On the runway (i.e. Dior and Valentino), we’ve seen many models in the fancy see-through silhouette. These designs might not be street-friendly without a camisole underneath, but it represents a unique trend for this fashion season.

If you’d like to try the see-through silhouette that gives some built-in coverage, try something like Self-Portrait Dresses.

Self-Portrait Hall Lace Mini Dress
Self-portrait Hall Lace Mini Dress


One-shoulder Silhouette with Ruffles 

Last Spring and Summer we saw a lot of off-shoulder silhouette. For this year, we see a lot of one-shoulder tops and dresses. If you want to invest in a one-shoulder piece, try it with ruffles!

Isabel Marant Lavern Printed Cotton And Linen Dress
Isabel Marant Lavern Printed and Linen Dress


Stripes for Statement-making

Stripes are one of my all-time favorites when it comes to Spring wardrobe. Many fashion houses are showcasing stripes in multi-color and bold patterns. Stripe patterns are also spotted on shoes.

In my opinion, I’d prefer to invest in silhouettes with stripes than shoes with strips, because the clothing pieces will more likely to be in trend for future Spring and Summer seasons!

RedValentino Striped Knitted Sweater

RedValentino Striped Knitted Sweater


Blossom Flowers to Celebrate the Season

When it comes to wearing floral design for outfits, we usually mix them with some solid staples (i.e. floral dress with solid-color stilettos) and avoid wearing blossom flowers from head to toe. However, for this season, we’ve seen some fashion houses (i.e. Balenciaga and Chloe) demonstrate the essence of the warm season.

If you are going for a head-to-toe floral style, consider trying the floral printed handbags and boots to complete your outfits.

Fendi Kan Small Floral-printed Leather Shoulder Bag

Fendi Kan Small Floral-printed Leather Shoulder Bag


Military Inspired Attires for a Twist

Military style wool coats were popular in Fall 2016. For this Spring, consider switching to a thinner military cotton jackets with some fun variations. For example, try Veronica Beard’s Appliquéd cotton jacket. The black lace on the shoulders and the drawstring at the waist will give your would-be casual look a sophisticated twist!

Veronica Beard Appliquéd Cotton Jacket


5 Things to Try This Month – April 2017

When I think about April, an image of warm and sunny weather immediately comes to my mind. Although I live in Seattle area, where there’s not enough sun for the beginning of Spring, it won’t affect me from participating the things that are happening this month.

Below are my suggestions for what I’d like to try for April.


Made-To-Order Accessories for the New Season

One must-do for each season is to update wardrobe accessories. It’s always fun to have unique shoes and handbags, custom made for you. Try Jimmy Choo’s Make-to-Order shoes and clutches. You get to pick the shoe and clutch design in the color and material you want.


Designer Silhouette for an Affordable Price

One of the fashion news items that appeared repeatedly in the past few weeks is the collaboration of Victoria Beckham and Target on a new Spring collection – Victoria Beckham for Target. It will be available for purchase on April 9. I can’t wait to try out some of the dresses in the collection!


New Lip Balm for Everyday Happiness

In my February’s Valentine’s blog post I mentioned Yves Saint Laurent’s new Volupte Tint-in-balm lipstick. It’s a hybrid lipstick that’s made of lip moisturizing ingredients. It provides sheer glowing colors on the lips. The fun part about the lipstick is its lip-shaped heart in the center. I ordered some from Yvest Saint Laurent’s site with free complimentary engraving. I can’t wait to receive them next week!


Stylish Jacket for Early Spring

Although we are already in Spring, I still feel chilly in the early morning in Seattle. If you live in areas that has a similar climate  as me, you can stay warm with a nice wool-blend jacket. Try something like the Coach’s Wool-blend and Leather jacket.

Coach Wool-blend and Leather Jacket


A Book of Your Choice for Self Improvement

I love to read books, especially when they’re related to biography and business. Recently, while I was going through my bookshelf, I found a book I had since Year 2013. I read a couple of chapters back then, but never finished the entire book. The book is “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg. It’s a book about women’s behavior in society and work. And how we can overcome the challenges we are facing in our careers and the work environments. My goal for this month is to finish reading this book!

Lean In Book


5 Things to Try This Month – March 2017

March is the transition month from Winter to Spring. If you haven’t thought about updating your wardrobe with some light hue silhouette and accessories, it’s time to start!

Below are some of my preliminary suggestions for the month of March. I hope they will give you some inspirations for your Spring wardrobe makeover project !


Green Color Nail Design for St. Patrick’s Day

If you like green, March is a great time to get green nails for the St. Patrick’s Day. For my March gel nail design, I have some green stones on my greenish blue sparkling nails. Not only is it a fun alternative to my usual red nail color, it also prevents me from getting pinched if I forgot to wear green on the St. Patrick’s Day!


 

Pamper Yourself with New Lip Beauty Product

I am a big fan of lip glosses. In March, Dior released its new lipstick beauty product, Dior Addict Lacquer Stick. This has a glossy formula; it’s almost like a lip gloss on a lipstick. I ordered it in a few shades and I can’t wait to try them on when I receive them!

Dior Addict Lacquer Stick


Fun Mini Shoulder Bag

As we are transitioning out of the Winter, it’s always a good idea to add a new handbag in a light color for the Spring season. Try something like the Valentino Garavani Lock Mini crystal-embellished shoulder bag! This is a perfect addition to your outfits on a sunny day as well as for a night out-and-about.

Valentino Garavani Lock Mini Crystal-embellished Shoulder Bag


Sweatshirt for March Madness

Who says March Madness is for basketball fans only? This time of year, some of my friends would be picking their brackets and anticipating the college basketball games. Although I am not a sport fan, I sometimes join my friends for drinks in the bar and watching some of the games. I won’t be wearing any school logo shirts, but I will be wearing my Kenzo cotton sweatshirts!

Kenzo Cotton Sweatshirt


Swap Out Your Wool Accessories with a Silk Scarf for Spring

The first day of Spring is in March. It’s time to switch out your wool scarf with a silk one. I recommend something with flowers in the design to spice up your attire. Try Gucci’s silk scarf below.

Gucci Silk Scarf


2017 Valentines Gift Ideas

Valentine’s Day is coming up, soon. Are you still struggling to find the perfect gift for your significant other? Below are some of my gift suggestions for this Valentine’s Day. Of course, they can also be ideas for yourself!


Leather Shoulder Bag with Red Hearts

Nothing expresses love better than red hearts. The Saint Laurent’s Classic Small Kate Monogram Embellished leather shoulder bag is covered with small red hearts, which might seemed a bit girly. But the Saint Laurent’s signature monogram and the tussle on the bag balance out the girliness with the classic look, which make the bag one of a kind. It’s worth the money!

Saint Laurent Small Kate Monogram Shoulder Bag


Valentino Tan-go Leather Pumps

Red is one of my favorite colors when it comes to accessories. In my opinion, a pair of red shoes is a must-have for every woman. If you  want something that is easier for you to walk than a four-inch stilettos, I suggest you try Valentino’s Tan-go Leather Pumps in metallic red leather. They go well with both short skirts and mid-high dresses.

Valentino Tan-go Leather Pumps


Small Jewelry in Heart Shape

If you are looking for a piece of jewelry that is more affordable for this Valentine’s Day, try this Dear Medium Necklace by Swarovski. This necklace is made up of a rose gold-plated metal heart with a crystal pave heart. The design is simple yet full of love!

Swarovski Dear Medium Necklace


New Lip Balm with a Kiss

Nourishing our lips on daily basis is a must-do! I like to keep different kind of lip balms in stock and rotate them based on my daily mood.
Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Tint-in-Balm


Whether you are celebrating the Valentine’s Day or not, it never hurts to treat yourself with something pink and fun!

 

The Two Jackets I Packed for My Spain Trip

While my friend and I were planning our two week Spain trip, we knew we wanted to do a lot of sightseeing in Barcelona, Palma de Majorca, and Madrid. Since our hotels were in the central area in Barcelona and Madrid, we were close to most of the places we wanted to visit and we knew we would walk around a lot.

My main concern was how to keep warm while we walked around for hours in Spain during December and January. I am the type of person who feels cold very easily. I wanted to make sure I brought some jackets that would keep me warm.

Also, we had a short layover in Frankfurt, Germany. Frankfurt was even colder than Spain. If we missed our connect flight from Frankfurt to Barcelona, we might be stuck in Frankfurt.

Packing Winter clothing for the trip added some weight to my already quite full luggage. To avoid having my luggage go overweight but still pack something versatile and stylish, I picked two jackets to bring for the Spain  trip: a down jacket and leather jacket. (See below)


Canada Goose Montebello Down Jacket

(Picture taken in front of the Palace in Madrid. I was wearing a Canada Goose Montebello dawn jacket, True Religion skinny jeans, and UGG short boots.)MadridPalace


Bernardo Leather Jacket

This leather jacket in wine color is versatile and stylish. I wore it mainly in Barcelona. It went well with sweaters and jeans. It was also perfect with short dress with knee-high suede boots.

(Picture taken at Park Guel in Barcelona. I was wearing the leather jacket, cashmere sweater, and True Religion skinny jeans.)

ParkGuell_Barcelona


If you plan to visit Europe during Winter, I highly recommend that you invest in a nice and warm down jacket and a leather jacket. The nice thing about these two silhouettes are that they are versatile and will upgrade your travel attires instantly.

The Five Best Holiday Shoes for 2016

We are in the 2016-2017 holiday season, which means there are probably plenty of  dinners and parties lined up in this month for you. Have you figured out what shoes you want to wear for each occasion?

Below are my top five favorite shoes for this holiday season. Hope this will give you some ideas on what to wear for your New Year’s Eve parties.


Christian Louboutin – So Kate Patent Leather Point-Toe Pumps

A pair of red stilettos  for the holiday season is a must-have. Nothing can ever go wrong when you spice up your outfit with the holiday color, especially when you wear this sexy red So Kate pump by Christian Louboutin.

Christian Louboutin So Kate Patent Leather Point-toe Pumps


Giuseppe Zanotti – Crystal-Embellished Suede Slingbacks

If you plan to wear a red dress for this holiday season, I’d recommend this pair of slingback sandals with crystal-embellished suede by Giuseppe Zanotti. The color of this sandal will complement the red dress silhouette and the crystals will catch everyone’s attention with every step you take.

Giuseppe Zanotti Crystal-Embellished Suede Slingbacks


Jimmy Choo – Romy Glitter Degrade Point-Toe Pumps

Jimmy Choo has many beautiful stilettos. One of my favorites is their glitter pumps. If you are looking for a pair of eye-catching shoes to complete your day to night outfit, try Jimmy Choo’s Romy Glitter Degrade Point-Toe Pumps. (Jimmy Choo’s Romy stilettos replaces its classic “Abel” pumps. I have several pairs of the “Abel” pumps that I used to wear back in my old clubbing days. They were surprisingly comfortable on the dance floor!)

Jimmy Choo Romy Glitter Degrade Point-toe Pumps


Roger Vivier – Ballerine Chips Satin D’orsay Flats

If you are considering ditching the high heels and going for comfortable flats for the holidays, try one of Roger Vivier’s Ballerine Chips Satin D’orsay Flats. They come in many colors (red, black, navy, metallic silver, etc.). My personal favorite is Roger Vivier’s Ballerine Chips Satin D’orsay flats in red. I have had my red pair of this Roger Viver’s flats for over a year, now, and I still love them!

Roger Vivier Ballerinec Chips Satin C'Orsay Flats


Saint Laurent – Paris Skinny Sequined Metallic Pointy Toe Pumps

These Saint Laurent’s Paris Sequined Metallic Point-toe pumps are my new favorite for this holiday season. Saint Laurent makes many nice sparking stilettos. When I saw this pair, I knew I got to have them. When I received the shoes in mail, I was glad to find out that the actual shoes looks even more stunning than the pictures. I plan to wear them with a black dress for my next dinner event.

Saint Laurent – Paris Skinny Sequin Pointy Toe Pump


Why Do I Still Enjoy Watching the Show, Sex and The City

Ever since the “Sex and the City” TV show was released, it has been one of my favorite shows. I’ve watched it so many times, but I never get tired of it!

I like it not only because it’s about people finding love in a big city.  I enjoy watching the “Sex and the City” show because it’s about four close friends (Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha), each with a unique personality, who care about each other dearly, and help each other go through ups and downs in their lives.

In my opinion, the bond of the four main characters’ friendship in the “Sex and the City” show actually outweighs the handsome lovers they have throughout the six seasons. In the “Sex and the City” Season 4, Episode 1-“The Agony and the Extasy”, Charlotte believes that there’s “one perfect soul mate” for each person while the other girls thought there’s no such thing as “one perfect soul mate”.

Whether there’s “one perfect soul mate” for each person or not, towards the end of the episode, all four of them are sitting in the coffee shop. Carrie was depressed and felt sad about being alone without a guy on her 35th birthday. Charlotte suggested the sweetest idea that all four of them can be each other’s soul mate instead waiting for the perfect guy to be the so call “soul mate”.


In the end of “The Agony and the Ecstasy” episode, as Carrie walks home from the meeting with the girls in the coffee shop, she saw Mr. Big (who had returned to New Year from London) waiting to give her red balloons and celebrate her birthday with a bottle of champagne. It was a friendly gesture, but it really added a nice touch to the episode. I guess sometimes a girl can have soul mates and a lover, too. Why settle for just one of them, right!


Another big reason I enjoy watching the ‘Sex and the City” show is its fashion component. The show wouldn’t be quite as fabulous without the die-for handbags, the fabulous stilettos, and gorgeous dresses. Although I can’t help wonder how a writer (Carrie) can afford all the luxury accessories in a big city. But as long as everything look good in the show, why does it matter if it resembles the reality, right?

Fall 2016 Fashion Trend

We are in the transition of Summer to Fall.  If you are still stuck in the Summer fashion, it’s not too late to start planning your Fall staples.

Below is a quick start guide on some of the essential elements for Fall fashion and it will help you to get ready for the chilly season.


Velvet – Fabric of the Season

When we think about Fall 2016 fashion, there’s no way we can leave out velvet.  Velvet is the fabric of the season and we see it anywhere from dresses to sexy stilettos!

A.L.C. Lola Velvet and Embroidered Lace Midi Dress

A.L.C. Lola Velvet & Embroidered Lace Midi Dress


Military – Uniform with a Style

I am always fond of military style for fashion , especially when it comes to wool jackets for the cold seasons. If you are looking for a silhouette that will stay in style, consider a nice military style jacket in navy color. Of course, military style for this season isn’t only limited to jackets. Don’t forget to check out the new boots for the season.

Burberry Military Jacket

Burberry Military Jacket


Mary Jane – Casual to Elegant

Mary Jane shoes has always been one of my favorites, especially when they are decorated with glitters, like the one Saint Laurent made for Fall 2014. For this year, I noticed more Mary Jane shoes in various material. (i.e. Miu Miu’s crystal-embellished velvet pumps, and Dolce & Gabbana’s embellished suede Marry Jane pumps)

Miu Miu Crystal Studded Mary Jane Pump

Miu Miu Crystal Studded Mary Jane Pump


Ruffles – Girlie with a hint of Sophistication

When I was a little girl my mom liked to buy me dresses with ruffles; therefore, ruffles always remind me of my childhood days.  But ruffles are not just for little girls. For this Fall season, we see ruffles anywhere from dresses to shoes. A red dress with ruffles like the Valentino one below will definitely add some sexiness to your wardrobe.

Valentino Off-the-shoulder Ruffle Tunic Dress

Valentino – Off-the-shoulder Ruffle Tunic Dress


Floral – Blossom in Every Season

Depending on where you are, you might not see many blossoming flowers in the Fall. But that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the blossom floral prints onto yourself.  This season, we see the floral elements everywhere on the runway, from floral dresses to signature handbags.

Fendi Embroidered Tulle Overlay Dress

Fendi Embroidered Tulle Overlay Dress


 

If you are still working your wardrobe for the Fall, be sure to keep the above fashion elements in mind!

Dior Aviator Style Sunglasses

I was in Las Vegas in July. It was very hot and sunny! I brought a pair of sunglasses with me for the trip, but for some reason I felt I needed a new pair for the hot weather.

DiorAviatorStyleSunglasses

For me, buying a pair of sunglasses is not easy. No matter what a pair looks like “on the rack”, you can never tell what they’ll look like when they’re on your face until you actually try them on.

I was staying at the Bellagio Hotel, one of my favorite properties in Las Vegas. One afternoon, after Happy Hour at Olives restaurant (where I had a martini), I walked across the promenade hallway to the Dior boutique.

Now, even though aviator style glasses had never really looked good on me, but I had my eyes on Dior Summer 2016 sunglasses that were called Dior Split Sunglasses, where the top and bottom of the lenses are mirrored (but with UV protection) and the center width was tinted.

The Dior Split sunglasses comes in several color (i.e. rose gold toned frame with pink mirrored lenses, gold toned frame with silver lenses, silver toned frame with blue mirrored lenses).  I tried all of them on and, miraculously, the design fitted my face and looked good!


While I was trying on the sunglasses, I was wearing a See by Chloe Sleeveless Drop Waist Dress in black and Roger Vivier Ballerine Chips Stripes Flats in pink/purple with crystals.  And both the dress and the flats match perfectly with the Dior Split sunglasses in rose gold toned frame with pink mirrored lenses.

See by Chloe Sleeveless Drop Waist Dress


So I bought them, and now they’re one of my favorite pair of sunglasses for the summer season!

Christian Dior Split Aviator Sunglasses, $555 via Nordstrom.com