Category Archives: Fashion

Designer Shoes Sale at Nordstrom – May 2014

(Shop for Designer Shoes Sale via Nordstrom)

Have you noticed that Nordstrom’s Half-yearly sale for women and kids has been going on since last week? Many accessories, clothing, shoes, and bags are now on sale.

If you are a shoe lover, you are in luck. A handful of designer shoes from the Spring collections are offered at 35% to 40% discounted prices at Nordstrom online. The available brands including, Charlotte Olympia, Jimmy Choo,  Manolo Blahnik, Prada, and Valentino.

The nicest thing about such sales at Nordstrom is that you can pre-order with the sales associates in your local Nordstrom prior to the sale. The downside is that they don’t usually carry every brand or all items that will be on sale.

My solution to this hurdle is to find out what shoes will be on sale from the sales associate in the store and then check the Nordstrom website at the midnight before the sale starts. Staying up late to get the first pick on the designer shoes sale was well worth it. I got all the designer shoes I wanted at 40% off. By the end of the first sale day, several of the designs I bought were all out of stock!

So, the next time you don’t want to miss the items you’ve been waiting for to go on sale, check Nordstrom online around 1:00am when the sale starts!

Below are some shoes from the designer sales. Click the links above the image to shop for other shoes by the designers.


Jimmy Choo – Capri Pump via Nordstrom

Jimmy Choo Capri Pump


 Jimmy Choo – Typhoon Ankle Strap Pump via Nordstrom

Jimmy Choo Typhoon Ankle Strap Pump


Gucci – Jolene Peep Toe Pump via Nordstrom

Gucci Jolene Peep Toe Pump


Manolo Blahnik – Strepitopla Sandal via Nordstrom
Manolo Blahnik Strepitopla Sandal


Prada – Pointy Toe Pump via Nordstrom

Prada Pointy Toe Pump


Saint Laurent – Paris Micro Stud Pump via Nordstrom, also available in White.
Saint Laurent Paris Micro Stud Pump


Polka Dots for Spring 2014

What do you think about polka dots on accessories and clothing? I am always very fond of polka dots. In my opinion, polka dots add a fun element to any design and reminds me of some vintage styles.

For Spring 2014, we are seeing a lot of polka dots designs on accessories and clothing. Tops, skirts, dresses, handbags, and shoes are all making appearances this season. Each year we see variety of pattern designs trend and fade away, but I know polka dots will always be popular.

One of my favorite polka dots items for the season is 3.1 Phillip Lim’s Polka Dots Blouse (available in bone beige and black/white)($501.96). I like this blouse in both colors. I can see myself wearing the blouse in bone beige with my skinny jeans during the day, and wearing the blouse in black/white with short skirt on a night out with friends. The good thing about a polka dots top like this is that it will always be a must-keep piece in my wardrobe.

I think accessories with polka dots can be fun. For example, Mika Contrasting Leather Polka Dot Pumps by Sophia Webster ($896.89) combines with 3-D flowers, and the Polka Dots Shopper Tote by Marni ($692) has bold prints. If you want to spice up your outfits, such accessories would certainly help.

Besides being fun, polka dots can be vintage. A good example of vintage style would be Dolce & Gabbana’s Polka Dots Dress for Spring 2014. This fitted polka dots silhouette with square neck reminds me a dress my mom had when I was growing up. The Dolce & Gabbana polka dots dress would be perfect from day to night.

So, if you haven’t bought polka dots this season, there are a lot of options out there. I’ve list some of my favorites below.


3.1 Phillip Lim – Polka Dots Blouse $501.96 via Farfetch

3.1 Phillip Lim’s Polka Dots Blouse in bone beige

3.1 Phillip Lim’s Polka Dots Blouse


Dolce & Gabbana Polka Dot Dress – $2,950 via Farfetch

Dolce & Gabbana Polka Dot Dress


Marni Polka Dots Skirt – $542 via Farfetch
Marni Polka Dots Skirt


Emanuel Ungaro Polka Dot Print Trouser – on sale for $632.31 (original $903.31) via Farfetch

Emanuel Ungaro Polka Dot Print Trouser


Sophia Webster Mika Contrasting Leather Polka Dot Pumps – $897 via Farfetch

Sophia Webster Mika Contrasting Leather Polka Dot Pumps


For more polka dots accessories and silhouette, shop at Nordstrom.com.

The New Burberry Versatile Handbag

What do you think about Burberry? Some of my friends like Burberry a lot, but some are not fans of Burberry at all, and think it’s all fashioned. To be honest, until recently I only like Burberry’s trench coats and cashmere scarves.

For Spring 2014 Burberry debuts a new Petal in Deerskin with Transparent Flowers handbag. It can be used as a clutch or a small crossbody handbag if you wear it with the strap. What is unique about it is the 3-D flower design on the upper part of the bag.

The bag comes in four interesting colors: light green, light yellow (Dandelian), light purple, and white. My favorite out of all the colors is the light green. I can see myself wearing it as a crossbody handbag during the day, with a white sleeveless top and my True Religion jeans, with a nude Manolo BB pump. This outfit would be perfect for a leave-work-early-Friday afternoon happy hour.

So, if you are a person who thinks Burberry is old fashioned, I suggest you give their new 3-D Transparent Flowers handbag a close look.

Burberry – The Petal Crossbody Bag – $1,495 via Nordstrom.com

(Click the link above or the images below to buy the bag.)
Buy The Burberry's Petal Crossbody Bag from Nordstrom.com
Buy Burberry's Petal Crossbody Bag from Nordstrom.com

Buy Burerry's Petal Crossbody Bag from Nordstrom.com

Buy Burberry's Handbags from Nordstrom.com

Pink is the New Neutral for Spring 2014

What’s your favorite color for Spring 2014? Pastel color is in for the season. The colors in the category include light green, light yellow, light blue, light pink, and light orange. But pink is special, because it goes well with more colors than the other pastels.

For the Spring season, we are seeing a lot of pink from top to bottom. Eye shadow, lipstick and lip gloss, tops, skirts, handbags, and shoes are all making appearances this season. Every year I read about what the “in color” is. This season it looks like pink is the “in color”.

Some people think the color pink is too girly. But in my opinion pink can be classic and elegant, or can be too close to Hello Kitty. For example, a pink lace dress like Adrianna Papell Lace Sheath Dress can be worn to a Spring wedding or Sunday brunch.

 Adrianna Papell Lace Sheath Dress – $158 via Nordstrom.com

Adrianna Papell Lace Sheath Dress


Dolce & Gabbana Pink Silk Embroidered Dress – $1,892 via Farfetch

Dolce & Gabbana Pink Silk Embroidered Dress


Nicole Miller Lace Fitted Cap Sleeve Lace Sheath Dress – $294 (originally $420) via Nordstrom.com

Nicole Miller Lace Fitted Cap Sleeve Lace Sheath Dress


Another example of “good pink” would be a pink Valentino Small Rockstud Double Handle Tote. This is the small version of Valentino’s famous Rockstud tote in the new pink color. This bag would be perfect from afternoon to evening.

Valentino Small Rockstud Double Handle Tote – $2,145 via Nordstrom.com

Valentino - 'Small Rockstud' Double Handle Tote


Saint Laurent Baby Duffle Shoulder Bag – $1,278 via Farfetch

Saint Laurent Classic Baby Duffle Bag


In short, if you have been avoiding pink because you think it’s too young or immature, I advise you to give pink another look this Spring season.


Valentino Lace Couture Bow Open Toe Pump – $1,045 via Nordstrom.com

Valentino Lace Couture Bow Open Toe Pump


Saint Laurent Petite Ligne Y Leather Tote – $2,490 via Nordstrom.com
Saint Laurent Petite Ligne Y Leather Tote


More Stylish Sweatshirts

Are you looking for sweatshirts that gives you a hint of feminine touch? The sweatshirts continues to be one of the hottest trend in Spring, but which one should you get for your wardrobe?

In my opinion it’s important to have at least one casual and one stylish sweatshirts. The casual sweatshirts highlights the sporty trend. The stylish sweatshirt has some design or embellishment that offset the sporty look. The good thing about the stylish sweatshirts is that it’s versitil. You can wear it to create more looks on weekdays as well as weekend. Below are my suggestions. (Click the links above each image to shop for each style.)


Sweatshirts with Lace – I like clothes with lace. Adding lace to the not-so-boxy sweatshirts makes the silhouette more feminine.
Nina Ricci Lace and Jersey Sweatshirt – $650 ~ via Nordstrom.comNina Ricci Lace & Jersey Sweatshirt


 MSGM Lace Panel – $283 (originally $471) via Farfetch

MSGM Lace Panel Sweater


Olivia Moon  Print Back Tie Sweatshirts – $58 via Nordstrom.com

Olivia Moon Print Back Tie Sweatshirts


Jason Wu Chiffon Applique Sweatshirts – $1,850 via Nordstrom.com

Jason Wu Chiffon Applique Sweatshirt


Kenzo Embroidered Logo Print Sweatshirt – $288 via Farfetch

Kenzo Embroidered Logo Print Sweatshirt

Alexander Mcqueen Red and Blue Knucklebox Clutch

Are you looking for a new, unique, and interesting clutch? If so, you might want to take a look at the Red and Blue Knucklebox Clutch by Alexander McQueen. It’s hard to explain, but I like this clutch 80%. What do I mean by that? On the plus side, I think it looks very elegant with its signature skull handle. The only minor downside, in my opinion, is that there’s a hint of old-fashioness about it. By that I mean I can see myself using it at a formal event like a classical music concert or ballet, or similar occasion. But I can also see a older, elegant women using this clutch on a less formal events, like dinning out at a high-end restaurant.
In conclusion, this clutch has a bold design which may not be for everyone. If you are someone who is willing to take a style chance this clutch could be for you.

Available at Farfetch.com. On sale for $1,330.08 (originally $1,900.11)

Alexander McQueen Red and Blue Knucklebox Cluth

Alexander McQueen Red and Blue Knucklebox Cluth
Alexander McQueen Red and Blue Knucklebox Clutch

 

 

 

Sweatshirts for New Stylish Look

Sweatshirts are in for this season. Just like the overalls that made their way back to style with a new straight leg fit, sweatshirts are in with an updated look. The sweatshirt is no longer limited to a relaxed fit that is only suitable for the gym or errand runs. Now, they are available in a classic fit which gives you an instant stylish upgrade.

I like the new version of sweatshirts, because they are not baggy at all; they are fitted enough to provide you a stylish look without giving up all the comfort. Have you updated your wardrobe? Here is what I wore yesterday for a casual Sunday. It was perfect for Sunday brunch with friends and family.


JCrew – Weekend Sweatshirt (originally $60, now on sale at JCrew.com for $39.99)

JCrew Weekend Sweatshirt


True Religion – Skinny Jeans (http://btlk.it/25k3 )

True Religion Skinny Jeans


Saint Laurent – Sac de Jour Small Carryall Bag in Blue

Saint Laurent - Sac de Jour Small Carryall Bag


Vince – “Blaire 5” Slip-on Sneaker in black (originally $195, now on sale now at Nordstrom.com for $146.25)

Vince – “Blaire 5″ Slip-on Sneaker in black


Click here to shop for stylish sweatshirt.

JCrew Cable Sweatshirt
JCrew Cable Sweatshirt

Overalls is the New Trend for the Season

When I was a freshman in college, I was really into wearing overalls. I thought they were very comfortable for school and easy to put together for an outfit. I had five pairs of overalls in different materials and colors (blue jeans, white jeans, and brown cords). I wore either black oxford or tennis shoes with the blue and the white overalls. I also had a pair of brown Mary Janes (with chunky high heels) dedicated for the brown cords overalls.

A classmate of mine once asked me a question while I was in school: “Hey, Shirley, my uncle is a farmer and he wears overalls all the time. But you are not a farmer, why are you wearing overalls so often?” This showed how obsessed I was with the overalls. My passion for overalls phased out after the first few years in college.

This season overalls have made their way back into the fashion trend. This time, it’s no longer a relaxed fit as it used to be. They are in a more fitted design, often with straight leg hems. This enable us to create a more stylish look. You can pair them with a simple tee shirt and sandals for the day time, or pair them with a fashionable black pump for a evening out.

Many name brand jeans companies are offering overalls for this season. For example, you can get Paige Denim-Sierra overalls for $279 (on sale for $186.93), Citizens of Humanity-Drama Quincey overalls for $297 (on sale for $198.98), and True Religion for $358. I think these are a bit too pricey! Whereas you can get a less expensive pair from Nordstrom for under $100, or from H&M for just $39.

Is it worth it to buy a pair of overalls for over $300? I really like Citizens of Humanity’s Drama Quincey overalls, but I am not sure if I want to pay $300 for a pair of overalls that I only plan to wear a few times. Will you invest this much for a pair of overalls for this season?

Paige Denim-Sierra overalls
Paige Denim-Sierra overalls
Citizens of Humanity-Drama Quincey overalls
Citizens of Humanity-Drama Quincey overalls

Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2014 Show

A recent exciting event was the debut of the Louis Vuitton women’s Fall and Winter 2014 show, by Nicolas Ghesquière, the new LV Creative Director. While we are enjoying the new season’s show, the collection’s pieces from Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2014 are now hitting the stores.

This Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2014 collection is the last show designed by Marc Jacobs. I can’t help not to watch the Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2014 show for one more time. While I was watching the show, I observed some similarities with previous Louis Vuitton fashion shows by Marc Jacobs.

The runway that the models walked through at the Spring and Summer 2014 show included a fountain, elevators, carousal, clock, escalators, and doors. These elements can be found from the previous season shows (see the images below). Since the Spring and Summer 2014 show is the last one by Marc Jacobs, I am not surprised to see he completed his last Louis Vuitton show with all the unique themes that were presented in the past. See below for some screen shots from Spring and Summer 2014 and previous shows.

To be honest, I wasn’t totally impressed by this Spring and Summer 2014 collection. I fe3lt it was a bit too dark and not lively enough for spring and summer, especially compared to previous year’s Spring and Summer shows. On the other hand, I do admire how Marc Jacobs concluded his final chapter at LV with an echo of previous years.

Spring/Summer 2014

Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2014 Clock and Escalators
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2014 –  Clock and Escalators
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2014 - Fountain and Elevators
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2014 – Fountain and Elevators
Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2014 - Carousel
Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2014 – Carousel

  1. Fountain – Fall and Winter 2010
Louis Vuitton Fall and Winter 2010
Louis Vuitton Fall and Winter 2010
  1. Elevators – Fall and Winter 2011
Louis Vuitton Fall and Winter 2011
Louis Vuitton Fall and Winter 2011
  1. Carousal – Spring and Summer 2012
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2012
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2012
  1. Clock – Fall and Winter 2012
Louis Vuitton Fall and Winter 2012
Louis Vuitton Fall and Winter 2012
  1. Escalators – Spring and Summer 2013
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2013
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2013
  1. Doors – Fall and Winter 2013
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2013
Louis Vuitton Spring and Summer 2013

SJP Shoes and Handbags by Sarah Jessica Parker

SJP Shoes and Handbags by Sarah Jessica Parker

One of the latest news items in the fashion accessory world is the upcoming debut of the new SJP, by Sarah Jessica Parker (the famous “Sex and The City” actress). Her success in starring as the fashionable shoe-loving character Carrie Bradshaw in the show brought many high-end accessories to the spotlight, including Manolo Blahnik.

SJP is the new shoe and handbag line Sarah Jessica Parker designed by partnering up with George Mulkemus, the Manolo Blanik’s president. The line will launch exclusively with Nordstrom on Feb. 28, 2014.

I was not surprised when I heard about this news. Sarah Jessica Parker has been one of the icons in the fashion world over the past fifteen years. I have always admired the bags she used when she was spotted in fashion magazines while she was photographed while running her errands. And I like her effortless fashionable style. I can’t think of anyone else better suited than SJP to launch a new accessory line.

The shoes from SJP look simple and yet elegant. They actually remind me of Manolo Blanik shoes. However, I think the SJP prices, a new line launched by a celebrity instead of an existing famous shoe designer, are a bit high.

For example, a pair of Manolo’s iconic BB cost about $595, whereas a pair of SJPs is around $350. My initial hunch for the price of a pair of SJPs was around $250, since it’s a new “non-designer” line.

I hope the SJP shoes will live up to my expectations as a made-in- Italy celebrity line. Based on the pictures, they look very classic and are available in several unique colors. If that’s the case, when the SJP line launches on February 28, I will definitely give the line a serious look. I am betting on the fact that someone who wears designer shoes, like Sarah Jessica Parker, will make high quality products that resemble some of the uniquene features of the designer lines.

SJP Accessories by Sarah Jessica Parker