Category Archives: All Posts

Orange is the New Neutral for Spring 2013

03/14/2013 Shirley

Orange has always been one of my all-time favorite colors. I love clothes and accessories in orange regardless of what season it is. In Fall and Winter I love to pair orange with shades of brown, and in Spring and Summer I like to pair orange with lighter colors. I am delighted to see that orange will be a great base color this season to match with almost any color to create an eye-catching outfit. I picked some of my favorite items in the new neutral color for you to consider.

Handbags

Fendi 2Jours Elite Leather Shopper

2Jours Elite is one of Fendi’s iconic bags. This bag in orange is perfect for day and night.

Louis Vuitton Alma PM in Epi

Louis Vuitton’s Alma PM is one of my all-time favorite bags. This bag in Epi reminds me of the orange Alma PM Louis Vuitton launched in Monogram Vernis for last Spring. They are both nice.

Salvatore Ferragamo Icona Gancini Wallet

This wallet in lava (a new color launched for spring) is a perfect accessory for many handbags, such as Saint Laurent Cabas Medium Y Ligne Tote Bag in Natural and Valentino Rockstud Double Handle Tote Bag in Beige.

Shoes

Jimmy Choo Abel in Tangerine

This pair of shoes is great for both day and night. It looks good with a pair of white pants during the day and a pair of dark jeans or black pants in the evening.

Prada Studded Slingback Sandal

Studded shoes will stay in vogue until at least this Spring 2013. This pair of orange studded sandals will look great with dresses such as Bustier-Detail Eyelet Dress from Burberry Brit.

Rene Caovilla Crystal-Thong Sandal

Rene Caovilla shoes have become some of my new favorites. This sandal with the crystals on the orange strap is perfect to take you from day to a casual night. I’d pair it with Diane von Furstenberg CeeCee Enamel Beading Dress.

Clothes

Diane von Furstenberg CeeCee Enamel Beading Dress

I like the bauble-embellished neckline. It makes this simple dress look elegant. I’d wear it with the Rene Caovilla Crystal-Thong Sandal.

Phoebe Couture Colorblack Lace Overlay Dress

Although the color of this dress is called ‘coral multi”, in my opinion I think the color on the top portion of the dress is very close to an orange shade. I like the contrast with pink color. Another nice thing about this dress is that it’s made of lace, which is in for Spring.

All Posts, Beauty

The Best Exfoliation Product For Your Feet?

03/10/2013 Shirley

Buy Baby Foot from Amazon.com

I’ve tried various products to exfoliate the dead skin cells on my feet, such as exfoliating scrub and pumice stone rub. But I found the task time-consuming and not very satisfactory. During my recent trip to California I found an incredible product that makes feet exfoliation easy and effective. The product is called “Baby Foot”.

The “Baby Foot” product is made in Japan, but I am glad that it’s available on Amazon.com. The product contains ingredients including water, alcohol, lactic acid, glycolic acid, and etc. in two foot booties. It’s designed to remove the oldest dead skin cells on the outermost surface of your feet.

To use it, I put on the foot booties after I had cleaned my feet and then left it on for two hours. Then I rinsed my feet with soap and water. It takes about 3 to 5 days to see the outermost dead skin cells to partially start to peel. And it can take up to 10 days for the peeling process to complete.

I have to admit that the peeling process looks ugly, because the skin will randomly shed in small and large pieces. But if you touch the newly exposed skin on your feet, you will love it and know the process is well worth the price of temporary ugliness. Let’s just say the final result reminds me of my two-year old niece’s feet. They are very soft! Using the “Baby Foot” is so much better than using scrub or pumice stone rub.

Even though the treatment leaves your feet soft, the skin cells will get dry and rough again depending on how you take care of your feet. If you wear sandals or shoes that rub against your feet, you will need to exfoliate again sooner than suggested (3 to 4 months). It is just like any skin exfoliation that needs to be repeated periodically. The only difference is that “Baby Foot” treatment is more effective and the results last longer. It has been a month since I used the “Baby Foot”, but my feet are still soft and I love it!

All Posts, Fashion

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2013 Speedy Cube

03/04/2013 Shirley

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2013 Speedy Cube MM in Cream

It has been about five months since the Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2013 women’s fashion show launched in October. I am glad that the selected handbags from the collection finally arrived in stores. Please meet the new Speedy Cube, the reinvented iconic Speedy bag!

The size of Speedy Cube is different than the original Speedy (such as Speedy 25 and 30). The Speedy is usually longer in length and shorter in depth. The Speedy Cube is shorter in length and longer in depth. It is available in Speedy Cube PM (small) and MM (large). The PM also comes with a removable cross-body strap that can be adjusted in length.

If you watched Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2013 women’s fashion show, you’d know that the Damier pattern was part of the main theme in the show. It wouldn’t be a surprise that the Speedy Cube from the collection has the Damier element in it. The Damier pattern on the Speedy Cube is called Damier Facette. It’s shiny calf leather embossed with the Damier (smaller pattern) in a structured shape, which is unlike the traditional Damier in soft canvas. The Speedy Cube PM ($1,990) is available in yellow and Speedy Cube MM ($2,280) is available in cream and camel colors. I have to say that the prices are a bargain for Louis Vuitton’s runway collection.

I think Speedy Cube PM is a bit too small for me. In my opinion, it is cute and would be ideal for petite women. Although the bag comes with a removable cross-body strap, it looks better if it is hand held. I like the Speedy Cube MM the best. The size is perfect for me. Unfortunately, it is not available in my favorite yellow color (only offered on Speedy Cube PM).

Both Speedy Cube PM and MM in Damier Facette are available online and in-store.

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2013 Speedy Cube PM

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2013 Speedy Cube MM in Camel

All Posts, Fashion

Fendi Tevere Zucca Mini Crossbody Bag

02/25/2013 Shirley

If you love handbags you probably noticed mini crossbody bags are in since last season. Some good examples are the Fancy Mini Shoulder Bag by Faragamo, Audry Small Crossbody Bag by Chloe, and Alma BB by Louis Vuitton (which has been around for many years but became especially popular this season.)

Mini crossbody bags will stay in vogue until at least Spring 2013. For Spring 2013 Fendi launched a new Tevere Zucca mini crossbody bag in tobacco/ocra (also availables in tabacco/dark brown). This bag in tobacco/ocra caught my attention immediately, which doesn’t happen often when it comes to Fendi bags. Fendi has many iconic bags, such as the Baguette and 2Jours Elite, but I couldn’t picture myself in any of them. They are nice but don’t match with my style.

Despite the fact that Fendi is not my top choice for handbags, I like the Tevere Zucca mini crossbody bag in tobacco/ocra a lot. It is made with Fendi logo-jacquard fabric with yellow smooth leather trim. This color and material contrast make the bag stand out. It’s compact and perfect for day and night. I would wear it with True religion skinny jeans with Christian Louboutin Rolando Hidden-Platform pump or Frye Lindsay Leather Plate boot.

All Posts, Fashion

Gorgeous Rene Caovilla Lace T-Strap Sandal

02/18/2013 Shirley

Rene Caovilla is known for making jeweled shoes. I recently tried on the Rene Caovilla Lace T-Strap Sandal ($1,895), which is decorated with Swarovski® crystals and delicate lace on its t-strap.

The sandal is eye-catching, but you have to actually try it on to really know why it’s so fabulous. I was fascinated by the sparkling floral lace appliques on the t-strap. The floral lace dangles while I walk, which make the crystals stand out and show off the uniqueness of the design. In my opinion the floral lace patterns are like mini-butterflies that fly up and down with each step I take. The shoe also has cushioned insoles which make it a comfortable stiletto to walk in. I have to admit that I like it so much that I didn’t want to take it off.

This is a perfect shoe for special occasions and evenings. The best thing about this elegant shoe is that it will never go out of style. I’d say it’s a gorgeous pair and a great investment for your wardrobe. Next time when you are in the store, you should try it on yourself to see why this stiletto is so popular.

For more shoes for special occasions, see The Ten Best Shoes for Evening.

Rene Caovilla Lace T-Strap Sandal

Rene Caovilla Lace T-Strap

Rene Caovilla Lace T-Strap Sandal

(For more shoes for special occasions, see The Ten Best Shoes for Evening.)

All Posts, Fashion

Spring 2013 Fashion Trend Show

02/07/2013 Shirley

I went to the Spring 2013 Trend Show event at Neiman Marcus and had a great time. As always, the fashion show was stunning. It started with champagne and treats (cupcakes, cookies, and cake pops) for the attendees. Followed by the show with models on the runway in gorgeous outfits, great handbags, fabulous shoes, and nice jewelry for the upcoming season.

The two hottest hues for spring 2013 are blue and orange. Blue is a great color for both cold and warm weather, which makes it a perfect wardrobe transition from winter to spring. Orange is always a popular color for spring. This season orange will be a great base color to match with almost any color to create an eye-catching outfit.

Among all the new items I saw during the fashion show, I have many favorite picks: Badgley Mischka Lace Cocktail Dress with Open Back, Christian Louboutin Decollette Polka-Dot Watersnake Red Sole Pump (Black/White), Christian Louboutin Fifi Spikes Red Sole Pump (Black), Manolo Blahnik Arpegeny Snake-Band Slide Sandal, Prada Saffiano Promenade Stone-Trim Bag, Saint Laurent Y Ligne Cuir Gras Mini Bag (Blue).

Blue and orange – the hottest colors for Spring 2013

Love the blue Prada (left) and orange Chloe (right) bags.

Prada – Saffiano Promenade Handbag, Bright Royal Blue

Chloe – Alice Satchel Bag

Gorgeous dresses for Spring 2013

The Saint Laurent clutch and Manolo Blahnik pump match the dress perfectly (left). The Badgley Mischka dress is eye-catching during the show (right).

Saint Laurent – Y Ligne Clutch Bag, Blue

Badgley Mischka – Lace Cocktail Dress with Open Back

All Posts, Fashion

Louis Vuitton Alma BB

01/23/2013 Shirley

Louis Vuitton Alma BB

If you are a fan of Louis Vuitton bags, you have probably noticed that the company has been promoting several of their iconic bag styles in smaller versions. A good example would be the Louis Vuitton Alma BB, the mini version of its classic Alma bag.

Louis Vuitton Alma now comes in three sizes: GM (large), PM (medium), and BB (small). Alma GM is ideal for taller women or those who are dressed in professional and business attires. Alma PM is a bit smaller than GM, and it’s good for women of any height. The PM is a bit easier to match with outfits than the GM. And Alma BB, which is in the recent spotlights, is a mini bag that comes with a detachable strap. The BB is perfect for petite women and also works well for anyone in an evening-wear environment.

Once you see the Alma BB, I think you’ll find it adorable. The Alma BB is available in several lines, such as Monogram Vernis, Epi, ostrich leather, and alligator leather. I like it in Rose Velours, one of the three new Monogram Vernis colors launched recently. This color reminds me of a lighter rose color that debuted in early 2010. That was one of my all-time favorite colors.

Alma BB is a perfect day-to-night bag. If you want to get something that stands out, nothing can be better than getting Alma BB in lighter Monogram Vernis. If you want the bag for a night out, you can consider getting it in darker hues, such as Amarante in Monogram Vernis or Black in Epi.

Click here to see the Alma BB in the latest Vernis color, Rose Angelique.

Louis Vuitton Alma BB in new Monogram Venis colors. Rose Velours (left) and Indian Rose (right).

All Posts, Food, Travel

85°C Bakery Cafe in Irvine, California

01/19/2013 Shirley

I visit my family in Irvine, California several times a year. There are some favorite places that I go to frequently during each visit. One of them is the 85°C Bakery Cafe, a Taiwanese bakery chain introduced to Southern California several years ago.

Why do I like the 85°C Bakery Cafe so much? I love to eat desserts, breads/pastry, and drink milk tea. And this bakery has everything I love. They make yummy cakes with fancy decorations. They also make a variety of breads/pastry (from my favorite marble taro to egg tart). And they have my favorite drinks (coffee jelly milk tea and sea salt coffee) which I can’t get from anywhere else. Their coffee jelly milk tea is the best! I can drink it EVERYDAY!

One amazing phenomena about the 85°C Bakery Cafe in Irvine is its long customer line in the morning, afternoon, and at night (right before they close at 10:00pm). Customers are willing to wait for more than 30 minutes just to get into the bakery to choose what they want. After they pick up their selection they have to get into another crowded line to pay and order their drinks. However, the long lines don’t seem to bother people who are determined to get their treats of the day.

It’s not a surprise to my friends how crazy I am about this bakery. Every time I go I would get several boxes/bags of goodies and eat them for breakfast, snacks between meals, and late night treats. But what surprises me is that most customers in that stores are like me. They get the items in large quantities that look like enough to feed a big family!

The new Travel Channel recently featured a video on the 85°C Bakery Cafe in Irvine. To hear more about it, go to 85°C Bakery in Irvine.

Cakes and Desserts from 85°C Bakery Cafe in Irvine, CA

Breads from 85°C Bakery Cafe in Irvine, CA

All Posts, Fashion

Stock Up Wardrobe with Party Dresses

01/15/2013 Shirley

After the December holidays, stores tend to put more items on sale, especially clothes, handbags, and shoes. This makes January one of the best times to shop for party dresses with great discounts (50% – 70%). You can search for items that you liked, but weren’t able to get during the holidays. Or you can stock up your closet with clothes for your upcoming events. Most of my friends’ birthdays are in February, which means I will have to get more dresses for all these birthday events.

If you want to take advantage of the sales to add some dresses to your wardrobe, I’d suggest you to go with black. Clothes in black are generally the most flattering. They are good for women at any age and can be worn for just about any occasion. Below are my suggestions for dresses that are ideal for occasions/parties and won’t go out of style anytime soon. They are listed in four styles.

Chic & Refined

These dresses are ideal for business casual events. You can wear them from day (for work) to night (for dinner).

Alice + Olivia Osie Leather-Trim Dress

Armani Collezioni Pailette-Embellished Drape-Back Dress

Alice + Olivia Osie Leather-Trim Dress (left) $237 (original $396)

Armani Collezioni Pailette-Embellished Drape-Back Dress (right) $1,048 ($2,995)

Feminine & Classic

The sheer lace and the metallic golden embroidery on the Dolce & Gabbana dress (left) and the satin top and matte skirt on the Marc Jacobs dress (right) make these dresses classical elegance pieces. They are ideal for any formal event.

Dolce & Gabbana- Long-Sleeve Embroidered Lace Dress (to purchase it, go to http://btlk.it/ssr )

Marc Jacobs-BG 111th Anniversary Ruffled Cap-Sleeve Dress

Dolce & Gabbana- Long-Sleeve Embroidered Lace Dress (left) $4,165 (original $11,900)

Marc Jacobs-BG 111th Anniversary Ruffled Cap-Sleeve Dress (right) (Limited-edition) $625 (originally $2,500)

Flirty & Fresh

Dresses in this category are designed in a girle style with a polished materials, such as metalic fabric or laces. They are ideal for occasions such as birthday parties.

DKNY-Metalic Lace Dress Peplum Dress (to purchase it, go to http://btlk.it/sw0 )

J. Medel-Dress with Lace Bodice (to purchase it, go to http://btlk.it/ssn )

DKNY-Metalic Lace Dress Peplum Dress (left) $213 (original $355)

J. Medel-Dress with Lace Bodice (right) $1,393 (original $3,980)

Simple & Sexy

Wearing these dresses with strappy heels will make you look sexy instantly. No additional jewelry is necessary.

Aidan Mattox-Beaded Illusion-Neck Dress (to purchase, click http://btlk.it/sw1 )

Sue Wong-black and nude lace beaded flower applique strapless dress (to purchase, click p://btlk.it/swk )

Aidan Mattox-Beaded Illusion-Neck Dress (left) $103 (original $295)

Sue Wong-Black and Nude Lace Beaded Flower Applique Strapless Dress (right) $161.85 (original $415)

Elizabeth and James ‘Rex’ Sequin Blazer, $175 (original $595)

In additional to the party dresses listed above, this blazer is a must-have for a night out with dark skinny jeans. The sequin will add the accent to your outfit.

If you are looking for more suggestions on dresses for special events, see The Ten Best Dresses for Evening.

All Posts, Fashion

Three Categories of My Clothes

01/03/2013 Shirley

The last time you went through your closet did you pay attention about how often you wear each item you have?

The clothes I have fall into three categories. The first one is the “love it but never wore it even once”. Clothes in this category are usually purchased by the impulse of owning something very nice, even though I don’t have a specific occasion to wear it. The second category is “nice but only get to wear a few times or less”. The clothes in this category are usually purchased for a particular event, such as a pretty dress I wore for my birthday party. The last category is “love it and want to wear it all the time”. Most of my clothes fall into this category; they are usually more casual and go well with many pieces I have.

My most recent purchase falls into the third category. It’s Mormor Marled Cardigan from Anthropologie. It’s a warm and comfortable sweater, which I just wore for the first time yesterday with jeans and a white cotton shirt. But I already want to wear it again today with skinny jeans and a black cotton shirt.

Shirley Style

Category Archives: All Posts

Orange is the New Neutral for Spring 2013

The Best Exfoliation Product For Your Feet?

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2013 Speedy Cube

Fendi Tevere Zucca Mini Crossbody Bag

Gorgeous Rene Caovilla Lace T-Strap Sandal

Spring 2013 Fashion Trend Show

Louis Vuitton Alma BB

85°C Bakery Cafe in Irvine, California

Stock Up Wardrobe with Party Dresses

Three Categories of My Clothes

Fashion Blog

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