July 2008 « With Love…

31Jul/0821

Running Errands :)

Hey Everyone,

Today was an another relaxing and fun day for me... I was just running errands around the downtown Toronto... and ...Although my day was mostly spent in the car, I did menage to get some awesome snapshots .... So here's a peek into my daily life and my outfit choice

I started my day with a very slloooooowwwww drive to downtown( a 5 minute drive turned into 35) ..... But no worries, I entertained myself by taking pictures of the stunning view from the highway. ( Please don't try this at home,:P) ... I swear that usually, I'm a very careful driver

I kept my distance

Bored at the red lights

After the long drive and finally finding a parking spot... I dropped by my office( well, my profs. office). Here's the deal, I have an awesome job - as a research assistant to one of my architecture profs. ( who is incredible and inspiring woman) - which allows me to work from home and from the office. Wicked, I know? It also means that I have no schedule

Well, here it is ....

Me, trying to look "very professional"

( I really try hard)

" The Book Heaven"

AND
CHECK OUT THE VIEW
.... i can never stop staring ( so distracting)

After the office fun, I headed for some real fun ... the spa to get a routine facial and some girly things ... and finished of my day, playing Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360 with my "better-half" for about 5 hours...I ended up heading home, high on coffee, at 12:30am and here I am .... BLOGGING

I know ... I'm a neard

Here's quick look at a boring life of an ordinary girl.

AND NOW, ON TO THE SERIOUS STUFF,

THE OUTFIT OF TODAY

Today's look is just as simple as every other one ... I mean what a girl to do when, comfort is essential ( for such a long day) .... of course, TURN TO THE FLATS which I paired with my "parachute" top (well, that's what I like to call it) and a trusty pair of dark- wash skinnies.

Organic Cotton H&M " Parachute" top
Corpus Alpha in Cracked,
Brown Couture Italian Leather Flats
Olivia Dove Nacklace by Kimberly Baker Jewelry,
( it is my favorite and I wear it practically everyday)
Chanel Sunglasses,

Here is a closer look at my " parachute"top

I'm a flat lover, they are perfect for running around downtown all day long while trying to look cute when it is 30 degrees outfit. So, here's my question:

CAN A MODERN DAY WOMAN WEAR HEELS EVERY DAY?

For me, the answer is NO.

As a student it is impossible for me to spend an entire day on heels, especially when my university is located all over downtown ( I'm not joking)... sometimes it takes me 15 minutes to get from one lecture to another by foot. And try crossing an entire park on heels ... IMPOSSIBLE. So my solution is flats.... cute, comfy, and still give an outfit that dressed up feeling.

What was once reserved for casual Fridays is now also for stately affairs.The look appeals to all fashion lovers, from the first lady of France to style setter Kate Moss.

SO, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON FLATS?

Tagged as: Browns Couture, Chanel, Corpus, H&M, Kimberly Baker 21 Comments

29Jul/0816

A Cherry on Top of the Cake … :P

AHH, CAN'T STOP MYSELF ..................
I am getting worried that I might be getting a little out of hand with my guilty pleasure - shopping online. At the comfort of my bed with a cup of strong espresso, I love to indulge in a little bit of innocent shopping.... three hours later and my order is in. I try to justify to myself that this is my wardrobe prep for the fall time and that there is no way I would find better deals later on....AND Today, it was all about Bluefly and here are my finds, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK .... and HOW OFTEN DO YOU SHOP ON LINE? ANY FAVORITE SITES?

Habitual Pitch Black " Placebo" Skinny Jeans
I've been searching for a black pair of skinnies for a while now, until I found these babies and the price was irresistible. Plus, they can be easily dressed up or down

Hayden Fuchsia Cashmere Scoopneck Sweater
You can never go wrong with cashmere and the splash of colour is something I desperately needed.
Alisha Levine Coral Silk Raceback Trapeze Tank
Perfect for going out and it would look awesome with the black skinnies.

A.V. Max Silver Glitter Lucide Stud Cuff

Bluefly is currently having Summer Sale, check it out . If you spend over $150 you can get $30 off with this code: DOR162B ( if worked for me beautifully) However, they do charge shipping to Canada it was $34.

A visit to a nearby Starbucks and then a stroll in the park with my" better-half"(hehe), was a cheery on top of a perfect day.
P .S. I apologize for the "pony- tail" and no make up, lol

Language Los Angeles Shirt
Abercrombie & Fitch Skinnies in Grey
Uxe Snake Skin Flats
Coach Lather Swingbag
Calvin Klein Leather Belt
Aldo Accessories Headband
Olivia Dove Necklace by Kiberly Baker Jewelry

Tagged as: Abercrombie& Fitch, Aldo, Calvin Klein, Coach, Kimberly Baker, Language, Trash&Luxury 16 Comments

28Jul/0818

Away from the City …. :)

Hey Everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend

My weekend was filled with great weather, beautiful nature, and a wonderful company of my sweetie. As a couple, we are pretty relax and enjoy bumming around on the beach - doing absolutely nothing. I love going to the cottage, the idea of not worrying about getting ready or doing all of those girly things is pretty AWESOME. It also gives me time to satisfy my addiction for reading .... These photos are not "fashion forward"(lol) but are a lot more personal than usual

What is your ideal getaway from the city?

P.S. My clothes are from Abercrombie & Fitch, the shoes from Coach and the Sunglass are from Chanel.

Tagged as: Abercrombie& Fitch, Chanel, Coach 18 Comments

25Jul/0826

Gap Loving …. :)

With simple sweaters and tees made of cotton and wool, Gap has become one my favorites for this season. I love their simplicity and the variety of staple pieces that they offer and not to forget ... how comfortable and soft it is. I never thought that I would wear Gap past the age of 13 but history repeats itself... and I find myself visiting Gap at every opportunity I get. In addition to my growing collection of Gap items, I just purchased this super soft cotton/cashmere blend sweater with cute little buttons of the shoulder and yellow stripes. Another purchase was an American Apparel bandage skirt which was crucial addition to my closet.
Both of these pieces can be easy worn in the fall time with a trench coat,thick tights and cute flats for a casual look( perfect for uni.) or vampy heels for a little va va voom ....

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BRAND?

P.S. I hope you all enjoy your weekend

Gap Cotton/Cashmere Blend Sweater
American Apparel Interlock Mini Skirt
Michael Kors purse
Michael Kors platforms
Olivia Dove Necklace by Kimberly Baker Jewelry
Raymond Weil Diamond Watch

Tagged as: American Apparel, Gap, Kimberly Baker, Michael Kors, Raymond Weil 26 Comments

25Jul/085

Art Pick of the Week … Maya by Francisco Jose De Goya

Francisco Jose de Goya
The Clothed Maja, c.1797
Oil on canvas, 95x190cm
Madrid, Museo del Prado

Francisco Jose de Goya
The Naked Maja, c.1797
Oil on canvas, 97x190cm
Madrid, Museo del Prado

In 1797, Goya traveled through Andalusia in the company of the beautiful and capricious Duchess of Alba. The two Maya paintings were completed around 1797. This fact, together with a certain superficial likeness, gave rise to considerable speculation. Yet even without projecting any such connection, these paintings would be no less provocative.

WHY?

" Maya" is the Spanish word used to describe an ordinary girl of the lower classes when she dressed up in the latest fashion and finery. She is both simple and special, one of the people, and the feast for the eyes at the same time. Goya's Maya is no Venus; what we see here is not sublimated sensuality in the disguise of antiquity, but sensuality itself. Her pose is obvious, her challenge bold. Goya shows her both clothed and naked: nudity is not a mythological attribute here, but simply a state of undress. By dispensing with traditional patterns, the artist creates a scene of provocative reality.

Filed under: ♥ Art&Architecture 5 Comments

22Jul/0815

The Savvy Shopper: hunting with your head and not your heart.

Every girl can shop but is there a smart way of doing it?

I would like to think so.

Personally, I would not consider myself a shopaholic, since I usually have self control when it comes to shopping. I have one rule that I live by "QUALITY OVER QUANTITY"- meaning I would rather buy one quality piece than multiples of lower quality. I also have obsession with checking labels to make sure that the garment is made of natural materials, rather than synthetics. My wardrobe is based on classic pieces in neutral and calm colours, because to me a classic is a classic - always in style and always looks great ( not too risky).In the sea full of trendy fish, it can be challenging to be simple.

My taste and likings are always drawn to the slightly expensive side of fashion - the beautiful silks and chiffons, the soft Italian leather, and luxurious cashmere. But can a 20 year old student really afford that... NOPE. But there is hope... and that is TO BE A SMART SHOPPER. And that is no know when to SPLURGE and when to SAVE. I personally, don't know how to go about vintage shopping ( and have great appreciation for people who do) but I do know how to take a full advantage of a sale. IF YOU COULD SAVE THAN WHY SPLURGE. All you need is a knowledge of the right timing and of course, self control.

The Right Timing.

Fashion Seasons.
Early Spring - transitional garments, usually in stores by December 15.
Spring/Summer - everything summer including swim wear and beachwear in stores Late
February.
Fall/Winter - in stores by early July.
Holiday - in stores by early November.
Cruise - in stores by early December.

Here is a list of specific times when you can expect the best sales and on what.

Beginning of September:
First markdowns on Early Fall and Heavy " Back to School" Promotions.
Mid - End of October:
Final clearance on coats. Clearance on most Fall items.
Beginning of November:
Final clearance on Fall, First Markdown on Holiday items.
End of November:
Reductions on Furs, Heavy Markdowns on Holiday, Promotion or First Markdowns on Resort.
After Christmas:
Drastic reductions on Nearly Everything except for Early Spring styles.
Mid - End February:
Final Clearance on previous year's inventory. First Markdowns on Early Spring.
Easter/Passover:
Heavy Markdowns on Spring.
End of May:
Final clearance on Spring, Markdowns on Summer and Swim.
Beginning of July:
Final clearance on everything Summer and Swim.

My Favorite Online Shopping Sites
( I do most of my shopping online)

1. Net - A- Porter
2. Bluefly
3. Yoox
4. J.Crew
5. ShopBop
6. Ssence
7. Browns Shoes
8. Michael Kors
9. Chickdowntown
10. Armani Exchange
11. Revolve Clothing

Today's Sale Scores

When it comes to scoring shoes on crazy sales ... I'm pretty lucky. In the early Spring I found this pair of perfect Italian leather flats, but the $248 price tag quickly killed my desire, no matter how perfect they looked. However with my luck and patience, I purchased a last pair in my size for $56.Crazy, I know....

Second Purchase:
I've been searching for a pretty going out dress for a while now... and lookie what I found today on Revolve Clothing. This Whitley silk dress was originally priced at $ 209 but I managed to steal the last XS for $53 ( M is still available). I can't wait for it to come in the mail

In Total Saved:
$ 339

You don't have to sacrifice your expectations but only wait for the right time.

HAPPY SHOPPING

Filed under: ♥ Thoughts 15 Comments

16Jul/0812