Get a Fashionable Summer Job

OK, so technically, my dream job (and most people's,) isn't exactly to be a saleslady. But one must remember there are GREAT benefits to being a saleslady. Mainly, you get shopping discount. And depending on location and which employer, the pay isn't too bad for such a brainless job, (no offence, and I'm only referring to the simplest type of retailing here.) I know a lot of teenagers/ friends who work in clothes store as a part time job. (Barneys Girl dream part time job is to be a saleslady at Urban Outfitters.)

Here's some scoop that we got:

• Abercrombie & Fitch (US): Employees get to choose one item for FREE in each new shipment. AND they get 30% off when they shop there.
• Guess (US): Employees get 30% off discount when shopping in Guess.
• Gap (UK): Rumour has it that employees get a big 50% discount!

So if you're going to work there, you should really like that shop's clothes because you're going to be wearing it A LOT, whether you're working or hanging out. It's cool (and not so cool, depending on your view,) when I go into Urban Outfitters here in the UK, and can't even tell who are the saleslady and who are the customers because they dress so UO-casual!!

And if you think you would rather work in a prestigous-looking department store rather than work in a high street shop like A&F or Top Shop, think again! I talked to the saleslady serving me and my mum last summer in a posh department store, and she was telling us how strict the management is. She's not allowed to have more than one piercing on her ears, (and obviously no piercing anywhere else on her body,) AND she's not allowed to have her hair too curly, (the super curly bomber style.)

Last summer, when I passed by a Gucci boutique, I saw the group of employees being briefed with that day's sales aims, new items and news in general. It all looked very serious indeed. So think twice if you think retail isn't a serious job.

But working in a clothes store still makes an awesome summer/ part-time job, so go for it! And if it's your full time job, I hear that you eventually get much more involved in managing the shop, rather than just folding clothes.

And if you were wondering, then no: retailing in a clothes store is NOT my work experience.

2005 CFDA Awards Mentionables

Oh my gosh, I am so tired I hardly have the energy to gush over pretty people in pretty clothes. Who knew that a day of simple work experience could be so tiring? More of a physical stress -lots of heavy lifting, but will talk about this on a later day. But it was still fun.

OK, back to the topic: the CFDA Awards. You probably don't remember, but I mentioned about Kate recieving a Fashion Influence Award two months ago. Well, Monday night was the big night when many fashion designers were honoured at the Award. My favourite snippets from the night:

Kate Moss in a goorgeous and nobody-can-top-her Dior dress, perfectly matched with simple black heels and clutch. She proves that she more than deserves the Fashion Influence Award.

Vera Wang won the Women Fashion Designer of the Year Award. Three cheers for her and her very lovely deigns.

Diane von Furstenberg got the Lifetime Achievement Award. It's always heartwarming when females get awards.

Marc Jacobs got the Accessory Designer of the Year Award. Ah yes, I do so love his designs. But poor Marc, look at his receding hairline!

No fashion award is a fashion award without the almighty fashion industry Queen and Vogue editor Anna Wintour. And my gosh, does Bee not feel embarrassed that she is still following her mum around?

Daria Werbowy, who is now in the supermodel league, looking pretty in Stella McCartney. She didn't get any awards, but this photo captured the moment so lovely-ly I am in awe.

Harrods Girl Interns: Preparation Shopping

Yes! My exams have finally finished yesterday, and today is going to be my first day interning. As you may have noticed, we usually post in the mornings, so obviously I haven't officially started interning yet. But I am going to talk about a very important topic which I'm sure many of you have also pondered over: how to dress for the office. I'm going to start with how I prepared for my internship, then show you more stuff later on.

Obviously, I am not an expert at office wear. I owned ZERO dress shirts before I went to an interview for this internship. Well, now I own one, which I bought from the wonderfully not-too-expensive Zara. Right, back to the point, using the excuse "I need something to wear to work," I went shopping with my godmother last last Friday, and bought my very first pair of brand-named shoes.

Yes! They're PRADAs! My very first pair. I wasn't actually planning to buy a pair when I went into Prada, but my godmother performed her fairy godmother duty and encouraged and persuaded me to buy them. And really, who am I to say no to Prada? Well, apart from my parents, which btw, I have yet to come up with a plausible explanation of buying the shoes. Maybe I could explain to them that these shoes are of the perfect height, perfect fit, great design and color...... Or maybe, I can tell them it is their fault. My mum always said that I MUST own Ferragamos when I start working, (although she probably meant when I have a REAL job,) and my dad has always encouraged me to wear Tods, (def not for my age yet.)

The shopping spree with my godmother continued. After we visited a few other boutiques on Sloane Street, we arrived at Harvey Nichols. I ooohed and aaahed over a few items (which I am waiting for to go on sale,) then I decided I needed high quality and professional looking hair ties, as inspired by Rory in Gilmore Girls. (Rory interned for a newspaper. Look in episode 520, her first day of internship to see her hair tie.)

These hair ties are by Cherry Chau, a famous hair accessories deigner and brand. My godmother was nice enough to even pay for the more expensive one (thank goodness). One of the reasons why they are so expensive is that for example, the black one, those little crystals are supposingly Swarovski crystals. Cherry Chau hair accessories are sold across the globe in specialty stores and boutiques in Paris (France: Galeries Lafayette, Samaritaine), London (UK : Selfridges, Harvey Nichols -6 outlets) and in the US (like Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman, Marshall Field’s and Saks).

Thank goodness my parents DON'T see my debit card bills.

Barneys Girl virtual shopping with. . . Urban Outfitters

Haven't been on the Urban Outfitter's site for a while- after going on more than once a day and memorizing the whole catalog and noticing the smallest changest in price and items I decided thats pretty sad and restrained myself. But I couldn't help noticing that the pretty pink skirt this girl in my hall was wearing looked familar and realized that it was the one I'd been eye-ing at UO.

This is what it looks like except her's is pink, which I think is ultimately the better color for this style. Its very nice and flare-y too. Its currently on sale for $24, I don't know, I think it can go down more. Look at the frayed hems indicating bad quality and lots of stock.

I think this skirt is really nice too. Probably better quality.. . Oh and look! I hava that tank the model is wearing with this skirt! Could this be a sign? (ugh not the shoes though, definitely not the shoes, in fact ignore those shoes, they do not exist on this picture, she is barefooted!)

And since I am molding in my room all weekend studying for finals, I am missing the A&F clearance sale going on, probably selling away my white denim jeans and my shrug. So as compensation for my hardwork, I was thinking of these two shrug. On the left is from Free People and the right is Lux. Free People is definitely more summery, and like late gothic art-completely decorative with no function. The Lux one is warmer and all, but looks a bit boring. .. . . ah the choices one has to make.

And of course now that I'm on the UO site I'm not going to stop without a thorough search to see if there are new things. And BINGO. They have new shoes. Are they not adorable? I seriously have a thing for kitten heels. I'm particularly like the black satin ballet shoes on the left, it would look sooo cute with skirts and everything!

So despite all temptations I managed to make myself stay in this weekend and not go downtown so I can study study study. And look what I ended up doing. . . .

Harper's Bazaar's New IT Girl

The 2005 July issue of Harper's Bazaar has named Ashley Olsen as the new fashion it girl. Can the Bazaar get any slower? Both the twins have been 'it' girls ever since two years ago after they have grown out of their awkward teenage phase, (or argueably, they have been 'it' girls since they were nine months old.) Has this blog not been tracking their fantastic fashion since like, we started blogging?

So why why why is Bazaar only naming Ash as the fashion 'it' girl when it is usually MK who gets the 'fashion icon' label and really, wasn't the whole appeal of the Olsen twins that there are TWO of them? It's probably something the editors at Bazaar want you to forget, but the only reason why only one Olsen is on the cover is because Mary Kate refuses to be in it. And quite understandably so since the only thing that anyone cares about is how bony she is today, the poor girl. Ash being the smart sazzy business woman she is, decides that a classy Bazaar cover would help boost sales of their Mary Kate and Ashley fashion and (brand new) furniture lines, so there she is.

So since Bazaar only managed to snag one Olsen, SHE is the new fashion it girl. You have got to marvel at the power of clever backscene editorial planning of Bazaar. But on a serious note, go buy the issue when it hits the stand at the end of June. The photos are beautiful, and Ash really is a darling.

White Hot Pants

I know I've already told you about this being a white hot summer, but when it comes to white, there is always the "correct" and "incorrect" way of wearing it-since it is such a see-through color! More specifically, I would like to talk about the correct way of wearing white pants like these gorgeous ones below:

From Diesel and Trina Turk respectively. These look gorgeous don't they? Think how easy it is to match them with essentially ANYTHING. White pants are practically the denim of summer! Unfortunately its not quite as simple as that. Either people don't care or they're doing it delibrately because they think its sexy, but it is simply NOT chic to wear dark lacy panty lined underwear underneath white pants for the world to see. Whatever they tell you, it is simply NOT done! People do NOT want to know what you have on underneath- fashion wise anyways. So here are a few suggestions:

These are my personal favourites from Triumph. Its not that popular a brand in the States, but we love it in Asia because it caters to the small figures of Asian women. They are a bit high- think they DO have low waisted- but the idea is that it is nearly the same color as your skin AND it has completely NO panty lines. Trust me on this one. Its perfect for wearing white AND incidently for skintight dresses too-I wore these for my prom.

More internationally, we have this string bikini from the second skin satin collection of Victoria's Secret. I think the collection name is pretty self explanatory.

And then there is this bikini from Jockey's. They are moderately priced AND these are from their "No Panty Line Promise" collection, so no worries there! And of course NOT black. I just couldn't find a beige or white picture of it. They white and beige ARE available online go check them out yourselves!

So next time you wear white pants, PLEASE check what you're wearing underneath first!

Graduation Gifts II

Today, it has been officially one year since we graduated from high school. Barneys Girl and I went to an International school, (British system,) so graduation in our school was really no big deal. I mean, we didn't even have a proper graduation ceremony or wear those pretty graduation gowns that teens all get to wear and complain about, (although I'm sure they secretly cannot get over them.) I was so jealous when I saw Mary Kate and Ashley's graduation photos last year. Their hair still looked so perfect in that blue cap! Seriously, look at them:

Obviously my parents didn't think it was a big deal either because they didn't give me any graduation gifts that I know the Americans are so fond of giving and recieving. But luckily, my aunt who lives in San Fransisco thought graduating from high school was a good achievement and offered to buy me a Return to Tiffany necklace. But honestly, like everyone has one and I hate being too typical. And I wanted my first Tiffany's item to be something really classical and something I could actually wear. (Face it, I'm never going to be able to wear a necklace without someone's help.)

So I got the 1837 Collection ring, which I thought was cool and clasical in one. It's absolutely fabulous and it's the only jewelery I actually wear consistently.

My mum makes me have lunch with her friends every holiday. I try to make excuses, but really, I suck at it. But oh boy, at the risk of sounding very superficial *ahem*, I was so glad I went for lunch! One of her friends gave me a suprise gift and it was this Return to Tiffany oval braclet.

Then, I had dinner with my godparents, who thought I had good grades, and they gave me this Elsa Peretti Bean pendant necklace. I personally don't actually like the shape, but a Tiffany is still a Tiffany. See, that is why godparents are so wonderful!

So I thought I was having a strange, (but happy) Tiffany summer, when adults I knew decided to suprise me with Tiffany gifts. Then, one of my mum's friends bought me a Tiffany pen from London. It's not exactly like the one above, mine was pink. Although I do wonder what I need a Tiffany pen for. I'm sure it will be useful... someday.

The last gift: my uncle for me a Mont Blanc pen in a send-off-to-uni dinner. I really don't know what I need another high class pen for, but since Mont Blanc is so famous for its pens, I'm more than happy to own one. It is now sitting at the back of my closet somewhere.