Virutal Shop Summer Sales 2005

I have so many suggestions and ideas I'm going to have to keep my message brief. Basically, sales are great oppurtunities to a)stock up on basic items, b)indulge in that slightly cheaper pricy item that you have been eyeing for ages. Warning: Do NOT buy anything that looks obviously made for only this season. I know it's tempting to buy that beautiful S/S05 *insert item*, but unless you have a special occasion to wear it to, or that you live in a country where there is a long summer, then don't buy it. It is not worth buying something that you would only wear it once or twice with no special reason. Here some suggestions:

Simple tops like the ones above are great for daily/ casual wear. The red one would be great for this fall and the yellow tie tank can always be worn in summer, no matter what the trend is. (L) Free People longsleeve gathered keyhole $19.99. (R) Lux smocked tie tank, $9.99. Both from Urban Outfitters.

(L) The lookout jacket by Anthropologie,$109.95, would be perfect for the coming fall. Put a belt around the waist to maximise the effect. (R) An office or professional lady's must-buy item. Cropped pants by Calvin Klein,$109.00.

With black being the 'it' color next season, everyone must stock up on black pants. The details on the waist line of these gelateria pants is a great bonus. Brown pants are also very versatile and classical, so why not add a pair to your closet? (L) Gelateria pants by Anthropologie, $49.95. (R) Kalahari trousers by Anthropologie, $49.95.

Almost everyone in The OC has worn a Juicy blazer in Season 2 at some point. Juicy blazers are great as they can be worn as casual or semi-formal. Stripped twill blazer by Juicy Couture at Saks or any Juicy selling department stores, $125.90.

All girls must always have a pair of silver dangly earrings in her jewelry box as they are so versatile and matches so many outfits. Rumour has it that pearls are back again next season, so you may want to prepare while prices are lower. (L) Feather drop dangles from Urban Outfitters, $6.99. (R) Globes of mercury necklace by Anthropologie, $144.95.

This super lovely and fantasic handbag is great for all occasions and will still be considered fashionable for next season. Leather shoulder bag by Miu Miu at Saks or any Miu Miu boutiques, $356.90.

A great sort of classical shoes, and most importantly, they will be good for next season's black and shoe design. Knot heels by Seychelles at Urban Outfitters, $29.99.

Another great classical looking shoe. Doesn't it look sort of regal too? And fashionable for next season. I cannot emphasis how beautiful these shoes are. So if you must buy them, buy them now! Satin beaded bow slides by Prada at Saks or any Prada boutiques, $345.90.

Summer 2005 Sales Officially Begin

The day I have been waiting for ever since the season has started, that's right -the official first day of the Spring/Summer 05 sales is FINALLY here! Yes, that's TODAY! A few desperate shops would have been on sale before today, but this week is when most shops go on sale. Here's the scoop (mostly UK):

Harrods: Today -opens from 9am-9pm. Go crazy UK people! Harrods usually pays a celeb to do a mini open ceremony in the morning. Last season sale in Dec, it was Christina Aguilera. Wonder who it will be this year.

Selfridges: Wed. -oh gosh, no matter how much I dread crowds -and what a scary crowd of crazy shoppers Selfriges would be packed with that day -I still MUST haul myself there. A little tip for you: there's an "Extra 10% coupon" which you can print off from the Selfridges website, and can be used on 23rd(Thur) -26th June. Now the big question is this: Should I wait an extra sale day to get that item I have been eyeing for, for the benefit of an extra 10% but with the danger of it being bought off on Wed? What a brilliant but cruel sales tactic Selfridges employs.

High Street Shops in general: Right, to be honest, I haven't been bothered to find this out. Because shopping high street on a normal day (Oxford Circus) is sort of a bad enough thought as it is with the unbelievable number of people around. Shopping on a sale day is just not thinkable for me. Nothing on high street is worth the possiblity of getting stampeeded. Hm, well on another thought, I might have a look around for the jewelry in Top Shop, only because it is on the top floor and I don't feel too trapped there.

US High end: Don't really know when. Last heard, Bloomies was on private sale. And since the Neiman Marcus site just had its first small wave of sale last week, the wonderful expensive shops should go on sale this week or the next. So hold onto your credit cards for a bit longer!

US High Street: Think most of them have been on sale for a few weeks already (how desperate of them). Such as Urban Outfitters, A&F, American Eagle Outfitters, Gap...... The list is endless so get out there yourself and prepare yourself to look fashionable for this summer.

Shopping sales is not an easy task as there are always lots of confliction and things to consider. Come back tomorrow for advice on what to buy and some recommendations. I'm off now, (for work and shopping, what else?)

Barneys Girl's impression of LA Take 2

So as it turns out, first impressions are not always the correct impression. The next day, after a sumptuous breakfast, we took a little tour of our hotel.

Ah, the Beverly Hilton. Its really a lovely hotel, newly renovated and very spacious and the service of course, was excellent. They even have a free limousine service that u can reserve to take you to any destination. How cool is that? While we were there, we witnessed many an important events held at the International ballroom there, completed with beautiful dresses, gorgeous cars and even the paparazzi! And no wonder really, for this IS where the Golden Globes are held every year. So naturally I couldn't resist, and managed to sneak into the International ballroom in between events, and took a picture! :D Yes, right there in the room where the above picture was taken-well except with less people and all. . . . but anywho, that was really cool.

Another very cool thing included us driving pass the Director's Guild and seeing actors/actresses from Desperate Housewives going into some event. Again there were paparazzi, screaming fans, red carpet just like u see on tv! Incidently, it took me a while to recognize Felicity Huffman. For a while she looked like a passerby, since she was dressed so normally and boringly. Sorry, was passing by too quickly to take a pic!

The other very exciting star spotting was when we drove pass Hollywood and the Honeymooner's premier. It was awesome. Just like the movies. With fans on one side of the road, except i was even closer because we were on the road and they were right next to me literally! I took this pic myself! (although I don't know who the casts were)

I am also very impressed with the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where Pretty Woman was filmed. I loved the elegant, old England decoration, and the superior service. We had tea there and it was absolutely delicious! The atmosphere was fabulous too, with real live person playing the piano, excellent service and did I mention the decoration? Not to mention that right outside the hotel is. . .

Rodeo Drive! Oh wow, populated with all the brands I can ever imagine, it was just heaven! Everything was most impressively displayed, and oh my, Ralph Lauren had a FORREST of an entrance!! Not that I can afford to shop there, but its definitely an experience!

Sigh. . . I LOVE LA. I must sound soo starstruck to you all who live in LA!! But its my first time there!!!!

Barneys Girl's first impression of LA

Hey Darlings, I'm back from my mini-post-finals-holiday in LA! Not back to Chicago, but back home where I have internet access at all times (albeit a very slow one). This was my first time in LA, and even though I was only there for little less than 2 days, it has left quite an impression on me. When we first arrived, we drove around and did our touristy duty passing by the famous houses of Beverly Hills, Sunset Boulevard and of course- Hollywood. And to be honest, I was quite disappointed.

Ok, so the mansions at Beverly Hills look pretty. But its just not very exciting looking at it from outside, in a moving car and through the gated fence and the super high hedges. Not quite as fun as those shows on TV where they actually show u the inside.

Next we passed through Sunset Boulevard, which I read is supposed to be quite the touristy place. Maybe it is and I just didn't have time to tour it properly. But driving pass it by car, it did not motivate me to leap out of the car to explore it in the first place. To me, it looked just like another LA street, which btw I am not very impressed by. Being a city girl, I was unused to seeing such short old buildings and dirty streets, with everything worth going miles and miles apart.

Then our next stop was Hollywood. Somehow, I've been giving the impression that Hollywood is all that glamorous. But I was sorely disappointed. I wasn't even aware I'd entered Hollywood until i was told. Did not see the famous Hollywood sign. And the Kodak Cinema looked like the entrance to a mall (was I looking at the right building?) and it was basically again, just another LA street, except this one had stars on the pavement. I feel so misled.

Before i went, I was also told that Beverly Center is a GREAT mall to shop at. So I was all psyched to go shopping there. And again I was sorely disappointed. It was deserted, many stores were closed because they were having electricity problems and it looked just like any other mall one would expect to find in suburbia. I mean, it had many stores that I love, like AX, Lacoste and Bloomies, but there just is NO point going to one in LA. My trip ended up with me buying stuff from brands that I could've gotten anywhere in the States. Not that I don't love them, but still. Wish I had time to explore Melrose Street and visit Intuition and Fred Segal. Oh and should u want to go to a mall in LA, I recommend Century City at Beverly Hills. I like the out in the open atmosphere there more.

What has the world come to? Issue I

Oh. my. gosh. What has the world come to?

1. First, Nicole Richie is suddenly fashionable because she has shredded any ounce of cellulite off her body. Then today it was revealed that Nicole Richie will be featured in the new Marc Jacobs ad campaign. I am absolutely appalled at this! Appalled by no, not Nicole Richie, but at Marc Jacobs! His fashion IQ may be sky high, but his fashion morals needs to be fine tuned. As if making us suffer through the big celeb Vuitton campaigns is not enough, his own brand is now turning into yet another celeb circus. I suggest Marc go take lessons from the Italian fashion genius Miuccia. She always knows to choose the great models for her wonderful ad campaigns.

2. W magazine is finally getting more attention than other fashion magazines -by featuring a series of pictures of "the Hollywood's hottest couple". Yes, I know Brad is hot, and Angelina is hot; and Brad and Angelina appearing in the same pictures is mega-hot. But it is NOT hot for a divorcing man to parade around with the already tabloid-pegged-other-woman. Poor Jennifer! Oh, and I am sick of everyone blaiming the whole scandal on too-sexy-for-her-own-good Angelina or girl-next-door Jen for not agreeing to have babies. Can no one see that Mr. I'm-so-hot Pitt has done nothing to save the situation? Gees, at least wait for the divorce papers to go through.

3. People, calm down about Katie Holmes embracing Scientology. She's probably not too serious about her religious belief anyways. Afterall, how does one -being raised up Catholic -change so swiftly to one's boyfriend's religion? Which btw was founded in the 1950s by a science fiction writer who had once declared that the best way for a man to make money was to start his own religion. What this column's author is worried about is this question: Is it healthy to persue such an open relationship with a man who a) is 14 years older, b)has been divorced twice already, c) clearly has no control over his own actions, as demonstrated by his amazing performance on Oprah. Katie dear, please go find yourself a nice boy to date.

To support the wonderful cause -Free Katie-, and to have a good laugh at the highly entertaining entertainment industry, feel free to help yourself to a Free Katie T-shirt:

or even more:

Alexis Bledel Style 2005

Lately, you might have noticed that Alexis Bledel, aka Rory in Gilmore Girls, has been popping up on a lot of magazine covers. It's all because she's promoting for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Yikes, I didn't realise I've been talking about magazines so much recently, so instead, I'm going to talk about Alexis Bledel's simple and yet still fabulous style. Here's some recent events which she attended looking pretty:

Alexis at The WB Television Network's 2005 All Star Party in Jan 2005. Here, she's looking clasically beautiful.

Alexis at the Kids Choice Awards in April 2005. Compared to all the other young stars there wearing the latest trends trying to look stylish, Alexis does it so casually in a simple pair of jean and halter.

Can you say WOW? Alexis has always looked great in blue, but this dress is amazing -it totally brings out her best feature: those super blue eyes. And that perfect hair... Photo taken at "Sin City" L.A. Premiere in March 2005.

Another casual outfit of Alexis's. That my dear friends *coughlohansimpsoncough*, is how you wear fashion tops young and elegantly. Photo from the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants promotion in Canada June 2005.

Alexis demonstrating this/ next season's super trendy tulip dresses. Of course, I wouldn't advice most people to wear that unless you're relatively tall and slim like Alexis. Photo from the world premiere of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants in June 2005.

I'm only talking about Alexis's personal style for now, but a feature on her Gilmore Girl's character, Rory's style will be coming soon. By the way, if you missed the brillaint Gilmore Girls during TV season this year, Season 5 is being repeated on the WB every Tuesday night now, so go catch it!

The Ballet-like Shoes

Whether the ballet shoes are 'in' or 'out' is always debateable. But no matter, I still find them cute & chic, and highly versatile. Oh, and by ballet shoes, I mean the ones that really look like real ballet shoes. And the almighty fashion-pschic, me that is, foresees them continuous being produced by influential designers, meaning that it is a must for every fashionable girl's closet.

So I went online to search for all preeety possibilities:

From the girly, chic and modern designer, Kate Spade. Available in pink and black.
Compliment with: All mono-colored skirts and tight black pants; casual to semi-formal.

From the always fabulous designer, Marc Jacobs. Available in many other colors.
Compliment with: Everything! Seriously, the satin material makes the shoes very eye-catching. So they're great to go with casual jeans, pants, skirts and even formal wear!

From the much more affordable brand Seychelles. Available in pink and white.
Compliment with: Everything, but only casual outfits. These are obviously less delicate, so its good for those of you who don't want to be overly girly.