Jonquil dreamy intimates

Jonquil Greta Embroidered Chemise $180

Jonquil Betty Lace Chemise $180

I am actually a hard core lingerie fan because of its ability to create fantasies in my mind. While browsing Neiman Marcus today, I discover Jonquil. The California based company produces intimate apparel that is designed by Diane Samandi and a favorite among brides. It's not hard to see why. The lace on their pieces is intricate and there is exquisite luxury woven into the detail and design of all Jonquil's intimate apparel. Interested? Jonquil is sold at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth, Bergdorf Goodman, and Nordstrom. There are two more pictures from their website after the jump.

By the way, Jonquil gowns usually go in the range of $200+, but there are 3 beautiful gowns on sale at Bergdorf Goodman right now. (I love the burgundy color one!!!). Check it out if you are in the mood to discover your feminine side.

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Miu Miu Bag Inspiration from Roof

Miu Miu Nappa Patch Tote $1,240.00

Harnhill Church Roof Shingles from www.WildlifeRanger.com

It's true that designers get inspiration from everywhere. Here, we have Miu Miu's supple and durable nappa leather made into what looks like the surface of an old roof. Someone thought it a good idea to paint over a small piece of roof shingles with glossy purple paint and throw some handles on it to make a bag. Sure, it's a great color, and rather interesting too, with two handy side pockets and a classic tote shape. But I think designs inspired by ancient roof shingles should be restricted to ancient architecture or art. Well, that's just me. Some may feel that this bag IS a form of art.

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Unbelievable Medallion Frenzy

Juicy Couture Medallion Haute Shoulder Bag $295.00

Gucci Hysteria Hobo $1,995.00

Tory Burch Glazed Messenger $535.00

Some of you don't mind it, some of you actually like it...but chibi scoffs with disgust at big medallions attached to bags, which seems to be a trend right now. So naturally, he hates the Gucci Hysteria line of bags, Tory Burch bags (or shoes) in general, as well as this Juicy Couture Medallion Bag I saw today.

Personally, I think that the Juicy Couture bag's medallion is similar in shape to Ralph Lauren's Ricky bags series, which chibi doesn't seem to mind. The Gucci Hysteria in leather is extremely soft and supple to hold. Also, the Tory Burch logo has a tiny resemblance to chibi's family logo. So there may be some redeeming points with these medallions. All in all though, I am still reserved about jumping on the medallion bandwagon. What do you think?

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Show your wild side with Leopard Print Chiffon Blouse by Holly

Holly Leopard Print Chiffon Blouse
$98.00

Last year's H&M collaboration with Roberto Cavalli produced a line full of animal prints. Today, the animal print trend has gotten even hotter, with Nina Garcia listing it as one of the top 10 items to have. If you're a sophisticated and slick woman, you might find it hard to procure an animal print item because it can be so easily considered as gaudy or unflattering.

Luckily, there is always something out there for everyone. And at CoutureCandy, you will find a pleasing chiffon blouse in leopard print that does not go against your aesthetic taste. The maroon-brown spots in the print and the ruffles throughout the blouse delivers a standout three-dimensional effect, so that you will look neither flat nor dull. Save $10 at CoutureCandy while you are shopping to satisfy your wild side.

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Heidi Klum Jewelry

If you watch Project Runway (or Germany Next Top Model), I am sure you are just as enamored as I am with hot host/judge/producer Heidi "The Body" Klum. There's really nothing more to say about how hot she is, but I am here to say just how cute her jewelry collection is!! Even though the four-leaf clover designs are adorable, I'd have to admit that they are on the girly side, and the regular prices are such that I cannot justify buying them. If you browse the online Project Runway Store, her jewelry is selling from $60 for a ring to $275 for a bracelet. Luckily, you can find them cheaper (around 50% off) on HauteLook.com. Plus, they have more selection, so you will find earrings that originally cost $37.50 and now cut down o $19. But the sale is ending in approximately 2 hours, so hurry up.

Heidi designs her own clothing lines for women and for infants. She has also designed shoes for Birkenstock, swimsuits, and Victoria Secret's lingerie line (named "The Body", after Heidi's nickname), among others.

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A cardigan for in-between weather

MK2K Cardigan Sweater
Now: $44.99 Was:$150.00

Sometimes, the sun is out, but it's chilly when you're in the shade. What can a girl, who is prone to cold, do in order to avoid looking like the tropical Loch Ness monster? It's simple, really. Get an in-between sweater to wear as your second layer of skin and to protect against the chill in the air. The MK2K cardigan sweater on sale at Pink Mascara is perfect because all 31 inches of it is made out of rayon, which is a good conductor of heat and thus, a cool comfortable fiber to wear in warm weather.

FYI, rayon is a man-made fabric but it's not considered a synthetic because it is made out of regenerated cellulose derived from cotton linters and wood chips. Rayon has less strength than most other fibers, and has low abrasion resistance. Therefore, it loses strength when wet and when ironed.

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Marc by Marc Jacob Brushed Cotton Peacoat

Marc by Marc Jacob Men's Brushed Cotton Peacoat
Now: $138.00 Was: $328.00

I have a friend named Jerry. He is tall and lanky, and wears a pair of glasses. Everyone comments about how genteel Jerry is, and asks if he is a journalist of some sort. For some reason, when I saw this jacket on Gilt Groupe, I envisioned Jerry in it. Well, I love the jacket's smart style. Unfortunately, my man has a tummy that defies the belt that Marc Jacob designed across the waist. Instead of the triangular shape that this peacoat is supposed to produce, it would have look squarish on my man. He would not have liked it. Jerry, on the other hand, is perfect for this jacket. I just thought I would point that out ^_^.

By the way, Gilt Groupe membership is only by invite. Please leave a comment with your email address if you want me to invite you to the site.

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The Purse Blog September Giveaway

Most of you already know this, but it wouldn't hurt to reiterate. The Purse Blog has partnered with Vivre to give away an Alessandro Dell'Acqua Large Black Satchel worth $2,936 this month. Get your entry in by September 30, 11:59pm EST.

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A|X sale

Pleated Babydoll Top
Now $49.00 Was $88.00

Retro Double-Layer Graphic Sweater
Now $49.00 Was $98.00

Because we are in a society that wears jeans like uniforms, we naturally need a plentiful supply of chic tops to go with our denim and also to make a statement about our unique individuality. You'll find a number of potential tops at A|X at sale prices that you can swallow.

My faves are the pleated babydoll top because of its cute detailing across the chest and the metallic grey color, and the retro double-layer graphic sweater because of the printed wing graphic and its sexy over-the-shoulder style.

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In mood for blue with Chloé

Now: $298.00 Was: $925.00

Now: $498.00 Was: $1,895.00

Now: $798.00 Was: $2,640.00

Check out Chloé RTW & Accessories on sale at Gilt Groupe. Sale ends Wed 9/24 11:59 PM EST. Of course, there are other delectable colors to chose from, but it just so happens my favorite items are all blue. I know Spring and Summer is practically over, but blue will never go out of style.

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Red Hot Lips

I believe that every girl should have at least one SIZZLING hot red dress, which should be worn to impress at a party, with lips to match. For that purpose, Lancôme's new L'ABSOLU ROUGE Advanced Replenishing & Reshaping Lipcolor Pro-Xylane™ is here to deliver the perfectly plumped up lips. The hydrating formula used to make the lipstick purportedly goes up to 8 hours and fills out fine lines. Don't shy away from the luxurious red lipcolor just because it is dramatic. It will also go with a white shift dress for a bold futuristic statement.

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Update (Feb 12, 2009) -- From Lancome.com

Fifteen beauty journalists from across the world came together in Paris for the 2009 Marie Claire Prix d’Excellence de la Beauté and honoured Absolu Rouge by Lancôme. These awards are deemed one of the most important beauty awards in the industry.

Absolu Rouge was chosen for its innovative and highly effective Pro-XylaneTM- enriched formula, its voluptuous shades, its high-tech case and its flamboyant advertising campaign.

As a tribute to cult Rouge Absolu, and heir of the Clef de Coquette – this unique lipstick created in 1951 by Armand Petitjean, founder of the House of Lancôme -, this new lip cream reinterprets the symbol of eternal femininity.

For the first time, Pro-Xylan™ is included in a lipstick for intensely reshaped and redefined lips

Absolu Rouge is now available in thirty-six absolutely voluptuous shades. An impressive number of rich and radiantly pure colours to express the complexity of femininity’s emotions. A femininity that the original fragrance of Absolu Rouge, created from violet, hawthorn, lilac, vanilla, peach and raspberry, cannot fail to enhance.

A true beauty gem, Absolu Rouge warranted a case that measured up. Its totally new system is a bold reinterpretation that for the first time offers a case with a magnetic clasp, worked by four micro-magnets. The lipstick’s black cap comes off at the base and is repositioned in one simple movement, in a perfect touch of absolute refinement.

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Te Casan & Natalie Portman shoes on sale on Gilt Groupe

Here's a pair of shoes called "Natalie Portman Paine". Makes me wonder if she suffers pain from wearing it. If you don't yet know, Natalie Portman designs vegan shoes under the Te Casan label. I don't quite mind her shoes, especially when it's on sale on Gilt Groupe at $128 instead of $255. But you will find that there are many out there who disagrees with her shoe designs, and more importantly, the price tags that goes along with her shoes. Jezebel does a comparison of vegan shoe brands currently on the market.

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The creepy and the wild from Chanel

First post in LA, and I had to come across this creepy little concoction from Chanel. Actually, while shopping for my friend's friend's birthday present, I went into the Chanel store at Holt Renfrew back in Vancouver and found two cute clutches priced around $1, 250. I had been excited since then, thinking about how affordable those clutches were and how adorable they were. But alas, I was busy and without a job. Today, I finally caved into my desires and tried to locate the cuties online, but what I found instead is this nightmarish bag!

Imagine having 50 children who lived out of a shoe. Or a house made out of cookies. Well, here's a bag that you can only see in your darkest imagination. It has little bag pocks of hell growing out of the front of the tote like a disease. One pock for your failings, another for your desperation, another for the abusive family member, another for your most embarrassing moments, and the last one for your deepest fears and anxiety. There is simply no end to the horror of this bag.

Ok, so I may have been a little bit harsh, so let me introduce another interesting bag from Chanel. Reminiscent of the Alexander McQueen Union Jack Clutch I blogged about last month, this Brit-inspired Chanel Union Jack bag is just as stylish but twice as lady-like. It is also one of the many beautifully unique bags in the Paris-Londres 2007/8 Collection, with the freakish exception of the slim tote with external pockets (above).


Here are two more bags from Chanel's Paris-Londres 2007/8 Collection. You can see more at Chanel's official website.

Here is one more wild bag from the Fall/Winter 2008/9 collection.

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Eastern influences at Lancôme

Poudre Elephant Teint (Bronzer Powder) - Sun of India $36.50

LOTUS SPLENDOR, Dance of Colors (Eyeshadow Duo and Lip Duo) $60

Something eastern this way comes. Elements of India has slowly sipped into North American culture with the popularity of Bollywood and Nelly Furtado. The Heroes series also has an important investment in the Indian character Dr. Suresh (and his family). Here in Vancouver, a high percentage of East Indians (as opposed to Native Indians) can be found in the population. It's no wonder there is finally cosmetics designed with Indian culture in mind.

Lancôme has recently imported inspiration from India to create products such as the Lotus Splendor and Poudre Elephant Teint. Because they go against the traditional shape and form of cosmetics, they mesmerize me tremendously. In place of the usual butterfly or graphic patterns, an elephant holds the center stage in the bronzing powder compact. As for the revolutionary shape of the Lotus Splendor, it really is an ingenious way to include two colors each for eyes and for lips. Also available at Sephora.

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What is a Spat?

Posso the Spat The Subject in Black Croc/Black Patent $253

Posso the Spat The Sire in Black Croc/Black Matte $303

From the dictionary: Spat (n) is short for spatterdash legging, a cloth or leather gaiter covering the instep and ankle.

This over-the-shoe accessory was popular in the late 1800s and you've seen it on Scrooge McDuck, but you probably haven't seen it the way Posso the Spat makes it. Posso Spat creates updated versions of spats with high-end Italian leather that has a bendable internal wire structure. For those of you who likes value for money, the two spats I posted both have reversible leather. "Transform your simple sandals, ho-hum heels, and boring boots into something runway-worthy" - from RevolveClothing.

If you have no idea how to do that, check out the high-vamp boots of the season for some inspiration.

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Bags for horoscope lovers

Donna Karan came out with a series of horoscope-themed bags. I'm a scorpio so these are some of the bags I could be holding.

Donna Karan Collection 'Modern Scorpio' Flap Bag $1,995 at Nordstrom

Donna Karan Collection 'Modern Scorpio' brief bag $2,395 at Saks

Donna Karan Collection 'Modern Scorpio' top handle bag $1,995 at Saks

I'm sufficiently satisfied with the design on the 'Modern Scorpio' bags, though my favorite is still the 'Modern Leo' bags and 'Modern Aries' hobo. Unfortunately, only 4 of the astrological signs are accounted for. (Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Virgo, Sagittarius are among those horoscopes that Donna Karan did not include in her collection.) You can find these bags at Saks, Nordstrom, Net-a-Porter and Neiman Marcus.

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Hot colors for the Fall

Ralph Lauren Brett Jacket & Turtleneck Dress $2,398 & $2,498

Dior Leather-Trim Jacket & Skirt $2,385 & $1,375

Inner Mewer has never been dreary. Well, ok, only once back in college days. Nowadays though, colors please me immensely.It's a good thing designers know that colors are what I would love to see on people even during the Fall. Ralph Lauren and Dior are just a beginning though. Oscar de la renta does an amethyst pleated-back jacket, Lela Rose has a stunny peacock green bow-back dress that I can't stop looking at, and Piazza Sempione gives us an angora princess coat & laser-cut skirt in bright turquoise.

By the way, though these pieces are all one-colored, I think we'll be seeing a lot of graphic art and colorful prints in dresses in the seasons to come.

Lela Rose Bow-Back Dress $1295

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Carlo Falchi Exotic Madness

Python Gathered Clutch, Large $2,650

Anaconda Oversized Clutch $2,710

Pleated Python Shoulder Clutch $1,060

Anaconda Buffalo Shoulder Bag $2,850

I am in LOVE!!!~~~ When I first saw Carlos Falchi's exotic bags on Bagsnob.com, I've fallen head over heels with them and is there any wonder? The versatile and refined colors, the fluid folds and pleats, the adorable shapes that is Carlos Falchi. They also have cute lambskin leather bags available on Bergdorf Goodman.

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