Fashion (and Beauty) Agenda

Kate Spade Genny Pumps

2010-02-06T17:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks, Chie, for letting me know about the Rebecca Minkoff sponsored Tweet My Bag! I just tweeted about my Marc Jacobs Large Single! I really hope I can win one of the Rebecca Minkoff bags!

But I also am on a major shoe high, because I just got these red Kate Spade Genny pumps. I saw them on Zappos on sale, but they didn't have my size. But using Google Shopping, I saw Nordstrom still had them, so I called and they matched the Zappos sale price! AMAZING!

So far I haven't worn them out, but I'm enjoying prancing around my apartment in them. I feel like they are the PERFECT Valentine's Day shoe!

Fashion Week: At the Charlotte Ronson Spring 2010 Show

2009-09-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

I was backstage at the Charlotte Ronson Spring 2010 RTW show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week! Here's a video I shot of the end of her show. The hair feature a bun and the makeup look was natural. Sam Ronson was DJing and Russell Simmons was in the front row.

Lady Gaga Hair Bow DIY

2009-09-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

Did you think that only the likes of Lady Gaga and Paris Hilton could afford to get a hair look like this? It's actually quite easy to do for yourself. If you're dying to get your hair in the shape of a bow, look no further than this You Tube tutorial. Even if you're not going to sport this look - give this girl some props!

It's so easy looking that I'm ready to just do it for the hell of it! (we'll see...)

I love shopping (and tory burch)!

2009-09-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

It's a long weekend and that means more time to go shopping! And I did some damage at the Tory Burch boutique in Nolita NYC. I went with the intention of only buying another pair of flip flops, but as you can tell I ended up buying these awesome fuchsia Patent Reva Flats! It says they're an online exclusive, but I guess you could get them at the boutique!

I also had been dying to buy this Tory Burch Patent Zip Continental Wallet, especially after my wallet got stolen on the subway earlier in July :( I got the one in dark purple, although the color came out really bad in my photo, which seems no longer available online - but gorgeous!!! Especially with the gold zipper! I painted my nails in Diva on the Dunes from Jessica Cosmetics' Lifes a Beach collection - I thought the vibrant orange complemented my new wallet!!

Here's an inside look. It's black leather - actually kinda boring I thought. I thought a punchier color would be a little more fun! But I do like the double T logo on the zipper!

Cutest French Bulldog Puppy Ever!!!

2009-09-05T10:32:00.001-07:00

How can you not resist the cuteness of puppy??? This little frenchy is trying to get up...so freakin' cute! I love dogs and I wish I could just become a dog lady (like a cat lady) right now so I could surround myself with them and pet them and enjoy their cute little faces!!

Anyway, just enjoy the adorableness that is puppy!!

My acne-combatting routine

2009-09-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the graphic imagery, but getting a pimple is never fun, and no matter how many products you try it just seems impossible to get rid of the colony that seems to grow. I was free of acne for awhile, but this summer has brought on the zits - not sure why...I'm just going to guess the stress (emergency move and my wallet was stolen)!

Anyway, I am not going to let the acne win! I've been strategically battling them (and if I forget to do any of my steps it just let's the pimples back). I'm very religious about my routine - my boyfriend can attest to how OCD I must seem, but it's working. Hopefully this is somewhat helpful for you!

1. Cleansing:

In the morning I start the day of with a fresh face using the Being True Purifying Anti-Bacterial Cleanser. It's a foaming gel cleanser that uses natural tea tree oil and triclosan to kill acne-causing bacteria. It's refreshing and leaves my skin feeling very clean without drying it out - something a lot acne cleansers are good at.

2. Daily Moisturizer:
After my skin is cleansed, I apply two pumps of Burt's Bees Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizing Lotion. This lightweight formula uses willow bark extract as its natural source of salicylic acid, which unclog pores and helps to prevent bacteria. Golden seal extract is an antibiotic and skin soother. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized without leaving a greasy residue. Plus I just love that it's full of natural ingredients to kill those pimples and other ingredients to soothe irritated skin.

3. Makeup Remover:

This is the beginning of my evening routine. I use the REN Skincare No. Purity Cleanser to gently remove my makeup. I know it's oil based, but it's definitely the best way to get rid of your makeup!

4. Clarisonic Deep Pore Cleansing:

After removing my makeup and have rinse my face clean, I use the Clarisonic Mia (won't hurt your wallet too much, but just think of it as an investment towards amazing skin!) with the Refreshing Gel Cleanser. The gently vibrating brush deep cleanses pores to get out any dirt and oil that can build up on your face throughout the day. It seems like a huge step but it only takes a minute - 10 sec per cheek, 20 sec on the chin, and 20 sec on your forehead. Plus, it's kinda like a face massage! The Refreshing Gel Cleanser is perfect for normal and oily skin and it's great for congested pores (my problem exactly).

5. Clay Mask:
Every other night I've been applying a clay mask to minimize my pores and to further draw out anymore things clogging my pores. I'm in love with both the REN Skincare Multi-Mineral Pore Minimising Detox Mask and the Kiehl's Rare Eath Pore Cleansing Masque. As the clay dries it tightens your pores and pulls out any impurities while smoothing your complexion. Both are great and after I rinse my face, I already see an instant difference!

6. Night Treatment:
I'm not into drying night spot treatments, so I opt for DDF Acne Control Treatment. It has 1.5% salicylic acid (0.5% more than Burt's Bees) and it doesn't dry out my skin. I wake up to slightly clearer looking skin in the morning.

So that's it!

Japanese 3-D Nail Art

2009-09-01T10:42:00.000-07:00

Japanese nail designs are truly awe-inspiring (not to mention hard to understand how the wearer even does simple tasks, but anyway...) and real pieces of art! While I would love to show you a whole post on amazing designs, I am left showing you these nails with flowers and rhinestones.

If you may recall, I actually wrote a post on how I loved these flower designs in the form of earrings! I mean you could buy these flowers as studs at Forever 21?! I doubt she got the earrings, took off the posts and glued them to her nails. I mean I held up the flowers to my nails and there's no way they'd fit. Plus, they're pretty heavy, and to have them stay on the tips of your fingers - I don't get it?!

I just found this completely OMG-worthy?!

REN Skincare No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm

2009-08-31T20:18:00.000-07:00

So I'm a little obsessed with cleansing oils! I thought nothing would ever make me replace my shu uemura white recovery EX cleansing oil, but I found something?!

REN No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm is my new face washing must-have! It's the same concept of the cleansing oil - use on a dry face with makeup and remove every last molecule and piece of dirt - except it's richer and has a wonderful rose scent! It just feels so good on my face and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth! Plus, I love the packaging and the little baggie inside that the product is squeezed out. While it's fun to watch it get squeezed empty, it's also great because it means that no air gets to it, so you're always getting great, fresh product with every pump!

I'm in love!

Love Affair with Lychee!!!

2009-08-30T07:49:00.001-07:00

I love lychee! I love how it taste. I love how it smells. I just love lychee! Here's how I celebrate my lychee love with these awesome treats and home fragrance!

When pinkberry came out with lychee as a seasonal topping, I was beyond overjoyed! They're fresh and taste awesome with the original flavor, and they're not bad with the passion fruit flavor either (another seasonal flavoring I'm loving)!

I seriously never loved a home scent as much as this seasonal collection, Panjore Lychee from Voluspa. Not only is the packaging too beautiful to throw away, but the scent is just so delectable. It tastes like juicy lychee, but not too fruity, and a perfect scent to fill any room. I have the three wick candle on my nightstand, so I can fall asleep to this lovely scent. I can smell it even when it's not burning, and I love that! I have the diffuser in my living room, and not only it the bottle beautiful to behold, but I love coming home and opening the door to such a welcoming scent! Can you tell I LOVE it?!

I got this Mistral Lychee Rose soap as a gift a couple years back, and I still haven't taken it out of it's packaging! I love the scent and I love it too much to use it! I stuck it in a cabinet of bathroom toiletries, and it made all my hand towels smell so wonderful. So from then on I just never used it, but just keep it to make my towels smell like the amazing blend of lychee and rose. It turns washing my face into such an aromatic treat. I love that it doesn't smell like a fragranced soap with that soapy smell - it just smells like yummy fragrance! Now I just want to buy the whole damn collection!

These Kasugai litchi gummies are freakin awesome! I love the gummy texture and the lychee flavor is just heaven! If you can't go to any Asian market to find these yummy treats, then you can even order them on amazon.com and even Walmart! The Walmart factor was unexpected, but highly awesome!

Lychee, I love you!

Lady Gaga on the cover of V Magazine

2009-08-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

What a way to celebrate fall fashion with Lady Gaga! She rocks the platinum blonde locks and practically oompa-loompa tan, but I love it! The photos were shot by Mario Testino and will hit newsstands Sept. 1st! I'm still enjoying the eye candy of futuristic pop art fashion.

Korean Makeup Artist: Jung Saem Mool

2009-08-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

While I love reading Glamour, Allure, etc. for their beauty coverage, seeing makeup on tan brunettes and black beauties does nothing for an Asian chick like me! It took me forever to figure out how to curl my lashes, especially considering all the eyelash curlers in the US fit more Caucasian-shaped eyes.

Anyway, I'm glad I discovered reading Japanese magazines like JJ and ViVi so I can see how to do makeup that flaunts my coloring and features. I also found great tutorials online on YouTube from a famous Korean makeup artist, Jung Saem Mool. She's worked with top celebs like Lee Hyori amongst others.

While it's in Korean, you can still kinda figure it out, as you can just watch her apply the makeup on the models. She also does some great hair looks too!

Here's a look at some of my faves below:

Pink Smoky Makeup (I never thought I could pull of pink, but I love this look!)

Finger Wave (I had been dying to figure out a way to get this look!)

I <3 Taylor Swift (and her hair)!

2009-08-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

I must admit I don't know what it is about her, but I'm just such a fan! I would definitely consider myself to be one of the last people to ever have a hankering for some country music, but Taylor has me leaning that way lately. I love her music, but what get's me is her genuine personality. Plus, I love the fact she writes her own music!

Anyway, I'm sure growing up being "different" wasn't the only thing that bothered her - I'm sure she wanted more manageable hair. Now that she has a team of beauty folks to keep her looking fab, I'm sure she's learned to love the locks she got.

Here are some of my favorite looks (makeup included):

I love how it has a slight curl at the end, plus the cutely seductive hair over the eye ^_~

Seriously, I want my bangs to do that!

I love this shoot from Glamour - I love hoe soft her curls look!
I just think it's adorable! Plus I just love the flower hair band!

Wondergirls and the Wonder Baby!

2009-08-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

I was a major Wondergirls lover! I was addicted to their cuteness and their catchy songs. If you're not familiar, they've been attempting an American debut for the first half of this year. Anyway, you don't have to be a huge fan to fall in love with the Wonder Baby!

If you're not already familiar with their highly choreographed moves, this little girl has them dead on! It's awesome really!

Black Cotton Swabs from Japan!

2009-08-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

So my to-be sister-in-law's family visited me in New York all the way from Tokyo. They brought prezzies, of course, and among the hair pins and sushi pens were these interesting all black q-tips. From the outside packaging, I don't think I would've known what to do with them unless someone told me that they were for my ears.

Now, really the only point of them being black is just so you can see your earwax. Quite honestly I think it's genius. A cool way to package an everyday product and make it seem neat and interesting. Who doesn't love seeing the fruits of their labor? Plus, there's a ribbed end like the one shown in the picture, and then the other end is is like your typical q-tip.

Definitely fun!

Lady Gaga's Beauty and Fashion Habits

2009-06-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, I LOVE Lady Gaga! (don't hate me for it!)

People criticize her for her over-the-top clothes and her attention getting antics, but really, this girl is totally going somewhere! She may channel her inner-Donatella Versace and come from a wealthy background, but that doesn't overshadow her music writing abilities, great sense of fashion (even if you think it's hideous it does take something to come up with her look), and awesome performances.

Yes, I'm biased but here are some of my favorite looks!

Lady Gaga as a Brunette

2009-06-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

Lately I just cannot get enough of Lady Gaga's dance worthy and catchy beats! I'm semi-obsessed with this Italian-American's killer vocals and talent! I think I need to stop playing her over and over before my whole apartment building wants to kill me.

Anyway, here are some shots of the (in)famous blonde with her natural brunette color. There are some similar qualities to her outlandish fashion (like ornate underwear), but she does feel like a whole different person!

Flower bud earrings!

2009-05-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with these particular earrings when I was in Japan about two years ago. I contemplated buying them at ITS'DEMO, a cute store filled with cosmetics, clothes, accessories, candy and more - definitely stop by if you ever visit because it's not expensive and fun.

Here's a shot of a store front:

Well, needless to say I never bought them because I thought I didn't need to spend MORE money. TOTALLY REGRETTED! My friend Chie got them, and I tried finding a shot on her blog...but I couldn't.

Long story short, I FINALLY FOUND A PAIR! Not the same, but very similar and the price is even better!!! $4.80 at Forever 21!

And they also have a smaller version:

They both come in black, white, pink, and the smaller ones also come in yellow and turquoise. They're pretty, cute, and classy looking. They also have weight to them, which is good considering how cheap they are. And definitely don't look like they cost less than $5! I mean buy em in all the colors!

And if you didn't know Forever 21 open up shops in Harajuku, Tokyo. Check out image of the madness at tokyofashion.com. And Forever 21 also opened up in Myongdong, Seoul. Check out the Korean celebs that celebrated the opening in forever 21 outfits at popseoul.com!

Loving French Braids for Summer!

2009-05-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

So it's supposed to be 80 degrees in NYC today - and I am more than welcoming it! Lately I have been obsessed with braiding my hair and I love it! Growing up I always wanted french braid pigtails, like every other girl, but my mom couldn't do it :( I was so jealous of all the other girls, and I could never manage to do it myself. A couple days ago, I decided that I was going to take another stab at french braiding my hair again. After three failed attempts I FINALLY got it! Now I seriously just wanted braid my hair everyday!

Today I'm sporting a look a la Jen Aniston's Oscar hair:

It's so casual and easy you could pair it with jeans and a t-shirt, or styled enough to dress up an outfit (like I did for Erika's graduation)!

Here are some other braid ideas from Nicole Richie! I think she's obsessed with braiding her hair, too!

I love the bun! The braids probably keep all those shorter hairs from falling in her face! I love the two braids! Different from just one!

Totally love it from behind too!

Heidi-esque without her whole head in braids!

Here are some more celebrity braided looks:

A little too much for me! But some peeps can rock this look!

Love the updo look! I love the texture it creates and how effortless it can be, while still looking unique and intricate!

Love side ponies AND braids!

This is just plain scary! Braids or no braids!

Cute and simple! I love it and SO cal!

What are some of your favorite braided looks??

Beauty.com 10th Anniversary DISCOUNT!

2009-05-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

Sharing is caring!!! So pass this link around and get 20% off any purchase at beauty.com NOW through midnight 5/22!

Are you model material??

2009-05-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

If you think you are, then maybe you've got what StyleCaster is looking for!

OPEN CASTING CALL FOR MODELS

What: StyleCaster, the web’s first integrated fashion-lifestyle experience, providing a personal style discovery platform that integrates the highest quality content, interactivity, and technology, is looking for the fresh new faces of fashion. Launching these great undiscovered talents to a platform that caters to the industry’s finest and the most engaged style enthusiasts.

Who: StyleCaster is looking for beautiful female talent to model the Daily Looks. If you are chosen as a StyleCaster model you will model a variety of looks as well as have an editorial profile written on you for the Model Citizen column.

When: Tuesday, May 12^th 2009 11am – 1:30pm

Where: StyleCaster 49 West 27^th St. Studio A NY, NY 10001

Love Chloe EDP & Mom!

2009-05-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Since Mother's Day is not too far away, head on over to Bloomies in NYC to get her a gift she'll LOVE! Chloe fragrance is soft, feminine and timeless with it's signature rose scent. It's one of my fave fragrances (if not my #1!).

Chloé Eau De Parfum celebrates Mother’s everywhere with it’s signature note, the Rose…

Please join us at Bloomingdales on 59^th Street for a special Mother’s day treat.

From May 2-10, the first 100 customers that spend $100 on any Chloe fragrance will receive a gift certificate which will entitle the customer to a gorgeous exclusive rose bouquet …the perfect Mother’s day gift!

Even if you can't make it to NYC to get this deal, you can still get mom something from the Chloe fragrance line at Bloomingdales.com!

Fave Organic Find: Pangea Organics Mask

2009-04-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this mask from Pangea Organics! Its made with organic ingredients and the packaging is plantable! Soak in water, plant and you'll have homegrown basil!

At first I had to get used to the very earthy smell. Now I enjoy it, and am glad to put an all natural recipe on my face. Not to mention it leaves my skin seriously smooth and glowing. This multi-tasking mask cleans, exfoliates, tones, stimulates collagen, builds new skin cells prevents wrinkles and nourishes skin. Talk about good things in small packages!

Key Ingredients:

Acai Berry: anti-oxidant & revitalizing
Goji Berry: anti-aging & full of nutrients
Matcha (Green Tea): soothing & energizing

Go green and do your skin a jar of wonders!

Treat Your Eczema (and other sensitive skin issues)

2009-04-07T06:08:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of this year I finally got my eczema under control. It's not like I was dealing with it for my whole life - I had it for about a year. My skin just broke out into this red slightly bumpy rash all over my body. I'd been to the derm, even got an allergy test and skin biopsy, and no results. My doctor told me it could just be eczema (a type of atopic dermatitis) that occurred for no apparent reason. That was unsettling when there had been no change in my lifestyle or diet.

Needless to say I could not bear the itching, scratching and general uncomfort. It caused me to reevaluate my lifestyle and products I used. I switched to Johnson & Johnson's baby products, because i figured how more gentle can you get. But when I realized they used mineral oil, I was shocked! Mineral oil is a by product of petroleum when it's turned into gas and crude oil - um, GROSS!

After that experience I started using natural and organic products and taking supplements to help my condition. After I started doing that I went from itchy and bumpy to clear and smooth!

Here's my recipe to treating and dealing with eczema.

1. Clean Skin
The first step is to start off with clean skin! BUT, avoid hot showers. Keep them warm and fast - too much heat and too long showers actually dry out your skin, which totally exacerbates the rash sitch.I love this Rose Body Wash by Dr. Hauschka skincare. It's gentle on senstive skin and it's natural ingredients moisturize your skin - one of the most important ways to fight eczema breakouts. It doesn't lather like most soaps and body washes, but it's a good thing. Suds usually mean drying out skin. After I get out of the shower and dry off, my skin alreadt feels moisturized.

2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
If your dealing with eczema you already know to keep your skin well moisturized. I tried all the thick creams from Jergens to Eucerin, and I always hated the constantly wet feeling. I hated going to bed like I was wrapped in ointments. I'd heard from a mom that she used California Baby for her daughter's eczema, and it went away shortly after using.
She gave a jar of the Claming Moisturizing Cream and I instantly fell in love with the natural aromatherapy scent. It felt good on my skin, and it didn't feel like I was permanently sticky and wet. The brand is completely organic and it's free of common allergens like gluten, soy, oat and dairy. There are other options like lotions that come in a pump jar. There are also calendula and aloe vera blends. Totally love those too and I would use that like ointment on breakout and patches that were scabby.

3. Healing From The Inside Out
I definitely believe in eat a healthy diet free of common allergens (sometimes milk and other foods can cause breakouts), but I also think certain supplements can aid in skin healing. I took daily supplements of fish oil, evening primrose oil and vitamin E.These three easy steps totally saved my skin (and my sanity)! I hope this is helpful for you and your skin sensitivities and rashes.

More Natural Love!

2009-04-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of celebrating Earth Month, I'm going to be posting about all things eco/natural/organic. So in that spirit, I am in LOVE with Essie's Naturally Clean Collection. Not only am I addicted to doing my nails (favorite nail colors to come soon!), but this collection definitely delivers! Plus, I think I'm truly enamored with the light florally, botanical scent!

Here are the products from left to right:

100% Natural Purifying Hand Treatment with Nourishing Botanicals. Think purell, but a little fancier. This hand sanitizer has aloe and vegetable glycerin for moisturizing your hands. This is my least favorite of the bunch, but good for any germ-a-phobes.
Vitamin-Enriched Manicure Revitalizer with Nourishing Botanicals. Totally fun for a true at-home-mani with a friend or solo. The smell is fab, and the sensation of soaking your hands, well, totally luxurious!
Refreshing Nail Cleanser with Nourishing Botanicals. This sanitizer prepares nails for polish, and in my opinion is just great for some more of the line's signature scent!
Purifying Hand Was with Nourishing Botanicals. Pretty much a hand soap. It's got coconut oil and aloe for moisture, but again, for me the real seller here is the smell! I love washing my hands, but now I really can't step away from the sink. I think I will continue to smell my hands after every wash, even on the last pump.
Purifying Nail Polsih Remover with Moisturizers and Vitamins. THE BEST PRODUCT OF THE LINE! I've never used a nail polish remover that literally wipes away color in one swipe. And on top of the amazing speed, it leaves my hands smelling good! For reals! What more can you really ask for in a nail polish remover?? Works quick, smelss great and natural ingredients!

Bottom line: Love the nail polish remover! If you buy anything get the 16 fl. oz bottle of remover, for $16 you'll love the results, smell and you'll want to keep painting away (trust me, I'm there)! And if you buy anything else, get the hand soap! I truly can't stop washing my hands! I could smell them all day :)

Happy Earth Month!

2009-04-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

While many know Earth Day as April 22, April is also known as Earth Month! Organic and eco-friendly have become part of our everyday lives from Clorox products to skincare and makeup going green! Even if you don't grow your own veggies or bike to work everyday, you can still make some eco-friendly choices.

This month make a $36 purchase of Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant moisturizer with White Tea.Buy making this purchase, your skin will not only thank you for protecting it from our environment's nasty chemicals and pollutants, but Mother Earth with thank you for planting a tree! That's right! For every purchase of this moisturizer, Origins is partnering with Global ReLeaf to plant a tree.

For your one purchase your one tree will produce 260 pounds of oxygen to help us breathe! Your tree will also help fight global warming (by offsetting greenhouse gases), provide home and shelter for animals and help remove pollutants from the air.

Celebrate Earth Month by adding this to your bathroom counter and help plant a tree!

Ramy Spa Brow Event TONIGHT!

2009-04-02T07:13:00.001-07:00

Thursday Late Night Brow Bonanza at RAMYSPA!

5pm - 9pm starting April 2nd 2009

Enjoy Complimentary Champagne or White Wine and Hors d'ourves

· Brow Shaping with Ramy $50. - Regularly $75.

· Brow Shaping with Bee $35. - Regularly $50.

Leave your business card behind and we will choose one lucky winner each week to win a

RAMY Beauty Therapy Gift Basket filled with your favorite products valued at $350.00!

Call NOW to join the party and to schedule your appointments!!!

(212) 684-9500 Code word: Brow-nanza!!!

www.RAMY.com

Love Reese Witherspoon's hair on Regis and Kelly this morning!

2009-03-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

As soon as I can get an image, I'll definitely post! Regis even said she has amazing hair, and asked her if she's ever had a bad hair day.

Definitely true. Who can forget this look:

I also love her ponytail in this photo. She makes it look classy and fun!

I'm definitely a fan of longer hair, but I like this shorter look on Reese and I like the slight waves.

I also LOVED some of her looks from Walk the Line as June Carter. I've been trying to find this one image, but can't so this will have to do. But I think she looks good as a brunette and I really love her makeup!

La Vie En ROSE

2009-03-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

I am SO obsessed with the rose flavored beauty products. The first time I realized I liked this scent was back in Japan...I noticed I kept smelling this similar scent on all the girls. When I came back to the States and started working in beauty, I realized the scent was rose, and now I can't get enough of the scent. Here are a few of my favorite products that rock this romantic and girly flavor!

1. Roger and Gallet Rose Line

They have a wide range of products all packaged in a pretty pink motif. My personal favorites are the perfume and body cream. I love smelling all floral and fresh.

I wouldn't mind the candle either...nothing like ambiance and the scent of rose.

Check out this line of rosy products at roger-gallet.com

2. Tammy Fender Bulgarian Rose Water

At $65 a bottle, I must admit this is definitely a splurge, but one that is totally worth it! Bulgarian rose water has been used by holistic healers for a long time, and considering 7000 petals produces 1 drop of rose water, the price ain't that bad.

I love it because it gives me such a refreshed clean feeling not to mention the scent is heavenly! Just splash it on your face after you wash and before you apply moisturizer. Plus, all Tammy Fender products are certified organic!

3. POLA Fragrance Body Shampoo Eau de Fleur (Rose)

This Japanese brand's body wash totally brings me back to that lovely rose smell I remember from my days in Tokyo. But what I love most about this body wash is that the bottle is HUGE, so totally worth the $24 price tag. Trust me, you won't run out any time soon. Also, the convenient pump makes showering easy and quick without getting any extra product in the shower.

I Love IT!

I found this site to buy the POLA Body Shampoo at evecare.com.

4. Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream Light

Another holistic skincare line, Dr. Hauschka has a wide range of products full of natural ingredients. I love this face lotion because it has the refreshing scent of rose and it's very moisturizing. My boyfriend even said he I smelled good, but little did he know it was my face lotion.

The rose petal extract nurtures and strengthens skin, and the rose wax protects and hydrates. To get the light scent and all the naturl benefits, 30 rose flowers go into 1 tube!

Beauty Recessionista Deals!

2009-03-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hey all my beauty loving ladies! Here are some great steals and deals for all y'all trying to save in this crazy economy!

1. TOOFACED Vintage Collection is 75% off at www.toofaced.com. Check it out SOON because the sale ends April 6th.

2. For all the lovies in Southern Cali, head on over to ROB|B Salon at 12246 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604 for FREE mini-manis on Wednesdays at noon to 2PM from now through April 29.

Yay for steals and deals! If you know of any steals and deals near you or online, post some comments!

xo

Check out BeautyBlitz.com

2009-03-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hey all you gals that come to Fashion Agenda for curling iron burns and curling eyelashes! So sorry I've totally been MIA -- for reals!

I've been uber busy and working on this new site: beautyblitz.com!

Don't forget to sign up and check out the Free Style section -- who knows, you may just win!

The Best Facial Cleanser: OIL!

2008-07-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

Many of us believe that products we use on our face should be oil-free. Many fear that oil = pimples. Let me help you think otherwise.

I am in love with Shu Uemura's HIGH PERFORMANCE BALANCING CLEANSING OIL. You can get a HUGE 450 ml bottle for $62. It's worth every penny because it's so big and it'll last you awhile.

Shu Uemura's HIGH PERFORMANCE BALANCING CLEANSING OIL

Shu has a range of oils for all different needs like anti-aging, dry/damaged skin, or brightening (can't wait to try this one!).

For a cheaper yet just as effective product try DHC (below)for $11 or $24

To buy click HERE

I was once a firm believer that Clearasil and other strong no oil facial cleansers were the way to get my face clean. SO WRONG! I was staying at a friends apartment and she had DHC (Japanese label) facial cleansing oil. It was a bottle of pure oil, not a cleanser with oil, just OIL. I was like, "You use this to CLEAN your face?" And my friend looked at me like I was the one who didn't know anything, and said she uses the oil to get off all the makeup and washes clean with a bar of gentle soap.

Intrigued, I rubbed the olive oil looking stuff all over my face and washed it away with soap. I have to say I was beyond impressed. I don't think my face could've been cleaner, especially considering I wear waterproof makeup. When I say cleaner, I mean you wash your face but there's always remnants of mascara, eyeliner, bits of foundation, etc when you wipe your face dry on the towel. When you use oil it's off in a cinch and never a remnant left on your face. When you first try it, the feeling of rubbing oil all over your face may be a bit weird, but it doesn't hurt your eyes at all, so feel free to rub that waterproof mascara away! If it gets it your eyes it'll look a little blurry, but that's it.

Now, you're probably thinking maybe it gets your face makeup off but it just makes you more greasy and more pimply...NO! Oil dissolves oil. So cleansing with oil dissolves all the current oil on your face without drying out your skin. Just because things are oil free, they might dry out your skin, and your skin will react by producing MORE oil. Using an oil cleanser gets rid of all the dirty particles on your face before they get the chance to get down in your pores and cause ugly pimples. If you feel like you have oily skin, just cleanse with oil first and then use soap for that extra clean.

Trust me on this one! Once you use oil, you'll never go back to your ordinary cleanser!

Curling Eyelashes! (esp. for Asian eyes)

2007-12-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

I thought I was cursed with the worst eyes ever and I really hated my eyelashes, or what seemed to be non-existent lashes that always got lost in my inverted eyelid. I tried curling my eyelashes and always always failed to really make any difference.

All I really wanted were eye lids! I thought that would solve my downward facing lashes.

I used to want to get the surgery to get eyes like this! (A Japanese model with a McDonald's Filet-O-Fish!)

Finally, I figured out how to make my lashes come to life without using falsies. My mom even asked me why I was wearing fake lashes and when I told her they my real ones, she didn't believe me!

So let me show you how I keep my invisible lashes curled all day long and super lashy!

Well, first I do all my makeup. It's best to do your eye makeup all first, that way you don't get makeup on your pretty curly lashes.
**Notice my inverted eye lids with lashes that curl DOWN! But, it's okay, I'll defy the laws of gravity!

I used to have a curler by Maquillage (part of the Shiseido brand, but only found in Japan). I swore by that curler, until I lost it! So now, I use Shu Uemura's cult curler. I still think the Maquillage was better, but this is a really close second!

The eye on the right has curled lashes. It's hard to see without mascara, but maybe you can already begin to see the difference. It's best to curl the lashes before putting mascara on. That way the mascara can set the curl and also so it doesn't get on the curler. Also keep pressing the curler until you get the amount of lift you want. I go for maximum lift!

Viola! Mascara! My biggest emphasis here is using WATERPROOF MASCARA! I don't know what it is about it, but it dries on contact and keeps the curl pretty much ALL DAY. After using curling mascaras like Lancome's Courbe Virtuose, it made my lashes CURL down! I mean that's how strong of a down curl my lashes have. Perhaps if it had been a waterproof version it would've worked, but did not!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Shiseido's Lasting Lift Mascara ($22)! I mean this stuff really is lasting and keeps the mega-watt curl! Plus the waterproof keeps it on after I have super teary yawns and sleep on the 2 hour commute to NYC and stay super curled. For a cheaper, yet just as affective look, I use Maybelline's waterproof Volum' Express.

Now, to see how it looks with both eyes done...

Wrap up:

1. Do all your makeup first (or at least your eyes makeup)
2. Curl eyelashes. Recommended: Shu Uemura or MAC eyelash curlers
3. Use waterproof mascara to hold curl and make it last all day

Three easy steps for magnificent lashes...even for those who have Asian eyes like me!

Adding some color...

2007-12-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

So I think I wear a lot of black. I like black, but when I look at all my outfits put together like this on a blog I noticed a trend, one after the next features black, white and grey. So colorless. I wanted to prove that I CAN wear color in winter (because I wear a lot of color in the summer and spring). So I wore a really bright green cable knit with the same black and white striped shirt I wore with the black sweater vest. I like the color, but I think I may continue to stick with my black winter uniform...

Turtlenecks and shorts? Why not?

2007-12-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

I was getting tired of black turtlenecks, so I thought I'd go for a grey one?! If you don't want to wear a mini skirt or jeans to flaunt your boots, why not try shorts? These came from Forever 21, and even came with suspenders, but they wouldn't stay on my shoulders, so I just decided not to wear them. But to throw off all the dark colors, I thought perhaps these lighter boots (from Tobu in Ikebukuro) would look okay? I'm still not sure they did, but I think they're alright. But to make sure my legs stayed warm in these short shorts I wore thick black tights from H&M.

More turtlenecks and a swear skirt!

2007-12-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

Like I said I think I have a penchant for black and even turtlenecks. Well, following my previous post, I thought I love sweater dresses, but if that's just too much sweater coverage why not try a sweater skirt. This grey one is from Urban Outfitters and even comes in a variety of colors. I also paired this with the same grey and black houndstooth tights from Target. For extra warmth with exposed legs (well kinda) I wore boots to cover more. Cute, comfy, and warm!

I'm not trying to be Posh?!

2007-12-06T12:32:00.000-08:00

Not that I could ever compare myself to Mrs. Beckham, but when I saw how I looked in it I thought I looked like I was trying to be Posh with my non-smile, however it would've been better if I kept my lips pursed. And then the bob thing, I thought maybe...

Well, anyway...sweater dresses (got this one in Shibuya) are so in right now and they're comfortable and easy. I love turtlenecks...perhaps you've noticed that?! And I like that it's mini and I paired it with black and grey houndstooth tights from Target! and super cute pumps from Steve Madden with bows! Of course to go with the look are the dark purple nails too!

Sweater vests = cool! Really!

2007-12-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, so when I think of sweater vests I think of nerdy math calculating NERDS! Or I even think of Doug form Nickelodeon (you know the animated kids show from forever ago!) And was he considered a nerd?? No offense to nerds, because well I definitely think I'm one of them...but you get the image!

Anyway! I was feeling really preppy, so I decided to wear this black wool cable knit sweater vest with a black striped tuxedo shirt, both from J. Crew. I paired it with my beloved Soho Uniqlo skinny jeans and black leather boots (flats for ultimate comfort). I also wore it with a grey military-inspired jacket from Banana Republic.

One thing I think this picture documents is the fact that I have my hair pulled back, which means my hair has grown enough to actually all be pulled back into a messy bun even! Just to let you know I'm still mourning the loss of my long hair, and I am in the process of getting it back!

I <3 Minis!

2007-12-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

I bought this superly SHORT skirt in Harajuku at LDS (I think it stands for Love Drug Store). If that is what it means, well i don't know, but interesting. Anyway, this skirt is SO cute, I love it, but because it is SO short I decided to wear it with flat boots so there's less leggage and with dark textured tights so it's not screaming skin (plus it's freezing outside). I love the houndstooth in the skirt and I think it looks good with the texture of the tights I got at Urban Outfitters. To offset all the black in the skirt, tights, and boots, I decided to wear a grey turtleneck sweater. There is no grey in the skirt, but I figured with the white and black in the skirt, I could get away with wearing a grey top. I also wore black knee high socks over the tights for extra warmth and to prevent hole-making near the toes. The other thing I like about this outfit are the reddish lipstick I'm wearing. It's more of a berry color. I am all about black and I think a dash of color give a rather dull color palette that extra oomph! Oh! And while this skirt may not look that short in the picture, it really is! That's the one nice thing about being 5'1" and having extra short legs! I can get away with something that is extra short!

Treating a curling iron burn

2007-11-15T19:23:00.000-08:00

I mentioned wanting to start talking about beauty, and this is not how I meant to do so, but in the case that this disaster happened, I am beginning it this way... So not everyone, but most people, who have ever used a curling have experienced a quick burn on the ear, forehead, or even neck. Hopefully it never leaves a mark, but sometimes it does. It may turn red and hurt a bit, but it fades. Sometimes it's more than a red mark it's a brown mark that may even resemble a hickey (especially if you get it on your neck). Well, I've gotten the forehead burn before, and I've gotten the hickey-resembling burn as well, but never did I ever think I would burn my boob let alone with a curling iron! I mean really, who DOES that...ME! As you can see in the photo the iron got a part of my boob, and the top part burnt me and left a portion of "ion" on my chest (except the mirror-image). God forbid your boob gets burnt, but in case it does or your forehead or your ear or even your neck, hear's how to treat that burn:

1. Obviously REMOVE the source of heat immediately

2. Run with COOL water, not cold water or even ice as this may cause more damage or even frostbite if you use ice. You just want to get the temperature back to normal, not freezing.

3. Continue with cool water (or compress) for 5 minutes

4. Do NOT put butter, oil, grease, or powder on the burn

5. Take aspirin or ibuprofen to ease the pain to help the swelling go down

6. Be gentle to any blister(s) that may form (unfortunately that would be me!) and don't and I repeat DO NOT pop them - it's nature's way of healing

7. Once it has started to heal, like the next day, apply a moisturizer to help with the drying and itching of the skin.
**I have applied thick night creams over night and eventually I could gently exfoliate the brown skin away. It helped get that ugly patch of skin off sooner.

Hopefully if you're reading this for your burns, it's about a small neck or forehead burn and not a huge boob burn like me! But hey no pain, no gain - RIGHT?!

Purple and dalmation - oh no?!

2007-11-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

I got this lovely royally purple dress from Forever 21 - I know! I have a lot from there, but really I think it's easy to make it look a good $50 or more if worn right. Anyway, I paired it with a black mock neck from Banana because the cut was just way way too low and a turtleneck so makes it appropriate for fall/winter. My first instinct was to wear the ensemble with these dalmation pumps, which I wear a lot, but NO! Wrong choice. After looking at this photo I knew I had to go with black boots. Sorry to say I didn't get a pic of that, but trust me the black flat boots I wore looked much better. I think it was just too much contrast with the white in the pumps and the blackness of the tights. But if you look closely, I am LOVING the dark short nail look (just not black!). Mine are a dark purple and it nearly matches my dress - I didn't do it on purpose, really!

What do you think about the hair?

2007-11-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

So now that there are two posts with my new (or sorta new at this point) haircut. I don't know what I tihnk? What do you think?? Is it better short or long? Whenever I look at older posts I think about how much I miss my hair!!

Polka dots and jeans

2007-11-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

This is a bit casual/plain looking, but I did have a cute sweater to go over this blouse. I have raved about skiiny jeans from Japan, but these you can get in the US, and they're just a fab (because they're Japanese!!). I got them at Uniqlo in SoHo, the US flagship store. I didn't want to buy them because I knew in America getting in-store hemming costs something or it doesn't exist. But they did offer in-store hemming for FREE! So it was just as fublous, and I got a new wash that I love for $50, which is so NOT bad at all! I love feminine flowy blouses, especially with jeans! I got this top at Banana Republic on sale.

Layers done right

2007-11-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

So it's not super layer-y, but this dress is cute (Gold's Infinity in Shibuya 109) and goes with this grey mock that even has attached (but removeable) necklaces. The Dress has slits in the side of the sleeves towards the top where the grey poofy sleeves can poke out of and there's a bit of lace detail on the dress. I feel like there is so much layering in Japanese fashion, or things are made to be layered. I thought it was cute in Tokyo, but when I was at work in the Hearst Tower, I did feel a bit done up or something. I mean the dress ties inot a bow in the back and I felt it was a little bit much, but you know, it's about confidence. I had confidence, so hopefully I got away with it.

What's your fragrance?

2007-10-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

I wrote a fragrance quiz for Hearst Digital Media's latest teen site: MisQuinceMag.com, so check it out and discover your fragrance personality!

www.misquincemag.com/quinceanera-plan/quizzes/perfume-quiz

Belt it!

2007-10-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

I really liked how this outfit came together! I saw this skirt at H&M and HAD to buy it. i went in with the intention to buy a dress (a whole outfit for the price of one piece!), but when I saw this skirt (at $34 I knew I could find a dress for that price or cheaper) I really felt the inclination to buy it. So I did and didn't get a dress. I figured I could pair the skirt with something at home, so I wouldn't have to spend more. But! I did think the skirt would look nice with this belt that I also bought a H&M. I really hate belts that are too long and you're left with excess strap that just dangles there, even when you try and tuck it or something. With that said, that's why I like elastic belts like the one I'm wearing. They're clean and fit perfect with a little stretch. I found this short-sleeved mock neck from Banana Republic and tucked it in (with or without the belt the shirt didn't look right untucked) and topped it off with the belt. Like I've said in other posts, I lke adding some color or something when I'm wearing all black or dull colors, which is why I'm so proud of my leopard open toe wedges. They really do go with a lot!

a summer blouse

2007-10-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

So I got this summertop during, well, the SUMMER at H&M on sale. But I thought I could get away with wearing it even though it's clearly the fall, but so WARM?! Paired it with my dark skinny jeans from Tokyo (I bought like 4 pairs since they hem the for free and all!) and my dalmaion pumps. For a little more fun, like the print, I put my hair in a side ponytail with big hoops.

denim for work

2007-10-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry! Another top from Tokyo (from a store in Shinjuku), but I think any black top that has a unique cut with dark denim can look put together and the unique cut gives it a little pizazz. The jeans are also from Tokyo, but they're from Uniqlo, which actually has a flagship store in SoHo near the Prince Street stop and on the Broadway line. They're AMAZING! Because they look great! Plus they're uberCHEAP! like $30 or so. And even at the Uniqlo in NYC, they alter the jeans for you at the store for FREE! And even better bonus! I mean Who wants to wear skinny jeans that don't fit right. So you'll totally leave with a barely a dent in your wallet and prfect fitting jeans! To jazz up my very basic outfit, I decided to finish off with a pari of leopard print open toe wedges by Guess that I actually found a TJ Maxx (go Sammy! She taught me about the beauty of discount prices and this is my first purchase there so far!) for $25 or $30 I think. Anyway, I worde denim to work, but they're dark, so it's get-away-with-able and I paired the with a dark top and heels.

a thing for pleats...

2007-10-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

So this is my third outfit with pleats, so maybe I have a thing for pleats, I'm not really sure, but I do like them...in a non-school girl uniform knid of way! I bought thiss dress in Shibuya 109 in Tokyo. I can't remeber the store, but it had a hip hop feel to it. Pardon the pose though. My boyfriend (the photographer) told me I need to change up my pose because it was always the same and suggested the pictured pose. Since I'm always running late for the bus to NYC (takes 2.5 hours) I didn't take another one. The tights and shoes are also from Shibuya. I wanted to wear fun printed shoes with the brigh pink color.

Black & White and graphics all over

2007-10-02T05:42:00.000-07:00

I saw the fabulously graphic tunic at Forever 21 and I just had to get it! I think it it looks great with leggings (that I actually got in Korea) and paired the with black sling back pumps for a more polished look. The earrings are also Forever 21 and the shoes are Banana Republic. i think it's a great looking outfit for a cheap price!

Pleats for School

2007-08-30T18:47:00.001-07:00

I bought this shirt/top in Tokyo. I liked it because I liked the pleats at the bottom, I think it makes it cute ^^ I bought the leggings last summer at the Gap and the jeweled flats from Steve Madden. I wanted a cute but comfy outfit since I have classes all day, yet I still try to recover from my NYC commute.

Pleats for work

2007-08-30T18:46:00.001-07:00

I bought this dress in Seoul but I forget what area. It was a cute boutique but they wouldn't give me a good deal since I was an American, but I didn't care because I really wanted this dress. I wore it to work and paired it with peep toes I also bought in Seoul, except I found them near the subway and they were super cheap! Plus, the guy really liked me since I was American. He even stretched the toe part for me for free!!

School days~~~

2007-08-28T17:47:00.000-07:00

So I am a beauty intern at Cosmo, yet I live and go to school in Philly. That means a 2 hour + commute in the morning and at night. I leave at 7 am (means I get up at 5) and don't get back to the bus station in Philly til 9 pm. It means that I am a little tired when I have to go to school the next day, hence my deer in headlight look. I decided to wear this outfit because I like black, which I am sure you will notice as the Fall and Winter seasons approach - I only really wear color in the summer. I like the dress because it's simple and comfortable and I just love poofy sleeves. Also I was testing to see if I could make it through a 7 hour day in my newly purchased flats from Steve Madden. (A test to see if I can make through my 14 hour days in NYC). They passed the test, but only after I had them stretched at a shoe place for $5. But honestly, if you wear shoes that hurt, I've learned they rarely get better. Espcially if they rip off your heels - you'll never wear 'em again. It's defintely best to get the stretched or padded or whatever so they fit! And I learned it's never really all that expensive.

Scenes from London, Study Abroad Fall '06

2007-08-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

My fashion experience in London was like no other. Instead of traveling to Italy or Spain, I spent money on clothes.

Stores like Top Shop, Oasis and Monsoon beckoned to me. And then there was the infamous Primark. To the Brits, the trends were overdone, cheap and worn by just about everyone-- but to me, an American living in London for a short three months, buying from Primark was like buying from Armani. In fact, they even called the cheap-but-on-top-of-the-trends store "Primani" for short. I dropped 200 pounds there in one 4-hour long shopping excursion. 200 pounds=$350 American dollars.

While studying in London, I interned at a fashion trade publication similar to Women's Wear Daily called Draper's Magazine. While there, I became immersed in the brands of the UK and the average Brit's style savvy consciousness. On the whole, Europeans dress better than Americans. They have a natural style sense that only a small percent of Americans truly possess. The Brits, unless they are striving for a "look," know how to pair together an outfit so that it complements their figure and outward appearance. The average British male is sleek and put together at all times. Talk about hotness factor. I loved it.

I want to return to Britain simply to absorb myself in the fashion world again. Like Kait's experience in Tokyo, I was inspired and driven more to pursue my passion in fashion. Clothing is not just something you wear to cover the skin. It is representative of culture, societal norms, dreams, inspiration, time period, social and political change. Clothing is an outward expression of our inward feelings. We wear who we are and who we want to be. Clothing speaks louder than words.

Welcome back!

2007-08-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

After much delay, Kaitlyn and I are ready to throw ourselves into Fashion Agenda to bring you the best-of Phila style and fashion know-how. We'll show you what we're wearing, what others are wearing in Phila and on campus, what we want to be wearing and dangit, what we think you should be wearing.

Get ready for Fashion Agenda-- and make it your agenda!

My kind of nautical

2007-08-06T14:20:00.001-07:00

I bought this dress in Shibuya at Indio, which is like the Japanese version of cheap cute clothes. You wouldn't want to admit that your clothes were from there, but I think so what?! It's freakin' CUTE. The dress came with the ribbon belt and has a bubble skirt. They showed it with this tulle slip underneath that poked out, but that was a little too much for me (look-wise and money-wise since I just bought a lot). I'm still satisfied with the dress on it's own, although I was petrified people would see my bum when walking up stairs, but everyone assured me they couldn't, so I can only hope they were telling the truth.

I ♡ this dress ^_^

2007-08-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

I bought this dress from Forever 21, and it was so babydoll cute, and I absolutely adore it with the big heart pockets and big red button accents. The red patent leather sandals I wore I bought the night of the Full Moon Boat Party, so I would have shoes to wear that I wouldn't fall uot of, but they turned out to be PERFECT for this dress. I went to see RENT with the original Roger and Mark, so I needed a sweater for the cold theater, so on the way I stopped at the Forever 21 at Harold Square so and found this cropped red cardigan that fit my read heart dress perfectly.

Pink belt or chain belt???

2007-08-06T14:14:00.000-07:00

Usually, I don't go the bohemian look. But these free-flowing, wide-legged pants from Forever 21 and yellow waist long H&m top called to me. I grabbed my gold chain-ocassional necklace and wrapped it around my waist, and voila! I had that cool look down. Add in a pensive look and I could have sat in Union Square and written poetry while people watching all day.

One issue with this outfit: The H&M top did not want to stay on my shoulders. The top was purchased on sale (as most of my clothes usually are- the one main difference between Kait and I- she pays full price so much more often!) and I swear it must have been because of a defect. The shoulders just kept slipping off. Maybe that's why a boy that night at a Lower East Side bar began chatting me up. He couldn't resist the hot shoulders. Ow ow.

Black and White

2007-08-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

I also bought this dress in Shibuya 109, but I can't remember the store. But I really liked it on the mannequin, so I had to buy it. The thing I like about it, is the black ruffles peeping out at the bottom aren't a part of the dress, it's a slip to put on underneath, but good for layering dresses and long sweater and such. I don't know what else I'll wear with it yet, but when I find out you'll know.

Tied with a bow

2007-08-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

This is one of my most favorite dresses I own and pretty much my most favorite piece I own, period. It was one of the last things I bought before I left Tokyo this past spring. I bought it on the 7th floor of Shibuya 109 at a store called Gold's Infinity. The shoes I bought in Korea at a subway station for the equivalent of 12 US dollars and the guy even stretched the leather for me so it would fit my feet better. I decided to wear this dress because I was meeting the Beauty Director at InStlye magazine and I went on a motor boat from the North Cove Marina out to the Willy Wall in the middle of the Hudson with a friend at People magazine to celebrate the Full Moon Party. So it was a good day to wear a dress made for socializing and partying.

Black, white, and green

2007-08-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

ASME~~

2007-08-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

Group shot

What Sammy and I are wearing....

Thank you, Jessica Simpson. Not only do you wear fabulous clothes, but you've hired a fabulous team of people to design them for you under your own name.

These Jessica Simpson boots have gotten me a lot of mileage. No, I may not be as hot as Daisy Dukes (but I try) and no, my shorts may not be quite as short, but the teal and the yellow, combined with some blue and my fantastic zebra head band, gets cat calls from construction workers everytime. Take that Ms Simpson.

The boots-- which cost me a whooping $20 on sale at Marshalls (best place on earth)-- garner a compliment everytime I wear them. I've had strangers in the street compliment them. I've had editors at magazines drag me over to their peers to show them off. My mother has made fun of them (but what does she know). And I've had random photographers in the street ask me to pose for them while wearing them.

All for $20, and designed by the blonde bimbo herself. Thanks Jess!

Houndstooth in the summer? Hell yeah!

2007-08-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

K.I.S.S.

2007-08-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Keep. It. Simple. Stupid. That was my basic philosophy for this outfit. I was really tired that morning and I just wanted to wear a t-shirt and sweats, but considering that's not appropriate for the work environment, I went with a comfy white tank with a semi-sheer white boatneck tee paired with stretchy black dress pants. Black and white, it couldn't get anymore basic, but I still think it looks nice.

BLANDA-fied!

2007-08-05T21:35:00.001-07:00

Who wears short shorts? Sammy Davis wears 'em. And she rocks 'em.

No lie-- I bought these teal booty shorts circa 2000 (or was it 1999?) when I was just 15 years old. It was the summer after my freshman year and I was dating the hot boy in high school. I remember buying them at The Limited and wearing them to see the fireworks with him. Oh la la.

Somehow six years later, I'm still a size six (thank God I enjoy working out, or the beer and late night ice cream binges would have gone straight to my gut) and can rock the pre millenium shorts.

I love this look with my blue belt from Primark, the best place on earth in the United Kingdom. When I studied abroad in London during the fall '06 (missing it so much a year later) I didn't travel as much as I could have, because well... I shopped. I dropped nearly 500 pounds alone at Primark (about $750 dollars), which is a store equivalent to Target. But with amazing designs, decent quality and cutting edge fashion. This belt probably cost me about 3 pounds=$5 dollars.

The top I grabbed on sale at H&M in Soho. Black tops are so versatile and you can never have enough-- no matter what, they're all different. Stock up and save for those fashion emergency moments when black is the only color that will work. And trust me, that's often.

Also above is the signature of Sean Blanda. This fine gentlemen visited me in New York City, allowed me to drag him from downtown to uptown and back again, eat Thai food in Hell's Kitchen, smoke Hookah and drink a couple of pitchers of beer and share a bottle of wine. He expressed his love by writing on me. How sweet.

Want fuller lashes?

2007-08-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

Why not try falsies! Playing with your look is fun, especially adding lashes to your peepers. I wanted to look simple yet sexy, and so I revved up my lashes with Shu Uemura falsies. These fake lashes are not for the timid, and nor are they for the everyday. Asian ladies got sexy eyes, but many times their lashes aren't up to par, so to compensate, fake lashes are used quite often. I have a bunch of everyday fake lashes that you can barely tell are fake, but theses lashes here are for partying and special events. I wore them out to restaurant week at Ada (adanyc.com), where the food was more delectable than my luscious lashes!

Kait goes boho (with a belt!)

2007-08-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

So Sammy did a boho look, now for my spin. I bought this skirt when I first started working at Banana Republic. I liked this skirt because it reminded me of Missoni and I liked how it flaired at the bottom. I got to wear my belt AGAIN! with a beige lace top. While I think the belt definitely looks good with the overall outfit, I HAD to wear it because the tank material just hugs every inch of my skin, so you could see where my belly button was...no good! So to hide it, I strategically placed a belt around my midsection to accentuate my waist and to hide that unsightly spot called my belly button! While I usually wear different shoes with this skirt, I wore dark brown sandals because the belt was dark. The shoes are Dr.Scholls, so I could look stylish and still be comfortable too.

Black, pink, yellow and tiger!

2007-08-05T21:18:00.001-07:00

The more I look at this outfit, the more I love it.

This pink belt is my must-have accessory. I bought it at Beacon's Closet (http://www.beaconscloset.com/) my haven in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Oh, if I could only go there again! How much money I would spend, you don't even know.

I spent about $15 for this belt, and I must wear it at least twice a week. Check out my outfits throughout this blog and you will see the "infamous pink belt" repeated over and over again.

It's important to have signature pieces because through them, you are branding your style and creating a recognizable look. Not a lot of people can pull off this pink belt. But I can, and so I rock it, and when people see me in "the pink belt" they are reminded of my style sense and can attribute it to the "Sammy style."

When you have a [insert your first name here] style, then you know you've made it big time.

Buttons!

2007-08-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

I saw this amazingly cute sweater at Forever 21, and I was saving it for the fall, but I was like it's white and summer is about white. So I just did it - I wore it before the fall. I paired it with grey legging with button and lace detail that I found in Tokyo and white mary janes with a purple button detail. I liked all the button detailing. Maybe it was too many buttons, but I thought it looked good.

Texas ain't got boots as hot as Sammy D!

2007-08-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

I Finally got a BELT!

2007-08-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sammy is the queen of belts, and when she's got an outfit picked out, she never feels complete until its got a belt. Me on the other hand, I never want to buy a belt. I mean it does add something to the look, and sometime some outfits just don't work unless they have a belt, so after morning after morning of Sammy and her belts and Sammy telling me I need a belt, I gave in and just got a freakin' belt. So here's to my first belt! I got the silk top and tank, belt, and espadrilles from Banana Republic and the jeans from Uni Qlo in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo.

Sammy goes boho~~

2007-08-05T20:59:00.000-07:00

I am sucker for vintage and consignment shops.

During a recent Greyhound road trip back home to Philadelphia, Pa, I checked out one of my favorite consignment shops, Buffalo Exchange (http://www.buffaloexchange.com/) a chain consignment shop based in Arizona with locations across the country-- including Phila and New York City.

I love Beacon's Closet because there are always dressing rooms. Everything is dirt cheap. And they have the coolest shit, hands down.

Case in point: This dress cost me $6.99. For less than a salad at Cosi, I bought a fabulous dress that when worn, consistently receives compliments.

This boho look, when paired with a belt, is a cute late summer-early fall transitional piece. The coloring is appropriate for fall, but the cut and style just right for the summertime months.

It's added sparkle and flattering cut add its allure. $6.99 well spent.

Pink Polka Dots!

2007-08-05T20:58:00.001-07:00

Ah, the polka dot Express dress that was ahead of its time!

About two years ago, polka dots came into full swing. Now they hold steady in the fashion world. While they are no longer at the height of their hey day, you can walk into just about any store and find something with polka dots.

Well, being the fashion forward 17-year-old that I was, I purchased this polka dot dress from Express in winter 2002. The dress was in the store's winter line, even though I've worn it mostly in the summer time.

I first wore it with fishnets and knee high boot, sans belt.

Four years later, I wear it with a belt and flats, paired with gold accessories and on occasion leggings. And the knee high boots? So not my look anymore.

I love the dress and the look lives on. Cha-ching!

Weekend Lite

2007-08-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hot weather calls for clothes that can keep you cool. I decided to go for effortless and somewhat simple. I paired an ivory sun dress from GAP (circa a long time ago) with new espadrilles from Banana Republic and hit Union Square for some art strolling. Why do women's shoe HAVE to hurt?! My heels were horribly cut up, but I like my ivory look, so I went for shorts and an airy top with another pair of espadrilles, but these ones were slingback, so they didn't rub my sores.

Fashion mishap

2007-08-05T20:40:00.000-07:00

I got back from work, and I wanted to change before I went out to meet my boyfriend at Penn Station, so to be casual, I threw on some leggings form Tokyo and an empire black tank dressed up with jazzy pumps and ran out the door. Damn! Bad mistake! Everyone was staring at me as I walked by, and they were all bad stares. Stares of disapproval. My tank was lowcut and my small boobs were some how hanging out and then my leegings were sorta see-through, so my white thong was still somewhat visible. BAD, very bad! I looked trashy, and I was so uncomfortable knowing that all my goodies (I like to think of them as goodies) were hanging out. So when I got to Harold Square I sat waiting for my beloved to arrive, but as the stares became too much to bear, I high tailed it to the Forever 21 right around the corner (at Broadway and 34th) and found this black tunic dress. Perfect! It went with my dalmation shoes (that I got in Tokyo in Shibuya) and grey leggings and covered all that stuff that was hanging out. Sigh of relief, I was no longer a fashion DON'T!

Work vs. Fun

2007-08-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with this yellow dress in where else? A vintage shop in Brooklyn.

I guess the dress is mid to late 80s. The fabric is like a linen, machine washeable, and very air-friendly.

Match it with the infamous pink belt-- and it no longer draps like an old lady's yellow rag. When Kait first saw the dress, she commented on its oversizeness. And the truth is, the dress is a bit big. But if you have the right belt, and are looking for a flowy look, then buy your dresses a size bigger, create a waist and call it hotness.

I recently wore this dress to visit my 86-year-old aunt, "Auntie Anne." She absolutely loved it, and this is coming from someone who has seen fashion come and go. When you get a compliment from fashion wisdom (or gay men!) then you know you're doing something right.

Ah, the weight lifting belt from London!

I found this somewhat atrocious thing in London at the Camden Markets (http://www.camdenlock.net/) Think a potluck of fashion, jewelry, furniture, antiques and miscellaneous anything all thrown into an expansive open air market with an underground, how-the-hell-did-this-get-here sort of appeal.

5 pounds later (about $8 American dollars) I picked up this one-time weight lifting belt and made it into, well, just a belt. If I'm ever in a jam and need to knock someone out real quick, I can just snap this baby off and bam! They're down.

Or, I can pair it with hot zebra shorts from Zara and tiny black tee and go clubbing. A photographer representing a fashion blog snapped a shot of me in this outfit while exiting a club. I also got down with a traveling hip hop artist who took my name (and everyone else's waiting in line outside) and turned it into a freestyle I-love-you-girl jam. Sweet.

Meeting with Ms. ASME

2007-07-27T04:33:00.000-07:00

Considering I had lunch with the head of my ASME (American Society of Magazine Editors) internship, Marlene Kahan, I definitely wanted to look professional, well put together, with a little element of style to not make it seem humdrum. So I thought a basic black pencil skirt would do, but I need a unique top, which is why I paired it with a lavendar top with a bow on it. I curled my hair and pinned it behind my ears so I could wear lip gloss without my hair getting stuck in it. Guess it worked because a tech guy asked me out!

2007-07-27T04:32:00.000-07:00

Quite possibly the most boring outfit of the summer, and such a throwback to how I used to dress.

Taking a look at the capris, the only good thing about them are that they are teal. Besides that, there is little originality to them. They're from the Limited, for goodness sakes, and screaming country-club WASP. Ugh. What was I thinking?

Par-tay @ STEREO

2007-07-27T04:27:00.000-07:00

Dress like Sammy Davis

2007-07-21T06:34:00.000-07:00

I am spontaneous, crazy, loud and fun. Kaitlyn says I'm popular; I say I love life. I can (or at least try!) to wear anything from a Tahari suit to an all black jump suit and belt to a vintage skirt and leather jacket with boots. My style is indescribable, but it gets me noticed every time. And why live life like a ghost?

We hope that this fashion forum inspires you to dress well everyday. Kaitlyn and I have two totally different styles, but with the same goals in mind: To dress to feel good, confident, and seize the day. It doesn't matter your size, shape, background, or income level: We all have what it takes to flatter our bodies and improve our lives through what we wear.

Don't call is vanity: call it intelligence.

Dress like us-- dress like you-- and impress the world!

Legally Blonde (or Legally Asian?)

2007-07-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

Sammy's pink look for a night at Broadway's Legally Blonde

Old Navy tweed!

Pink, pink, and more pink

My pink dress for Legally Blonde

Shoes I bought in Korea

After scoring tickets to Broadway's "Legally Blonde," Sammy and I thought what better way to show our support for Elle through our clothes. Yes, that's why we chose pink dresses, an Elle staple. I bought the dress Sammy's wearing about 5 years ago, but gave it to her last summer when I realized it didn't fit me well and would fit her better. It just goes to show that a classic tube dress will never go out of style. And of course Sammy Sam-ified the look by adding all of her accesories and pizazz.

I bought my dress probably 6 or 7 years ago (I think I was in middle school), for my grandfather's birthday. It was a tropical theme, hence the floral design. I wear this dress every summer, and it has become my throw it on dress, but it also looks good for a night on the town.

So do you want to dress like us?

2007-07-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

After a cathartic scrub in our NYC bathroom, the grand idea of keeping a log of me and my roommate's fashion popped into my mind. So while you may not want to dress like us per se, you can at least check out what we decided to wear that day/night/event and read about what our thought processes were in determining every piece, because most girls or any fashion concious person knows, that it takes time to pull a look together and get it just right.

So why do we even care about posting what we wear? Well, we're magazine junkies and self-proclaimed fashionistas that absolutely adore dresses, leggings, belts, big earrings, peep toes, and whatever else you'll see stashed in our closets. Plus we love writing, so why not write about the mundane morning drama of deciding what to wear that we all go through?

Sammy is all about vintage, belts and crazy colors, although I'm sure she'll tell you more about herself. I (Kaitlyn) am a little more classic in taste, but after living in Japan for four months, my fashion is starting to evolve a little and I'm trying things that I never would've worn (like huge hoops or side ponytails). Enjoy watching what we decide to wear and be inspired, and have fun getting into our minds and what made us pick what pumps to wear with what empire waist dress, or whatever the outfit may be.