queen B.

sultry & unpolished beauty tips with leighton meester:
marie claire december 2010



via leCHEAP c'estCHiC + fashiongonerogue

happy halloween!

whip it.

KATE'S LAST CRUSADE

images from Kate Moss' last collection for TOPSHOP just released, and she doesn't look too happy about it! not sure if she's sad that their relationship is over, or if she's underwhelmed with the clothes. yeah, not sure.

the collection will be released in stores on Nov. 2, and to gain a little more publicity for the occasion, topshop.com is posting pictures of Kate wearing one piece from the collection each day up to to the release date, appropriately called 7 Days of Kate. today is cape day.

what do YOU think of the collection?

that little grey sweater

activewear as ready-to-wear has been very apparent the last few seasons. we've seen slouchy sweatpants replacing leggings, heels have rubber spike soles for better walking traction, striped over-the-knee tube socks are slightly sexy now (thanks to the heels-with-socks trend), and then there's my favorite – the ubiquitous grey crew neck sweatshirt.

what was considered a raggedy, warm sweater you wear to sleep has now become the go-to staple to dress down a too-fancy look. the way that it's not form-fitting, the way it slouches, the way it fits just like your man's but better, the way the grey just goes with just about everything in your closet – this understated piece has infinite possibilities.

wear it with sequins, pair it with leather shorts. pile on chunky, sparkly necklaces, while you roll up the sleeves. rock it long as a mini dress over your favorite colored stockings, or cropped with high-waisted trousers or a maxi skirt.

if i can wear my Cheap Monday crew every day, i would. ..with black liquid leggings and any one of my booties/wedges. i'm a sucker for comfortwear.

some photos just to give you some ideas:



Dries Van Noten and 3.1 Philip Lim

 braided by Bodkin

 looks from Zara

 Sasha + a leather jkt

 leather shorts, decorated shoulders, & cropped

 Clémence & sequins

Ashley Olsen + headband + leather leggings + YSL Tribs + a GREY SWEATER! = front-row chic at the Chanel show. 

effortless and timeless, the way everything oughta be!


xoxox

FASHION'S NIGHT IN!

after much success with Vogue's FNO 2009 and 2010, the fashion powerhouse, Anna and the CFDA is declaring the inaugural FASHION'S NIGHT IN on November 1, 2010. instead of fabulous in-store parties, celeb-designer-editor sightings, and karaoke'ing with the Olsens at Barney's, everyone in the WORLD can party in their PJs, in front of their computers, in the comfort of their own homes to do nothing but click around and shopshopshop! 

i think this is a brilliant idea. i know that this year's FNO was spread out further than just Manhatten – even Orange County's own Fashion Island did a little FNO'ing – but for the rest of the ONLINE STORES that couldn't participate, here's their chance to give us deserving discounts. this thing is going to go v i r a l . 

among the e-tailers already signed up for FNI include:

alexander mcqueen

asos

liberty london

matthew williamson

net-a-porter

topshop

wildfox

..and i'm sure more and more of our fave online stores will be signing up as the event approaches. 

such a simple concept, but totally totally cool.

click here for a full list of participating shops @ vogue.co.uk. 

m o n d a y .

everyone deserves to sparkle.

...at least this fall/winter. sparkle. sequins. glitter. gold. definitely this season's must-have embellishments. whether it be a gold, sparkly cardi or a black-sequin mini..you're sure to dazzle at your holiday events.

caution: with sequin outfits, choose em wisely and keep accessories at a minimum. no one wants to look like a tacky discoball.

happy holidays everyone!

CHIC (not slutty) for HALLOWEEN!

as LL discovered in Mean Girls: "in girl world, halloween is the only night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it."
be that as it may, i for one can't frolic around in my lingerie, stick on a hat of any "profession" and say that i'm all ready for trick-or-treating. sorry, not my style.
i actually had the best Halloween last year -- a box of assorted Godiva truffles and Interview With the Vampire. that was so much fun. but here we are back again in the middle of October and I started thinking of costumes, just in case there's actually something to do this year. maybe i can whip something up with things i already have in my closet, to be either:

edie sedgwick.
black eyeliner, bold earrings, a pack of cigarettes, and my FUR COAT.

or anna wintour
big round sunglasses, a coat, and maybe i'll have to go buy a bob wig

or maybe yoko ono:
long, black hair, little round sunglasses, a floppy hat, and a crochet dress

decisions, decisions!

if all else fails, i'm buying a tutu and making myself a ballerina!

GET COZY at F21, GET WARM at H&M, and STAY WARM at 80's

You may not be aware of this, but all your favorite fashion companies take a lot of time, and put in a lot of effort to try to come up with the best eye-catching, money-grabbing, make-you-wanna-buy ad campaigns every season (and sometimes even in between seasons). Trust me, I've been there. Trying to come up with clever, borderline cheesy slogans isn't as easy as you think. 

So as I was online window shopping the past couple days, I noticed a little blip with a few of the more major companies and their F/W campaigns. Maybe great minds think alike. Maybe they just ran out of ideas. Maybe they decided to join forces to get the universal message out: GO SHOPPING.

You be the judge.

GET COZY @ FOREVER21.COM

GET WARM @ H&M

STAY WARM @ 80SPURPLE.COM

have a happy weekend! 

p.s. this is probably the BEST time to go xmas shopping before the holiday madness at the mall -- so listen to f21, hm, and 80s...go shopping! 

xo

A.

A TOAST TO MY GIRLS

to my dear sister Sophia and our gorgeous girlfriends -- 
thank you so much for coming to support me and my new endeavor.
success means nothing if you don't have anyone to share it with!
here's to you girls -- sophia, kathy, linda, linh, bao, dung, carol, mai, and kym.
....xoxoxox

ON SOPHIA:
chained cardigan - zara
silk blouse - dvf
necklace - chanel
boots - sam edelman Zoe's
bag - leather/suede balenciaga

ON ME:
jumpsuit - bcbg
cardigan - vintage Missoni
clutch - balenciaga
& my anna necklace that I haven't taken off in two years :)