Ooh la la. Lanvin for H&M {fashion}

November 2010

I hope Lanvin for H&M comes to San Francisco. 

Carol Hannah's Wedding Collection Reminds Me of Martha's Seven-Minute Frosting

Carol Hannah's Wedding Collection left me speechless. It did. Then I stumbled upon the perfect words on page 150 and 191 of Martha Stewart Living's September issue under "Seven-Minute Frosting,"

Incredibly light... delicate... excellent... for the girl wants to be the... center of attention.

For wedding dresses, Carol Hannah simply takes the cake if you want to dress to frill...


(yes a little cheesy but I couldn't help it. I love cheese :)

Boutique Wishlist: Wine Country Casual to Cocktail Chic

One of the reasons I enjoy living in the Bay Area is its proximity to Wine Country. Napa, Sonoma, Healdsburg… I love them all. At one point, my husband and I were frequenting Wine Country almost every weekend for a couple months. Crazy, I know. Unfortunately, Napa Valley’s reputation for catering to the rich and hi maka maka (my use of pidgin in this blog is long overdue so you can look up the meaning here) precedes it. In the last three years, I’ve learned you can visit hidden, affordable spots to luxurious, jaw-dropping gems. I’ll save my travel guide to wineries for another post. Let’s start with what I would like to wear for my next visit.

This outfit was inspired by my last trip to Cuvaison and their 2008 Espiritu Dessert Wine. It’s sweet but, not overly so, unlike other dessert wines rich in caramel and butterscotch. This one simply reminds me of a really good berry pie. Its color is so amazing. You can see by the tiny drop I have left in the picture above (no, I’m not a lush. Thanks for asking).

The colors I wear to Napa Valley are usually grape and earthy tones. Not just because they’re pretty but because I’m a klutz and wine stains on white are not so flattering. I also like wearing things that are loose but still elegant and edgy. That’s why I love Fighting Eel’s "Tube Uri" dress from their Fall 2010 collection so much.

I also don’t like fussing with a huge purse to lug around. This Alexander McQueen clutch comes with a detachable glove. Yes, it’s weird but practical for the lady with an insane amount of money.

On the other hand, the Cydwoq boot is something that I might just splurge on because... well, it’s fabulous! Kidding aside, I love Cydwoq. I have two pairs of Cydwoq shoes and they fit my God-made-me-expensive feet. My feet are unusually narrow and I find it extremely difficult to find nice shoes. Regardless if your feet were destined for a sandal shoe ad or not, Cydwoq prides itself on making shoes that are comfortable, stylish, and durable.

Alas, my outfit is not yet complete. Any suggestions for jacket and accessories?

Red Carpet Fashion for your Wedding

Catch the Emmys last night? I didn't so I have a lot of catching up to do. I did get to see a few of the fashion-forward fabulosity (yes, there I go with alliterations again and I have Kimora Lee Simmons to thank for that one). However, I was disappointed. I actually liked last year's gowns more.

See the full slideshow on modelinia.com

One of my faves is the jeweled gown by Badgley Mischka. Wouldn't it be awesome if you could have a gown like that as a bridesmaid dress? It's so figure flattering for so many body types. I wouldn't mind wearing that dress again and again.

If you're looking for celebrity-inspired fashion for an upcoming wedding, I have two words for you. Coco Myles.  At Coco Myles, you can browse through their selection of Red Carpet gowns and customize them to your color and size. I actually used Coco Myles for my wedding and my bridesmaids were thrilled with the selection.  Their customer service was really outstanding too. Coco Myles sent me a fabric swatches before I picked a color and they also gave my bridesmaids extra yards of fabric in case they wanted alterations done. You can even coordinate the groomsmen's ties with their new Men's Wear line. Need jewelry, custom dresses, or maternity dresses? Coco Myles has that too. No need to be scared of the price tag. The dresses are affordable. You can also follow them @cocomyles so you can catch their next sale. :) 

Dear Chloe Dao, Please make my wedding gown

Too bad I'm already married. Seriously, if you haven't seen Chloe Dao's Bridal Collection, where have you been? This Project Runway Season 2 winner still makes it work by crafting ethereal and modern designs with silk, charmeuse, chiffon, and organza. Their price tags are also easy on the eyes; probably much less than the average at Kleinfeld's. What kind of bride would match Chloe's dreamy dresses? Probably one who wants to put a pretty Etsy thing in her hair :)

BONUS if you can visit Lot 8 today or tomorrow:
According to @Lot8DCD, it's Tax Free Weekend! "Come in for no tax on items under $100. And take 20% off your entire purchase with a valid student ID"

Going Green Without Going Granola

One of my first experiences with the eco-friendly culture of the Bay Area was shopping at Berkeley Bowl. The variety of produce there is astounding.  Bumping into other customers? Not so pleasant. If you don't know anything about Berkeley, let's just say I wish there were free green deodorants at the entrance rather than shopping cart sanitizers.  Slightly miffed at experiences like these, I easily dismissed the green lifestyle. Fortunately, after living here for a couple of years, those stereotypes have been broken for good. Lucky for you, you don't have to live here to learn how. Below is a roundup of local to international hippie hip picks to help you become a green goddess.Yes, I do love alliterations.

Shop
Ri Couture
This fashion line by Heather G Arcega and Janu Arasu transforms traditional Indian Saris into cute flirty dresses.

Moxsie's Eco Shop
Did I tell you I love Moxsie?  Moxsie features independent designers and has a site dedicated to organic, recycled, and sustainable clothes.

Blissmo
Blissmo is like Groupon but for sustainable businesses. They offer savings on the local and national level. Contact them if you want to get more deals in your area.

SF approved
Browse the list of household products from cleaning products to office supplies that received the City of San Francisco's stamp of approval.  

Read TreeHugger
Dubbed as the "green CNN," you can come here to read about you can malama ka 'aina (respect the land). TreeHugger even has a fashion and beauty section.

Attend the Kokua Festival
Speaking of malama ka 'aina, you can support the Kokua Hawai'i Foundation,  a non-profit organization that supports environmental education in Hawaii's schools and communities, by watching Jack Johnson in concert. Need I say more?


Read, watch, and get inspired.
FASHION me GREEN

The SF Project: Eco-Fashion Makeover with Jennine Jacob from FASHIONmeGREEN on Vimeo.

Boutique Wishlist: beach goddess

Where do you go shopping for cute girly girl outfits? Ever since I moved, I can't say I have found that store yet. Until then, I'll be clipping stuff from around the web into a new series of posts named Boutique Wishlist, full of pretty things from indie designers.  This outfit started out with earrings I already own, Ligia earrings from Noelani Designs.  I love these earrings.  You can even ask Noelani to make customized jewelry and she'll name the new piece after you. DR 332 Animal Print is from Tamara Catz, another Hawaiian island designer. Noelani Designs and Tamara both have lovely bridal collections too. What do you think of this fab clutch to match. I found it on green with glamour. The girl in this outfit is ready for her hot date or meeting her girlfriends for cocktails. Don't you see her sipping a lavaflow at the Royal Hawaiian's Mai Tai Bar? I would love to see your beach goddess outfits. Post a link to them in the comments below.

Noelani Designs

Tamara Catz

green with glamour

I love Moxsie

I just discovered Moxsie and oh boy my wish list is now too long. Check out some of my favorites:

The Harbinger Co

Medium White Blossom Earrings
These are laser cut bamboo earrings made here in the Bay! How adorable.

SPUN

Cowl Neck Olive Dress
made by Spun, a great organic clothing line

Miele Bianco

Miley Hobo Handbag Brown
made by Miele Bianco where you can get vegan, budget-friendly fashion handbags. Melie is also having a summer blowout sale that ends on August 9. Go check out their stuff.

Moxsie features independent designers and donates a portion of their proceeds to charity. Wow. Oh, I wish my shop was already up and running.