Lust of the Week: Mara Hoffman Double Layer Asymmetrical Swing dress

via ShopBop for $396

There is something about draped, floaty, silhouettes that I love. The way it just flows over one's curves is gorgeous and that huge draped sleeve look where you basically have to wear something else underneath or an accent colored bra since everyone will be able to see clear to your ribs, just makes me swoon. Maybe it's the relaxed, yet fashionable vibe, or perhaps it's the way this silhouette has of making skinny people look skinnier, but I am a puddle of lust over this dress. Featuring cool jersey in a summery shade of ombre peach, this dress would look stunning if you have toned arms, calves, and the perfect delicate gold arm cuff! Argh, why did I have to spend all my shopping budget for the month already on shoes and sunglasses?!

Weekly Shopping and Goodies

• The Fashionable Housewife dishes on Summer 2009 Hair Trends & Hairstyles
• A Few Goody Gumdrops has two favorite Alexander Wang dresses!
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy asks: where do you draw the line between inspiration and copying? Join the debate and win!
• Couture In The City Enter your chance to win with Veet!Ladies It’s Time To Show Off Your Legs! And You Could Win A Trip To Barbados!
• Fashion Fille got a really pretty ring with a really cool message. See it and read about it at her blog!
• Handbag du Jour is coveting Mena Suvari's luxe Be&D Belleville Hobo in washed champagne eel skin.
• Puppies and Worms found a way to get $25 for $10 at restaurants all over the US.
• Quinta Trends introduces CandyStore Collective: Sweet e-shopping.
• Raging Rouge posts the ultimate Mother's Day shopping list
• Shopping and Info checks out Megan Fox on the set of Jonah Hex.
• Style Eyes announces the launch of Posh Swaps, a new site for swapping buying and selling second hand and vintage clothes for free, in her post Let the clothes swapping commence
• The Bare Skinny shows you denim done differently
• The Fashionable Gal is giving away MAX Factor Lipstick & Mascara. Submit your outfit idea for a chance to win!
• The Well-Heeled Society reviews high heel rain protectors that will have you humming Rihanna's, "ella, ella, aye, aye, aye"!
• What's Haute can't wait to shop the Rachel Roy diffusion line at Macy's!

Give some lovin to the one who loves you most

Mother's Day is fast approaching and although some may say that holidays like Mother's Day are simply commercialized cash grabs, they do have a good basic intention, which is to celebrate the woman who gave you life, hugs, and band-aids when you scraped your knees. We should appreciate our mothers everyday, but having a set holiday serves to remind us to do what we often forget when we're caught up in the madness of normal life.

If you're like me, and are perennially stuck for ideas, then here's a gift guide that may help you get inspired! Thanks to SomeoneSpoilMe.com, this gift guide is full of cute, helpful, gift ideas for Mother's Day and if you purchase an item online using the discount code SPOILME, then you'll get 20% off your purchase!

Here's a few of the goodies I'm considering for my own mommy:

DIY Photo block, $25

Get crafty and create your own photo set! You can personalize it with childhood memories, or use a cool funky graphic print to jazz up your mom's living room.

Mother's Day Cheesecake, $140

I love the perfect smoothness of this cake, and a gorgeous cake like this one is a lasting memory to the heart and to the stomach!

Lollia Bath & Body set, $59 for whole set

Every woman, no matter how tomboy-ish loves a good pampering! Moms are always putting everyone but themselves first, so give her a treat with some divine smelling beauty products. Add some candles and a good romance novel, and you'll certainly rack up the brownie points over your siblings.

Max & Chloe engraved locket, $200

Finally, if you're really wanting to splurge, then purchase a beautifully classic piece of jewelery like this engraved locket. Inside you can put pictures of yourself and your mom as that perfect, heartfelt touch. Aww, how warm and fuzzy!

In other news, ShopItToMe.com is having a very cool giveaway! In celebration of the finale of the series Running in Heels, they are giving away 5 free 1-year subscriptions to Marie Claire! All you have to do to enter, is go here and comment on the post! Winners are picked May 1st, so you better enter quick!

A Week in the life of MizzJ...

Well, this high maintenance woman has been pretty busy this week! Contrary to popular conception, I don't just spend all my time sitting in front of a computer blogging away. Well, actually, that's not true. I should really get out more... but in all seriousness though, I do venture outside every so often, especially if the weather warrants it and we in Vancouver have been having some pretty awesome weather this week! Here is where I wandered this week...

Wednesday: Army & Navy shoe sale!! My FFB and BFF Solo Lisa has gushed about this legendary sale for the last couple years so my curiosity overcame me and I finally got the chance to go with her to this sale. Army & Navy is a giant multi-level emporium of, well, everything! Once a year they host a huge sale of discounted shoes from various unknown sources and believe me when I say it is CRAZY!

Check out all these shoe addicts!! People were literally digging through piles on the floor and I am unashamed to admit I was among them.

My fellow brave shoppers

This weary bargain bandit only came away with 3 pairs (the black pair were my friend's)! Sadly, many of shoes were too large for my teeny size 5 feet.

Previous Sunday: Vancouver Sun Run!! I have been training on my office team the past few months for the annual 10k Sun Run. The Sun Run is a huge race that happens every April in Vancouver, and this year was the biggest yet with I believe an estimated 58,000+ people racing through the streets of downtown Vancouver. It is a beautiful run that starts in the heart of downtown, travels through gorgeous Stanley Park, and meanders along the waterfront before ending at BC Place, which will be the home of the opening and closing ceremonies for the winter Olympics next year!! I was very surprised that I didn't have to be peeled off the pavement after the race, but 10k wasn't nearly as bad as I thought! In fact, it was an utterly exhilarating experience to run with so many people and in such a beautiful city as Vancouver - definitely doing it next year!

Team Running!! (Yes, our team name was not the most original). I also am always surprised by how short I am in photos!

Team huddle before the race

And now, victory!!!

Fashion's dirty not-so-secret

Forever 21 gets in trouble again
Top: Forever 21
Bottom: Trovata

Get off your high horse, you know you've at least thought about it. That dirty, little temptation in the back of your mind that you wouldn't reveal to anyone, and which you publicly condemn loudly, and vehemently, to anyone within earshot - but MizzJ knows better. What am I talking about? Knock-offs, replicas, these are the nicer names of fashion's dark side. Heralded as the financial engines of terrorism, this is undeniably as huge an industry as the legitimate fashion industry, but is it really all that bad? Imitation is the greatest form of flattery they say, and certainly even snooty haute couture designers can be accused of "borrowing" from one another. The question at hand is where do you draw the line between inspiration and copying?

Retail giants such as H&M and Forever21 make their fortunes off of creating affordable fashions fresh from the runways, but whereas some, like H&M seek to imitate, some, like *cough* Forever21 *cough* get accused of outright plagiarism. Take this post about the above photo. When placed together it's undeniable that F21 is totally copying like a sweaty 5th grader on a pop quiz. Tsk Tsk!

OK yeah, I wouldn't buy a fake purse, or wallet off some sketchy street vendor, but what about established retailers with well-lit stores and posh display windows? Does the fact that it looks clean make it acceptable? Maybe, yes. I wouldn't have recognized that these were a copy of a Trovata shirt until it was pointed out to me and it seems logical that many consumers don't realize, or care, that their clothes may be carbon copies of designer duds. Unless you are up on your fashion knowledge, these shirts are just plain Polo's and striped sweaters with mismatched buttons; however, to big brands this is a huge rip-off. One does have to wonder though, does it really hurt them? People who buy Chanel aren't going to abandon it for their cheaper cousins, in fact they are more likely to scoff at anyone who would! And I hardly think Anthropologie is going to go out of business either because F21 is copying them - it's not like they invented the peasant blouse!!

The real offenders here are those who try to pass off their replicas as the "real deal" - they are the ones that hurt the industry! Unless a design is immediately recognizable by the general public as being of a certain brand, then can it really be claimed as being "unique" to that brand? Should the inventor of leggings get royalties from LiLo every time she sells a piece of her patched flimsies? What about Tiffany - do they have an exclusive right to padlocks?? If brands are going to cry murder, then they should also look among themselves too and determine if every single design they've ever put out is utterly unique. What really needs to be discussed, and which often isn't, is a better definition of just who is legit and who is a poor poser, and everything else is just a bunch of useless chatter.


Think you can spot a fake from a mile away? Take a look at these images below and try to guess the real from the fake. Email your answers to mizzjblog at gmail.com with the subject line: "I know the real deal!". Answers to the below quiz will be posted next week, with the person with the most correct answers winning, what else, a Forever21 e-gift certificate of $10!

(Sorry, this contest is available only to those countries with a Forever 21 site. Emails without the proper subject line will be filtered out so please remember it!)

#1: Which is the real and the fake Tiffany?

#2: Will the real Chanel please stand up?

#3: One is YSL, the other is Mayle

#4: Foley + Corinna, or Nine West?


What do you think: are retailers like Forever21 the posers and should be prosecuted, or is the industry targeting the wrong offenders?


Special thanks also go out to Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy reader SW for tipping me off to this story!

Lust of the Week: Alexander Wang open back dress

via Reborn for $679

This dress is so undeniably sexy and edgy that it screams out to be this week's LOTW. The sparse lines of this dress cut out a prim shift that coyly reveals a slim slit in the back, revealing a gentle sexuality. Pair this simplicity with a dominating marble print, and this plain dress is transformed into something modern and provocative. Is the print blurry rosettes, or is it white static straight from the TV screen? Who can tell, but beware of the smart woman who wears this.

Weekly Shopping and Goodies

• A Few Goody Gumdrops views the independent film: Valentino,The Last Emperor and chats with the Director!
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy goes professional and fashionable for under $100!
• Couture In The City shares with us spring suits, handbags & shoes at Smartbargains.com
• Even though Fashion Fille is far from Australia, she is digging a super cool down-under online boutique!
• Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion shares the Cole Haan Air Owen Venetian because Men Have Shoe Swag Too!
• Ropa del alma presents it new collection by Quinta Trends
• Raging Rouge is now utterly flawless. OK, not really, but Hello Flawless can certainly help out a bit!
• Shopping and Info checks out Angelina Jolie’s latest classic bag.
• Style Eyes has yet another shopping dilemma as she considers Bright versus dark florals
• The Bare Skinny shines the spotlight on Mary Katrantzou who is definitely a master of illusion!
• The Well-Heeled Society shows you a chic slice of life.
• diva in a carry on reminds you to refill those bottles, ladies, refill!

Get professional chic with CareerBags!

As much as we hate to admit it, appearances matter. Looking good can help you feel good, and it also gives a better impression of yourself to others. When going to job interviews, important company presentations, or just a regular office meeting, it helps to give yourself confidence and to show respect for your colleagues by having a clean, brisk, appearance. Don't get me wrong though, that doesn't mean you can only wear black and be boring! More and more now, companies are allowing employees more freedom of expression with their attire and accessories. Showing a little originality, while still maintaining an intelligent air, will make you stand out and be remembered.

Sites like CareerBags.com are great resources to find accessories that are chic and have great value. The site is easy to use, has efficient shipping (I received my order in 2 days!), and has a huge range of fashionable items. Recently I received a press alert about a big sale at CareerBags, so if you are looking for a new office or school bag, then you should definitely check this sale out!

Knomo laptop case, $98

This bright fuchsia bag is perhaps the closest you'll get to a Chanel laptop bag (and that won't cost you a kidney).

Casauri travel satchel, $48

Cute, friendly, and sleek, this little travel pouch will hold all your travel necessities, is water resistant, and features a multitude of pockets to hold the important things, like that cute local's number.

Casauri laptop brief, $95

As a laptop bag, this bag is perfect for the hallowed halls of the school campus. Rather than go for boring black, gray, or brown, this bag boasts a whimsical flowery design full of fun! On the practical side, thick straps offer comfort for the shoulders, while a water resistant exterior provides durability.

Laurex laptop sleeves, left to right: Red Blossom ($39.99) and Silver Petal ($44.99)

Finally, there are these cute laptop sleeves from Laurex! Feminine, colorful, and sleek, these sleeves are great protectors and so pretty that you'll find yourself using any excuse to whip out your laptop and look professional!

Links à la Mode

• 39thandbroadway.com - The Evil Fashion Boss
• 3stylelife - Microdesign F: Chalk
• A Few Goody GumDrops: - A Few Goody Gumdrops is “Inspired” by Handbag Designer, Katherine Kwei and Her Eternity Knot
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy: - Getting to know… designers of Be & D Handbags
• Breakfast at Saks: - Brand Love: Ellery
• Broke & Beautiful - ECIG: JaJo Couture
• Daisy Fairbanks Vintage: - In Your Easter Bonnet - The Art of the Hat
• Debutante Clothing: - Thrifting Words to Live By - Search High and Low - A Tale of Prada
• dramatis personae - Beach Blanket Bingo! Kiss & Dashing Diva Beauty Giveaway
• fete a fete: - Eminence Biodynamic Collection
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: - Top 5 Traffic Yielding Social Networks for Fashion Blogs
• Instant Vintage - Lil Shop of Horror: Urban Outfitters
• Munique Fashions: - Organizing Carrie Bradshaw’s wardrobe
• Retro Chick - Totally Clueless
• shopfair: - Fair Trade Jeans Special
• Solo Lisa: - From Shanghai With Love: An Interview With Helen Lee
• Super Kawaii Mama - Being Joan
• SwanDiamondRose: - ~the SWANclothing TINY ROSE purse~
• The Coveted: - This Old Rag? Our Lurking Treasures
• The Curvy Fashionista: - Top Fashion Do’s for the Plus-Size Curvy Fashionista
• The Demoiselles - Birds of a Feather: Lady Smaggle

Check out the rest of the equally amazing links here!

Recently, I also got a press release about a not-for-profit agency out of the US and Canada call The Fresh Air fund. This charitable fund acts as a means for families in disadvantaged, urban communities to send their children to volunteer host families for a summer vacation in places they may not otherwise ever have the chance to visit, expanding their horizons and brightening their outlook with positive life experiences. If you feel that this is something you would like to participate in, please visit their site for more info!

Feelin' some good karma

Earlier this week the always original Trisch tagged me! Normally I'm supposed to tag a bunch of other people, but since I'm feeling rather tired today, I'm going to make like a pirate and say these "rules" are more "guidelines" and pass this onto whoever wants to answer them!

Here's the rules as given to me:

1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people.

And here are my answers!

What is your current obsession? Hmm, I'd say bondage! As in bondage style shoes, the fiercer and more S&M madam-esque the better!!

What artist/album do you have on repeat right now? Definitely a mix of Lady GaGa, Paper Trail by T.I. and Sasha Fierce by Beyonce

Do you nap a lot? Not as much as I'd like! I cannot nap alone, otherwise I just feel like I'm wasting time I could use actually doing something.

Who was the last person you hugged? My "boy" Terry!!

What's my fav dinner? anything Thai, or my mom's Chinese stuffed tofu and spaghetti

What was the last thing you bought? A beige military style jacket and pleated royal blue skirt from H&M.

Dream wedding? Getting married under a grove of cherry blossom trees, the petals dropping down in the sun, with just our closest friends and family.

Fav weather? Summer!! It's the best season: flip flops, beaches, sunshine, what more could you want?

What's in your bathroom cabinet? Medicine, tons of beauty products, makeup, hair dryer, TP

Say something to the person who tagged you: You were one of the first local bloggers I found online! Keep up the great work!

If you could have a house fully furnished, totally paid for, anywhere in the world, where would it be? What a tough question, there are so many beautiful places in the world! I'd say Hawaii, right close to the beach and surrounded by plumeria flowers.

Fav vacation spot? Hawaii, Taiwan, Paris, Greece was beautiful too. So hard to choose!!

What is your fav tea flavour? White tea, not white as in "white person" but white tea, wiki it.

What would you like to get rid of? Pollution

What did you want to become as a child? The first woman on Mars. Serious.

What are you reading right now? No logo by Naomi Klein

Fav brand of jeans? Don't have one. Whatever ones make my ass look good?

What designer piece of clothing would you most like to own (new or vintage)? A Burberry trench, or an Elie Saab gown, or one of those painterly trend gowns in the Dolce & Gabbana ads a few seasons ago.

Would I live my life differently than how I do now? Maybe, of course I am not perfect. I think sometimes I am too much of a Libra and I get hurt.

What is your dream job? I'm not sure actually! Getting paid to write full-time I suppose, but then writing is a pretty lonely job at times too and I'm a very social person, so I'm not sure!


In other news, I want to extend a huge thanks to the people below because it seems someone up there is smiling down on me and letting me win all these goodies!! Fate is setting me up for something terrible down the road I know it...

Jalda eel skin clutch, thanks to Betsy of A Few Goody Gumdrops!

Satin flower hair pin, thanks to Tina of Luphia Loves!

CK One perfume, thanks to Trisch of Trisch Express!


Keep on reading Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy as I'll be spreading the luck by featuring a new giveaway soon!

Lust of the Week: Botkier Kai Convertible Bag

Saks, $751.53

If you've read this blog enough, you'll notice that I'm not a huge fan of quirky, ultra-trendy bags. In my opinion, if you're going to buy designer, then invest in a piece that won't overly date you. It's similar to how I imagine one would purchase art; you wouldn't just buy the latest flash in a pan over a Monet would you? A large factor in choosing a piece that will last is its color, so I tend to favour colors that slant more towards the neutral zone. A great example of this tendency in action is the Botkier Kai Convertible bag. The pearl grey tone of this bag complements all the colors of the rainbow so you can throw this bag over your shoulder without a worry of clashing your bag with your outfit. Also, before you scoff and yawn, check out the details and luxurious look of this bag - the optional shoulder strap allows versatile holding options (shoulder, arm crook, in hand); the braided handle is sturdy and visually interesting; it's super roomy, but gorgeous looking with its soft pearlized leather; and the trendy gathering on the sides and slouchy feel keeps this bag modern and edgy. I want, I need!!

Getting to know... designers of Be & D Handbags

Photo credit: Purse Blog

Last month I featured the awesome designs of American design duo, Be Invathong and Steve Dumain of Be & D Handbags. Not only are their handbags and accessories line chic, refreshing, and timeless, these two designers are very cool people! I was lucky enough to get the chance to probe the minds of this creative pair about their inspirations, influences, and visions of the future:


How it all began

MizzJ: Can you tell me the story of the Beirut bag mentioned in your company bio and how it became the start of your company?

Steve: We went to Beirut to visit one of Be’s best friends there in 2003. On our way back to New York at the Beirut airport, we bought a lot of Middle Eastern nuts as gifts. All the nuts came in a large burlap large tote bag with Arabic silk screen images (that I didn’t understand, but it looked cool). We carried that bag all over town during that summer and were so inspired by it. We translated that bag into an Italian Denim tote with our own silk screening and the rest, well, is history….

MizzJ: How did you come up with The Garbo? Why bring it back?

Be & S: The Garbo was a barrel shape bag that we wanted to “dress up” and give attitude. It all started with the idea of feminine meets tough, so we translated that by using ultra soft lambskin. Then we wanted to add a rock-n-roll feel, so we studded the bag with flat rivets to make the impression of metal polka dots. We brought the Garbo back this year because it felt organic, as it was our 5th anniversary. Also, we wanted to re-capture the feeling of rock-n-roll chic that is very of-the-moment.

MizzJ: What has been the highlight of your successes thus far, that moment that you knew you had “made it”?

Be & S: Honestly, we don’t think we ever know that moment. Though we see it our stores, on celebrities, or on the streets, we are constantly chasing the design of the ultimate accessories. We just really enjoy making our products.


Inspirations

MizzJ: Why do you name your bags after celebrities?

Be: Because of Steve’s film background, we named our bags after iconic women in Hollywood. We wanted to modernize the feeling of celebrity to every woman when she carries our bags.

MizzJ: Would you ever do a collaboration with a celebrity, and if so who?

Be & S: We’re not sure if we would yet. So we’ll see….

MizzJ: Who is the “Be & D girl” and what is her signature style?

Be & S: The Be & D girl is someone who is fashion forward, has her own mindset, and knows what moves her. She can be a whimsical daughter, a chic mother, or a modern grandmother.

MizzJ: In one interview, Be stated that each handbag creation is a struggle between your two opposing styles. What would each of you say that your styles are, and what influences and skills do you bring to the design table?

Be: My style changes day to day. I believe style is one’s translations of life. I might feel traditional and tailored one day, and unexpected and casual another day. I bring my own understanding of style to the design table when we work together. I try to envision the same attitude and style philosophy that the Be & D girl will have.

Steve: Being that my background in design started with sculpture, I bring some of a new 3-dimensional aspect to our design. Be taught me how to turn my artistic visions of objects into fashion objects. I also was a collector of vintage luggage - so I have always had an obsession for old luggage detailing. I think we're both a little punk - Be is classic and luxurious in many ways and I'm more slouchy and into odd shapes. Together we make something surprising and fresh.

MizzJ: Where do you get your fashion information: blogs? Street style? Magazines? TV?

Be: I just imagine what I like.

Steve: Street style and listening to women in my life and listening to my own creative instinct without being influenced by what others are doing.


Worldly Perspectives

MizzJ: Be, you are originally from Laos, and Steve has travelled in Europe and South America. How do you find these international experiences have influenced your collections?

Be: International experience can be very important as other cultures and countries can be rich in details useful in design and construction, but I don’t think international travel is necessary to be creative. The library is a great destination for perspective too!

Steve: We have a very worldly feel in everything we make. Both of us are very passionate about traveling and experiencing different cultures and ways to view the world. I definitely believe in the modern idea of a tribe - and you'll see them everywhere from the Amazon jungle, to the streets of Brooklyn, to Madison Avenue.


The Future

MizzJ: Where do you want to take the company in the next 5 years?

Be & S: We hope to have our first Be&D shop when the time is right - it would be great to have a place to show different categories we've wanted to make - but [it] would make the most sense in a shop that represented the full vision of the brand.

MizzJ: What do you see as the upcoming trends for 2009?

Be & S: Rock’n Roll chic and heavy metal chic.

MizzJ: As young up and coming designers, what advice do you have for others like yourselves to make it big?

Be & S: Stay focused and keep a clear design message and philosophy.

MizzJ: Finally, what advice do you have for the public in terms of style?

Be: Everyone has style and don’t ever forget that.

Thanks again to Be and Steve for taking the time and consideration to do this interview! It was an honor guys and keep designing!

Plenty of great buys!

This long weekend was filled with turkey, parties, and shopping!! Having recently come off my 2 month shopping ban, I was eager to hit up the shops. However, I still was holding onto my shopping criteria of requiring all possible buys to be on sale and to be wearable in at least 5 outfits. The recent announcement of Plenty's first warehouse sale was the perfect opportunity to pick up some great deals and items for summer so last Friday I hustled down to the Chinatown location of the sale with two friends. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a lineup snaking around the corner, but as everyone knows, good things come to those who wait.

To my surprise, the crowd was fairly well dressed, with many sporting designer glasses, chic flats, skirts, and one girl even wearing shorts! As for myself, I sported layers for the changing moods of the weather that day, slip-on shoes, and a nice bra with tights since I suspected that there might not be a changing room available:

Shirt: old Navy,
Scarf: Gap
Cordoroy mini: The Barn
Pink tights: Urban Outfitters
Wedges: Aldo

After forty-five minutes of chatting, waiting, and checking out the clothes of the crowd, we finally squeezed our way in. Inside, the former Bank of Montreal building was filled with racks of clothes, shelves of shoes, and the excited, muted buzz of focused shoppers. I was in heaven. There are few things in life more thrilling than the anticipation of diving for good deals and hunting for those hidden treasures before someone else can snatch them up. Though Plenty is recognizable for their chic, funky pieces, most of the items on sale were basics. If you were a man, your patient waiting only resulted in a single rack of clothes, and one rack of puffy winter vests. However it was definitely a HUGE sale and there were still lots to pick up, so I really hope this event will repeat next year!

Here's a look at my finds:

Cute reusable nylon tote to carry our purchases in! One nice feature is that it zips up.

Great jersey cowl-neck dress, originally $200 that I bought for... $10!!! This dress is rather sheer, but I love the clean straight lines and it looks great with a belt, as shown. I just took it over to my Mom and she cut a slit straight up the side so that I can layer it as a shift over leggings!

Second up was this super soft cream sheer cowl-neck long tee. Layered underneath with a white tank, it's a great piece for everyday.

Finally for summer, I bought this tunic top in both baby blue and black. The embroidery at the hem and neckline gives a great bohemian vibe, but I imagine this top could be toughened up with chunky booties and a tight black mini.

If you're in Vancouver and you attended this sale, then share your finds and experience!

Links à la Mode

• 39th & Broadway - 39th & Broadway breaks down fashion and the economy
• A Few Goody GumDrops - Handbag give-away & Designer Scoop from Jalda
• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog - Sassy Sparkle with Joy Cutler Jewelry
• Clutch 22 - Love Your Legs in Denim Shorts + Discount Code!
• Consume or Consumed - Consumed by a quest for Moschino’s Trompe L’Oeil Pieces
• Culturistas - Get Kate Moss’s Style without Breaking the Bank
• Fashion File - When a super fab Tolani scarf at Fashion File
• FashionMind - Fabulous DIY Hair Accessories
• Hello Outlaw - The Outlaw 1970’s style crush: Edwige Belmore
• Hong Kong Fashion Geek - Zipper dee doo dah with Hong Kong Fashion Geek
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - IFB Launches LittleBirdie to help bloggers find the right content…
• Public Personae - 30 days of style with Sarah X
• Star Fashion Addict - New iPhone app let’s you be iFashionista!
• Studio Purpura - Studio Purpura’s Hong Kong Shopping Hot Spots
• Style Symmetry - A Chat with Glamourai -The Sensei of Glam
• Style With Anna - Anna digs on hottie Johnny Depp’s style
• STYLEMOM - Is Michelle Obama REALLY the First Lady of Fashion???
• Super Kawaii Mama - Vintage beauty tips from Super Kawaii Mama
• The Coveted - Lady Coveted styling debut with Beautiful Dolls
• The Curvy Fashionista - Designer Anna Scholz & her “curvalicious” fashions
• The Fish Tank - Easy on the eyes & easy on the pocket: Fresh beauty looks for Spring
• Work Chic - Work Chic dishes the skirt chic

Can't get enough? Check out the rest of the links here!

Weekend deals!

For the Easter long weekend I hope you all spend time with family eating Easter dinner, relaxing, and shopping! Here are some cool deals you may wish to check out this weekend...

Brought to you by Closet Couture comes this cool deal on Bulga Handbags, good for the month of April:



And for those in Vancouver, get over as fast as you can to the first ever Plenty warehouse sale!! Plenty is a popular Vancouver fashion institution - if you haven't heard of it, then check out their online store here. By the time of publication of this post, I'll already have scoped out some the hot goodies! Sorry ladies, but hey, I don't need the extra competition! ;)

Bad-ass plaid and awards are rad

Sweater dress: H&M
Knee socks: Nine West
Booties: can't remember
Bracelet: Xcetera


Bwahaha, excuse my horrible rhyming, but it got you here didn't it? Wearing a single tone doesn't necessarily mean boring, in fact, wearing a single tone can be quite visually interesting. In this outfit, I play with a color palette of black, grays, and a slight splash of red in my knee-socks and gold in the bracelet. The soft knit texture of the dress contrasts with the smooth black leather of the boots, while the varying shades of gray in my knee-socks break up the outfit nicely. The one thing unsatisfying with this outfit is my shoes! I feel that the heels are a little too stodgy for this ensemble and that something a little more chiseled would suit it better, what do you think?

In other news, I got this great reward from Hanako66 of Through the Looking Glass! Thanks so much Hanako66! It's always so great to hear that people appreciate my blog, and it encourages me to keep writing!



Now I want to share the love by highlighting some new fab blogs I've found recently:

Anywhere but here
Song of Style
Lindapendent

Lust of the Week: Gummilights

Jellio, $125 each, or $500 for set of 5

These were just to cute to resist, after all who doesn't have a soft spot for these yummy, cuddly, goodies? Created by Jellio designs, a design company that specializes in nostalgic home decor, this set of mini-sized lamps are the perfect size to adorn your windowsill with utter cuteness - plus, they are squishy and rubbery! My only question about this item? When was there ever a violet flavoured gummy bear??

Thanks to Cafe Fashionista for drawing my attention to these!

Celebrate your curves with PZI Jeans!

Women are beautiful and beauty comes in many shapes and sizes. While the "ideal" woman in the media is touted as a size 0, taut abs, big boobies, blonde amazon, the real woman exists in a far different category. Trying to beat yourself into fitting into that tight mold is pointless ladies, and I for one am a firm advocate of loving what nature gave you. Sure, one can always strive for self-improvement, but it's about making the best of who you are, and not trying to be someone else.

One such company that celebrates the diversity of women is PZI Jeans. Made for "the curvy, but slim woman", this premium denim and apparel brand is "designed to fit the woman with a streamlined waist, fuller hips, and curvy bottom," but the best way to describe this brand is va-va-voom! Check out some of the styles featured on their site below, all of which are a very affordable $69.

Jeans that are designed for your curves and are cheap?? How can you go wrong?!

During the month of April, Being High Maintenance not Bitchy and PZI Jeans are teaming up to offer you a special discount code on all PZI purchases! Just type in PZIApril09 at checkout time to save! Happy shopping!

Inspired by cherry blossoms

Last week on Purse Blog, writer Amanda featured a unique purse from Valentino, the Valentino Glamorous Tote. For $2995, this glamorous confection of a purse can be yours in all its white petal covered glory. The thousands of petals that make up the purse are said to be tough enough to withstand everyday abuse, but just by its creamy color alone, one already knows this purse is not meant for the everyday - it is meant for fantasy and romance, and days spent skipping in the sunlight, champagne in one hand and free American Express Black cards in the other - oh wait, or is that just me?



Sadly, this fantasy will never be a reality for the likes of me, and let's face it, many of the likes of you - that doesn't mean we can't participate in this dream though! A more budget-friendly option is this fashion forward shift dress from ASOS. The simple, clean, lines of this shift is the perfect counterbalance to the intricate 100% silk petals covering this dress.

Jovanna Petal shift dress, around $172

There are many ways to style this item, but two styles I've chosen are to either go classic, or rocker-chic, as inspired by the ASOS shot above.

Classic by mizzj

To go classic, try pairing the dress with some chic heels, white accessories, and flower details.

Rocker look for Petal dress by mizzj

For a tougher look, slip on some bondage style booties, lots of golds and blacks, and accessories that have a chunky weight to them.