Saturday, February 28, 2009

A shoe-loving cat

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(Joie cashmere cardigan, AA bodysuit, Jeffrey Campbell shoes, Silence + Noise skirt)

I was eating at a hole in the wall restaraunt in Thai Town and thinking how nice it'd be to live nearby, so I could walk outside and get tom yum kung soup whenever I wanted. But as we were taking these pictures, we overheard this really terrible fight break out in the nearest house and then an adorable white and gray cat scurried out!

I spent a few minutes playing with her (she turned out to be one of the friendliest cats I've ever encountered) and for some reason, she was incredibly interested in my shoes and kept circling round my feet as if thinking of buying a pair for herself! I do have to say--I think she has good taste as those Jeffrey Campbell shoes are among my favorites and one of the most comfortable pairs I own.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Yuri tights

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(Silence & Noise cami, Myne skirt, F21 tights, Jeffrey Campbell shoes)

I moved to L.A. last July, and a month or two later stumbled upon Yuri Japanese Café on Melrose Avenue, where I am now a proud regular customer. They serve out of this world teas (my favorite is the cookie tea and yes, it tastes every bit as good as it sounds!) and a killer spicy tuna roll.

Last night, I visited the café with some dear friends (shout out to Tammi who patiently took pictures of me!) who thought I’d worn my hot pink tights in honor of Yuri’s pink lighting. This wasn’t the case, but I’m glad of the coincidence! If you’re in the Los Angeles area, definitely stop by Yuri and check it out. Pink tights not required.

(Food pictures courtesy of Yuri)

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Drama queen

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(L'Wren Scott matador jacket, Nanette Lepore cardigan, Elizabeth & James pants, Guess boots)

I don't get many chances to wear my beloved L'Wren Scott matador jacket. But I paid so much for it that now I figure I may as well wear it whenever the mood strikes. No matter how many pictures I take, it's nearly impossible to capture the true beauty of this piece--its smooth thick fabric, its detailed carved buttons, its precise cut and fit. And I just love how it makes me feel when I put it on, all dramatic and mysterious.

I once recall trying to explain to a friend my passion for beautiful clothes, but she only shook her head in disbelief. That's when I dragged her to my closet, took out the L'Wren Scott, and made her feel the lovely fabric. I can still see the expression on her face as she stroked the heavy silk and took in the mandarin collar and pleated tailcoat. Ah-ha! I think she got it.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Gunmetal gray

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(Boulee halter blouse, random earrings)

I'm watching the E! after party of the Academy Awards and just heard Kate Winslet talking about her gunmetal gray Yves Saint Laurent dress, so it's fitting that I was just about to write about my own gunmetal gray blouse from Boulee. I've always had a weakness for anything with sassy cut outs. This blouse bares a little skin but doesn't go overboard, so it's still perfect for a girl's night out.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

On deck

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(Phillip Lim cadet jacket, DVF blouse, A|X jeans, John Fluevog shoes)

It was tough work indulging in the endless parade of food and fun activities onboard the cruise ship, but someone had to do it! I had a good time on the mini cruise for work and spent the first evening walking around on deck in my new favorite Phillip Lim jacket. I had agonized over this purchase for weeks but finally gave in. I find everything about it irresistable, from the bright red color to the military-style asymmetrical panels down the front. 

Since purchasing the jacket, I've spotted it in several fashion magazines, which has given me inspiration for new ways to wear it--over a white summery dress, with black leggings and boots, paired with gray trousers and shiny black oxfords. The jacket makes such a loud statement on its own that I need to pair it with simple pieces. If you've any ideas for new ways of working it into an outfit, I'd love to hear them!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Day to night

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(J.Crew shirt, J.Crew necklace, Elizabeth & James pants, Guess boots)

Right before I went on a trip to NYC last summer, I picked up this lamé gold top made of sheer, naturally wrinkled fabric from J.Crew. I thought it was casual and cool enough to withstand New York's humid afternoons, yet dressy enough to transition to night for hitting up the Meatpacking District or so forth. I still remember the salesperson who rang me up telling me he wished his girlfriend would wear the shirt! The necklace is another one of my favorites--the type that totally transforms an outfit instantly. Five years ago I rarely shopped at J.Crew, but lately, their selection is full of cool pieces like this sherbet orange ruffled cami and boyfriend jeans that I really want to try!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Valentine's red

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Red is my all-time favorite color, so Valentine's Day was a good opportunity to dig this old Karta dress out and pair it with my boots of the moment from Guess. I absolutely love the jeweled detail at the waist and the long sleeves on this dress. 

On another note, I get to go on a mini cruise later this week for work! I'm incredibly excited, crossing my fingers for sunny skies, and imagining myself on the deck of the ship in nautical stripes and windblown hair...

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Pirate boots

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I'm wearing two of my favorite pieces ever--a green Bonappetit coat and Abahouse Devinette black pirate boots. The boots were a major purchase from the year I lived in Japan and I went through quite an ordeal to get them in the correct size and color. In fact, the lengthy process of ordering those boots improved my Japanese language skills quite a bit! Since moving back to the US, I've worn these boots every fall and winter. In fact, a few months ago in the elevator of my office building, one guy lifted his eyebrow and commented, "Your boots...they're dangerous, and I like 'em!"

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The Fab '40s



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I attended a '40s themed birthday bash for work yesterday and ransacked my closet trying to find something to wear. I settled upon this Alexander Wang dress, which I belted to accentuate the waistline ( according to some '40s fashion sites, this was the look of the day). Although the hemline was a little short for the era, I thought the drapey folds fit the look well and looked like something a 1940s cocktail singer might wear. It was pretty awesome walking into Cicada Club and seeing all the guests dressed in their finest '40s gear--big fur coats, military-style uniforms, the guys in vests and narrow-brimmed fedoras. I absolutely love theme parties as it's such a good excuse to get dressed up and get into the party spirit.

Thank You!


I'd like to thank Gerri from the lovely Shoes Around the Globe blog who kindly honored me with this lovely award!

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award."

In appreciation and acceptance of this award, I'd like to tag 8 blogs which I think are absolutely wonderful!

Here are the Fabulous Blog Rules:
1.) Put logo on your blog or post
2.) Nominate 8 which you think are fabulous
3.) Be sure to link your nominees within your post
4.) Let them know that they received this award by commenting on their blog
5.) Share the love and link to the person from whom you received y
our award!

Style Sophisticate gives the Proximidade award to the following:
Tropico Station: A Glendale Blog -- This isn't a fashion-related blog, but I was so happy to discover this site after moving to Glendale! It's been very helpful in finding and evaluating local establishments, so if you live in the area, make sure to visit it!
Fashion Is Spinach -- I love this site which always has something interesting and fresh to say about fashion in general.
Fashionologie -- Full of fashion-related information with a great minimalist layout and pictures!
Behind The Seams -- I absolutely love her look. She has a fabulous fashion sense, and is so creative with her DIY pieces.
Young, Broke, and Fabulous -- She has a little of everything on her blog, from entertainment news to good bargains to tons of awesome fashion posts!
Girly Style Memo -- A plethora of lovely and whimsical pictures.
XYZ Style -- I recently discovered her blog! Her fashion aesthetic is super cool and I found myself agreeing with so many of her thoughts on fashion.
Brook & Lyn -- Another recent blog discovery. I covet so many of her clothes and looking at her blog is dangerous as it makes me want to shop even more! I'm completely in love with this blog.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Gold rush

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I may look like a total bumblebee in this outfit, what with the yellow-and-black color combo, but I absolutely love both pieces--the vintage dress in that awesomely bright yellow-gold hue and my Guess peep-toe boots. However, a word of warning: these are not the most comfortable shoes. The soles are slippery and the heels high, so whenever I know I'm going to be on my feet for an extended period of time, I try not to wear them. Like any good fashionista, I have a ton of black and white staples in my closet, but I love bright colors best even if I don't get the chance to wear them as often.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Cut it out

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I'm a major fan of Jeffrey Campbell shoes. I only have a paltry two pairs in my collection so far, and these comfortable 2-inch heels are my most recent purchase. As an avid fan of comfy-yet-fashionable shoes, I was delighted to come across these interesting cutout shoes with a wearable heel. I walked around in these all day and didn't feel a thing!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Ruffled blue

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Some of the retail store bargains that have come out of this recession have been great for my wallet, though I wish it didn't have to come at the cost of everyone facing financial difficulties. I recently picked up this skintight Kova&T skirt from Kitson at a greatly reduced price, as well as this ruffled See by Chloe top on the sale racks at Saks Fifth. I love the bright azure blue color--it just perks up the whole outfit and brightens my day!

Check out my Chictopia here!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Ed Hardy Love Cross leggings


For Christmas, my sister gave me a pair of these trendy Ed Hardy Love Cross leggings (check out her well-stocked ebay store!). I had a chance to wear them for the first time today while hiking in nearby Runyon Canyon, and boy, were they comfortable! The leggings are made of nice, stretchy cotton and offer a slimming silhouette. And even though I don't usually wear flashy logos, the cool pattern down the side of the leg definitely sets these apart from other humdrum workout clothes. Something about Ed Hardy pieces mixed with more lowkey items seems to work really well, and after I paired these leggings with a plain gray-blue Daftbird tee, I definitely felt like I was rocking a pretty trendy workout outfit--perfect for climbing the hills of Runyon Canyon!