Frilly Ruffles!

Need ideas to update your wardrobe for this Spring/Summer? Remember how I said I was a sucker for ruffles? Here are a few selections that I've made that are affordable. These tops are versatile, it can be worn day and night. Pair it with dress pants or a pencil skirt for work, compliment the top with denim shorts for a sunny weekend, or skinny jeans+heels for a night out. Just keep in mind to keep it fitted below since the blouse is already adding volume at the top.

A Little History of My Favorite Brand, Coca-Cola

I think I've told you this before, I am completely intrigue by advertising and marketing. Sorry if the following entry has nothing to do with shopping! It's just that I read an article and it gave me the inspiration to give you all a little marketing lesson of the day...

If I had to name one of the most prominent and successful brand in the U.S., it would have to be Coca Cola. Written in a Spencerian script (a dominant font back in the 1880's), the logo was created by Frank Mason Robinson in 1885. The same logo is recognized by billions of people for over a hundred years (how powerful is that?). The equally famous bottle marks the identity of coca-cola. Little did everyone know that this single most powerful brand has actually undergone a disasterous brand failure...

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have been nasty rivals since the beginning of time --- all brand loyalty set aside --- Coca-Cola has always been ahead of this race. However, in the 70's, Pepsi took a strong leap thanks to the Pepsi Challenge; then in the 80's, Pepsi took another huge leap marked by the "Pepsi Generation". So to combat the lead, Coke introduced "New Coke". This product actually replaced our beloved Coca Cola! After the roll out of "New Coke", Coca-Cola's market share dropped dramatically in a matter of days. This literally caused a public backlash. Immediately, the "New Cokes" were pulled off the shelves and were replaced by the original Coca-Cola cans. "New Coke" resulted in one of the the most utmost, disastrous product launch in history!

Here's a take away for us all --- if something works well, keep it!

I read an article about Tropicana's packaging and it reminded me of the above new coke failure. Did anyone know Tropicana changed their packaging!?!? The carton with an image of a straw coming out of an orange (which depicted freshness and evoked the idea of natural) was replaced by a glass of OJ (which is trying to convey...????). Like new coke, the newly designed packaging of Tropicana will be taken off the shelves and will be replaced by our good ol', original Tropicana carton (the one with the straw coming out of the orange...slurp slurp hehe).

Tropicana is owned by Pepsi. It's kind of funny how PepsiCo follows it's competitor's failure.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/business/media/23adcol.html?ref=media

Summer's Around the Corner!

I just organized two summer trips with my buddies (one to Puerto Rico and the other to Hawaii --- so excited!) Even though the trips are months away, the first thing I did after I booked my tickets was...shop for bathing suits! =) Victoria Secret has really cute polka dot, embroidered, and embellished ones (don't forget to go to retailmenot.com and search for coupons!) Try the mix and match idea, the model looks adorable in a polka dot top and strip bottoms (shown in picture 2). Be daring and try matching different colors =) The only downside from ordering at VS is that they charge you shipping when you return something. So if you end up NOT keeping your order, you would have already paid $10+ extra just for shipping and handling. If you want to be sure before you order, try it on at the store first and then order online. On a completely random note, you MUST try the garment on before you buy it! It's the ultimate fashion rule that almost all designers will tell you. You have to take your skin complexion, body type, and color/material compatibility of the piece into consideration! Also, Target has a GREAT selection of bathing suits and they are mostly $15 and less. If you are looking for a one piece, get the crocheted one from Armani Exchange! (last picture shown --- word of caution, you might get a weird tan line from it)








Image Source: picture 1-4 victoriasecret.com, picture 5 target.com, picture 6 armaniexchange.com

Discounted Stila Makeup!

This website has ridiculously cheap Stila makeup! Enjoy...

http://www.beautycrunch.com/category.asp?category_id=50&viewall=yes

Alexander McQueen for Target

The long anticipated wait is over, Alexander McQueen's McQ line for Target is finally close to it's debut date. I read that some New Yorkers have already had a chance to shop the line at an exclusive event. For the rest of the folks...the line hits target stores March 4th (I'm pretty positive). The vision of this collaboration is to bring out a spirit rather than a single idea that inspired the designer to produce this specific line. The collection radiates a rebellious youth culture. It revives punk/musical elements from the eighties. Expect to see hot pink (neon color) trimmings on black dresses or zippers on knitwear. Backed up by a legendary designer, Target's exclusive McQ line is definitely worth the wait.

Diverging this topic away from fashion but diving into the business aspect, I think Target's positioning as an apparel retailer has been phenomenal. The deals that Target strikes with renowned designers have been the focal point of many discussions within my peer group. This differentiation sets Target at the forefront with it's competitors. In addition to target's marketing scheme, it is a two way street with much appeal to runway designers as well. Currently, many runway designer's target market is limited to the a very specific niche group, mainly the elites. Collaborating with giant Retailers allows you to enter the mass market arena, you are opening your brand up to consumers across America. This exposure is no doubt a money making powerhouse. (Especially beneficial to McQueen because this collaboration further penetrates --- in most cases introduces --- his brand into the US market). If you look at the collaboration concept as a whole, most can agree that it is a brilliant marketing strategy. The ultimate revenue driver is not the customer purchasing the clothes; it is rather, attracting customers to come to the store to walk down the apparel aisle AND the household items aisle, the frozen food aisle, electronic aisle, and so forth...it converts swaying customers to loyal ones who will continuously (or religiously) walk down the aisles of Target to find the next big item on the racks.

Thanks for listening to my rambling (sorry if it sounds a little like a marketing plan/review). Marketing was what I studied in college and is now my profession, I live and breathe this stuff! ;)

Rebecca Minkoff

Thanks to my shopaholic friends (Winnie and Janet), I am now in love with Rebecca Minkoff's bags. They are extremely trendy. Great styles with lots of colors to choose from! The best part is their superb craftsmanship, I would rather blow $600 on a well crafted leather purse rather than a LV speedy that everyone has! Their signature, "Morning After Bag", has been seen around the arms of Lauren Conrad, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Rachel Bilson, Hayden Pannettiere, Hilary Duff, and Vanessa Hudgens. Bloomingdales and Nordstroms carry this designer brand. Still not convinced that the purse is well designed...see for yourself!

Clever Ad campaign targeting the perfect audience...(including myself)



Source: www.rebeccaminkoff.com/

DVF

Regardless of what season it is, Diane Von Furstenberg's design has been centered around colors and patterns. The play on the color palette of her fabric is full of flavor, almost as if I'm looking at an abstract painting. Pink and orange seems to be the matching couple of the season. The black and white pattern block will always be one of her signature looks. Also, swirling patterns of bright colors is another one of those signature design that she has revisited often.

A DVF top can easily be $200. I've selected a few pieces that are "DVF-esque" at Forever21, Target, and Express. Again, the theme is --- a simply play on colors. Hope the pieces that I've selected illustrate DVF's concept. All the pieces, with the exception of the white skirt, is $30 or less.

Whitney's show ("the city") on MTV has brought a tremendous amount of publicity for Diane Von Furstenberg. I mean really, as much as I love Whitney, do you think it's that easy to get into a high fashion position like that? I swear her interview consisted of 2 questions: "Why DVF?" and the next one was "When can you relocate to NY and tell us when your desirable start date is?" If it is that easy to find a job, I don't think we will see a 10% (and rapidly growing) unemployment rate on the news everyday!

Source: dvf.com

3.1 Phillip Lim

In lieu of the previous blog that illustrates how we define ourselves (essentially our status) through labels, I'd like to share with you some inspirations from young designers. One of my favorites is Phillip Lim. His main philosophy attempts to reinvent fashionable pieces with personality at relatively lower prices. With that philosophy in mind, the design adds "touches of madness, striving towards imperfection...the result is a creation of individual looks that are unexpected, unplanned, but completely relevant". His work is effortless and at ease, targeting the "fashion do-ers" who are not there to "show-off" . So you will see his beautifully crafted button up blouses dressed up with a touch of layered ruffles added to the front and structured sleeves at the shoulder line. Here you have something that is ordinary (the button up) and out of the ordinary, but in a subtle way, (structured design and layered ruffles) to bring out individuality. This young achiever has a vision that attempts to break the status quo in an understated and "hip" way. His Spring collection includes spring color schemes and basic concepts (maxi dresses, bubble skirts, and safari dresses) but at the same time, utilizing absorbing shapes, colors, and texture to create something unique.

Source: www.31philliplim.com/

Recession can bring out the best of people...

Random note on an interesting article:

I just finished reading an article titled, " Economy Adjusts Store Relations on Madison Avenue" from the nytimes. I think we can all agree and say that at some point in our lives, we've experienced walking into a designer boutique, feeling unwanted and outcasted by that snooty salesperson. This is because salespeople are trained to determine a customer's likelihood of spending by the shoes and watches that they wear. Try stepping into Tiffany's with a pair of flip flops, you are lucky if you can get past the security guard/doorman and that degrading smirk of his. But as times are getting tougher will we, normal working class individuals, be treated the same when we step foot in Bloomingdales? Probably not anymore. At least not on Madison Ave.

The writer puts his theory in test by dressing poorly in a sweatshirt and "dog-running shoes". With all prejudice set aside, the Prada salesclerks are willing to get on their knees to help him try on pairs of loafers. When the author was browsing at Tom Ford, he was being offered sparkling water. A minute later, he was presented with a lemon on a silver platter...

Regardless of whether or not this attitude change is good or bad, I solemnly ask myself --- what does it take to bring out the best of people?

View Article Here

Anchors Away!

I went shopping at downtown SF today. All the stores were stocked up on nautical stripes and layering pieces. There is just something so chic about stripes and nautical colors...it's one of those trends that gets recycled often and it still looks good everytime when it comes back. So grab your pieces while it's early and sail away into Spring!

Tips From Celebrities

Celebrity styles have always been really confusing to me. No matter how horrendous a piece might seem to look on the rack or on an ordinary person, it glistens on celebrities. I can't quite grasp and make my own judgment on what looks good and what doesn't. That's because even if I don't like something, I will learn to like it after seeing a gazillion photos of the same outfit in the tabloids. Same analogy to pop music on the radio, I find myself singing along to songs with ridiculous lyrics because the ubiquity of the songs forces you to fall in love with it!


A good example is the "boyfriend" jean. I wouldn't get it in a million years, not even if it was on clearance! But then when you see pictures of Katie Holmes (I don't always agree with her style), Jessica Alba and Rachel Bilson you can not help but fall in love with them! But really, is this about how good the jeans look ? Or is it really about how you feel when you are in them? Self-confidence. I believe that feeling good and looking good has a direct relationship when it comes to what you wear. When you look in the mirror, you HAVE to feel good about what you have on in order to make it look good! And that my friend, is the secret ingredient to a fantastic outfit! You can get a pair for fun at Forever21 for $22 --- click here.

And then there are those pieces that just simply looks good. I really admire Lauren Conrad's style for it's simplicity and balance. She knows what looks good for her age. For example, a flirty tier skirt can be played down with a plain cotton t-shirt. Another one of those "boyfriend" theme is shown in the second photo (which by the way is a big hit this season), a loose fitting style can be paired with form fitting pieces, like skinny jeans, to add shape. This illustrates the "balance" part I talked about earlier. Lastly, I read in the magazine that the whole "black and white" theme is coming back. The last example completely carries out that theme in a very age appropriate way for a girl in her twenties.

Another piece that practically looks good with everything is the skinny jean. This is a piece that can add an endless style to your wardrobe. Heidi Klum shows us the different ways in which a pair of jeans can be worn --- day and night. It works with a variety of things: sequence top, tuxedo blazer, screen tee, or an embellish top. The list goes on...heels, stilettos, platforms, sandals, or tennis shoes. If there is one closet piece you want to make an investment in, consider making it a pair of fitting skinny jeans.

My boyfriend makes fun of me all the time for being a sucker for reality TV shows. One of my favorite (and his not-so-favorite) is Gossip Girl. He doesn't understand how much a girl can learn from this mindless tv series. I mean look at Blair's style...combining elements of both femininity and youth! She keeps her outfits very simple, a silk blouse and a pencil skirt will do the trick. She accessorizes by adding on vibrant color purses, coats, tights, and the infamous...headband. You can get a "blair" inspired bow headband at forever21 for $1.50!! (For 2 headbands...that's why the sentence deserves 2 "!" marks) Click here to view. If you can not find a blouse in your closet you can consider getting this French Connection Flutter Blouse through Macy's.

Get Your Feet Ready for Spring!

No wonder we are all shoe addicts at heart! I am completely inspired by what's in store for this Spring...



1. YSL - It seems like the theme of gladiator-ish looking heels are continuing to manifest itself. I've seen several of these lattice mesh shoes in all of this month's fashion magazines. I personally love looking at them but I would never have the guts to wear these! For those of you who DO have the guts (and the legs) for this style, you can get similar ones at Steve Madden for about $130 (vs. $1,400) .






Spring is all about colors and patterns! I bet some might see the following pair of shoes and think that it's tacky because it consists of all the colors of the rainbow. But honestly --- Manolo's are such a trend setter, just their label alone makes the shoe irresistable!



I am a fan of ruffles! Ruffles subtly brings out both a playful and feminine side of girls. This pair of Christian Louboutin is to die for! If you are not daring enough, perhaps the plain mary jane might still do the job. I found these on piperlime for $58.



There is something sexy about wrapped ankle heels. These sassy Jimmy Choo's shown on left adds a perfect finish to any nighttime, party look. Forever21 is selling them for $22.80 (vs. $980), only difference is that they do not come in the patent leather.


Lastly, Urban has a wide selection of sandals! I guarantee you --- the perfect sandal will make every spring/summer outfit stand out!


Image Source: Neiman Marcus, Net-a-Porter, Forever21, Steve Madden and google image, Urban Outfitters.

Coupons!

1. H&M offers 20% off any one item with this Printable Coupon valid through Feb 13.
2. Texas Roadhouse is offering a Valentine's Dinner for Two for $29.99 from Feb 12 through Feb 15. ITS A GREAT DEAL! Printable Coupon
3. TGI Friday's offers a Buy One Entree Get One Free Entree with this Printable Coupon valid through 3/9/09 except Valentine's Day.
4. Quarter Pounders for a Quarter @ McDonald's on 2.16.09. Limit 8 per customer

Valentine's Day Ideas

I refuse to celebrate Valentine's Day because this is the ultimate hallmark holiday created to make people consume MORE than we already do. Don't we show enough appreciation for our significant others during our anniversaries?

But regardless of how I feel about Valentine's Day, I still secretly wish that I will receive a gift. How can we resist? The color pink is so pretty! It is inevitably everywhere! So despite how much I dislike the idea of Valentine's day, here are a few items that I wouldn't mind receiving this year ;)

Whether it be a pearl, gem stone, or sterling silver...every girl deserves a little sweet surprise from Tiffany's!


A girl's want can extend beyond clothes, purses, and jewelries. I wish I can trade in my red DS for this lovely, coral pink one!

Then again, we can always choose to support those who are in need. I found a list of breast cancer awareness items that is fitting for this occasion. The first is the Marc by Marc Jacobs Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Charm Bracelet $88 (shopbop.com). 50% of the proceeds will go to the National Breast Cancer Organization. Secondly, there is the Bare Essential Pink Passion set for $40 (sephora.com). Next, we have the breast cancer wristbands. Lastly, a Betsey Johnson cami (betseyjohnson.com) and 20% of the proceed will go towards a good deed.





image source: Tiffanyandco.com, Amazon.com, shopbop, sephora.com, and betseyjohnson.com

Wannabes

Who doesn't want her very own classic Chanel flap purse? But then again, who can afford a luxury item that's $1000+ in this economy? I have the solution for you to keep you satisfy until you have that extra pocket change to spare! (And no it doesn't require getting a knockoff at Chinatown) Top shop is selling replica of the purse. They come in both white and black. Now you can own a similar purse for $48. =)

If you are in need of a clutch, Top Shop also has a wide selection of them. Again, the designs contain elements from some of the classic bags --- like the YSL lock and the Marc Jacobs pushlock buckle.

<3,>

Revamp a new shirt for $1.32!

I walked by the fabric section of Walmart. I found some pretty neat buttons. I got some gold, sailor looking buttons that will work perfectly for the sleeves of this old blazer that I have. Another idea was to jazz up one of the gazillion old tank tops that I have with the buttons. I'm thinking of pairing the tank top with a cardigan or a white blazer!

Here's how to do it: (oh yeah and did I mention that I can't sew for the life of me but was still able to make this look decent?)



You can't really see the button on the shirt above but these are the buttons that I got:


P.S. I know I'm getting carried away with these posting but I want to fill my page up =)

<3, Keara

First Blog!

I have always been fascinated by the wealth of information I learn from other people's blogs. I am also intrigue by the fact that some early bloggers have attracted advertisers to advertise on their page. I know I am about four years late in this whole blogging business, but hey, George Eliot once quoted --- "It is never too late to be what you might have been". So here I am, four years later, making something my own rather than thinking "man I wish I had a blog like that".

There are many reasons why I want to start keeping tabs on my shopping experiences via blogging 1) I recently have more time on my hands; 2) My friends and boyfriend are probably tired of me blabbering about the pathetic deals I always find so they are most likely relieved now that I have other ways of talking about it; 3) I want to learn some HTML!; 4) I love designing and layouts (but not good enough to make it my profession); 5) I suck at writing and I need to practice!

This diary is to share with you my shopping experiences. I will share with you some of the deals that I find. Some days I might want to share my thoughts on things that I read about. Other days I may want to blabber on random fashion facts that I find. I don't really care if I turn out to be my own visitor to this site! But I will love it more if I find like-minded people who are interested in what I have to say and in turn, share with me their insights on fashion.

Enough about what I want! Here is my first entry:

I refused to go to Walmart because I can never find what I need in there. I have major brand loyalty for Target. But I desperately needed some socks so I went to Walmart because it was a lot closer than Target. Being the shopaholic that I am, I made a detour to the clothes. Similar to my assumption, I was so discouraged after passing by a dozen size 12 jackets and stacks of $7 plain white tees (when I can find better fitting ones at Forever21 for $3)... I almost gave up until I saw a rack filled with floral chiffon blouses and chic stripe sweaters. I looked and all the clothes were labeled, "to the MAX". My mind was immediately clouded with the parent labels and sister labels associated with this --- BCBG Max Azria, BCBGirls, BCBGeneration. I was so confused, I thought only Target had collaborations with designers? I thought to myself, what the heck, the shirt is $13. Who cares if it's really not "to the MAX", it certainly looked like it is. Visit here to view the rest of the collection: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=1015739



I ended up buying a purple floral chiffon blouse. I'm thinking I can tuck it in and pair it with skinny jeans and round toe heels (or brown leather boots). This top is pretty versatile. I can also wear it to work with either black pants or a skirt.

Anyway, moral of the story --- do not underestimate any stores. It won't hurt to browse around because you will always be surprised with what you can find! And if you don't, be thankful that you are saving your money!