The Right Address

I just got 2 of wisdom teeth pulled out. ouch. Scariest experience of my life. Now, I'm currently sitting on my bed recovering from the aftermaths of such a traumatising experience (plus i refuse to be seen in public with a swollen left cheek). sigh. The burden of having too much wisdom. So when my laptop runs out of batteries and I can no longer blog and surf the net, I spend many leisurely hours reading. Just now, I finished reading "The Right Address" by Carrie karasyov and Jill Kargman.

I had high hopes for this book, for it came highly recommended by a fashion magazine and had a really cool looking cover. But alas, one apparently cannot judge a book by its cover. I suggest that anyone with half a brain not insult there own intelligence by reading this book.

The basic plot of this book is about how a few very wealthy but harebrained New York upper east-siders finally realise that their life is already marvellous and there's no point getting depressed about nonsensical things like a crush on a wannabe, social acceptance and whatnot. Oh and of course the bad viscious gossips and blackmailing mistress also gets whats coming for them. Everything was wrapped up nicely. There is no one in this book any normal person can relate to. In fact, one wonders just WHAT these people thinking. There was no romance. Nothing of interest to fondly remember this book by. In fact I'm sure that after a few days, this will be a completely forgotten book. A mindless read.

Sigh, and I was hoping for something of the Bergdorf Blonde calibre! And I was so looking forward to the other book by these author, "Wolves in Chic Clothing" to shrink into a space saving paperback so I can buy and read it. Talk about being dumbed down. Anywho, I'm off to find a more intellectual pursuit (and my laptop is running out of batteries AGAIN).

Harrods Girl shops San Francisco I: my first visit to Anthropologie

Barneys Girl and I have always loved the clothes and the whole feel of Anthropologie. All the clothes look so lady-like, and they always have a trendy twist. But I must admit, even though I have in the past recommended Anthropologie clothes to you in my posts, I haven't actually been into an Anthropologie shop -that is until today.

First impresson? The clothes were very lady-like -and slightly old fashioned, and not in the chic way. Then I walked down to the basement level (of the San Francisco store,) and felt a sort-of-bohemian vibe. But at the same time, there was also this feel of desperate attempt to be Kate Spade sort of elegant.

Obviously, I was disappointed by Anthropologie. I think the shop lacks a focus theme thus has a confusing atmosphere. The clothes were just as expensive as I had expected, except I had expected better quality clothes.

But I'm not an overly picky shopper. In my desperate attempt to buy something (so I would remember I have been into Anthropologie,) I managed to find this top in the sale section.

Not bad for $29.95 huh? But anyhow, I don't think I will go back to Anthropologie for a long time.

La Pelle Guccisima

Having been inevitably drawn to this completely stylish and chic Gucci ad below, I naturally could not resist but look into their fall/winter 05-06 collection. . .

. . and came across Le Pelle Guccisima, their new accessories collection! For this collection, they used an ancient hot stamping technique to stamp their classic GG logo or horsebit motif (the other recently revived legendary symbol of Gucci) to create embossed effect. And after that there are a series of dyeing, refinishing steps done by hand resulting to a product that "only expert hands can make"-but with modern technology nowaday, I high doubt that. In fact I'm pretty sure that very good quality knock-off's are on their way as I blog.

But I digress. I think that the finished product of this new embossed effect is absolutely FABULOUS! I'm loving the subtle but still in-your-face-gucci-(to the fashionable and observant eye) effect of it. Like this one here. While the embossing technique makes the pattern harder to discern and the horsebit motiff having not been around for some time lends it some subtlety, to the observant and knowing eye of the fashionable it is still oh-so-Gucci.

Ditto for these boots. Love these boots. So sleek. So chic. So Gucci.

The Fashionable Farmer

The other day, I was being very intellectual and watching this show on discvery channel about the sheep farmers in Scotland. And I must say, I am impressed!

Staring at the tv screen, it suddenly occured to me just how I wanted that farmer's jacket!sry I can't find a better pic of the sheep farmer's blazer. But I'm sure your imagination can supply the rest of the jacket.Of course, the farmer's jacket I had in mind is a bit more form fitting and feminine-like this one from Miss Sixty's FW05-06 collection. But they both have that victorian/equestrian style and the very this season "heritage" feel to it.

So copy the oh-so-fashionable farmer with this very old-english plaid blazer from American Eagle.

I'm also loving these cropped plaid pants from UO by Lux. Especially how they match it here with those boots! What great way to show off your boots?

Who knew that sheep farmers were so fashion forward?

Harrods Girl shops Tokyo Day IV: Cecil McBee

Today's post is the finale of my Tokyo trip. I was in Tokyo for only three days, so Roppoingi Hills, Shinjuku and Shibuya was basically where I hung around. As a fashion-loving jet-setter, I make a point in knowing which shops are famous or popular in different countries. For Japan, one of the most popular brands is Cecil McBee.

Cecil McBee in general, sells clothes that are hip and trendy. It also has a great selection of party/ clubbing clothes. I visited the Cecil McBee in Shibuya 109, and bought two black tops -one for clubbing in winter (as it has long flowy sleeves,) and another for casual wear next season, (it's got Edwardian and military-looking buttons and it's a casual take of next season's volume look.)

Since I was too shy to take pictures of the salesgirls, I took pictures of the dummies instead. Here are a few examples of how the hip Cecil McBee girls match their outfits. You can just imagine it on a Japanese girl, since they're just as small-boned as the dummies anyways. Enjoy:

This is one of my favourite outfits. You can see how the Japanese are so good at blending in next season's trends into this season's clothing, such as this fur-trimmed vest.

This is another one of my favourite outfits. The sides of the top is connected by that colorful fabric. Too bad Cecil McBee doesn't let customers try on the tops before purchasing -that's why my sister didn't buy this top. But she did buy that belt in white, and I'm planning to err, borrow her belt very soon.

Well people, that's it for my Tokyo trip. I'm flying to San Fransisco tonight (hopefully the typhoon won't delay or cancel my flight.) I can't wait to buy loads of junk food from the huge American supermarkets, stroll around the residential area near the Bay area, and of course shop San Fransisco downtown!

Harrods Girl shops Tokyo Day III: Roppongi Hills

After talking about my 2 days of shopping, it's about time to talk about the area where I actually lived in. Usually, my family stays at the Century Southern Tower, but my dad heard from his friends that THE hotel to live in now is the Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Roppongi Hills, (rumours are that it is one of the most expensive hotels in Tokyo.) For those who aren't familiar with Japan, Roppongi Hills is sort of a business district -with lots of rich people in pretty clothes walking around too.

These are photos from the Grand Hyatt lobby. It looks so smart and modern-looking. Everyone in the hotel seemed to own at least a Vuitton bag/ luggage, and had very pricy clothes on. And more importantly, the service people actually speak very good English! In the hotel rooms, there were actually flat screen TVs, and the bathrooms are very high tech and classy!

Next to Grand Hyatt is a groups of malls and street filled with expensive Japanese and western shops. (For example, the shop right outside my hotel room window was Escada.) This photo shows the mall that is connected to the hotel. The architecture of the mall is a fusion of the Japanese and contemporary city style.

I was so ecstatic to find an Anna Sui shop in this mall. I ended up buying these earrings. The crystals that dangle at the bottom are so shiny and the oval thing with the butterfly in the middle can match a lot of my outfits.

In the mall, they were having a special event called the Artelligent Summer Festa 2005. Basically, they had stalls selling goods with anime/ cartoons on them. I was so excited when I saw the designs -they were designed by Takashi Murakami, the guy who designed for Louis Vuitton! It was a hot day, so the promotion people were handing this fan out for free. Isn't it such an adorable fan?

This is the bus I took from Shibuya to Roppongi Hills. The whole exterior AND interior of the bus was covered by these very cheerful anime characters (smiley blobs with complementary smiley flowers)!! Taking a bus with the same designs as Vuitton bags ... you only get to experience this in Tokyo!

Harrods Girl shops Tokyo Day II: Shinjuku

After my first day of shopping for young casual clothes in Shibuya, my sister and I continue our shopping spree in Shinjuku, which is where the Japanese shop for reasonably priced lady-like and still fashionable clothes.

The first stop after we got off the underground railway is this group of shopping mall, including Lumine and My City, which have loads of good stores in them.

This store, Index, had a great selection of clothes that were quite cheap and fashionable. (Cheap clothes are hard to find in Japan just in case you didn't know.) I bought a few tops and some jewelery there, (and was so tempted by a pair of kitten heels but turned away at the end.) Index is a chain store, so you can find it almost everywhere. Try to visit one next time you go to Japan!

These are random shot inside one of the malls. Don't you feel like you're actually shopping in the mall?

Our last stop was the oh-so-famous Takashimaya, the huge Japanese department store. There were a lot of lovely clothes inside, but mostly very expensive.

Oh, a little tip if you're going to Japan, all their clothes are 'one size fits all'. So you have to be relatively petite or skinny if you shop for clothes there. Also, their shoe sizes go from S to L, (occasionally some stores carry XL). L is an equivilant to approx. a US size 7 -a 24cm long feet. So if you have big feet like my sister does, then Japanese shoes are not destined for you.

And you might ask, why didn't I go to Harajuku, which according to Gwen Stefani is where all the cool girls and shops are. Let's just say I've been to Harajuku in my last few Tokyo trips and it reminded me of a cheap-looking market rather than a place with fashionable clothes. And shopping outdoors in summer? Forget about it. I'll stick to the air-conditioned, young trendy spots of Shinjuku and Shibuya.