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Friday, August 31, 2007

Prada Vernice Sfumata Pump

Prada's accessories are always one of the first brands I look at in style.com's accessories preview. Afterall, Prada's accessories are always the sales force behind the brand and they're usually copied by all the other high street brands (thus Prada's accessories almost always form part of the new trends.)

The first time I saw this season's Prada's shoes, I thought err... I hated the gradient colour theme (more so for certain colours like green and black than others,) and I wasn't really into the whole leg-warmers-with-heels trend because realistically, I'm not going to even try that. But when I was wondering around Barneys in LA, I couldn't resist trying on a pair of one of Prada's FW07 runway shoes, the Vernice Sfumata Pump, which to us normal people, are commonly known as the gradient-coloured pumps. So I tried them on and wow, I loved them! I instantly felt like I was sucked into the world of artistic, intellectually glam world of Prada. I especially liked the thick, black, elastic strap in the front. I was wearing a flowery skirt that day so it didn't really match my outfit but I imagine it would look absolutely amazing with black pants -modern, sleek and creative. Sigh, now I'll probably spend the next few months admiring these shoes online everyweek.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

HG's LA Trip II

After yesterday's not-too-positive post about LA's food, I'll move onto LA's shopping today! I stayed at Beverly Wilshire so the place I went everyday was Rodeo Drive. Before going I wasn't really enthusastic about Rodeo Drive because I thought it was just going to be another designer name-packed street which will be like all the other places I usually go to (-Hong Kong, London etc.) I was right about the designer-packed part, but what I didn't expect was that I really loved the street. I loved how there was so much space to walk around and not feel crowded, and the salespeople there were so friendly and helpful! (The sad thing was of course, I could hardly afford anything there!)


The thing I loved most on Rodeo Drive was the Prada shop. The first time I saw it from across the street, I thought, that coat looks like it's from Prada's FW07 collection and those stairs are very NYC Soho Prada-like, is that the Prada shop? You will notice that the shop doesn't even have a Prada sign, and I really haven't seen a store before that didn't display its own designer name! I loved it! (Seriously, if you didn't know Prada well and just walked past it, you would think it was a weird warehouse!)

But walk by at night and you'll be surprised. See those three holes on the ground?



They're like lighted caves filled with Prada goodies. The concept is so cool.

And of course, there is the newly renovated Chanel store, my second favourite looking store on Rodeo Drive. It looks so clean and clear cut, with only white, black and gold.

While I love the atmosphere and all of Rodeo Drive, the shopping place that I really liked was Robertson Blvd. Robertson Blvd is the street where a lot of mix-brand boutiques like Kitson and Madison are, and also boutiques of American brands like Nanette Lepore and Alice + Olivia. For me, Kitson was sort of... blah. I only noticed lots of T-shirts and the new Paris Hilton clothing collection. If anyone visits Robertson Blvd, then you must go to the Alice + Olivia store -the clothes are SO gorgeous. It's not too often that I think clothes look even prettier in real life than on shopbop.com. And there are so many more stores on Robertson -that was def a fun trip.

Unfortunately for me, the only things I could afford on both streets was the BCBG sales rack! Surprisingly, the sales rack still had loads of goodies. I got a boring/ classic, black and nude-coloured dress for only 150usd (half price!) and a very useful black cardigan thingy. And while I love my BCBG purchases, my favourite (and most useful) purchases were probably the two pairs of sporty shorts (great for lounging around the house doing nothing) I bought at Target, where my sister bought her moving-into-college-stuff. So all in all, shopping in LA was pretty cool and it ended up being a really relaxing holiday.

Ooh, and now I finally understand why Mary Kate and Ashley look so wrapped up (with scarves and cardigans) in paparazzi photos even in LA. Even though it was sunny everyday in LA, the temperature was kind of cool ,especially in early mornings and nights. Anyways, I'm leaving San Francisco tonight so I better go pack now!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

HG's LA Trip I

Today I just wanted to give everyone a quick look at my LA trip. Last week, I stayed in LA for a week suppsedly helping my sister move into USC. (OK I wasn't much help carrying her stuff nor did I attend the orientation but whatever.)

First off, I just want to say how boring LA's sightseeing spots were. The Walk of Fame, Kodak Theatre, Lady something catherdral thingy, the Hollywood sign etc. -honestly, all a yawn. I don't know why people get so excited and take so many pictures there. The only thing worth seeing was The Getty Center -the garden and photography exhibition were gorgeous.

Since the sights were so disappointing, I decided that a trip to LA must involve the young people hotspots. So I made my poor family go with me to Koi, Pink Berry, Sprinkles, Spago and The Ivy. For those who don't know, Koi is one of the 'it' restuarants, where a lot of celebs get their photos taken by the paparazzis when they leave. It's a Japanese fusion restaurant. Admittingly, it was fab for the ambiance and all, but the food seriously sucked (way too salty,) and the tables were just too crowded. Definitely not a place for serious dining. Spago (which claims to be a Californian restaurant with Austrian influences) on the other hand, served fantastic food. The only warning I should give out is that it's pretty touristy.


Sprinkles, the hotspot for cupcakes, always had a line outside the store.


The cupcakes were... cupcakes -Sweet, but nothing special and overpriced. But it was an 'LA experience' for me, to join in the craze with other Angelinos.


Pink Berry is basically the snack place of the moment in LA. They sell simple yogurt, soft ice-cream style, and you add toppings on it. Surprisingly, I actually liked the yogurt there and had it three times in my one week there! No wonder they're earning so much money and opening so many stores. Do try it if you go to LA -it's another 'LA expeience' one should enjoy!


Ah, the oh-so-famous Ivy. I stumbled across it on a shopping trip and surprisingly managed to get a table without reservation in 15 minutes. The food there was pretty good, although my mum and I were more impressed by how the waiting crowd outside the restaurant didn't seem to get smaller even at 3pm! While it wasn't the best Italian food I've ever had, the meal was certainly one of the better ones I had in LA.

So ya, this has been the food-related highlights of my LA trip. Yes I know I'm no food critic but these are just my little thoughts on the restaurants. Tomorrow I'll move onto the shopping!

Teen Choice Awards 2007 Fashion

Hey people, so sorry for the uber late posts. I'm at my aunt's house in San Francisco at the moment and the internet connection is sort of wacky here. (Thankfully BG posted for me yesterday!) I'll talk about last week's LA in the next two days, but first, the Teen Choice Awards! OK, so the fashion there was so boring and uninspiring that I wasn't even going to blog about it but staying in the States for a week has turned me into paprazzi-obsessed (temporarily hopefully,) so I'm going to blog about it anyway.

Hilary Duff -She was the co-host so you will notice that she had more than one outfit. I quite like her wearing this Corey Lynn Calter black, sequined dress, although it feels more nightime than daytime.
Hilary's other two outfits were very 'her'. I like her in the blue and black sequined dress, and so-and-so about green jeans. What I don't like about her is her hair! What happened to those classy locks? What is up with the gradient-coloured hair?
I may like Avril's music but I'm really not a fan of her clothes. I used to like it when she kept it simple with jeans/ pants with tank tops, but now her clothes (and pink hair) are just, for a lack of better words, not cool. Actually I suppose this outfit isn't too bad, but it would have looked much nicer if her hair was just left straight down.

I've never liked Fergie's clothes so I'll just say here that her grey heels don't match her polka dot dress.
Lauren and Audrina -Kind of typical choices for them, but they could have chosen cuter dresses. Audrina's dress is too nighttime clubbing-ish, and Lauren's is just not as fun as her usual choices. (Lauren's dress is from her upcoming collection.)
Jessica Alba's dress is really nothing special, but seriously, that girl can make anything look amazing. Jessica not surprisingly, won the female hottie award. I really want to watch her new movie, Good Luck Chuck!
Emmy Rossum is finally not in a boring long dress, but I don't really like her dress here either. The pink looks great on her, but maybe the way the fabric is draped on her just isn't that cute? Or maybe adding a thin belt around her waist would have added more shape to the dress.
Wow, Sophia Bush looked amazing in a hard-to-wear Herve Leger dress. I love her playful dress with that cute but proper hairstyle. I guess she had to look good, afterall, she won three awards!
Vanessa Hudgens -The dress really suits her, except the clutch doesn't match the dress. OK, I accidently watched two minutes of High School Musical 2 this afternoon, and I don't get why they are so popular! True, they do seem talented (which is not a given in Hollywood these days,) but what is so fun watching a bunch of kids sing on tv? I suppose musical is only cool to me if it's live.
Since I really have no interest in men's fashion, Zac Efron (who won male hottie) is obviously here for eyecandy. He always looks a bit too photoshopped (or madeup?) for my taste, but hey, eyecandy is eyecandy. Enjoy!
What did you think of everybody's dresses?

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Paul and Joe Beaute: Autumn 2007

First of all, I'd like to say that I am by no means impressed by the quality of Paul & Joe make-up. But I AM very impressed by their packaging. It never fails to make me want to buy everything. I suspect that this is their selling point. Their autumn collection, Dear Diary collection, is no exception. They have a very touching story to go with this collection, something about shades that will allow you to be yourself, but I really fail connect the product/package design with the story. What I do know is that not only do they have a pretty print of flowers and leopards (they assured me that it was not a cat) packaging and a pretty floral pattern inside, but they also have pretty names: Daydream, Pressed Roses and Poetry to go with it. The colors though are not too inspiring. Lip colors all look the same to me. Though my mom uses them, and she assures me that the texture is very moisturizing and smooth and points out that the paper packaging is very lightweight for the purse. The eye shadows, brown on brown, Dark Blue on blue and Pink on maroon is not wow but they are practical. Plus, it has a hint of shimmer, which should be pretty! The only downside is that because they are not separated, the two colors will eventually mix into one ugly mess after a few months of use. But I'm sure they'll come up with some other pretty design by then for you to replace it ;) Such clever marketing.

So the point being that while I am by no means blind to its flaws, I still cannot help but gush and oogle the beauty that is the Paul & Joe cosmetics- its just SO PRETTY!

Image Source: Paul & Joe

Louis 15 High-school (2nd shot)



© Photos Fred the Mole

I wear a sweater H&M.
My shirt is from ORIGINAL MARINES (Italy).
My jeans are from ENERGIE.
My sneakers are from SUPERGA.
My sun-glasses are casual from the street.
My gloves are from DECATHLON.
My sport bag is a KISPA.



Mon pull est un H&M.
Ma chemise est une ORIGINAL MARINES (Italy).
Mon jean est un ENERGIE.
Mes baskets sont des SUPERGA.
Mes lunettes de soleil sont achetées dans la rue.
Mes gants sont de chez DECATHLON.
Mon sac est un KISPA.



My gold medal is from the miraculous chapel of du Bac street - Paris
It's a gift from my grand-mother (No miracle yet).
Ma médaille vient de la chapelle miraculeuse de la rue du Bac - Paris
C'est un cadeau de ma grand-mère (Pas encore de miracle).

Bastien -13- High school (2nd shot)



© Photos Fred the Mole

I wear a tee-shirt 55DSL.
My trousers are from LESS DENIM.
My sneakers are from PROMOD.
My sun-glasses are from Ray-Ban



Mon tee-shirt est un 55DSL.
Mon pantalon est un LESS DENIM.
Mes baskets sont des PROMOD.
Mes lunettes sont des RAY-BAN

Monday, August 27, 2007

Ten years after


© Photos Fred the Mole

Alma Bridge-Pont de l'Alma
Ten years after the accident (31th August 1997)
A lot of people are still coming here like pilgrims.
They often bring canddles, flowers and pictures of Lady D.
In auctions, shameless people are trying to make money selling dresses of Lady D always for good reasons.
Other shameless people are buying these dresses of a dead person.



10 ans après l'accident (31 Aout 1997)
beaucoup de gens viennent encore à cet endroit comme pour un pélerinage.
Ils déposent souvent des bougies, des fleurs et des images de Lady D.
Dans des ventes aux enchères, des gens qui ne connaissent pas la honte vendent les robes de Lady D toujours pour de bonnes raisons.
D'autres gens qui ne connaissent pas la honte achètent ces robes d'une personne morte.

Going out for a walk ... at last !



© Photos Fred the Mole

The sun shines again in Paris.
After rain season (something like tropical)
This week-end was so nice. We were all outside for a sunny walk.




La soleil brille à nouveau à Paris.
Après une saison des pluies (genre tropicale)
Ce week-end, enfin le soleil, tout le monde dehors pour en profiter.
DIOR.
Avenue Montaigne Paris














Sac DIOR
Bd Haussmann
Paris
DIOR Bag




















Robes DIOR
Bd Haussmann
Paris




















Sun-glasses and shoes
by DIOR Bd Haussmann
Paris






VALENTINO
Avenue Montaigne
Paris




















CARTIER Bags
Bd Haussmann
Paris





CHANEL
Bd Haussmann
Paris

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Benjamin 13 - Highschool (Paris -La Celle-St-Cloud)



© Photos Fred the Mole

My sweat AMBERTON & my trousers are from H&M.
My scarf is bought in the street. My Backpack is a EAST PACK.
My sneakers are from CONVERSE.
For me Fashion is brands and colors.



Mon sweat AMBERTON et mon jeans sont de chez H&M.
Mon foulard est acheté dans la rue. Mon sac est un EAST PACK.
Mes baskets des CONVERSE.
Pour moi, la mode, c'est les marques et les couleurs.

Romain 15 - Highschool (Paris-La Celle-St-Cloud)



© Photo Fred the Mole

I wear a sweat-shirt by ALVARO. My trousers & tee-shirt are from G.STAR.
My sneakers are NIKE TN. My sun-glasses are from Ray-Ban.
My helmet is a SHARK. My motor-bike is a DERBI DRD Racing.
In Fashion, everybody has to find his own style.




Mon sweat est de chez ALVARO. Mon pantalon et mon tee-shirt de chez G.STAR.
Mes NIKE sont des TN. Mes lunettes des Ray-Ban.
Mon casque est un SHARK. Ma moto est un DERBI DRD Racing.
La mode pour moi, c'est chacun son style.

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