daily outfitting: surprise at shakey's

Tara Jarmon Silk Babydoll Tank in Plum View:
- $29.99 @ Target
- This tank received lots of compliments. I felt very pretty wearing it. I like the cut of the tank and the bow gives it that feminine elegance. I think this completely sold out online and in stores. I remember buying it on the very first day Tara Jarmon was released in Target and there were only two left.

A&F Destroyed Ankle Jeans:
- @ Abercrombie & Fitch
- Barely visible in the picture, but one of my all-time favorite pair of jeans. I love the tattered holes in the knees, the bleach spots, and the overall worn-in feel.

Ellen Tracy Black Neutral Territory Handbag:
- $99.99 @ Marshalls
- See Birds, Birds, Birds Everywhere and Pretty Badass Princess Skulls

CONGRATULATIONS SWETA! I'm so glad and relieved that you were surprised! I'm sorry you got all glam thinking you were going to rub shoulders with the "Lost" cast, but instead was chowing down on mojo potatoes, fried chicken, and pizza at Shakey's. Yummy! I loved your outfit that night, especially your wedges! Again, congrats on getting your master's degree. Now, you are truly the Prof.

daily outfitting: imagine and create

Hurley White Long-Sleeved Life Tee:
- $9.99 @ Marshalls
- I love the design on this shirt. The shiny copper color is stands out and the tree made of birds is a unique design that illustrates the message of "Imagine and Create" etched onto the tree trunk perfectly. The tee is slightly sheer.

Tara Jarmon Acorn Color Block Skirt:
- $29.99 @ Target
- The shirt is covering the pattern on the top of the skirt: blocks of bright orange and gray. The skirt is flowy and at a good length. The skirt gets wrinkled easily, but after machine washing it on delicate cycle and hanging it to dry it straightened out pretty well. I also bought the same skirt in the purple color.

Spiral Necklace:
- Free from Original Trends Gift Bag
- The colors of this necklace matches perfectly with this outfit. The design is pretty unusual and abstract. I probably wouldn't buy this necklace.

Mossimo Black Diego Flats:
- $23.99 @ Target
- See Pretty Badass Princess Skulls and Stoked at the Delfina

daily outfitting: tom cruise would approve

Striped Dress:
- $1 @ The Christian Closet
- The stitching and the quality of this dress leads me to believe that it was handmade. I like the colors and the print on the fabric. The colors are subdued and besides the stripes print there are large light yellow flowers on the side of the dress. The dress is pretty big on me, but with a belt it fits comfortably. I think it's a fun, casual dress and for one dollar it's a great bargain.

Calderon Brown Leather Belt:
- $1 @ Goodwill
- See Casual Saturday

Brown Leather Purse:
- $0.10 @ The Christian Closet
- I bought this purse for $0.60, but I found two quarters inside. Score! The purse is in excellent condition. I like how it has tons of pockets.

Xhilaration Ariane White Woven Flats:
- $18.99 @ Target
- I always wanted a pair of white flats. These look really cute, but I have to wear them with a band-aid because the edge rubs against the back of my ankle and hurts. I don't recommend these for walking. I'm sure they will be better once I break them in some more.

May 20th was the best super-duper fun Saturdays I've had in a long while.

We started the day in Culver City at the Museum of Design Art and Architecture where we attended the Original Trends fashion and lifestyle event. There were a few unique vendors, but also lots of crappy, tacky vendors. I didn't buy anything, but Sweta and I got some neat ideas for DIY projects. One day we are totally going to make wrist sash watches! The gift bag was filled with pretty random items (and was supposedly worth $180, but I highly doubt that): Adore Shop magazine, LA.com Cosmo Deck ($15 Gift Cards @ 52 of LA's Best Restaurants), Moodivations bath tea, bag of cheap makeup, Spongelle body wash infused sponge, Chantilly Baby cookies, a necklace, mini containers of bath body polish, bright pink soap in odd shapes, and a few useless gift cards. The event was way over-hyped. Even the food and drinks ran out before we got there! I'm glad I got all five of us in VIP ($30 value) for free.

The second shopping event we went to was Hollywood Shop 'Til You Drop. I was again disappointed. The stuff sold here was worse than at Original Trends. They had very low-quality entertainment and unrecongnizable celebs. The manicure and massage area looked infection-prone, so we stayed far, far away. We left within the first 10 minutes. The organizer of the event is supposed to send me a gift bag, but I have yet to receive it. I don't expect much from it though, but you never know. Besides, free always makes things seem that much nicer. The only good thing about this event was where it was held: The Scientology Celebrity Centre. After we left the lame event, we strolled around the center. I kind of expected the place to be more glamorous and fancy, but it's not everyday where you get to stroll the premises of Tom Cruise's beloved religion. We snapped a few pictures and were on our way to West Hollywood for lunch then swimming at my apt.

Saturdays are best spent in the company of Liz, Sweta, and my baby cousins Allen and Andy (who are not really babies anymore, but will always be babies to me).

hoo's hoo at keds

Do you remember that Tootsie Roll Pops commercial where the owl eats the boy's lollipop in three licks? "One! Two! Three! Three. It takes three licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop." Haha, that boy was a loser! I loved it, especially the oh-so-clever owl! I was reminded of that commercial when I saw an owl pendant on sveetcouture.com. Since it was already sold by the time I saw it, I’ve been searching for an owl pendant. I want to pair it with bold colors and groovy prints. Something very mysterious, very 70's retro. I've checked at Hooters and they have flip-flop necklaces, but no owls. You'd think they'd have a ton of owl stuff, but then again I don't expect much from Hooters. So my search continues...

Meanwhile over at Keds, Eleanor Grosch has designed a pair of whimsical owl print skimmers (it also comes in a seahorse and a llama print, but the owl print, of course, is my favorite). The design is simple, but still adorable. These skimmers are great for theme park trips or any other summertime activity that requires a lot of walking in the heat. Even though I still really want an owl around my neck, I'd be happy with owls on my feet as well.

jovovich-hawk flies into my heart

Milla Jovovich can seriously kick some zombie ass. Not to mention, she looks super hot doing it. But besides modeling and acting, she's also a great fashion designer (that's way more than I can say for most celebs-turned-designers). Milla and her fellow model friend Carmen Hawk, joined forces three years ago to create the clothing line Jovovich-Hawk. I first heard about the line from an interview with Rachel Bilson where she raves about the Jovovich-Hawk dress she wore. I immediately fell in love. Jovovich-Hawk definitely tops my list of favorites. I love the use of uber-feminine fabrics. The dresses are sweet, quirky and vintage-inspired.

I will not own any of this stuff anytime in the near future because I am poor. But I will definitely be taking some styling cues from the spring/summer 2006 collection which looks romantic, elegant, and fun. I especially like the mint heels in the second picture. The ruffly apron, pinafore-like dresses are unique and the pink jumper is perfect school-girl chic. Not many people like leggings, but I personally think they rock and are cute with dresses. My favorite item from the collection is the white tube dress with the purple sash at the bust line and weaved ribbon at the bottom. I'm going to try the sash at the bust line look.

daily outfitting: go army!

American Apparel White Tee:
- Free from the Ford Fusion Studio D Tour
- A plain white tee is a necessity in any wardrobe.

Esprit Black Aviator Sunglasses:
- $14.99 @ Marshalls
- These shades are uber pimp. I get a new pair of sunglasses each summer because I always end up losing, breaking, or getting bored with the prior summer's pair. I really like the color and shape of these, but I want to find some small, rectangular ones too. Growing up, Twit use to dress me in tons of Esprit. I guess they were pretty big in the late 80's. I've visited the site and there are a bunch of items I totally think are adorable. Too bad there isn't a store in California. I'll just have to depend on Marshalls for my nostalgic fix.

Express X2 Slim Jeans:
- Free from Express Design Studio Fashion Show
- See Pretty Badass Princess Skulls

DCShoeCompany Army Mini-Pockets Belt:
- $9.99 @ Ross
- I think the pockets on this belt are so rad! I can store coins and lipgloss in them. It reminds me of a utility tool belt, only much, much cuter.

Nike Dunk Low Premium in Pilgrim/Pearl White/Palomino:
- Free from Nike Rockstar Workout Event
- I used my gift card from the Nike Rockstar Workout Event with Rihanna and Jamie King to buy Donna these Dunks. I'm not much of a sneaker person, but I love all the different color combinations and prints that can go on a pair of sneakers. My favorites are ones that are sold in sneaker boutiques like Lion's Den or Undefeated.

abaeté, viktor & rolf for the fall

I'm really looking forward to the fall for two very important occasions:

1. The first-ever designer footwear collection Abaeté for Payless ShoeSource will be available in stores in September.

The four styles that Payless will be releasing are: Sky boot, Oliver pump, Casey flat, and Luke evening sandal. They will range anywhere between $25 to $45. At those prices, I am for sure getting all four styles. Laura Poretzky, the designer of Abaeté, is an emerging designer of ready-to-wear clothing. Like these shoes, her designs are feminine and simple. Since I'm planning on buying only four pairs of shoes from this collection, my one dilemma will be which color do I buy? These Oliver pumps are super sexy! I love the gray pair, but I also love the polka dot pair. Oh and the red pair is ultimate hotness! What is a girl to do?

2. The Viktor & Rolf for H&M collection will be available in stores in November.

Following the footsteps of Karl Lagerfield and Stella McCartney, Viktor & Rolf has collaborated with H&M to design a one-time collection of women's and men's wear. Viktor & Rolf are known for their daringly modern twist on tailored clothing and runway shows. Their latest runway show had models donning mesh face masks. Although the mask thing is a bit scary, I loved their fall collection. I am really excited to see (and, of course, buy) this collection. My first experience at H&M while I was in NY was splendid and I'm glad they finally are opening stores in the west coast. Though my trip to the SF store was annoying (see Playing with Bits of Gold), I am more than willing to rush up north again to get my hands on Viktor & Rolf (the Stella McCartney collection sold out within hours! ). Unless the rumors of an H&M store opening up in LA suddenly come true in November, you can bet on me being in SF on a chilly day in November next to a gazillion other crazed and obsessed fashionistas.

I love the idea of mixing high end merchadise with mass market values. That's why I love designer collaborations. I'm also a sucker for things that are 'limited' or 'exclusive.'

daily outfitting: minty fresh

Scrapbook Mint Leaf Thermal Half-Sleeve Hoodie:
- $58.00 @ Nordstrom
- I love every little bit of detail that make up this hoodie. The rainbow and unicorn prints are fairytale-inspired. The contrast of the green and the yellow zipper makes the hoodie stand out. The best part is the rainbow patch in the back of the hoodie. I also love how this hoodie is lightweight, so it can be worn during summer nights.

A&F Heather Gray Lace Trimmed Xtra Long Tank:
- @ Abercrombie & Fitch
- Lace trim tanks are great for layering. I wear this tank a lot because the light gray color matches with everything.

A&F Darby Denim Shorts:
- $59.60 @ Abercrombie & Fitch
- See Playing with Bits of Gold and Ode to Abercrombie

Wanted Mint Green Flats:
- @ Ross
- These are so worn that I had to superglue the soles. The neon-ish green color and the sparkly stars are fun and unique.

daily outfitting: birds, birds, birds everywhere

Scrapbook Birds Tee:
- @ Marshalls
- Scrapbook has the cutest, most colorful prints on their clothing. Baby birds are oh-so-cute, especially when they're tumbling.

2Love Green Xtra Long Tank:
- @ Marshalls
- I use this tank mostly for layering under other shirts because the top is too loose. I think it's a really pretty shade of bright green.

Pink Pearls:
- $1 @ Target
- You can't beat Target's Dollar Spot. Come to think of it, I think these really belong to Donna. These faux pearls (like the green tank) give my dark top/bottom a nice splash of color.

Mossimo Black Skinny Jeans:
- $22.99 @ Target
- See St. Patrick's Day

Ellen Tracy Black Neutral Territory Handbag:
- $99.99 @ Marshalls
- See Pretty Badass Princess Skulls

A&F Embellished Pink Flip-Flops:
- @ Abercrombie & Fitch
- There is no doubt that I am a SoCal gal because I practically live in flip-flops. I have tons of pairs in every color, style imaginable. These flip-flops are embellished with sequins in an Indian-inspired design. I love the bright pink color. I can pair them with casual and semi-fancy outfits. I also love that they weigh so little.

daily outfitting: playing with bits of gold

Luella for Target Puff Sleeve White Tee:
- $14.99 @ Target
- See Easter Sunday

Tara Jarmon for Target Layered Racerback Tank in Brimstone Gray:
- $16.99 @ Target
- I totally copied this look from the Tara Jarmon ads. This tank's ruched style is fun and feminine. I've never seen this unique design before on any shirt. On one side of the tank, there's a tab of ribbon fabric. It's simple, yet I really, really like this detail. It's like one of those finishing touches that completes the tank. Along with the puff sleeve tee and bermuda shorts, this tank is a great summer item.

A&F Darby Denim Shorts:
- $59.60 @ Abercrombie & Fitch
- See Ode to Abercrombie

George White and Gold Chain Necklace:
- $9.97 @ Wal-Mart
- When I was planning this outfit out in my head (yes, I do that), I imagined that this necklace would be longer and that it would go over the gray tank, which will make the white/gold links pop. When I actually put it on, it was shorter than I had expected, so the white blends in with my white shirt. The necklace, despite not working as planned with this oufit, has an industrial feel to it, but still very cute and fancy. I love how it's made of metal instead of plastic. The plastic necklaces look cheap to me and takes away from the whole 'chain-as-a-necklace' style.

H&M Metal Bangles:
- @ H&M
- I got these bangles when I went up to SF a couple of weekends ago. The H&M store was so crowded that I didn't buy any article of clothing because the fitting room lines were Disneyland long. I was annoyed. I just bought a few accessories. These bangles come in different shades of metal: silver, gold, and copper. I like the clinking noise they make. Gold jewelry goes with almost any color, especially for this summer and fall.

Jennifer Swii Greek Lace-Up Sandals:
- @ Urban Outfitters (used the gift card Tina gave me for my '05 birthday to get these)
- I feel like Cleopatra when I wear these sandals. I lovelovelove them!

marc jacobs likes his vans

Marc Jacobs likes his Vans so much that he decided to collaborate with the popular skater sneaker company. The highly anticipated Marc Jacobs Vans collection has finally arrived and is available at Aloha Rag. The collection includes slip-ons and SK8 Old Skool hi- and lo- tops in 15 different prints and color combinations.

My favorite pair is the crossword puzzle slip-ons that spell out Marc Jacobs with the hot pink sole. I think this design is ingenious and quirky without being too flashy. My other picks are the enamel leather SK8 hi-tops in black and aqua with a mustard-colored sole and the SK8 lo-tops in brown and navy with the green sole.

I was late discovering these kicks because the slip-ons are completely sold out and the SK8s are only available in size 12 and 13. Lame! On eBay the crossword puzzle style in my size is selling for $165 (on Aloha Rag they were only $85)! Boo! I don't have the luxury of paying that much for a pair of sneakers.










Maybe I'll get the Prison Issue 23 Vans from Urban Outfitters instead. They remind me of "Prison Break" and that reminds me of my boyfriend Wentworth Miller, which is always, always a GREAT thing!

target go international: tara jarmon

Target's newest GO International collection is here! The collection is by Tara Jarmon, a Canadian-born French designer who adds a touch of femininity to her designs with ribbon accents and vibrant colors. I think I like her stuff for Target a tad bit more than Luella's. Her designs are more subdued and less rock 'n roll. I think it fits my personal style better. Although, when I first saw Luella Bartley's collection on the Target website, I loved the red bow dress right off the bat. Sadly, I missed my chance to buy it online and I don't think it was ever available in the stores. That saddened me. Now that I've learned my lesson, I immediately checked online and at the stores for these must-have Tara Jarmon color block summer dresses:



















No sighting of these dresses anywhere, but I am determined and mark my words, these dresses will be mine! I did pick up these items though:



- Layered Racerback Tank in Brimstone Gray
- Bow Applique Tee in Orange Flame
- Silk Babydoll Tank in Plum View