Own a piece of timeless elegance – Carolina Herrera sale at Gilt.com

It’s such a treat to just look at some beautiful Carolina Herrera dresses. All her pieces are timeless. So you know you’re making the right investment if you decide to get one. I’m totally enamored with this chiffon gown. Somebody was asking me what kind of dresses I’d pick for bridesmaids. Now I’d say, if you could afford it, something like this would be treasured and worn time and time again forever!

Chiffon Gown Original $1,995.00 $498. If you need an invite to Gilt Groupe, just let me know .

Cute thing – RyuRyu Floral Eyelet Handbag

RyuRyu Floral Eyelet Handbag $68 $54.40. We know eyelet’s a staple in the summer, but has it ever looked so cute on this bag? Awwww

Online store of the day – Chic Star

It’s always fun to discover small online stores even though a lot of times it’s a hit or miss. ChicStar.com is quite a young store and I hope they will expand and improve their selection in the very near future. I could do without a lot of of the costume-y clothes like this dress, but they have a few pieces that I quite like. The price point is excellent, always a plus for bargain hunters like me. And I like that the models they use seem to have real womanly curves, so if it looks good on the model, it’s likely it’ll look good on us average girls. Hopefully! Lol, unfortunately I haven’t found anything I like that are shown on the models. I think they started out using mannequins, then started using real girls. Oh their shipping rate is low compared to other stores, and that includes international shipping too!

Blue/Navy Stripe 50s Style Dress $44.95. Indeed very 50s chic.

Black Ruffle Neckline Wrap Dress $44.95. I’m sure pretty DVF had something very similar, which was extremely pretty and lady-like. Wasn’t any wonder it would get copied.

What I’m going to read – “What Would Audrey Do”

I’m going to Chapters after work to get this book, What Would Audrey Do? by Pamela Keogh. I’m always interested in Audrey Hepburn style books. Her style is always going to be relevant. I imagine people will still be writing about her in a hundred years. Toronto Star’s article, What Would Audrey do is a fun review.

Audrey Hepburn is the anti Britney.

Brit should pick up a copy of What Would Audrey Do?: Timeless Lessons for Living with Grace and Style by Pamela Keogh, author of Audrey Style, Jackie Style and Elvis Presley: The Man. The Life. The Legend.

Audrey Style took 10 years of research, interviewing relatives and Rob Wolders, Hepburn’s partner till she died in 1993 at 63 of cancer.

This is Audrey Lite, a self-help Audrey Primer like Miss Manners.

“Audrey Style, Jackie Style and Elvis were big, serious bios,” says Keogh over the phone from New York. “This is looser, rowdier and fun. What could we learn from A.H.?”

To wear undergarments, for one.

That it coincided with the meltdowns of the Lohans, Richies and Hiltons was fortuitous but coincidental. “This took so long, I was writing it way before they all blew.”

I was smitten with A.H., as are people of all demographics. She is an icon to girls and grandparents.

“The young girls know her movies. They don’t know World War II,” Keogh says. “They see her on- screen and she seems like a nice person. She is childish and grown-up at the same time. Her honesty, beauty, vulnerability and genuine guilelessness are appealing.”

A.H. is also a style icon: white shirt, LBD, ballet flats, oversized glasses and black capri pants. She was the muse for 30 years of Hubert Givenchy. An unrepentant clothes horse, A.H. stated, pre-Sex and the City, she’d “rather have more closets than a swimming pool.”

She travelled with 52 suitcases.

“That was when she was in her career prime,” Keogh specifies. “At UNICEF, she travelled with two suitcases – one for Rob Wolders – with jeans and polo shirts.”

She was a stick figure – size 2 and a 20-inch waist – but “she made non-sexy, sexy.”

“It was her intelligence that was sexy. There was a depth to her, and sophistication,” says Keogh. “She’d look at a guy and he’d fall over.”

A.H. didn’t think she was beautiful. She thought her upper arms too thin and feet (size 10) too big.

She was born in Brussels in 1929. Her mother, a Dutch baroness, wasn’t exactly a morale booster: “Considering that you have no talent, it’s really extraordinary where you’ve got.”

“That was a `wow’”, Keogh admits. “Audrey said, `My mother didn’t mean anything,’ but it was a double-edged sword. I didn’t want people to think she is a princess and was perfect. No matter what the challenge she went through, she kept up to give other women a bit of confidence and hang in there.

“The biggest misconception about A.H. is that her life was charmed and she didn’t have challenges.”

Her father walked out when she was 6. Both her husbands (actor Mel Ferrer and Andrea Dotti, a psychiatrist) cheated on her.

“Audrey came from a very good family,” says Keogh. “It was a difficult upbringing but you had your public life and your private life and they were very separate. You behaved a certain way and didn’t go off the deep end.”

What would Audrey not do?

Continue reading »

Mango’s polka dot dress

I was browsing our fantastic Loulou Magazine (the Canadian equivalent of Lucky), specifically the Buy of the day, they always find the cutest and unexpected, and usually quite accessible, items that make you go gaga over and think why you haven’t gotten it yet. Today they are featuring this Polka Dot dress from Mango, $99. They are calling it THE cocktail dress of the summer. So adorable! This polka dot dress is perfect for just about any occasion. Dress it up for a cocktail party with a belt and some platform shoes or dress it down with a pair of black gladiator sandals and a simple cardigan sweater. We just love all-in-one pieces! Hopefully they still have it in the store when I make my trek to the Mango store in TO. But it also made me think about the polka dot dresses and accessories in my closet. I shall dust them off the shelf again. Polka dot and summer totally go together!

Sale Alert – 20% off all sale items at eLuxury

Holy sales today! eLUXURY is offering 20% off all sale items too! Today and tomorrow only!

Fendi Runway Origami Blouse $995 $599 $479.20. I really could use an artistic piece like this in my closet.

Peter Som High-Waist Twill Trouser $650 $389 $311.20. These pants are pretty perfect.

Narciso Rodriguez Sateen Colorblock Dress $1,180 $709 $567.20. Looks like something Carrie would wear. So chic.

Pedro Garcia Dream Strappy Platform Sandal $425 $299 $239.20. Gorgeous versatile sandals! I can totally see these transition nicely into fall. With tights of course.

Sale Alert – 20% Off Sale Items at Urban Outfitters

A lot of cute stuff is on sale now at Urban Outfitters! I’m not sure if it’s the case in their stores, but for those of you that don’t have a local UO store, now is the perfect time to treat yourself online. For 4 days only, Take an Additional 20% Off Items Already on Sale at UO (ends June 30)!

Free People Sun Goddess Dress $118 $89.99 $71.99. So adorable. You can’t have enough cute comfy cotton sun dresses in the summer!

Lux Divinity Dress $98 $39.99 $31.99. Flirty party dress in a hot pink color!

Kimchi & Blue Orleans Halter $58 $14.99 $11.99. Love the cutout embroidery detailing and the lace hems, very artsy. The straps are removable.

Horse Icon Aviator $18 $9.99 $7.99. I’m over the thick frames on sunglasses now. I want a pair of Aviators with thin rims. These are perfect.

Manor House Ring $28 $9.99 $7.99. Estate-inspired jewelry is in. This will go great with your maxi dress. Pretend you got this ring from your grandma

Satin Gladiator Sandal $38 $14.99 $11.99. Very pretty color and the way the straps are tied together is very cute, not like those scary gladiator sandals at all!

Pure Gorgeousness – Black Halo dresses

As soon as I laid my eyes on these dresses from Black Halo’s SS08 collection, I knew they would be perfect for any special occasions a lady has to go to this summer, weddings, dinner parties, anniversary celebrations, etc, whenever one needs to look timeless chic, elegant and sexy. The neutral palette is classy and easy to wear. The details are incredible, not overly girly, just perfectly womanly. You will have no reservation in showing your femininity with the amazing fit and construction of these dresses.

Black Halo Keyhole Ruffle Sleeve Dress in Coal $345

Black Halo Jackie One Shoulder Dress in White $345

Black Halo Tweed Cami Dress $370

Black Halo Pan-Am Mini Dress $329

Black Halo Pleated Bodice Dress $390

Deal Alert – Graham & Spencer Feather Jersey Dress

Graham & Spencer Feather Jersey Dress $174 on sale for $87, plus 20% off with code ivyblue, so it’s only $69.60! Graham & Spencer has the softest jersey pieces. You can wear this as a top or a dress. So sexy!

Get 20% off everything at IvyBlue.com with our special coupon code ivyblue, exp.7/30.

Deal Alert – 14K White Gold Diamond Cut Beaded Circle Earrings

Another incredible deal from Netaya.com, 14K White Gold Diamond Cut Dangle Earrings, only $49.46 down from $225 with coupon code DCH6!! I’m not sure when the coupon expires (hope it hasn’t yet!), get it while you can. My coworker’s celebrating 10th wedding anniversary with his wife soon. I shall pass this onto him.

Another coupon code, 20% off everything, JE62 from Netaya.com (exp. 6/28/08‏).

The gladiator sandals that I like

As regular readers of this blog know that I have not liked gladiator sandals, not since last summer when they first appeared. I still don’t. However, it seems that the definition of gladiator sandals has broadened quite a bit this summer and sandals that are merely strappy are grouped into this category. While I still dislike the gladiators in its truest form, I’m quite fond of the few derivatives. If it’s a flat, I like the more delicate straps, e.g. the thong variety. If it’s a heel, the straps can be thicker and closer together as long as they are offset by the high chunky heel/platform combination. And it’s better not to have the cankle-inducing ankle strap.

L.A.M.B Sunny Knotted Gladiator Thong Sandal $245

Pewter Platform by Calleen Cordero $388

Stella Crystal Sandal $118

Enzo Angiolini Hypnotic – gold metallic $80

Rafe New York Wendy – Silver $245.00 $139.99

Dolce Vita Tahiti-60 – Natural snake $115

MICHAEL Michael Kors ‘Penelope’ Sandal $128.95

REPORT ‘Sasha’ Sandal $39.95

Steve Madden SYNTAX GOLD LEATHER $69.95 $39.95

Steve Madden SIMMERR NAVY PAT $139.95 $69.95

Shiekh Spunday $39.97. (Save 10% on orders of $50 or more at ShiekhShoes.com with the coupon code JUNESAVINGS, valid now through June 30, 2008!)

And can I just say this Botkier ‘Gladiator’ Leather Tote ($695) is simply gorgeous!

Sephora Luminizer

As much as I don’t want to tan, I’m not against bronzing. I was thinking of change my blush up a bit, sort of a departure from my usual rosy pink blush. As the cliche goes, I want the sun kissed cheeks, but I don’t want to try any full-on self-tanners. So I got a small sample of Sephora Brand Luminizer Natural ($18) to take home to try. This is incredible stuff. This shimmer lotion is so silky to the touch, goes on extremely smoothly. The dry finish does not leave the skin looking or feeling greasy, just a very soft glow. You can wear it directly over makeup or mix it with your moisturizer or foundation for a natural-looking sheer luminescence, you literally look like you are glowing from inside out. I think I’m going to go back and get it in the Light version too, which is a subtly pretty rose color. If you want more a bit more intense color, try the Golden color.

Cute Things – Tory Burch Love Bird Flip Flop

Tory Burch Love Bird Flip Flop $45. Methinks there are going to be a big hit with Tory Burch lovers this summer. They are tres cute, non?

My green sandals

My mint green elastic strap sandals are here . They give just enough pop to my simple outfit.  It’s my favorite shade of green.  And with the chunky heels they are so comfortable like you wouldn’t believe. Love ‘em!

Maxstudio’s handpainted dresses

I always enjoying looking at Maxstudio.com‘s lovely lookbook. I can’t stand the new additions, these gorgeous hand-painted dresses! Definitely out of an artist’s hands.

HANDPAINTED CHIFFON TIERED DRESS $198

HANDPAINTED SCARF NECK BUBBLE DRESS $198
SNAKESKIN & LEATHER BOMBAY SANDALS $159

HANDPAINTED ROUNDED NECK FLUTTER SLEEVE DRESS $198