Thursday, January 27, 2011

Strings Attached

I have recently stumbled upon Frieda&Nellie's handmade, each one of a kind cotton friendship bracelets with vintage rhinestones.

They are super fun and perfect for layering or mixing with your own bangles and bracelets.

I kinda want to collect them ALL but they are on the pricey side ranging from $130 to $300. I'd rather save up and splurge on a Cartier Love or a Van Cleef Collection Perlée Bracelet (wink wink).

But if you are feeling extra generous today, feel free to order them here - one for you and maybe five for me ;-)






Yes, it's the dead of winter however these bracelets remind me very much of summer and maybe that's why I find myself so drawn to them.

I am thinking of getting the Haute Betts Gypsy Bracelets that have graced fashion icons such as the Olsens and Nicole Richie.

They also look super fun and layerable and retail for only $45 each!











Monday, January 24, 2011

$175K to Replicate Carrie Bradshaw's Closet

Ok, I could totally use a closet like this one but for $175K? Are ya kiddin me?

No kiddo! 

Apparently a couple in Long Island, NY shelled out that much to replicate Carrie's closet and the project is not even done yet. Next up is to replicate Mr. Big's closet for hubby.

So what does $175K get you?

Enough closet space to hold 400+ pairs of designer shoes, the same hand-beveled mirror glass that is featured in the movie, an individual space for every item in the closet (sunglass compartments are specially sized, as are compartments for hair dryers and flat irons), and frosted glass doors with an Art Deco finish.


Watch the Trailer for Bill Cunningham New York



Bill Cunningham New York is definitely the fashion film of the spring.

Cunningham, who is over 80 years old, has been shooting street style for The New York Times since the Sartorialist was just a whippersnapper.

But while he's wildly influential—in the trailer, Anna Wintour herself says that it's devastating when he declines to photograph her—Cunningham lives a notably unglamorous life, sleeping in a tiny studio filled with file cabinets.

Richard Press's documentary, which has gotten tons of advance praise at film festivals, opens at the Film Forum on March 16.



Looking forward to seeing this film !!!!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Smell you later?

I have been wearing men's scents my whole life.

 I love flowers but God knows I hate the smell of flowers on me or anyone else for that matter. The only girly scent I can do is a powdery one (e.g. Essence by Narcisso Rodriguez) .

I am more drawn to woods, ambers and musks.

 After experimenting with the likes of Issey and Prada during the dark ages, I finally discovered NYC Bond No.9 about 4 years ago ( Helloooo!!! Was I hiding under a rock this whole time???? )

Scent of Peace, Chinatown and Wall Street - all androgynous (the former two more feminine than the latter in my opinion) and deliciously intoxicating -  have been in heavy rotation ever since.

Current obsession is a gift by a fellow Bond fanatic (he's got exquisite taste in scents).

I get compliments everytime I wear it.

Some being pretty intense...

" Damn woman! You smell GOOD!!! "

So, smell you later?





The Black Keys

I have been listening to these guys lately...
thanks to @katkaya


a sinister kid...

that's me...that's me...

the boy with the broken halo... the devil won't let me be...



baby i'm howlin' for you...

Matters of the Heart

I am always looking for a great guy, and I have been able to meet some really nice guys ( alas, that does not necessarily equal a great relationship ) and some not-so-nice guys.

After all is said and done, I always try to be cool and still be friends, but sometimes it's better

not to...




...cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion
between supposed lovers...

Friday, January 21, 2011

Current Obsession

The size, the black leather, the belt-like straps, the fact that it can be worn over the shoulder or carried by the handle. 2 words: Totally Obsessed
 
It comes in a bunch of different colors and in suede as well.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Be my Valentine?



I stumbled upon these naughty yet super cute Kiki de Montparnasse  panties during my recent visit to the SoHo store. I think they would make the perfect playful V-day gift for that special lady in your life.

 Single? Not big on V-day? No worries! After all we are not the kind of gals to wait around for a boy or girlfriend to buy us lingerie, yes?

So go and grab one for yourself and most importantly HAVE FUN!!!

After all, like Diane Von Furstenberg once said " You have to be your best friend." And what's better than to spoil your best friend (hello! you and your fabulous self darlin! ) with flirty, fun underwear and maybe some chocolate on Valentine's Day ?


p.s. my favorite is  "fesse-moi" ~ spank me ;-)

Friday, January 14, 2011

Half-Moon and New Moon Manicure at New York Fashion Week Spring 2011

Edgy new moon and half-moon manicures arise at New York Fashion Week Spring 2011 and they are casting a new light on our fingertips.




On the first day of New York Fashion Week, new versions of  "the moon"  were spotted at three different shows; this trend is anything but waning.


Ruffian designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morais are the original champions of the moon manicure, having shown this flapper-inspired look for four seasons and counting.


They showed a "monogram moon," at Ruffian's Spring 2011 runway show, a wildly original idea that includes a putty base juxtaposed against glossy black accent polish and an intricate Ruffian logo stamped on models' ring fingers.


At Vena Cava, Nonie Creme of Butter London took a graphic spin on the look with a fuller moon. She painted nails with a café au lait shade on top, and a bottom half-moon of black.



 A fuller moon manicure at Vena Cava Spring 2011


"The half-moon was a status symbol in the '20's, since spending so much time on your nails meant you were of a higher class. We've made it more current by elongating the half-moon and making the colors more graphic in contrast," Creme said.

It's a new moon, if you will, and I am howling over it.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

In retrospect...


I thought I would have life figured out by now. HA!

As I am getting ready to turn 29 again for the next 10 years, it’s a good time to take stock of my 20s.

When I was a little girl, I had a lot of expectations about my 20s.  To me, it was the decade of being an adult for the first time.  I would be free of those pesky teenage years when no one takes you seriously and you have no money to your name.

Anticipated wrinkles after another 10 years.

I always thought -back when I planned how my life was going to turn out- that

I would get married to a super-gorgeous, awesome, tall, dark, kind man, have a few perfect kids (preferably twin girls and a boy), 2 vacation homes (ski and beach), travel, travel, travel.

Be an astronaut, wait no I changed my mind! An archeologist ( after one too many Indiana Jones movies), no! no! I wanna be a singer (Mor Menekse by Nilufer and Papa Don't Preach by Madonna - my folks would dearly remember those dark days :-) ), oh I’m definitely going to be an IBanker (after passing all my advanced Finance classes with flying colors in college), have the corner office at a multinational organization that has a huge positive impact on the World. (World Peace, anyone?)

Then, as my 20s went on, I realized how fast the decade was disappearing without any of that actually happening.

I’m leaving my 20s behind after a lot has happened:

I went to school and got 2 degrees (Former in Business Management and Finance and latter in Fashion Merchandising Management) WOW! That could be a good thing depending how you look at it.

I speak 3.5 languages.


I survived a major earthquake, two car accidents, a crazy ski accident (still not sure how I pulled it off without breaking a leg or two).


I moved not once, not twice but thrice and the first one being a 5000+miles move from Istanbul to New York and did not lose a thing in the process.

I dated wonderfully inappropriate people.

I listened to an embarrassing amount of Celine and Mariah and Britney (please shoot me NOW ) before upgrading to Pink Floyd, NIN, Deftones, Tool, The National, Band of Horses, Radiohead, Muse, Killers, Gogol and lately The Black Keys to name a few ;)

And who would have thought my beloved chick lit and in the closet guilty pleasure U.S. Weekly would now be replaced with Kurt Vonnegut, Ayn Rand, Chuck Palahniuk, Hemingway, New York Times and Women's Wear Daily?

I lived off chocolate bars and Vitamin Water at times and grilled chicken and steamed vegetables at others (I won't even mention the amount of nights out and the volume of alcohol consumed in between :) )

I have held jobs in different industries from banking to finance to sports marketing to fashion merchandising and production to international transportation. Yes, I have had the corner office overlooking 5th Avenue for quite some time then traded it for the fashion degree. I guess that could be a good thing as well, depending how you look at it! 

I have often found myself trying to change the people and things in my life that will probably never change or can't be fixed. I did not know that in my 20s, NOW I know.

I have reached an understanding that you outgrow friendships and relationships as you become mature enough to know which friends and lovers are worth letting go and which ones are worth holding on to... 

And I am no longer trying to be this super-woman and please everyone because years pass by so quickly, and it's important to always surround yourself with people who respect your gifts and are in your life for the right reasons. 

Most importantly, the value of family has never been more crystal clear. Family is essential and worth cherishing and holding onto at all times no matter where yours is - even if it's thousands of miles away at most times.

I feel stronger, wiser and more at peace with myself and it can only get better from here.

...and last but not least, I learned that it's not so much about finding yourself but rather re-inventing yourself...

I will let you know if in my 30s, I finally get that darlin man, the vacation homes and 3 kids :-)

But until then, I am going to invest more in people who are ' like-hearted' and use whatever happens – whether challenging or pleasant – as a way to grow.

Here’s to uncharted territory, a new decade and new adventures !!!

Love,

me









Sunday, January 9, 2011

Head to Toe in Chanel

I guess you could say I am a nail polish junkie especially when it comes to Chanel...

I remember people staring and making comments such as "but it's not even Halloween yet!" when I started wearing Chanel's Black Satin back in the stone age :-) Same goes with my Blue Satin period and last but not least my all time favorite Particuliere.

Funny how these colors ended up on every fashionistas' minds and nails after a much needed warm-up period since most have been sporting their spring/summmer french manicures and fall/winter burgundies/reds for the longest time :-)

I admit I like keeping up with nail polish trends and try the newest colors before everyone else does.

Nail polish is recession proof - just like lipstick is. It is a quick and easy way to update your look. Because like your clothes, you wear your nails everyday (same goes for your hair). Why not treat your nails as a valuable accessory and make the best out of them? ;-)

So, without further ado, I would like to introuduce you the newest polish trends over at Chanel, but first let's revisit the limited edition trio that was launched specially on FNO NYC this past fall.

Les Khakis de Chanel Limited Edition - Released on Fashion's Night Out New York City - Chanel SoHo Store, September 2010
They complement the urban military/utility ready to wear trend of Spring/Summer 2010 that worked its way well into Fall 2010.


Chanel Spring 2011 Nail Polish Trends


513 Black Pearl is a winner!
You might also want to consider 515 Peche Nacree since Spring 2011 color mood is all about corals, pinks and oranges. 




Chanel Fall 2010 Jade Rose ( a good base for french manicure)  / Paradoxal ( successor to Particuliere )



Chanel Spring 2010
My all time favorite 505 Particuliere

Are you a nail polish junkie too? How many bottles do you own and how often do you change your nail color or get a manicure?

Winter Skin Be Gone!!!

I have sensitive skin that gets uber dry in winter. The lotions and potions I have been relying on for the past year or so (mainly L'Occitane and Philosophy) are good but not good enough on their own to beat the dry winter skin.


So I have been testing an array of all natural products and found below two have worked the best for me.


They are both by Origins, a brand I love because not only their products deliver results, they are also made with all natural and certified organic ingredients and formulated without the harmful parabens, PABA, animal ingredients to name a few AND you don't have to break the bank, which is always a plus in my book.


Here is my daily routine to combat dry, flaky winter skin:


Step 1: Origins Skin DiverActive Charcoal Body Soap $12.50


Don't let the labels *men's line* and *soap* foul you. This is by no means a "rough and tough soap." It smells wonderful and will leave your skin soft and clean without stripping it of its natural moisture balance. The active charcoal draws out impurities and bacteria that clog pores so no more breakouts, simply soft, smooth baby skin :-)


http://www.origins.com/product/3813/11420/Bath-Body/Daily-Essentials/Bath-Time/Skin-Diver/Active-Charcoal-body-soap/index.tmpl

Step 2: Origins Calm To Your Senses Lavender and Vanilla Oil for Bath and Body $22.50


It has a blend of skin-nourishing soybean, olive and jojoba oils that silkens, soothes, softens and smooths your skin. It smells heavenly and doesn't leave a greasy residue at all. I apply it all over while I am still in the shower, let it sit for a minute then quickly rinse it out.

Et voila!!! Baby soft, smooth, clean skin :-)


http://www.origins.com/product/3825/10711/Bath-Body/Star-Collection/Calm-to-Your-Senses/Calm-To-Your-Senses/Lavender-and-Vanilla-Oil-for-bath-body/index.tmpl









Friday, January 7, 2011

Hello Lovely Louboutins!!!

 I have been daydreaming, drooling over, fantasizing about these boots for quite some time now...

 
Since they were not going to *magically* appear on my door step on Christmas morning (Santa is way too busy trying to get me a Robert Downey Jr. look-alike bad boy *sigh* ), I decided I couldn't risk not having this super trendy yet invesment worthy pair and got them myself for christmas, new year's and my upcoming oh-so-important birthday!!!!

Getting them was a challenge since CL was sold out and Jeffrey's only had one pair left they had to fly in from Atlanta...

Luckily for me, Neiman Marcus had my size and not only did they beautifully gift wrap them but they overnighted my long awaited perfect gift to myself just in time for Christmas.