SS08: Marc by Marc Jacobs

For the last few seasons (ever since they got into the "grunge" look), I have not been too impressed with the Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. This season though I am delightfully surprised! The collection is preppy and retro-chic. My style but with a refreshing twist!
This collection makes me WANT to buy something orange, and that is a difficult feat. I absolutely detest orange. But I am willing to break the rules for these two dresses. I just LOVE the orange dress with the fancy bow tie (though I cannot quite imagine what occasion that would be appropriate for) and the shirt dress is casual and chic.
I don't even mind being obviously Marc by Marc Jacobs. Many would recognize this very distinct geometric shirt dress (left) as Marc by MJ by now (along with the orange bow-tie dress above) but I still like it. I am really impressed that the color seems so "old" and yet, the whole look is still so young! At first glance I thought this blue printed dress (right) was really cute. But if you look closer, can you tell that it actually has Marc Jacobs written all over it? I thought it was pretty cool that I couldn't tell at first. But now that I can, I think that kind of ruins the dress. Shame.
The definition of retro chic. I love how they mixed the flirty print and color with such a "proper" design. It is both refreshing and stunning. Though it is a bit too much for me. I prefer the more subtle purple dress (right). I absolutely absolutely adore this dress. It is simple, vibrant, youthful and fun. I've tried it on actually, but the fit of the bodice is a bit off. Maybe if I got it tailored.........
More fun casual dresses. I love the block print (right). Its so off and cute at the same time. And the cut of the heart leaf pinafore dress is just adorable!
The neckline and the prints are awesome. I especially love the neckline of the blue shirt (left: it is very ladylike, but the print makes it fun!) and the subtle pinstripes on the yellow shirt (right).
These two are my favourites of the collection, because I think they are great investments. I'm a great believer in outerwear and these two cardigans are perfect to carry around with you this summer- just in case of freezing a/c temperatures! I waaaaant the white one (right)! It is very Chanel-esque with a youthful touch.
A cute jacket is ALWAYS a good buy. You get the most mileage out of them cause you can just throw it over any outfit- and this one is so chic and stylish! (Though it may be a bit too heavy for the summer). And this pinstripe shirt with the ruffles is just darling!

Now if only I can win a free shopping trip for Marc by Marc Jacobs this season!

Image Source: Net-A-Porter

What Does Your Bag Say About You?

Who am I? Some study the works of ancient philosophers for the answer to this age-old question, but if you’re like us, you prefer a shortcut. So here it is: if you want to know who you are, you need only look as far as your handbag. What does your bag say about you? Find out in the latest edition of the Style File.

You’ll also find...
* The best bathing suit for your bod.
* Anna Sui, now at shopbop.
* Our staff is ga-ga for Golden Goose.
* Summer sunglasses in the Designer Boutique.

It’s all in the Style File. Check it out today.

Alternative Fashion-Week...

Moins connu que la médiatique Fashion-Week de Londres, la Fashion-Week Alternative qui s'est déroulée du 21 au 25 Avril dernier (au Spitafields Traders Market, dans le quartier trendy de Londres) mérite cependant que l'on parle d'elle. Elle est une occasion unique, pour de jeunes créateurs de présenter leur travail au public, à la presse, mais aussi à l'industrie de la mode. Pas moins de 60 jeunes créateurs, offrent ainsi des collections les plus extravagantes et originales, les unes que les autres.
Car ici, aucun dress-code, seul mot d'ordre :laisser à chacun libre cours à son talent stylistique. Un concept sans aucun doute original, où la création est à l'honneur, mariant avant-gardisme et excentricité.
La Fashion Week Alternative est donc devenu un véritable théâtre de collections dignes d'art contemporain.
Sublimes, délirants, romantiques, inovants, tous les styles se cotoient. Certains descendront dans la rue...d'autres...resteront espèrons-le dans les cartons!!
La preuve en images....

Spring/Summer Nail Varnish!

Just when I found the perfect winter nail shade (just in case you were wondering, it is the Essie Sole Mate. It is the perfect rich deep dark purple, with just a hint of red!) , spring comes around. Not that I'm complaining, I can't wait for the weather to get warmer and the sun to shine. Although now it means my nail colors will have to change along with it- to get into the spring mode you know. But I am kind of tired of the pale white pinks that I usually favor for warmer weathers. As classic as they are, it does get a bit monotonous after a while. AND it is super hard to apply properly (this might also be due to my lack of nail varnish applications skills- though I'd like to point out that I have no trouble with the darker colors! Odd, I know).
So I started to consider other colors suitable for spring. Flicking through the Essie advertisements (Yes, I have a preference for Essie!) bright pink crossed my mind (left: Secret Stash). As much as I wanted to try something new though, bright pink does seem a bit too much. I AM 21 now. Not quite Barbie. Then I considered pale purple (right: Looking for Love). It is subtle but still quite different from pale pink. But then I quickly rejected the idea- that is just TOO weird. Its just not a color one would relate to nail color! Kind of like how it is odd for people to put pale blue/purple lipstick on their lips!
After much consideration, I finally found the perfect color, Ball-timore (left). It is the perfect coral pink, with the sharpness of a super bright pink but toned down by orange/coral tones. I simply LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It is youthful and fun with a hint of sophistication. The other color I bought is Hard to Get (right). A more intense version of my usual pale pink hues, I thought this would just be fun and girly to play around with.I also wanted to get a nude color, like this (above: bags to riches). This one is the definition of sophistication and simplicity. But alas, it was getting rather expensive (they hiked the price up in the place I usually go to!!!).

Image Source: Essie

We’re Bloggin’

To blog or not to blog? It may not be an age-old question, but it’s one that’s been on many minds here at shopbop. Our answer? To blog, obviously. We’ve already started posting our latest and greatest, and now we’re gearing up to take it a step further. Look forward to style tips, industry news, designer profiles, guest bloggers, and much more. It’s one more way to foster your fashion obsession.

What’s new at shopbop today? Find out.

Look on the Bright Side with JUICY

The best thing about a new season? New Juicy styles, of course, and spring has a few bubblegum-bright options up its sleeve. Soft jersey dresses to so-sweet terry hoodies, glam footwear to luxe handbags, the offerings are oh-so Juicy, and they come in a rainbow of spring-perfect shades. The latest looks to make any girl a Juicy girl? Find them, at shopbop.

Are Eco-Friendly Bags Worth It?

In my head, eco-friendly bags usuallt mean low-priced, off-white bags with some kind of save-the-earth type of message printed on it. Obviously, I've got Anya Hindmarch's "I'm not a plastic bag" bag -the first famous eco-friendly bag imprinted in my head. Back then, they were sold for 5 pounds each in the UK. (The whole craze for the bag is another story.) But clearly with over-demand, many other designers have tried to come up with smart slogans to put on suppsedly eco-friendly bags. I've managed to ignore that trend up until two weeks ago, I found this (literally) happy-looking bag in my mum's paper shopping bag.

No, my mum didn't buy it. She bought a jacket and the bag was a gift for shopping at Seibu, a department store in Hong Kong. We didn't think anything of it until we got home and discovered a HK$500 price tag on it. Wait, $500?! Yup, that was our reaction. We were kind of confused with why this bag would cost $500 in the first place and why the department store gave it away as a gift. I mean sure, the green smiling tree is sort of cute and it does have Moschino printed on it, (-as we all know, anything with a brand name printed on it allows it to be priced above what we think it ought to be worth,) but is it really worth 500hkd? (-500hkd is around 64usd or 30 pounds.) My point is not that I'm complaining about wasting my money on it because it was free, but that who would pay that much for it in the first place? And what you may not be able to tell from the photo is, this bag is small! It is probably the most impractical eco-friendly bag I have ever seen. Even the "I'm not a plastic bag" bag is more practical since it was wide (making up for it's lack of depth.) Plus, there was no message tag attached and the saleslady didn't even explain the point of the bag. Perhaps the proceeds of the bag goes to an unmentioned charity?

Anyway moving onto the Feed Bag. BG blogged about the first style last April. Recently, Lauren Bush released Feed 2 Bag. I have to admit the reason I looked it up was because I was surprised by the 50pound price tag when I saw it in Tatler magazine. But after reading the Harrods website, I am actually convinced it is worth it -According to Harrods' website, "each Feed 2 Bag sold will provide a year's worth of lunch meals in school for two children in need" for the UN World Food Programme's school feeding program. As for the design, it is reversible and made of 100% organic fair-trade material. OK, I can't claim to fully appreciate how 'green' the material is, but the cause actually sounds solid and worth it. I'm assuming people use these eco-friendly bags as their grocery-shopping bags, not to replace their Chanels, so even though it's not supremely stylish, it looks fit for the job, (although I would much prefer one that didn't have "Harrods" imprinted on it.)

What do you think of the whole eco-friendly bags trend in general? Do you use them for grocery shopping? Have you bought any?

Image Credits: http://www.harrods.com/

Downtown Glam: Standout Styles from Givenchy

Lovely, ladylike and sweet? We've started to find them a bit of a yawn, frankly. Lately we're all about downtown glamour, standout styles with serious attitude. We've got our sights set on fierce platform sandals from Jean Paul Gaultier and sexed-up tops from Rachel Roy and Jenni Kayne. Hot-meets-haute Givenchy gladiators? They're the stuff obsessions are made of. Glamour with attitude? Get it right here, at the Designer Boutique.

Get Graphic in Tees from shopbop.com

We've always been suckers for the plain white tee; it's what we grab first every time we get dressed. But this season, our go-to is seeing a little less play because the latest crop of tees are all dressed up in paint spatters and lettering, ethereal images and funky prints. The usual suspects - L.A.M.B., Torn by Ronny Kobo - have done them, and newcomers 291 and EDUN have thrown themselves into the fray with brilliant results. They're the stuff cool casual Saturdays are made of, and you can find them, at shopbop.

White Hot: The Seductive Side of Summer Denim

White denim's got a naughty little secret. Behind that veneer of crisp, country club chic lurks a sexier side that longs for a night on the town. Hot ways to bring out white denim's inner bad girl? Find 'em in the just-updated denim guide, along with new staff picks and tons of tips on wearing and caring for white denim. The latest and greatest in denim? It's in the Denim Guide, right here at shopbop.

The Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism on eBay

Hey people, you know the pretty purple Nokia phone that I blogged about a few days ago and some of you have been wanting to buy it? Well you can now! Since we are the kind of girls who want practical phones with classic, silver designs, (largely because we travel between countries a lot and Hong Kong is one of those places where phones are not attached to phone plans, unlike the UK or US,) we have decided to follow in Style Bubble's footstep and put this Prism up for auction on Ebay (UK). If you are a fun girly girl who wants this phone before it gets released, place a bid here!

Uniqlo UT Project 08

Two weeks ago, the new Uniqlo ad in Grazia (a UK glossy tabloid) featuring Chloe Sevigny really caught my eye. I'm not a fan of Chloe's style, (actually I wonder why people love her style so much,) but I really liked how the black tank top fits her here. Doesn't Chloe look very casual rock chic? And the other big attraction? The fact that the ad is by Uniqlo means that the shirt is actaully affordable!
Uniqlo's collaborations with designers to produce capsole collections are usually much talked of on the Internet. But UT Project seems much more accessible to me. UT Project is basically where Uniqlo collaborates with a bunch of artists and designers to make printed T-shirts. Depending on the designer, not only are the print designs different, but even the fitting of the t-shirts is different. You can probably tell from the few pictures of Chloe modelling them.
The most popular (and publicised) t-shirts seem to be the Basquiat t-shirts (-they're the ones Chloe is wearing in the first two pictures.) I bought the tank top on the left and I love how it's really long, and it's got a slit on one side so you can tie it together the way as shown in the ad. It's going to be one of my lazy-day shirts this summer!
I think the Osamu Tezuka t-shirts are kind of cute. Don't they look so easy to throw on? I imagine wearing them to hang out at a friend's house.
But I'm really not a fan of the surfing-looking t-shirts like the one on the right. (A bunch of people back in high school used to wear surfing t-shirts to school everyday and I think I've been scarred by them.) And I really don't know how to appreciate art because the print on the left t-shirt just looks ugly to me.
The long blue shirt on the right is one of the more special designs. And as for the shirt on the left, it didn't look so pretty to me until I saw it modelled on Uniqlo's Japanese website. Those blobs of green look just like the blobs of colours I'm trying to add to my wardrobe!
We all know celebrities and ads always make things cooler, so if you want some idea how how to dress-up these ordinary T-shirts from 'normal' people, take a look at the images on the Japanese UT website. (Speaking of which, why is the Japanese Uniqlo site so much better and complete than the US and US Uniqlo sites?) It has many girls posing in the tees, giving the tees many different styles -from hipster to cutsy to rock chick to boringly ordinary. Actually, even if you're not a fan of Uniqlo, you should take a look at how they styled the girls for inspiration!

Image Credits: http://www.uniqlo.co.uk/, http://ut.uniqlo.com/

Free Tote with Any J Brand Green Label Purchase!

J Brand gives us yet another reason to love their fabulous-fitting denim with an eco-chic version of their wildly popular Lovestory. Part of their new Green Label line, this earth-loving Lovestory is made from organic cotton grown in fields free of pesticides. As an added bonus, we're throwing in a free J Brand tote with every Green Label purchase. Going green never looked so good. Get J Brand Green Label and your free tote, right here, at shopbop.

Now at shopbop: Elizabeth and James

Fashion icons Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen bring a couture sensibility to contemporary clothing with their Elizabeth and James collection. Fusing feminine with fashion-forward, downtown cool with uptown chic, casual with glamorous and vintage with modern, the line reflects the sisters' unique and oft-imitated sense of style. So far we've snapped up the effortlessly sexy Jane dress, the timelessly cool Marianne jacket and the chicly sexy Dandy short. The closest thing to raiding your coolest friend's closet? The Elizabeth and James collection, and you can get it right here, at shopbop.

Top 10 Must-Have Dresses for Spring

There's one thing every fashionable girl turns to when she wants to look incredible with minimal effort: the dress. It's that fabulous piece of fashion that can transform any ho-hum day into pure brilliance in about 3.5 seconds. And from maxis to minis, strapless to cap sleeves, more than one style has set our hearts aflutter this season. We've picked our top ten, and they're just waiting for you to snatch them up, at shopbop.

Superfine....

Superfine...vous connaissez sans aucun doute cette marque de denim, crée en 2003 par Lucy Pinter et Flora Evans .





En dessinant le jean de leur rêve, elles ont lancé un label qui est devenu aujourd'hui l'une des références en matière de denim. Pionières en matière de slims, les people l'ont trés vite adoptés et quand ces people sont des icônes de mode, comme Kate Moss, Gisèle Bundchen ou encore Sienna Miller, un must-have est lancé ...En 5 ans, les points de vente se sont multipliés et l'histoire d'amour entre Superfine et les femmes, mais aussi les hommes, n'a cessé de s'intensifier.















Les raisons de cette success-story ? Avoir été là au bon moment, en faisant du slim leur pièce phare . Véritable seconde peau, la coupe et le style sont travaillés dans un esprit "london attitude" . Aujourd'hui, les coupes sont plus larges pour répondre à la tendance "flare", mais la silhouette reste trés rock-and-roll, impossible donc de résister à ces best-sellers !

Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism

The Nokia PR machine has been sending out the new Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism to quite a few fashion bloggers lately, and we were one of the lucky few to receive one. At first it was all very mysterious: all we knew was that the phone was going to be designed by a designer with a major mobile phone manufacturer. I was very hesitant as I am now jaded by all the designer mobile phones in the market, and quite honestly, only a collaboration between Nokia (my ideal mobile phone brand) and a really prominent fashion designer, think Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga and Miu Miu (in my dreams), would pique my interest. So when it was revealed that the designer was Frederique Daubal, I was honestly a bit disappointed.Last week I received the phone. To start with, the packaging is superb -way too pretty to be a mobile phone box. It took me awhile to figure out how to open the box, although this is probably because I haven't bought a new phone in the past 6 years.I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much. Thankfully, the phone turned out way prettier than I thought it would be. Before, I had been very resistant to the idea of a bright pinkish purple phone, (I'm more of a silver or black sort of girl,) but the effect is pretty fab -the design is striking and the crystal at the center definitely adds a dose of girliness to it. The phone is thinner than anticipated (Nokia was never big on thin phones,) which is good, but I don't like how long it is.

Thinking back, I remember a few of my girl friends who were looking for new phones last summer saying how much they loved the prism design. I just realised they were cooing over the Nokia 7500, the predecessor of the 7900. It basically has the same gorgeous black keyboard. Unfortunately, as lovely as the design is, I'm just a boring girl who wants an ordinary keyboard. This is way too avant garde for me!

As for the specs, there is the good and the bad. The good is that the screen is an OLED screen so the colours are really bright and cool. The bad is that the camera is a very standard 2 megapixel one. I would have expected a higher megapixel camera for a 'fashion' phone, because really, vain, fashionable girls are all about having their photos taken!

Style Bubble blogged about this phone last week, and it wasn't until I saw her photos that I realised there was another 'level' of goods in the box -including a badanna and phone pouch-both in flashy, metallic purple. (See what I mean? I am obviously so out of touch that I can't even figure out the box has two levels!)

So if you're looking for a high-tech phone, this is probably not for you. But if you're one of the fun and girly girls who want something cute and 'designed' to hold onto, then go check it out. I certainly like the Prada phone more, but this definitely beats out some of the other fashion phones out there. *coughdvfcough* *coughannasuicough* For more actual information on the phone, see Nokia's website.

Image Credits: Nokia and the blog's

Give the Earth a Hug with TOMS & Leftover Bags

April 22. It's the day designated to give our earth a big hug, but with a circumference of 24,859 miles, that's a lot of globe to wrap your arms around. Daunting, yes, but not impossible. We recommend baby steps. Start by bringing your own bag. Leftover Bags' organic-cotton totes mix whimsy with earth consciousness, and they'll eliminate your need for store-provided plastic sacks. Then give back to your fellow man with TOMS shoes. When you buy a pair of the simple, go-anywhere kicks, TOMS gives a pair to a child in need. So stretch those arms wide and celebrate Earth Day today and every day, at shopbop.

Go Green in Style with 10 New Eco Chic Looks!

"It's Not Easy Being Green"? We beg to differ, Kermit. Witness sustainable styles with a couture sensibility from Beau Soleil and Larsen Gray, organic cotton tees from Edun and C&C, and artsy totes from Leftover Bags that make plastic look positively passé. Going green in style? It's never been easier. Shop the new Eco Chic LookBook, right here at shopbop.

Spring Dresses in the Designer Boutique

In the immortal words of Tom Petty, "the waiting is the hardest part." Was he talking specifically about fashion? We can't say for sure. But we do know that the months of waiting to get your hands on your favorite runway looks can feel like an eternity. The good news? You can finally get the spring 2008 styles that had fashion editors fainting in the aisles. Because Chris Benz to Derek Lam and every Rachel Roy and Sari Gueron in between, we've got straight-off-the-runway dresses from the freshest names in fashion. Good things come to those who wait. Get the dresses you bookmarked from the spring 2008 collections now, at the Designer Boutique.