Travel Essentials: Bags

Having travelled a lot lately, I've constantly faced this dilema: Which bags should I bring??
It's been tragic. I always want to bring absolutely everything. When I went to Paris for 10 weeks, I brought with me my big Coach tote for school and since I'd just gotten it then, my Miu Miu leather Satchel. Function and style (like this YSL Muse bag here) is obviously high on my list.
Although during that 10 weeks, there were times when I wished that I'd actually brought a smaller size bag just to save my shoulders and for days out when I don't need to bring my school stuff and I don't want to use my super stylish bag. Something like this Longchamp bag (which is SO french) and this Vuitton bag (which I very smartly brought with me to Sydney this time) would've been nice.
The other bag I'd brought to Paris was a black Prada sparkly evening shoulder bag (which I'd "borrowed" from my mom's collection)that can barely fit anything. While these evening bags are nice, sometimes I just wished I'd brought something more casual that is not limited to nice evenings out. (above: LV (left) and Rodo (right)).

Something like these small shoulder bags/clutch would've been ideal. I really missed my blue LV shoulder bag (bottom). A simple black shoulder bag like the top one from Juicy would not have gone amissed. And come to think of it, I REALLY want that small Chloe Paddington Clutch (middle)!! Its stylish and can be both casual and formal. Dear Santa.....

So now that I've shared my travel bag essentials, care to share what bags you can't live without?

Christmas 2006: Cocktails and Formal Parties

So many people have also been asking about what they should wear to parties -not casual house parties, but the more formal cocktails and parties.

Checks and metalics are huge trends this year. Both dresses from Top Shop -I've tried the purple version of these dresses on, and it's such a fun dress.

Very 'american'-feel dresses, left one by BCBG and right one by ABS. The dress on the left feels a bit too prom-ish, but is undeniabely pretty.

Diane von Furstenburg of course makes loads of fabulous dresses. Wrap-dresses are very flattering, versatile, and not to mention very useful in the future too. For those who want to look more sexy, DvF also makes non-wrap-dresses like the strapless one on the right.

Cocktail dresses from Urban Outfitters. It's so hard to find dresses like these -cute, trendy, affordable and don't look cheap!

LOVE these dresses. Soooo pretty! Dresses by Miu Miu (left) and Derek Lam (right). With dresses as short as the Miu Miu one, wear tights underneath to keep warm and look lady-like.

Dresses by Top Shop. Don't be afraid to wear mini (although not too mini) dresses to parties (but not the most formal parties). Again, wearing tights is a good idea, and please, do wear underwear!

These two dresses are acceptable for quite formal parties and look fun! Who wants to look stuffy at a Christmas /New Year party? I love the satin and silk material because it makes the dress look so much classier and gorgeous. Dresses by Marc by Marc Jacobs (left) and Ya-Ya (right).

I hope this gives everyone some ideas of what to wear. I can't tell you exactly what to wear, but this should hopefuly inspire you! Put a shawl (may be or may not be fur) on, then you're set for a fun and gorgeous night!

This Week HG is Loving...

One or two birthdays ago, BG gave me the DVD of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. My old laptop wouldn't read Region 1 DVDs, so it took until last Tuesday for me to watch it, and oh do I wish I watched it earlier. I loved it! All 4 actresses were great and each of the four storylines were so loveable and touching.

First off, I love the idea of having a small group of tight friends whom you can depend on and have fun with. It's even more fun when the friends are so different yet so compatible (like the 'sisters' in Traveling Pants.)
Fashionwise, the movie wasn't quite inspiring. But that's not the point of the movie is it? There is, however, enough differences in their fashion sense and beauty style to show their different personality.

OK, so as said, there were 4 storylines, all linked and witnessed by the amazing pair of jeans, which fit all 4 girls. My favourite one was Lena's (played by Alexis Bledel) story. Lena goes to Greece to visit her family and sketch. She accidently meets a gorgeous guy and they fall in love. Sounds so typical, but it's seriously so sweet. It doesn't hurt that Alexis is so perfect for this role.

Another storyline is Bridget's (Blake Lively). She goes to soccor camp and starts chasing after the coach. All this is not your typical romance plot, as it actually disguises a much deeper issue with her parents.

Then there is Carmen (America Ferrera), who visits her not-quite-there-dad and finds out that he is preparing to marry another woman and annoying new family. She tries to deal with her problems with her dad and body figure.

Lastly, there is moody Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), who works in the local supermart and tries to make a documentary on the local people. She stumbles upon a little girl, who in turn starts to follow Tibby around. Tibby finds out the girl has a disease and realises life is bigger than what she thought it was.

All these storylines are linked by the symbolic jeans, and the letters and encouragement from each other. See? It's seriously such an incredible moving to watch both, quietly and with your closest friends. Who else has seen it? And if you haven't seen it, go buy the DVD! It's SO worth it.

You're Not Cool Until ...

Recently actresses/singers/models have all decided to give up their day job to focus on designing their own lines of clothing and accessories. You may be a tad bit skeptical (which I was at first) but in the past five years, the modern day consumer has become engrossed with not only celebrities dirty laundry but their clothes as well.

~Let me begin with the one and only JLo. In 2004 her line “Sweetface” grossed over $130 million and is expected to surpass that mark after debuting her upscale line in New York’s Fashion Week.

~Next twin style icons Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have had their own line exclusively at Wal-Mart for years. They offer products varying from hair care, clothing, to books and videos. Their estimated net worth is $1 billion.

~Mandy Moores' new line, Mblem consists of vintage tees which will be carried in various boutiques throughout the country.

~Hillary Duff is also jumping on the band wagon by carrying a line called “Stuff by Duff” at Target stores nationwide.~Victoria Beckham, once known as Posh Spice of the late 1990’s hit group the Spice Girls has been designing jeans for years and will now carry her own line, VB (her initials) this year. Unfortunately VB is only being sold in the UK, so it’s the internet for everyone in the US.

~Gwen Stefani known for her unusual rocker chick style has created her own line, L.A.M.B. which consists of handbags and accessories. Her line offers pieces which reflect the singers’ personal style.

More celebrities with their own line:

Jessica Simpson -“Dessert” edible fragrances and makeup
Justin Timberlake – “William Rast” denim line
Mariah Carey – “Mariah Kiss Kiss” underwear line
Beyonce Knowles – “The House of Dereon” clothing and accessories
Kelly Osbourne – “Stiletto Killers” clothing

From SJP giving up her heels to stars wrapped in furs and everything else in between!

In this weeks Life & Style magazine it shows SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker for all those not obsessed) walking around New York City wearing FLATS!!! Hard to believe the star who made Manolo Blaniks a household name is giving up her 4 inch heels. Well come to find out she tore a couple of tendons in her foot and therefore had to give up her heels for a while so her foot could heel. Granted she can make anything look stylish but its just so odd seeing her without her signature heels. Anyway, her friend Patricia Fields, costume designer for Sex & the City says that this style of hers won’t last much longer and that she will be 80 years old and still wearing her high heels.

Now moving on to stars in furs…It seems as if all of Hollywood has gone crazy over fur. Whether it is chinchilla or rabbit celebrities everywhere are hitting the town wrapped in their favorite fur. Star Jones Reynolds and Melania Trump were both spotted wearing chinchilla in NYC and Nicole Richie was seen wearing a Joseph fur vest when meeting her fiancé for dinner in Beverly Hills. We all know furs are expensive and the average person can’t afford to buy a real one (especially those of us who are in college) but for all of us on a budget there are some great faux renditions in Nordstrom’s and even Target.

Now for everything else in between…. Trends celebrities are wearing right now....

Purple eye shadow (shown below)
Wavy HairHeadbands (shown above)
Cowboy Boots (yes, the trend is still in)

Also check out Life & Style to see which stars are Divas or Down to Earth.

How to know what’s hot and what’s not

How to spot a fashion fad...
There are three cycles to a piece of clothing or accessory becoming a fad:

Innovative Phase: This is the part of the cycle where the item is extremely sought after. Ex: When celebrities started wearing UGGS.

Emulation Phase: This is when everyone wants to own or wear the trend. After girls everywhere saw these celebrities wearing the boots in national magazines everyone in America wanted their own pair.

Saturation Phase: This is when the price of the item decreases, can be found relatively anywhere, and targeted towards a mass market. Take UGGS; they can be found in almost any mall and on many websites. Though prices have remained relatively the same many stores are offering last seasons colors at a discount.

NOTE: Most often “normal” people buy such items in the emulation or saturation phase because only celebrities or people in the fashion industry get distinct items in the first phase.

Another great example of trends in the saturation phase is the initial clothing, name necklace, and once again UGGS worn by Sarah Jessica Parker who played Carrie Bradshaw on Sex & The City. Everything she wore on the show turned to gold and hit mass markets within the next year. The character “Carrie” became a style icon and women today still emulate her chic trends. Here is a pic of "Carrie" wearing her signature "Carrie" necklace.



So with all that said here are some trends that are still hot this season and some new pieces you will definitely want to add to your collection.

Pieces to keep in your closet:
• Boho: Layer your tiered skirts with a cropped jean jacket for cooler weather.
• Shrugs: Layer shrugs and tie-front ballet tops over long camisoles and sheer tops. Pair with denim or cropped pants.
• Chunky, ethnic jewelry: Mixes great with fall's teals and browns.
• Metallic shoes and bags: Still hot!
• Cropped pants: Wear with tall boots and a duster or long coat for a cool long-over-short look.

HOT new must have items:
• Military-inspired jacket or coat
• Animal prints
• Fur trims
• Embellished jeans
• Bold jewelry - especially cuff bracelets

To find more fashion info check this out.

Life & Style Declares Hollywood's Newest Obsessions

From staying warm with a trench and gloves to the shoe all the celebrities can’t live without!

Trivia Question: During what war did British and French soldiers wear trench coats???

(answer found at bottom of post)

The idea of the trench coat may have been conceived decades ago but celebrities today still believe they are in style. Not only are they in style but Life & Style magazine declares them to be the “IT” coat of the season. Some of the hottest designers such as Burberry, (pictured below) Chanel, and Tommy Hilfiger are creating their own renditions of the popular coat. Charlize Theron was spotted wearing a chocolate tweed trench at LA’s fashion week along with riding boots and a brown studded hobo bag (another must-have of the season). Some of our other favorite celebrities such as Pam Anderson, Courtney Cox, and Uma Thurman were also seen wearing longer versions of the coat around Hollywood. The trench is great because it is so versatile, you can wear it with pants and boots or a dress and pumps, either way it still looks fresh and trendy yet classy.



Another hot trend for the cold months ahead is gloves. Not just your old wool gloves that you wore as a kid but oh-so-feminine gloves (which by the way will look fantastic with a trench coat). These gloves are said to be the new seductive accessory claims Life & Style. They also say the more embellished and colorful they are the better. This hot new accessory can be found almost anywhere and for any size budget. From Coach to Target these gloves are a MUST HAVE for fall!!!



Finally it seems as if celebrities can’t get enough of the Roger Vivier black satin sandal embellished with a black flower on the strap. This shoe hand crafted in Paris, France has been worn by Catherine Zeta-Jones, Claire Danes, and Kirsten Dunst. The shoes costs a mere $2,195 from Saks Fifth Avenue but you can find a less expensive version from Kenneth Cole, New York ($170).

Well, that’s all for this week. Stay tuned to see what the stars are wearing next week!!!


Answer: World War I