My Perfume Wishlist

Perfumes by stylechild on Polyvore.com

I've been dying to get my hands on the following perfumes, some of them for their addictive scents and others just for the bottles! Stand-by fragrances include Chanel's classic Coco Mademoiselle, Dior's wildly popular Miss Dior Cherie, and Viktor & Rolf's bestselling Flowerbomb. YSL's Parisienne is slowly growing on me - the scent is definitely unique and stands out from the rest. I've yet to try Balenciaga's Paris, but how lovely would that bottle look on a vanity table!

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

Smells like: "Sexy, fresh Oriental fragrance" that "recalls the irrepressible spirit of the young 'Coco' Chanel"

Coco Chanel, 1907

Top Notes: Orange, bergamot, mandarin, and Tunisian curaçao
Heart Notes: Morning rose, Italian jasmine, ylang-ylang, and mimosa
Base Notes: Indonesian patchouli, Haitian vetiver, Bourbon vanilla, white musk, opoponax, and tonka bean

Faces: Anouck Lepere, Kate Moss, and Keira Knightley (current)


Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne

Smells like: "The essence of a woman who is incredibly free-she is not from Paris, but Paris adopts her. She knows how to love, how to live."
"A grand floral with a woody structure, luminous even in its mystery", "the perfume of ultra femininity, warmed by the touch of the man who embraced her."

Top Notes: "Vinyl accord (evoking metal gloss and varnish)", cranberry, and blackberry
Heart Notes: Peony, damask rose, and violet
Base Notes: Patchouli, vetiver, musk, and sandalwood

Faces: Kate Moss

Balenciaga Paris

Smells like: "mysterious and fragile, yet leaves a lasting trail"

Notes: Violet, pepper, and mossy wood notes

Faces: French songstress and "strange beauty" Charlotte Gainsbourg


Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

Smells like: "floral explosion", "full-bodied and opulent"

Top Notes: Tea and bergamot
Heart Notes: Sambac jasmine, orchid, freesia, and rose
Base Notes: Patchouli

Faces: Isabeli Fontana


Dior Miss Dior Cherie

Smells like: "the elegant woman, a blend of classic chic with a touch of whimsy"

Top Notes: Green tangerine and strawberry leaves
Heart Notes: Violette, pink jasmine, carmelized popcorn, and strawberry sorbet
Base Notes: Fresh patchouli and crystalline musk

Faces: Maryna Linchuk

Images from mauVErt

More Fall Inspiration

Chanel fall 2010
inspiration: global cooling
keywords: (fake) fur, ice jewelry


Valentino fall 2010
inspiration: modern ruffles
keywords: blush tones, high hemlines


Vanessa Bruno fall 2010
inspiration: dance
keywords: drape, layer, wrap


Isabel Marant fall 2010
inspiration: 50's
keywords: cropped pants, high ponytails & those amazing paillette leggings ♥!

All photos from style.com

More Chiffon Dresses but with a Libertine Twist

John Galliano played with the contrast of heavy and light, pairing chiffon dresses with leather pieces, in his fall collection for Christian Dior. The equestrian theme is obvious, but Galliano also drew inspiration from libertines, specifically Johnny Depp's performance in The Libertine (which I have yet to watch). On first glance, the top hats are reminiscent of Depp's latest role in the movie Alice in Wonderland.

I'm especially keen on the make-up and hair. According to hairstylist Orlando Pita, the hair was inspired by "French romanticism and page boys" with the textured curls and fish braids. The make-up called for a "Libertine's raspberry mouth" and "ochre and burgundy eyes." The lips are heavily pigmented in the center and wash out at the sides, which really does give that look of a "raspberry mouth." The final result was a kind of painted beauty like in an 18th century portrait and as decadent as a libertine's lifestyle.

All photos from style.com

Yes, I love me a statement coat

Photos from New York Magazine

I always look forward to what creative geniuses Viktor and Rolf have up their sleeves - which in the case of their fall 2010 presentation, were roomy enough to layer over layers, of capes over fur coats over robe-like dresses over bustiers - like a shoplifter's wildest dreams. I can just imagine a Vogue spread inspired by sticky fingers and featuring these clothes (taking place in a high-end department store, littered with bare mannequins, and maybe Winona will make an appearance?).

Another fall show with the beloved oversized coat trend, but this time blown up to avant-garde proportions.

Watch the runway video here.

Burberry never seems to disappoint

Photos from style.com

Burberry Prorsum followed their smash-hit Spring 2010 RTW collection with another outstanding collection for fall. I am in love.

There's a spectacular variety of coats and jackets from oversized shearling-lined leather and fur to classic, fitted wool. Each piece from head to toe explodes with design details: cuffs, buttons, straps, buckles. There's too much goodness going around here - everyone's sure to find a winner in this collection.

I'm especially loving the silhouette of oversized coats with skinny boots. And both the tall and short buckle boots are amazing.

Watch the live stream show here.

The September Issue

I just watched The September Issue for the second time, and I absolutely loved it! I can positively say that this is one of very few films that I've watched where my whole body is tense from beginning to end with excitement. I loved all the photo shoots and the wonderful personalities of some Vogue staffers, especially Grace Coddington. I think I may have to buy the DVD for the outtake footage!

Kate Spade Kick

While I was browsing through the Kate Spade website, checking out Rebecca Ward's inspiring tape installation (it makes me want to bust out the tape on all my plain notebooks), I stumbled upon these beauties found in the party pics:


which happen to be available online and are called "Krush" slingback pumps. Aren't they gorgeous? I'm loving the play on texture.
And wouldn't they look lovely paired with the Windsor Palace Metallic Gwendolyn? It's Chanel-esque but in a more relaxed shape.

New Spring Make-Up from Lancome + Chris Benz

Chris Benz Spring 2010 Collection - style.com

I had heard so much buzz about the newest lipstick from Lancome's Pout-a-Porter collection with Chris Benz that I had to get my hands on it! The limited edition lipstick, wittily named "Chris & Tell", is a soft, sheer color of coral-peach. It was released in small quantities on the Lancome website and at Lancome boutiques early this year (and promptly sold out) and just hit Saks make-up counters on the first week of February.

A Photographic Diary of My Trip: Morocco

To make a long story short, here are the last few pictures of my week in Morocco:

The process of making argan oil at a women's cooperative - they say that argan oil is a great beauty treatment for hair and skin, and argan butter is a tasty alternative to peanut butter.

A Photographic Diary of My Trip: A peek inside a typical shop

Here is a peek inside a typical shop in Marrakech:

A Photographic Diary of My Trip: Marrakech

I'm notoriously bad at not finishing things, but I'm committed to getting this photographic diary done - Morocco is the last one, so I'm close to the end.

Here are a few photos around the city of Marrakech:

The main square, Djemaa el Fna

The day and night transformation is amazing. During the day, the square is empty. At night, there are so many people milling about. There are street performers, snake charmers, dancers, and storytellers. The energy is inspiring - I've never seen anything like it anywhere else.

I wish I had pictures to show you of the square at night, but I refrained from taking pictures at night because it seemed like you had to pay for any pictures you took of anyone.

My Spring Wishlist

effeminate versions of menswear-inspired footwear...
like J. Crew's Camden Leather Brogues in Blush Pink, coming Feb 2010

summery 70's platform wedges in nude tones...
like J. Crew's Cleo Platform Sandals in soft graphite

mix and match effortless separates...
like Madewell's chambray workshirt paired with graphic tulip mini

and the "it girl" accessory...
like Mulberry's "Alexa" in nude lambskin

P.S. For anyone interested in the Camden Leather Brogues in Blush Pink, I am told they are available for preorder and will debut sometime in February. I'm dying to get my hands on these, but every time I talk to a sales representative I get different information (ex. one told me it would be store only, another said that the brogues will never come out in Blush Pink), but the majority opinion is that it will be available and you can preorder it. Also, check out this cute skirt:

J. Crew Whisper Chambray Tiered Skirt

Another item that will be out in February, and you can also preorder it. It is item 23368 and costs $138. It is adorable!

Alexa Chung + Madewell?!?

I'm so excited for this! I just read on the Vogue website that Alexa Chung will be designing a collection for Madewell, coming out this September! The pieces are expected to be items that Alexa herself would wear, like "high-waisted pants and jeans, velvet dresses with Peter Pan collars, and a coat based on a vintage children’s one [Alexa] found that originally came from Harrods". Expect retro influences like "forties tea dresses, sixties mod dresses" and anything cute.

Sonia Rykiel Knitwear hits H&M Feb 20

All images from nitro:licious

Coming soon to an arm crook near you...

I hear that the Alexa bag is coming to stores in a few days. This is my dream bag right now - it has that perfect balance of polished and casual. Saving up my pennies for this one... which starts at $1150.

Sonia Rykiel for H&M

If you've been following my blog, then you probably know how much I love Sonia Rykiel and how excited I was about the H&M + Sonia Rykiel collaboration. Well, early Saturday morning my friend and I drove out to the nearest H&M that hosted the lingerie collection, which for me was at South Coast Plaza, to stake out these long-awaited arrivals.

I wasn't sure how much buzz Sonia Rykiel would receive here in the States, certainly not on the level of Jimmy Choo, but the reaction in the blogosphere had generally been positive to the sneak peeks. So we came at opening hour and found the collection fully stocked in most sizes with no lines. I guess this is because unlike the Jimmy Choo collection, which was stocked in very few select stores, the Sonia Rykiel collection is stocked at every H&M that sells underwear and I believe it will continue to be restocked periodically, and therefore it is not technically "limited" in the sense that Jimmy Choo was.

For my frame, I didn't dare try on any of the corsets, teddies, or bras with underwire, though these are the pieces I'm sure will be more popular. Instead, I bought the striped night slip with three matching panties and a black silk robe.

And I'm especially excited about the spring knitwear collection, esp this red and black striped set. The bow is really cute!

Image found at TFS