I'M IN LONDON!!!

I flew from San Diego to San Francisco to my final destination - London - yesterday!

I've never travelled by myself before so navigating the airport was a stressful experience. The line going through the border agency gates was extremely long, so long that when I realized I left behind Winter's Tale in the backseat of my plane seat (a book which I'll need for the first day of class), half way through the line, I decided it wasn't worth retrieving. Then, when I tried to get cash from an ATM, my account was frozen! My credit card still worked, so I wasn't completely in dire need of cash but I felt a little terrible for not tipping my insanely eccentric cab driver or using my credit card for 2 pounds worth of internet.

My cab driver definitely had a lot to say throughout the drive, being an impromptu tour guide, freely spitting out his own disparaging opinions of the queen (which he offed with his hands), the country ('London is a stupid city - why are you here?'), and the pedestrians (which he joked about running over). He was definitely a personality (all was said and done in good fun... I think). And he gushed about his life story, how he's stuck in London working at this job because of gambling away 1 million pounds from his family business, from which he has been expelled. I laughed the first time he said all this because I totally thought he was joking. But then he repeated it a second time, and I felt bad for laughing it off the first time.

The hostel I'm staying at is way better than I expected, the reception/lounge area is fantastic (with a working bar!) and everything is clean and the staff is super welcoming. The dorm room reminds me of my first year at college, living in a triple-room at Dykstra Hall, but add in a fourth bed and no rancid carpet. I met two Australian besties who are backpacking for a month together and who have a shopping addiction possibly worse than mine, and conked out at around 7PM (I have no sense of time being without my cell phone, plus the time on the computer is unreliable).

Alexa Chung

+ Blazer: Aryn K.
+ Blouse: Isabel Marant
+ Skirt: Wren
+ Shoes: Chanel

Alexa gives such great style inspiration - boyfriend blazer with a sequin skirt. And she's almost always wearing lovely Chanel shoes in her new MTV show.

I've always wanted to own a piece from wren - this outfit is so cute and I love the polka dot tights!


I've been eyeing this outfit from their spring summer collection for a while and debating whether or not to buy. The skirt, the cardigan - it's all perfect for summer!


Sources: MTV Buzzworthy and wren

I can't wait to step into TOPSHOP!!!

And see all of these amazing goodies from their a/w collection! So excited!

How AMAZING are these faux fur jackets? Esp paired with sequins/paillettes or metallic pieces! They're from the "Marianne" collection, inspired by "vintage glamour meets grunge".

And this entire emsemble is beautifully styled - the shoes!

And these pieces below from the "Horror Girls" collection - key words "Gothic" and "Victorian" - clothes in a state of disrepair

This structured mini is already for sale at the website - but not in this color


Thigh high platform boots for the brave at heart - love how the bottom of the dress is structured


I MUST get my hands on this deconstructed sweater!!!! Great oversize sleeves


This look reminds of Where The Wild Things Are - again another amazing sweater!


Pictures from nitrolicious

I see London, I see France...

Addicted to Pop!

This music video of Pop! from the movie Music and Lyrics is so addictive! Love Hugh Grant!

New Poppy Collection at Coach

Images from FabSugar
See the full collection at the Coach website.

The new Poppy Collection is full of yummy eye candy - I'm especially digging the new ballet flats, likes these patent ones adorned with bows and also the sleek sequined ones (not pictured). And all the cute wallets, wristlets, and coin purses are adorable - I'd like one of everything, please!

Desert Hills Premium Outlet

This outlet is definitely worth the two hour drive! My roommate and I trekked to Desert Hills last weekend, braving 100+ degree weather, and found designer goods galore at nearly rock-bottom prices. I say "nearly", because you'll still be shelling out mucho dinero for those Prada flats (I admit that I dropped a lot of cash - but I don't regret it!), but there are also tons of great deals at non-high fashion brands like J. Crew and Kate Spade to be found.

The Damage:

A pair of Prada Mary Jane Flats in an iris color

(same style but think purple)

Theory Short Trench Coat in navy blue
Theory Ponte Skinny Black Pants / Leggings(half off!)

(perfect for London and Paris!)

J. Crew Flamenco Beaded Dot Cardigan


J. Crew Gray Tank Top (all tanks were half off in the outlets! I wish I bought more.)
Kate Spade Wellesley Posey Wallet

(great boarskin texture - but in eye-popping yellow)

Coach was the having the best sale that weekend - almost everything in the store was 50% off already sale prices PLUS they were handing out coupons for an additional 20% off your entire purchase! These included items from the latest Bonnie Cashin collection! Ladies were scooping up one, two, even three bags of the same style!

This video cracked me up!

Funny Kid Isnt Sorry About Huge Party - Watch more Funny Videos

I love this video...

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye dir. Suzie Vlcek

True Blood

Anyone excited for True Blood Season 2? I recently got into watching this show, and now I'm hooked. For all you "fangbangers" and vamp groupies, here are some promos and fun videos to watch.

If you haven't heard of True Blood, here's a little sampler to get you started.



(There's a version of this without Alan Ball's commentary that I like much more, but it doesn't embed properly and I can't find any other sources. If you'd like to see it, visit this link and play the video "A Taste of True Blood: Season 1".

I absolutely love the opening credits for the show - the song is addictive.



Check out BloodCopy for a recently turned vampire's account of how humans and vampires can "learn to coexist". It's chock full of fun goodies for True Blood fans, with written posts about recent events in Bon Temps plus videos of everything vampire-related. I enjoyed watching episodes of "The Perspective", a vampire news show.

And there's the American Vampire League headed by Nan Flanagan, that blonde lady that's always in the news fighting for vampire rights.

On the flip side, check out the Fellowship of the Sun's Reflections of Light show for their anti-vampire propaganda.

Learn about the city of Bon Temps at their website here.

And finally, a sneak peek at what's to come for Season 2.



P.S. Has anyone tried LoveBitten? HBO has taken some really unique approaches toward promoting the show...

I adore: Pin-up Swimwear

Like this Vargas halter swimsuit from Rachel Pally, sold at Anthropologie.com

Uh oh...

I finally made an impulse purchase on Gilt. An Alice Temperley Beetle Bag, on sale for $300 (down from almost $1000). YIKES! But I couldn't resist - it's such a cute bag, I LOVE Alice Temperley, and the price was fantastic!!! For Temperley, I mean, not for my broke ass self.

Addicted to Looklet

If you love to play dress-up, Looklet is a new website that allows you to create your own outfits using pieces from their online fashion closet. The entire outfitting process is very user-friendly, allowing you to easily mix and match, layer, tuck in or out, and button or unbutton pieces. You can save your outfits to share with friends or enter them into their styling contests to win prizes. Think of it as paper dolls for grown-ups, it's quite addictive.

Current Obsession: DVF Samaya Dress

I went to Neiman Marcus with my mom to help her pick out a bag for Mother's Day, and this dress was sitting pretty by the entrance of the store:

In my dreams, I'd be wearing this to my graduation ceremony, and not only at that but also I'd have endless opportunities to wear it at work (when I get my first job) and for cocktails and whatever post-college, semi-formal events the "real world" has to throw my way. It would be the ultimate all-occasion dress; the price-per-wear theory abiding shopper would balk at passing up this purchase. But at $345, this dress will have to stay in my dreams. *sigh*

Growing Jewelry

Live Icelandic moss at your fingertips.
Flex your green thumb here.

Madewell Denim After Dark @ Century City

On my last visit to Madewell at Century City, I received a postcard about their upcoming Denim After Dark event on May 7th. It will be held from 7-9PM and is described as "the ultimate denim party" where you can "enjoy 20% off any pair of jeans along with free denim hemming". There will be music and experts there to give you styling tips. If I remember correctly what the sales associate told me, there will also be snacks. Sadly, there was no mention of drinks.

Tory Burch Snakeskin Flats

My roomie and I saw these at Nordstrom and they are STUNNING! We saw the black and silver version and wanted them IMMEDIATELY. They felt incredibly soft and looked lux without being flashy.

blogger's block

Lately I've been suffering from a case of blogger's block - not so much feeling uninspired, but more so feeling like the little details that have been inspiring me lately aren't substantial enough to be written in blog post form. And fleeting, too. Add in a little bit of laziness (ha), and that explains why I haven't been posting lately.

I have been surfing the blogosphere, though, more frequently than I ought, and must urge all of you to check out the newest Chanel No.5 Ad with Audrey Tautou at Haute Design, which is otherwordly romantic and features my favorite French actrice! And then hop on over to Lorick and the brand's beautifully designed website and feel inspired by everything français!

UPDATE: For the full-version of the Chanel No.5 Ad, click here. And for interviews with Audrey and the ad's director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, videos on the story of Chanel No.5 and the making of the set, visit the Chanel website.

Run, don't walk, to your nearest H&M...

And grab this fantastic military jacket for only $50! I love the brass-colored hardware and the asymmetrical style, plus it has a fitted waist and a cute inverted back pleat! Military jackets are the anti-spring spring jacket, and can add a bit of toughness to a girly spring outfit.

explosive puppet show!