A Photographic Diary of My Trip: Sexiest Man Alive

JUDE LAW!

Yes, I saw JUDE LAW in London! After coming back from Stratford, I got to catch Jude's performance in Hamlet at the Wyndham, and then I came back with an army of friends at night to mob him. Yes, I paparrazied the shit out of him - I'm sure he didn't mind the blinding flash of my camera. I got so close I could have reached out and touched his receding hairline. *sigh* He stayed out for a while to sign autographs.

Also, Rachel McAdam slipped out the back entrance door.

More on London in the next diary post -
I felt Jude deserved his own little post.

EDIT: I have this really cute group photo of my friends and I in front of the rear entrance of the Wyndham that I wanted to share, but I felt torn over whether or not to include it because it shows their faces and I know how iffy people get about having their faces on the internet. Rather than blur their faces (which I think is really creepy), I decided to use Picnik to mask their identities (which I think is more appropriate because it is in the spirit of Halloween, and therefore slightly less creepy)

but I really really wanted to include it, because it shows the Temperley beetle bag I got on Gilt!

and now that I think more about it - covering one eye with with eye patch probably isn't gonna cut it for identity protection, haha - but it was either that or a full-on Jason face mask, which is totally not cute

clicky fingers

couldn't help myself yesterday morning - seemed like a steal
and look at the bow!


Leifsdottir Needlepoint Skirt on Gilt Fuse
(otherwise known as the Sprightly Skirt on Anthropologie)

A Photographic Diary of My Trip: Stratford

After spending more than a week in London, the program switched scenery to Stratford, birthplace of Shakespeare. I could only expect from Stratford what little I knew about small towns in the English countryside - think the village green from Hot Fuzz, without the excessive gore and awesome soundtrack, meets Pride and Prejudice's picturesque open country. What I found was a small town that's been Shakespeared out - his name is everywhere, the puns are endless.

The birthplace of Shakespeare

A day trip to Warwick Castle - the castle is beautiful, but it's been commercialized into some kind of cheesy theme park for kids

gardens behind New Place/Nash's house - where Shakespeare retired and where his granddaughter lived

A bust of Shakespeare that's been mounted over his grave in the Church of the Holy Trinity

Where RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) performances are held - part of my program involved watching RSC productions of A Winter's Tale, As You Like It, and Julius Caesar.

Happy memories at the Dirty Duck, popular pub for RSC actors and thirsty UCLA students - far too many nights spent here!

One of five Shakespeare-inspired statues in a garden in the main square, just by the Thames River

EDIT: I almost totally forgot about mentioning a very unusual incident, where my friends and I got recruited to be extras in a new, low-budget film called Will's Diaries. It was the funniest thing because we were told to pretend like we were talking, and the filming took so long that by the end of it, my friends and I were wildly gesticulating for fun. I'm sure they'll cut us out of it, haha. And it was also funny because the guy who recruited us was talking about the film and where they were filming, and he asked us if we knew about the Dirty Duck, and let me tell you - we know all too much about the Duck. And we even had plans to go there that night, so it was a bit awkward and funny to have filmed there, go back to the hotel for dinner, and then show up again that very night. I don't think the bartenders liked us very much :o)

I know it's WAY too early to be thinking about Christmas but...

these Kate Spade 'Bourgeois Bow' stud earrings would be the perfect gift for the holiday season!

And heck, why not throw in this dress,

these LOVELY flats,

and this bag!

All images from Nordstrom

A Photographic Diary of My Trip: London

Midda's book reminds me that I still have yet to create a proper post about my trip! I've been feeling extremely lazy (and still am) so to tide the appetite until I create a proper post (or maybe this will be my proper post if I never get around to it), I'll post a few select pictures of my trip to London, Paris, Nice, Avignon, and Morocco.

Week 1: London

National Gallery, in Trafalgar Square (I now know why there are no pigeons - bird seed contraceptives!)

parade ground of Horse Guards

Big Ben

Hyde Park (I went rowing here, the park is beautiful)

Buckingham Palace - rear, near gardens

Buckingham Palace - front

Craving for Books

Lately, I've been wanting to spend my money on books, the kind that inspire with their creativity or their breathtaking pictures, the ones you'd see lined up at a bookshelf in Anthropologie. Literally.

While browsing the Anthropologie website, wistfully adding the Flight-Of-Swans dress in my shopping cart, I got to remembering that I had intended to purchase a few of their new baking cookbooks at the store but decided to wait and buy them for cheaper on Amazon. While on the site, I discovered several other beautiful books, like Sara Midda's pictorial diary of the south of France (which reminds me of my recent trip to Provence) or the French Market cookbook (again, France, maybe this is my way to cope being back home?). So here's my wishlist of books, combining the culinary and visual, a feast for the eyes:

which got me thinking that maybe I should buy the first book first? afterall it was a bestseller

and because I loved the movie so much (one of the authors of the above French cookbooks, Joanne Harris, wrote Chocolat)

I'm more of a baker than a cooker, though (plus who can resist cookies and brownies, esp ORGANIC ones!)

what better way to protect yourself from the sun

than a whimsical daisy hat!

from Moschino Cheap & Chic SS 2010
picture from fashionising

An entourage of vest-clad dancers

How great is this video?



I'm loving this rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, feels so camp 70's (even though it was produced in 1982). I found it while looking for music from Sonia Rykiel's SS 2009 runway show, which I absolutely adore!



I've been obsessed with Sonia for a while and was elated to finally be able to step into her boutiques in Paris. I visited her store at St. Germain des Pres desperately hoping I could afford something and walked out with a cute knit beret! There were so many cute berets in the look book (one sparkly one and another with a giant bow tied in the back) but they were sold out! Also, something fun to mention is that there's a naughty section at the back of the store!

And now I hear that Sonia is H&M's next designer collaboration - how exciting! Even better - it's a two-part collection! First lingerie, coming out Dec. 5, and knitwear in the spring. Can't wait!

P.S. An extra video I found at www.rykielles.com - with Sonia's own commentary on her surprise gift at the SS 2009 show.

Holt Renfrew presents Coco Rocha and Behati Prinsloo

As I was catching up on reading some of my favorite blogs, I couldn't resist posting up this fun video starring my favorite models Coco Rocha and Behati Prinsloo that I discovered on the blog True North Style. And the song is pretty catchy, too!

London Playlist

The summer anthems of my travel study program in London:

Shakira - She Wolf

Shakira - She Wolf official video music
by andrexfriends

Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend



Pixie Lott - Boys and Girls

Pixie Lott - Boys and Girls (Official Music Video) HQ
by Videozz

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...