The Scene
Midday Mr. Diabolina emails saying Danny B. invited us to some kind of trivia night at a pub near The Office. Sounds funny and fun. Plus I haven't seen the delovely Daisy Dukes since Mexico in April, so I'm in.


Get to the bar early so take a stroll and window shop. Spy lots of dirty pretty things winking at me from behind - alas - closed doors.

No matter, KFR and I are getting together and hitting this stretch on Saturday afternoon for some girly time anyway. Might pick up this little asymmetrical dreaminess then.





With 40 minutes still left to kill, I see it beckoning me in the twilight. The American Apparel store. It's one of the only stores still open. Decide it's do or die time with those latex dolphin trainer leggings.


I take a deep breath and enter the dressing room. Despite having inhaled too many tacos at lunch, they don't look too bad. Wish I had heels to pair them with to get the full rock and roll, evening effect. Decide to stop obsessing and just get them. $40. With a heel and a loose top that covers my tush they'll be hot. White hot.


Arrive at the pub and head to the back room. There I witness quite a scene. It's like a dirty little secret. The room is packed with 9 teams of about 6 people salivating to get their trivia on. All except our table are three-headed monsters. And even that's debatable ;)


Danny B's a regular at this nerdfest and says there are several Jeopardy champions in the crowd. I'm impressed. I'm a nerd for nerds.

Over dinner, there are two rounds of some of the hardest questions I've ever heard. Por ejemplo: Who did Time Magazine call the Texan who conquered Russia in 1958? WHA????

I was totally unprepared for this level of mental challenge. Out of dozens of questions, I get exactly two right: The Battle of Little Big Horn and Maddie Spears. Pretty disparate range of knowledge in this big noggin.

We come in 7th out of 9 teams. Danny B is quite disappointed. Though he brightens when Mr. D and I say we might return next week. We'll see. Not sure my ego can take this every week.


The Outfit
H&M sleeveless turtleneck
Diane Von Furstenberg skirt

The Accessories
Canal Street earrings
Chanel bag
Gucci sunglasses
Stuart Weitzman gladiator sandals

The Grade
B



The Commentary
Still can't shake the blahs so this outfit is as creative as I could muster today. After about four years, I still heart this fluttery, tiered DVF skirt. The length is a little tricky to wear. Typically rock it with a heeled sandal but needed to feel comfortable today so opted for the flat gilded gladiator. I think the proportion worked.
Especially with the elongating upper half of the outfit.

Ah, the black sleeveness turtleneck. Nothing quite like it. Really is a professional woman's best friend in the summer. Such a simple way to look chic and pulled together. Very slimming too.

Always makes me feel a little ballerina-slash-Audrey Hepburn too. Maybe that's why I knotted my hair up in a little bun and called it a day ;)


p.s. The Spring 2008 DVF collection was a bit disappointing for me. The looks I tried on a few Sundays ago were the ONLY ones I loved.

But am seeing many a pre-Fall look in stores that I am really digging. Statement sleeves that will make me look like a linebacker but I LOVE.




Some of her signature geometric prints in pretty color combos. YumMERS.



And delicate, fluttery ruffles that I could wear for years and years to come. Better investment right now than the stock market, me thinks.

The Scene
Have a lovely late lunch with my mom before she takes her car into the shop. Ugh.

I've become so desensitized to car accidents. Blame it on growing up in Los Angeles. And being a passenger in a major wreck in college.

They just seem to be a fact of life in So Cal. Like earthquakes and celebrity spotting.


Over polenta and panini, we chat about running into my dear childhood friend on Saturday. We trade sepia-toned memories of times past. Of my dad before he got sick , of how so many things could have turned out so differently. I love talking to her. Love not having to explain my history, my self to her.

Also LOVE peeping her white Marc Jacobs Sophia bag. Had completely forgotten about it. Need to steal alot of things in her closet...pronto.


Stay at work late because Mr. Diabolina is at a summer associate Dodger event. Ironically, I grabbed my new little bottle of Chanel Blue Satin this morning and dropped it into my purse. Get a gothy manicure, have dinner and do some bookstore browsing before heading home.


Lots swirling inside me today. Hope something happens soon. Snaps me out of this malaise and propels me forward. Feel like I'm just killing time. Hate that feeling.




The Outfit
Forever 21 jacket
Fashion District polka dot dresss

The Accessories
Forever 21 bangles
Chanel necklace
Express silver thongs
Louis Vuitton Damier tote

The Grade
B



The Commentary
Have I established how much I dig polka dots? It's actually kinda ridiculous how many polka dot prints are in my closet. Maybe clown college is the answer to my professional quandary ;)

This dress is a definite favorite. Got it in the Fashion District downtown a few years ago. About $30. The shape isn't great - a bit sacky. But I adore the chiffony material. Quite luxe and perfect for summer.


And (DUH) the darling dotted print kills me. Loving the optical illusion it creates - little dots becoming bold clowny ones at the bottom ruffle. Feels a little John Galiano to me. What a kooky pirate of a genius he is, no???


Decided to make the dress work appropriate with this beloved Forever 21 denimy jacket. Then grabbed the silvery bag and shoes to match.

Thinking that white Marc Jacobs bag would've spelled perfection too...

The Scene
Monday.

Low of the day: Getting up for work around 7ish
High of the day: Leaving work around 7ish

My face at right really says it all. Sigh.

At least I got to the gym and ran three miles. Felt so good. Been slacking lately and eating like the earth is running out of food.

Got to get back into a routine. Firm up. Birthday's coming up after all.



The Outfit
Forever 21 wrap dress

The Accessories
Chanel slingbacks
Chanel tote
Canal Street earrings
Forever 21 bangle

The Grade
B+


The Commentary
In a Chanel state of mind this morning.

Perhaps it's all the recent hullabaloo about Karl's public service announcement (dying over "Oh Karl!") Or maybe it's the little black and white number I purchased yesterday at Forever.

Most likely though, it was the fact that G sent me an angry email this morning that a Chanel publicist woke her up at 5 am today. Ugh. How glamorously annoying ;)


Reached for this Forever 21 dress after reading G's email. Then came the shoes and the bag and the bangle and the earrings - in that order. If you recall, I did a cold weather variation of this look back in January. Prefer today's look. More naturally me.




Note the difference the high end accessories make when styling this $24 wrap dress. It's all about balance. High and low. This is a great example of the advice Sable Crow and Jean Bean and I gave about faking it a few weeks ago.

Today I mixed real (the shoes and the bag) with "inspired by" trinkets of deceit (the earrings and the bangle.) Chanel makes it easy in a way with a simple, signature palette. Wear black and white or beigey and black and you're half way there.


Though, a Chanel bag or shoe helps...obviously :)


p.s. I lied about my high today. My real high was reading one of my favorite bloggers fashionintelligentsia and finding out we are exactly on the same Forever 21/Chloe wavelength.

So yesterday at Forever 21 I discovered a great bootie peep toe shoe thingy that resembles the Chloe bootie peep toe shoe thingy I've been moaning over for months. $25 versus over $600? SIGN ME UP!

Alas I couldn't find it in my size at the store. Held back tears, cursed my tall father for giving me feet the size of boats and took it as a sign.

Maybe it was too cheapy looking and I shouldn't bother. After all I found the Chloe ones in the color I really want on sale at the Intermix site last week.

But then today I read fashionintelligentsia account of her close encounters with both the Chloe and the Forever bootie. Love love love how all of us fashionistas out here in cyberspace are on the same wavelength.

Thinking I may order them online...

The Scene
No Mami today. She did not feel up to playing. Too hot, too emotionally drained. Boo. Wanted nothing more than to hang out after we'd both had such a tough week.

Instead enjoy a meandering outdoor brunch with Mr. Diabolina. Then I was in the mood for a fashion fix...and some air conditioning. Hit the mall by myself and got this little $22 dress at Forever 21. Very Chanel sailor. Fits like a dream. Looks quite expensive on.


Reminds me of the ensemble I recently saw on that goregeous Ziyi Zhang. Except...well... my new dress isn't exquisite perfection. Sigh.



And then I did the unthinkable. Brace yourself.

I not only stepped into Express and bought something, I did the same at - wait for it - ANN TAYLOR. I know, I know: who am I? Two stores that aren't me at all.

And actually the articles of clothing I bought - a floral skirt and a pair of shorts - aren't me either. Remember I swore off shorts last summer when I turned 30? And as you may recall I have a bit of an aversion to overtly floral prints. Too Laura Ashley.

So let me explain. First the shorts. Soon after I started blogging, I spied Miss Jordypants getting a pair of graphic, retro shorts that made me swoon. I couldn't stop thinking how cute they'd be for summer. So preppy prep. Great with a flat sandal and Chanel accessories.

And then more recently TamPham has been wearing me down by pairing shorts with Phillip Lim. So chic, so yum, so 'why not me?'

Both girls unwittingly made me see that my "no shorts wearing" clause may be a bit silly since a) my legs haven't completely fallen apart (yet) and b) I live in Southern Cali.

Plus this pair was a good length, had a flattering flat front and was on sale for $30. Sold!

But lest you think I've gone completely batty, rest assured, I refused to take an Ann Taylor shopping bag. Just shoved their shorts in the Forever 21 bag. Did it for the planet and my reputation ;)

Now about that skirt. Must confess I've been thinking about florals non-stop lately. Have been getting over my perception of them as strictly Little House on the Prairie. Think the desensitization is a result of them being all over the magazines for months now.


And there's no sign of it letting up. Looks like they are still in for Fall 2008. Michael Kors. Thakoon. Giambattista Valli. They all showed "winter florals."



Adore the idea of hanging onto the blossomy spring prints into a time that is typically not about renewal. Like extending a trend's shelf life. Digging the idea of reinventing pretty flowery prints with darker, colder weather pieces. Very Miss Havisham.



This crazy stunner on Charlize from Valli's fall collection makes me want to wear a rose garden. Every day. Makes me want to BE a Rose Parade float! Love how over the top it looks. Very Japanese somehow.

Additionally, Jean Bean and I discussed seeing pretty Prada-like florals at Express months and months ago. Loved her Express skirt when I visited NYC. So when I saw the big bins marking the annual Express sale, I strolled in. Why not?

The skirt I ended up buying fit like a glove. Extremely flattering for a pleated, light colored skirt. Felt really 50s housewife - but modern. And again it was just $30.

Not sure exactly how I'll rock it but I intend to try - soon and in the fall. Which makes the cost per use at the very least $15. Yay!


After an arduous afternoon of out-of-character shopping, Mr. Diabolina took me to sushi and then we took a walk in the twilight (romance!) and rented some DVDs.

Great day - ALMOST successful at staving off the Monday Monsters.


The Outfit
Forever 21 dress

The Accessories
Forever 21 headband
Forever 21 bangle
Louis Vuitton earrings
Marc Jacobs Irina tote
Urban Outfitters sandals

The Grade
Pass



The Commentary
Too hot to over think today's outfit. Plus I typically dress for my mom on Sundays. No point in dressing up for Mr. Diabolina ;)

That being said, he made a big to-do about the dress when he first saw it. His eyes got wide and started nodding his head and said, "OOOOOOOOO! Very 70s."

I just rolled my eyes. Know he could care less about the flower power print. Know he doesn't even know who Trina Turk is. And that it looks vaguely like one of her $200+ print dresses. Or that my version cost just $20.

He just liked all the cleavage :)


p.s. I tried on this little yellow shift at Forever 21 today. Very sweet. But nothing too special so decided to pass. Am loving yellow for summer. Can't get enough of it lately. And look how great it looks with the tomato colored flats. Delish.

Loving this Phillip Lim dress that Emmy Rossum wore to his store opening on Thursday. Jean Bean can't stand that Emmy Rossum shows up at all these fashion events. WHAT HAS SHE DONE EXACTLY???? Ugh. We think she is the new Bai Ling.

The Scene
Determined to have a great day. Determined to shake off all the funk of the last week.

Thankfully, it's not going to be particularly hard to have a blast today. We have another summer associate event for The Firm. Probably the best one of the summer. A scavenger hunt - L.A. style (click on the pic for details.)

Three limos, three teams of 8, three hours. We have over 50 possible Polaroids we can take and a stretch loaded with booze. What could be better?

Mr. D and I are team captains again since we know the area so well. One of the summers brings camo gear for our team to wear. She's HIRED. Had me at hello. Me loves costume lovers AND team unity.

Last year, Mr. D and I took the scavenger hunt too seriously. We're just competitive nerds that way. We were all stategery. We jumped out of the limo at every clue stop, frantically barked orders. When we got to the finish line and realized most people had just gotten drunk AND there was no prize, we felt like suckers.

So this year, we mellowed quite a bit. The heat also factored into our more languid approach. We still got about half the clues crossed off. But the two of us hung back in the limo and at bars while the summers ran around and took the Poloraids.

The pics at right were at the 25 degrees bar (AGAIN!) while the kiddies bagged the biggest get of the day: a photo with a living celebrity, Adrien Greneir of Entourage at The Roosevelt Hotel pool. The points on that one alone made us the day's winners. Yay!

The final stop of the day is a bar where The Firm gathers for more cocktails and appetizers and mingling (read: trashtalking.) Had no idea what I'd find at the finish line: my best friend from childhood Poptart Lover!!! Haven't seen her in 13 years!!!!


Ugh. I adored her. She was my everything from age 7 to 17. Here we are at a school picnic in 2nd grade. I'm the tall, four eyes in blue and she is next to me in all white and a bowl hair cut. Hot.


Here we are at Magic Mountain in 7th grade, wearing a Hard Rock sweatshirt and New Kids on the Block T-shirt respectively. I do believe that's a fanny pack and a pop Swatch watch I'm sporting. Yikes! And I'd cut my curly hair short - boy short. Worst mistake of my so called life.

Here we are in Contempo Casual baby doll dresses for our first high school dance. LOOK AT THE BIKE SHORTS WITH TIGHTS!!! I shudder to think what shoes I was wearing. And that fro. Tragic! My mom should NOT have let me out of the house. But clearly I thought I looked so Madonna fly.


Have not laid eyes on Poptart Lover since we graduated from high school. Just drifted apart how girls do. I've always wondered about her and her sisters and mama though. My mom too; she says she considered her part of our family.

Tried to find her online over the years. Looked on Myspace and LinkedIn but nada. And she didn't come to our 10 year high school reunion.


And then all of a sudden there she is. At the end of a day-long scavenger hunt. And she's with two other girlfriends from high school. Surreal! They are like a mirage in today's desert heat.

It's wonderful to see our other two high school friends, Principal Len and Nurse cK. Loved them. They haven't changed a bit. Such smart and funny girls.


Mr. Diabolina and I have run into them a few times in Hollywood. Visited them up north when I was considering going to Berkeley for grad school. But even that was 9 years ago. Gawd, we are old.


The four of us plus Mr. D caught up on careers and classmates and families. Laughed and drank and ate for a few hours - well after The Firm cleared out.

I teared up a bunch of times. What a crier I am. It's just that I realized how much you can forget when you don't have people to remind you of certain times in your life. It felt good to remember. Felt like I found a piece of myself that I'd lost along the way.

Fun day and wonderfully unexpected evening.

The Outfit
Image maxi dress

The Accessories
Chanel sunglasses
Marc Jacobs Irina tote
Urban Outfitters sandals
Louis Vuitton earrings
Forever 21 purple leaf hinge bangle

The Grade
A


The Commentary
Today was balls hot. Knew I wanted to wear as little as possible to stay cool. But knew I still had to be appropriate for Mr. D's coworkers. Oh and there was the matter of getting in and out of a limo. Didn't want to pull a Britney.

This maxi was the only way to go. Long, chic and flattering. It has quickly become one of my absolute favorites. Have already gotten my money's worth - worn it three times which breaks down to $10 per wear. A Recessionista's dream. Run, don't walk to Image today.

The sandals and the bag and the violet Forever 21 bracelet are perfection with it. The high end designer touches (the LV earrings and Chanel sunnies) class it all up. Super easy way to look laid back luxe.

Good sassy look for old friends and new.