So yesterday's dress was from Mango, the Spanish H&M. Have found some pretty delish deals there in the last year. Very hit or miss.

I was sure I'd have some guesses that the dress was a DVF. Forgot you can't trick tricksters ;)





The Scene
Today was all about counting down the hours til our little soiree at Saks Fifth Avenue. A friend of Styleminded works in the Men's department there and lured us with tales of food, drinks, music, male models and a $25 giftcard. He had me at food.

Had a lovely time sipping pear martinis and perusing the merchandise and the high fashion boyz. Thought about getting Mr. Diabolina something with my giftcard but he is too picky. Knew it would only end in tears so instead got myself a great set of three books on Chanel .

After the party, we headed to Hollywood originally for a Snoop Dogg event but ended up at Geisha House instead. Met up with Mr. Honorary Hot Chick.



My work friends are the best. They have become my sanity over the past year.







So much fun dancing with new friends. These cutie boys work in fashion. SWOON.







The Outfit
Forever 21 turquoise/chocolate chiffon bubble dress
Chocolate wrap sweater

The Accessories
Red coral necklace
YSL chocolate tote
Manolo Blahnik chocolate d'orsay pumps
Faux Van Cleef and Arpels earrings
Red leopard print bangles

The Grade
A




The Commentary
Today's outfit was inspired by the new Louis Vuitton ad I keep seeing in all my April fashion magazines. The turquoise and red feels so fresh and springy to me. It's unexpected chic.



Love this coral necklace. It always makes me feel like I'm in Hawaii. Not sure where I bought it. Maybe downtown. Feels like I've had it forever.





And these new bangles are my absolute faves. Got them downtown- 2 for $8. They look like a Vuitton print from a few seasons ago. Yummers.




This dress was one of those tricky calls at Forever. You see, when I tried it on, it had this HIDEOUS brown velvet trim under the chest that was fastened with a HUGE gold clasp. It was so bad I almost couldn't see past that detailing. But upon close inspection and with my mom's reassurance, I determined I could trim off the tacky.

Thank god I had a little vision and didn't miss out on a terrific piece. It has such a great shape for my figure - highlights the positive and camouflages the wobbly bits.

Wonderful print too. Very DVF. So versatile. It's a bit low cut for the office so whenever I had a meeting today, I'd just through one of the wraps over my shoulder casually. Covered up the girls but showed off the necklace. Problem solved.

Felt a bit old when we hit Geisha House. Lots of barely twentysomethings. There were many horror scenes out on a WEDNESDAY night. Lots of skin tight short bright dresses. Just look at this hot pink "don't."

This is how you do bright and tight right: Styleminded rocked a short jersey dress in a great color that hugged in all the right places.

The tights and the amazing Marc Jacobs Oxfords she scored at the Barney's sale all make the outfit classier and a more high fashion interpretation of sexy.


Styleminded's friend S also looked tres adorable in a backless dreamy confection. She was flashing just the right amount of skin. So hot but sweet at the same time.

M and The Peeper always look classy and chic and clean. Today they wore dresses.

Seriously, I feel compelled to edumacate women to dress for their figures and pay attention to the details and raise their taste level. Sigh. So much fashionista work, so little time :)




In the meantime, I'm thankful for the women who surround me.

Their inner and outer beauty inspire me and challenge me to be better - in fashion, friendship, work and play.

The Scene
Nearly done with this full first week after the holidays. Wake up with a bad sore throat and instantly curse all the typhoid marys at work who practically lick my desk when they walk by. Blech. Have I mentioned I hate winter? And cubicle life?

Almost decide to stay in bed an extra hour but decide to sweat out the bug. Once again the pre-work gym session leaves me feeling accomplished and energized and not as hungry as usual (p.s. I like to eat...ALOT. It used to be one of my cutest traits until it started showing. Boo!)

The Outfit
Seafoam green wrap dress with goldish/brownish print


The Accents
Chocolate knit scarf
YSL wine patent d'orsay pumps
YSL wine tote
Vintage eggshell trench coat
Gucci aviators
Cutie "owl" dangly green and brown earrings



The Grade
A-

The Commentary
I love this dress. Bought it about 6 years ago for 40 dollars in downtown's Fashion District (my second home during college.) I can accessorize it in so many ways. After all these years, it still manages to feel fresh. Love that.

However, I always worry about wrap dresses. The upside: They work wonders on a curvy body. The downside: they work wonders on a curvy body which means men tend to notice.

I totally dress for other women - not for men. Never have been interested in displaying the goods to get male attention. Not my style. And to be honest, until this year, I didn't have much to show in the chesticle department anyway. Then around February last year, I noticed alot of the things that used to look high fashion suddenly just looked revealing. Mr. Diabolina was thrilled. I was not. My mom urged me to buy all sorts of underpinnings to try to, um, contain the situation better. Yet another reason to get that weight under control.

This leads to an interesting side note that I explain to men all the time: the same outfit can look totally different on different women. Por ejemplo: the same ensemb will look totally different on Gwyneth Paltrow than it will on JLo. I think your coloring, height, body type, hair, and how you carry yourself all factor in the cummulative effect. Mr. Diabolina has picked out bags or dresses for me that would work if I looked like his mild mannered, tall, athletic, fair sisters. But as a Latina with olive skin, hips, big hair and bigger attitude - not so much. You have to know who you are and work with what you have - not only in fashion but in life :)

Anyhoo, back to the goods. I loves my YSL bag and shoes. Always get compliments on them. These pumps were my first pair of designer heels. I bought them at a place in the Valley that sells pristine wardrobe from tv and film sets. I think these heels were from Ally McBeal.

I remember I broke the right heel within a few months. I've had them fixed but a designer heel is never quite the same after it is remade. It's not as sexy, not as deliciously spindly. I have always been insanely hard on my shoes. In the last two months alone, I broke heels on two pairs of Manolos.

UGH! Horrifying, horse of a girl!

The Scene
Had a major fashion emergency this morning. An outfit that worked in my mind's eye ended up looking like a total Monet in actuality. Ugh. And my fab friends KFR and Weezermonkey and their girls are now reading so I need to be tres chic more than ever! Eek!!

PLUS, on this random of Tuesdays, I have the added pressure of a gorgeous leggy friend's birthday tonight. And though she says her tunic and tall boot ensemb is totally casual, who are we kidding, folks? Every event is a runway. Every night out, a fashion show ;)

I decide the only rational approach is doing a work outfit and a separate drinks outfit - no two in one today. Damn this weather! I channel Tim Gunn and "just make it work." I dub today's outfit, Coco (Ms. Chanel if you're nasty!)

The Outfit
Black turtleneck
Forever 21 wrap dress with Marimekko/Chanel Camelia print
Black footless tights
Vintage black quarter length sleeve coat
that my mom bought when she was my age

The Accents
Bruno Magli cap toe mary janes
Chanel black tote
Canal Street earrings

The Grade
C+

The Commentary
Felt harried and not fully thought through. The pallette is a bit too matchy matchy. Plus this curly hair is KILLING ME. I swear the hair changes the whole impact of the outfit. At least, I LUV my shoes. I haven't worn them in like two years.

Am happy I have tonight to redeem myself. My Styleminded looked smokin hot today in booties and casual layers and totally inspired me to do a "breezy" look tonight even though it's cold out. It's a look Kate Moss does alot in London weather. Scarves casually tossed on. Tights. Tall heels. Mussed hair and eyeliner. Clutch with a pop of color. Nothing chunky or heavy or beleagured.

Kisses, Styleminded, you really help me step up my game and I adore you for gracing me with your beauty and creativity and style.

Postscript: Here is the hotness that was the late night fun.

So much love, so many laughs - not sure it is well represented here but I can definitely attest to alot of pretty young people having a grand ole time:

My outfit is just a GORG grey tunic that I bought downtown for $3o bones with nice detail at the chest and long leggings pulled into my shoe like sockies (a new look for me) and outrageously expensive but truly divine STELLA shoes.

These are my two hottest, most favorite jean-and-sweet-jacket-rocking giraffes-over-6-foot-2.

They are so different and so similar and so beautiful and so mine! Ugh adore their hearts and their sass that they learned by watching MOI!










My mission in life is for MChu to know how hot smokin she is.

Every day. No matter what.

Seriously, I need more of her in my life!

And I adore the b-day girl and her sis and my Panda and our new D.
So cute.
So real.










Bottom line: fashion is about truly living your life and caring and staying up late and most of all being present - so today was a good day!



It was one of those randomly great days where I met interesting friends of friends, talked about love and life and reaffirmed the people who mean the world to me are the reason i make the effort at all.

A+ overall!!!