The Scene
A.M.: Get in shape girl at the gym
P.M.: Kicking ass career Barbie

Though it was a sleepy, dreary day out, I had 5 fashion rays of sunshine:

1) My already forgiving jeans felt looser than they did even a month ago. I tend to trust my clothes more than a scale so YAY to progress!

2) A reader who just got engaged says she channeled me when picking out a sassy yet affordable outfit to visit her soon-to-be-in-laws. Cute!

3) My pretty Riz asked for input on buying his new lady an emerald dress (inspired by the movie Atonement) for V-day. Adorable and brave boy!

4) Styleminded told me this Phantom of the Opera shoe reminded her of me (Was JUST drooling over a similar, much more expensive pair in Vogue this weekend. )

5) My baby was proudly wearing his pink panda pjs paired with black socks when I got home. I have a thing for pandas so MChu and Panda gave us a matching set for x-mas. Heart them & heart Mr. Diabolina more!

The Outfit
Citizens of Humanity jeans
Banana Republic chocolate tank
Marciano butter cropped motorcycle jacket

The Accents
Chocolate wool knit scarf
Karen Millen green kitten heel scrunchy boots
Louis Vuitton Speedy
Green and browny enamel bangle and necklace that match, natch!
Chanel brown quilted sunglasses
Tiffany heart earrings


The Grade
B

The Commentary
I cannot tell a lie. This casual fab look from WhoWhatWearDaily inspired today's look. The cropped leather, the scarf...Adore!

[p.s. Spy the WhoWhatWearDaily story for Thursday touting the "global bazaar" look. Yawn. That look was sooo two weeks ago for me. Though I am loving the H&M clutch!!]

Fashion inspiration is something I actively seek out, cultivate. Am always ravenous for it. I need it or else I can get lazy...fast i.e. I just buy and buy instead of work with what I have.

I can find inspiration everywhere. In friends or strangers on the street. In magazines or online. In books, movies, art.

It's kinda embarrassing to admit but I love LOVE love collaging looks. Have since I was a (super nerdy) teenager. Think it's really developed my eye for pairing unusual pieces/color together, for discerning which cuts look luxe, for the silhouettes that work best on me.

Speaking of which, I inherited today's jacket from a friend. It's not a piece I'd normally buy because the proportion is wrong on me. Cropped jackets aren't great on someone as thick waisted as myself. But it was free and I likey the color. So I bust it out sparingly. It mixes well with chocolate (the darker color compensates for the figure flaws the jacket plainly displays.) Looks tough chic kinda Chrome Hearts with $$ jeans and my trusty Speedy.

LOVE these slouchy boots. They can be hard to wear with pants and tend to look much better with a short skirt but not feeling trim/tan enough for all that yet.

Heart how today's accessories pick up the green in the boots. Again for me the magic is in the little details, the nuances that tie things together in a look.

Where do you find fashion magic, what inspires you? I want to know!

The Scene
Back to work. Ho hum.

Best part of my day was when my bestie Peaches emailed to say the Jerry Springer show we went to in December was airing today. AMAZING!!! We are ridiculous. That's me in the raspberry scarf looking afeard and him in burgundy looking pretty pensive. Am having a viewing party to analyze every time the camera flashes on us being horrified. You're invited.

The Outfit
Black leggings
Forever 21 geometric tunic
in white, brown and yellow
Chocolate wrap sweater
Vintage eggshell trench

The Accents
Slouchy black boots inspired by Chloe
Yellow circle cuff
Chanel black tote
Canal street earrings

The Grade
B+


The Commentary
Felt super Valley of the Dolls today. I think it was the hint of a bouffant in my half up do. Plus the retro feel of the top.

Oh and the boots. The boots definitely make me feel like a 60s glamazon. They have a (super comfortable) platform that makes me at least 5'10''. Feel powerful in these shoes. They are Steve Madden but look super luxe, no? Want them in burgundy and grey and brown...o my!

This girl that B-U-G-S once said snarkily, "Are those your "fuck me" boots?" And I snarked back, "No they are my "fuck YOU" boots."

F. Don't snark at me.

I am all about women making other women feel strong and beautiful and smart and supported.

I do not dig on insecurity and cattiness. There's just no point. Plus it's bad for the skin.

The Scene
Dropped Mr. Diabolina off at work (poor working stiff!) then dashed to Phillipe's for breakfast followed by a look-see around downtown's fashion district.

Finally got to watch Sweeney Todd. Picked up the Juno soundtrack for the Mr. Ate my fave Chinese chicken salad at Feast from the East un then worked out.

Loverly day. I imagine if I was a kept woman this is what life would be like.




The Outfit
Chocolate yoga pants
Champion white tankini
Old Navy light brown cowl neck henley
Ralph Lauren navy puffer jacket

The Accents
Tall Ugg Boots
Chanel waffle brown sunglasses
Damier inspired brown bangle
Gucci hobo

The Grade
C

The Commentary
Rainy, non-work days like today kinda freak me out and short circuit my inner fashionista. I end up feeling like the Wicked Witch of the West i.e. the rain is going to melt me so I keep it uber comfortable and functional.

Badly need another casual rain jacket. Have had this one for ages. It does everything I need it to except inspire me. Feel like a schleper in it. Blech!

Been thinking of getting a Stella McCartney for Adidas jacket in a green or dusty rose because I still have a sizable credit left over from my birthday. But not sure it will be warm enough. Any fabulous suggestions for me???

p.s. Downtown shopping was a bit of a bust. Everything was in between seasons so I wasn't feeling it. Did get this great little number with sweet details that are very Phillip Lim meets Chanel. Only $31 in Santee Alley.

On a whim, I also picked up a fall. I used to wear hair pieces all the time in college. It was like wearing a hat or a headband for me.

Ugh, I used to be so fearless.

So decided to bring back the diva fun for nights out on the town with my chicas. At a mere $15, me thinks it's a fun, no brainer accessory every woman should try at least once.

The Scene
Got home at 4 a.m.but still managed to be wide awake by 9 - senior citizen style. Cleaned up the house after last night's par-tay then met my momma for lunchy.


We were both wearing wrap sweaters today. We do that. Alot. Show up in the same color or exact same type of outfit. Sometimes it's embarrassing, like we planned to be twinsies. But mostly it's just cute.

She was wearing her blingy Gucci glasses and a Marc by Marc Jacobs hobo that I COVET. I was going to buy it but she pulled rank and said she wanted it. Ugh. Hate being the dutiful daughter who has to stand down. Still paw at the bag longingly whenever she wears it and say, "MY purse. Wah!"

The Outfit
Citizens of Humanity jeans
Forever 21 navy bubble chiffon top with pearl beading
Fuchsia wrap sweater

The Accents
Stella McCartney grey heels
Faux Chanel white dangly earrings
Two lucite bracelets
Louis Vuitton Damier tote
Chloe heart aviators

The Grade
B+

The Commentary
These wrap sweaters are my fabulous version of the track suit hoodie. So comfortable. Also extremely flattering. They chic everything up since they have that drapey, elegant, casually-tossed-on look.

Loving this rich color. Will be great in the summer paired with yellow or turquoise. And a tan. On vacation.

The embellished top garnered lots o compliments by the huffy Chanel salespeople a few weeks ago. It truly is beautifully executed bling.

I coveted these Chloe aviators for 4 long years before I finally happened upon them at a Barneys outlet. I heart the heart.

The Scene
Wake up even MORE sore than yesterday. How is that possible???

Hit Musso & Frank's for brunch with Mr. Diabolina, straighten up the house, run some errands then meet Styleminded to shop for shoes and something fun to wear tonight.

Run into my newly engaged FancyPants and her newlywed C. Love that they are high-powered attorneys who look 12 and spy Forever finds while wearing their gorg Balenciagas. FABULOSITY!

Styleminded scores a pair of Sam Edelman booties. I get a dress and wrap sweater at Image as well as a (FEATHER!) headband and jangly necklace at XXI.

Go to the gym. Guess who is there? Justin Guarini - the curly haired American Idol runner up to Kelly Clarkson! Return home to start getting ready for rocket scientists to invade my house.

The Outfit
Black and white graphic dress with bubble sleeves

The Accents
Chanel black tote
Faux Van Cleefs & Aprels black and white necklace
Faux Van Cleefs & Aprels black earrings
Banks and Biddle gold braclet
Delman snake-skin white flats
Gucci sunglasses

The Grade
B+

The Commentary
What? Sorry I can't hear you over my dress - it is so LOUD! I kinda look like a crazy old lady in this dress but I love it. Bought it a tad too big because I was in a hurry. It came with a cheapy belt that I quickly discarded.

Loved pairing it with the Chanel today given the black and white of the dress and necklace. Scrumptious.

Ugh. Look at my leg bruises. Am so The Princess and the Pea ;)

POSTSCRIPT ON LATE NIGHT FUN AND FASHION:

Nearly 2 years ago, I did marketing & PR for a rocket company. Yes, rockets as in outerspace. It was like nothing I have ever done. Truly once in a lifetime. Simply adored the people - young, SMART, hungry, fascinated by the idea of doing something revolutionary, changing history.


When I worked there it was just over 100 of us - about 20 of whom were women. Like most start-ups, we worked very hard and played very hard. That combination usually bonds you like nothing else.

So tonight we invited some of the world's hottest rocket scientists (the delectable Ms. FLo being the sole female one) and their gorgeous girlfriends for a post-holidays gathering and to celebrate Scotty 2 Hotty was in town.

Meet K to the B.

We were Fashion Barbie and Ken at my old job. His outfits are ALWAYS sassy, NEVER generic. He is a big whore for Barney's but also wears vintage with a panache few men can muster. This suit is 1950’s Italian. The shirt? Prada. Hotness - we match.

I am sporting the little $37 rosette dress I bought today with my new Prada shoes. Ugh, can you stand how hot they are?? The ombre...the curved heel...the bow detail. 60 % off over the holidays!



MChu rocked her new black skinny jeans. Her legs looked miles long. I loved it.

She brought a belt in her bag to change into once we went out. It transformed her whole outfit.

MUST get into belts. I just have the whole "no waist" problem. boo.


I knew I'd love whatever K to the B and MChu were wearing but Giggidy came out of nowhere and took the fashion cake last night with his HOT vest/loose tie combo. And those dark jeans.

He gets an A++.


All 13 of us hit Jumbo's late night.

K to the B brought a top hat. Who does that???

That kid has the soul of an artist, the brain of a mad scientist and the eyes of a movie star. Adore.


Totally low-key wonderful night. Wish I saw all of them together like this more. They are brilliant, hilarious, lovely souls. Feel blessed to know them.

And to think a ROCKET of all things brought us together.

The Scene
Sore. Very sore.

Am a slow moving fashion-soldier today! Feel the bootcamp burn most in my rump. After careful inspection this morning, the month of exercising is starting to show primarily in my arms and legs. Tummy is resisting all the exercise and decreased imbibing. Fie!

Good thing volume is still in for yet another season. Flowy tops and dresses will help display the improved limbs and hide that stubborn pouch come spring. I am nothing if not a master illusionist with my clothes ;)





The Outfit
Forever 21 grey drapey sleeveless tunic
with mesh embellished detail at neck.
Forever 21 navy tulip long sweater
Mossimo dark skinny jeans


The Accents
Louis Vuiton Damier tote
Chloe heart aviators
Abate for Payless stripped pumps with translucent heel
Diamond studs
H&M silver bangles

The Grade
B

The Commentary
By fashionista standards, I resisted skinny jeans for a really, really long time. I was about a season late. Jean Bean wrote an article about the trend around the summer of '06. What I remember most was that she extolled the virtues of highlighting the skinniest part of your leg. She did however caution readers who were not supermodels to keep the heel high and the top voluminous.

Now Jean Bean is a tall, yoga sylph. And I know just because jeans are called skinny that doesn't make the wearer skinny. So I was still skeptical. I kept coming back to the fact that her logic was sound though. So while spying the latest Go International line at Tarjay I decided to try on a skinny jean just to report my findings to Jean Bean. I wanted her to know I was reading and heart her writing.

Wouldn't you know, that bitch was right! The jeans ended up looking good on me. Or at least as good as boot cut. The detail on the pocket was also hot. Very Citizens of Humanity if you were just stealing a glance. So I bought a dark pair for 30 dolla.

The jeans got such a great response from fashionistas like my buddy FancyPants that I bought another pair at Target in grey to wear on my quickly thrown together 29th b-day.

I think the skinny jean is a great example of something that was way out of my comfort zone that I took a chance on. I felt no need to invest a ton of cash on J Brand skinnies or any other premium brand. They don't look that fab on me to make that kind of serious investment.

Not every trend is right on every person but I think we have to be willing to mix it up every once and a while, to push ourselves, to say why not, to be open.

My mom actually encouraged me at about 21 to dress less conservatively, to take more chances. She said she never wanted me to look back and regret not having taken full of advantage of my youth, regret not having appreciated my beauty when it was in full bloom. I fear she maybe had done a little of both.

So I try to remember that every day. To limit the hemming and hawing and see the beauty in this moment. It's the only one we have that is guaranteed.

Kisses - happy 3 day weekend!

The Scene
Promising day at work - more collaborative than it has felt in months. Thank the baby Jesus.

Left me in the perfect mood to continue kicking butt at the gym. Today was D-day: my first bootcamp class. I rush home, cursing the L.A. traffic because I fear that the drill sergeant will make me do push ups if I am late. Gulp. I can only do girl push-ups so I get there 10 minutes early.

The Sergeant is this mass of shoulders with a tiny waist wearing camouflage. Ugh. I start panicking. He spies me and asks me if I am here for the next class. I say yes and he extends his gargantuan paw with a big grin. I relax a bit, shake his hand and tell him I am terrified. He sweetly assures me the class is for "all levels."

Flash forward a few minutes and I am one of exactly three out of shape people in the class of about 25. Everyone else is rock hard. ROCK HARD. Come to find out half the room is full of TRAINERS who are taking the class to learn techniques. WTF.

Here's how the hour long class breaks down for me:

Number of times I think about walking out: 6
Number of times I worry I am going to throw up: 1
Number of times I worry I am going to faint: 2
Number of times the instructor high fives me: 2
Number of times the super fit guy next to me says he can't go on: 3
Number of times my pants almost fall down: 5

I feel wrecked but accomplished when it's done. Plan to stay the course for the next 7 weeks. My dedication to myself - on the fitness, fashion and writing fronts - is at an all time high. I feel very proud. Everyone reading and commenting is a big part of this surge of motivation so thank you, thank you, really and truly!

Now back to fashion ;)

The Outfit
Grey and white chiffon dress
with cut-out flowery detail
Black footless tights
Beige slim cut trench I bought in Austria




The Accents
Burgundy pashmina
Stella McCartney grey pumps
Tiffany heart earrings
Gucci black sunglasses
Louis Vuitton Damier tote
Sparkly bangle inspired by Louis Vuitton Damier pattern
Grey stretch headband

The Grade
A

The Commentary
Dr. S said "You look FAB-ulous today" when I was standing at the printer. EL heard him and loved it too. YAY!

I felt fabulous today. Yes, this dress is a bit like the tunic I wore for L's birthday but if it works and you love it I always sanction getting a slightly different version. Especially when each one is under $40.

Adore burgundy with grey. And the bag works so well with the Stella avant garde shoes and the clean line of the coat. Ugh. Love love loved it.

Realized my hair looked like a WIG in yesterday's picture so decided to pull it back today. I learned this hairstyle from Gwyneth Paltrow circa my college years. Looks so dancer chic. Me gusta.

Styleminded's delicious friend T just got us all a TON of Cover Girl makeup because she works for America's Next Top Model (do you love OOC reality tv that rots your brain? I do!)

It was perfect timing cuz I needed some new easy, breezy shadows and eyeliners. For the last year, I have been trying to wear more makeup. I tend to feel clownish whenever I do more than blush, mascara and lip gloss (partly cuz I am kinda a rere at applying it.) But I am trying to get better with color combos not only in my outfits but in my makeup. I feel a true fashionista should look pulled together from head to toe. Maybe I should find a makeup bootcamp ;)

p.s. My babyfashionista Styleminded is get in shape girl too. She bought a stability ball today to sit on at work. I was skeptical at first but look at her. So adorable she could fart all day and I'd clap my hands like the lady in that Eddie Murphy movie who says "hercules! hercules!"

A co-worker is telling tales of a friend losing FIVE pounds in a month from sitting on the ball for 8 hours every day. ONLY THAT. I am not so sure. I bet you get toned but losing weight?? I will report back Styleminded's findings though...