Ghesquiere For LV: Debut

So it's finally here--- the fashion world's most anticipated LV show for Fall 2014 has come and gone. It seems to me everyone was so excited for Nicolas Ghesquiere's first step into a new realm in fashion, like seeing off your first born to his first day in school.

Without further ado, here are some of my personal favorites from the collection:

Louis Vuitton Fall 2014

Love the blue suede trimming and leather sleeves!

Nice clean silhouette and the colors are great neutrals...

Nice fall color combination and I love how the belt loops over, casual but chic!

It wouldn't be an LV show without the accessories! Here are my favorites...

This shoe and bag combo is divine!

Cute little Speedy in a nice vintage leather.

Honey, they shrunk the trunks and me likey.

All images from style.com

As you've read in my previous post, I love Ghesquiere. I simply adore him. But I also like to be honest to my readers. Overall, I thought the collection was lukewarm. I felt like there was something missing here, almost like he was playing it safe with this collection---but mind you, these pieces are a great step forward for what Ghesquiere can do for LV. Some of the design elements and details in this collection haven't been seen in an LV show since Marc Jacobs' tenure (and that is a really good thing!) but maybe with so much anticipation building up and having crazy expectations for our wonderboy, anything less would immediately seem mediocre. This definitely isn't one of his best but once he gets over this transitional period, you better make sure you're wearing your padded butt pants 'coz this guy is going to knock all of us off our patent leather heels.

Besides...this isn't his first rodeo, he's only warming up.
Save a horse, ride a cowboy. Yeehaw!

Toodles!

I Got The Blues for Shoes

Looks like I need to write more on funny and apparently, gross topics. Someone typed in "something gross" in the suggestion box and that cracked me up. Dudes, I know you guys probably roll your eyeballs every time I do a fashion post but just bear with me. I'll try my best to write "something gross" next time. Okay? Okay!

Let's talk about accessories. I think you've noticed that in every Fashion Files that I do, I don't have that much accessories on me. I just wear my watch and the gold necklace which has two pendants on them, one with an "A" engraved on it which obviously stands for Angel since my parents think I'm godsent tee-hee and the diamond studded pendant that I added on to the necklace (The boyfriend's nth anniversary gift). Why so few? Well, truth be told, I am not responsible enough to wear (real or fancy) jewelry...God knows how many diamond earrings and South Sea pearls I've lost along the way so my parents just keep them for me until I really need to use them.

I know I must be breaking some kinda bloggers' Ya-Ya Sisterhood code for mentioning this, like I really give a flying squirrel but I managed to peruse over a fashion blogger's website and I could see she had it all down to a T. The hair, the make-up, the pose, the lighting, the background, the clothes...they were not bad at all. And then you look down further...no, really way down...Golly jeez, Batman! What happened to the shoes?!

Sometimes those little trinkets of fancy jewelry can get you all googly-eyed and next thing you know, you're stacking up those things from your wrist all the way to your throat...and then you forget about one of the most important accessories EVER. SHOES.

I gotta admit, this lady rocks the "stacking" trend. Beauty is pain?...

Source: kudumomo

The other most important accessory that I would always recommend to invest in, aside from a pair of high quality shoes, is a versatile leather bag . Why?

a) a leather purse in a classic color like black or vintage brown (dark earth tones) will blend with any outfit.

b) you will have to outgrow those trendy purses that you tote around... a neon yellow purse with rock studs might not exactly help you land the job of your dreams, unless you're applying to be a Harajuku girl.

c) fabric purses are not as sturdy as the leather counterparts and they tend to stain or fade quickly.

A great pair of shoes sometimes doesn't need to have so many bells and whistles to stand out. As long as it's made of high-quality materials and of great craftsmanship, it'll show.

Black patent leather pumps... this is a MUST!

via us.christianlouboutin.com

Grey-colored sandals to neutralize pastel or neon-infused outfits, so you won't entirely look like a pack of Skittles.

Alexander Wang via saks,com

But just in case you want to taste the rainbow...

Brian Atwood via saks.com

Gold Leather Mary Jane sandals for those dinner dates or sassy girls' night out ...

Rebecca Minkoff via saks.com

For the more formal evenings like your bestfriend's wedding...just try not to out-dress the bride!

Christian Louboutin via saks.com

If and when you do manage to out-dance the bride and groom, your aching feet might need some reinforcements through some gorgeous jeweled flat sandals. Always keep a spare of dressier sandals or flats in your car during a night out! Imagine resorting to rubber flip flops with a gorgeous gown? Yeesh.

Rene Caovilla via neimanmarcus.com

Need the height but don't want the pain? You can go for a retro-inspired design with platform soles and chunky heels to give you that extra support.

Marni via barneys.com

Prada via saks.com

Stella McCartney via saks.com

Tod's driving mocassins...Holy Shawarma, these are super comfy. Ironically, I don't use 'em for driving, instead I use them mostly when I travel on long-haul flights and they're great for days when you're running with the bulls kids! The suede ones are awesome too but they may be a pain to maintain.

via tods.com

Purchasing cheap finds can be addictive but you have to realize that quality always knocks out the cheap competition. Invest your money on timeless pieces or those that work well with your current wardrobe. Instead of having 10 different low-quality trendy bags, why not spend it on a durable, well-crafted purse that will last you forever? The same logic goes for shoes as well but of course, there's always an exception to the rule. I do purchase cheap (in value and in quality) shoes so I don't wear out the expensive ones fast. I know sometimes you may have a favorite pair of shoes that you just want to wear everyday but don't forget to alternate your shoes to help extend its lifespan.

Call me crazy but...$200 for a pair of flip-flops? Hell to the NO. And yes, I'm talking to you, HAVAIANAS.

Toodles! =)

Fruit Fashion Files : MDNA

Hey troopies! I got too excited to write about The Material Girl that I forgot about my own pictures! Seriously, who would you rather want to see? Momma Madonna with her toned hiney or an Asian Shamu? Anyhow, I had mixed feelings about my outfit because it looked alright to me but I came out looking a little preggers in the pictures. I guess I really have to master my Sashey Shante before I could wear an outfit like this again!

Here we go... Shamuuuu...

Peplum Dress- Forever21 (Great buy!); Booties- BCBG; Bag- LV Vernis, Alma

Nice triangle open back

I wanted to go with a little bit of an edgy vintage look so I opted for a two-toned french lace peplum dress and paired it with some perforated black leather booties. Always keep in mind that going to a Madonna concert (or any of your fave artist's concert) is like going to a big dance party. Even if there are seats provided for party poopers, you'll surely end up standing and dancing for most of the time so some great heels are good but make sure you can handle being on your feet for more than an hour. 

Face Paint:

Face: Bare Minerals Foundation in Fairly Medium, Make Up For Ever HD powder, Chanel Highlighting Powder, Bare Minerals "Warmth"

Eyes: Laura Mercier eye primer in "Wheat", Urban Decay Naked 2, Stila waterproof liquid eyeliner in Black

Lips: Make Up For Ever matte lipstick in Moulin Rouge, Make Up For Ever Lab Shine lip gloss (I was so excited to wear my red lipstick since I can't wear it on a regular basis unless I become a geisha.)

Man, I still can't stop singing... Hey, ey, ey, ey, ey,...like a girl gone wild, a good girl gone wild...

Toodles! =)

Keeping Up With the Joneses.. Without The Benjamins

I was a brand-craving idiot. Take note, I said WAS. So don't be prejudice or I won't hesitate to throw this patent black four-inch stiletto heel at you. I used to think that wearing the latest, expensive and coolest brands of clothing would get me noticed and appreciated, and in return, it would make me feel good about myself. But nope, it's not what life is all about so I grew up and I grew out of it. Don't get me wrong, I still love luxurious things, I still want them..but I don't need to sell my soul to the devil just to impress other people. I try to buy things that I know I can afford and I only splurge if it's worth it.

Wearing anything branded has been integrated in Asian culture for as long as I can remember. Acquiring high-end brands represent status, achievement and a sense of empowerment... at least that's what some people who get too caught up with brands think. Thus, the surplus of counterfeit goods of high-end brands evident all over Asian countries.

Thanks to one of my beautiful sisters, she shared with me this link of a Filipino blogger,who posted an article that fascinatingly narrates a sad (but juicy) ordeal about a woman's obsession of worldly things that led her and her family's life to spiral down to kingdom come. Here is the link to the story...

http://chuvaness.com/9053/shopping/talk-of-the-town-the-birkin-scammer/

The culprit to her demise...disguised in gold-plated brass hardware and supple leather.

Hermes Birkin Bag

Hermes Pink Tosca Fjord Leather 35cm Birkin Bag with Gold Hardware

Hermes Mykonos Matte Alligator 35cm Birkin Bag with Palladium Hardware

From what I hear, these babies range from $10,000 USD and up. The more exotic the leather (crocodile, alligator, ostrich, python, lizard) , the higher the ticket price.

This Birkin made of crocodile skin and a clasp encrusted with 10 carats of white diamonds is being sold at a whopping $120,000 USD.

Hermes Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag

I only started appreciating bags when I started working. I actually had a phase of "hoarding" and I'm not talking about buying your usual $800 a pop kinda bags, think $2,000+ a pop. Damn you, Louis for whispering in my ear! It may be nothing to the Hermes-toting ladies out there but it was not good for me at all, my savings took a beating and I had to take a step back and slow down. And you know how I shook and brought myself back down to earth? I realized that there are people who find so much contentment in the simpler things in life, whether they are rich or poor. I really hope that I will be able to instill that attitude in my future children as well.

I faced the fact that I couldn't afford to buy everything I wanted, all at the same time. At least not right now. I told myself, Slow down, you'll get everything you need and eventually, everything you want..with hard work. 

I know there are some people who strive to compete and compare lifestyles with their friends. If your friends make you feel inadequate, they don't deserve to be regarded as a friend at all. But once you bite the bait and start trying to compete as well, then you don't deserve to be called one either. I know a lot of relationships and friendships that have been left battered and maimed by greed and envy. The funny thing that everyone has to realize is that trying to keep up with the Joneses is a vicious cycle. You will never get there and it will never be enough. No matter how rich you think you are, someone out there will always have something better than you... a better car, a bigger house, a bigger ring, a bigger yacht, a bigger private jet, a richer husband, etc. 

It's perfectly fine to enjoy the finer things in life and in this case, expensive purses, as long as we remember what's more important... killer shoes.

Just kidding.

A Woman's Man

It's funny how I have a lot of friends and acquaintances requesting for me to write something in regards to fashion, and I must say that I feel a little hesitant because I know how it's going to go down. I say something and someone's gonna be reading in their tattered pajamas saying Pshh... she doesn't know what she's talking about. I mean, I dress decently but I don't necessarily go for the latest fads and whatever is abuzz in the fashion world because it gets too ridiculous, really. So this post is not about fashion, it's just about common sense. This one's for the men who need a little push to....how can I put it delicately...look less...

Neanderthal.

via mhobl's photostream

Lesson 1: Grooming.

The thing you wear the most is your own skin (and hair). So boys, that means trimming and shaving regularly. If girls wanted you all hairy with matching uni-brows, Chewbacca would be the sexiest man alive right now.

Sorry I had to drag you into this Chewy.
via chaines106's photostream

Lesson 2: No SKINNY-SUPER-TIGHT-I-CAN-SEE-EVERYTHING-I-MEAN-EVERYTHING-JEANS. 

Guys, there is nothing more sissy than a man wearing skinnier, tighter pants than his main squeeze.

If you have slender legs, I understand that you do need something more tapered to fit you but you ain't doin' yoga with it so step away from the man jeggings and no one gets hurt..literally. How do you breathe down there?

 No,No.

Yes,Yes. 

Here are some perfect examples on how to rock the look of sexy skinny jeans without losing your manhood:

Helmut Lang skinny jeans

Diesel Skinny Jeans "Thanaz"

Lesson 3: A real man always, always has to have a black suit in his closet.

There has never been a time in history wherein a man has never looked good in a well-fitted suit. You give a hobo a black suit plus a crash course on the British accent and you get James Bond, well..at least the hobo version. A good suit can feature every best asset of a man and can slyly hide the worst.

Who wouldn't want to take a guy home who looks as dapper-looking as this to meet the rents:

Hugo Red "Aikonen/Hol"

Credits: Suit, Dress Shirt, Tie, Shoes(not shown) and yes,even underwear (Thank God, not shown) by Hugo Boss

Lesson 4: If you are not going to the beach or lounge around the house, flip-flops should be used at a minimal when going out into the real world.

The first thing that I do when I meet a guy is I check his shoes. I don't know why but it seems that the shoes a man wears says a lot about him. You wouldn't want to meet a hot girl and then (boo!) you're wearing flip flops, you've got your feet exposed and God knows I love how men can look so hot but whoever checked out a guy saying, Hey check out that guy's feet! He's so hot with his big toe showing like that!

When you pick out dress shoes, make sure they are not too pointy nor too square-ish on the toe. You don't want to look like Legola's reject brother with your pointy ass shoes nor do you want to look like you got your shoes from Frankenstein's haute couture collection.

Prada Leather Oxfords

 via www.saksfifthavenue.com

But what if you're not the dress shoes kinda guy. Well, casual shoes are a little bit more tricky but the safe ones that you can pick out is a good pair of loafers like this...

Prada Penny loafers

 and the more casual sneakers like this...

Lesson 5: Don't terrorize, ACCESSORIZE! 

Calm down. Don't be bustin' out with the thick gold chains and the bling-bling just yet. You don't need to wear all that jewelry unless you're a dead pharaoh who's about to be buried in a tomb. 

It's always wise to invest in a good time-piece. Sport watches are fun to play around with and are great as a substitute but you have to have at least one sophisticated watch that you can wear everyday and that you can use for any occassion.

When I become a bajillionaire,  I want to buy my boytoy (a.k.a. Miguel) a toy of his own..

This.

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph

Of course, I'm not stupid. I'll get him that watch in exchange for this Harry Winston necklace...

If you hear a thud, that was just my boyfriend fainting.

Anyway, boys..you get the point. Make the effort and you will reap the rewards with hugs and kisses from your girl, your boo, your wifey, your hunnybuns, your..*I think I just puked in my mouth*.. 

Class Dismissed!