Bag of the week:

This week I am introducing you to my BCBG MAXAZRIA quilted frame bag. This baby can be used as a clutch since the strap is detachable.

It measures as: Bottom Width: 11 ¹⁄₂ in, Top Width: 9 ¹⁄₂ in, Depth: 3 in, Height: 6 ¹⁄₂ in, Handle: 6 ¹⁄₂ in.

I have had it for a few years (4? 5?) and still love its unique shape and quirky design. It is modern and old fashioned at the same time. It reminds me very much of the type of handbag a grandmother would carry. But the material and color combination looks totally young and modern. It adds that necessary dose of playfulness to formal and conservative outfits without going overboard. At the same time its ladylike and classic shape lends some respectability to casual outfits, saving them from being too fun!

I love this bag and I get compliment s every time I carry it!

Spring style:

My work load is a little lighter from now on which means I can start thinking and planning about more important stuff like what to wear this spring!

For now, I am planning outfits in pastels, am looking for a few Mint colored pieces, becoming devoted to royal blue and looking for a few sporty items (draw string skirt? A nylon parka in neon color?) that I can corporate into my existing wardrobe.

Right now, I am attracted to:

The trends: I am liking pastels and sugary colors (although they wash me out!), a little safari, nautical, and 50s ladylike. The drop waisted 20s dresses don’t look good on me, but I might look for a few art deco jewelry.

Patterns: I am still loving polka dots and stripes, so florals are a little iffy.

Colors: black and white, royal blue, navy, peach and rose, hot pink, mint, sea foam green, gray. They all play well together, so hopefully I get a lot of wear out of my new and old stuff this spring.

Peplum: I want a peplum top. A real one, not those with elastic in the waist!

Skirts: pencils versus full and pleated. Although I love the flowy pleated ones, I am sticking to my trusty pencils for the time being!

Art of the week:

"Spring" - James Tissot - 1865

Loving: Silk Shirts

Many years ago, my uniform consisted of a button down shirt and a pair of jeans. The shirt was baggy and sometimes I would wear a tank top underneath and leave the buttons open, but that was it, really. My uniform for a couple of years! Then my personal style went through some evolution and lots of changes but a great button down shirt still appeals to me.

These days, either because of sheer number of things I have to think of or simply liking the style I’ve seen in a couple of street style websites; I have gone back to wearing a silk button down, a long cami or tank top, a pair of skinny jeans and high heels. Now, this combination looks much better than my old one, I tell ya!

I have assembled a little collection.

So far the only part of my New Year resolutions that I stick to has been the pursuit of quality!

Bag of the week:

This week’s bag is my Cynthia Rowley snake print leather tote. The handle is adjustable to a shoulder strap or just a pair of short handhelds. Measures approximately 15.5"H x 14.5" L x 3.5"D, shoulder drop: 9.25".
The most fun thing about this tote is the lining which is a bold zebra print. This bag is quite large but very useful for carrying laptop or a huge stack of notes and papers.

Last year and in the mood for snake print, I decided to buy this bag. I debated buying it for a long time and asked the opinion of a few people. I am glad I didn’t listen to them at the end and went with my gut feeling! This baby has proven its worth and became quite a workhorse. It also goes great with my black patent and snake print flats and my dove gray velvet coat.

Art of the week:

“The Garden at Pontoise”, Camille Pissarro, 1877

Bag of the Week:

Marc by Marc Jacob Bow Wow Wow Hobo Bag in Purple. It measures L 15”, H 12”, D 3” with a long cross body strap. It is from a 2010 collection. The leather is soft and buttery and I love the playful tassels, although they are a bit heavy.

I bought it in spring 2011 at a quarter of the original price and am extremely happy with my find. It was one of those rare moments that the stars align just right and Shopping Gods smile down at you! I wear it with monochrome purple outfits, with navy, and even creams and whites for a pop of color. I should try and match it with emerald and see what happens!

Art of the week:

“The Two Sisters, On the Terrace” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, oil on canvas, 1881

Looking for inspiration part II:

I went idea shopping! Diya from “In Her Stilettos” has an amazing sense of color and style and I took a dive in her archive and came up with these ideas:

Looking for inspiration:

Tell me, what is the modern (2012) way of wearing this lovely?

My ideas include: the obvious black jeans, white jeans, light blue jeans, a denim pencil skirt, a white skirt,… ok, you get the idea, right? I seem to be unable to match this blouse with any other color. Ooh, maybe red? Then do I have a red pair of jeans? Not again!

I need serious help here!

Bag of the Week:

This Barrel satchel from Dooney & Bourke’s Plaid and Patchwork collection is one of my all times favorites.

It measures as L 11” × W 6.5" × H 7.5", shoulder drop 10”.

I’ve had it for six or seven years and I am still in love with it. For the first couple of years, this baby was my main handbag. But these days, I don’t carry it much, only when I want to feel secure and lucky. This bag is my good luck charm and I don’t want it damaged!

This collection was limited edition with a mix of patchwork plaids and a few ladybugs and brand’s full name in loopy script printed all over. There are other plaid collections from Dooney & Bourke which look more conservative and mature. However they don’t have ladybugs on them and as you all know, I love ladybugs!

Discovered: Clinique’s chubby stick

Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm

I have been wanting one of these since they came out a year or two ago. They look absolutely delicious in the picture and ads, don’t they? But when I first went to buy one, my favorite color was not available and the rest looked a little pale for my complexion. So I gave up on them. Until this week, when shopping I found the color I liked: “05 chunky cherry” and of course, the rest is history. I’ve been wearing this lip balm/color everyday of the week. Its reddish pink goes well with my complexion and its staying power is much better than other lip balms I’ve tried.

All in all, it adds up to one new obsession!

Art of the week:

“Water Lilies”, oil on linen, by Claude Monet, 1916

What I loved this..

..week weekend:

After a long week full of fiascos and catastrophes (buying wrong acid for the lab and had to dilute it three times to get the right Molarity, the strap of my brand new handbag snapping and breaking, a student being a jerk, a main computer getting virus, a few argument and acts of revenge in the research lab, an upset advisor, a whole load of homeworks to grade, have to attend a late night 4 full hours training until 10 pm one night, running a class from 7-8pm the next night, a career opportunity going belly up due to careless bureaucracy, and a few other bad things happening), I took this weekend to enjoy life and forget about real life (school, work, research, etcetera). No cell phone, no internet, no TV, no email at least for the first day!

So I loved my weekend which is full of:

- sunshine,

-Cats,

-naps, cat naps,

-gorging on chocolate,

-donuts,

-white daisies,

-going through fashion and art magazines,

-lots of virtual - catalogue and online- window-shopping (yeah, no shopping!)

Bag of the week:

Today’s bag is a tote from Coach and my one and only Coach bag. It is a “Coach Ergo Leather Large Tote” and measures 13 1/2"L x 5"W x 12"H; 9" drop handle. The color is a gorgeous chocolate brown in person and the bag fits everything and the kitchen sink! I purchase it 6 years ago and it still looks like new despite a couple of plane rides! For me, aside from the great leather and its delicious color, the major selling point of this bag was its being logo free! I don’t like logos in general and Coach logo (being everywhere, on the arm of everyone, so gauche!) in particular.

This tote is pretty much the only Coach bag I ever bought or am going to buy. Well, maybe one of their vintage Saddle or messenger bags, beautifully aged, beautifully crafted! But definitely none of these huge C stamped canvas you see everywhere!

So close to losing it!

Sometimes you are stressed, over worked and heartbroken. Sometimes, not only your efforts are not appreciated or praised but also whatever little achievement you have earned is taken away from you. Sometimes even your little happiness is stolen from you. Sometimes you are ready to have a nervous breakdown and forget about life, work and all your responsibilities.

You know what? Right now, I am one tiny step away from checking myself into a psychiatric ward, somewhere with a nice padded cell where I can stare at the window for the rest of my life in peace.

Discovered: Stila cosmetics

When I first started to wear makeup, mom said two things. First: You don’t need make up! Second: OK, if you must, always buy the best!

So I’ve been keeping an eye on the new products in hopes of finding better quality. For years I’ve been devoted to Estee Lauder and Clinique for both cosmetics and skin care. My top drugstore brands and products are Neutrogena for skin care, mostly foundation and lip gloss, L’Oreal for lipsticks and eyeliner, Cover Girl for their new Lipperfection Lip colors and Maybelline for their Great Lash mascara.

I tried Tarte cosmetics since they are mineral base and organic but didn’t like their lip stain, mascara or foundation and bronzer. Their blush is great though!

Then I found Stila due to a very lucky shopping mistake. I tried their Michaela lipstick and loved it. It is soft, creamy and moisturizing. You can wear it by itself or apply it over another color for a bit of shine. Then bought an eye-shadow pallet and loved all the colors as well as their staying power (something I had zero success with from other brands). And finally I tried their eyeliner which goes on smoothly, stays long and doesn’t smudge.Well, it is the first brand that i loved anything I tried from their collection.

I think I have fallen in love with this cosmetic line. Not that I am giving up my beloved Clinique, but it’s nice to have other options!