You always see Mischa Barton in the 'who's wearing the trend' or 'best outfits' sections of fashion magazines. But she is also known to wear a few not-very-flattering outfits out and about. She's a spectrum dresser -one who has hits, oks and misses. Here are a bunch of candids from this year:
Miss -White footless tights with that black shift dress look awkward together, and that pair of green sandals is definitely a no.
OK -Maybe it's because the black dress is so casual and that cardigan isn't, but this outfit is only so-and so.
Miss -The public display of bras is not cool. This dress could have been very classy if she had worn a solid top underneath.
Hit -I really like this outfit which is weird because it's all red and lacy, but it's other details like the ruffles in front and the fit are just so right. And the nude, patent shoes is a good modern choice to go with the otherwise all red outfit.
Hit- Mischa walking around in Paris. Love this outfit. It's casual in a sophisticated way.
Hit -Yes I like boring and simple outfits, although the hat and the necklace really adds something to the outfit. And yes, those are actually jeans, not pants, (I zoomed into the pic.)
Hit -Love the boho vibe from the outfit. It's boho in a pretty, not-messy way.
OK -The coat is so lovely and everything looks casual but put-together. The problem is her shoes.
OK -Mischa's wearing a nice casual little white dress for daytime, (but I don't like this particular white dress that much.) LWDs are must-haves this season!

Controversial -Loads of people made fun of Mischa wearing that dress on the left, but I think it's actually nice because it's like a sophisticated ballerina outfit. And that all-black outfit on the right, I'm not sure what but something seems off about it. Maybe it's the shorts or the leather jacket?

Hits -OK, so these aren't candids, but she (and the outfits) looked so pretty I couldn't resist. The black sequined dress with the coat are just perfect (left). And that gold dress (right) is pretty and right-on-trend without being too metallic and shiny.

Recently in the Ralph Lauren sale, I acquired this completely exquisite cable drape neck cashmere sweater for a very good bargain. And trust me, it truly feels exquisite. It looks great too.The only problem is that while the drape neck looks great and has an interesting twist compared to other classic styled sweaters, it is the devil to match it. I'm not sure about you, but I wear cashmere in cold weathers. And in cold weathers I usually wear a jacket over my sweaters to keep warm.

Unfortunately, with this drape neck, nothing looks good over it. If you wear a big coat over it, the drape neck creates a big bulge in your chest area that creates a terribly unflattering silohuette. If you wear it with a blazer or something and let the drape neck hang out, it looks strange. So the only way to wear it really is on its own. But when the weather is warm enough that I feel I can safely walk out with just a sweater on, this cashmere sweater is too warm.

So this style is actually quite a pain and I'm still trying to figure out how to wear it right. Ideas?

I must say, I've been impressed with Bebe's marketing techniques lately. They've managed to present themselves as ladylike, sophisticated, stylish and chic.
Through Mischa, they also appeal to the young and trendy. These ad campaigns really makes me want to go out and buy this trench coat (unfortunately, the site says it is not available for sale. Why do they even bother to shoot this if its not even available sale??). . .

. . . and this dress. . . . . . and basically everything in the catalog as well. Even though the fashion in the catalog seems to be targeted at a more sophisticated audience, it just looks soooo cool with this jet as a backdrop!

Their website is quite well designed, comprehensive and easy to navigate too. And some of the clothes shown actually look nice.

The only problem with all this is their actual store and products. Have you BEEN to a BEBE store? Because the ambiance it emanates feels nothing like this. I've tried. I've been inside many times trying to look for remnants of this style, I even asked if they had this dress that Mischa was wearing in the ad (to which the sales people told me they have never seen in the store before)- nothing.

In reality, the actual store feels cheap, and most of the clothes look cheap, slutty and way overpriced, like these two tops shown above.

Even Eva Longoria- who always looks so chic and elegant- looks cheap wearing this Bebe top on the cover of this month's Cosmopolitan.

So kudos to Bebe's marketing and web design team, and to those in the Bebe design and store concept team- a little revamping is in order.The products have to FIT the image!

First off, thanks for suggesting mascaras to me last week. For those who are interested, the Lancome counter that I went to told me that the much-loved Definicils has stopped being produced, so instead I bought its new Cils Design Pro. (It's a two-sided mascara.) It was only a bit more expensive than L'Extreme so I figured I'll try it.

Anyways onto today's topic -the white eyeliner. Now I am no expert about makeup so I was always thought white eyeliners weren't that versatile. I thought they were only useful in useful in doing the 60's mod look, as done in the Dior FW05 show. But apparently, there is another way to use it.
Some people (me included) feel that wearing black eyeliner all around the eyes is feels a bit heavy and 'madeup', especially for a daytime look. Recently, I read in a magazine that solved this problem. A great way to wear eyeliner but still achieve a (relatively) natural look is to wear black eyeliner along the top line, and white eye along the bottom line. I think it brightens up your eye area, (plus the magazine claims it widens your eyes.)
Check out how it was done in the Anna Sui SS07 show -Du Juan (above) looks really pretty with this makeup.
So I really wanted to try this look and made the effort to visit 3 Shu Umerura shops just to get this two-ended eyeliner, (one end is white, the other end is pearl,) but it's completely sold out! I'm definitely going to try again when I get back to London and if it's really sold out, I suppose I can try Nars.

So ya, just a little makeup idea for you all to try out!

Photo sources: vogue.co.uk and Shu Uemura

Just in case any one of you thought that these cheap plastic check Vuitton bags seen on their SS07 catwalk were cool. . . .


. . .and then got it into your head from this spread in the recent Teen Vogue that it was a great bag for this season, I did some first hand research while I was home for spring break. I'd like to point out that while they make it look really stylish and cool on the catwalk and in the photoshoots, the actual people who uses these bags are not so glamorous.
In fact, these bags are commonly used by street vendors as storage and for garbage disposal.

Seriously, I don't know where they get their ideas from.

Months ago, BG wrote about Chloe's SS07 bags. Back then, I wasn't yet into anything SS07 nor have I seen any of the bags so I didn't pay too much attention to them. Now that we're starting SS07, I'm very into all bags SS07.
When Chloe's Bay bag arrived at net-a-porter.com, I stared at it for awhile and it grew on me. It's practical, girly and chic. Plus it's by Chloe, which usually means the leather is gorgeous. There are two versions, the first one is this quilted version, which is more lady-like and sophisticated.
The second version here is a bit more androgynous but equally chic.
Then as expected, we started seeing it carried by celebs. Mischa Barton totally had me convinced that the Bay is gorgeous and fab for all ages. I mean seriously, doesn't it look so cool on her?
But then Britney Spears started carrying it last week and honestly, it really doesn't look good on her. It's probably also because I don't associate her with good taste, (although I admittingly still love some of her old songs.)

But of course, as a fashion-lover, I'm certainly not basing my love/hate decision on photos of Mischa and Britney so I checked it out at Lane Crawford (a HK department store) yesterday and well, the bag was definitely bigger, and the material odder than I imagined it. What I mean is, the leather didn't seem like the usual soft Chloe leather; the leather seemed a bit thin and crinkled in an ugly way (unlike the beautiful crinkleness on Balenciaga bags.)

So the truth is, I'm a bit disappointed. My almost-non-existant optimistic side tells me that maybe, it just happens that those Bay bags I saw were over-tried-on by customers, or maybe it's just the lighting, so I'm going to look out for them again next time I go shopping. Maybe they will look better.
Photo of bags from net-a-porter.com

Christina Aguilera blows out candles on Nylon cake.

With so much happening in the fashion world and so many celebrities in rehab, we have been remiss in reporting on the celebrity scene.

So, it's Monday, time to dig some of last week's celebrities doings.

Christina Aguilera really looked stunning at the NYLON magazine party.

Great photo on the anniversary cake.

Gisele Bundchen Stiletto Heel Dance.

Hum, we just love watching Christina pucker up and blow . . .

What our favorite Brazilian sexy kitten doing. Well, Gisele Bundchen launched the Ipanema-Gisele Bundchen Y Ikatu Xingu Footwear Collection.

We can see Gisele is very excited by the new footwear line, doing a little dance in sexy high heel shoes.

Just wondering if Gisele’s sexy high heel shoes are part of the collection.

Having personally been unimpressed by the last few designer for H&M collections, I didn't really have much expectations of this M by Madonna collection either. I was only vaguely aware that it was even coming out this week! But then while shopping with my cousin at the new H&M store in HK (you will not believe what a crowd it was-and still is) I came across the collection and so took a look. And boy was I surprised. I actually LIKE the collection! Its simple, chic, elegant and totally wearable.

While people have complained that this is a boring and safe collection, I personally think that this is the best way to do it. For even though the previous designer collections have been adventurous and exciting, you ultimately cannot cheaply mass produce such garments without compromising the quality. At least with this collection, since the designs are so classic, there is less room to go wrong.
The classic white trench looks gorgeous. But alas, its such a hot item I did not see it at the store.
But mostly I am just loving the office looks from this collection. They are so simple, put-together yet very sexy and chic.
I adore these two all over white look.
And I absolutely LOVE this dress (left). I saw it in white, tried it on and it looked great and fitted BEAUTIFULLY. I almost even bought it, but alas, I didn't have anywhere to wear it to. For something more casual, the shirt dress on the right is also a great option.
For pattern, these two dresses are sophisticated and classy.
And THESE are the belts i've been looking for. Simple and versatile with just the right amount of detail and width- I'd like one of each please!

The best thing I like about this collection is that it doesn't look cheap. I'd wear everything I've just posted. My only concern now is that since its so widely publicized and sold, do I really want to risk clashing with every other girl on the street. . . . . .

I simply cannot ignore it anymore as a catwalk anomaly there for show, Prada fringe accessories are everywhere.

On the catwalk on their clothes, their bags.. . .

on more of their bags, on their shoes. . . on their ad. . .

Straight hair was all the rage in the SS07 runway shows and the uber glamourous Oscars. Now we all know that the models and celebs have professional hair stylist straightening their hair with brushes and straighteners. But how could normal people like us get such perfect straight hair? Most people would buy hair straighteners, like the much-beloved T3. But we also know that using hair straighteners all the time (admit it- so many people are guilty of this!) is not great for your hair. OK so my point is, here's another idea: permenant hair straightening.
Japanese negative ionic hair striaghtening (don't know the proper name) was very popular back around seven years ago. I did it twice, once when I was fifteen and the once when I was sixteen. I loved it -it made my hair seriously shiny, easy to manage, there were never knots (believe me my hair was long), and my hair looked perfectly blew-dry 24/7. And to my surprise, the hair striaghtening didn't seem to dry out my hair (I almost never found split ends.) Oh how I miss those days. The only disadvantage was that during the first month, my hair looked dead -shiny, but limp. Thankfully, my hair got more volume after it grew out a bit.

How long did the straightened hair last? It depends how much of the straightened hair you cut off. For example for my second time, I didn't get a proper hair cut (I just trimmed it myself) for two years, and so my hair looked somewhat naturally straight for that second year.
However, here's just a little warning: some people may have side effects. I have a friend who got her hair striaghtened and some of her hair fell off. But I also had another friend whose hair was originally wavy, had a wonderful time with straightened and frizz-free hair for eight months.

Anyone planning to have fun with this straightened hair trend this spring/summer? And if you've had permenantly straightened hair before, did you have a good or bad experience?
Photo sources: vogue.co.uk

Hot Pink Mix and Match Bikini

Well, the days are getting longer and warmer.

Can it be - only a few more weeks to that very special time of year known as spring break?

It's time to break out of our hibernation period and begin to make our spring break travel plans.

I can hardly wait to catch those warm sunny rays on a sandy beach by the ocean.

This hot pink bikini is just great for the spring break - break.

It's a great mix and match combo, so if you prefer the full American Bikini Bottom or the more daring Brazilian thong, g-string or tiny string bottom, just chose your own hot, sexy look.

Same with the bikini top.

You can select a halter bikini top, or a triangle bikini top with spaghetti straps.

Just be as creative or daring as you like.

Tiny Baby G-String Suspender Bikini

But if you really feel daring, you will just love this tiny baby g-string suspender bikini.

You worked hard to get you body in shape for spring break, and now is the time to flaunt it.

The micro triangle top is the perfect sexy bikini top with ties at the neck and back.

Tunnel slides, on the top, can be gathered or spread to increase the amount of skin you would like to expose.

This stretch Lycra tricot baby g suspender bikini is really hot, whether you are on the break, at the pool, or just soaking up the rays.

So get your spring break travel plans in order, and enjoy the excitement that is spring break.

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