Presenting my fourth in the series of Tuesday Trunk Tidbitz is this wonderful Steamer in Damier Canvas.
The Damier was invented by Louis Vuitton himself in 1888 and was the first to be patented. Well, into it's second century the Damier has retained its freshness and continues to delight Vuitton Lovers everywhere. It was resurrected to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the company in 1996 and has become a standard staple since then. In November 2006 a new interpretation of the canvas was introduced, the Damier Azur. The rectangular steamer featured here contains three interior trays and has the previous owner's initials stenciled into the canvas. A band of white and blue winds its way around the whole piece. Truly, a wonderful Vuitton trunk. See auction at ebay. Ended at $6500.00

There is a buzz that the upcoming exhibit of Takashi Murakami's work at the Geffen Contemporary at Moca will have an exclusive LV boutique that comes with it. As you well all know, Murakami is a great contributor to the Vuitton aesthetic with his whimsical characters and the introduction of the Multicolore line. Exhibit opens on October 29, 2007. How LVoely is that???!!! Hmmm...I think an trip to California is in order.

Posted by melikemochi from the Purse ForumI thought it might be nice for us LV fanatics to make a list of flaws to check for when buying LV. It might be helpful for some. For those, who like my sister, don't care much to check anything when purchasing, just ignore this thread.

Important things to check for (to the extreme):
-alignment: make sure the fleurs and other symbols match up; make sure the material is smooth where they are sewn together and not bent.
- bubbles: make sure canvas is sewn so that the bag stands well and does not have canvas that bubbles up a bit (this sort of looks like a fold) the entire piece of canvas should be uniform in terms of how much it sticks out. I hope this makes sense, its a bit hard to describe. My cousin bought my aunt a hudson and he did not check it well and her bag has this flaw. She noticed it right away but LV is 3 hours from her.
- air bubbles on MC items: you need to look closely for this.
- vachetta: not patinaed and is not dirty, scratched.
- glaze: must fully cover vachetta (I recieved a bag where the glaze didnt fully cover the leather edges and it began to split from that); pay especial attention to the ends of the tabs and where the handles connect to the bag because in those areas the vachetta need the most protection.
- bumps: for example the speedy. there is an inevitable bump by the zipper from the pocket inside (though IMO with good seamstress work that should not be there) all speedys will have this bump but it is best to choose one with the smallest bump (and yes the bump size varies). the reason for this? If you keep your bags for a few years no big deal but if you plan to keep it FOREVER like me then a smaller less steep bump is best as overtime that spot is most suceptible to cracking. Yes, i've seen it happen.
Vachetta piping: make sure it is all even both the size (thickness) of the piping and how much it sticks out from the bag. I saw one bag where the piping out stick out a great deal in one section but later on would be pushed in far so it would not stick out at all. It was a bad look.
zipper: make sure it works.


I tried to think of everything to check for. Oh, and its helpful to bring a friend. You know that friend that is a bargain shopper, super picky, has a good eye, and notices the small things... (We all have one) Bring her! =D HTH. If I missed anything, feel free to add! =)

Will Britney Spears turns in
her minidress for a corset?

Be sure to visit the Britney Spears Fashion News page, for a glimpse of many more of Britney Spears sexy and unique outfits.

Ah work clothes. I must say, I've always somewhat dreaded wearing it before- especially business formal. I always thought that it looked more like a uniform, and since my high school uniform, which resembled a prisoner's outfit, I never want to go back to wearing them again. But alas, the real world beckons. So lets take a look into office fashion and start with suit jackets.
Suits. The first thing that pops to mind is Giorgio Armani. As I always say when I write runway reviews about them, these are the things that makes me want to work hard. Don't they just look so sexy and stylish? (Left: Giorgio Armani, Right: Ralph Lauren)
But of course, in the real world, suits are not that sexy. For my first suit, I followed my best friend's lead, and went for the Theory, Hayward (left)(and no, I did not deliberately choose the same cutting, but I found that it fitted me best). Theory isn't Armani, but its pretty good. And the fit is quite good too. But still, for the first few times I wore it, I still felt very conscious of myself, uncomfortable and old. Like I was a poser, pretending to look professional when I'm not. But this summer, having worn it more often (almost like an uniform- changing the shirt of course- such a good investment!), I'm actually feeling much more comfortable in it (maybe I've aged too!). My friend once said that wearing a suit makes her feel sexy and I was confused- now I get it!
Just witness Calista Flockheart in Brothers and Sisters. Doesn't look like an uniform at all! She just looks very chic and put together.
I think the trick to looking good in suits is the fit. So try until you find the right one. Typically, I find one button suit jackets fit the best- for me anyway(note how this whole post is filled with one button suits). They also look slightly more casual, giving it a younger and chic look. (left: Elie Tahari, right: BCBG). My only problem is that my chest is small, so I have to be careful that I don't find an one button suit that is too loose in the chest- disaster! Some cheaper options, from Express (left) and J Crew (right). Who knew J Crew HAD suits? Turns out they have a pretty good selection, so go check it out.
Besides black, I also got one (very cheap from a local store in HK) with very thin stripes. Not quite as bold as these ones from Max Studio (left) and Express (right), but these are quite nice and sharp too. Next I'm looking to get a suit in grey (not sure dark or soft yet!) and beige/white (for summer)....wow, its like a whole new door of fashion has opened up- but all this will probably be when I actually get a real full time job.

Image Credit: Elle, BCBG, Express, Nordstrom, Max Studio and Brothers and Sisters

Angel and I were browsing at our friendly, neighborhood boutique last Saturday when I discovered that LV made miniature lockits in epi leather. And when I say miniature, I mean miniature!!! They were so cute and well made that I wanted to purchase one as a coin purse. I almost swooned when my SA informed me nonchalantly that they were $1050. She also showed me a Miniature Speedy and Lockit in nomade leather and those were handsomely priced at $1150. I tried searching online and found them at the Purse Forum...duh! Below are pics of the Speedy Nomade that I saw and a Multicolore Lockit. LVoe them!!! Photo credits go to LVbabydoll and VuittonGanG of the Purse Forun. I think KarenKooper.com sometimes have them for sale hence the watermark on the lockit. .
The MC miniature lockit shown above was launched for the first anniversary of the re-opening of the Paris Flagship store at 101 Champs Elysees. They only made 101 pieces and could only be bought at that particular store.

Angel reading some gossip magazines with her newly lined Vuitton Bucket.

Onatah in Aubergine Neiman Marcus, July 28, 2007

80's styled, bright-coloured slogan tees are 'in' this year. This unfortunate trend was started by House of Holland, which basically makes loads of this kind of tees. I suppose one of the reasons why it caught people's attention was the cheeky slogans about other designers and models, (such as "Do Me Daily Christopher Bailey" and "Wham Bam Thank You Stam" or somthing like that.) I really didn't mind this trend back when the only people I saw wearing the tees were in magazines and websites. Unfortunately, my local department store has recently started selling them and now I'm actually seeing the tees worn on people and featured in local magazines around me! Bleh, I'm obviously no fan of this look.

And thanks to rising model Agyness Deyn, who is claimed to be 'cool and hip' by various magazines, House of Holland tees are now also considered to be 'cool and hip'. Uh, tacky colours much? (And I mean both Aggy's makeup and the tee, or maybe it's the combination of both.)

If you simply can't resist this trend, consider these very affordable choices by Urban Outfitters (left) and Top Shop (right.) Just because I don't like this trend doesn't mean I'm going to stop you from experimenting. Afterall, fashion's meant to be fun too and I'm sure lots of people out there love this trend!



So ok, I still don't completely get why so many people and supposedly classy magazines like Vogue are crazy for these tees. They're just so... unclassy and flashy. But I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Plus, trends pass by so quickly these days, so why not? What does everyone think about this trend?



Photo credit: http://www.style.com/, http://www.topshop.com/, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

Article from the New York Times
BAGGAGE Annie Leibovitz’s portrait, part of a new advertising campaign.

By ERIC WILSON
Published: July 26, 2007 SO many fashion ads feature celebrities now that it isn’t even faintly jarring to flip through the August issue of Vogue and see Scarlett Johansson lying on her belly with a Louis Vuitton bag over her shoulder and 10 pages later find her flat on her back, her cascading blond hair spread to promote L’Oréal Superior Preference shade No. 10NB.

That said, what is a reader to make of a Vuitton ad, coming in the big September books, that stars Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the last president of the Soviet Union? A decade ago, Mr. Gorbachev’s appearance in a Pizza Hut commercial was generally greeted as a low point in his career.

The Vuitton ad, however, is part of a campaign to emphasize the company’s heritage in luggage and travel accessories. Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, the ads include other celebrities using Vuitton bags: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf cuddling in a hotel room, their bags not yet unpacked; Catherine Deneuve resting on a trunk in front of a steaming locomotive; and Mr. Gorbachev in the back of a car with a duffel bag on the seat next to him. Of the group, Mr. Gorbachev appears the least comfortable. He is holding on to a door handle, as if the bag contained polonium 210.

It seems unlikely he will be approached by L’Oréal.

THE August issue of Harper’s Bazaar, meanwhile, includes fashion illustrations by Julius Preite of “The Simpsons,” with a cartoon version of Glenda Bailey, the editor, in place of her usual portrait. And now on Style.com, it is Candy Pratts Price, the site’s executive fashion director, who appears more animated than usual.

In a feature called “CandyCast,” Ms. Price will dispense thoughts on fashion in the form of an avatar, illustrated by Bruno Frisoni, the creative director of Roger Vivier. She looks skinnier than a paper clip.

“Take a look at gray!” she says in the first installment, which sounds a tad like a spoof of Diana Vreeland. “Always chic, always right, and always, always mandatory!”

Ms. Price said she hopes to convey a lighter tone in the future.

“It will definitely be related to fashion, because that is what I do for a living,” she said. “I am not a doctor.”

Griet Mirage in Bordeaux $3450



Tivoli $1050



Limelight Clutch $1275




Motard Alligator Biker $13,500




Monogram Denim Neo Cabby GM $1720



Shearling Storm $3750



Neverfull MM with Trunks & Bags Mini Accesoires $620 & $255 respectively -- Photo credit: www.louisvuitton.com

I was at lunch today with my friend Rowena (& my Speedy, of course, sitting in his own chair in the foreground of the pic) when low and behold, right next to us was a Denim Vuitton bag sitting pretty on top of a food court table. I recognized it but was not sure of the name. Rowena and I immediately assesed if what she had was the real deal or a fakey. First, I pointed out the vachetta. It was still a bit light but there were stains on it already. Next, the lining was a microfiber that was colored mustard so that seemed appropriate. Then, I noted that the brass fittings and zipper pull had the "Louis Vuitton" engraving. Lastly, the alignment of the pattern was simply exquisite that from the limited view of the bag, I judged that it is indeed an original! I am no expert here as I am still trying to learn a lot from Purse Forum-ers and I know that the heat stamps are essential to make a sound judgement. Sigh...my afternoon at the mall...PS. It did help that she was wearing a Chanel wristwatch and a 2 carat diamond ring...also, the bag is called Monogram Denim Baggy PM $1270.00 at eluxury.com.

Ever since I've noticed the rack of Vanessa Bruno clothes at Lane Crawford (which is like the Barneys of Hong Kong,) I've loved Vanessa Bruno the brand. VB clothes are Parisian chic, cool and classily casual. Plus VB stuff is relatively affordable. It's now a norm for me to get at least one VB item each season. So imagine how excited when Lane Crawford held a little VB FW07 presentation (tonight) and Vanessa Bruno herself was actually going to be there!

The event was a typical one: half an hour of cocktail and a mini runway show. It was a small event so there weren't actually any seats, so thankfully the event was short and started on time.

The presentation is pretty much like it is on the VB website. Even the music is the same!

The first outfit that came out was a lovely trapeze coat that I've liked from the Paris runway back in Feb and have been looking out for. It swayed so nicely along with the model's walk!

This was definitely my favourite dress from the presentation. SO gorgeous! It's so perfect for mild winters (with temperature around 14 degrees Celcius, as in Hong Kong.) The dress is youthful but looks so graceful and pretty. Sigh...

Remember Elyse Sewell from America's Next Top Model many seasons ago? She's been in Hong Kong since then.

And there's Vanessa Bruno in the middle! Spot the light blonde lady in a black skirt and plum-coloured top. She fits in with the models so well.

This collage really shows the style VB's clothes... feminine, light, carefree and pretty. Everyone was invited (err, encouraged) to shop the FW collection afterwards, but I was too tired today to appreciate the clothes I was trying on and decided that I can try on the clothes another day. Also, I'm just not in the mood to shop for FW clothes yet. My sister on the other hand, got a really pretty casual dress. Hmm, I'll definitely have to go back in September for my FW shopping spree!

Why do I always go back to Paris Hilton photos? I think this is an old pic but I LVoe the shades, LVoe the shoes, LVoe the haughtiness, LVoe the Speedy Perfo!!! LVoe everything!!!

Book DescriptionGuest Art Director Marc Jacobs teamed up with photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott on the newest installment of the coveted fashion quarterly, Visionaire, which comes housed this time in a limited-edition Louis Vuitton case designed by Jacobs. Alas and Piggott photographed a series of intimate portraits of today's most inspiring contemporary icons, traveling to New York, London and Paris in search of their personal muses. Subjects include actors Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson and Selma Blair; singers Jennifer Lopez and Lil' Kim; models Gisele Bundchen, Stephanie Seymour and Christy Turlington; New York City Ballet principle dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied; and fashion designers Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney, to name a few. I don't care much for the magazine but look at that Miroir case that it comes in!!! LVoe it!!! Pre-order at amazon.com

What a wonderful find from Saks and Company Fifth Avenue! An antique trunk dating from the 1920's. I can only imagine
lugging this beauty around at the turn of the century. A mysterious initial "R" is embossed on the piece which makes one wonder who was the original owner and what station did he or she held in society. I think by that time Louis Vuitton had already established its name as a leading trunk maker,
and this piece must've been expensive even at that time. Beautiful detailing of the LV monogram surrounds its border making the piece quite similar to what they have done to the my Vaslav's leather trim. The hardware is breathtaking and has that beautiful old world patina. I hope you enjoyed seeing this piece as much as I have and if you choose to place a bid, here's the auction on e-bay. LVoe it!!! Ended for $1,224.73

In between rushing to read the Harry Potter books
(I just started from the first) and the stress brought about by the scratch on my Vaslav, I have neglected to post my pics of the Vuitton Boutique in Dallas. I have started a goal for myself to go into as many LV boutiques as I possibly can! I wish for it to be a pilgrimage of some sort but not really since I relate this word to spiritual exercises. I should say maybe, it's like visiting an old friend. Instead of collecting snowglobes or little silver spoons,
I have decided to collect LV's from the places I go to. So here are pics of the beautiful store in the Galleria, Dallas, Texas. It was my first stop after checking-in at my hotel,July 20, 2007. LVoe it!!!

Pink Thigh High Stockings

European women have long known the mesmerizing effect of stockings on the male libido.

Whether meeting your lover for lunch or for an interlude on the beach, stockings provide that certain allure that bare skin or pantyhose do not possess.

We just love the light and pastel colors that compliment any summer outfit, especially those thigh high stockings worn with high heel shoes and a short wrap skirt.

Especially the color pink and these pink stocking with seams just adds that touch of sensuality to your legs.

You know, that men are really mesmerized by those inseams as you prance along the beach or through the garden.

Dita Von Teese
in her trademark
Black Thigh High Stockings
and High Heel Shoes

And, speaking of stockings, who knows more about stockings than the woman that has made them a part of her act and her life style - Dita Von Teese.

Not only does Dita wear these stocking everyday, but this sensuous line of stockings is from the Dita Von Teese Collection.

These full fashion stockings are made to the exacting standards of the 1950's originals, complete with her trademark logo imprint on the welt, a hand sewn backseam and finishing hole at the top of the welt.

The full line of Dita Von Teese Collection of very sensuous stockings are available exclusively from Secrets in Lace.

For more articles on stockings, nylon stockings, silk stockings, thigh high stockings and pantyhose, see our prior stories on Love Me Nylon Stockings, Secrets in Lace -"Keep the Romance Alive" and Stockingirl - Zebra - Rattlesnake Legs - Electrify Fashion Week.

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I was surfing through e-bay with the hopes of finding a good deal when I happened upon this wonderful Speedy 30 in Multicolore. (Click here). Upon close scrutiny of the photographs, it was then that I realized that I was seeing what I have read in the Purse Forum about the Multicolore's tendency to chafe over time. It is kind of disconcerting to know that the much loved 33 colors of Murikami will eventually fade. I guess, it is part and parcel of this line and I believe of the damier as well. Truly, a thing of beauty cannot last forever...

Previously for fear of pain and mess, I've always been satisfied with shaving. Upon seeing the very cool Veet ad for their hair removal cream (with the zig zag thing), I'd also given it a try. Alas, I was sorely disappointed when it only worked half way (ads are SO deceiving).

So I went back to shaving. And I was thrilled when they came out with a combination of two of my favourite razors- Venus and Intuition- clean smooth shave with a built in gel thing for those lazy souls out there like me. Naturally I dashed out to get one of these, Venus Breeze and was SHOCKED at the price tag ($10.99)- especially of the cartridges (23.21). But I persevered, convincing myself that each filler probably lasts longer-wrong! Because of the combination of design, the gel bar is very thin, and though it doesn't wash away as quick as the soap, it lasts for about 2 weeks at most. Ouch! Even if the catridge pack does contain 8 thats still quite pricey. (Note: If you still insist on trying it and you already own a Venus, my advice to you is just buy the refill right off the bat, because the attachment is the same. Although it may not fit onto the case anymore, it'll save you a few bucks!)

That, in addition with the recent summer heat and the short shorts trend, I decided shaving, with all its constant need of attention and unflattering stubbles after a day or so, is simply not good enough anymore. And so, I finally decided to brave the pain and go for waxing. Turns out, when it comes to beauty, I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. While it was messy and slightly painful at first, I soon got over it. Especially with these Veet wax strips, which makes it even easier (just remember to wipe off the excess with their special wipes or oil). The result were exactly as they had advertised it to be- clean and it lasts for ages! My only complain is that I don't always get everything, but I've found that skill and speed comes with practice.
So I've really tried many different methods of hair removal. Next on my list would be an epilator (above: Braun). But it is kind of pricey and I heard that the pain may be worse (I mean, they are literally pulling hair out one by one instead of all in one quick rip). Has anyone tried it? And how do you all out there keep your legs smooth?

Photo Source: veet and amazon

OK, excuse this very random post. I had lots of little random thoughts over the weekend so I thought I would just group them altogether. First off, I went shopping yesterday and found out that shops are now having their 'Final Sales' (usually 50% off,) so people, this is the time to exert a lot of effort into picking out potential bargains! But remember to never to buy something that isn't up to your usual standards just because 'it's so cheap now'.

Secondly, thanks for everyone's comments on my Tiffany's earrings dilema post last Friday. I ended up buying the first one because it really is the one I originally wanted and is the only affordable choice anyways. I haven't worn them yet but I can't wait -they'll be so perfect for my next night out!

Thirdly, as I'm sure you all know by now, JANE magazine will be folding this month and has just issued its final issue ever. For those of you who've been with us for awhile, you'll know that BG and I guest-blog for JANE. So I just wanted to say bye to JANE here.

Lastly (and possibly most importantly,) what did everyone think of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? 21st July has been one day that I've been really looking foward to in the last two years. After making the rare effort to wake up on Saturday and buy the book, I absolutely refused to leave my house until I finished the book. (Thankfully I finished before dinner because I had to eat out.) I love love love the book! Everything came to a full circle and the writing was fantastic as usual. There was the best of the Potter world -friendship, growing up, witty dialogues, magic, fighting, love and the quest for answers. Even though the ending was a happy one, I felt so sad at the end because that was really the end of the whole adventure. Gosh, I'm going to miss Harry, Hermione, Ron and the whole magical world so much. *Sniff* I really must go reread it again...

Photo credit: www.amazon.co.uk, www.tiffany.com