Dessert By Candy

Feeling Grown Up

For some reason, I always associate traveling with a fleet of backpacks as something that belongs to my days as a student. Besides, dragging around more than one backpacks at any time is just clumsy. To feel like that I've truly left those days behind, I've been slowly expanding my luggage collection. I already own a large Delsey suitcase in blue grey for week-long trips and a carry-on size upright Benetton suitcase in lime green. They are both very practical and so easy to spot out in a sea of black. However, with the increased number of weekend trips that I make, I find that I really need a good overnight bag.

For my weekend trips, I usually travel with my skate backpack containing all my skating essentials. However, I also need a seperate bag for all my non-skating belongings such as street clothes, pajamas, shoes, and toileteries. Luckily, I found my perfect bag at Lululemon yesterday. Their Activa gym bag is now on sale at $49 for selected colours so I quickly snapped one up. It is roomy, sturdy, and stylish yet it is still a good size for carry-on luggage. What I love most about this bag is the seperate shoe compartment at the bottom of the bag (a girl can't wear running shoes for every outfit after all). The inside of the bag is lined with easy-to-clean material. I can fit a water bottle on both sides of the bag and I can slip my phone or camera in the hidden front pocket for easy access. Now I can't wait until my next weekend trip so I can start packing!

Stripes

As a teenager, I used to have a lot of clothes with stripes. I love the geometry of the pattern, the constrast of colours, and the imagery associated with stripes fashion (think stereotypical Parisian women with their striped boat-neck shirts and a scarve). Well, that love affair ended abruptly when I looked in the mirror one day and noticed how unflattering (aka fat) I looked in my striped shirt.

It's been years since I last purchased any tops or bottoms with stripes though I found different ways to incorporate this pattern in my wardrobe. My sock drawer, for example, is filled with stripes knee-high socks and arm warmers of many colours. I wandered into American Eagle Outfitter yesterday, a store that I have not visited for a few seasons. I guess it must be the anticipation of summer...when I saw all those shorts and t-shirts, they really brightened up my mood. Sensibility told me that I'm too old to dress in such "spring-break appropriate" attire but I figure I will likely need some casual clothes to play in the warmer weather anyway. So I picked out this striped wide-neck hooded t-shirt and striped shorts just for kicks.

In the fitting room, I was surprised to see that neither of them add any visual poundage. I think the fitted but not sausage-tight shape has much to do with it. In addition, the t-shirt has a longer bodice than normal which goes well with the low-waist shorts. In general, patterns are best used as an accent piece in the entire outfit. So for example, if I wear a striped shirts, it would be best to keep the rest of my outfit in solid colour. However, mixing this striped shirt, shorts, and knee-high socks seem to work in an unexpected way. All I'm missing now is a pair of classic red Converse and I'll be all set for summer!

A New Look

Around this time last year, I had a drastic change of hairstyle by getting a perm. The soft wavy curls were gorgeous and so easy to maintain. The picture on the left was taken three days after that visit to the salon. I was traveling in Sweden under a tight schedule and that wash-and-go hairstyle was absolutely perfect. The curls held for a long time and it was November before I got another perm. However, the results were less than ideal. My hair straightened itself out to a messy wave very quickly and I ended up wearing my hair in a ponytail most of the time.

I talked to my hairstylist friend HL about this and he confirmed what I thought was true. Perms work best on untreated hair. On hair which has already gone through a perm before, it really doesn't work as nice. I am ready for a change anyway so it was good news to my ears. However, just going back to straight hair seems a little boring to me. After all, I had a similar long straight layered look for about a decade (seriously). Recently my guilty pleasure is watching Pussy Cat Dolls Present The Search For The Next Doll and I love the hairstyle of my favourite contestant, Chelsea. The heavy thick bangs are quite fashionable right now so I want to jump on the bandwagon too! As you can see in the "after" shot above, the bangs is a nice counterbalance for my face (which is a little long proportionally). The cut is not the complete transformation though. I still have some light brown colour on the ends of my hair. For this new hairstyle to truly rock, I will have all my hair dye to jet black with lots of shine. It will be so awesome.

As usual, I got some great beauty tips from HL. This time, he taught me what to look for in a straightening iron.

• ceramic heating surface
• 1" in width is the most versatile. Any wider and it becomes unwieldy.
• adjustable temperature setting. For asian hair, you need to look for an iron with at least 200F setting because the texture of the hair needs a higher temperature to set. Cauasian hair are generally okay with a lower temperature setting.
• stiffness of the iron is important. When you squeeze the two plates together, the iron should give a little so that the two heating surfaces completely touches each other without creating any angles. Otherwise you will end up with "fold marks" on your length of hair.

A Splurge

It's been years since I first walked into the Fluevog store on Queen Street West. As much as I love their shoes, the price tag was something which stopped me from actually owning any. Yesterday I bought my first pair from this maker at last.

When I saw the Body Parts Pump on their website a few days ago, it was love at first sight. The anti-AIDS message etched onto the sole of the shoe left a strong impression: Your Body Parts Are Not Communal Property. However, it was really the sexiness of these shoes that I could not forget. I absolutely adore the gold detailing contrasting with the shiny black patent leather. I have always had a weak spot for maryjanes. The low cut of these shoes also shows a bit of toe cleavage. I have been in search of a pair of sky-high heels (nothing less than 4" would do) that I could walk in and I think my search is now over. With a concealed platform and padded insole, I can dance all night in these shoes!

The sensible thing to do is to wait for an occasion to wear them. However, I really don't think sensibility can possibly be related to such a gorgeous pair of heels in any shape or form. I will wear them, just because.

Me And My Monkeys

I am not a fan of Boxing Day shopping but after a couple of days hiding in my house, I decided to venture out for grocery. Well, my usual haunt is actually located inside a mall so what did I do? I went for a bit of shopping. It was already late so there were barely any shoppers. I didn't find much deals either. Little did I know I would come back home with the most ridiculous purchase in a long time.

When I saw them in the store, I just couldn't help myself but to try them on. Ooh, they look so adorable and I look so cute in them (haahaa)! Alas, they weren't even on sale....what to do, what to do? Frankly, they are really too expensive for what they are...but, but, BUT...I like them soooo much! I finally gave in after 15 minutes of struggle.

Behold, my matching monkey hat and mitts.

You can't see it too well in the picture but the hat actually has monkey ears sticking out on both sides for that extra wind resistance. With the two little monkeys on my mitts, I am my own walking puppet show. AL challenged me to wear them on my next snowboarding outing and ride down the hill making monkey noises. I think I may just have to rise to that challenge!

Hat and mitts are designed by local Toronto company deLux.

An Amusing Night Out

I went to my company's holiday party last night and had quite an amusing time. After a week of frantic holiday baking (Woohoo! All done!), I was on a tight schedule to get ready for the party. I first had my hair styled straight, went for a makeup session at Christian Dior, got dressed, and then rushed to the venue with only a few minutes to spare. I was quite happy with my outfit, particularly the accessories. It doesn't leave me self-conscious or fidget with uncomfort which turned out to be rather important because it was a long night out.

A year later, still stylish, still goofy. Picture courtesy of Danny Ng.

Not long after the dancing began, a bunch of us left the party to go to Circa. I had the following, hmm, interesting conversation with a girl in my group.

[thumping dancing music]

Girl: So, what colour do you prefer?

Candy: Huh? Dark...I guess?

Girl: No, white/yellow/brown/black?

Candy: Huh? You totally lost me...

Girl: You know, for guys? What colour do you prefer?

Candy: Oooooooh, that's what you meant....

There is a time and place to explain my current stance about dating guys but a loud dance club where I can barely make out what the other person's saying is definitely not it. So for the remainder of the night, DN joked to see if I could get picked up by any girls. Haahaa. Somehow, I don't think Circa is the place for that either.

Sometimes, I do appreciate being girl. When we were in the line-up to get into the club, the guy in front of me asked if I want to be his date because he had a no-cover pass for two. When we got to the entrance, the bouncers just waved me past the line where they pat you down. Yes, there's definitely some perks about being a girl.

Me and the guys at Circa. Gotta love 4 inches heels. Picture courtesy of Danny Ng.

Photoshoot

Thanks to my friend Francis Roque, I have some very nice pictures showing off my new dress! The days leading up to the photoshoot was crazy hectic for me. My schedule was packed full with social activites, training, errands, and of course housecleaning. We agreed on having the pictures taken at my house so not only I had to get dolled up, I had to make sure my house was more or less presentable too! Haahaa. I woke up with a set of super under-eye dark circles on Saturday which luckily went away by Sunday. However, my bruises from skating did not coorperate and they were quite prominent all over my knees. Thank heavens for digital touch-ups!

Last Sunday, Francis worked very patiently with me during the photoshoot. I must admit, I have always been very uncomfortable in front of cameras. The undiverted attention really makes me tensed so I was not exactly easy to work with. I have lots to learn in that regard. Thankfully, under such difficult circumstances, Francis still managed to get some shots of me which I am very very pleased with. Here is a selection of pictures from that photoshoot.

Ooooh, I feel so pretty!!! Thank you Francis!

Party Dress Shopping

I went to Bayview Village today to look at pretty clothes. Obviously I can't speak for all women but I do find that checking out the latest fashion to be a very enjoyable activity. So there I was, walking from shop to shop, admiring the different silouettes, fabric, rich colour, etc. Typically at this time of the year, I would be shopping for a holiday party semi-formal outfit . But of course, shopping with such a specific purpose usually ends up being a frustratingly unfruitful experience.

When I walked into the boutique Honey, my eyes were immediately drawn to a cranberry red Nicole Miller satin cocktail dress (here is a picture of the dress in leopard print). With its plunging neckline and fitted bodice, it's not the kind of dress I would choose. However, out of pure curiosity, I tried it on. Although I initially felt like a sausage walking out of the dressing room (the dress is very fitted), one look in the mirror changed my opinion. It looked absolutely stunning. The stretch satin hugs the body while the ruching hides many sins. This dress is very slimming. For such a classic silouette, this is the kind of "investment piece" which can be worn for years to come, as long as I don't pack on the pounds. I think this ranks as the easiest party dress shopping experience ever.

I don't usually pay much attention to the sales representatives when I try on clothes. I always suspect that they would heap compliments on you just to make a sale. However, I had to chuckle today when the girl told me "Your butt looks amazing in this dress. How do you get a butt like that?". I suppose training for speed skating six days a week since January do have some side benefits after all! So girls, here goes my advice of the day: Try speedskating for an amazing butt. You will not regret it.

Welcome To My Little Tea Shop Of Horror

Since I found out about the top prize for the office costume contest, I've been very keen to win this contest. Truth be told, although I had a pretty good idea that I would reuse my Magenta outfit from Rocky Horror Picture Show and slap on my zombie make-up, it just seemed a little weak. So when friends asked me what strategy I have for winning, I acted all secretive and kept my plans to myself. Luckily, a flash of brilliance came to me yesterday and it brought everything together. My Halloween 2007 theme would be "Little Tea Shop Of Horror".

Last night, I quickly whipped up a batch of vanilla cupcake with matcha white chocolate cream cheese frosting. I recycled the idea of marzipan fingers from my Zombie Cake and made a few dismembered fingers. I also picked up some theatrical blood and a styrofoam skull from the supermarket next door and I was all set. My persona would be a waitress from a tea shop with bruises and cuts all over, carrying a serving tray of teacup, cupcake, fingers, and skull splattered with blood. Obviously, the dismembered fingers were remnents of a customer who didn't tip me well. Indignant from this slight, I killed this customer but not without a few battle scars of my own. I think it was absolutely fabulous.

I adore the make-up I did for the bruises and cuts. In fact, they looked so real that they freaked out quite a few of my friends and asked if I was okay! The disturbed/concerned looks on their faces were testaments to how horrible those wounds appeared. Time to give myself a pat on the back.

Unfortunately, I did not win the costume contest much to my disappointment. I lost out to Elton John! Not to sound too much like a sore loser (which I am), I think any costumes involving writing out your character's name on your outfit is a bit...well, you know, overly self-explanatory? Heh. But anyway, as it turned out, the prizes were an iPod Nano Video and an iPod Shuffle, neither of which I could use for my birthday present. So I guess "no loss, no gain" is the phrase of the day.

(I knew I should have brought the rest of those cupcakes to bribe the judges.)

Girlifying My Phone

Sometimes, I can't believe how gullible I am when it comes to shopping. I saw these Hello Kitty screen protector in Market Village and bought it against my better judgement. Despite its sleek black exterior, my phone is now a little more girly in a stealthy sort of way. This screen protector is reflective when the screen is not lit or if you're viewing from an angle so people can't see what I'm texting or browsing! However, if the backlit is on, it turns transparent and I have no problem viewing my screen. This is almost like magic!

I feel a little less grown up now everytime I look at my phone...perhaps I should have a matching wallpaper too just to rub it in. I think my sensibility is slowly spiralling out of control.

Halloween Costume Incentive

My dad gave me a very thoughtful birthday present this year but unfortunately, it is only compatible with the iPod Nano G2. I'm not big on following the latest and greatest electronic gadgets so the only iPod I own is an ancient iPod Mini. Now, with the release of the new iPod Nano with video capability, it doesn't make much sense for me to purchase an old model either. My gift has been sitting around on the shelf since I received it.

Not so fast! I received some exciting news last week that may change the fate of my gift. My office is hosting a Halloween party. Rumour has it that the top prizes for the best costume and best carved pumpkin will be an iPod. Normally I'm really not keen on these kind of social events but with this new incentive, I have my eye set on the prizes. I think between the myriad costume choices I have in my wardrobe and my newly purchased stage makeup, I stand a pretty good chance for contending that top prize. Keep your eyes out for pictures next week!

Another Pink Thingy

Although sensibility ruled when I got my sleek black phone, I have since added another electronic gadget to my pink family. This time it is a cute little Nintendo DS Lite! Granted, it's not exactly the latest nor the greatest toy. However, I always like this console and I enjoy the kiddy-ish games that Nintendo has for its target market. I can't wait to go and get some new games!

Since competition season is now over (well, and that pink elephant named Break Up), I suddenly have lots of free time on weekends. After I picked up some supplies at Malabar early morning, I took my time to do some shopping in the Queen West neighbourhood. As much as I like some of the new sillouettes of this season, I have to pick and choose my trend of choice carefully. For example, I simply adore the high-waisted pencil skirts. Unfortunately, they just don't work for me and my short waist...too bad.

The 3/4 length sleeves of winter coats are also quite lovely but since I already bought a really cute autumn coat from London, I'm not tempted by the offerings. What really caught my eye though was a very classic duffle wool coat from Aritzia. The cut is flattering with the waist subtly taken in for a slimmer look. The inside of the coat is a complementary plaid pattern which you can see in the hood. However, at $295, I would have like something made with 100% wool and fully lined. I'm still quite undecided. It's not like I really need a new coat after all. Heh.

On a less frivolous side, I bought a pair of Sugoi SubZero arm warmers for skating. I'm a fan of the apparel from Sugoi because they are practical, flattering, and made in Canada. I've been on the lookout for a new pair of arm warmers because my old pair of Louis Garneau simply wouldn't stay put. The SubZero material is quite heavy duty so it should be good for cold weather workouts. I can't wait to use them!

(I do have a lot more whining to do but I figure it's about time I turn my attention to something a bit more lighthearted. If pink and fashion are not lighthearted enough, what is? Right?)

Ooo, It's A Lot Of Work

True to my words of "smile and look pretty", I spent a bit of effort to get dolled up for the company Christmas party last Friday. I've been known to get ready from bed to door using only 10 minutes including shower. However, getting ready for a party took considerably more time than I expected. Here's a timeline of my hectic beauty schedule:

15:00 shower, put on contact lens, blow dry hair at home

15:45 get my nails done at salon next door. This is only the second time ever that I wear nail polish because my hands are in miserable shape from the holiday baking.

16:30 get my make up done by Christian Dior make up artists. Woohoo for free promotional events! Love love love the funky look...must be the strong purple in the eye and the blue tint in the lips.

17:15 put on dress, necklaces, stockings, and shoes. Pack my evening purse and don't forget the perfume.

18:00 all done! Out the door!

So you see, that is a lot of work but I'm shallow so I was feeling flirty because I thought I looked pretty [shrug]. It was fun to play the role of a flirt though. Left to my own devices, I have a tendency to be quiet and reserved at parties. However, since I was determined to play the part well, I worked hard at flexing those social muscles. I remembered a good flirt once told me that flirting means making the people around you feel good about themselves and it should be indiscriminate. Wise words indeed...

It was a lot of fun to step out of my every day persona for a change.

That's me with DN just before I left for another party with a few friends. I wanted a goofy picture so I said let's do the sunshine....DN was a good sport and reluctantly agreed. The picture came out goofy as expected but I really liked it because I looked so happy and he looked so embarrassed.

Edited 12/13/2006: A few people have asked me where I got the dress. It was made by Helen Wang and I bought it a couple of months ago at Mendocino, a local boutique in Toronto. Wang's fall/winter 2006 collection has a number of similar empire waist pleated chiffon dresses which are very flattering to most body types.

Necklaces For Party Dress

I purchased a gorgeous dove grey chiffon party dress a couple of months ago. Holiday party season is already here so I was quite excited to have a chance to wear this dress. The neck line of this dress is quite wide so I think it really needs some sort of necklace to complete the outfit. I've been eyeing the black bead necklaces that are ubiquitous in stores this season for some time but I honestly think most of them are over-priced.

I went to Clarie's today in hopes of finding something cheap but still look good. Fortunately, I did not come back empty-handed. I first looked for a single strand necklace but it just seems too plain. Besides, an all black necklace seems a bit severe. In the end, I went for mixing three different necklaces to be worn together. The shortest one is 14" with three different strands of transparent grey beads. I think this colour ties the necklaces back to the colour of the dress quite well. The second necklace is 16" with five skinny strands of tiny black beads. The size of the beads add more visual contrast and acts as a background to bring out the other two necklaces. The longest one is 18" with black beads of various sizes. The beads are not as shiny as I would like. The total of the three necklaces comes to just under $30CND which is really a bargain.

I like flamboyant costume jewelry that acts as a focal point of an outfit. It adds instant glamour without too much trouble. I think this set of necklaces would go well under a crisp white shirt too.

Shopping Weekend

It was a crazy weekend of shopping. I went to Club Monaco and got myself an outfit that is oh-so au courant. I bought a pair of black stovepipe jeans, an off-shoulder cashmere grey Ameline Sweater (on sale for $99, cashmere!!), a pair of black leggings, and a Killa bag (as seen in picture). That bag is a beauty, not to mention very roomy.

On Sunday afternoon, I went shopping with RS at the One Of A Kind Craft Show. Here are a few of my personal favourite fashion finds.

• Jewelry from Calgary designer Kari Woo: her earring designs are unlike anything I saw before. It's minimalistically elegant.
• Knitted hats from Vancouver designer lajla: the wooly hat in the picture above was super cute, inspired by the houses in the town Trullo. I call it my Teletubbies hat because of the little pompom. The hat is made with 90% alpaca wool.
• Karen Wilson Handbags: very feminine style but whimsical at the same time. They are a little out of my price-range but it's still wonderful to window shop.

Shopping with RS of course means we lingered over the food section much longer than anywhere else at the show. This year we saw some new artisans and there were some excellent stuff available.

• chocolate from Alain Vaidie: this chocolatier only makes chocolate a couple of months per year and is available at craft shows only. The flavour is complex and intense. So far I've tried his Tea Caramel and Fig Chocolate. The caramel is infused with Earl Grey tea and coated with powder green tea. The Earl Grey flavour came through loud and clear. The Fig Chocolate is a combination not commonly seen but it works. The graininess of the fig does not distract from the chocolate flavour but instead brings out the fruitiness of the chocolate. Highly recommended.
• Nut Truffles from Confiserie Tessier Dit Lavigne: If you like marzipan, this non-chocolate truffle is for you. Think a nuttier and less sweet version of marzipan with 80% nuts. The depth of flavour is good because it is made with a mixture of walnuts and pecans.
• Hutzelbrot from The Big Dipper: this is a German Christmas fruit cake made with lots of dried fruit, not candied fruit. RS and I each bought a loaf and I plan to serve it with a cheese course in one of my upcoming holiday parties.

Little India On Gerard

In honour of my trip to India a year go, I went to the Little India in Toronto for some shopping and eating. The neighbourhood on Gerard St (between Greenwood and Coxwell) is lined with Indian/Pakistani specialty stores. All these years living in Toronto, I've actually never set foot in that area before. It's tough to get a present for someone who seems to have everything. A little while ago, LL saw my beaded purse from India and asked me to get some for her next time I'm in India. In lieu of flying over to India, I thought I would probably find something good in Little India. That's how I ended up poking into every fashion and accessory store in the neighbourhood to my heart's content.

After shopping at about fifteen stores, I finally learned a few things. First, stores that specialize in sarees usually don't have purses. Secondly, stores that specialize in costume jewelry don't have purses either. Thirdly, storeowners love incense of every kind. Last but not least, I was shopping for an out-of-season item. Apparently, silk/satin beaded purses are spring/summer accessories. Now that we're getting ready for winter, it's no wonder that most stores don't have any selection [smacks forehead]. Lucky for me, there were some slim pickings at a handful of stores and I found a couple of purses that are simply gorgeous.

Notice that both purses are relatively plain compare to my burgundy one. However, what I like most about them was the colour. The shimmering blueish gunmetal is an unusual colour to be found in Indian fashion as the typical colour palate is more vibrant. However, the beaded net and the elongated shape make for an elegant style. The moss green purse is more structured with more intricate beading. The colour is also lovely and I can imagine this going well with a chocolate brown evening gown. I'm quite happy with these purchases and let me tell you, they are both bargains for evening purses. Next time I want to shop for an evening purse, I'll know where to go.

Dolled Up

I received an invitation from AL to attend a charity ball held last Sunday at the Liberty Grand. It's been a couple of years since I last purchased a party outfit so I started to get a little bored of my old standbys. On Friday, I decided to try my luck with finding "the right dress" at Bayview Village after work. Anyone with a similar shopping mission two days before the big day can probably tell you that the chance of returning home empty-handed is highly likely. I dared not bring my hopes up.

The boutiques at Bayview Village target more wealthy clientale so I guess it makes sense that I had hundreds of different party dresses to choose from. At this time of the year, it is too early for Christmas and too late for prom. Therefore, in a typical neighbourhood mall, I would be hard-pressed to find even a decent selection of party dresses. Perhaps there's a charity ball season that I'm not aware of?

In any case, having choices is good. I went into Mendocino with a Betsey Johnson pouffy dress in mind. However, on this visit, the same dress that looked so cute on the mannequin a couple of weeks ago just screamed 80's prom to me. I had my eye on a very low-key dove grey chiffon dress by Helen Wang instead. The empire waist is made with a wide band of silvery grey satin showcasing elegantly the V-neckline. The pleated chiffon swayed languidly with every step that I took. I loved the cut of this dress so much because it was so slimming. However, the main reason that convinced me to make the purchase was more practical: this dress managed to cover up all my scars from inline skating without looking dowdy or like a sack! What more can I ask for?

On the day of the party, I wore this dress with heels that were way too tall to be manageable. It was the first time since I bought those shoes from Paris that I have an occasion to wear them. They look devastatingly beautiful. I felt a little self conscious about the sleeveless dress so I layered my black lace shrug over the dress. The black satin ribbon on the shrug was knotted into a bow to echo the satin bows on the shoes.

After a whole summer of lycra, spandex, CoolMax, and mesh, I enjoy getting dolled up for a party and reaffirm that I am capable of looking pretty.

Window Shopping For Fall Fashion

I dropped by Bayview Village after work today to pick up a baby gift for AL's newborn nephew. It's that time of the year again when all the stores are stuffed with new fall fashion and all the reduced price summer merchandises are hidden out of sight. All the hot seasonal items are prominently displayed and it's a joy to shop. Some trendy items this season include leggings, tunics, the whole dress over skinny pants silhouette, and my personal favourite, leg warmers. I'm glad to see that some of my wardrobe staples are finally "in style".

However, what really caught my attention today was all the pretty evening dresses, styled to be worn in unexpected layers. I saw a gorgeous Betsey Johnson gown that looked sweet on its own but was modern when paired with capri-length legging and a cap-sleeved lace top worn under the dress. There are many jersey knit dresses that drape so elegantly. I think they would look very flattering too.

I also spotted some cute cable-knit capri-length legging that would look great with a baggy top cinched with a nice belt. Or better yet, I would probably wear it with one of my many plaid pleated mini skirts.

It was rather tempting to see all these pretty clothes yet as soon as I think of my brand new skates, I turn frugal and remind myself that I should spend my money wisely. After all, the enjoyment that I derive from my sporting activities far outweights a beautiful dress.

On a food-related bit of news, Sen5es no longer has a shop in Bayview Village. That's a real pity because now I have to travel much further south to get my hands on their delicious pastry.

Upcoming Event: The Clothing Show

Thanks to the heads-up from the lovely people at Ooglie, I found out that The Clothing Show is coming up this weekend at the Automotive Building in Exhibition Place. It features lots of local designers under one roof. Normally, you would have to trek all over the city to find their merchandises in boutiques so this is a great opportunity to check out some unique fashion finds.

I already have my eyes on a few designers who specialize in cyber goth/urban designs. From my fashion shopping experience at the previous One Of A Kind Craft Show, I learn that fitting room facilities vary greatly from booth to booth. To maximize on convenience, I recommend wearing a camisole and possibly thin capri leggings as base layers so that one can change in and out of outfits easily. Looking forward to see you at the show!

The Clothing Show

Automotive Building, Exhibition Place, Toronto

Saturday May 6, 2006 11:00 - 20:00

Sunday May 7, 2006 11:00 - 18:00

Admission $8.00

http://www.theclothingshow.com

Technorati: The Clothing Show, Toronto

End Of A Journey

Ever since high school, there are certain fashion themes that just never left my wardrobe. Plaids, pleated mini skirts, and knee-high socks come to mind easily. However, there are more subtle themes as well. For example, I'm a sucker for what I call "interactive clothing". If it has buckles, zippers, lace-ups, sashes, ribbons, button snaps, or any of those bells and whistles in unusual places, chances are it's one of my favourite pieces. After a day of shopping today, I finally realize what these themes accumulate to.

I was out searching for clothes by PlastikWrap on the Queen West area. My first stop was Hells Belles which I know carry a good selection, particularly the "Restrain" hot pants and "Anime" leg warmers that I had my eyes on. However, typical of the way that things turn out, I don't exactly look hot in them...On the bright side, I was happy to discover this wonderful store because now I don't have to worry about where to find more plaid pleated mini skirts! Not to be deterred by this minor disappointment, I did find lots of stuff to love in this store. There are lots of plaids, some great-looking platform boots, and funky handbags. Best of all, Hells Belles is a very approachable store that's comfortable to shop in whether or not you're keen on the goth style of dressing. I particularly like the clothes from Lip Service. I bought this gorgeous "Secretary" pencil skirt in black watch. It has lace-up back, two-way zippers that runs the full length of the skirt down the front, and buckles on the side of the waist. I know it would look great with my black knee-high stiletto boots.

I continued to go west on Queen St until I reached Posepod. I wanted to look for a top to go with this new skirt so the very helpful owner gave me lots of suggestions. Compared to Hells Belles, the decor in Posepod looked a little bare but the merchandise here more than make up for it. Posepod is the only distributer of Cyberdog in Toronto. I was totally mesmerized by their glow in the dark clothing! The clothes in Posepod definitely make a statement and there are also a decent selection in vinyl and velvet. You can also find Lip Service clothing here and I ended up getting the "Secretary Shirt" to go with the skirt.

At this point, it finally dawned to me. Perhaps I'm a late bloomer but there must be a bit of alternative lifestyle in me.

Technorati: Toronto

London Sole No More

If you're a fan of the London Sole ballerina flats, make your way to Yorkville's Celebration Shoes now. Celebration Shoes is the exclusive retailer for these lovely shoes in Toronto but they will no longer carry them. All the London Sole merchandises are now on sale at 50% off with limited styles and sizes available. I was there yesterday and there were still some beautiful styles to choose from. What's really neat about these shoes is that there's no left or right...you break them in to mold to your feet!

Speaking of shoe shopping, Corbó Studio has a few great looking cowboy boots in cream or beige colour that would look fabulous with any spring wardrobe. I'm already thinking of pairing those boots with a floaty skirt...I have my eyes on a pair that cost $295 but I still can't quite decide yet. Let me see how long I can wait.

Technorati: Toronto

Great Finds At One Of A Kind Craft Show

Despite being physically fit from my months of diligent exercising, I was exhausted after my first dragonboat practice of the season with the crew from DaBoat. To enjoy a rather relaxing afternoon, I went shopping at the spring One Of A Kind craft show at National Trade Centre. There are a number of returning exhibitors (such as Henderson Farms and their delicious pear jam) that I like from previous shows I attended so I know that I will not likely to come back emptyhanded.

This year, I'm particularly interested in the fashion and accessories designers at the show and I was not disappointed. First off, I love the mini sweaters from marie & margaret that are pieced together from vintage sweaters with a big satin ribbon bow. Each sweater is unique and the colour/pattern combination is lovely. I bought a pink one with cream colour trim and pink ribbon. It looks great when layered over tunics/dress and jeans.

Another great find is t-shirts from Ooglie. I don't like to have corporate logos brazenly displayed on my clothes nor do I like cheeky messages. You know what I'm talking about...all those "I'm too hot for you" t-shirts you see in the mall and logo Ts from FCUK come easily to mind. I rarely buy t-shirts because there's only so many plain t-shirts I need. However, I was totally smittened by Ooglie's printed t-shirts. Their prints are cute and a little funny. I got both the Robotics and Spaced Out. They use shirts made by American Apparel Co. which do not support sweatshop production.

The clothes from Plastik Wrap absolutely appeal to the funky side of my fashion sensibility. It is exactly the way I would dress everyday if I don't have to worry about dressing appropriately. Their use of garter belts, elbow-length fingerless sleeves, mini skirts with built-in pouch that straps around the thigh are absolutely beautiful. Sadly, I didn't buy anything from them at the show. I should have. I REALLY should have. Argh.

A funny thing happened at the show. I was wearing black knee-length tiered lace skirt, brown satin lace-trimmed camisole, black wrap sweater, pink pashmina scarf, brown knee-high flat boots, and black fishnet fingerless elbow-length sleeve on my left arm. Honestly, the fishnet sleeve hasn't exactly been well-received by my friends...but I was asked a few times at the booths where I got it from!!! It feels good to know that someone else also identifies with what I think is a fun and whimsical accessory.

Technorati: Ooglie, Precocious, Plastik Wrap, One Of A Kind

Mamechiyo At Magic Pony

On this sunny Saturday afternoon, I once again found myself wandering aimlessly in Queen West West. Luckily, this time around, most of the stores were still open and I got to visit a few that I missed last time.

There's this store called Magic Pony that is very fabulous in a way that is quite hard to describe. It sells a few T-shirts, some interesting books, and a lot of plastic figures. The merchandises are a mixture of Japanese chic and Western cool (see, I don't think what I wrote make any sense) that I simply wanted to spend lots of time in the store admiring each and every single thing.

At the back of the store, they have a gallery space and the current feature is Mamechiyo: The Art Of Modern Kimono. Mamechiyo (豆千代) is a contemporary kimono designer who brings in very modern aesthetics to this very traditional Japanese garment. This exhibit contains pictures of kimono that she designed and styled, a few kimonos on mannequins, and some decorative zoris. My favourite collection is the Lolita Gothics collection (you can see a few pictures from this collection in the second and third pictures on the left and the invitation of the show). It combines the popular Lolita Gothic-style of dressing of cos play zoku with kimono in a really beautiful way.

This exhibition only runs until April 2, 2006. Highly recommended.

Magic Pony

694 Queen Street West, Toronto

(416) 861-1684

Technorati: mamechiyo, kimono

Fun Accessories!

I bought a bunch of fashion accessories today from Clic Klak in Kensington Market and Te Koop on Queen Street West. I love the merchandise at Clic Klak because it's fun and very Japanese-street-savvy (admittedly a few years behind). The quality is far from great but honestly, these are not exactly wardrobe investment pieces anyway. Let's take a look at my purchases:

Slouchy legwarmer

I have a long love affair with funky legwear. Although my coworkers make fun of my legwarmers, I still can't resist the silly charm of this outrageously pink pair with pompoms. I was going to take a picture of them on a flat surface but I didn't think it would do them justice. Since I only have my skates and my evening shoes in my room, I just pulled them over my skates for a picure. The result can best described as "fatal attraction to cuteness", as Gwen Stefani sings in her song Harajuku Girls. I think it would be absolutely hilarious to go to my next skating class wearing these babies.

Argyle Wristband

Clic Klak has a whole wall covered with different selection of wristbands. If you like this accessory, it's difficult not to find one that you like at the store. For the bargain price of $2.99, it's definitely a cheap thrill for you shopaholics out there. Many of the wristbands have words embroidered on them but since I'm not a big fan of encapsulating my personality in one word and wear it on my sleeve literally, I opted for the preppy argyle pattern in girly pink.

Fishnet Fingerless Gloves

Hmm, this wins the title of my most head-scratching purchase today. I don't know what possessed me to find them so adorable (yes, I honestly think the gloves are adorable). There's such an 80s Madonna vibe. Once I opened the package at home, I found one elbow-length glove and one wrist-length glove. I don't think this is intentional but the asymmetric look makes them funkier. I'll have to figure out how to work them into an outfit. Try to be nice and not to laugh next time you see me in these gloves, okay? Oh, they come in a rainbow array of colours.

Mini Pouch by Hanpu Koubou

I fell in love with the bags by Hanpu Koubou when I was in Japan last year. For reasons that I can no longer remember, I did not buy one. When I spotted this cool mini pouch at Te Koop, of course I had to buy it ("if I still remember a merchandise after a year, chances that good that I really really really like it"). Notice the D-ring on the stop of the bag. It lets you hook the pouch on a belt loop just like rock-climbers do with their chalk bag. Combining with the low profile of this bag, I think it's perfect when I want to travel light. That pink package on the left is a sakara bath soak that I got from J-Town.

Technorati: legwarmer, Hanpu Koubou

New Glasses

Impulse shopping striked again today. I've been getting tired of my pair of glasses for quite some time. Due to mostly laziness, I put off getting a new pair for years. If my memory is correct, I purchased this pair way back in 2001. I'm definitely long overdue for a change.

In preparation for some serious frame-shopping, I put on my contact lens today and headed out to the stores. As luck would have it, the first store that I visited does not open on Sundays. No matter, I went over to Times Square in Richmond Hill since there are at least three stores to visit. I personally do not like Fuji Optical so I made a beeline to Ola Optical instead. I've always enjoy browsing their window display and figured they probably carry some more fashionable frames. My pet peeve is that some stores simply do not cater to the young crowd. It's most frustrating to walk into the store only to find very very conservative frames available. Luckily, Ola Optical carries stocks that lean towards funky. After trying on about fifteen to twenty different frames, I found one that I really like and it's vastly different from what I've been wearing all these years. I'm looking forward to get my eyes-examination done so that I can have my new glasses as soon as possible.

I think with my new glasses, it would be like a mini makeover!

Clothes That Motivate

When I go shopping, there's a category of clothes that I label as motivational. Of course you know what I'm talking about. It's the kind of clothes that you take one look and can just picture in your mind how gorgeous it would look on a toned body. Next you take a glance in the full-length mirror and let out a sigh. To me, such clothes include anything that reveals the navel or anything that highlights the arms.

I tried on a blouse (and I use that term loosely) today that made me want to hit the gym and do situps like there's no tomorrow. Typically, I do not like the clothes at Guess or their expensive label Marciano because they are too body-conscious and just screams clubbing to me. However, I always have a soft spot for butterfly sleeves so this blouse from Marciano really caught my eye. At $178CAD, I wasn't tempted to own this motivation in my closet. I tried it on and surprisingly, it didn't look so bad on me. Only problem is, I wouldn't be able to sit and still maintain any dignity...well, here's to situps and 6-packs!

My Favourite T-Shirt

Long-sleeved T-Shirt is a wardrobe essential but of course, the "perfect" shirt is elusive to find because material, colour, and cut all play an equally important role. I used to like the Long-Sleeved Favourite T from Gap for it's cut but recently, I felt that it is not feminine enough so it's been relegated to workout wear.

Last year, I bought three v-neck long-sleeved T-shirts from Club Monaco. The cut is very flattering...for the first hour. The cotton that it uses is heavy-weight and it loses its shape quickly. What started out as a curve-hugging silhouette in the morning would quickly turned into a rumpled bunch of fabric by lunchtime.

When I was in Paris, I went into Petit Bateau on a whim because I seem to remember that fashion magazines have long raved about their T-shirts. I bought a v-neck in dark brown and a scooped neck in black. I didn't think much of the purchase at the time but now that I'm home, I finally realize just how much I like these two shirts. The cut is feminine and flattering, the material is just the right weight (not too think nor too thin), and the fabric is soft yet it holds its shape even after long hours of wear.

I think I have finally found my perfect long-sleeved T-shirt...except that we don't have any Petit Bateau boutiques in Canada! Life is not perfect, after all.

Playing Dress Up

One of the things that I like to do in my spare time is putting together new outfits from exisitng pieces in my wardrobe. With my newly acquired accessories from India, I had a bit of fun today playing dress up. It was all good until I suddenly realized that if I'm invited to a costume party out of the blue, I can easily put together more than one appropriate outfits althought I've never purchased anything in the past that was used solely for the purpose of a costume (not counting the Halloween get-ups in my childhood years). What does that say about my taste in fashion?! Hmmm...

Here are a few "costumes" that I discovered from my closet today:

1. Catholic school girl: Okay, this is an easy one with my love of pleated plaid mini skirts, knee-high socks, and mary-janes. Just throw on a white shirt and I'm ready. Need I say that I actually never attended Catholic school?
2. Flamingo Dancer: I have a 3-tier black lace skirt from Club Monaco that I've only worn once. For whatever reason, it looked great when I bought it but I couldn't quite work it into any outfits that I like. I worn it today with a black silk camisole, a fringed black organza shawl, and black mary-janes. Lo and behold, I looked like a flamingo dancer. All that was missing was a side chignon adorned with a huge red flower.
3. Gypsy: This is not such a stretch given the bohemian style that has been all the rage for the past couple of years. I worn an ankle-length cream coloured tier skirt, a drawstring black peasant blouse, a fringed black shawl, silver bangles from India, purple beaded choker, and gold chandelier earrings. Good props would be a set of tarot cards and a crystal ball.

I sure hope this is not a wake-up call to seriously re-evaluate my taste in clothes.

Lingerie Shopping Can be Fun

One thing that I absolutely enjoyed in Paris was lingerie shopping. During my last trip in 2004, I saw a set of red and black plaid by La Perla. It was exactly the kind of things I love but for whatever reason, I didn't buy it and I've been regretting since.

During my first day of shopping in this trip, I spotted this really pretty set by Chantal Thomass at Le Bon Marche but I didn't have a chance to try them on with only a few minutes until store closing. The design was unlike anything I've seen before...it was so feminine and so pretty in a non-fussy kind of way even through it was adorned with bows. During my very last night in Paris, I went into the Orcanta boutique and finally gave it a try. It was gorgeous as expected. I bought it without hesitation along with another pretty set in pink & brown (my latest favourite colour combination) by Passionata's Managua collection. Compared to shopping for lingerie back home, it was such a joy to shop there. Everything is so pretty and of course, the service was personal and impeccable.

One thing that's worth mentioning is Orcanta's loyalty program. It is free to enroll and you get a 5 euro coupon upon first purchase. For every 2 euro you spend at the store, you recieve 1 point. Once you've accumulated 100 points, you get a 10 euro coupon. This boutique carries many great brands and It's definitely a better deal than shopping at the individual brand's boutique. I now have 15 euro's worth of coupon....if only I'm going to be back in Paris in the next 3 months!

Sunday Shopping

I suppose I really luck out. I originally didn't expect to do much except for visiting Champs Elysees on Sunday but since it is only weeks before Christmas, many stores have extended their opening hours to include Sunday shopping.

My route today look me to the Palais-Royale/Lourve area, down to Les Halles, and eventually to Place de la Madeleine. Walking along rue St Honore towards Les Halles, it was interesting to see the change in neighbourhood--how the boutiques gave way to butchers, bakeries, and epiceries. The more I walked towards the 1st arrondisement, the less glamourous the surrounding appears. On my way there, I spotted the bakery of Phillip Gosselin. I recalled reading some high praises for his baguette ancienne so I had to try it out myself. The crust was not as crispy as the one I sampled at Poujouran yesterday but it had a very open crumb in creamy colour. The flavour was great.

Before I knew it, I was smack in the middle of Les Halles with my favourte kitchen supplies stores steps away. Unfortunately, none of these stores are open so I will have to come back next day to do my purchases.

I spent quite a bit of time in Les Halles and Montorgueil in my last trip and really enjoyed the boutique shopping here. As much as I like the department stores, there is something fun and a sense of discovery when shopping in small boutiques. A good number of these boutiques were open today due to the Christmas schedule so I had a great time looking at all the pretty things on offer. For midday snack, I had a baba au rhum from the very famous pastry shop Stohrer. Legend has it that this is the birthplace of baba au rhum so of course it is not to be missed. I recall not really enjoying it when I tried it two years ago, thinking it was too boozy for my taste. However, I think my taste has changed since. I ate my baba in front of the St Eustache church and enjoyed every single boozy bite. Perhaps eating it at a cold temperature made it better?

Dusk comes early at this time of the year in Paris and it was very dark when I walked along rue St Honore back torwards Place de la Madeleine. In the opposition direction, stores became more chic and more exclusive until eventually I found myself surrounded by designer boutiques. There was a costumn jewelry store Satelite that really caught my attention. Absolutely everything in that store was beautiful. If you are like me and have a penchant for romantic intricate jewelry, I think you will like this store too.

For me, no trip to Paris is complete without checking out the original Laduree shop on Place de la Madeleine. It was crowded as usual and I lined up to get my order of macarons gerbet and marshmallow. After sampling macarons from a number of prestigious pastry shops around Paris, Laduree is still my first love. I bought a selection of chestnut, rose, pistachio, orange flower, black pepper (!), and dark chocolate. Chestnut is a seasonal flavour but definitely my favourite. Black pepper was just too weird to my liking.

I ended my long day with chocolat chaud at the Fauchon salon de the. It was a nice and relaxing way to wrap up a busy shopping day.

I Don't Know They Come In Different Sizes

I bought some gorgeous bangles as gifts today. I picked up three sets in totol. There's a silver set that looks exactly like the ones I purchased a few weeks ago. There are also two sets with dangling bracelets and charms. It's a little difficult to describe so here's a picture of me modelling one set:

I don't know about you but I think they are absolutely gorgeous. Problem is, I only found out that they come in different sizes when I showed SK my purchases. My old set of silver ones are size 2.8. Both the new silver set and the burgundy set in the picture are size 2.6. The purple set is size 2.4. I can easily slip the bangles on and off my wrist for size 2.8. I have a little difficulty with the 2.6 because it was tight around my knuckles. It's one thing to push and pull one bangle over my knuckles but it's an entirely different experience when I have to do it for 60 times (30 bangles in a set). Hmm, I hope my friends have thin wrists and delicate hands.

Fashion Accessories

I just realized something today. Excluding LM who's here as an expat, I'm actually the first girl my company sends over to work at our Pune office. No wonder LM and PG had to help my (clueless male) coworkers to pick out gifts for their wives and girlfriends!

After a couple weekend shopping excursions, I got myself a few fashion accessories that I absolutely adore. I was on the lookout for something not overly ethnic because I want things that I can easily work into my wardrobe. Let's take a look at what I bought:

The pink shawl in the backgroud is my pashmina shawl. You can see the different shades of pink.

The burgundy beaded bag (Rs 1890) in the front is absolutely lovely. The beading is very intricate and there are tassel details at each side of the drawstring. Since my evening outfits are predominately black and simple in design, such a flamboyant bag can make quite a statement.

The frame black silk purse with flower embroidery (Rs 1090) is more understated. I love the antique detailing of the frame and chain. There was another similar purse in the store with the entire front filled with embroidery but I think this one works better with my daily outfits.

The set of silver bangles (Rs 379) is quite a find. LM showed me the set she bought a week earlier and I had to get a set for myself. Notice that some of the bangles have dangling pieces hanging from it. They make such a nice sound when the bangles knock against each other while I move! There were also quite a few other styles available at the store...some with colour beads and fancier dangly pieces. I haven't seen this style available in Toronto stores yet. I can't decide if I want to get a few more sets for gifts.

Holiday season is coming up guys. If you have trouble finding a good gift for the ladies in your life, perhaps I can help you to pick out a unique gift in India!

Pashmina Shawl

Before I left for India, I was shopping for a pashmina shawl in Toronto. More accurately, a pashmina-like shawl because I really don't want to fork over money for the real thing. A few years ago (um, more like five or six years, actually), pashmina shawl was THE thing to have. You could just about spot every girl on the street with one of these candy-colour shawls draped over their shoulders. Well, there really isn't that many of these Himalyan goats roaming about so most of the "pashmina" accessories in the shops are actually made with a mixture of yarns or worse, man-made materials.

I knew exactly what I want and I found what I was looking for at The Bombay Store today of a reasonable price and quality. It is 70% pashmina/30% silk blend in a shade of pink that changes from pale to vibrant. It costs approximately 60% of what I would have to pay in Toronto.

This shawl will go into my collection of classic and enduring accessories that I expect to use for a long time to come.

I Shop And I Eat

JY is right again. Going to Pune Central is a good idea.

After a very leisurely morning (sleeping certainly counts as leisure), I took an autorickshaw to Pune Central, one of the largest department store in Pune. The minute I set my foot on the steps leading to the entrance, I was surrounded by the familiar smell of a department store. I kid you not, department stores have a distinctive smell of cosmetics and people that is quite universal. All the usual suspects at the cosmetic departments were there in addition to a very large fragrance selection. However, that's mostly where the international brand names representation ends (okay, except for the denim, sporting goods, and luggage department). The fashion department is set up as little boutiques each selling a selection of one brand. By North American standard, clothes are really inexpensive. I got myself a nice outfit in preparation for the trekking trip tomorrow. For comparison purposes, here's a breakdown on the price:

• hooded sweatshirt: Rs 900
• cargo pants: Rs 1400
• belt: Rs 450
• hat: Rs 300

Okay, so it doesn't add up to THAT cheap. Mind you though, I was shopping at the higher end of the price spectrum in the store. I can centainly vouch for the quality of the merchandise. For a comparable quality and style (as you all know, more details and more design mean more money), I know that I cannot get an outfit like this at a department store. I also got a set of silver bangles with lots of danggly ornaments. Very very pretty indeed. In any case, I'm happy with my purchases.

The top floor of Pune Central is the supermarket Food Bazaar. Oh, how I miss supermarkets! Compared to the mom-and-pop corner stores that sell EVERYTHING around our office, I was happy as a clam the moment I reached Food Bazaar. Browsing at a supermarket is one of my favourite activities during travel. First thing first, I was attracted to the sweets department. The store clerk gave me sample after sample of Indian sweets but the truth was, I didn't need the sample to be convinced of making my purchases. Although my coworkers bring in sweets all the time, I would like to try a large variety so I already had my heart set on getting a box of assorted sweets.

I didn't have very good experiences with Indian sweets while I was in Toronto. The ones that I sampled were mostly too sweet and drenched with too much syrup. Therefore, Indian sweets are such pleasant surprises to me. My favourite is the yellow piece on the left. It is a mango barfi (milk fudge treat) which was delicious with the sweetness of mango fruit. The diamond shape piece is a cashew katli (love the nutty taste). The round dark brown pieces was logs made with dried figs and studded with pistachios. The round ball is a coconut laddoo (too sweet but made with fresh coconut shreds). The diamond at the top is a sugar-free dried figs katli. The rectangular piece on the upper right corner was a milk cake. I really enjoy the sweets made with cooked-down milk. This method of cooking highly concentrates the sugar resulting in a naturally sweet product.

Shopping's good.

Poonam Sweets

1013/2 New Nanapeth

Near Nishat Tokies, Pune

Sass It Up!

Here is an article from MSN Lifestyle on how to ramp up the sexy quotient of your fall wardrobe. They listed six items and how to work them into your outfits.

Stylish cardigans? check.

Daring dangling earrings? check.

Lingerie tops? check.

Sultry shoes? multiple checks.

Sexy jeans? check.

Racy wrap dress? check.

Well, looks like I have the making of a sexy wardrobe this fall. Now all I should concern with is pairing these pieces into outfits that I love. In addition to my own taste in fashion, I guess I need honest feedback as well. I think I've come a long way from the ill-fitted jeans and baggy sweatshirts of my junior high-school years but it is quite possible that my friends are just waiting for the opportunity to put me on What Not To Wear. As shallow as it sounds, looking good on the outside really helps to feel confident on the inside. It just adds that indescribable extra bounce in my steps, you know?

Feeling Tweedy

I have added another piece to my collection of pleated skirts. This is a brown tweed knee-length skirt with a ribbon of brown tulle at the hem. I was shopping for plug adapters in Promenade Mall when I spotted this skirt on a mannequin at Femme de Carriere. The sales ladies were helpful but for some reason, they kept on asking me if i want to get the matching jacket. What am I gonna do with a matching jacket anyway?!

So my love affair with pleated skirts continues but it's getting a little more grown-up. Not too bad....

I have also found the cutest pair of tweed culottes at Le Chateau. I originally thought that I would find something I like at Club Monaco since the cut of their trousers and jeans fits me very well. Unfortunately, I looked absolutely horrible in the few pairs that they have in their fall/winter collection. Two weekends ago when I walked my way around Toronto for my first pastry tour, I went to Le Chateau at Bloor and Yonge because it was one of the few stores that were still open at that late hour. As I was browsing around the store, something didn't feel right. Turned out the strap on my camisole broke. Argh, how embarrassing! So I grabbed the nearest piece of clothing and ducked into the fitting room. Well, turned out the culottes looked amazing. It took a couple of tries and I took home a size 4. After I got home, I was surprised to find that the pants were still way too big so I took them back a few days later for one size smaller. Turned out Le Chateau had recently moved all the sizes down by one! Sizes are just a number but they can be sooo confusing...The culottes looked great with my black stiletto boots or my brown flat boots. That's versatility!

"You Are So Stylish"

Those were the exact words I heard twice today from complete strangers. I wouldn't thought in a million years that stylish and me would be mentioned in the same sentence but there you have it. Now, to be fair, I think the people who uttered those words were trying to butter me up in order to make a sale. One came from the receptionist at the Acura dealer after I informed her that I would like to test drive the TSX today. The other came from the store clerk at an independently-owned fashion boutique while I was checking out their merchandise. I will take a compliment whichever form it comes. After all, they really don't need to comment on my outfit and ask me where I bought it, do they?

So exactly what was I wearing today? I wore a black and white print jersey wrap dress over a pair of grey light wool wide-leg trousers with pointy black leather stiletto boots. To complete my outfit, I wore a chunky soft loose knit black scarf and a pair of simple silver drop earrings. Being a student of the Trinny and Susannah's school of dressing, this is actually a silouette they recommend often. Wearing a dress over trousers is a very flattering look that not too many people choose. Personally, I think it gives an illusion of height and it's a great trick to camouflage figure flaws. If I just wear the wrap dress alone with heels, the outfit looks very retro and uptight. However, adding the wide-legged trousers modernizes the outfit and makes it more practical at the same time (wrap dress and taking wide steps is a bad combination).

I'm not a girly girl but I realized a long time ago that I get better service when I go out in nice outfits. I think it's well worth the effort to dress nice because after all, it takes the same amount of time to throw on an outfit, flattering or not. It's a superficial world, don't you think?

Patterned Tights

Socks have always been one of my fashion indulgences for as long as I can remember. If you've known me long enough, you've probably seen me with knee-high argyle socks at some point. In fact, my collection of knee-high argyle socks was acquired all around the globe. Well, I've been branching out to other legwear recently and here's a look at what I like (or dislike) about them:

• fishnet stocking: great choice for summer when I don't want to go bare legs. Classic black or beige are my top choices.
• fishnet thigh-highs: even more comfortable than stocking. Goes well with knee-length full skirts. May not always be appropriate though especially for pencil skirts with a high slit.
• thigh-highs: very good for summer except that it snags so easily. $15 for a one-time use is a little pricey.
• pattern tights: my latest favourite now that it is officially autumn. For the less adventurous, start with an opaque dark pair with subtle knit patterns. Otherwise, anything goes. To avoid adding unnecessary heft to the legs, choose a vertical pattern. If the pattern is busy, keep the rest of the outfit low key.
• colour tights overlay with fishnet: I've been dying to give this a try this season. Choose a pair of black loose-knit fishnet and wear it over funky opaque colour tights.

You may not agree with my taste in legwear but what the heck, I feel compelled to not dress my own age before I hit the big three-zero. Then I'll consider more age-appropriate attires.

What I Want Now

I went to DF Salon for a trim today and I made sure to tell Howard about all the compliments I got for my last haircut. Although it was only a trim today, the style turned out to be different from the last and I love it! This style has a lot of movement and dimension. Howard promised me that it is as low maintenance as the last. I got a bunch of business cards before I left the salon so I can readily recommend this excellent hairstylist to my friends next time they ask me where I get my haircut.

After I left the salon, I did some shopping in Yorkville. The stores are filled to the brim with fall fashion and I had a lot of fun checking out all the latest trends. After a few hours of browsing, I have a list of items that I want:

• Pandora Polo sweater dress at FCUK: the drop waist of this dress made it very flattering. I actually bought it immediately because I haven't look so good in a sweater dress before! This dress looks great with colour/pattern tights, sexy boots, and opera-length necklace. I'll wear mine with my kukui nut necklace from Hawaii.
• Knee-High socks by BLEU FORÊT: I bought my first pair of socks of this brand when I was in Paris in 2004. Their socks are well-made, extremely comfortable, and made of excellent material. They are currently on sale at The Bay (there's a good selection at the Bloor & Yonge store).
• Wool culottes: I want to find a pair of cropped dress pants in a light wool material of a dark subtle pattern. It would look so cute with my black stiletto knee-high boots, fitted turtle neck sweater, and a chunky three quarter sleeve knit cardigan.
• Mandarin collar three quarter length wool coat at Benetton: I spotted this gorgeous coat at Benetton and I had to give it a try. The size 40 fits really snug and the way it flares from the waist looked so good. I tried my usual size 42 next. Although it is a much more practical fit (I can wear thicker sweaters underneath the coat) but it just doesn't look as nice as the smaller size. The length of this coat is perfect for skirts and the caramel colour looks warm and inviting. Too bad I already bought the cutest winter coat!
• Euphoria fragrance by Calvin Klein: This is a new fragrance and it is currently exclusively available at The Bay in Canada. They were having a publicity blitz at Yorkville today and handing out samples of the perfume. The guys who were handing out the samples were all dressed in maroon T-shirts and black pinstripe jackets. Tres cool indeed. The fragrance belongs to the woodsy-oriental family and I like it very much although it doesn't have much staying power. It's definitely not a young scent though. Considering that I have recently purchased quite a few bottles of fragrance, I don't have a good reason to buy another bottle. It will take some self-control. I'll see how long my samples can last me.
• Wedge-heel boots: I saw a pair by Costume National that I kinda like. I'm still on the lookout for a sexy pair (and hopefully I can fit my ankle in by that time). It should be more practical than my stiletto boots so I can actually bring them with me on vacation.
• Ruffle shirt with tuxedo details: I love the bunch of Victorian-inspired clothes I saw in stores today. So luxurious!
• Emily bag by Roots: Their line of natural leather bags are classic and versatile. It is the perfect bag to bring along for traveling.
• Faux pearl necklace wi