Likky Likey

Tiger Woods' Jesus shot

2008-08-21T21:08:00.002-04:00

This is just too funny!

Sorry for the lack of posts, but real life has kept me very busy, and many things are going on. That being said, I've also been glued to the TV, watching the Olympics practically every night. Michael Phelps is my new hero!!! Anyhow, maybe when things die down in mid-Sep., I will be back in posting mood, but I will expect that my posts will unfortunately be few and far.

The Beijing Olympics are finally here!!!

2008-08-08T09:54:00.004-04:00

I'm re-posting this official Olympic anthem 'cause I'm SOOOOooooo excited to watch the Opening Ceremony tonight, and anyhow, I can't get this song out of my head, so why even try? The first time I posted this song, it was edited down and didn't have any subtitles. The first version below is full and is fully translated. After seeing the meaning behind the song, I definitely think that the lyrics are both inspiring and extremely poetic, which is very much in line with how Chinese poetry flows. It is a very patriotic song, but how can you blame China? - they are a very patriotic nation.

Anyhow, enjoy the song. I wonder if it will be performed at the ceremony. Also, I listed two versions because the 2nd version has a different ending, where they actually show the athletes in action. I think this will be one of the best Summer Olympics yet!

the Olsen twins' new coffee-table book

2008-08-04T10:56:00.005-04:00

Speaking of twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen will be co-authors on a new coffee-table book titled "Influence." Featuring 22 interviews with who they deemed influential actors, designers, and artists, the book features the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, John Galliano, Lauren Hutton, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin, Margherita Missoni, and Giambattista Valli.

While I wouldn't call myself an Olsen fan, one of the things I admire most about them are their work ethics. People make fun of their "hobo" fashion styles and call them out on MK's eating disorders, or who Ashley is currently dating, but what I find most remarkable about them is that even though they rarely speak to the press, and aren't in-your-face in their need for fame, they were able to transcend all of that by just working hard in areas that interest them, which in these days are fashion for Ash and acting for MK.

They've been working since they were toddlers, have never been exploited in a way that was damaging to their reputations, and were keen enough to go to college when they obviously had little need of it, if only to expand their minds just a little more. I admire how private they are, while at the same time building an empire that seems very much to be built on love and a belief in their own products. One forgets how young they still are, but they appear to be very wise due to their life experiences. Because of that, I would be very interested in reading what they feel are "influences" that have made them strong and successful.

"Influence" - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - $35 (Pre-order at Amazon or Barnes & Noble - available Oct. 28th)

Jolie-Pitt twins!!!

2008-08-04T09:58:00.006-04:00

The first photos of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's twins have hit the web. I think these photos were supposedly taken by the same photographer, but oddly, the People cover is much more "clean and soft" in terms of colors compared the Hello! cover, which is grainy and dark.

The babies are too young to look like offspring of mega-stars, but I can't wait to rifle through the pages of these mags, if only 'cause I just have an inexplicable fascination with Brad and Angie, as does the rest of the world. Something about the way they can live their lives so freely, jetting here and there, having a gazillion children but still looking like a young, loving couple, spreading humanity and grace around the world - there is a charm to that that is so attractive, and in some ways, enviable. They seem untouched by the worries that we every day folks have.

Anyhow, the only thing I'm jealous about is that they were able to have twins! If I ever have children, that was what I wanted, a boy and girl, at the same time. They are just so lucky...sigh...

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Obama is NOT Mr. Darcy, IMHO

2008-08-04T08:44:00.004-04:00

I normally try to not state my political views here, mainly because I don't believe this is the best platform, nor do I think people in general care about my views, but reading this op-ed piece really stirred a level of discomfort that I didn't know I had about the current election.

In the New York Times, there was a piece that compared Barack Obama to Mr. Darcy (the haughty but dashing hero), and America as Elizabeth Bennett (the spritely, carefree heroine). In an unfair way, John McCain was compared to Wickham (the dishonorable villain). While the piece was written eloquently and with much wit, I don't know if I agree that Obama is Darcy, and I only say this because I love Darcy!

I was a Hillary fan all the way. Despite the critics out there (really, which candidate is wholly perfect?), I really believed that she could make a change for the better based on her experience, intelligence, and understanding of both domestic and global issues. So I was very sad the day she was no longer in the running. I look at the current candidates and see flaws written all over them, with issues that they bring as "benefits" which to me are clear problems.

Barack Obama is a great speaker, has presence on stage, clearly loves his family, and believes in bringing "change" to the White House. My biggest problem with him is that I don't know what that "change" is supposed to be, and how he's going to do that. In fact, based on what I just wrote about him, I know VERY little about his policies. I can easily Google those and read them, but I think my issue with him is that I don't believe him. I think he's a master manipulator in his debates, where he tailors his thoughts for specific audiences; how different is that from when John Kerry was running 4 years ago and people accused him of being a flip-flopper? However, he slides by and gets away with this a lot of times. I'm not a political analyst, so I'm not going to try to name every episode, but I've been reading articles here and there, and listened to some of his debates, and just based on his answers on how he's going to handle the economy and taxes, there is a lot he doesn't understand about basic finances. I used to think I was a Democrat, but I'm beginning to think I'm more of a liberal, because I have issues with raising taxes to help fiscally-irresponsible Americans. There, I've said it, most Americans are big spenders, with debts up the wazoo, and now responsible Americans have to pay more taxes to help those who didn't manage their money well? It's one thing if people are working and underpaid, but an entirely different issue if people don't know HOW to pay for something, but can't stop buying. Sorry, I don't want to be a part of that. But if Obama is elected, there is a big chance that he will raise taxes only for a certain income-bracket, and relieve those with mortgage probs. I think there needs to be more assessments in this area than just lumping everyone together and making everyone responsible for those who abuse the system.

I also think he's too green. He's just not experienced enough, and I think his strategy is to please the audience, get into the White House, and then figure it all out once he sits as President. I think he's a lot of BS sometimes, and I mean that in the most polite way. He's on an extended job interview, and every time he has to talk to a new person, he reads that person by how they ask the question, by what their body language is, and he tailors his answers to please the interviewer. But what are really his credentials? There aren't enough to say whether or not he can get the job done, and do I like what he has planned? I just don't know, because his platform to this day is still too vague.

In terms of McCain, poor guy, he's getting older but he wants this job so badly. I respect that he's a former POW, that he's one of the most liberal Republicans out there, but my biggest hang-up with him is the issue of abortion. I think I feel better with his stance on the economy compared to Obama, but geez, what century are we living in, what country are we living in, if the most basic woman's right is taken away? I'm not FOR abortion, but I don't think it should be illegal. If a woman is going to get pregnant and doesn't want that child, she should be able to walk into a medical clinic and seek help. I don't want to read anymore about women fiddling with wire hangers or throwing babies away into public toilets or dumpsters, because if you put a woman in a desperate situation, she will do desperate things. Allow a woman to choose, and McCain, you just might have my vote.

I have never wanted to vote for a Republican in my life, but the choices here aren't so stellar, in my mind. If it were Hillary vs. McCain, hands-down the Democrats would have my vote. I'm tired to reading about how "great" Obama is. I want to understand what he will do for our country, and for me as a citizen. Lay out your platform, and maybe I will re-assess. But you ain't no Mr. Darcy, 'cause you haven't won my heart just yet.

another Harry Potter book!

2008-08-02T10:22:00.009-04:00

Two months ago I wrote about the auction of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," a handwritten collection of short stories by J.K. Rowling. Amazon owned the only original copy that was available for sale, and at the time, they did not have the right to publish it, so we were stuck reading synopses, which is just a tad boring compared to actually reading the stories themselves. But with perseverance and patience, everyone in the world will now have a chance to read it. In December, the book will be published and available for sale! This is especially exciting for "Harry Potter" fans such as myself. :D

In addition to the standard, mainstream copies, for a limited time, Amazon is selling a replica of the book they own. This version is only available through Amazon. I immediately jumped at the chance to own a copy.

Tucked in its own case disguised as a wizarding textbook found in the Hogwarts library, the Collector's Edition includes an exclusive reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, as well as 10 additional illustrations not found in the Standard Edition or the original. Opening the case reveals a velvet bag embroidered with J.K. Rowling’s signature, in which sits the piece de resistance: your very own copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, complete with metal skull, corners, and clasp; replica gemstones; and emerald ribbon.

As a bibliophile, I'm a sucker for interesting books. I think I just love the idea of owning a book that is similar to what the characters in HP would be reading, and not your standard, mass-produced book. Only thing is, I have to wait 6 months to get my hands on it! But better late than never!

"The Tales of Beedle the Bard" Collector's Edition - by J.K. Rowling - $100 (only at Amazon)

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zhang ziyi's engagement ring

2008-08-01T23:49:00.005-04:00

I was quite surprised when I first read that Zhang Ziyi 章子怡 was engaged. She's so private I didn't even know she was dating! Or, maybe in America, she just wasn't a big enough star to have that sort of press published. (Personally, I'd rather read about her engagement than to endure another cover story on any of the Hiltons/Lohans/Hills girls/etc., but you get the point.)

After much roving, I finally found pics of her gargantuous ring. I have no idea who made it, what cut it is, etc., but it's definitely a sparkler. (That double starfish ring is to die for, though!)

Congrats to her and her MOGUL fiancé, Aviv "Vivi" Nevo. Up until I read his name in Vogue, I had never heard of him, but as his outings w/ ZZ have been more frequent, he is starting to get into the spotlight himself. One example was via this investigative report from the New York Times. It appears, they are very interested in him, too!

As for the ring, even though it's so huge, it doesn't come off tacky at all. The design of the ring feels classic and stately, unlike Mariah's ring pop. :P Can't wait to see pics of her wedding, which is supposed to happen next year...!

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August 2008

2008-08-01T19:46:00.001-04:00

a VERY limited Louis Vuitton...hehe

2008-07-30T14:50:00.007-04:00

The main reason this Louis Vuitton bag won't last forever? 'Cause it's made of sugar and flour!

Gregory Soriano, a master baker, created this CAKE in a tribute to the Louis Vuitton Patchwork Tribute bag from last year. I am ogling this photo and just can't get my head wrapped around that this is a cake, and not some whimsical sculpture. Dubbed the "World's Most Expensive Cake," I actually wonder how much a cake of this artistic quality would go for. He has some other designs as well, but this one really, ahem, takes the cake. :D

The cake is above, while the purse that inspired it is below.

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Christian the Hugging Lion

2008-07-30T13:22:00.004-04:00

OMG, watching this video made me want to weep like a baby, but my heart swelled at the same time. I am such an animal lover that seeing a wild animal recognizing his former masters and giving them such loving hugs really touched me in that weird, maternal way (and, no, I have no children so I really couldn't relate!). Anyhow, if you haven't already seen this video, check out the whole story from the "Today Show. " It's so sweet!!!

Below are some "home photos" of the lion while he was living with his human family before he outgrew them. So cute!!!

In addition, this lion cub made such an impression that he inspired a wildlife preservation called the George Adamson Trust. Learn more and support their conservation efforts here.

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Zhang Ziyi vs. Lucy Liu

2008-07-23T14:44:00.008-04:00

With the Beijing Olympics upon us in a matter of weeks, there was bound to be additional coverage, as was the case for the August issues of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

In terms of coverage, who wins? On this side of the ring, Zhang Ziyi 章子怡 had a glowing article about her rise to stardom, starting with her humble beginnings to her now international fame and new engagement to international tycoon and venture capitalist Aviv "Vivi" Nevo. Her photo shoot wasn't too bad, although the styles they paired her with were rather harsh, mostly in terms of the make-up and hair (feels like they were trying to claim the '80s?). I don't have scans of the pics, but you can see her video below as she talks about the photo shoot. And of course, she was featured in Vogue, the mother of all fashion mags. However, other than the fact that she is Beijing-born, nothing in the article or photos link her at all to the Olympics (ok, she was one of the Olympic torchbearers, but that was hardly emphasized).

On the other side of the ring, Lucy Liu had a more Olympic-inspired photo shoot, which was fairly creative, and her pictorial spread was much larger. However, there was not a word about her, not even a blurb on anything she was potentially promoting, so it looked like they borrowed her to model for the mere fact that she is Chinese-American (and thus, she's really Team USA). Her photos were in Harper's Bazaar, which as of late has been more inspiring for me to pick through than Vogue has been, so it's not THE best, but pretty up there in my mind.

So who wins? I say.....NEITHER! Assuming that the fashion world is embracing all things from China, and the Beijing Olympics being such a platform (note that a lot of design houses even created special, limited-edition pieces for the Asian market BECAUSE of the Olympics), I find it terribly defeating that neither could make the covers.

For Vogue, Kate Moss was on the cover, which makes sense seeing that she is 1) a supermodel, and 2) promoting her fashion empire, but her photos weren't even that great (see article and photos here). They could've put her on the cover of the September issue, since that's when the new Topshop will debut in the US (she being one of the coveted lines in the brand, it would have made sense in that case). Zhang Ziyi could easily have been on the cover, and no one would have thought it strange. She's been seen on the red carpet very frequently, wearing all the new designers, so she is already known for embracing fashion. I would have loved to see a beautiful spread of her in China, w/ maybe the Olympic stadiums or ye ole' temples or modern skyscrapers in the backdrop. How lush would it have been to see her in gorgeous gowns and showing the beauty of Beijing behind her? I don't particularly think that Ziyi is a great actress either, but she is def. on the A-list, and Americans do recognize that she is a "star," so why not the cover?

For Harper's Bazaar, there was a boring article about Jessica Biel (who has never done anything great except a GQ cover and dating Justin Timberlake, IMHO), and some lame photos of her "dancing" with designers like Vera Wang and Zac Posen. The photo qualities were mediocre, and if you were to compare her to Lucy Liu, she didn't have anything in particular to promote either, so how'd she make the cover? Lucy had some cool photos, and while they weren't shot in Beijing, they were cute in trying to blend fashion with athleticism. I don't know if Lucy is still big enough to land a cover, but isn't it a little sad if she was only able to land the photo shoot 'cause she was Chinese-American, and for no other reason? Like, some editor in some glossy magazine cubicle sat there and said, "Beijing Olympics are coming up, we need to put a Chinese person in this shoot, quick, how many well-known Chinese actresses are there that we can land for this? They don't even need to be promoting anything, or talk, 'cause we're not going to bother interviewing them. Just make sure they're Chinese."

Anyhow, maybe I should be happy any Asians get their own coverage, but it pains me that no Asian one can land the cover yet. One would have thought that this time, this would have been a great opportunity to do more than just the norms. Do you have any thoughts?

reggaeton wannabes

2008-07-18T23:25:00.003-04:00

The full video for Hayden Panettiere's new single "Wake Up Call" finally dropped. After several viewings, I started to realize which song this reminded me of. It's, gulp, a lot like Paris Hilton's "Stars are Blind." I don't think they sound exactly alike, but for some reason, that was my first thought. Go figure.

I need to stop listening to crappy pop songs sung by wannabes. Sigh...

Hayden wants to sing for you

2008-07-16T16:50:00.006-04:00

"Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere is trying to break out of the small screen and become a singer. In a cross-promotion with Candie's for Kohl's, which she has been a spokesperson for some time now, in her latest TV ad, she debuts a snippet of her first single, "Wake Up Call."

The song isn't bad, although it has a mostly reggae vibe to it, which doesn't strike me as her style, per se. I can't say that her voice is spectacular, either, but at least she's actually singing on-key, so I guess that's a good sign. (I know, we have low expectations for today's pop stars/wannabes, don't we?) Hayden is one of those young celebs who isn't too tarty or too clean, so she's in an interesting gray area that allows her to explore many avenues of creativity. I would say that she shouldn't give up her day job, but the song, which can be heard in its entirety here, does grow on you after awhile.

In addition, she also did a series of print ads which will run in magazines. Notice the music theme throughout the campaign...?

Click below to see behind-the-scenes of her filming the ad.

Trust me, I can sing!

I'm definitely the wrong target demographic for this campaign, so while I'm not holding my breath for any of these fashions, or her CD, I can't wait til "Heroes" returns! :D

Jessica's mini-me

2008-07-16T09:59:00.004-04:00

OK! mag scored the cover story of Jessica Alba and her new baby girl, Honor Marie Warren. As far as I'm concerned, all babies look alike until they turn 6 months, but at first glance, this baby doesn't look much like Jessica; she probably looks more like the dad.

Many celebs have had babies recently, but very few are actually interesting to me. Like, I could care less that Tori Spelling, Matthew McConaughey, heck, even Jamie Lynn Spears had babies, but since Jessica is renowned for her beauty, I was def. curious about what her baby would look like, esp. since she gave birth to a girl.

She is def. a cutie, but wait til the Jolie-Pitt twins take center stage! Those are like, the epitome of celeb babydom. :p

Doesn't it kill you that all of these celebs, upon giving birth, have to put on the natural make-up and matronly hair to look "maternal?" Just so weird...

"May your penis hurt when you make love."

2008-07-15T16:37:00.003-04:00

This has got to be the funniest thing I've read all day. An ancient tablet was found with a sexual curse in an old city kingdom of Amanthus, in Cyprus, Greece. Written on a lead tablet, it also shows a man holding something that looks like an hourglass in his right hand. Yes, take a guess what that is! But why it's shaped like an hourglass, I really can't say...

Anyhow, sorry for the lack of posts, but been not too excited while reading anything, except for maybe Angelina and Brad's twins, but until pics comes out for them, not even going to write about that. Been going through a series of writing doldrums. Could it be because I am turning 30 in less than 5 days?!? Argh... This is off-topic, but anyhow, more later...

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the perfect bridesmaids

2008-07-11T15:48:00.004-04:00

I just thought that this was an immensely pretty photo of Blake Lively and Leighton Meester. Feels like a real, behind-the-scenes shot at a wedding, relaxed and perfect, and not staged for the show. They were probably just chatting here. The lighting, the colors, even their body language and expressions, so pitch perfect.

I normally wouldn't go for floral prints, but these ladies managed to make the pattern sophisticated and sweet at the same time...in pink and yellow! So, so pretty... :)

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over excessive use of the word "love" in this post

2008-07-11T12:53:00.008-04:00

I've been trying to catch up on my TVB viewing (one of my guilty pleasures, as no friends of mine even watch them anymore!), and the series I'm currently watching is "The Seventh Day" (最美麗的第七天). I'm halfway through the series, and although I accidentally read a spoiler (D'oh!), I'm still enjoying the series. The parts w/ Bosco and Natalie are way too goofy, but I loved the build-up of the romance between Niki and Kevin.

Anyhow, I am also in love with the two theme songs for the series, esp. the duet between Kev and Nik. Several months ago, I wrote about how I hated Kevin's solo main theme...I really thought it was horrendous. But after multiple exposure, it is now in my good graces. I think the music has a nice, moody, haunting feel to it, so it's not so bad.

Kevin Cheng 鄭嘉穎 - The Most Beautiful Seventh Day ("The Seventh Day" theme) 最美麗的第七天 (最美麗的第七天主題曲)

Here is the same song sang by Vincy Chan 泳兒. I'm not sure which version I like more...she's an ok singer.

As for the duet...LOVE IT!!!!! I can't stop listening to it. The chorus, the chorus, I luuuuuuv the chorus! Will a CD version ever come out?!? Why doesn't TVB do the smart and obvious thing and release all of these songs on a CD/DVD package? I would buy them all up!

Kevin Cheng 鄭嘉穎 and Niki Chow 周麗淇 - Embracing the Air 抱著空氣

For the music critics out there, I know, I have very simple taste in music...haha...these aren't mind-blowing audiophiles, but I appreciate a good melody, one that I can just hum or sing to. Sometimes, good music only needs that. So anyhow, enjoy these two songs, while I sadly comb through the world wide web to find a version worthy of putting on my iPod. I hope the duet comes out on CD. :( Hoping, hoping....maybe it'll be on Niki's next CD...

the ugly side of Louis

2008-07-11T11:27:00.005-04:00

WWD Japan revealed on their cover a sneak peek of the exclusive collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Comme des Garcons. Starting in September, there will be a pop-up store selling six exclusive bags, all designed by Rei Kawakubo, featuring the classic monogram canvas and leather, albeit with some, ahem, whimsical twists, like extra handles, or two handles morphed into one. The store will only be around for 3 months, and will only be in Tokyo.

I took a gander. I paused. And the first thought in my mind... What is this HIDEOUS eight-armed atrocity? It's absolutely ridiculous. I can't even label this an artistic piece. It seems very trivial and silly. This is supposed to celebrate the two esteemed brands?!?

There is just something so plainly revolting and convoluted about these designer collabs that I feel speechless. Where is the DEE-ZIGN?!?!? I don't see it here. I'm not even talking about the practicality factor, which this bag obviously does not have, but pure aesthetics, that makes one proud to carry a bag, any bag. This is not one of them. It took my breath away because it is such a sorry looking piece of crap.

I have been a devoted LV fan for years, back when the pieces were classic (Vernis is my fave line, all the way), and it was such a luxury item that one doted on and took care of, and wore with some level of pride and fancy. Nowadays, the brand has devoted itself to so many hit-and-run, sometimes successful, sometimes tacky projects that it has lost a lot of appeal for me. These new "limited" pieces don't excite me at all. If anything, I'm dumbfounded that anyone, fan or critic, would think that these are cool at all.

Am I just being too conservative? I hope not, as I always prided myself on having a clean, appreciative eye for the finer things in life. These creations really look shoddy and uninventive to me. I don't understand the hype, if only to allow ppl to hate it, much like I do, and spew venom about it on blogs. Haha...but I digress...really, this is is JUST - SO - UGLY!!!

I took a quick look at Comme des Garcons' designs, and there are some really cool, edgy stuff in there. Their color thematics fall into the blacks and whites, the lines are very post-modern and not frilly at all. I would have LOVED to see them re-invent the LV brand into something that was in line w/ their usual perspective. That to me would be a true collab. Taking stock LV canvas and changing (or in this case, adding) stupidly useless handles does not equate a genuine collab for me. It's an insult to a true LV lover and anyone who has the moneybags to afford this useless crap. It is a sad day in the world of LV.

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I was Team Jason all the way...

2008-07-10T15:42:00.008-04:00

I wrote about "The Bachelorette" awhile ago, and while I haven't written anything about it lately, like weekly updates, it all finally ended this past Monday. I've been biting my tongue all week, but can I just say, I'm STILL shocked that DeAnna didn't pick Jason! I mean, she's obviously very happy w/ Jesse, but IMHO, Jason was the better choice. He was loving and a family man (he loved his young son; ok, maybe being a stepmom was not her thing), original and romantic (LOVED that board game he created for her), and def. easy on the eyes! Jesse, for me, was missing something.

This was by far the best season I've ever seen from the franchise. ABC got smart; they didn't drag this thing out for months on end. Every Monday was a 2-hour cheese-fest of unrealistic pining and overzealous admissions of love and excitement, and it came down to a very (sad - for me!) entertaining ending, where there were many tears every episode. Yes, I'm a big mush ball when it comes to these types of shows. My family mocks me for watching this, but we all want love, we all want others to find love, it's a very universal thing, so why not be voyeuristic about it?

Anyhow, here is the very sad ending. I hope that Jason finds some lucky girl out there soon; he is aching to be in love, poor guy.

But the best thing about the finale for me? DeAnna's dress! It's so gorgeous! It reminds me of something Ariel would wear if she had legs...the deep blue color up top feigns the coolness of the ocean, and the green at the bottom like a glittery tail of a mermaid.

Alas, the dress, by Badgley Mischka, is sold out, but what a beautiful outfit to be engaged in! A great season, a bittersweet ending at the end, but maybe they'll make Jason the next Bachelor? It's either him or Jeremy, but Jeremy was a little scary at the end... I mean, talk about sour grapes...

And yes, I deliberately didn't post the proposal w/ Jesse, 'cause I just don't understand it! :P

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Karl will attempt to conquer the World

2008-07-10T14:20:00.007-04:00

It was bound to happen. Homes, built by...Chanel!!! Well, maybe not Chanel, but with Karl Lagerfeld at the helm, it will probably be very close in terms of style and quality. This is really as luxurious as one is going to get if you are into high fashion. Makes me wonder what those closets will look like; will there be specially designed niches for all of those high-end goodies?!?

Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld has signed an exclusive deal to design 80 limited edition homes on Isla Moda, the world's first dedicated fashion island, set in the iconic development, The World. This will be an exclusive collaboration between Dubai Infinity Holdings and Karl Lagerfeld across the GCC and India. Karl Lagerfeld is the first of five designers who will contribute to this iconic property.

Isla Moda

Isla Moda is the world's first dedicated Fashion Island. A mixed use development set in the iconic development The World, Isla Moda will combine a fashion resort, haute couture residential villas, bespoke retail offerings and luxury hospitality facilities in a drive to establish Dubai as a paradise of style. World renowned fashion designers from each continent will be instrumental in designing each element of the development.

Isla Moda will include a fashion hotel and a variety of luxury residential villas. The Hotel Moda will have approximately 250 rooms and serviced apartments, along with boutiques representing the world's most prominent designers, many of them exclusively. There will also be design studios and dedicated areas to service world renowned fashion events. Each area will be designed with the needs of the fashion industry and fashion connoisseurs in mind.

Near the residential collection will be the stylish Beach, Royal and Water Villas. All villas and villettes will offer a unique living experience while the limited edition villas will offer one of kind views, private beaches, pools and other unique residential accessories. As a first-of-a-kind project in the world, fashion conscious residents will select from the world's most recognized designers to create their own couture homes.

Isla Moda will also host exclusive international events, featuring high profile-designers and attended by the fashion world's crème de la crème. Fashion shows and limited edition product launches are a few of the events that will take place on the island.

Moreover, Isla Moda will offer first-class service in the form of a personal concierge for guests and residents alike ranging from a style concierge for clothing, perfumery, personal style makeovers, as well as design concierge to create one of a kind living environments with bespoke furnishings, art, and technology. Hotel guests and residential owners will also receive VVIP access to exclusive events, services, and products globally.

This is just insane. A whole island retreat dedicated to fashion!!! Just boggles the mind how cool and funky and beautiful this place is going to be. This is like the rich man's (or woman's) Disneyland.

I don't see myself ever having the opportunity in my lifetime to live in such a fantasy land, but one never knows, I could hit the lottery tomorrow and things will be very different. Maybe I can visit the hotel, assuming it's cost prohibitive! :P I can't wait to see what the homes end up looking like once they have all been completed. Sounds completely swoon-worthy!

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the bag I had to walk away from...

2008-07-09T13:42:00.005-04:00

My mind is going in circles 'cause yesterday, I was at a Chanel boutique and I saw this Melrose Cabas in Coral Satin, and it was on SALE, and it was SO adorable, and my heart wanted it, but my head said no, it was completely impractical - too big and would dirty easily - and it was more beautiful as a display piece than functional as a bag. In my mind, I pictured myself walking along Newbury, carrying this gorgeous bag, but it just didn't make sense. If I was walking around, I wouldn't carry that much stuff. And other than gym clothes, who would need a bag this bag on a daily basis? I don't have a kid, so I wouldn't stuff diapers in there (although w/ the satin, more the reason NOT to?).

So I had to walk away, alas, and bid it farewell. I have my eyes on a very beautiful Chanel bag, so I musn't get distracted by other bags that won't fit my lifestyle. Poopy...

Source

the dancing man

2008-07-09T12:21:00.002-04:00

I'm prolly very behind in terms of these viral videos, but I love it! I couldn't stop watching them, if only because this guy, Matt, has come up w/ the cutest, coolest, and goofiest way to document his travels around the world. I like his earlier works, before the masses of ppl joined him, as it seems a bit too commercialized and takes away from the original, but they're still fun videos to watch over and over again.

I'm sooooo jealous that he's been to so many places around the world. He gives me hope that I too can one day travel the entire world. My personal fave is the video from 2006; there are some amazing locations that he dances in...!

I posted them below, from the newest video to the oldest. Just watching these videos really made me want to dance! :D

2008

2006

2004

You can learn more about how this video project started through this nice little article from the NYT. There is also a website on the videos at wherethehellismatt.com. :)

de-cluttering Likky...

2008-07-07T16:11:00.004-04:00

Sorry for not posting as frequently as I used to, but I've been terribly busy w/ things going on in the personal realm, one of which involved a monstrous spring/summer cleaning! I spent the last 2 weeks sorting through a lot of old clothes, bags, shoes, magazines, etc. It was both a relief to get things organized, but manic as well, trying to emotionally distance myself from many items, since I really need to donate/sell some to de-clutter my life.

That being said, I will be posting a bunch of stuff for sale on eBay, so if you are interested, do take a peek to see if anything excites you. I'm not a celeb, so I'm not guaranteeing anything extraordinary, although I will say that my pièce de résistance will be a Christian Dior purse that I never used, as it all but sat in a box for the last 4 years, so now it will hopefully find a new home. The others are bags that were given to me but never or slightly used, as well as a couple pairs of shoes which I only wore a couple of times. Haven't fully decided yet, but yes, it was time for me to let go of some items, as much as I had loved them at the time. Hopefully, someone out there will value these items as much as I did...

I will update you more once I get a chance to take some pics, and include the links for the auctions as well...

Lucky Leighton

2008-07-03T12:41:00.005-04:00

Leighton Meester graces the August 2008 issue of Lucky magazine. I like this pic of her 'cause she looks very beautiful even with the more natural make-up. Also, she's not too stylized like some of her other pictorials, so it's refreshing to see.

I haven't picked up a copy of Lucky in ages 'cause it's a dangerous mag; it has so many goodies inside I start to covet, so the less I see, the less I'm tempted. However, on the inside of the mag, you can see some of Leighton's personal fashion picks.

See a quickie interview during her photo shoot below. I think she's kinda funny in interviews, 'cause she comes off talking like a tomboy, not very girly at all, which is how she's portrayed on "Gossip Girls."

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that Shiloh loves her dolls, huh?

2008-07-03T12:25:00.004-04:00

Sorry to intrude into the most famous toddler's privacy, but I thought this was just super adorable. Little Shiloh seems very attached to her dolls, whereby she's not holding one, but 2 of them, and they are almost as big as her! Just too cute...can't wait to see what the new Jolie-Pitt supposed twin girls will look like; 2 more little versions of Shiloh?

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Kanye the Shoemaster

2008-07-02T13:20:00.004-04:00

Kanye West confirmed that he is in collaboration with Louis Vuitton on a line a shoes. This should be interesting, considering he was in talks w/ Murakami awhile back to work on a line of jewelry, but that seemed to have died with time, so he must be itching to get his creations out one way or the other.

It's interesting that after LV's line of jewelry w/ Pharrel Williams, that the next celebrity collab for LV is with another hip-hop star. It seems that Marc Jacobs really digs their larger-than-life influence.

Source

July 2008

2008-07-02T12:23:00.002-04:00

luxury sounds for your ears

2008-06-30T16:04:00.010-04:00

While I am anticipating the arrival of the Chanel mobile museum, another French fashion house worked on some cutting edge, unexpected marketing of their own. Louis Vuitton is working in collaboration with Soundwalk to bring to you 3 urban soundtracks designed for self-guided tours through three cities in China.

The soundtracks are an hour long, and each city is narrated by a different Chinese actress: Gong Li 鞏俐 for Beijing, Shu Qi 舒淇 for Hong Kong, and Joan Chen 陳冲 for Shanghai.

In Beijing, Gong Li re-visits the Central Academy of Drama while telling an old love story between two young students.

Shu Qi narrates the sights and sounds along the tour path starting at Luk Yu Tea House, along Stanley Street in Central, Hong Kong.

Chinese-American actress and director Joan Chen takes travelers through the quaint French Concession area in Shanghai.

Original soundtracks composed by Kubert Leung and Albert Yu. Shan Sa (”The Girl Who Played Go”) and Mei Feng (up-and-coming young Chinese author), have written these journeys much like film scripts — subtly blending reality and fiction to offer a cinematic experience in the heart of the city.

Stylish travelers can download Louis Vuitton Soundwalk for iPod, mp3 players and mobile phones on www.louisvuittonsoundwalk.com or www.louisvuitton.com. It is available in six languages, English, French, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean. Each audio guide costs $17 and comes with a map.

While these were obviously designed to run in conjunction with the upcoming Beijing Olympics, I find this project intriguing and refreshing. Even if I can't go to Asia, to be able to listen to the soundtracks themselves sounds like a lovely blend of art, music, and travel, and because it's a product of Vuitton, there is almost a guaranteed level of sophistication in terms of the final product.

In viewing the trailers, I'm actually surprised by how well Shu Qi speaks in English; there is almost a slight British lilt in her pronunciation. Gong Li is new to English, and her voice is very harsh, so I don't know if I would enjoy listening to her. Joan Chen speaks with an American accent; no surprise there. I wonder what the other languages sound like, since the trailers are only in English; do these ladies narrate in all 6 languages?

View all three trailers below. The soundtracks sound really beautiful; I wonder if they will be available for sale outside of the Soundwalk guides?

Source & Source

handbag giveaway

2008-06-30T14:52:00.003-04:00

Karen Kooper and Trashbag Aesthetics have teamed up for a great giveaway: a Chloé Edith handbag! Check out their site for more details. :)

"Silly Likky, Hermès are for the serious wealthy!"

2008-06-26T16:13:00.005-04:00

Speaking of Hermès, these have got to be the most impractical but beautiful bags I have ever seen. These are silk bags that fold into a leather pouch. When you want to use one, unzip the leather pouch, pull out the silk, and voilà, an instant tote bag, with the leather parts as your bag's bottom.

my fave design is right above :)

I love the designs. They're ornate, colorful, the art is just dazzling, really. This would be a wonderful bag to carry around in Paris when we visit in September, but knowing me, I'll probably dirty them up faster than I can finish up a mug of hot chocolate at Angelina. Like I always say, when it comes to Hermès, all I can do is dream. :P

Hermès SilkyPop Bags - $960

Jen's Fab Bags...

2008-06-26T15:39:00.004-04:00

While I'm still keen on one day of owning an Hermès Kelly in black and gold (yah, yah, I can keep dreaming), I noticed a fantastic alternative that just might not require as much $$ or as long a wait.

Jennifer Aniston has been gallivanting around the globe in not one, but two very modern and practical Hermès Massai bags. I esp. love the grey one, which looks so pretty and contemporary and clean. I have this thing where I don't like it when the straps of a bag are merely sewn on, so the fact that these handles are attached by buckles really does it for me. (Now if only the Birkin had buckles at the handles, that would make it even more perfect.)

Jennifer has always been known for her classic, clean styles, and never one to jump on trends, so the fact that she bought this style in two colors and in two different sizes shows that she sees instant longevity for this style. Anyhow, it'll be a long way before I own anything from Hermès, but it's nice to know that they have other nice designs other than the obvious "It" bags.

P.S. Notice her cute pink passport cover!

Source

Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 found in...Spain?!?

2008-06-26T13:10:00.011-04:00

I don't talk about this at all, but "Lost" is one of my favorite TV shows of all time. In fact, I follow the series very closely, and after each episode, I always read up on the latest theories, and it's such a cerebral show with a great cast and acting and storyline that I can't stop watching it. I guess I don't blog on it much 'cause it doesn't really allow for a lot of fawning in terms of their wardrobes or soundtrack or whatnot, as I'm not aiming to discuss Kate's hair, or you know, Sawyer's hair, for that matter, but whatev.

Anyhow, here in the US, we don't really do much to promote the show. The actors aren't rock stars by any means, the ratings have fallen, and with an end running date of 2010, fans are just counting down until the whole series is over, when all the answers have been revealed (we hope). That's why I was tickled by this promo for the show's 3rd season in Spain. It's just so cool!

OK, maybe no one really wants to see the tail end of a plane that appears to have crashed, but the setting looks really great, even if there's not much context there if you know nothing about the show. Just for reference, the whole scenario behind the series is that this plane crashed onto an island, and the survivors have to figure out how to get off the island and go home. From there, mayhem ensues! This is why seeing this tail here is so significant to the show.

Set in the Atocha train station in Madrid, the fictional Oceanic Airlines plane was built by 20 people in 600 hours. Plopped into the garden area of the station, which with all of its tropical greenery, this setting really evokes the feeling of a jungle.

I won't be heading to Spain anytime soon, but if you're a fan of the show, and you'll be there through the summer, go check it out, as I believe it will be exhibited there until September.

You can watch a video of how the plane was put together and installed at Bungalow25's website, which is the agency behind this promotion.

Source & Source

kawaii! white tiger babies...!

2008-06-26T12:18:00.003-04:00

This is just too cute. Rare triplet white tiger cubs were born in Japan just a month ago, and they are now the star attraction. White tigers are almost extinct in the wild, so it's great that there is more awareness of these animals, and that they are procreating in captivity, but I also think it's sad that there's no way to reverse this pattern so that they can live in the wild as they were meant to.

There is no narration to this video; just enjoy their cute little faces! ;)

sad and ironic state for literature...

2008-06-26T10:30:00.004-04:00

I read this and it was just so sad!

A German fighter ace has just learned that one of his 28 wartime 'kills' was his favourite author.

Messerschmidt pilot Horst Rippert, 88, said he would have held his fire if he had known the man flying the Lightning fighter was renowned French novelist Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

The fliers clashed in the skies over southern France in July 1944.

"He was below me," said Rippert. "I saw his markings, manoeuvred myself behind him and shot him down.

"If I had known it was Saint-Exupery, I would never have shot him down. I loved his books.

"I knew he was a French pilot, but he was probably my favourite author at the time."

Saint-Exupery published eight books before his death, including The Little Prince, which has been translated into more than 50 languages.

Rippert gunned down 28 Allied planes during the war and found out about Saint-Exupery only from a historian who is writing the author's biography.

"I am shocked and sorry," the ex-Luftwaffe pilot said yesterday. "Who knows what other great books he would have gone on to write?"

While I have to admit that I have read only snippets of "The Little Prince," this story resides in my mind as one of those universal tales that do not die with time. For a children's book, it was mature in terms of the themes in the story, where it provided so many philosophical observations that try to dissect human nature that children's stories these days just seem dumbed down.

It is tragic that one of the author's fans shot him down, but sometimes the human world works in mystical ways. Would Saint-Exupery have found humor in this story? I think he would have smiled at the irony.

Source & Source

Monogramoufugly Part 2

2008-06-25T21:22:00.005-04:00

I have to reiterate from an earlier post, but this is one of the most nauseating designs from Louis Vuitton in a long time. And to think, this is from Murakami, who I have been an avid fan of for the last few years!

Rihanna was carrying this Speedy with the new camouflage pattern. While the bag goes with her sharp, edgy look, as a bag on its own, it's just plain fug. It's beyond hideous. The mix of that pattern and the logos, none of it melded well, and it's all so, so wrong.

I hope this style goes away quickly and quietly, as I certainly don't forsee any legs for this trend. I mean, this is certainly one way to kill the brand.

Source

Totes for a Cause #5

2008-06-25T16:39:00.006-04:00

If you love Marc Jacobs or Andy Warhol, and want to declare it to the world, Marc has put his Interview magazine cover (where he posed as Warhol) on a limited canvas bag, sold only in his stores, where 100% of the proceeds benefit the Andy Warhol Museum of Pittsburgh.

While the bag does nothing for me (I actually find the imagery a tad on the creepy side), as this bag is cheap for MJ, is for a good cause, and a trendier alternative than some other "go green" bags, I find no faults with this bag, which will certainly make a great stocking stuffer (shop now for Christmas!). :P

Marc Jacobs Special Interview Magazine Tote - $15 - only at Marc Jacobs Stores

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Chanel Mobile Art Museum

2008-06-25T15:52:00.006-04:00

I absolutely can't wait to see this exhibit. Chanel has created a Mobile Art Museum, in other words, a moving museum, that will be traveling the world. Having already exhibited in Hong Kong and currently in Tokyo, it will make its way to New York, London, Moscow, and finally ending in Paris. In a nutshell, the entire project is described succinctly below:

The ingenious aspect of this project is that not only will the objets d'art in the museum be traveling, but so will this entire structure, the building (or pavilion) that was designed to be installed and uninstalled from city to city. You can view the structure being put together on their website.

Since different artists have contributed to this show, I'm not sure how relevant these pieces below are, as some of them come from their actual retail line. However, since they appeared on their site, I thought it was worth showing as well.

I love how Karl Lagerfeld continues to excite and dramatize the brand, but through very unconventional avenues, and not through obvious marketing ploys. Unlike the Murakami introspective, which thrived to profit through their art exhibits by selling as many limited Louis Vuittons as possible (no, that is not contempt you are hearing...or is it?!), not only are these Chanel-inspired art pieces not for sale, the admission to go in the museum (as I'm checking the Tokyo listing) is free of charge. Absolute Chanel heaven!

The exhibit will be in New York in October of this year, so I will definitely make a trip to check it out.

Chanel Mobile Art Museum - exhibiting around the world until February 2010 - check for city nearest you

looking hot in Chanel

2008-06-24T14:12:00.005-04:00

I don't know this Japanese artist, Nao Matsushita, at all, but I came across these photos of her in Chanel, and just loved how she was able to carry all the different styles of the label so well. I esp. loved the outfit up top; so clean, modern, edgy, and feminine all at the same time.

I def. wouldn't mind owning a wardrobe like this!

Source

What's sexy for Gossip Girl guy Dan?

2008-06-24T13:43:00.003-04:00

"Gossip Girl" star Penn Badgely talks about what's sexy to him. I always find the topic of someone trying to describe "sexy" unsexy, 'cause sexiness is a mystique, a chemistry, a feeling that one gets. I don't think it's a very tangible idea, much like how one would try to describe attraction, or even lust.

Anyhow, this is eye candy for any fan of Penn, although I found the incessant list of sexy things he had to list a little ad nauseum, but those who love him will enjoy this very much. And he's my fave guy on the show, so can't complain too much. :P

The Chinese Go Green

2008-06-24T10:24:00.006-04:00

Chinese actress Zhou Xun 周迅 is featured on the cover of Elle HK for their July issue. (Not loving that weird 'fro on her head, but she's still very pretty.) It's very interesting to me that they are doing a "Green Issue," as both Hong Kong and China are notorious for their smog issues, but at least there is awareness now to counter those issues, among other eco-friendly prerogatives.

Here Zhou Xun talks about the issue below. I actually enjoyed this clip a lot. For those not in the know, she is a huge star in China (although she hasn't made the leap to international stardom just yet), so for her to lead this initiative is akin to a Cameron Diaz or Charlize Theron showing you how cool it is to live green. I like how they talk about not owning too much clothing (this ties in a lot to that long blurb I wrote last week), or too much of anything, so that with less consumerism, comes less harm to the environment. I also like her story about Jackie Chan traveling to 5 different countries, and although he's mega rich, he carried one bar of soap with him so that he isn't wasteful. That's dedication!

You can also click here to see some behind-the-scenes footage from Elle HK.

The same issue also features actor Takeshi Kaneshiro 金城武; he's so yummy!

Incidentally, both he and Zhou Xun starred in a musical called "Perhaps Love," which I haven't seen yet, but have been dying to. You can see a romantic singing sequence between the two of them here. So cute together!

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Scarlett trying to fulfill her dream (aren't we all?)

2008-06-24T10:04:00.001-04:00

Scarlett Johansson is the current cover girl of Nylon mag, and despite the fact that this is a MUSIC issue, and that I think her singing is horrendous, her photos are, of course, gorgeous.

She talks candidly about loving music, and while I don't doubt her passion for the art, I think she has to either choose some better songs, or really polish up on the vocals. (Stage fright should be the least of her concerns...) She is just lucky that she is famous enough for someone to want to indulge her on her passion; many really great performers would die for this opportunity that she has.

Also, in case you were curious about what's on her iPod, you can hear snippets of it below.

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from reality-scripted to acting...!

2008-06-23T23:32:00.005-04:00

15-minute-famers rejoice, you CAN live on in infamy (or at least, cash out while your minutes are still hot), as Lauren "LC" Conrad and Brody Jenner can attest. Don't get me wrong, I love "The Hills" for all the wrong reasons, but even I can admit that they don't really deserve the amount of coverage that they get. Regardless, I thought that this ad was cheeky and totally plays into the "are they or aren't they?" faux-relationship between the two stars from the show, so what else can I do but to share this little video with you?

The ad is actually for AT&T's LG Shine cell phone, and the way they market the phone is pretty smart, considering their target market.

Will try to find a better quality version when it's available. For now, enjoy...

Shanghai Film Festival Red Carpet

2008-06-23T15:12:00.017-04:00

Now that the 11th Annual Shanghai International Film Festival has come to an end, a quick review of the beautiful fashions on the red carpet. A lot of celebrities were on hand at the event, showing their support for Sichuan, China, which had been devastated by the earthquake, with red hearts that they signed.

I thought a lot of the stars looked very pretty. They wore all the big names in European designs. Some of my fave looks include:

Zhang Ziyi 章子怡 in Chanel

Ruby Lin 林心如 in a dreamy cream frock

Charlie Yeung 楊采妮 in Gucci

Fan Bingbing 范冰冰 in Valentino

Gigi Leung 梁詠琪 in Valentino

Zhou Xun 周迅 in Gucci

A more casual look here:

Zhou Xun 周迅 in Maison Martin Margiela

Source & Source & Source & Source

throw Barbie to the birds

2008-06-23T12:45:00.006-04:00

While Mattel is still in a bitter dispute over the ownership of the Bratz, they continue to push the boundaries with their most famous property, Ms. Barbie herself.

This time around, they thought it would be fun to show her in victimized form, attacked by birds, as inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's classic film, "The Birds."

You know, Barbie used to be about fashion and independence. Even romance didn't play a big part of her life, as can be seen by her break-up with Ken back in 2004. But to be attacked by birds? What the heck is up w/ the toy designers? Have they run out of ideas? While they're at it, why not actually scratch up her face and bloody her dress? I think it's all or nothing here, man.

Actually, the expression on her face is really laughable. It's that sheer look of terror. Yes, nothing is more attractive than a terrified Barbie.

If you're into the whole horror movie toy genre, why not include this one for your collection?

Alfred Hitchcock "The Birds" Barbie - $44.99

Source

love your planet, love your hair

2008-06-20T15:56:00.006-04:00

Kate Hudson was shot in a beautiful series of ads for a new line of cruelty-free hair products.

"David Babaii for WildAid" has been in the works for more than two years with Hudson serving as both muse and lab assistant. It was on her head only that products made of volcanic ash, blue algae and white ginger were tested, since the brand is opposed to animal testing.

The products will be paraben-free and packaged in containers made from 10-percent recycled plastic, and they're striving for more. One thing they're exploring is using 10-recycled plastic for a liner, to ensure sturdiness, and using a greater percentage of recycled material for the outer packaging.

The company will donate 10 percent of profits to the animal conservation group WildAid.

I love that this line is meant to be earth- and animal-conscious, but the prices aren't ridiculous that you have to be a celebrity to afford them. A little more expensive than most mass-produced hair care lines, with the range from $11.95-$14.95, I'm excited to try this out.

Ever since I read Alan Weisman's "The World Without Us," I was horrified to learn that some of our every day products can cause a lot of damage to our planet. Take something as simple as face/hand wash that contains microbeads (which aren't biodegradable). I learned that when we wash our hands and faces with a product containing microbeads, the mere fact that these particles are so small, and because they don't break down, they choke the animals in the ocean. When I was looking for a face wash a few months ago, practically every product from every major mass-produced brand contained microbeads! Do marketers tell you this? Of course not! All they do is advertise on what a great job it'll do on your skin, but honestly, this is not the best way to scrub your skin! You're better off using a pumice pad, which is natural and non-toxic.

Anyhow, I digress. I love what this new product is all about, so when I finally run out of my Lux products, I will definitely try this out.

Learn more about the products and their mission here.

Source & Source

Sacrifices...

2008-06-20T14:48:00.003-04:00

Although this isn't the first time I've given this some thought, after reading this article, I started to re-evaluate some of my own consumerism and spending habits.

I graduated from college 7 years ago, and it took me exactly this long to be stable in a career and position where I can spend quite freely, have a lot of autonomy and authority at work, and again, spend quite freely. The last few years were the worst times of my financial life, not due to debt, but to the very fact that I became a big spender. As if freed from years of miserly tendencies (one can't really do too much when one doesn't have an income), and with a discovery of designer goods that appealed so vastly to my slowly growing and adapting tastes, I splurged on vacations and bags, shoes and jewelry, all because of my "new found wealth." Don't get me wrong; I hardly regret any of my purchases, as my parents always taught me to be frugal and not wasteful, so I still had some of those values instilled in me. I didn't exactly spend it on junk. I also spent generously on family, and I have no regrets on that either.

But what am I left with now? I bought a car last year (love my Prius!), and I'm very proud of this purchase. As that was a hefty purchase, I've pared down buying loads of other crap, such as magazines (I can read most glossies online these days), CDs (I can listen to streaming radio), and clothing (rummaging at Marshall's or TJ Maxx is not beneath me).

I see my home right now as a giant storage closet filled with items I sometimes forget that I own. I always wanted a condo, but was not wise enough to save up my money for that, so I am doing that right now, although anyone who knows Boston will tell you that without half a million dollars to your name, a nice, liveable, decent condo is hardly within grasp, so I have some time before I get to that point. Several weeks ago, I set up a poll asking your thoughts on which purse to buy, a Louis Vuitton or a Fendi. The LV won, but I reassessed after I decided I really wanted a new laptop computer, so I am now looking for the best deal (would love something like the Asus Eee, although only Windows, please, and maybe a tad bigger, and more memory...thus, still looking).

In short, I got tired of buying, no, WANTING stuff. It gets very superficial, to the point that sometimes I don't know what to write about on this blog, which if you've been following, has been teetering on more about entertainment (movies, music, art) than fashion these days. In some ways, having this blog has been cathartic because I can go on and on about an object that I'm crazy about, but after several viewings, I might already be satiated, or maybe even tired of it. While I haven't been blogging all that long, when I scroll back to some of the archived posts, I don't even recall being all that excited in the first place, be it be about a bag, or a dress, or a piece of jewelry. In fact, lately, I've found that I am better when I have less stuff around me.

For instance, in my office at work, I hardly keep anything here. And I remain tranquil, calm, subdued. All I really need is a computer so I can write or read, some music in the background, and an occasional onslaught of tabloid rubbish to keep things interesting. I don't need the latest in home goods (although it's hard to say no when I pass through a West Elm or Ikea; that's why I only peruse their catalogs), clothing (that's why I love the pictorials online), or anything that will take up space. I just have to constantly tell myself this when there is a moment of weakness.

I've been wanting to do this for a long time, where I want to just sell off everything I own, just to clear up the space, and give myself a makeover. How many LVs do I need to own (as I have so many I've lost count completely)? I have tons, TONS of stuffed animals, because I can't resist sometimes and think they're cute so I buy them. How many does a grown woman need of those? And books! I love to buy books. But now I'm getting better...I buy on eBay, where a decent used copy is better than a straggly, dirty one from the library, and it keeps the book circulated without too much of a sacrifice on the wallet.

My point is that we are a culture of things, where we are obsessed with the latest and greatest, because all of these creative people out there continue to churn out wonderful, delightful, fanciful things that we can't help coveting. I know I'm very guilty of that. I am that person, that coveter, who is always so easily joyful in a cute I-don't-know-what, but I'm learning to stop being that person. Well, not to the point that I won't blog about it here. :P But more or less, trying to move away from that so I don't spend my $$ on useless crap.

My biggest indulges this year will be my planned trips to Paris, France, and Cancun, Mexico, both in the fall. I absolutely CANNOT wait, as they are both beckoning to me for very different reasons. I've discovered that my best purchases are trips, where I can eat really good food, see beautiful art, take in a different culture, dabble in some languages. The experiences are sometimes better than owning stuff. I won't sacrifice a nice trip for some thing; I can easily stop myself from buying an object if I know I have a trip planned. But of course, I also have to hold myself back, 'cause I love to buy for a trip...new clothes, bags, shoes...it's an addiction that I need to slow down on.

I think with the value of the dollar slipping so quickly here, it's more important, more than ever, for every person to focus on their basic needs before spending on frivolous things. To be fair, I am in a very good situation in terms of the economy. I work in an industry that can hold itself better than most when the economics are bad. I commute for a very short distance, and driving a hybrid, I hardly have to worry about gas. So I'm not complaining about the $$. I'm just saying that these days, I have to value what I breed into my life, which basically means owning less stuff. Can I do it? I am trying, very hard. Not making too big of a sacrifice, but I am no longer jumping to buy something right away on impulse. Holding myself back, that is what I am trying to do.

"The Edge of Love" premieres...

2008-06-20T11:55:00.005-04:00

"The Edge of Love" premieres are this weekend, and both Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller are on a fast-running PR train, promoting the film in the UK and Scotland. When I first heard the synopsis of the film, the last thing I would associate with this movie was the word fashion. Maybe words like sordid affairs, tragedy, and confused souls come to mind, but def. not fashion.

Anyhow, I LOVE what Keira has worn to her premieres. She appeared in a purple frock at an Elle event in London, in a TopShop blouse at the daytime photocall in Edinburgh, and at night, head to toe in Chanel.

I like Sienna's risk in her fashion choices, but I'm slightly baffled by the strange concoctions she's put together, at least for Edinburgh. (See Elle UK video below to see her in a beautiful red dress.) I am definitely more wowed by Keira's wardrobe (so much so I am gaming to get that TopShop top!).

As you can see from the Elle UK clip, the movie focuses a lot on the fashion as well, which looks really lovely in its old-fashioned, prim and proper romantic way. I really can't wait to see this film. :)

Here's another view of the trailer...

A video of the Edinburgh premiere...

And some interesting/fun interviews...!

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more exquisite shots of the V&R exhibit

2008-06-20T11:39:00.004-04:00

In a follow-up to my post on "The House of Viktor & Rolf" exhibit in London, Elle UK has a nice video piece on the opening night.

Also, Dazed Digital has more photos from the exhibit. The more I see of the exquisite porcelain dolls and gowns, the more I wish I could be in London right now to partake in the collection! See the new images here.

R.I.P.

2008-06-18T11:36:00.003-04:00

Cyd Charisse
1922-2008

Legendary dancer Cyd Charisse passed away last night from a heart attack. Growing up, I remember thinking how beautiful, tall, and graceful she was in those intricate dance sequences with Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain." She epitomized glamour and style like no other, at once exuding innocence, and in a heart beat, sensual sexuality. Her legend will live on, but few will be able to replace her.

Read more about her here, and see some of my fave scenes of her below. Watch both to see what I mean about her being capable to be both vixen and romantic. (I LOVE that second video; she is absolutely gorgeous in it!)

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WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

2008-06-17T23:54:00.006-04:00

Boston Celtics slaughtered the LA Lakers 131-92!!!!!!!

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patchwork paradise

2008-06-17T21:12:00.008-04:00

More and more I'm loving this Dolce & Gabbana Snakeskin Patchwork bag every time I see it. While I prefer the styles that Jessica Simpson and Beyonce carried, as they look more streamlined without the hard frame and all those extra flaps and pockets to take away from the already dazzling pattern, eLuxury is offering several different designs from this collection. Carrying a whole bag like this may be too much, but the wallet, that's something to mull over... :)

Dolce & Gabbana Patchwork Snakeskin Change Purse - $450
Dolce & Gabbana Miss Pocket Patchwork Snakeskin Satchel - $2,995
Dolce & Gabbana Runway Miss Pocket Patchwork Snakeskin North/South Bag - $3,995

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"It" girls can be normal, too

2008-06-17T19:13:00.007-04:00

Sienna Miller is in the July 2008 issue of Elle UK, promoting "The Edge of Love," a new film co-starring Keira Knightley.

The only film that I've ever actually seen Sienna in was "Casanova," co-starring the brilliant Heath Ledger. That was actually a delightful romp, and considering how Sienna's real-life reputation as a party girl preceded her as an actor, I was pleasantly surprised by her performance.

Anyhow, she has a nice, edgy pictorial in the magazine.

The interview centered a lot on her private life, including her love for her boyfriend, who she's reportedly dumped since this went to publication. :P

My favorite part of the interview has to be the tidbits about her hanging out with Keira doing normal stuff. Who knew they both had such an obsession with food?

Her performance as the dark, sex-obsessed, hard-drinking depressive Caitlin is remarkable, particularly bearing in mind she was drafted in two weeks before filming started, when Lindsay Lohan dropped out.

‘I freaked out,’ she says. ‘I had absolutely no time to do all the research I wanted, so a lot of the acting was instinctive. I loved the idea of Caitlin and I loved the idea of working with Keira. I was actually pretty nervous about acting alongside her because my part required me to put on weight. I just stuffed my face for the months that we were in production. It wasn’t hard for me. We were staying in this incredibly eccentric Welsh manor house. I had huge fry-up breakfasts, pasties for lunch and lots of toasties.

‘Then I had to face seeing myself alongside Keira, who is the most beautiful woman in the world. Luckily she is also one of the nicest. We totally bonded on the movie and it was so amazing to find a girl friend in this business. We are actually quite similar.

‘She has said I’m the confident one because at parties she’s very shy and I’m loud. But we just have different ways of dealing with nerves. She goes quiet and I go all effervescent.’ She shakes her head. ‘In Hollywood they don’t know what to make of us because we both drink and smoke and eat. Keira completely shares my obsession with food and cooking. We’re actually on for a cook-off at some point. The competition is pretty tough.'

Since the movie finished, Sienna has been round to Keira’s for ‘one of her infamous Sunday lunch parties’. ‘Keira has this amazing wooden table that everyone just carves anything they like into, from their names to pictures,’ she says. ‘It’s totally vandalised and completely amazing. She’s also a great cook. I did annoy her last time, though, by going home fairly early. Out came all the guitars and I stood up to leave. She was like, “But Sienna, you’re the party girl. You can’t leave.” It’s true. I’m usually the one forcing everyone else to stay up and do mad things like run naked on the beach or wait for the sun to rise, but I also need sleep. When I’m working, I turn into OhmyGodIhavetogotobed woman.’

Click below to see Sienna's behind-the-scenes of her cover shoot.

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GO, CELTICS!!!!!

2008-06-17T18:31:00.002-04:00

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welcome to the dollhouse

2008-06-17T14:52:00.010-04:00

I never run out of reasons to visit London again, and how I wish I can right now! Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf are exhibiting what they hope to be the world's largest doll house, and what is so insanely adorable about this exhibit is that a lot of their runway work has been miniaturized and will be modeled by dolls.

The House of Viktor & Rolf presents each of the designer’s signature pieces from 1992 to now, shown in a specially commissioned and characteristically theatrical installation that dominates the entire Gallery. Highlights include pieces from Atomic Bomb, 1998–99, featuring dramatic mushroom cloud-like cushioned necklines and Russian Doll, 1999–2000, in which a single model was painstakingly dressed by Viktor & Rolf until she was gasping under 70 kilogrammes of exquisite haute couture. For the collection Bells, 2000-2001, models emerged from a smoke-filled space in clothes embroidered with hundreds of brass bells, so they were heard before they could be seen.

Also, for you V&R fans out there, you might want to head to the gift shop to get some limited edition V&R pieces.

As well as selling the book that accompanies the exhibition, a specially commissioned silk scarf by the designers, limited edition versions of their famous perfumes and exhibition postcards, Viktor & Rolf have also selected a unique range of designer objects, books and curiosities that have inspired them. Omigosh, I wish I could buy the scarf!!!!!

I just emailed them about getting the book, seeing that I can't possibly make it to the exhibit, but they don't ship outside of the UK, so we shall see what happens.

If anyone does go to check out the exhibit, please let me know how it went!!! :)

Also, V&R have been guest bloggers and have documented the entire process of putting the show together here. It's a great read, and has loads of photos. Enjoy!

The House of Viktor and Rolf - Barbican Art Gallery
June 18, 2008 - September 21, 2008

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Coldplay's a thief?

2008-06-17T14:29:00.003-04:00

While I've been waxing poetic about Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," some guy on YouTube is claiming that they copied his song. There are some minor notes that are similar, and the arrangement of the verses are set up in a similar manner, but I wouldn't have confused them as the same song.

Click below to hear and judge for yourself, but if frontman Chris Martin did really absorb the song from a random viewing of the band while they played live, it wouldn't be strange either, as musicians tend to absorb notes and melodies very easily, and it could've have all been subconsciously done. I'm not trying to justify alleged plagiarism, I'm just sayin'. :P

Kira the Russian Princess

2008-06-17T12:02:00.005-04:00

While I'm much too old to be anywhere near the target audience, I've been very interested in the arrival of a new brand that is coming to the States from Russia. The chain of stores, called Kira Plastinina, are named after its chief designer and founder, the 15-year-old daughter of a Russian millionaire. With nary a design background, but a taste for what's in with teens and tweens, and with the help of her father's wealth, she hopes to have 50 stores in the US in the next three years. Currently, there are about 49 stores all over Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. The first US store is in NYC.

I have read several articles (read here and here) about her background and her goal of an empire (or is it her father's goal?), but I think the most intriguing aspect of her story is not just the success factor (her business is worth billions already in Russia), but that this young girl is actually living the dream of every other young girl who loves fashion, art, and design. To be bankrolled by a father who is fully committed to her, to be able to doodle designs and hand them off to real designers and seamstresses/tailors so she can wear the real thing, to go to a store opening that is designed like her own dream closet, that is what is so fascinating about her. She is living the life of a princess, with no rules of the game. She can pick and choose at her whim, have a creative outlet that isn't held up by boundaries; that is the true goal of any entrepreneur. No one would ever say no to her, especially not at this stage. It's her level of power and wealth that can cause envy or dismissal, but she is truly the mistress of her own domain, and owner of her own conglomerate. There is a sense that you would want to root for her, but when everything is so perfect, there are definitely critics out there who want to see her fall.

The brand aspect of "Kira" is also appealing to me, mainly because while we make a brouhaha of young celebrities like Miley Cyrus who are owned by Disney and can't really steer their own careers without living a certain level of values, or compare this self-indulgent young girl to the likes of Paris Hilton, who sometimes has no business calling herself a celebrity, Kira's meteoric rise without having to answer to critics gives her a definite freedom that is different from the rest of us. One of the marketing goals of her brand is that she is young, and thus, would appeal to her target audience, from teens into women in their early-20s. But is her success story believable? Maybe the girl herself, she is still young and we can buy into her aspirations and dreams, but the truth is, she has lived the success of 10 lives over; many older, more cynical people will realize this and see past the rose-colored glass, that she is anything but ordinary and "your average teenager." She is obviously a very pretty girl and will be an idol for many little girls, but one mustn't be fooled by the PR blitz.

The question remains to be seen on whether or not all the hype will bring her brand to the level it has performed in Russia. I took a look at the early catalog of designs on her website, and they are cute, quite ok, although nothing groundbreaking. In fact, with all of her love of pink and rainbows and butterflies, she reminds me a lot of a design that I grew up with back in the 90's, of the old-school Lisa Frank designs, which were enmeshed with neon colors, and were always of unicorns, roses, puppies, etc.

Kira's designs at most appear to be ultra-fem and a little subversive. But if these designs are any measure, she will quickly build a fan following amongst the Wet Seal/H&M fans.

Emma not the new face of Chanel

2008-06-17T11:15:00.003-04:00

For anyone holding their breaths, those rumors aren't true, "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson is NOT the new face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. While Keira Knightley is currently reigning supreme as the spokesperson, and her contract is scheduled to end this summer, there has not been anything definitively set up to replace her.

While I don't picture Emma as exuding much sensuality, which is how the brand is defined, it would have been interesting to see her "grow up" and be made over into that role.

Source & Source

Leon Lai - Sichuan charity song

2008-06-16T13:38:00.004-04:00

In an update to the Leon Lai 黎明 charity song CD that is being sold in Hong Kong to benefit the Sichuan Redevelopment Project in China, here is the music video.

Click below to hear a part of the song. It is sweet, and if you are in HK, please purchase the CD for a good cause to help all those who survived the China earthquake!!! The CD will only cost $10HKD. (If anyone can pick one up for me, I will gladly pay you back!!!)

Keira as the Duchess

2008-06-16T13:15:00.003-04:00

Speaking of Keira, she has another new film coming out this fall, called "The Duchess," which stars her and, drum roll, please....the excellent Ralph Fiennes (loved him ever since I saw "The English Patient")! While her other film, "The Edge of Love," looks a tad more enticing based on the trailer, there is no doubt I will watch this, as I'm very interested in the life of the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Cavendish, who was considered one of the first original "It" girls back in the day, known for her fashion, sexual scandals, gambling, etc....you know, like Paris Hilton now, only, I think, a bit more sophisticated, and of actual aristocratic blood. :P

Fun fact: Princess Diana is actually a blood relative of the duchess, having descended from Georgiana's brother, George, the 2nd Earl Spencer.

See the trailer below.

when mario testino is your photographer, your companion is keira knightley, and you, no one knows who you are...

2008-06-16T13:03:00.005-04:00

What a lucky guy! This German fan walked into the midst of a Keira Knightley photo shoot, shot by famed photographer Mario Testino, and got a nice little souvenir. I don't know how he finagled this, but he asked Mario to take a photo w/ his camera phone, and stood very close to Keira for the shot. Everyone looked more than happy to comply, so again, he was very lucky!

I'm not sure why Keira looks orange in this photo, though. Too much fake tanning? I hope her final Mario shots will be less scary-looking...

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painterly

2008-06-16T12:22:00.003-04:00

Had I known about this contest I might have ventured into participating, but seeing the winning entry, I'm not sure that that's something I might have designed at all.

Elle had a t-shirt designing contest, where the winning design would adorn a Thakoon-designed t-shirt, to be sold in NYC's Kirna Zabete store. Obviously, a very fun contest for anyone looking for a creative outlet.

What do you think of the winning entry? I think it's in line w/ the current trend of paint-splattered fabric. However, it doesn't draw me in as much, as I think the winning design could have had more of a perspective, more of a direction, rather than such an abstract flow.

I wish I could see what the other entries looked like!

the Brits are coming...!

2008-06-16T11:47:00.003-04:00

Yay, TopShop is finally going to have a presence in the US! In addition, they will launch a new US website so that prices for most pieces will be under $100 (which is what it would've been if there wasn't such a huge discrepancy between the dollar and the pound). Store will open in NY in the fall (will have to trek out there), and while the frenzy might be bigger, if not better than when H&M first opened, it will be worth it. Can't wait!

Jessica Alba's Staring Contest

2008-06-16T11:03:00.003-04:00

Definitely filmed before she gave birth, Jessica Alba was challenged into a staring contest. In addition, you can try to beat her just by watching this video (and filming your own stares). Kinda weird, kinda interesting, but for Alba fans, you get a view of her looking deep into your eyes, and a sneak peek at what might be her palatial pad in the background. Have fun!

Gucci disappoints me...

2008-06-16T09:40:00.005-04:00

I'm somewhat miffed at Gucci right now, because of their lack of customer service response! Last week, I inquired about this rose shantung top that was on sale on their website. Granted, it was actually too large for me (only size L remained), so I filled out their customer contact form to ask about alterations for the top if I did indeed purchased it, or if it was outright ill-fitting, if it could be returned. Now, it all doesn't matter, since the top is now sold-out, and I have to go look for a knock-off top or something.

When I purchased my Bottega Veneta bag last year via their website, I received stellar responses from their customer service, and that was just one woman who was operating from the NY store. So of course, I expected the same level of courtesy from Gucci (since they claim they will get back to you within 24 hours), and even if the top is sold out, maybe there are other things I am eyeing, so shouldn't they at least TRY to respond?

I suppose I could've called instead of the passive-aggressive approach of using the Internet, but I see these two channels of communication as equals, so why wouldn't I expect the same levels of service?

Anyhow, I suppose I can buy something else w/ my hard-earned money, even though I thought this top would be lovely to wear on my 30th birthday (in just a lil' over a month!), but yes, I mourn the loss of this top, even if it's the color of Pepto Bismol.

I was a fool to fall for you!

Mmm, Christian Bale... :P

2008-06-12T20:01:00.006-04:00

In an interesting marketing strategy, Giorgio Armani and the film "Dark Knight" are coming together to promote Armani's line of Hand Made-to-Measure elegant suits. Ads featuring Christian Bale don't advertise with his moniker, but rather, features the namesake of his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, aka Batman.

Apparently, all the suits and coats for Christian in the film were provided by Armani. While this campaign is provocative (and Christian is gorgeous, so no complaints here!), I wonder how much revenue or interest it will actually generate for the suits themselves. It might appeal to the investment bankers, maybe some fashionable CEOs, but men wearing pristine suits are far and few, so is this look only tailored for the silver screen? Will the wealthy actually clamor to have their suits made by Armani 'cause they saw Bruce Wayne wearing them?

Anyhow, here are some more handsome shots of Mr. Bale in his custom Armani suits. Can't wait to see him and the film on the big screen!

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candid Angie

2008-06-12T17:08:00.005-04:00

Is it me or does Angelina Jolie look very waxy here? I don't know if it's the photoshopping or maybe she got some major microdermabrasion, but she looks really fake, which is such a different look from her Vanity Fair photos, which ranged from wild siren to angelic nurturer, but at least she looked real there.

Anyhow, Angie gave a rather candid interview to Entertainment Weekly. She talks a lot about Brad, how they're raising their children, her role as an activist in real life vs. assassin on-screen; lots of nice tidbits for Angie fans.

The weirdest thing in this article is that machine gun pendant that you can see her wear above. Apparently, for Mother's Day, her son Maddox drew a machine gun (he's 6, so that's understandable), and Brad made it into a necklace for her, which I agree is very sweet (he seems to be ever attentive, huh?), but the fact that it's a machine gun makes it sort of ironic. At least it fits in with the theme of her new film "Wanted," right?

BTW, here's a short but high-quality trailer for the film she's been promoting. The effects look awesome, but I wonder how well James McAvoy will pull off the action hero star, since he's always comes off as a softie in films like "Atonement" and "Becoming Jane."

For the EW interview, read it here.

Battle of the Price Tags #3

2008-06-12T12:14:00.005-04:00

Gucci Black/White/Yellow Printed Cashmere Sweater $499 (originally $1,240)
vs.
Forever21 Daisy Sundress $22.80
Savings of $476.20

Hermès Extra Wide Enamel Bracelet in Silver and Palladium plated $630
vs.
Lee Angel Thick Stretch Cuff, Black $165 (originally $235)

Savings of $465

Bracelets for a Cause #2

2008-06-12T10:15:00.004-04:00

In celebration of Love Day this year (June 19th), Cartier is launching their 3rd Annual Love Bracelet to benefit a variety of charities. This year, the theme is music, so all of the celebrity ambassadors are various artists/musicians.

In the past, while the bracelets only had one Love ring, this year, the design has two intertwined rings, one in 18kt white gold, the other in 18kt rose gold. Each bracelet is formed with a silk cord, with a choice of 8 colors, each color representing a charity. For each bracelet sold ($995), $200 will be donated to the charity that corresponds with that color.

2008
Janet Jackson - Ovarian Cancer National Alliance - Gunmetal Grey
Fergie - Peapod Foundation - Orange
Good Charlotte - Richie-Madden Children's Foundation - Deep Green
Eve - Women in Transition - Peach
Common - Common Ground Foundation - Khaki
Emmy Rossum - Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Pink
Hilary Duff - Blessings in a Backpack - Purple
Ashanti - Boys & Girls Club of America - Royal Blue

I am actually surprised that there aren't any red cords this year, as that would be the most obvious color for Love Day. In the past, a red cord was designated for YouthAIDS.

Here are the colors and charities from the 1st and 2nd Love Charity Bracelet drives. The 2006 version only had one rose gold ring, while the 2007 version had one white gold ring. It seems that the version from this year was designed to bring those 2 rings together.

2007
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw - Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation - Chocolate Brown
Djimon Hounsou - SOS Children’s Villages - Deep Copper
Eva Mendes - The Art of Elysium - Navy
Julianne Moore - Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance - Lavender
Rihanna - Believe Foundation - Sea Foam Green
Usher - New Look Foundation - Gold
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener Trust - Lilac
Elie Wiesel - The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity - Yellow

2006
Rosario Dawson – YouthAIDS – Red Bracelet
Salma Hayek – Human Rights Watch – White
Scarlett Johansson – USA Harvest– Baby Pink
Spike Lee – Kanbar Institute of Film and Television/Graduate Division/Tisch School of the Arts/ NYU – Purple
Edward Norton – Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust – Green
Sarah Jessica Parker – UNICEF – Blue
Michael Stipe – Mercy Corps/Gulf Coast Recovery – Black
Liv Tyler – The Breast Cancer Research Foundation – Deep Pink

There is the sense of inflation, since the bracelet was sold for $475 before, with $100 going towards charity. It's double that now. So that's what you have to pay for the name Cartier, huh?

If I had to choose a color, I think the grey one looks the best, as it's neutral, can be worn every day, and it's for a very good cause. I also like the pink, as that brings in the theme of love, and again, for a very good cause.

If you happen to be at Cartier looking for something in the Love collection, note that 10% of all sales on June 19th will benefit the partnered organizations.

Learn more about the Love collection here.

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don't always believe your eyes...

2008-06-12T08:58:00.004-04:00

Something tells me that if you put these two together, your barista is going to be so thrown off.

If you're one of those ppl who HAS to have at least 1, 2, 3, heck, 5 cups of coffee a day, and you don't carry a thermos 'cause you like looking cool w/ a paper cup and sleeve, why not reduce your carbon footprint with something like this?

The "paper" cup is actually a porcelain cup with a silicone top, while the "cardboard" coffee sleeve is formed from reclaimed architectural veneer offcuts, and comes in a variety of exotic woods. After you're done carrying your hot coffee around, the cuff also doubles as a cuff bracelet!

Smart and entertaining, yes, but practical, not so sure. Try it out for yourself.

"I Am Not a Paper Cup" - porcelain and silicone cup - $22

Bentwood Coffee Cuff - $68CAD

The Darcy of all Darcys?

2008-06-11T11:40:00.008-04:00

If you know the history of Jane Austen, you will know that at around the time she was 21, she fell in love with a man named Thomas Lefroy. However, due to their circumstances (both of their families were considered poor), although they were in love (or at least starting to be in love), they were separated by their families, and never saw each other again, as they both needed to find more suitable families to help with their financial situations. Tom Lefroy went on to marry an heiress that his family approved of, and became a chief legal justice in Ireland. He had a daughter who he named Jane, but it is not known if she was named after Austen. Austen received one proposal from another man, accepted, then the next day, rescinded and never married.

Historians and scholars differ on their analysis of whether or not this short flirtation that took place became the inspiration for the character of Darcy in her novel "Pride & Prejudice." Some say that it fueled the great romance between Lizzy and Darcy, noting that despite the gap of wealth, Darcy accepted Lizzy nonetheless and married her. However, Tom Lefroy in real life was not considered proud, silent, or passionate (traits of Darcy). He was considered a pleasant, talkative fellow, and a penniless law student at that, so this is where the discrepancies start sneaking in.

Despite that, fans of Jane Austen will surely want a piece of him, as a miniature portrait of Lefroy will be available for sale at the Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair in London between June 12th-18th, sold by Judy and Brian Harden. It is considered only the 2nd known painting of him as a young man out there; the other version is in the possession of his descendants. The asking price, you ask? A cool £50,000!!!

The watercolour is painted on ivory and measures just 3 inches by 1 ¼ inches. It is by George Engleheart, the great English miniaturist, and the only one which is dated and signed with the artist's distinctive cursive E.

While they are totally trying to profit from the Austen-craze, if you can't own a piece of the man, you can see a portrayal of him on film. James McAvoy played Tom in the film "Becoming Jane," which also starred Anne Hathaway as the author. (I haven't seen this film yet so don't know if it's any good.) The film is loosely based on their short romantic affair, so it's probably full of inaccuracies, but it could give you more insight on the man that might have been Darcy.

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Anglophile, bibliophile, Janeite...

2008-06-11T10:22:00.005-04:00

You can call me all of those things, as my recent purchases completely support these statements! It is no secret on this blog that I have a slight obsession with "Pride & Prejudice" (ok, maybe more than slight), as I've watched the 1995 BBC TV series more times than I can count while in high school, and after the 2005 film came out on DVD, I've watched that at least 10 times. The TV series is truer to the book, but I loved the chemistry in the film more, so I love them both equally.

Lately, I've been obsessed with trying to find a copy of the book that is lifted directly from the original 1813 text, as the current versions that are published now have been revised since sometime around the late 1800s/early 1900s. (The original also happened to have been published in three volumes, but now they are all combined into one book.) Even if it's difficult to read, I want to try, but it seems that no one has bothered to create this version, aside from a collector's miniature set, where the books measure 3"x 2". That's too small to really read from! And frankly, I don't have £7,495 to buy the original; really, a copy would suffice!

Anyhow, on a whim, I purchased an 1895 illustrated copy of the book, and I love it. This is not the first time that I've purchased antiquarian books, as I did that when I was a child at local flea markets (what I did with them, or where they are now, I have no idea), but this is the first time I really pursued a book that I loved. Although this copy isn't in any mint condition, I still love it for all the whimsical illustrations. I can't wait to re-read this book!

In addition, while I was perusing the Regency period on eBay UK, I came across this fashion plate, which is equivalent to their version of fashion magazines back in the day. I love the look of this woman, where she looks back at you with such clarity, and she looks so proper in her day dress, which is similar to what I imagined Elizabeth Bennet might have worn, minus the bonnet and purse (I see her touting a book with her hair in a loose bun, curls unfurling in the wind as she wanders through Derbyshire). I purchased this as well, and plan to frame it and hang as wall art.

Although this was not the most glamorous or romantic period in history, I must say that from both film, TV, and books, it's become romanticized, and I like the simplicity of the times, that it wasn't very gaudy, vulgar, or over-the-top in regards to the way that ppl acted or dressed. Women sewed, read, played music, danced...it was all very un-posh, which is why the human mind and connectivity were so important. It is more and more difficult to capture that feeling in this day and age.

Harry Potter mania still going strong

2008-06-11T09:28:00.006-04:00

The Harry Potter sequel that J.K. Rowling wrote to benefit two charities sold for £25,000 yesterday. Not bad for a double-sided postcard's worth of work! In total, after the auction of all 13 author contributed cards, almost £50,000 was raised to benefit the Dyslexia Action and English PEN.

While I was very excited to read the prequel, I have to say, this wasn't as story-driven as I would've liked. Basically, this was a quick sequence that took place three years before Harry was born, and involved Harry's dad, James Potter, and his godfather, Sirius Black. And what's the deal on "Elvendork?" Can anyone explain that to me?

The one thing that this does for me is that it does put into perspective that if Rowling wanted to, she could continue the saga from the perspectives of an earlier generation, which could have a different feel. But alas, she has said she won't write anything HP-related for the next 10 years, so that's that. This is the last time we'll read anything new that has anything to do with HP!

Here is a copy of the original handwritten copy, but if you're having trouble reading it, there were ppl kind enough to type it out for all to see. Read it here.

Also, you can pre-order a postcard book that will be available in August, which will contain facsimiles of all 13 cards. I already ordered 2 copies; you should do the same!

Source & Source

music to help the children

2008-06-10T14:58:00.003-04:00

UNICEF's goodwill ambassador Leon Lai 黎明 has recorded a charity song CD, called "You Won't Be Alone <你不會孤單>, with proceeds to benefit the Sichuan Redevelopment Project in China. The emphasis is on the children, which is what the title of the song was meant to convey, that they are not alone. Only 25,000 copies of the one song CD will be sold in Hong Kong, and they will be sold in jewelry stores, because he said that people shop more in jewelry stores than in CD stores. (HAH! Must be all of those pirated copies going around).

I haven't heard any music from Leon in a long time, mainly because he chose to stay out of the spotlight after peaking for several years in terms of his fame, so I thought it was nice for him to do this, especially since he didn't really have to do anything, he could've just stuck his face on a poster and ask for donations, but he made an effort to keep ppl engaged in the cause.

I was hoping that someone had the song posted online, as they had also filmed a music video for it, but nothing is available yet. It's too bad I can't buy a copy here, as I would love to have contributed to the cause. Hear more about what Leon had to say about the project. (Sorry, clip is only in Cantonese!)

Anyhow, if anyone out there is in HK, can you help me buy a copy, and I'll pay you back? Please email me if you can help me with this favor. Thanks! :D Better yet, you should buy some copies for the cause, too!

Totes for a Cause #4

2008-06-10T14:32:00.003-04:00

If you still haven't gone out and picked up a tote bag for your groceries in place of plastic bags, here are some more adorable choices. Pick either the "Green Living" design or the "Resist Plastic" design, and you will be helping the planet that much more. A portion of sales from these bags will also go to the World Wildlife Fund. Happy shopping!

Go Green Totes - "Green Living" or "Resist Plastic" - $28 each at FredFlare.com

tired of logos?

2008-06-10T14:18:00.005-04:00

Now this is a fun bag! Longchamp and Jeremy Scott have come together to design a limited-edition bag only for Colette. While this is obviously tongue-in-cheek when it comes to our obsessions with consumerism, it is a fresh design that isn't for the logo-obsessed (I plead the Fifth!), but is cute and happy-looking. This bag is relatively affordable, and great for traveling, or a weekend out of town.

Snatch one today before they're all sold out!

Longchamp x Jeremy Scott Gold Card Pliage bag - €175 at Colette.com

dreamy frock

2008-06-10T13:37:00.007-04:00

While purchasing an old, worn dress would be the last thing I would ever do, this dress really caught my eye, mainly because it is so perfectly saccharine and decadent in design, even though I could never afford something like this.

YOOX has a collection of vintage Christian Dior pieces for sale. The bulk of them have sold out, but this dress, this wondrous, sugary, cotton candy frock from the 1940's is still available. I think it's still around not because it can't be worn in the modern age, but because of its very hefty price tag. That being said, I think that this dress says a lot about the designs of classic Dior. Timeless, this dress looks like it could have been created now, for the now, although it doesn't stray far from visions of debutante balls, Grace Kelly movies, or the occasional wedding.

I would imagine that wearing this dress will be difficult, too, with all the beading and layers of silk organza, and within it, practically a built-in corset!

Rare Haute Couture evening gown, model 00840. The strapless dress is made from blue-grey organza, and embroidered with iridescent sequins in the shapes of stripes and polka dots. A whalebone bodice attaches to the full petticoat by a series of tiny snap buttons. Side closure with hooks. There is a small tear near the buttons.

But what a wondrous dress. I would love to own something like this one day...

best worn with gloves...

Christian Dior vintage Haute Couture Gown - $10,635 at YOOX.com

Source

Bracelets for a Cause #1

2008-06-10T11:43:00.008-04:00

Fashion empire heiress Margherita Missoni is on a mission to help save the orphans in Africa, and she is doing so by collaborating with designers to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Every few months, a new item will be for sale, one version that is more luxurious and expensive, and the other version a more mass-produced, less expensive piece. Proceeds benefit non-profit organization OrphanAid Africa.

I wish I knew about this sooner, as I really LOOOooooove the Lux Limited Edition version ($640) of this Ileana Makri-designed bracelet, which is comprised of pink gold, diamonds, and moss silk. It is already sold out on Yoox, but I found that I can buy it from Colette, if I didn't mind paying extra for the dollar-to-euro conversion as well as shipping! I have a weakness for anything that is pink/rose gold (loved it before it was trendy way back when), as I think it looks lovely on any skin tone. I ~might~ consider buying it from Colette, as I think the design is stunning (the oval shape of the pendant was inspired by an African fabric pattern), and it is for a good cause! The normal edition ($240) of this bracelet isn't too shabby either, but who doesn't love their wrist to be covered in diamonds? I would take 30 diamonds over 1...hehe...

Anyhow, I emailed customer service, but I'm sure they'll tell me it's all sold out. I will have to ponder the Colette option, or maybe I'll just wait to see what other fun pieces will be added to this cause. Stay tuned...

Source & Source

not just a pretty face

2008-06-09T12:24:00.007-04:00

While my favorite man of the hour, Matthew Macfadyen, still has my heart (see sidebar, and you MUST watch him as Darcy in 2005's "Pride & Prejudice"), he is considerably one half of a very attractive couple. His wife, Keeley Hawes, is no slouch, as recent of images of her in ads and on-screen show a hottie who is of a more sophisticated look.

The only work I'd really seen her was in "Spooks," otherwise known an "MI-5" in the US. That was the show that she'd met Matthew on, although on-screen they did not play a couple. I always thought her look kind of dowdy; maybe it was the lack of make-up, or the bland mousey hair, or the very insecure character that she played that emitted a lack of sexuality that made me pass her off as just another TV actress.

But steadily, she has shown herself to be a real hardworking actress, and a glamorous one at that. I didn't know this, but she's currently the voice of Lara Croft. She is in both film ("The Bank Job") and TV (she recently won the Glamour UK Award for Best Television Actress). And now, she's the face of a line of cosmetics and skin care for Boots No7 (only available in the UK, sadly). And she looks radiant!

I really like this campaign, although, I really think she acts way too mature for a woman of 31. She needs to be a bit more young, if you know what I mean. Taking a look at all of her different looks, she's like a chameleon, with a face that is an excellent canvas to show off the beauty products. The TV ad shows that she can be spritely, but again, I know she's the mother of 3, but she can come off more hip, no? In essence, I think she enjoys being a little more on the classic, refined side than a trendsetter.

Below is an older clip from a TV series where she played a small role, but you can see how beautiful she is here. (She's the tall blonde.) Also, this is one of the most HIGH-larious scenes I ever seen. Even if you don't know what's going on, try to watch the entire video. Cheers!

Source & Source & Source

lady gamers

2008-06-09T10:50:00.004-04:00

I love the new campaign for the Nintendo DS Lite, which is definitely aimed at women and a broader mainstream audience in general. Called "I Play for Me," the campaign stars country singer Carrie Underwood, TV actress America Ferrera, and movie actress Liv Tyler. Obviously, the campaign tries to cover all the pop culture mediums, casting celebrities who have very clean reputations no less.

The ads themselves are actually very quiet, which is how they caught my attention in the first place. Through all the noise and clutter of most ads, these stood out, and of course, from the way the angles of the camera capture their every action, you feel like a voyeur trying to look in to see what they're doing. And once you do see them, it's like this "oh" feeling. Like, "oh, they're playing video games. What are they playing?"

I do play a fair amount of video games, although I don't teeter off too far from my faves, which are less hardcore gamer, and more on the puzzle track (Lumines) or virtuality (Sims 2). I don't play some of the other games 'cause I don't like the stress of shooting at someone (although that's a great stress reliever if that's all you did, and you didn't have to worry about someone attacking you from behind, or if you have to cautious of someone lurking around the corner, but I digress), and most games need a long term-commitment. I like the pick-up games where you play for a short while, then move on. Don't we all have pretty short attention spans these days? Based on the messages of these ads, I guess that this is what they're basically selling.

Anyhow, here are the ads if you haven't seen them already. It's an interesting, unexpected campaign.

And here are the behind-the-scenes action. It's interesting that they talk about "growing up with Nintendo" and how it's quick, simple, relaxing, and fun to play. They are definitely trying to appeal to players who want something easy and non-committal (but committed to Nintendo, of course).

See more of the "I Play for Me" campaign here.

Coming up Roses...not!

2008-06-09T10:38:00.003-04:00

I have long been an avid fan of anything that smells remotely of jasmine and/or lily-of-the-valley, so I must, I MUST recommend this fabulous home fragrance. I use it in my office at work, and thankfully, it's a wonderful, clean, sweet smell that isn't too heavy. It makes my office smell like fresh lilies all day long. From West Elm (they have some other fabulous scents, too, such as Lavender Mint and Grapefruit/Mandarin), I chose White Flower because it was just too perfect for what I was looking for.

Fragrance is a funny thing in that everyone is different in what they like, and it's easy to annoy someone with a scent that someone might think is too much and they start to develop migraines, but thus far, this scent is nice in that it's not so over-powering that the scent drifts out of my office, and it keeps me serene and calm and happy. If you are near a West Elm, def. walk in and get a good sniff; you won't regret it (or have headaches!).

West Elm Diffusers and Sticks - White Flower - on sale for $19 (retails for $24)

Don't wear these while gardening...

2008-06-09T10:13:00.004-04:00

I have been smitten with these adorable little shoes for some time, even though they are hardly practical, and I would easily bang up those delicate flowers in a heartbeat just by trouncing through the day-to-day. The manner in which the orchid lays right at the tip of the shoe reminds me of a delicate butterfly, and for spring, it is just too cute for words, esp. in a sojourn through a park. (Just remember to stay off the grass.) I don't know why they bothered with a black version, since the orchid looks practically petrified in its two-tone glory, but the pink, ah yes, that is a shoe for the garden fairies.

Miu Miu Kitten Heel Flex Pumps in Rosa or Nero - $465 at SaksFifthAvenue.com

Harry Potter meets Harvard

2008-06-06T16:32:00.002-04:00

J.K. Rowling was in Cambridge yesterday to give the commencement speech to the Class of 2008 at Harvard University. Why, as a local, I wasn't even aware of this until after it all happened, I'm not sure, but anyhow, here was her speech. It is quite a nice speech, some parts humble, but she speaks as she's always allowed herself to be seen publicly; with humility, understanding, and yes, humbleness. How I wish I could've been present!

The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination
by J.K. Rowling

President Faust, members of the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers, members of the faculty, proud parents, and, above all, graduates,

The first thing I would like to say is 'thank you.' Not only has Harvard given me an extraordinary honor, but the weeks of fear and nausea I've experienced at the thought of giving this commencement address have made me lose weight. A win-win situation! Now all I have to do is take deep breaths, squint at the red banners and fool myself into believing I am at the world's best-educated Harry Potter convention.

Delivering a commencement address is a great responsibility; or so I thought until I cast my mind back to my own graduation. The commencement speaker that day was the distinguished British philosopher Baroness Mary Warnock. Reflecting on her speech has helped me enormously in writing this one, because it turns out that I can't remember a single word she said. This liberating discovery enables me to proceed without any fear that I might inadvertently influence you to abandon promising careers in business, law or politics for the giddy delights of becoming a gay wizard.

You see? If all you remember in years to come is the 'gay wizard' joke, I've still come out ahead of Baroness Mary Warnock. Achievable goals: the first step towards personal improvement.

Actually, I have wracked my mind and heart for what I ought to say to you today. I have asked myself what I wish I had known at my own graduation, and what important lessons I have learned in the 21 years that has expired between that day and this.

I have come up with two answers. On this wonderful day when we are gathered together to celebrate your academic success, I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of failure. And as you stand on the threshold of what is sometimes called 'real life', I want to extol the crucial importance of imagination.

These might seem quixotic or paradoxical choices, but please bear with me.

Looking back at the 21-year-old that I was at graduation, is a slightly uncomfortable experience for the 42-year-old that she has become. Half my lifetime ago, I was striking an uneasy balance between the ambition I had for myself, and what those closest to me expected of me.

I was convinced that the only thing I wanted to do, ever, was to write novels. However, my parents, both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that could never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension.

They had hoped that I would take a vocational degree; I wanted to study English Literature. A compromise was reached that in retrospect satisfied nobody, and I went up to study Modern Languages. Hardly had my parents' car rounded the corner at the end of the road than I ditched German and scuttled off down the Classics corridor.

I cannot remember telling my parents that I was studying Classics; they might well have found out for the first time on graduation day. Of all subjects on this planet, I think they would have been hard put to name one less useful than Greek mythology when it came to securing the keys to an executive bathroom.

I would like to make it clear, in parenthesis, that I do not blame my parents for their point of view. There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you. What is more, I cannot criticize my parents for hoping that I would never experience poverty. They had been poor themselves, and I have since been poor, and I quite agree with them that it is not an ennobling experience. Poverty entails fear, and stress, and sometimes depression; it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts, that is indeed something on which to pride yourself, but poverty itself is romanticized only by fools.

What I feared most for myself at your age was not poverty, but failure.

At your age, in spite of a distinct lack of motivation at university, where I had spent far too long in the coffee bar writing stories, and far too little time at lectures, I had a knack for passing examinations, and that, for years, had been the measure of success in my life and that of my peers.

I am not dull enough to suppose that because you are young, gifted and well-educated, you have never known hardship or heartbreak. Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the Fates, and I do not for a moment suppose that everyone here has enjoyed an existence of unruffled privilege and contentment.

However, the fact that you are graduating from Harvard suggests that you are not very well-acquainted with failure. You might be driven by a fear of failure quite as much as a desire for success. Indeed, your conception of failure might not be too far from the average person's idea of success, so high have you already flown academically.

Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.

Now, I am not going to stand here and tell you that failure is fun. That period of my life was a dark one, and I had no idea that there was going to be what the press has since represented as a kind of fairy tale resolution. I had no idea how far the tunnel extended, and for a long time, any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality.

So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.

You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.

Failure gave me an inner security that I had never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected; I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above rubies.

The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more to me than any qualification I ever earned.

Given a time machine or a Time Turner, I would tell my 21-year-old self that personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a check-list of acquisition or achievement. Your qualifications, your CV, are not your life, though you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two. Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyone's total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.

You might think that I chose my second theme, the importance of imagination, because of the part it played in rebuilding my life, but that is not wholly so. Though I will defend the value of bedtime stories to my last gasp, I have learned to value imagination in a much broader sense. Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared.

One of the greatest formative experiences of my life preceded Harry Potter, though it informed much of what I subsequently wrote in those books. This revelation came in the form of one of my earliest day jobs. Though I was sloping off to write stories during my lunch hours, I paid the rent in my early 20s by working in the research department at Amnesty International's headquarters in London.

There in my little office I read hastily scribbled letters smuggled out of totalitarian regimes by men and women who were risking imprisonment to inform the outside world of what was happening to them. I saw photographs of those who had disappeared without trace, sent to Amnesty by their desperate families and friends. I read the testimony of torture victims and saw pictures of their injuries. I opened handwritten, eye-witness accounts of summary trials and executions, of kidnappings and rapes.

Many of my co-workers were ex-political prisoners, people who had been displaced from their homes, or fled into exile, because they had the temerity to think independently of their government. Visitors to our office included those who had come to give information, or to try and find out what had happened to those they had been forced to leave behind.

I shall never forget the African torture victim, a young man no older than I was at the time, who had become mentally ill after all he had endured in his homeland. He trembled uncontrollably as he spoke into a video camera about the brutality inflicted upon him. He was a foot taller than I was, and seemed as fragile as a child. I was given the job of escorting him to the Underground Station afterwards, and this man whose life had been shattered by cruelty took my hand with exquisite courtesy, and wished me future happiness.

And as long as I live I shall remember walking along an empty corridor and suddenly hearing, from behind a closed door, a scream of pain and horror such as I have never heard since. The door opened, and the researcher poked out her head and told me to run and make a hot drink for the young man sitting with her. She had just given him the news that in retaliation for his own outspokenness against his country's regime, his mother had been seized and executed.

Every day of my working week in my early 20s I was reminded how incredibly fortunate I was, to live in a country with a democratically elected government, where legal representation and a public trial were the rights of everyone.

Every day, I saw more evidence about the evils humankind will inflict on their fellow humans, to gain or maintain power. I began to have nightmares, literal nightmares, about some of the things I saw, heard and read.

And yet I also learned more about human goodness at Amnesty International than I had ever known before.

Amnesty mobilizes thousands of people who have never been tortured or imprisoned for their beliefs to act on behalf of those who have. The power of human empathy, leading to collective action, saves lives, and frees prisoners. Ordinary people, whose personal well-being and security are assured, join together in huge numbers to save people they do not know, and will never meet. My small participation in that process was one of the most humbling and inspiring experiences of my life.

Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people's minds, imagine themselves into other people's places.

Of course, this is a power, like my brand of fictional magic, that is morally neutral. One might use such an ability to manipulate, or control, just as much as to understand or sympathize.

And many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all. They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are. They can refuse to hear screams or to peer inside cages; they can close their minds and hearts to any suffering that does not touch them personally; they can refuse to know.

I might be tempted to envy people who can live that way, except that I do not think they have any fewer nightmares than I do. Choosing to live in narrow spaces can lead to a form of mental agoraphobia, and that brings its own terrors. I think the willfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid.

What is more, those who choose not to empathize may enable real monsters. For without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves, we collude with it, through our own apathy.

One of the many things I learned at the end of that Classics corridor down which I ventured at the age of 18, in search of something I could not then define, was this, written by the Greek author Plutarch: What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.

That is an astonishing statement and yet proven a thousand times every day of our lives. It expresses, in part, our inescapable connection with the outside world, the fact that we touch other people's lives simply by existing.

But how much more are you, Harvard graduates of 2008, likely to touch other people's lives? Your intelligence, your capacity for hard work, the education you have earned and received, give you unique status, and unique responsibilities. Even your nationality sets you apart. The great majority of you belong to the world's only remaining superpower. The way you vote, the way you live, the way you protest, the pressure you bring to bear on your government, has an impact way beyond your borders. That is your privilege, and your burden.

If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped transform for the better. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.

I am nearly finished. I have one last hope for you, which is something that I already had at 21. The friends with whom I sat on graduation day have been my friends for life. They are my children's godparents, the people to whom I've been able to turn in times of trouble, friends who have been kind enough not to sue me when I've used their names for Death Eaters. At our graduation we were bound by enormous affection, by our shared experience of a time that could never come again, and, of course, by the knowledge that we held certain photographic evidence that would be exceptionally valuable if any of us ran for Prime Minister.

So today, I can wish you nothing better than similar friendships. And tomorrow, I hope that even if you remember not a single word of mine, you remember those of Seneca, another of those old Romans I met when I fled down the Classics corridor, in retreat from career ladders, in search of ancient wisdom:

As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.

I wish you all very good lives.

Thank you very much.

Source and Source

yes, I'm jealous of a cartoon

2008-06-04T16:43:00.005-04:00

While visions of Paris dance in my head (the bf and I have very tentative plans for going in September, although, with the decline of the dollar, we still haven't booked anything yet), I saw this t-shirt and almost let out a childish gasp.

So kawaii! Hello Kitty and her entire entourage are in the City of Lights, and how I wish I could join them!

Hello Kitty Eiffel Tower Tee - $24 at FredFlare.com

Victoria looking sublime at the CFDA Awards

2008-06-04T16:12:00.004-04:00

I adore this new look from Victoria Beckham! She looks polished, healthy, happy, relaxed. I love how she's not overdone, but just very poised and comfortable.

And the dress! So adorable! It's aflutter with layers and layers of chiffony hearts! Marc Jacobs did well with this look. I wonder if it was a one-of-a-kind, or if he'll be selling this frock from his collection anytime soon...? Just gorgeous!

Source

I am a bookworm, unapologetically...

2008-06-03T13:07:00.006-04:00

This is probably old news to some, but I had no idea that Amazon had won the auction of the only copy of J.K. Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" to be available for sale. Only 7 copies of this handwritten book exist, but Rowling gave the other 6 to those whom she wanted to thank. The 7th copy was placed at auction to raise money for the Children's Voice campaign. Amazon won the auction back in December of last year.

I read a lot, and the Harry Potter books were definitely one of the highlights of my book list in the past decade. I recall being a bit of a book snob when the first book came out, and many ppl recommended it to me, but at my first reading, the book smelled faintly of Roald Dahl's influence (i.e. "James and the Giant Peach," one of my all-time faves), so I thought of her (or him; I don't think I knew the author was a woman then) as a copycat, and couldn't get through the book. A year later, I was bored and wanted to read something, ppl were still telling me that I should read it, so I picked it, and slogged through the first several chapters, hoping to get over my negative feelings. By the end of the book, I was hooked. Luckily for me, the 2nd book was already available then, so I could continue on reading, and I was charmed all over, just like the rest of the world had already been.

Last summer, when I was in London, I was there just when the last book was being released. I didn't stand in any lines at midnight or get dressed up or anything, but I did go into the Waterstone's at Trafalgar Sq. that first day, and picked up my UK copy, and read it on the plane while flying back to Boston. It was so great to be back in that world, but sad, too, because I knew it was all coming to an end.

Anyhow, even though the series is long over, J.K. Rowling continues the saga of her universe through very inventive means. I am actually very glad that it was Amazon that won this auction for "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," because they chose to share it with the world, and that is more than any fan could ask for. The book was referenced in the HP series as a book that Ron had. JKR had to go back and create all new stories to fit in with the original titles she had listed as stories contained in the book. You can Amazon's reviews here, but unfortunately, they didn't transcribe the original text! Better than nothing, huh? :P

A week from now, there is another auction that J.K. Rowling will participate in. To benefit the Dyslexia Action and English PEN, a writers' association, Waterstone's bookstore (that same one that I bought my HP book from) is holding an auction of 13 original works from 13 internationally renowned authors. Rowling's contribution will be an 800 word prequel to "Harry Potter" that she'd handwritten onto a card.

It would be silly to think that any one of us mortals would be able to afford something like this, but you can buy the entire collection of works in book form. And for your Harry Potter fans, the big tease coming from Waterstone's is this last sentence by JKR, saying, "From the prequel that I am not working on - but that was fun! JK Rowling 2008."

Waterstone's Exclusive Postcard Book: To celebrate the National Year of Reading Waterstone's asked 13 world-class authors to tell us their story. We extended this invitation to our customers, in the form of a nationwide competition to win the opportunity to be published in this limited edition postcard book, alongside the original works from JK Rowling, Doris Lessing, Neil Gaiman, Michael Rosen, Nick Hornby, Sebastian Faulks, Lauren Child, Tom Stoppard, Irvine Welsh, Axel Scheffler, Margaret Atwood, Richard Ford and Lisa Appignanesi. This collection consists of 13 story cards from the authors listed above plus story cards from the three winners of the national competition. Due to the exclusive nature of this product, we are limiting orders to two (2) per customer while stocks last. All profits from the sale of this collection will go to Dyslexia Action and English PEN. Please note that because the postcard book contains a mixture of authors, some stories are not suitable for children.

Happy Reading!!! :)

Waterstone's Exclusive Postcard Book - £5

To Louis, or Not to Louis?

2008-06-03T09:35:00.005-04:00

I am now driving myself a little nutty because after much thinking, I think I got over the Fendi (the small size and unpractical covering of clear sequins really made it a lot less desirable), and I now have my eyes on the Louis Vuitton Monogram Watercolor Speedy. It's so beautiful! I love how the logos look so imperfect and muddled, yet the colors are so soft and pretty. It's sold out online, so the point might be moot now, but really, what should I do? Fendi, or LV? I think I'm gearing a lot towards the LV...

Louis Vuitton Monogram Watercolor Speedy 35 - $1,270 at vuitton.com

To Fendi, or Not to Fendi?

2008-06-02T16:36:00.004-04:00

Almost 2 months ago I blogged about a little white Fendi that I saw in a magazine, but never quite brought myself up to calling or inquiring about it in the store. General lack of coverage of it on their website told me it might have just been an Asian exclusive, but now, I think it might not, and I don't know what to do!!!

I was traveling a lot last week for work (hence my very sporadic posts), when I was in the San Francisco Airport, sitting in the American Airlines terminal when I saw a woman carrying this exact bag. It was even cuter in person! Surprisingly, the bag is not simply patent leather, but little clear sequins cover the entire body of the bag. It was very small...so it doesn't carry a whole lot except for the key essentials. The unique color combinations look very cool even from afar.

I've been very good all year, not thinking about buying another bag (I simply have too many!), but now I'm seriously considering it, as I just loved it from day one, and also, I don't actually own a Fendi, so what a fun bag to start with. What do you think? Should I give it a shot? On this website, it is going for $899, but I would rather see if the stores have it themselves before I consider these third-party companies.

Please let me know what you think!

another glimpse of Marilyn

2008-06-02T14:51:00.004-04:00

New never-before-seen footage of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Cable will be up for auction on June 21. Filmed by an extra who was on the set of "The Misfits," the last film that both stars appeared in before their deaths, I'm sure that a lot of ppl interested in movie memorabilia will be thinking about bidding on this rare footage.

I have been a fan of Marilyn Monroe since I was introduced to her life story back when I was only about 9, 10 years old. By then, she could've been another forgotten starlet, but even though I had never seen her films at the time, flipping through a book of early Norma Jeane Baker photographs that was lent to me, I became enthralled with this enigma who showed so much promise at the tender age of 19. Her beauty and tragic life has always intrigued me, in that she came from a broken family paved with mental issues to make herself the star that she became. She married smart men, when she could have married rich, handsome, or powerful. I recall seeing her early photos, when she had her normal, open smile, and read how she was taught to only smile "seductively," which gave way to the birth of the sex siren. My favorite photos of her are still when she smiles openly, rather than when she's putting on the sensuous, Jessica Rabbit pout. Of course, she didn't just charm me, she charmed the world, but the fact the she can defy time to still be in our minds, to still intrigue us to this day speaks volumes in terms of that intangible power she has over us.

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star wattage

2008-06-02T11:52:00.009-04:00

Vanity Fair has an amazing pictorial of Angelina Jolie in its July 2008 issue. This woman just continues to astound me in terms of her beauty and grace.

You can also read the article here, which is a nice read, but a tad too analytical in terms of trying to tie in Angelina the movie star to Angelina the wild child, mother, wife. Sometimes, when I read these interviews, I wish you can just HEAR the interview, or even just read her responses, instead of the writer's projections. But, it's a very complimentary story nonetheless.

"Tropic Thunder" steals the show at MTV Movie Awards

2008-06-02T10:48:00.006-04:00

As promised, here is the longer version of the "Tropic Thunder" viral video that aired on the "MTV Movie Awards." Totally hilarious! :D

The guys also made an appearance last night, presenting the Best Movie award.

Every picture I see of them just makes me want to laugh. They are like the new Three Stooges, only even wonkier and stranger. I mean, Jack Black looks like a turnip that just exploded here.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention, "Iron Man" won Best Summer Movie So Far. Woohoo! Man, RDJ is just très cool these days...!

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R.I.P.

2008-06-02T10:09:00.002-04:00

Yves St. Laurent, one of the most famous designers in the world, has passed away last night due to a brain tumor. Read more about his life and how he changed the world of fashion here.

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Sharon Stone's comeuppance keeps on coming

2008-06-02T00:47:00.005-04:00

In light of my angry tirade last week over Sharon Stone, while I don't apologize for it, rereading what I wrote, it was definitely a visceral reaction that was triggered as soon as I heard what she had the nerve to say, which was to blame the devastating earthquakes in China on "bad karma."

Here are her original statements.

Good God, even hearing the rest of her quote, I'm dumbfounded by her lack of heart and common sense in breaking apart the politics of the people and a natural disaster! What a brainless twat!

Anyhow, I was glad to hear that Dior is doing the right thing, which is to distance themselves as much as possible from this dumb idiot.

Luxury retailer Christian Dior has pulled advertisements featuring Sharon Stone from stores across China after the actress suggested the country's earthquake was "bad karma" for Beijing's policies in Tibet.

At least 68,000 people died in the May 12 quake in southwest China, which came months after unrest in Tibet that sparked an international outcry over Beijing's handling of the predominantly Buddhist region, which Communist troops entered in 1950.

"Due to some customer reaction we have decided to pull her image from all of the department stores and from all of China," Christian Dior China said in a statement.

Stone has a modeling contract with the cosmetics arm of the luxury retailer for which newly rich China is a fast-growing market.

"We just want our customers and fans to realize that her personal comments are not related to the company and of course we don't support any type of commentary that will hurt the feelings of our customers," Dior said.

The best way to get at her is really her wallet, which is quite sad, as I think she deserves more than boycotting. No amount of apologizing from her will make what she said any better. I know she's done many charitable work, but if the charity is coming from such a cruel and insane woman, I think it better that she stayed out of it.

Read more about China's reaction here.