The Classic Denim Mini
Friday, August 22, 2008 at 2:08 am
Recently I’ve been in a major fashion slump, meaning that I’ve been recycling two outfits over and over again for the past few weeks. In fact, my fashion slump has been so serious that I’ve resorted to wearing my sister’s denim mini skirt. 
Yes that’s right -a classic denim skirt. It’s not even one of those trendy A-line minis, which are oh-so-trendy this season. And I’m so lazy that I just wear it with my current love, an American Apparel V-neck shirt. While the white tee and denim mini combination feels very juvenile to me (-it’s very high school isn’t it?), it’s also strangely very comforting. With fashion trends coming and going faster than ever, it’s just getting tiring and frankly, not very exciting to keep up with it all. I mean, I adore Zara and H&M for its fast fashion and prices but since I am stuck in a fashion slump, nothing seems more charming than a plain, casual outfit that is the tee and denim mini.
Right now I’m trying to find a denim mini to buy. A problem with the denim mini is that I’m finding it really difficult to find a denim mini which is of a decent length. It’s not like I’m asking much -I just want one that ends around or slightly below mid-thighs. But in the shops tha’t I’ve been to (-ok, basically only Top Shop,) all I’ve seen are mini minis. How do people even move around in those? BG tells me that America Eagle Outfitters makes pretty good denim minis (see image.) But since I don’t live in the States, I’m hoping the next time I go to H&M or some other casual shop, they’ll be selling some decent denim minis!
Image Credit: www.ae.com
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
Understated and Elegant?
Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 11:08 am
In celebration of her recent bonus and exam results, one of my girl friends decided to invest in a handbag. She asked me to recommend her something suitable for work that is understated, classic and preferably not Chanel (which was naturally my first instinct!). Naturally when it comes to understated, classic, the Birkin comes to mind, but I think we can wait a few years before we proceed to that level. So I added young to the equation. Many “it” bags come to mind, but few are classic. So here I’ve listed a few that I think may last through the test of time. 
The Balenciaga motorcycle (left) and the Miu Miu bow bag (right). HG and I love them both and if you’ve been reading this blog, you’d know that already since these two bags have been positively overblogged by us. They were ‘it’ for a reason. I may be biased (because we own them), but I’d like to think that these two are classic. Only thing is that they’ve been around for a while already so you’d see it a lot in the streets and I’m not exactly sure that they qualify for “understated” or work (is there such a thing as being too hip for work? or am I just being a prude?). 
Two bags I personally think is more understated and appropriate for work, is the Classic Multi Pocket bag from Marc Jacobs (left) and the Dr Q Groovee satchel from Marc by Marc Jacobs. These are not as in your face as some ‘it’ bags, but they are definitely still very recognizable as MJ by those in the know. They are also simple, elegant and young. Love them!
For a bit more detail and design, there is the Miu Miu napa bag. But I personally think that this one is a but too recognizable and will be dated in a year or so. For something a bit more exclusive there is the Valentino Histoire bag, a less common ‘it’ bag that resembles the Mulberry bag from back in the days a bit.
And I KNOW that this is supposed to be young and understated, but I can’t help but posting these two. If I were a bit older I’d definitely go for the Bottega Veneta bag (left). Even though it is covered with the Vuitton monogram, I can’t help but love this Vuitton Mahina bag. The prints are subtle and the design is just elegant and so cute all at once. I want one!
Now for the winner of this competition- the YSL Muse. A bit more sophisticated than the Marc Jacobs, this bag is structured, simple and elegant. It fits everything and is definitely perfect for work. I checked out the Muse II as well, but I didn’t really like it. It looked like it was pretending to be a Birkin. For something a bit more casual and young, I am loving the YSL Downtown bag as well. This will probably be less common on the streets as well.
Any other bags I missed out?
Image Source: E Luxury, Saks and Balenciaga
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
Shocking Pink Lips
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 5:08 am
Bright pink lips seemed to be pretty popular on the runway in S/S07. In the Diane von Furstenburg show, the look seemed to be basically bright pink lips with pale, clear skin and natural-looking mascara. Note the tiny bit of shimmer on the inner corners of the eyes. Also, note the hint of gold/ orange in the inner edge of the lips.
Solid, matte bright pink at the Bradgley Mischka S/S08 show. The other makeup used seems pretty similar, except there is more blush used here, and the skin is not as bright and perfect as in the DvF show.
Then things got much more dramatic on the Christian Dior F/W08. The pink lips are glossy and the brows are heavily painted in. The foundation on the skin also seems a lot of powedery.
So when I actually try out this look, I’ll probably go with something very similar to the DvF S/S07 look, but without bothering with the gold in the lips. While I think bright pink lips looks cool and edgy and girly in magazine editorials and on TV, I’m still not sure how bright pink lips actually work in real life. My main question is, do people actually wear shocking pink lipstick in real life?( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
The Vuitton Neverfull
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 3:08 pm
On TV shows, on celebs (above: Kristin Davies and Heidi from The Hills) …. and they just looked so cool, casual and chic carrying it that I couldn’t resist but lust after it. 
The amazing ad campaign they have for it this season doesn’t help my case either. 
They make it look so versatile, perfect for a casual summer day….
.. or a fall day going to work. This above is my absolutely favourite look by the way, with her soft wind blown hair, clean barely there make-up, simple chic coat, effortlessly thrown on scarf, stylish jewelry and the bag- it is just perfect! And it doesn’t appear like too hard to imitate either. All one needs is the Neverfull bag to spice up a standard chic fall outfit. What a clever ad!
The bag itself even without such great publicity is rather clever too. The shape is super simple, but by making it in a thinner more malleable canvas material and the addition of the strings on the side that can be pulled to make another shape, it becomes a light, convenient (imagine all the things you can fit in there), versatile yet stylish bag. It’s a wonder they didn’t come up with that earlier! (or have they and I just never noticed until now?)
It actually reminds me a little of the Goyard bag, which I’ve been lusting after as well, also printed and similarly shaped, made of a more thin and malleable material. I like to think that the Goyard print is a bit more subtle and not as in your face. But then the Neverfull does appear to have more design and versatility to it, with its very cute strings on the side! Oh I can’t decide which one I love more!
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
Headband: Red or Blue?
Monday, August 18, 2008 at 5:08 am
Gossip Girl hasn’t even started this season, but my obsession with headbands persist. The other day while I was buying a simple clip for my hair (it is way too big by the way), I came across this Cara headband and fell in love with it.
It’s just so simple and understated, with a feminine but elegant bow on the side that doesn’t make me look like a little girl. The subtle shiny navy blue color subtly contrasts with my black hair, making it appear even more black, which effectively is the effect I aim for. It’s the perfect headband to carry me into fall, since it’s so subtle I can probably wear it with everything.
The problem of course is that it comes in a variety of colors and I’m wavering between the navy blue and the deep maroon red color. My first instinct was to pick up the blue, but then I caught sight of the red and the red is so nice too. It also contrasts with my dark hair beautifully, but while the navy blue is subtly elegant, the red pops and makes a statement. It won’t be as versatile as the navy blue, but it’ll definitely be special.
So if you were me, which one would you pick? Or is it nothing special at all (and that I was only in love with it because it happened to match the outfit I was wearing that day) and I’m better off without it?
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
08 Trend: Braided Hair
Friday, August 15, 2008 at 5:08 am
Braided hair has been one of the most obvious beauty trends this year. People seem to have a love-hate relationship with it -some people think it’s pretty and some think it’s just too cutesy. For most part, I think braids is a cute way to add some girliness to ones hairstyle, but it really depends on how you do it and whether it suits the rest of your look.
The celebrity that has been sporting braids the most seems to be Lauren Conrad. And if you know Lauren’s usual style (-very girly,) then you would probably agree that the braids really suit Lauren.
The basic way seems to be braiding the front bit of your hair and pull the briad to one side, and tie all your hair up into a pony tail. Look how well the braid goes with Lauren’s style!
And she even manages to use the braid to glam up her whole hairstlye and look.
Nicole Richie uses the braids to complement her boho, LA style.
Then there’s the braided up-do.
I have to admit I think this hairstyle really doesn’t suit Gwen Stefani. It looks so complicated and just… weird on her.
I love the way Rachel wore the braid. She manages to wear the braid without looking overly girly, keeping her casual and trendy look.( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
Olympic Fashion 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 8:08 am
So last week, I did a prelude to the Olympic fashion this year. Now let’s take a quick look at reality. Most teams weren’t very exciting and the whole parade dragged, but here are a few of my highlights:
The much hyped up uniform of the US team by Ralph Lauren did not disappoint expectations. It was elegant, smart and clean cut, a very good representation of the US team.
Definitely not as bad and commercialized and humiliating as American Politics made it sound and appear (above right) like. The logos, even of the Olympics were discrete and appropriately sized. And as for the cutting, I cannot quite tell from the pictures, but they appear fine to me. Granted I wouldn’t really wear this uniform out in public (being hip and fashionable obviously is not a priority), but given the occasion and how they had to design it for both sex, I thought it was really well done.
Another country I rather liked was Britain. I thought the uniform for women was much more feminine, with the navy dress, white blazer and belt, that gives it more shape. Though I must say, I think the over all look is compromised by the fact that so many of them are wearing the same thing. I know that is the idea of uniform, but… I guess that’s why people don’t like it when they clash clothes!
A few more examples of potentially cute looking outfits being compromised by replication: France (left) and Romania (right). The French looked simple yet chic (maybe minus the bag though…). The color of the Romanian team’s outfit also looks very pretty (though I probably wouldn’t wear it quite so matchy matchy). And check out those pumps!
Image Source: American Politics and Yahoo News
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
V-Neck Shirt By American Apparel
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 3:08 am
Remember how I did a post of the American Apparel Reglan shirt awhile ago, basically professing my love for them and acknoledging that I had worn them almost everyday last winter and realising I should probably buy new shirts? Well, now that it’s summer, I can’t really go around wearing the Reglan shirt -it’s simply too hot. So not surprisingly, I decided to try out one of AA’s oh-so-popular V-neck tees.
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We all know that AA is really popular for it’s deep V tee, but seriously, the V is so deep that I can’t say I actually understand why people even feel comfortable wearing it casually (or not casually.) What’s the point of a basic, boring tee if it’s not comfortable and I have to spend the whole day pulling my shirt up?
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So I stuck to the basic V-neck tee. Before trying on the tee, I imagined that an AA V-neck tee would magically transform my outfit to look cool and all, like you know how it always looks cool on whoever’s wearing it in the photos you see in paparazzi or candid fashion photos? Alas, from what I could see in the AA changing room mirror, the tee totally did not make me look any cooler (not surprisingly I suppose.) .jpg)
The coolest way to wear the AA tee is probably with skinny jeans or denim shorts -they really create a more unisex, effortless feel. Although admittedly, I’ve been wearing the tee with a denim skirt. And after wearing this outfit a few times, I’m really appreciating how brainless the combination is! (Brainless-ness is clearly one of the key factors to my favourite outfits.)
And yes, I realise the AA tee is totally last year’s news, (or maybe even news from the year before,) but hey, at least I’m learning to appreciate this boring (but very useful) basic tee now.
Image Credit: www.americanapparel.net
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
Design a Coach Tote
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 10:08 am
Over at Coach, they are having a design a Coach tote competition where the winner gets their tote made and win a shopping spree of $2500 along with many other Coach goodies. Talk about a great opportunity!
These two designs are currently ranked the top two. Personally, I think it’s been rigged. Because I don’t see the appeal. The Penguin design, Born with Style, is cute and I like how they put the Coach C’s. But the penguin print just seems kind of random. It’s not exactly what I’d say very cutesy, but at the same time it is definitely not serious. It’s just somewhere in the middle. And the purple bag, Hot Pink Summer… I think it’s fairly obvious why I wouldn’t be caught wearing that.
I admit, I didn’t personally go through all 3279 entries, but here are a few of my personal favourites. You can never go wrong with black and white, and I think these two, Classic B&W and Skyline Inverted, are no exception. They are both classic and chic. Obviously I have very consistent taste since both are really similar, but the black and the white and the bow just goes so well together! The one with the silhouette of the Coach is more distinct, but then the city skyline, while a bit too bunched together, appeals to my city girl side.
Of course, it is not lost on me that they’re looking for a ‘truly inspired and unique’ design and even I know that those are not. Other bags that caught my eye were these two, Chic in Pink and Falling Leaves. I love the pink stripes and the color combination, it is all very sharp and bold. Falling Leaves on the other hand is simple and subtle. But then doesn’t both of these remind you a bit of Anya Hindmarch designs? No?
I also rather like these two here, Munchkin and Swirl Pattern. They are both just so…. pretty! With their quiet and feminine color palette and elegant design, I’d definitely consider wearing these two.
And that is high compliment indeed, because designing a tote is not just about splattering on a pretty designs. Witness these two here Dark and Coach with a Twist.The designs by itself are really quite pretty.But in reality, it doesn’t really translate well. The fading silver is a good concept in 2D, but in 3D I think it’ll be a bit too much. And while the swirly idea is good and simple, I just don’t it’ll look really classy in real life.
This is why this Classic Black and White is my absolute favourite. Fine it is not exactly that far off from the first two I posted, but I think the huge sunflower print over the subtle Coach prints and the ‘Coach’ squiggle makes all the difference. It is different, unique and yet still very Coach. And I’d definitely wear it! Pink Lilies is also not bad. On first glance, it looks like just another bag with a pretty print. But then the designer has cleverly put in the Coach element on the butterfly and I think that’s really cool.
Then there are the super cutesy totes. Clearly these are meant to be cutesy. But there is a fine line between looking cheap and cutesy. But I think these two designers have achieved the right balance. The Juicy and the Bunny tote are just adorable. The first one is completely unique, with the bold graphic print of the cartoon, but the over cutesiness is countered by the subtle Coach prints in the background, which is very neat. The bunny cartoon on the other hand is just the perfect compliment to the Coach print. The silhouettes is simple and not very colorful, so it is not over the top. And yet it is still very cute. Juicy is a little too bold for me, but I’d definitely carry the Bunny. It’s cute without being too immature and kidlike (at least not matched with the classic print!).
I must say, I’m very impressed with the selection. What computer program did everyone use to create these really real looking bags? (seriously, they look like photographs!). Which ones did everyone else liked best?
The competition is now closed, but you can still support your favourite design by voting for them on the site (I think you have to sign up for Brickfish though…)!
Image Source: Coach
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
08 Trend: Gold Eyeshadow -The Smoky Eye
Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 4:08 am
So while finding the runway photos on style.com for the Pure Gold post, I realised that the gold eye shadow look that has been in my mind wasn’t really the Bottega Veneta S/S08 look but it was the very different Versace S/S08 look: the smokey eyes.
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For a light smokey eye, go for the Zac Posen S/S08 way. .jpg)
You can see that there’s obviously yellowish-gold eye shadow in the inner corners and on the bottom lashes. As for the top outer eyes, the brown eye shadow is applied in a ‘wing out’ way, which may look cool on the models, but I imagine very hard to apply on yourself in real life -the winged shape is so hard to acheive!.jpg)
For something more smoky and made-up for a night out, try the Versace S/S08 way. The Versace ‘face’ is definitely one of my favourites this season. It’s pretty do-able in real life, (as long as you don’t expect to look 100% like it does in the photos.).jpg)
For an imitation of this smokey eye, just blend gold and brown on your eye lids. 
Try this: Mac’s Goldmine + Tempting. I’ve never actually tried tempting, but I’m guessing most shades of shimmery brown would be ok..jpg)
Pale lips seem to be the way to go, although for some odd reason, pale lips never seem to look as cool in real life as in fashion magazine photos. .jpg)
Picture yourself in this makeup for a night out -loves it!( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
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