In the midst of an exhausting and sleepless New York Fashion Week, Tadashi Shoji’s SS 2018 collection was definitely a breath of fresh air. I’ve always known Tadashi Shoji for regal evening dresses meant for the red carpet but this time around, he treated the audience to a collection that can get one California dreamin’.
Influenced by the laid-back West Coast, Tadashi Shoji rolled out playful and delicate dresses made for the free-spirited gal. Frankly speaking, they look like dresses I would love to kick my work stilettos off for and slip into for a vacation. Maybe I would leave my desk for these dresses…who knows!
The flowy silhouettes are gorgeous, to say the least. They’re the kind of dresses that bring some swinging action down the street, if not a shoreline.
Gemstone and golden colors dominated the collection, painted across frocks in beach umbrella-inspired stripes, jacquard florals, and luxurious lace work. Living in Los Angeles, I have to say that Southern California’s colors and textures influence my wardrobe and bring it the life it needs. It’s never tiring to draw inspiration from So-Cal. Always vibrant, never drab.
For the show, I wore Tadashi Shoji’s Bazile Tea-Length Dress and it is as breathable and flowy as it looks—I may or may not have twirled in this dress a little too much. Love that it can go from the office to a night out, too. Styled with a coat, boots, bold pink clutch and sunnies and I was good to go.
West Coast Represent! And wearing Tadashi Shoji.
Some other details—Louis Vuitton envelope clutch and Durrah Jewelry “Spring” rings.
Another gorgeous Tadashi Shoji number is this Camila Tea-Length Dress, which I wore to the Bazaar Icons party. Love this. The lace trimmings and sheer fabric look like it’s a lot of work to wear but I was able to move and mingle around just comfortably—thanks to the jersey lining underneath.
Arriving at the #BazaarIcons party.
Put on red ankle-strap heels for an extra chic finish.
Glam rock chick essentials: Tadashi Shoji Camilla Tea-Length dress and snazzy electric guitars in the background.
Posing with Natalie Lim Suarez (of Natalie Off Duty) and Jessica Wang (Not Jess Fashion)
Jared Leto still managed to look better than me and my pretty get-up though, LOL.
Here’s to the next NYFW.
I’ve written about Uber before and how it’s really helped me in my workday commute but if you need extra convincing – here’s also another post about how it helps me on my “off-days” and weekends.
When I am not working and dashing off from meetings to meetings, I am, well – dashing off from other places too e.g. from the gym to the hair salon, and then from the hair salon to brunch with a friend , and later on from home to the bar for a fun night’s out with friends.
One of the reasons that Uber has really added to my life is that it allows me to truly enjoy and focus on what I want to do – I don’t know about anyone else but never having to deal with finding parking and traffic multiples a day has tremendously impacted my enjoyment level on doing various activities.
For example, one of my favorite rituals on Saturday is getting my hair blown-out and the place I go to has very limited parking. Without uberX I know I probably would need to add another 20 minutes finding and walking to a parking area. I love how uberX just drops me to the curbside and as soon as I am done, enables me to just hop into a car and ride away somewhere else.
Even on a relaxed day, if I even just go from home to the gym, and then to a salon, and then later to a restaurant for a fun date with friends, I save a minimum of 40 minutes on not worrying about parking. That’s 40 minutes I can use for sleeping in or even more me-time lol.
And of course, Uber makes going out and having a cocktail or three exponentially more fun as my friends and I no longer have to worry about who gets to be the designated driver – not that they are big drinkers in any way but just the fact that we can truly go out and just have fun has really added to the fun factor of our nights out.They don’t have to worry about driving, parking, and they can easily split the fare right form the app using the Split Fare feature!
I have been an Uber rider since they first started their service in 2014 -and it’s not hyperbole to say that the Uber app has been life-changing for me. I don’t drive at all (growing up in cities like New York and London does that to you) and in a city like Los Angeles where the public transportation is not the most ideal was challenging before Uber.
To be able to not never worry about the questions ‘how do I get there?’ and ‘where do I park?’ and just focus about what I want to do is immensely important to me. Not only that, I do feel that not having to think about driving has enriched my life and made me a thousand times more productive every day.
I have to say that meeting and interacting with Uber drivers have been for the most part something that has added richness and perspective to my life. This week alone, I got to chat with an ER trauma nurse who drives with Uber just to de-stress after a long day at work, a single mom who drives a few hours daily between driving her two kids to school to save up for that dream vacation in Disneyland, and a DJ who just moved to Los Angeles after spending 2 years taking photographs of sailing boats in the Caribbean.
And over the past few years, I have gained insight and perspective about other people in a way that would never been possible if I weren’t an Uber rider.
So here’s to that next ride – in an Uber.
This post was sponsored by Uber. All opinions are my own.
From the moment I wake up to the time I go to bed, my days are hectic and scheduled with meetings and events back-to-back. And living in Los Angeles, those events and meetings can have me rushing from one corner to the city to another – taking up a lot of time and energy, every single day.
This is why UberX has been a god-send to me ever since I started using it in 2012. The UberX app has enabled me to lead a productive work-week in a way that has not been previously possible. I can schedule rides beforehand and/or have rides linked to my smartphone’s calendar (so that my meetings’ destinations automatically appear in the app when I open it up to get a ride).
Of course, having someone else drive enables me to focus on other things like having phone calls or even catching up on work during the periods between Meeting A and Meeting B.
Being able to put my commute-time to good use (as a way to refocus and re-energize myself) for my next meeting or event in a busy work day has enabled me to give 110% percent to my team and to my audience.
A studio session recording a live video-webinar talking to an audience of about 1000 people.
Recently, Uber came up with a sister app called Uber Eats which basically enables me to order great food from a number of excellent restaurants/cafes in my area and have an Uber driver to deliver it to me.
Driving and following directions are not my best skill-set, so having an Uber driver get me from one destination to the other easily has been crucial to enable me to have a great work-day.
I also love that I can easily pull up my trip history on my smartphone or computer to keep track of my work expenses.
Having someone drive me goes beyond convenience – it feels like the smart and sane thing to do. Not having to deal with navigation and finding parking and instead using the time to re-energize myself in between meetings and events has enabled me to lead my life the way I want – from dawn till dusk.
Photography by Sabrina Hill
Having a signature look is what defines you, It represents your own personal style and It is the best start for your fun style journey.
Being unique doesn’t mean you have to be bold and different in every way. Unique means that you’ll be able to stand out, let’s put it this way you’re at a tea party and when you entered the room a lady from the corner table is also wearing the same turquoise skirt that you have on. How do you stand out girl?
Make sure that whatever clothes you’re going to buy fits you perfectly, it hugs your body on right places
Consider the fabric and texture, find clothes that will flow and accentuate your features
Accessorize! Accessorize! To help the outfit stand out find the right accessories to match your dress, but remember less is more. Too much component can make you look like a chandelier.
Make up, it is not required to wear it every day or whenever you go out even a natural look can be your signature, you just have to check your face and skin, pamper yourself once in a while to freshen up and to wake up your inner glow. If ever you have to put on make-up, yes definitely it is fine but then again ladies LESS IS MORE you wouldn’t want to look like a clown or even a zombie with those beauty products that you put on, the key is find your asset, if it is your eyes, focus on making them pop up, if it is your lips make that as a highlight on your face.
This beautiful tea time garden setting was taken at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Photography by Mandy Aileen | Gorgeous Pink Gown Designed by FIZIWOO
Makeup by Anna Sherie
Today (March 8th) is International Women’s Day ( PS: Personally I think every day is a good day to honor women) and so when FTD.com reached out to me and asked me to collaborate with them to write this post for their #ilooktoher campaign and to mention one woman whom I think has inspired me in some way it was a no-brainer – yes of course I would say yes.
Long before female journalist Zoe Barns showed up on House of Cards, Murphy Brown (on the show of the same name) blazed onto the small screen in my house in the late 1980s. I was mesmerized by the character’s strength, take-no-prisoners attitude and ability to strive in a typically male dominated field. Every week I would watch Murphy as she strode into the office, shoulder pads squared and hair styled to perfection, her appearance immaculate. Furthermore, she was more than her looks and stylish attire. Smart, sassy and intelligent, she epitomizes the hashtag #likeaboss, even before such a thing existes. And so with such an inspiration I suppose I never doubted that women should make waves in the corporate sector or in business, doting boyfriend/husband completely optional.
Not only did Murphy Brown stride into the office in stylish slacks and blazers – defying the usual, boring and overly-girly attire seen on television back then – but she was on a par with any man in her professional realm. I wanted to be that character. Down to the neck-scarves and sassy retorts such as “And why do you guys need a movement in the first place? Tired of getting higher pay for the same jobs?” She was a beautiful, tough woman who refused to play by the boys-school rules.
At the same time, Murphy Brown treated her colleagues and friends as equals and with the sort of respect and warmth beneath her gruff exterior, that caused them to rally around her through thick or thin. What more could a young girl aspire to?
As we celebrate International Women’s Day today, I hope that you too will reflect on the women who influenced you, motivated you, and encouraged you. Do better than just reflect on them – if you can, tell them. Show them. Send them some flowers to say “thank you for helping me blossom into the person I am today.” If I could send them to Murphy Brown, I would. What kind of flowers do you think she’d like? I’m guessing some sort of orchid – blessed with a long-life and much stronger than its outward beauty implies.
Thank you FTD.com for sponsoring this post.
To follow the campaign on Instagram, search for #ILookToHer or follow me on Instagram here
If there’s one more thing I’m head over heels in love with– it’s FOOD! Glorious, glorious FOOD! More so if they look as stunning as the picture above taken back during my stay at The Majestic Hotel. If you’re aiming for that Instagram worthy Foodie Shot or just want to leave your guests drooling with these beautifully set meals, then check out my stylish dining must-haves!
Gorgeous high tea setting at The Majestic Hotel | Photography by Mandy Aileen
While a heart of gold is something to admire in the rest of the world, in Hollywood it’s all about the gold statue – winning an Oscar is the pinnacle of success in The Golden State. So let’s look at how the gold Academy Award can be reflected in gold accessories for the work-desk where we all want to succeed.
For every Oscar-nominated film, there’s a corresponding desk accessory to consider.
1. Gone With the Wind. Nothing will be blown away by the wind if you get these adorable paperclips by Kate Spade.
2. The Razor’s Edge. This elegant peacock letter opener from Jonathan Adler is far superior in function and looks than any ordinary razor’s edge opener. I have this at home and it looks beautiful by itself on the entryway console.
3. The Hours. Opt for a traditional clock with a feminine, whimsical edge.
4. Cleopatra. Not only is this snake a fun talking-point, but it’s a magnifying glass for those times you don’t want to reach for your reading glasses but can’t read the fine print.
5. The Sound of Music. Dock your iphone or iPad on this gold accessory and listen to your music, or just charge your gadget, all with elegance.
6. Silver Linings Playbook. OK, so this Kate Spade one is lined with gold polka-dots, but it can still serve as your work-notebook for all your ideas.
7. Letters from Iwo Jima. From seeJanework.com comes this letter holder with an ampersand, heart or dots imprinted in gold.
8. The Reader. For the readers out there (and aren’t we all?!?) these gilded rock bookends are from Z Gallerie.
9. On Golden Pond. This S’well gold water bottle will look elegant on your desk while it reminds you to stay hydrated.
10. And don’t forget Chocolat. These chocolate truffles covered with edible gold and housed in an office-serious wooden box are the icing on the cake so to speak.
No one wins every time, but at least you can always feel like a winner when you surround yourself with touches of gold. And feeling like a winner is half the battle that leads you to success. Dress your playing field accordingly.
