Brunch at Five Points and The WINNER of the LNA LEGGINGS!

Jacket: Theory
Tanks: F21 and Old Navy
Leggings: Old Navy
Pumps: Chanel
Bag: Fendi

I apologize for being MIA this past week. I've been swamped at work and preoccupied at home. Last weekend, I went to Five Points with one of my dearest girlfriends. I'm always looking for a quality brunch place, and Five Points, an excellent restaurant in NoHo, did not disappoint. We also heard that Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively and Penn Badgley were there the week before!

I can't live without pancakes, and these Lemon Ricotta pancakes were delectably moist and sweet without being overwhelming. My only complaint? No fresh fruit.

Mac 'n Cheese at its finest. If you're the type who lives for real cheese--the smelly kind that's imported from idyllic farms in Europe--then your taste buds will burst into song at the first bite of this cheesy goodness. But as a person who eats relatively less than the average person, I do recommend three dishes for two people, as each entree was quite small.
f
And now for the winner of the LNA leggings...

Congrats to Grace of vitaMinn Style, winner of the LNA leggings! Thanks to everybody who participated and to Chickdowntown for this amazing giveaway. I wish I could give all my readers a pair.

She Gives Her Harness Bells A Shake: Gucci Spring 2010

It's been ages since I have so utterly and completely fallen in love with an entire collection.

d

d

A GENTLE REMINDER: Enter to win a pair of LNA leggings! Click here for a chance to win.

Uniforms (and More Blogger Meet-Ups)

From Left to Right: Nini from Nini's Style, Hanh from Life in Travel, Me, and Lynn from All Things NYC

From Left to Right: Style and Beyond, Me, Lynn from All Things NYC, and D. from Dream Sequins

Lately, it seems that bloggers and editors alike have been talking about a "uniform": a dependable fashion formula that one can turn to when life or inertia gets in the way of creativity--or daring. Although I'm not one for formulas--I teach English, not Math, after all--, I do appreciate the familiarity, versatility, and ease of a blazer, top, skinny jeans, and heels (throw in a colorful scarf or belt for distinguishing details). When in doubt, I wear the uniform, which works for day or night.

d

Carolina Herrera wears a crisp white blouse. Alexander Wang wears a slouchy top and sweat pants. Karl Lagerfeld wears a black suit, white shirt, and black tie. What's your uniform?

d

A GENTLE REMINDER: Enter to win a pair of LNA leggings (see the post immediately following this one)!

Thumbelina's 2nd Giveaway: LNA Leggings!

LNA Leggings in Red, Gray, Purple, Aqua, Hot Pink, Gray, and Moss Green (not seen), Available at Chickdowntown
d

I'm thrilled to offer my readers another giveaway! To win a pair of these zipper leggings in your choice of colors, simply leave a comment with your name (feel free to leave your first name and the first initial of your surname if you don't want to leave your entire name) and a brief explanation about how you'd rock these leggings. I'm happy to say that this contest is open to everyone (U.S. and international readers, but the latter will be responsible for any custom fees). The contest ends on Friday, October 2nd, and I will announce a winner shortly thereafter.

d

I want to thank my faithful readers (silent or vocal). Your support means a lot to me, and I love hearing from you. Thanks also to Chickdowntown for this amazing giveaway. Be sure to check out Amy's Twitter Page for more information about other giveaways through Chickdowntown!

IFB: When Bloggers Descend En Masse

Last night, I attended the Independent Fashion Bloggers' "Dress-Up Soiree," which consisted of a panel discussion (featuring prominent bloggers) and an after-party. Although I arrived (fashionably?) late, I was stunned to see a monstrous line down the street. The venue was ridiculously incapable of supporting the hordes of bloggers that eagerly attended (look at the above picture to get a sense of the size of the room), and as a result, people crowded into the bar (located downstairs from the panel) and drowned out the panelists. Nevertheless, the real highlight of the night was getting to finally meet so many amazing and super-friendly bloggers!

Geri Hirsch from Because I'm Addicted

Susie Bubble from Style Bubble

The Mosh-Pit (aka the bar)

The glamorous Wendy Brandes (she was on the panel too)

Gisela and Maury from Heights of Fashion, Lynn from All Things NYC, Me, and Wendy from Wendy Brandes Jewelry

Maury and Gisela from Heights of Fashion

Lynn and Lucretia from Fashion is Poison

Hanh from Life in Travel and Nini from Nini's Style

Style and Beyond and Nini

Dream Sequins, Hanh, Nini, and me

Shoe Shot! (Same girls as above shot but with Style and Beyond)

The Bloggerati

Hanh posing outside

Dream Sequins taking a shot of Hanh (love her Nicholas Kirkwood shoes!)

Childhood Flames

Nini and The Glamourai

d

To everyone else: Wish you were here!!

Fashion's Night Out: Soho

Helena Christensen at Marc Jacobs

Vera Wang taking a picture with a fan

Some goodies at Prada

Close-up of my favorite Prada runway shoe

Some red dresses at Prada (my favorite is the animal-print velvet one in the middle)

There was a mob outside of Intermix; according to the sour-faced SAs at the empty Miu Miu store (next door), the mob was there to see a glimpse of Sienna Miller.

Free cupcakes outside of Club Monaco

Free manicures at Chanel

Peter Som at Kirna Zabete (he graciously took a photo with me; I'm on the left, cropped out)

Limited Edition goodies at Kirna Zabete, including a $49 apron (left) by Peter Som

More limited edition bags
d
As I suspected, Fashion's Night Out was more about partying and celeb gawking than an actual shopping event. Most people were too busy schmoozing and drinking (I've never seen so much free booze before) to shop. In some over-crowded stores, one could hardly get a glimpse of the racks. Nevertheless, the real success of the night was probably to dispel the sartorial guilt that most people have endured over the last few years. The message was loud and clear: It's no longer insensitive to shop to your heart's content.

Blogger Meet-Up: Kat from Mango Girl and Lynn from All Things NYC / Blog Awards!

Last week, super sweet Kat from Mango Girl and stylishly fab Lynn from All Things NYC had lunch with me at Sushi Samba! We had lots of fun chatting about life, relationships, and fashion.
e
(My husband taught me how to blot out my face--I hope you find this less creepy than the headless shots, lol! )
e
When I started blogging a couple of years ago, I had no idea that it would lead me to a wonderful community of intelligent and kind fashionistas! I've certainly had my moments of wanting to obliterate this blog (the "delete this blog" option has often tempted me on many an uninspired day), but then I think about all of the people I've met through it. On that note, I'd like to thank you for reading and commenting on my blog--each comment means a lot to me--and for your intriguing, fashion-forward, and heartfelt posts.

I'd like to give the "One Lovely Blog Award" to the following warm and stylish ladies who always take the time to leave a thoughtful comment and whose fashionable blogs make life a little bit sweeter with each post:

d

Martina from The Little Fashion Treasury

Sofie from Mode Diktat

Grace from vitaMinn Style

H from Pret-a-Porter Prostitute

d

d

I'd like to give the "I Love Your Blog" award to my fellow bloggers whose blogs I cannot live without! Your style and generosity inspire me every day.

d

Nini from Nini's Style

Hanh from Life in Travel

Lynn from All Things NYC

D from My Super Sweet Fashion Diary

d

d

The "Kreativ Blogger" award goes to my fellow fashionistas whose intelligence and love of culture accompany each fashionable post:

d

Kat from Mango Girl

Miss Cavendish

Style Odyssey

Wendy Brandes from Wendy Brandes Jewelry

From Russia With Love

I'm in love with these Chanel wedges from the Paris-Moscou collection!

Thanks to Dream Sequins for her lovely "Circle of Friendship" blog award! I'm so honored! Stay tuned for blog awards (so overdue) and an account of a recent blogger meet-up with two of my favorite new friends!