The Return of the Kitten Heel?

Marc Jacobs Spring 2010

Marni Spring 2010

Missoni Spring 2010

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Dear Patient and Faithful Readers: Thank you for your patience during my long absence. I needed some time away from my blog, and I'm also currently reassessing whether or not I want to continue with it. I'm back--for now--but I will let you know if that changes. I greatly appreciate all of the kind notes you sent and I'll be visiting your blogs again soon.

Fur. Concrete. Spice.

Fur (Lambskin) Vest: Alexander Wang

Leather Jacket: Rick Owens

Cashmere Sweater: Gap

Black and White Tee: BCBG

Jeans: Silence + Noise

Booties: Chanel

Bag: Prada

Here I am wandering around the courthouses and federal buildings by the Brooklyn Bridge stop on the 4/5/6 train line. In the above photo, I'm looking at the Sugar House Prison Window, which was originally part of a prison for American Patriots during the Revolutionary War.

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More vest shots:

I'm obsessed with the idea of a fur vest, and this one by Alexander Wang is quite substantial; it's warm enough to wear as a coat or as a chic layering piece over a leather jacket on brisk fall days.

My husband took me to Spice Market, a trendy Asian-fusion restaurant in the Meatpacking District, for my birthday.

This row was the only empty section of the restaurant when we got there. By the time we left, it was completely filled up.

Appetizer #1: Lobster Summer Roll with citrus-dill gelee

Appetizer #2: Steamed Mussels with lemongrass, Thai basil, dried chili, and coconut juice

Entree #1: Char-grilled Chicken with kumquat lemongrass dressing

Entree #2: Onion and Chili Crusted Short Ribs with egg noodles and pea shoots

Dessert: Ovaltine Kulfi with caramelized banana and spiced milk chocolate sauce

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Have a wonderful week!

Crabby in Chinatown

Leather Jacket: Mason
Red cashmere sweater: Vince
Tee: Old Navy
Skinny Pants: 7 for All Mankind
Eel boots: Devi Kroell
Bag: Fendi

A friend suggested that I post about my regular haunts in Chinatown. My husband and I absolutely adore Yeah Shanghai Deluxe, an unassuming gem tucked away on Bayard Street.

Making soup dumplings in the storefront window

Crab soup dumplings, or xiaolongbao, miraculously contain hot delicious soup in their core. Lightly sprinkle one with the ginger soy sauce dip, place this ball of goodness on your spoon, take a small bite out of the top, and sip the soup before you enjoy the yummy crab meat and chewy dough. (If you don't like crab, they have a pork version that's equally popular.)

Crabs in brown sauce with edamame and rice cakes. I'm a huge seafood lover, and crabs hold a special place in my gustatory heart.
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Sacre bleu! What is this?

How on earth could I miss

Such a sweet little succulent crab

Quel dommage. What a loss

Here we go in the sauce

Now some flour, I think just a dab

Now I stuff you with bread

It don't hurt cause you're dead

And you're certainly lucky you are

'Cause it's gonna be hot

In my big silver pot

Tootle-loo, mon poison, au revoir!

--"Les Poissons" from The Little Mermaid

Beef with Bean Curd over Rice

Right next door, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory has amazing home-made ice-cream with a slew of exotic flavors for even the most jaded ice-cream eater. I personally love the red bean flavor.

Chinatown has several of these candy/dried fruit emporiums. I managed to get one shot of the display case before the saleslady barked at me. I got 1/4 lb of the dried plum and dried yam.

Green Tea Cafe has the best bubble tea, in my humble opinion.
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Have a wonderful week, everybody!

DIY Idea: Scarves on Shoes

Prada Resort 2010

Balenciaga Fall 2009
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I smell an easy DIY project here. Scarves, anyone?

A Vested Interest

Wayne Spring 2010

Balenciaga Spring 2010

Karl Lagerfeld Spring 2010

Black Out

What's your preference: black beauty or color story? (Photo Credit: Jak & Jil Blog)
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A quick perusal of my closet will unequivocally remind you that I am a New Yorker: a torrent of black, a deluge of gray, and a barrage of denim dominate my limited storage space with occasional but meager sprinkles of color. Like the atmospheric amnesia I suffer every fall (is this what 38 degrees feels like?!), I am reminded by the recent cold, premature blast of winter how dark my sartorial choices have been lately.

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It's undeniable that the fashion gods have dictated that fall 2009 would be a season of black. (Remember, they were designing when the economic gloom was at its peak.) Admittedly, I was lured by the promise of the easy chic: black goes with everything; black is edgy; black is the new black. Now, looking at my shadowy wardrobe and sighing through the spring runway shows, I am seduced by the promise of warmth and the color of joy. Alexander McQueen's psychedelic sci-fi dresses, Lanvin's candy-colored jeweled concoctions, and Proenza Schouler's tribal blues and greens all signaled a meaningful industry reappraisal of the power of--and need for--bright colors.

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Of course, this newfound worship of all things color does not mean a scorn of all things black. When the winter chill pierces the bone, somehow a suit of black armor seems like the most appropriate choice when facing the elements or huddling with a crowd of fierce fellow New Yorkers, who are all, like me, secretly dreaming of spring.

Seeing Red

I snapped up this amazing red velvet YSL vest at the Decades Two Sample Sale this past weekend. Decades Two, an upscale consignment store in LA, decided to fly to NY for a weekend-only grand sale in Soho. My electric blue YSL vest is one of my most prized sartorial possessions, so I thought I'd add another YSL vest to my collection.
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Some details:

Does anybody know what season this vest is from?

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I paired this vest with my Miu Miu "ruby slippers":

Hope everybody is having a fabulous week!

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.
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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.

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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.

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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?

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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
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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.

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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!