Luxe Lust: Dior Joaillerie

There is jewelry, and there is heart stoppingly beautiful, stunningly detailed, fantastically priced but worthy jewelry.

Watch the consideration and attention that goes into the four months of making the Milly Carnivore ring and then start to understand why it could cost...ok I can't even find the costs so you know it's gotta to  be more than a month's worth of Starbuck's.  But I think this would make a great anniversary present (right Mr. Spend 'n Chomp?)

(Go to Collections/Milly Carnivora here)

Otherwise, I'd also love these lovely pieces...
...Preciuse Rose

 ...Oui

 ...boise de rose

 ...Incroyables and Merveilleuses

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Fun {Etsy} Finds: Paper cut art by Jessica Alpern

A picture can say a thousand words.

This paper cutout "Evening Twilight" tells me a thousand comforting, intimate, and loving words.

"Evening Twilight" by Jessica Alpern, Etsy, $20

{Shopping} Tips: Proactively shopping to save and creating the ideal wardrobe

Planned shopping can help you save money.


Yes, writing a huge list of what you want to buy could actually end up saving you money.  Studies have shown that people who walk into grocery stores with shopping lists are more likely to stick to the ingredients they have written down and are less likely to be impulsive shoppers.  Why shouldn't this rule apply to shopping in other areas?


I've written a shopping list for the next three plus years (yep I'm a planner).  I will only buy things off this shopping list though some items are flexible (e.g. jewel tone work worthy shirt).


This strategy makes sense because:
1. Patience pays off
You can patiently look for an item that you want across a spectrum of retailers.  For example, an item on my wish list is a work-worthy top in a jewel-tone color.  I am receptive to different styles and price points while also building up a few favorites on my wish list.  I also have the luxury of waiting for these items to go on sale enabling my wallet to save for the next purchase (though hot or limited edition pieces don't follow this philosophy!)

I got my first pair of Lanvin flats for over 50% off (they are also on sale at Barney's and Neiman Marcus now!)  Hmm should I get a pink pair too?

2. Think with your closet (or home) in mind, not your wallet
I've fallen into the "Ooh it's on sale so I should get it!" trap without necessarily thinking if it would be a valuable part of my closet.  I won't be doing this any more.  When I constructed my list, I really thought about my wardrobe and lifestyle and constructed a list that reflects my needs without knowing if the item existed or not.   But I knew the item would make sense in my closet (e.g. a trendy midi skirt that would make sense at work for years to come.)

3. It's set, but not set in stone
My list started out as a list for the year, then for the next two years.  Now it's my three year list!  I don't think the timeframe is as relevant, but it is the list of all the stuff that I think would really add to my wardrobe pre-family planning.  I continually edit my list to add or subtract items that I think will really make an impact or would really fit with the rest of my closet.


Here's a subset of my list (the full one is long, but one I'm happy with).  What is on your ideal wardrobe list?

Apparel

X - super feminine or Mackage coat

- tweed jacket (classic-2)

X - tweed jacket (edgier)

- classic beige trench (hmm splurge at Burberry outlet in London or Zara version?)

- statement jacket (3)

- lace cardigan/jacket

X - lace skirt

X- semi-casual cardigan (Stacia? or DKNY Cozy -3)

- work worthy top (pink or coral)

- work worthy top (2-cream or black)

- work worthy top (jewel tone)

- work worthy top (2-interesting print)

X - work worthy top (neutral)

- printed cami/shirt (2)

X - white tank dress (2)

- white pencil skirt

- maxi skirt or dress (2)

XX- midi skirt (2)

- white or cream pants (wide or boot leg)

- tunic - casual and washable

- tunic - more formal

X - scalloped dress

- LBD (2)

- trouser jeans

XXX - work to weekend dress (5)

- nice t-shirt (2)

- quality leggings

- {in case of a vintage masterpiece} (3)

- {a great printed piece, maybe my coveted Missoni?}

Shoes

- staple black pumps (2)

- black low heels/sandals for night

- jewel tone pumps (fuchsia or cobalt blue)

- nude pumps (2-Pour La Victoire Irina?)

- everyday chic sandals (2)

X- Lanvin (or other quality brand) flats (3)

- print pumps

- gray or other neutral pumps

Handbags
 - vintage Chanels and Hermes Kellys (if I get the big promo) are on the list!

Photo Love {Inspiration}: Where would you rather be?

There's no place like...

1, 2, 3, 4

We all have our little mental escapes - it may be a special place filled with beloved activities, memories with loved ones, or favorite foods.  I was captivated by these double exposure pictures and started thinking about the people, places, and things that are always in the back of my mind and keep me going towards the end of a long week.
I know that thoughts of family and friends in NYC bring a smile to my face as well as memories (or plans) for future travel (Cambodia soon but oh to shop in Paris as well!) and a meal filled with my favorite white bean bruschetta and sausage pizza.

There's no place like the place where you most want to be right?  Where are your favorite places?

Have a lovely week!

Worthy reads roundup - Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" sneak peeks, Chanel Fall Nail Colors, Super white colors in clothing

Hope you had a great week lovelies!

Here is what happened at Chic 'n Cheap Living this week:
- {Photo Love}: Learning to surf, learning to conquer
- High Street highlight: Topshop Coral shift dress
- Fashion/Art highlight: Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (and my secret shots!)
- Fun Finds: Tulip hub
- Jennifer Behr summer sale (aka the home of hair lovelies!)

Here are other worthy reads from blogger buddies and beyond:
- Chanel fall nail colors have launched!  Ooh graphite looks great!

- Cheryl highlighted some summer wedding makeup/hair tips including messy up-dos or fishtail braids - loving this braid (and bummed my hair is a little short for it now).

- Back problems can be costly and hard to fix.  Mitigate your own back problems by simply following correct posture (something I know I need to improve!)

- Super bright white colors are trending in clothing.  Would you wear this for the summer?

FFF - Jennifer Behr Summer sale and Claypot rice

Happy Fun, Free Friday lovelies!

Online Discounts
Jennifer Behr, hair candy creator extraordinaire, has a summer sale on its site now.  Get 20% off anything with code SummerStyle.  Their styles can be a little pricey, but I've noticed a few lower priced items popping up in their inventory.  They also make exquisite jeweled pieces for brides or special events.  Here's a well priced option:

Wheat Bobby pin, Jennifer Behr, ~$55

Otherwise, this weekend I am...
...seeing a friend coming in from out of town.  We are thinking of bringing her to have clay pot rice - it's delicious, well-priced, fun, and very Asian!  That and this restaurant also serves delicious tofu with crab!  So simple and sooo good!

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What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Fun Finds: Tulip Hub (keeping technology cute)

...because in this high-tech age, boys shouldn't have all the fun tech toys.  That and I need some place to plus in my head phones, mouse, and chargers!

USB Tulip hub, Fred Flare, $22

Fashion/{Art Highlight}: Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Genius.  Madman. Visionary.

Alexander McQueen was called many things, but at the end of the day was a clothing designer that dared to unabashedly use imagery and shapes to evoke emotions in his clothing designs and shows.  He was particularly entranced with the afterlife as well as incorporated touches that were both feminine, yet powerful.

I was lucky enough to visit the Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  This is likely the most popular show at the museum now so be prepared to wait at least one hour, particularly if you go during the weekend.
The exhibit (again if you visit during the weekend) is very crowded so it can take some time to get up close to the clothing.

I loved how the show was designed and curated to reflect Alexander McQueen's style.  He was known for creating dramatic and grandiose runways shows and I could see that in snippets from the actual shows, hear it with the sometimes dark but striking music, and almost feel it as I viewed the texture apparent in so many of his pieces.

Here are some sly shots taken at the exhibit:
The first dress to greet you as you enter:

Supercalafragalisticespialidocious - Autumn/Winter 2002-2003 (parachute silk)

Traditional plaid used in fitted and feminine dresses.

These were pieces from his 2010 Spring/Summer collection called "Plato's Atlantis" - do you feel the underwater, ethereal vibe (also when the famous armadillo shoes debuted)?

More pictures here!  Hope you get to see the exhibit if you are in NYC!

High Street Highlight: Topshop Coral Tuck shift sleeveless dress

Does a bright shade of apparel of jewelry put you in a brighter mood?

I know it definitely does for me and I've also wanted to break out of my dark, neutral colors for the office.

This coral shift dress would be a great work to weekend dress.  Sigh, wish I had seen it at the NYC store!

Coral Tuck shift sleeveless dress, Topshop, $95

Photo Love {Inspiration}: Learning to surf, learning to conquer

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

I've always been in awe of the ocean.  It's beautiful and serene, yet can also be foreboding and tumultuous. As I mentioned, I am a decently good swimmer and a certified scuba diver.  Yet, I haven't really surfed (save one instance of body surfing in H'awaii).  While my sense of balance isn't super, I'd still love to try to glide effortlessly over the waves and feel the thrill of big waves crashing some day.  I have a small fear of large waves, but would still like to try once.  Perhaps I'll take the baby step and just go boogie boarding again.  But at least I will have tried!


You never know until you've done it right?


Have a lovely week!

Worthy reads roundup -Reflecting Inside and out, LA Design Festival, and Bare Escentuals discount

Hope you had a great week lovelies!

Here is what happened at Chic 'n Cheap Living this week:
- Photo Love {Inspiration}: Reflecting (the image you want to see) inside and out
- Art/Fun Finds: Urban Outfitters Society6 prints
- Decor Thoughts: Glass ceilings that are good for you
- Bare Escentuals 20% discount this weekend!

Here are some worthy reads from blogger buddies and beyond:
- SHOWstudio allows buyers to peek at the design process of established designers such as Nicola Formechetti of Thierry Mugler as they create one of a kind tuxedos.  I want one!

- Josie posted the cutest, fun accessory for a photoshoot - DIY confetti!  Colorful and great for weddings or parties

- I'm thirsting over this list of healthy summer drinks (watermelon lemonade and skinny colada-yum!)

- Oh to be in LA the next two weeks!  The LA Design Festival takes place from June 16-30 and features exhibits, architecture tours, and lectures through this lovely sprawling city.

FFF - Bare Escentuals 20% off this weekend and jetting to Mumbai

Happy Fun, Free, Friday lovelies!

Online sales
Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals became my go-to mineral foundation ever since I used it for my wedding.  It is light, evens out your skin tone, and supposedly improves your skin over time.  I've always had the regular SPF15 foundation but have been curious about the Matte foundation (the coverage is supposed to be even better and it isn't shimmery at all).  Well I think I'm going to try it soon because everything is 20% off this weekend with coupon code LOVE (order two and shipping is free).

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Otherwise, this weekend, I am...
...heading to Mumbai for a business trip.  I'll be going there several times in the next few months and it will be my first experience traveling to another country for work.  But I hope to eat good food, meet nice people, and maybe do some shopping (can you imagine the beautiful cloth I could get to make table runners?)

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What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Decor Thoughts: Glass ceilings that are good for you

Women have heard about the corporate glass ceiling for years.  But it takes on a totally different feel when used as a part of your decor.  This design element would really add height, dimension, and light to a building or room.
Reach higher with a glass ceiling (definitely a very cool design thought!)

Blue glass ceiling with tailored zince beams from Bunny Williams via Elle Decor

Stained glass accents via Home Interior Design

Paneled glass ceiling (great for kitchen or family room) via Cimots

{Art Highlight}/Fun Finds: Urban Outfitters Society6 Artists

Art should be accessible.  Urban Outfitters attempts to do just that by showcasing and selling works from Society6, an international community of artists.

The prints are well priced and eclectic.  This would be a fun place to shop for a gift or or a new edition for your home.

Here are a few favorites:

Towering Eiffel Tower by Ewan Arnolda, 7"x10"-$15 

Pinkture by Jean-Marc Gething, 7"x10"-$15 

All you need is Love by Nicole Duquette, 8"x9"-$15

A Streetcar named Noir by Michael Mitchener, 8"x8"-$15 

Photo Love {Inspiration}: Reflecting inside and out

Everyone and everything that shows up in our life is a reflection of something that is happening inside of us.
Alan Cohen

1, 2 

What do our reflections show? Sometimes we look in the mirror and see everything a tired face from a long day at work, a defeated look after an emotional encounter to an exuberant image of relief or happiness.  This reflection is certainly influenced by as well as impacts our environments and the people around us. 

How do you want to see yourself?  I remember thinking that I should see more of the world and take a different professional path.  I wanted to be someone that was always moving forward and doing something to change her life so I took the leap in going to grad school and moving abroad.  I now find myself surrounded by like-minded, globe-trotting, ambitious friends who also want to see themselves and their lives in a different light.  I wanted to be more confident and proud of the person I saw in the mirror and knew that I had to make small changes in myself in order to do that.   They weren't easy changes and I am still making them, but they were important for me to make.

Be the you that you want to see in the mirror and you just may find some interesting images in your reflection and your life.

Have a lovely week!

FFF - Seasonal tastes and Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty

Happy Fun, Free Friday lovelies!

It's been a busy week of cross-continental traveling and family visit. My dearest apologies in getting to your blogs this week. I'm afraid the next few weeks will be full of more country hopping as I head back to Asia and then India for business (really hope my internet connection is reliable at my hotel which is actually a guest house!)

Food Fun
I passed by a berry farm with the in-laws today and discovered that I just miss their season opening. Hopefully I can get to another one around NYC soon! It is the best thing to taste food when it is in season and at its peak of freshness and flavor!

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Otherwise, this weekend I am...
...dragging the husband to see the Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" exhibit at the Met. I hope the wait isn't too long! I was hoping to go during the week but it didn't work with our timing.

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What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

{High Street Highlight} Cat eye sunglasses by Old Navy

I traveled from a tropical country only to find NYC and upstate NY to be even hotter (hence margaritas last night).  Hot, bright days definitely deserve a pair of cool sunglasses.  I've been stalking a pair of cat eye sunnies for a while.  I don't really shop at Old Navy, but if  these are still at the Old Navy store by my parents, I'm all for this retro chic pair!

After all, style is priceless.
Women's Two-toned cat eye sunglasses, Old Navy, $7.50 (ret. $9.50)

Fun Finds/Decor Thoughts: Wasara minimalist and beautiful disposable dinnerware

Minimalist.  Fluid lines.   Beautiful.

These aren't normally words you'd use to describe dinnerware, especially disposable dinnerware.  But Wasara combines form and functionality in a gorgeous line of paper dinnerware (actually combined with bamboo, sugarcane pulp, and reed) with materials designed to minimize its environmental impact.

What a fun and chic way to entertain at your next event (an eco chic wedding comes to mind!)

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Behind the scenes: Chanel and the creation of couture

Have you seen the Signe channel videos for the creative process behind Chanel haute couture gowns?It's an interesting behind the scenes look at the many people that take part in creating couture.  I can really see the level of detail, craftsmanship, and care that go into each couture piece; a whole army of people with different skills take part in adding a detail that contributes to the hand-made artistry of each item.

It certainly sheds some light on the astronomic prices of couture when you realize there are people that specialize in lace trims, beading, and different types of embroidery!

Photo Love {Inspiration}: Finding meaning in NYC

Each man reads his own meaning into New York. 

Meyer Berger

Source: 1, 2, 3

It's interesting being from a place that evokes so many different meanings in other people - for some it evokes a feel of excited, bustling people in a cavernous city of bankers, lawyers, and fashionistas.  For others, it is a place that houses skyscrapers, shows, and lounges to house and amuse residents that never sleep.

When I think of my native home, I also recall lines of towering buildings as a natural part of the vista.   I marvel at the wonderful sample sales and proximity to fashion and am grateful for the easy access to exhibits and museums like the Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" one featured above (I definitely hope to go!)  Most importantly, I know it as a place where dreams are born or pursued.  Around every street corner and in every apartment is someone with a dream, a story, and possibly a hunger to be or do more; this certainly contributes to the almost tangible energy I feel here that I don't necessarily feel in all cities.  I know that some of the people I met there (including of course my husband) have added to the significance of NYC for me.

While I'm only in NYC intermittently these days, it will always be my home and where my story began and that means the world to me.

Have a lovely week!