VIVA LA JEFFREY CAMPBELL!

I remember acquiring my very first Jeffrey Campbell heels back in '05, pair of see-thru top with encrusted black and grey gems on platforms, and they somehow mysteriously disappeared after my mid-night fishing trip (don't ask me about it!). Then I parted with the name JC till '09.

And just when I thought I had cruelly transported my possession to Ash footwear, JC kicked out with the SICKEST spring line with a BIG BANG! I am in complete shock, in a good way of course.

Sorry girls, but if you wanna rock your style with attitude and uniqueness and if you don't own one of these pairs, you might as well just stay home, cuz 2011 is all JC revival! On a personal thought, don't they just remind you of the legendary Alex McQueen?
Check out my top picks:

Wedges:


[So crazy, $155/Be well, $160/V man fab, $115]


Platforms:


[Jackie dp, $155/Foxy esp, $130/Big girl, $150]


Booties:


[Trabajo, $220/Hudgens, $155/Libby Wood, $240]


All shoes can be purchased at www.solestruck.com.

xoxo,
beibei

Kudos to the newly wed - Ayumi Hamasaki / Manuel Schwartz

I have been a zealous fan of Ayumi Hamasaki for as long as I can remember. "A Song for XX" has been an all-time classic and its romantic yet edgy tune sculpted her very character. All these years I have never missed any of her album or single, and her restless energy, her transformative style, and her larger-than-life success have never been more inspiring.

So I can't help but wonder, just like every other fan, who is this guy she decides to share her life (and her nearly 4 billion net worth) with? Manuel Schwartz, an Austrian model/actor who she met while shooting the music video for her latest single, Virgin Road; 2 years of her junior, is no doubt one lucky mofo! (No offense Mannie)

[Ayu & Mannie looking cute together]

Ok well I admit, he is ruggedly sexy, that dark loose wavy hair with a structured handsome face, an evidently amazing body, and a killer smile, almost reminds me of the young Brandon Boyd, who I absolutely adore. But regardless, I wish them the best and I am in a relief knowing Ayu would not stop her career. Kudos!!

A Longer Reach to... Spring ~!

Maxi dresses carry on to be the trend for Spring 2011, and I'm not really talking about your Mama's big puffy tutu dress from the 1940s. Today, women crave for sophistication and movement in anything they wear. Therefore if your dress makes you look like a tent or swamp up your beautiful curve, ditch it! The secret lies in the fabric - drapery, soft, stretchy, that shows a leaner silhouette.
Here are some of my top picks.

[Issa, $638/Leifsdottir, $428]

[T-bags, $211/Free People, $298]

[Anthropologie, $178/Young fabulous & broke, $282]

And of course if you want to rock the look with some edge, just wear sh*t load of accessories like bangles, rings, some monumental earrings. I'm thinking turquoise?

XOXO,
beibei

A little afterthought

The following article is quoted from a good friend's blog, Grow Into Yourself (http://growintoyourself.com), a daily must-visit for me to stay connected with my own intelligence.

"As a member of this new breed of alpha females, I too am faced with the similar task of defining what marriage will mean to me. As I deconstruct myself and the millennial tradition of the conventional marriage, I wonder if self sufficiency is the better option for women like me. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to have freedom. At this point in my life, that word is paramount. I feel that for the first time in my life, I have chosen to live the life I wanted to live. The stability, protection and security that I have found is now supported through me financially. Among less tangible things are those obtained through personal growth in learning humbly the acceptance of things that are out of my control, and the taking of responsibility for things within my control. Feeling like you are living the apex of this life however is a two edged sword as self reliance doesn’t breed the desire to settle down, a logical next step after one “finds” herself. So here I pose the question, for women who value self reliance and freedom above all else, how does the idea of marriage fit into their lives? How does one finally figure out what marriage and commitment means to them? I have been told that this is a natural phase and that eventually I will tire of freedom, but what if this is what I truly value most?"

Here is what I have to say,

Not categorizing myself as the so-called alpha female in particular, I do believe, however, self reliance is important to any woman at any stage of their life. I certainly value my capability of being able to satisfy myself in terms of material needs. Freedom, on the other hand, has never crossed my mind in a sense of possibly conflicting with being in a committed relationship (I wouldn't say marriage frankly because it hasn't happened to me yet). Mostly because I feel that being committed to someone actually sets me free; it gives me peace of mind. That's freedom to me - it's the greatest comfort to know I have someone who loves and treasures me by my side, so I am able to focus on a bigger picture such as career and family. It's a shame, really, to feel all that freedom will be lost once in a committed relationship. I feel that if the person you are in a relationship with, or married to, does not value what you value, or cannot provide you that emotional comfort and security to make you feel you still have the option of living your life the way you want to, perhaps he/she isn't right for you. To me, committing IS freedom.

DO SHARE!

xoxo,
Beibei

Fresh take... in bed

If I didn't stay in bed for 3 consecutive days, suffering from a NYE night-out-lead-to-a-common-cold, I wouldn't indulge in the idea of freshen up my bedding look. While I love what I have now, soft gris-coloured, some 1000 thread-count egyptian cotton bed skirt and fitted sheet, bedazzled by two 28-in sq. black and white pillows, perhaps it's time to get a little bolder. I am not afraid of color, but incorporate the candy shades to achieve a classy and tasteful look isn't exactly as easy as it sounds.

Well you know me, from bohemian to shabby chic to modern, anything with flair can't escape from my contemplation.






Source:

Anthropologie Home
Urban Outfitters
West Elm