Personal Style Outfit Post-Winter Creamiscle

I'm currently freezing in New York! These pictures were taken a few weeks ago in LA, shot during summer-like weather. I'm getting warmer already just looking at them!

Photos by Kevin Russell Teves

Top: Rachel Comey

Pants: Topshop

Serpent Bracelet: Cara Couture

Statement Necklace: Lia Sophia

I hadn't seen or worn my Rachel Comey ruffled sweater tank in years so I was very happy to have spotted it in the back of my exploding closet. The nude wide leg pants were a purchase from Topshop during my last trip to New York. It was love at first sight for the pants, but surprisingly, this was the first time I'd worn them!

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 Winter Outfits Sneak Peak

I'm leaving for New York tonight!!!! I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to attend New York Fashion Week again. I had a blast this past fall and was thoroughly inspired by the fashion, style and vibe that permeated every inch of Lincoln Center.

Although I'm beyond excited to see the Fall 2012 shows, I have to admit, I'm not a fan of cold weather. And I'm even less of a fan of packing and dressing for cold weather. All those layers create such unnecessary bulk. Not cute! What can I say, I've definitely been spoiled rotten by the ever so temperate and always sunny LA weather. I guess you can say I'm a lightweight when it comes to heavy packing. Perhaps that's why it took me the course of three nights to pack for my NYFW trip! Putting together four days of warm, cute and perfect winter outfits requires a heavy dose of fashion editing and planning. Here's a sneak peak of my heavy duty items.

1. Karen Kane Casino Jacket
2. Ann Taylor Loft  Fur Vest
3. ASOS Olive Cape
4. Vintage Shearling Sweater Jacket
5. ASOS Shearling Leather Aviator Jacket
6. Karen Kane  Red Blazer

1. Karen Kane Leopard Maxi Skirt
2. James Jeans High Waist Skinny Leg Jeans
3. Vintage Turquoise Pleated Maxi Skirt
4. Linden Leather Leggings

Isabel Marant High Fashion Kicks

Never in my life have I desired sneakers until I saw these. If sneaker couture exists, this would be it.

Isabel Marant Bekket Sneakers, $680. Suede with hidden two inch heel. It may be sold out everywhere, but I'll find a way...

My Infatuation Grows-Alexander Wang Accessories

I went to Barney's this morning and spend half an hour looking through the A. Wang accessories. I love the color departure from black and the material variation. Dalmatian print on ponytail hair. Bright red textured wallets. Bring it ON!

Personal Style Outfit Post-Fur on Print

This past weekend, I worked with photographer Kevin Russell Teves on a fun photo shoot. He's such a sweet guy, super easy to work with and has a natural eye for great shots!

Top: Collective Clothing

Fur Vest: The Loft

Jeans: J Brand

Python Cuffs: Kara Ross

Hong Kong Roundup-Travel Post

My week in Hong Kong turned out to be a good balance of work and play. I was there for a licensing show as part of my job as a fashion lawyer involves drafting and working on license agreements. At the show, I spent the better part of my time chatting with potential licensees, a task that's surprisingly quite draining. Socializing, conversing and being "on" for eight hours a day is a challenge, especially when I had to use my first grade level Mandarin at times. It was a productive show and definitely a treat to hear so many positive feedback and interest in our brand from Asian territories. After all, money has shifted to the east. You get China, you're golden.

Flying business class on Cathay Pacific was a treat as their amenities are equivalent to that of first class on other airlines I've flown on. I had my own individual pod that folded into a bed. It was designed with complete privacy in mind. As I couldn't see my fellow passengers, it felt like I was traveling solo on the open sky.

Travel essentials-roomy purse, reading materials, iPad.

I'd never been impressed with much less taken pictures of on-flight meals before, but this was different. The multiple course lunch was delicious from start to finish, with the pork belly placed at the peak of the palate crescendo. It was the juiciest and tastiest pork belly I'd EVER had! Pairing it with Isareli cous cous was genius.

The red bean cheesecake was amazing, but then again eating anything with red beans injects my veins with excitement.

The hustle and bustle presence of the city is quite contagious. Even though I was functioning on less than five hours of sleep every day, I felt invigorating and completely eyes wide open. A sense of intensified energy permeates the city. In Hong Kong, everyone is on the go.

I spent my free time going to business dinners at amazing restaurants, albeit most of them were not Chinese restaurants. I had a free afternoon to wander the streets of Causeway Bay, one of my favorite HK shopping destinations. I didn't buy any clothes but did manage to hit it hard at Sasa, HK's resident beauty shop. They carry the best assortment of makeup, skincare products and beauty accessories from Japan and Korea. And they happen to be on every street corner in Causeway Bay. As the selection varies from store to store, I quelled my beauty anxiety by hitting up eight Sasa in about two hours.

                                   A sampling of my SK-II purchases. Prices in Asia are 40% cheaper! 

I love Japanese eyelash glue. It's easy to use, non-messy and holds as strong as concrete.

I'm currently in my falsies phase and cannot stop obsessing over them! Even though I only bought five different kinds of lashes in Hong Kong, I must have looked at and analyzed over 100 pairs! I will post a review once I start using them.

You haven't liquid eyelined until you've used the long lasting ones offered by various Japanese brands. Once applied, they are tattooed on your lids but easily come off with a few drops of water. If you live in LA, you can find these eyeliners at various makeup boutiques in the San Gabriel Valley. Contact me if want to know where to find them

I just can't resist the appeal of sparkly pink eyeshadow palettes, pink glittery polish, and plumping nude lip gloss.

Young by Yoyo Yeung Spring 2012 Collection Preview

Last week I attended the Spring 2012 collection preview of Young by Yoyo Yeung at her downtown LA showroom. The inspiration behind the collection was mother nature, focusing on its strong elements of water, sun and earth. I admired each of the boldly colored designs infused in slippery silk materials while sipping on champagne, nibbling on cupcakes and chatting about fashion with some of my favorite LA fashion bloggers. Living the fab life has never been so sweet!

DailyBuzz Style January 9x9: Day to Night Makeup Tips

When DailyBuzz Style selected me for its January "Day to Night Makeup" 9x9 style challenge, I was beyond excited. After all, as a working professional who flutters through a busy social calendar, I'm all about finding makeup shortcuts that can quickly take me from looking professional and well-coiffed during the day to out the front office door and party ready when the clock strikes six.

Inspired by two period movies I'd recently seen, my two looks for this makeup feature is a throwback to retro glam, to a time when style and femininity effortlessly permeated the beauty landscape. My Week With Marilyn" showcases Michelle Williams transformed into the ultimate pinup girl while "Flowers of War" features the elegant glamour of 1930s China.

To fabulously take your retro glam makeup from day to night, it's absolutely imperative to start with a good base using long-lasting and hydrating products.

THE SKIN
Step 1:  Ever girl in Asia is obsessed with BB cream, a moisturizing, SPF-enriched full coverage cream that serves as an ideal long lasting makeup base. It's lighter than foundation so it doesn't sit on the skin or cake. <3 Shisedo Integrate BB Cream
Step 2:  Spot concealer is applied to problem areas.  I like to use a separate under eye concealer as I find regular concealers to be too drying for the sensitive, wrinkle-prone under eye area. <3 Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage <3 Miracle Skin Transformer Treat and Conceal 
Step 3:  A light coat of powder seals in my base makeup, leaving skin looking flawless and airbrushed. <3 Za True White Vitamin Powder
*owning a wide range of high quality makeup brushes is a must for every makeup maven. After all, your face IS the ultimate canvas!

A daytime retro glam look does not require a ton of makeup. Instead, focus should be on specific eye-catching areas. Molly, my makeup artist pal from Blushington Makeup Salon suggests creating curved and dramatic eyebrows, winged eyes, and soft and pouty lips for a natural but distinct daytime retro look.

THE EYES
Step 1: A light pink shadow is applied all over the eyelids.
Step 2: A light taupe shadow is layered over the eye crease.
<3 NYX Cosmetics Naked Palette as it contains all the essential eye-enhancing colors for a perfect daytime look.
Step 3: Adding on a pair of false lashes instantly widens and makes my eyes pop. Make sure the lashes are not too long and Elvira-like. After all, you're wearing this look to work, not to trick or treating! It's also imperative that the lashes wing out and are longer at the outer corners, creating an effortless cat-eye effect. <3 Red Cherry False Lashes, made with 100% human hair.
Step 4: Long lasting black liquid eyeliner is a must for shaping flirty eyes with precision and ease. Draw from the upper lash liner, starting with the inner corners of your eyes. Angle it upwards when you reach the outer corners for a dramatic winged look. <3 Japanese branded liquid eyeliners
Step 5:  A light layer of nude eyeliner applied to the bottom lash line will illuminate the eyes. <3 Pixi nude eyeliner

THE CHEEKS AND LIPS
A gentle sweep of pink blush along the apples of your cheeks and a soft dab of pink lip gloss finalizes this easy retro daytime look. <3 Nars Orgasm blush <3 Dalton lip gloss tubes

THE HAIR
<3 Conair Infiniti Pro 1 1/2 inch barrel curling iron. It create soft and long lasting loose curls that's frizz free and worry free!

DAYTIME LOOK

Sweater: Tulle

Skirt: Vintage

Shoes: Very.com 

To easily and quickly transform my daytime look to something that's more evening appropriate, focus on the eyes and lips! Simply add a layer of dark taupe eyeshadow to the inner eye creases, followed by gel eyeliner to both the top and bottom lash lines. Next, a light layer of ivory cream shadow added to the inside corners will make your eyes brightly pop. Reapply your blush as it's probably a bit faded by now. Lastly, boldly change your lip color to an eye-catching vixen red. My go-to color is a combination of MAC Russian Red layered with a coat of Artistry burgundy lip gloss, which adds shine and moisture. And just like that, you've gone from Norma Jean to Marilyn in under ten minutes!

NIGHTTIME LOOK

Dress: Stop Staring