{GBF Life + Style + Travel} #42

It was raining quite a bit on my first few days in Shanghai so when the sun finally graced its rays, I took full advantage by wearing a floor sweeping pleated maxi skirt from Jovonnista paired with my BCBG Generation denim shirt and Tom Ford sunnies. My Louis Vuitton Montsouris aka travel bff stayed close by my side. The backpack is great for all day excursions as it can fit a day's worth of knick knacks without killing my shoulders. My time here is quite packed so when a free afternoon opened up, I seized it and headed straight to Huahai Road, a shopping destination known for its luxury boutiques and department stores.  

When I was young, I remember taking Bus 42 on this very street with Mom every Thursday night to go to my piano class. The buses were jam packed with people, perfumed with the stench of sweat, and completely suffocating. I rarely and barely noticed the shops as I wasn't yet window height and was also quite preoccupied with avoiding getting trampled on. Nowadays, crowds gather at the grand opening of the newest Dolce & Gabbana store rather than at bus stops. What was in focus back then has now blurred into the background. 

My stolen afternoon was fabulous. I ran into the CEO of Coach inside their store, bought bagfuls of dried plum "hua mei" (my favorite guiltless snack), and saw Bus 42 pass by. It was empty, air conditioned, and completely in focus. 

{live fabulously}

 

{GBF Life + Style + Travel} New Shanghai

I've been in Shanghai for almost a week and have been running around town meeting up with friends and family while taking in the city. Every meal is deliciously extravagant and is contributing to a happily expanding waistline. Conversations with family revolves around the retelling of childhood stories. Although I've heard all of them a million times, they tell it like it's being divulged for the very first time. It's nice. With my friends, I've been asking a million questions about the city as I'm intently determined to crack the code on what is/who is Shanghai. I'm still in the facts gathering stage.

The city changes at lightning speed. It's impossible to keep count of the countless new buildings that have popped up since my visit four years ago. The effect of globalization means boutiques carry the latest Korean trends, the cafes are Taiwanese and Hong Kong franchises, the girls wear Japanese circle lens, and everyone has an iPhone. I feel a little lost here as the identity of my hometown has completely changed since I left. I'm proud of its progress but a little sad that I can no longer find home. 

This outfit has little to do with Shanghai. It's simply one of my favorites for summer rooftop cocktail parties. The green BCBG gown is flowy and delicate and needed to be paired with an equally flowy and delicate One Teaspoon silk shawl. Together, they exude a sense of boho spirit that's difficult to find in dressier clothes. My Shoedazzle heels add another layer of color to the outfit.

{live fabulously}

 

{GBF Life + Style} All Day, All White

I've always been a fan of layering white jeans with a thin sweater and shrunken blazer. It's an effortless and preppy chic look that can be worn to just about anywhere. For someone of average height like myself, I find it imperative to wear heels with white jeans in order to elongate and narrow the legs. Plus, heels help add a dressy twist to denim.

I wore this outfit all day last Sunday. My first stop was the farmer's market where I delightfully discovered that purple kale and blood orange are both in season. I bought both and made a tasty salad for lunch. A tablespoon of lemon juice, some dijon mustard, and a cup of grilled chicken accompanied my farmer's market finds. The salad was tangy, fresh, and super delicious! After my guilt-free lunch, I went to Fred Segal to indulge in retail therapy. I headed straight to their home decor store which is located in the back of Mauro's Cafe. It's one of my favs in LA as they always have kitschy and fun pieces along with a great selection of Missoni towels and throws. 

After Fred Segal, I went to a business meeting (Day of Rest does not exist in my life). Then it was straight to my friend's birthday dinner. Good thing I had my healthy lunch because dinner was ribs, ribs and more ribs! Usually, I would need to make multiple outfit changes for such a jam packed schedule, but the versatility and simplicity of my Old Navy super skinny Rockstar white jeans paired with a blazer and sweater took me from day to night!

sweater c/o Old Navy
blazer: Madewell
jeans c/o Old Navy
pursed: Marc Jacobs
sunnies c/o Old Navy
shoes c/o Shoedazzle

This post is sponsored by Old Navy. Check out Old Navy's latest fashion lineup in store or online at oldnavy.com.

{live fabulously}

 

{GFB Life + Beauty + Review} Three for One

It's time to toss out my other curling irons because my Jose Eber Trio satisfies all my needs. It's a clip-less ceramic tourmaline curling iron with three detachable barrels and a custom digital temperature setting. It heats up quickly and can create pretty much every coveted curl style in just a few minutes. It's honestly the most simple and the best curling iron I've ever used.

I've been taking full advantage of all three barrels as they each create slight variations of the S-shape curl. Check out the video if you want to hear me talk about my love for the Trio while making thinly veiled phallic references or you can pass on the rambling and scroll down to see the three hairstyles I created with the Jose Eber Trio.

{STYLE #1 Tousled beachy curls with the tapered barrel on Day 1 of my Lulus Coachella photo shoot wearing Mink Pink bathing suit and C. Label heels}

{STYLE #2 Loose flowy curls with the 25 mm barrel on Day 2 of Lulus Coachella photo shoot wearing a black lace top, BlankNYC high waist denim shorts, Tom Ford sunnies, Chloe + Isabel necklace/earrings, and SixtySeven sandals}

{STYLE #3 Silky curls with the 19 mm barrel at The London West Hollywood celebrating its fifth anniversary in my C.Luce dress, Celine purse, and Zara heels}

Jose Eber is offering a fab deal for my readers. Enter GBF20 at checkout for 20% off all products!

{live fabulously}