Travel Post Luggage Review-Excess Baggage

As I'm traveling more and more frequently, I've come to appreciate the necessity of owning high quality luggage that can get me from point A to B and all the way to point X with seamless ease. I'm an over-packer which means everything but the kitchen sink comes with me. A weekend getaway inevitably requires ten outfits and ten pairs of matching shoes along with a plethora of unnecessaries. Therefore, when shopping for luggage, space, stretchiness and durability are on the top of my list. Since I sometimes travel solo on business trips, lightweight pieces are also a must. But I must confess, I almost never do any heavy lifting as a chivalrous fellow passenger always comes to my aid when I put on my damsel in distress look. Sometimes, it's definitely great to be a girl! And lastly, I'm only into cute luggage. Yeah, I'm shallow like that.

Given my rather stringent set of criteria, I've had to do tons of research to find my ideal luggage pieces. Here's what made my list and what are now my faithful travel companions:

Louis Vuitton Montsouris Backpack GM. It's large, durable (can hold up to 200 lbs), frees up my hands completely and doesn't place undue pressure and weight on my shoulders. This one's pretty amazing well.

Louis Vuitton Alize 24 Heures. I usually use this bag to store electronics, food and books. The size and roominess make it an idea carry on piece.

Gucci Duffel Bag. I use this as either a carry on or check in bag depending on need. It folds up which means it can be used as a "I shopped way too much on my trip and need additional luggage to lug everything home"  duffel.

Briggs and Riley Transcend 200 Expandable. This is the frequent traveler's brand of  choice as all Briggs and Riley luggage come with the most amazing warranty. The Transcend collection is ultra light weight but heavily durable. 

Briggs and Riley Baseline. Ballistic nylon. Heavy duty. Lifetime warranty. Enough said. 

And of course, what's a trip without a fanny pack? To be perfectly honest, I sometimes rock my pack even when I'm not travelling. I also love this one!

 

Gilt Free Shopping-LA Sample Sales April 27

I only post about sales I'd go to which means you know where to find me this Friday.  The Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent sample sale is one of my all-time favs. The styles are current and the prices are absolutely amazing. I hit up the Black Halo sample sale whenever I need eye-catching but business setting appropriate outfits. 

The Gilt Sample Warehouse Sale is most definitely a savvy shopper's paradise. The April 28 event brings what Vogue has called the “online shopping phenomenon” to Siren Studios 1 and 2. Shoppers will find racks stocked with fashion of all kinds including the newest shoe styles, jewelry, suits, jackets, denim, tops and outerwear for men, women and children. For the home, expect bedding, kitchen and bath accessories, decorative pieces and much more. In between trips to the dressing room, you’ll fuel up with snacks by KIND Bars, beverages courtesy of Fiji Water and cocktails by VeeV. And, of course, you can expect hundreds of top brands, from both up-and-coming young designers and the most venerable fashion houses

To purchase your tickets to this Saturday's Gilt Warehouse Sale, click here.

More sales:

Elizabeth and James Patterson Kincaid are holding a sample sale at the Cooper Building on Friday April 27. 860 S. Los Angeles St., at E. Ninth St., ste. 415, Downtown. Expect deep discounts.

Eva Franco is having Sample Sale on 4/27 12-8pm; Saturday 11am-6pm. Save 50%-70% on women’s dresses, skirts, coats, jackets tops and more. 731 S. Spring St.,#500, Los Angeles 90014.

Personal Style Outfit Post-REDy

Lace top: Karen Kane 

Blazer: Karen Kane

Skirt: Karen Kane

Sandals:Timo Weiland for Tsubo 

I've lived in the future for the past three years. I'm constantly on the go, jetting from one place to another, one event to the next, and taking on more projects than I can chew. And instead of focusing, relishing and appreciating the present moment, my mind has always on fast forward,  anticipating and planning the next step. It's created a tension that's reaching breaking point. After all,  I can't enjoy the growth and movement achieved through my forward moving habits if I don't slow down a bit and take time to smell the roses. So, I'm making the decision to freeze time just a bit so that I can live in the present.

Personal Style Outfit Post-Throw Caution to the Wind

Turtleneck: Zara

Skirt: ASOS

Pumps: Missoni

It was love at first sight with my Prada-esque skirt. The curvy mermaid silhouette, bell bottom hem and bright stripes add x-factor appeal to the very notion of knee length skirts. I wore this outfit to a Saturday night house party. I know, covering myself up in a turtleneck and below the knee skirt may not seem to fit as quintessential house party attire but I've never been the kind of girl to adhere to dress codes. I've steadfastly held onto the belief that YOU wear the clothes, not the other way around. And as long as you love what you are wearing, nothing else really matters. When you feel comfortable in your second skin, you will be able to throw caution to the wind and pull off anything!

G-Star RAW, Continuously Expanding

A brand inspired by street style, G-Star Raw has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years to become a household name in the UK fashion market. Besides their fantastic jeans and men’s jackets, the brand aims to combine high fashion with edgy, rock ‘n’ roll elements – and it succeeds. Having secured a huge number of loyal fans, the brand looks set to remain popular for years to come.

The brand’s latest advertising campaign is also set to further improve brand awareness around some of London’s trendiest hotspots. G-Star RAW recently unveiled their spring/summer 2012 collection, and the advertising campaign behind the range is being taken to the streets – straight to the people who help make the brand as popular as it is.

Featuring Clémence Poésy – of Harry Potter and Gossip Girl fame – and Vincent Gallo, the brand has two unique and talented ambassadors to help increase its grip on the UK fashion market. The advertising campaign will focus on banners pasted on London taxis and in the London Underground.

As the most popular way for Londoners to make their way around the capital, the Tube is a fantastic platform for advertisers to promote their brands. The campaign also includes advertising on 30 London taxis which have been covered from top to bottom in G-Star RAW branding. The campaign is relatively short – only 2 months in total – but with targeted areas including Soho, Covent Garden and Mayfair, it seems that getting the message across to the right people is inevitable.

The brand is not only becoming more popular in the UK. Recently, it opened its largest international flagship store in Hong Kong’s iconic Times Square area, with a number of local and international celebrities present at the launch. And as if one new store in the East isn’t enough, the brand will also be opening a shop in Manila, Indonesia, in July.

The shop in Hong Kong is the biggest G-Star premises in the world, and it’s almost the icing on the brand’s rapid expansion (cake) during the past few years. The growth has seen G-Star shops popping up in Tokyo, New York, Sydney and Los Angeles in recent years, making it a truly global brand with global ambitions. And for the time being, those ambitions seem likely to be achieved.

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Popping My Sneaker Cherry With Marc by Marc Jacobs

Ever since I laid my eyes on the Isabel Marant wedge sneakers which are now completely sold out and listing for a ridiculous premium on Ebay, I've been tuned into the color popping wedge sneakers phenomenon. Historically, the sneaker genre has been grossly underrepresented in my shoe closet as I only wear them to the gym. I'd never felt the need or urge to purchase them for everyday wear due to the lack of heel height and limitations in style. However, wedge sneakers a la Isabel Marant, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Ash have changed the shoe game for me. I love the hidden heel which gives me the needed height, the vastly on-trend and eye catching colors, and the sneakers' high fashion interpretation of urban style.

When the Marc by Marc Jacobs sneaker heel wedges finally hit stores today, I quickly made my purchase. This could very well signal the beginning of a beautiful snearkership!

Marc by Marc Jacobs sneaker heel wedges $320 available at Saks Fifth Avenue. Can you guess which color I picked?

A Likely Obsession

I've got a big and rather expensive problem. I can't stop thinking about diamonds. Maybe it's because diamonds are the April birthstone. Maybe it's because my friend is shopping for her engagement ring. Or maybe I'm just diamond deprived. Whatever the reason, I can't seem to get the precious and timelessly blingy stone out of my head.

Instead of ignoring my current obsession, I've decided to do some online window shopping instead. I came across Anjolee, a well established high-end jewelry manufacturer and retailer that carries a dangerously HUGE selection of well-priced diamond rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.  Alas, bling candy ensues...

Bridal Set. Prices start at $1,000

Hoop earrings. Prices start at $600

Diamond stud. Prices start at $200

After a thorough browsing session, Anjolee has opened my eyes to the affordability of diamonds. And the reality of converting my obsession into acquisitions. 

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