A Review of Hayes Valley Shopping, San Francisco

Thanks for the comments and recommendations on NYC! I think I've figured out my sleeping arrangements. I found a couple of lovely sublets in the Upper West Side for under $500 dollars during my whole stay! New York City...here I come! Okay, back to fashion...

I've been shopping recently and spending money on things I cannot afford. Mainly winter basics, amazing coats and jackets, and fun jewelry. I feel and look fabulous despite the sadness coming from my wallet pockets. My most recent trip to Hayes Valley in San Francisco proved to be fruitful. My first stop was to Acrimony, which carries amazing hard to find pieces and upcoming designers. I was instantly drawn to a beautiful coat with gold buttons and a wool hood. They are currently having a 50% off sale. The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly. Returns are only exchangeable for store credit. Keep that in mind. The next stop was Honey Ryder, an totally fantastic little boutique with great designer pieces. The owner, Annie is sweet and personable. The store had a lovely fragrant smell. The store was also having a 30% off sale on anything over $50 dollars. I was instantly attracted (I keep saying that, don't I?) to a beautiful vermeil ring by the LA designer, Pade Vavre. Incidentally, I could not find a photo online but it is an adjustable ring with pyrite shape rock on the top. I also purchased a sterling silver branch necklace by the designers of Jib and Genoa.

Next time, I'm going to dedicate a whole day to shopping in Hayes Valley. I'll have my lady friend with me and a wallet pocket full of money. I know I'll come out feeling and looking fabulous.

Now, later in the evening, I was looking up some jewelry by Pade Vavre and I found these amazing Peach Gold Diamond Quartz Studs. I cannot stop thinking about them. If only I had $880 dollars to spend on these beautiful earrings.





I also wouldn't mind getting the Herkimer Quartz Drop Necklace either. A whole week of unpaid vacation to New York doesn't help me get these pieces...

Oh well, onward to new adventures!

Holiday Shopping

It's been a while since I've updated. I blame my lack of updates on the fact that I've been sick but the truth is that I've been lazy and haven't had any interesting fashion inspiration. My luck with shopping has been pretty scarce the last few months. I didn't have the motivation to brave long lines and try on clothes I knew wouldn't fit me. But since my semi-recent weight loss, the holidays approaching, my lust for consumerism, I had the motivation to shop for things that I can't afford at the moment. My top 5 most wanted items:

1. Gray Purse with Shoulder and Handle Straps
2. The Silver Forget Me Knot Ring by Kiel Mead
3. The Perfect Pair of Plain Dark Wash Jeans
4. Knee High Boots (that actually fit my shapely calves)
5. Cropped Camel Wool Coat

After several weeks, I've managed to get 4 out of 5 - which is surprisingly amazing.

Gray Aldo Purse (with gold hardware and shoulder & handle straps)




Silver Forget Me Knot Ring by Kiel Mead, size 8 (a gift from my sister)



Old Navy "Diva" Jeans Dark Wash Jeans (super low-rise and slightly flared)
*Note: these make me look tall and skinny and fit amazingly. For $20 bucks. Yay!*



Customized Knee High Boots from Duo Boots (I haven't purchased these styles [Imperia Boots and Versailles Boots] yet but I will once the new year starts)


Now, where the hell am I going to find that cropped camel wool coat?

And movie inspiration strikes again!

So earlier this week, I watched the movie Brick with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Aside from the lead actress (Nora Zehetner) dressing incredibly awesome, I must admit that I've developed an odd attraction for Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He's sexy in a very understated way. My netflix queue has all his movies at the top of my list. I've probably seen the movie at least 15 times this week. The ending scene was clenching. Nora Zehetner looked amazing in her 1940s inspired outfit. The sheer dress, the coat with the fur trimmed collar, the peep toe shoes. I became slightly obsessed with her feather clip, but everywhere I found it online - there weren't many choices - had the price tag of over $35 bucks. I knew I could make it myself. It took about two hours. The next one will be better. I had some challenges since I had to figure out how to make it happen while doing it. But here it is...my handmade feather hair clip:

The Must-Throw Away Shoe

This is just me bitching but I hate...HATE...HATE the gladiator trend. Who came up with this new trend to make yourself look like you have cankles? It's the worst trend in the last ten years. They're worse than shoulder pads which look good on NO ONE. The gladiator sandal is not only unfeminine, but also a very heavy look on the foot. Depending on the thickness and placement of the straps, the effect is not always a flattering one for a woman's leg.

They come in sandals and heels, but they're all freaking terrible and deserve to go back to 2,000 years ago.







(image source: hotmamadaily.com, nordstrom.com, and piperlime.com)

Sunday

It's cold in San Francisco that your cheeks take at least 10 minutes to warm up. I went to the record store because I had nothing else to do. I picked up a couple of cds (DJ-Kicks: Erlend Oye, Kings of Convenience: Versus, a couple of Yo La Tengo cds) and two dvds. I was waiting in line on the second floor which was out of my way because a cute guy with a beard, dark messy hair, and glasses was a cashier. I saw him earlier when I was picking up some movies and cds, but I didn't say anything. I stood in line in hopes that he'd ring me up, say that I had fabulous taste in music and movies, and would ask me to make out with him. But instead, I ended up at the register of a girl. She was nice enough, especially when she asked me what perfume I was wearing because she liked it. My first comment since I've bought it! I told her even though I still feel the shame when I say what it is. 

Then walking down the street, waiting for my public transportation, a lady walks up to me. She asks, "Do you speak Spanish?" in a thick accent. I say no. She points downward. She keeps saying "Macy's?" And at first, I didn't understand so I tried to give her directions to Macy's but she kept shaking her head and pointing downward. Then she said nevermind and she pointed at my shoes and said "bonita."

That...I understood.

Thick purple suede belt - Forever 21? I don't remember.
Heart necklace - H&M
Tank - Old Navy
Black a-line pleated knee length skirt - H&M
Gray wool socks - H&M
Patent leather pumps - Payless

Rachel Weisz in My Blueberry Nights

One of my favorite directors, Wong Kar-wai knows how to make stylish films. His female leads are always sexy in a very understated way. I love the stylization of 1960s Hong Kong in his films, In the Mood for Love and 2046. The costumes and costume jewelry were breathtaking. The hairstyles and makeup make me wish I lived during the 1960s. But to have that look now would make you look like you're wearing a costume.

Recently, he directed the film My Blueberry Nights. While I didn't love the movie, I fell in love with the performance and look of Rachel Weisz. She's basically one of the only reasons the movie is worth watching. I couldn't stop thinking about how amazing she looked with messy sex kitten curls combined with the body hugging dresses. Her look was extremely beautiful and understated. Something anyone could recreate. My wardrobe is slowly filling up with low cut dresses which are perfect for my large chest and curvy body. Now, if I could only look as sexy as Rachel Weisz with my hair...