Careless In Red (Update)

Get this widget!

Browse Chapter One.


Courtesy Of Elizabeth George Online and Harper Collins.

My Flat In London

I came across My Flat In London quite a while ago and while I like the style and design of the handbags, they're a bit too "blingy" for my taste. Bit too many crystals and rhinestones too be exact. ( I prefer my handbags in dark brown leather with brass clasps).

I was channel surfing late one night and saw that HSN was doing a feature on MFIL bags, and I was intrigued by the pink and black combo of most of the bags, which reminds me of Mariah Carey for some reason. I proceeded to forget all about them until today when I was at TJ Maxx browsing through their accessories section, when I pounced on a rather sweet black quilted handbag with a familiar logo. I looked at the label inside and was pleasantly surprised to see that indeed, it was a MFIL bag, with a reasonable price tag of $70 (the original price was $295). Regrettably I did not immediately whip out the ol' check card as it is after all almost the end of the month and the rent for My Flat In Pilsen will be due in about a week...hahahah....just a little joke..

Anyhow, I went home and swung by their site, and while I still don't care for the bling factor, their bags are still pretty sweet.

The bag below was the one I saw at TJ Maxx.






I love this one.

Who's The Fire Hydrant?

Ummm, yeah.

Mariah Carey = Muppet?

Jay found some photos of Janice the Muppet whose amazing resemblance to Mariah Carey on Oprah brought forth mad lols from yours truly.

Muppet:




Ms. C:

VersionFest 2008 "Dark Matter" Opening Night 4/18/2008

...in photos. The place, a spacious, open gallery floor in Bridgeport, was packed with art freaks, art geeks and general all-out weirdos...also in attendence some of Chicago's up-and-coming artists as well as prominent ones. It was hot, crowded and the air reeked of beer, cigarettes, sweaty bodies, young Chicago celebrating amazing (as well as crap) art and partying until the wee hours of the morning (until about 4 a.m.)

Happy Anniversary/Earth Day!!!

Today I'm celebrating my 6th wedding anniversary to Jay...wow, where did the time go? Hard to believe we've been together 8 years (married 6) and been living in Chicago close to 6 years....did we decide to get married on Earth Day on porpose? May have...

Anyhoo...loads of Versionfest pics but can't be arsed to put them up right now...maybe in a couple of days..

Chicago oh Chicago my beloved city...but why are you full of violence..32 people shot, 2 stabbed and 6 people died these past 4 days, prayers go out to the families of those involved... apparently the warmer weather was to blame... well, all the gangbangers came out in full force causing all kinds of trouble!! May you people rot in hell.

Moving on, last night I successfully altered a small men's t-shirt into a baby doll t-shirt and I must say I am pretty pleased with the end result...now I'm plucking up the courage to alter my beloved England football shirt (size L men's) given to me by a very good friend who I've lost contact with aaages ago. Anyhoo, will post the finished product.

I'm just a sucker...

"Founded in 1978, the Kyoto Costume Institute holds one of the world's most extensive clothing collections and has curated many exhibitions worldwide. Showcasing highlights from the Institute's archives of skilled photographs depicting the clothing expertly displayed and arranged on custom-made mannequins, Fashion History is a fascinating excursion through the last three centuries of clothing trends."


Going through the ol' bursting-at-the-seams bookcase yesterday, I came across this tiny volume amongst my collection of Elizabeth Georges and Peter Mayles and Jay's various art books and mags. I'd quite forgotten about it. Flipping through it again I remembered why I'd bought it in the first place, because of the colorful photos and stunning details...I'm a sucker for close-ups of intricate lace and beadwork and ruffles and tulle and feathers...(gasps for breath).






Loads of other brilliant pics as well.

Art Around Chicago April 2008

Version Fest '08: Dark Matter

Happening April 17-27. Chicago, IL. Website here.
Opening night Dark Matter Group Show April 18, 2008. Click Calender for schedule.




Artropolis

Happening April 25-28

Art Chicago 2008
Art Chicago™ 2008, the annual international fair of contemporary and modern art, brings together 180 of the world's leading emerging and established galleries, representing 56 international cities to showcase the work of over 2,000 renowned artists. Art Chicago™ offers curators, collectors, artists and art enthusiasts a comprehensive survey of current and historic work, from cutting-edge to modern masters in a wide variety of media including: painting, photography, drawing, prints, sculpture, video and special installations.

NEXT
NEXT will include works from both commercial and non-commercial arts organizations as well as galleries, project spaces, artist collectives, art publications and key private contemporary collections. A virtual clearing-house for the best of contemporary art, NEXT presents a new, selectively curated exhibition format that brings together—in one exhibition space—the most cutting-edge contemporary artists and arts organizations in the world.

More international than any other young fair of contemporary art to date, NEXT boasts galleries from every important art city in the world, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, London, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Warsaw and Bucharest. The largest collection to date of significant art trends ever assembled, NEXT presents approximately 170 of the best young galleries from every major international center of art production.

The Artist Project
Running concurrently with Art Chicago™, The Artist Project is an exhibition and sale featuring original work from cutting-edge artists undiscovered by the gallery community. The Artist Project is a great opportunity to discover and obtain interesting and affordable art directly from this uniquely talented group of artists.

The Intuit Show
The Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art is an art fair sponsored by and benefiting Intuit: the Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art. The Intuit Show features the sale of self-taught art, outsider art, art brut, ethnographic art, non-traditional folk art and visionary art. A distinct element of Artropolis™, a citywide celebration of arts, antiques and culture, The Intuit Show brings together leading dealers and galleries from around the world.

Top Shop Opening In Chicago..

...er...I mean, New York October 10. Pah. Dream on.

Trolling Pt. 2

Trolling the web again and checking out blogs I meant to look at aaages ago...and found this loooovely site Soia & Kyo via the brilliant Fashion Is Spinach who had an entry dedicated to shopping in Kuala Lumpur (aaahhh, miss KL) but anyway back to Soia & Kyo...this TRENCH!!! I WANT!!!

Lotta-S: Asymmetrical trench with funnel collar and full pleated skirt. $265.00.



I really hate spending a lot of dosh on clothes but quality pieces especially a really good trench is well worth it...now when is that tax rebate check coming again??

Simpson-Wentz Wedding???

BwaHaHahahha!!! (I'm laughing my ass off, not crying). It kills me to post any pictures of them cos I especially hate Pete Wentz but here you are. Their kids will look like a cross between a muppet and Boy George's hat.



In other news, Mariah Carey was on Oprah today.

Jay: Mariah Carey is on Oprah.
Me: Uh..yeah.
Jay: She looks weird, like a muppet or something.
Me: Bwahahahahha!!!! (Laughing, not crying).

There you are.

Jane Austen on PBS

PBS finally closed the 4-month long "The Complete Jane Austen" on Masterpiece Theater this last weekend. I had been following the series pretty much every Sunday night, or failing that, the reruns on Monday nights. I was pleased that PBS ended the series with the BBC's brilliant 2007 adaptation of "Sense and Sensibility."

I was a big fan of the 1995 movie version starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman but rather liked the 2007 version featuring virtual unknowns (at least to American viewers), it was elegant and charming and I found myself shedding a couple of tears at key moments in the film, one of them being the final scene when Elinor finally broke down upon hearing that Edward Ferrars had not in fact, married Lucy Steele! Plus I love period costumes, the less said about that the better. And the scene with Edward manfully chopping wood...on par I think with the infamous Colin Firth diving into the lake scene in "Pride and Prejudice"...phhwaaarrrr....



Who do you identify with more, the sensible, practical, seemingly in-control emotionally Elinor Dashwood or the passionate, fiery, Marianne Dashwood who wore her heart on her sleeve?



You have done it again PBS!! No wonder I love you.

H&M/Comme Des Garcons Collab

Shall we see a line of fashionable people camping outside the Chicago flagship store this fall for the much anticipated Comme des Garcons collaboration? The Roberto Cavalli one was over in a matter of minutes leaving a bunch of bloodied carcass in its trail.. (haha jokes). Nothing like watching a pack of fashionably turned out Chicagoans turn on each other for a piece of designer togs. Epic.

Scent Of A Woman (Sorry, couldn't resist!!)

I don't normally go for fragrances much (usually my daily after-shower rubdown with Jergens Shea Butter suffices) but Jay's always after me to dab on some perfume. Between the lotions and face moisturizers and shampoos I've always thought that dabbing on a scent would be a bit redundant and/or overdoing it but there's nothing like a pretty scent to make your day a bit brighter, it's a bit like putting on an amazing outfit. Well, perfume IS an accessory, much like a handbag or bangles or a scarf.

I've tried a lot of different perfumes over the years, from Chanel No. 5 (reminds me of my mum), to Body Shop's Tea Rose Perfume Oil to Acqua De Gio For Women and assorted others, but recently I was attracted to the Lacoste line of perfumes. I've been wearing A Touch of Pink for the last year, and was pretty pleased with it overall, that I immediately got out and bought another bottle after I used up the last one. I never ever finish a bottle of perfume in a couple of months, so that tells you how rarely I wear perfumes!



A chic, delicate & charming fragrance for women
Embraces you energy, femininity & sensuality
Top notes of blood orange, coriander leaf cardamom
Middle notes of jasmine, violet leaf & carrot seed
Base notes of sandalwood, musks & touch of vanilla
Perfect for day time & casual wear




Had some difficulty finding details for this one, launched last year around May. This perfume has the feeling of energy, well-being and freedom. It starts with quince flower to give the impression of springtime. Heart notes are Amazon water lily and osmanthus.The base notes are sandalwood rounded by luminous musk.




A luxurious fragrance opens with explosion of energetic citrus
Refreshing, sensual & warm
Top notes of bergamot, aquatic notes, grapefruit, green accord
Middle notes of rose, peony & jasmine
Base notes of amber & musk
Suitable for all occasions


I also have a soft spot for Clinique Happy:




Top notes: bergamot, boysenberry and honeysuckle
Middle notes: bushflower, grapefruit and moss
Base notes: freesia, lemon and Hawaiian wedding flower
Senses: Floral, Fruity, Green
Recommended for formal and romantic use




By the way, Jay loves Lacoste Pour Homme:




(Fragrance notes: Ruby Grapefruit, Plum Accord, Italian Bergamot, Apple, Juniper, Cardamom, Pink Peppercorn, Jamaican Rum, Cinnamon Bark, Agarwood, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Vanilla Bean, Musk.)


...and Burberry Brit..





A fresh oriental woody fragrance. Top Notes: Green Mandarin and Ginger, Bergamot and Cardomom. Middle Notes: Wild Rose, Cedarwood and Nutmeg. Base Notes:Oriental Woods Accord, Grey Musk and Tonka Beans.


Which perfume do you love?

Brooks Golden Vs. The Grocer

Bit late posting this blog as the show was on March 28, but better late than never, right?

Brooks Golden






The Grocer (collab. Allison Rae)






People






Waiting for the bus after the show...off to Hollywood Diner!!



No words. Massively tired form working all day. Apologies for the poorly executed blog, like I said, been at work all day. Pooped.