Take a Bow

[Edited to add close-up of shoes.]

I'm all grown up, yet I still can't resist the charm of bows. I don't wear them in my hair anymore, since I'm way past that stage, but less obvious forms of bows are unexpectedly cute and "age-appropriate."

[Marc by Marc Jacobs lop-sided bow ring, Calvin Klein slingbacks.]



The silver slingbacks are the saving grace for all of my dressy outfits, since silver goes with just about anything. The bow-on-top-of-a-bow adornment fills the visual void below the hemline or peeps just so from the hem of pants, and the silver color makes the bows glamorous instead of girlish. I bought them from DSW a couple of months to go with a rosy pink dress for a wedding, since none of my other footwear seemed to work with that color and the expected weather conditions. These shoes performed quite admirably--they continued to shine even after they got rained on, splattered with mud, and sank into the water-logged ground during the reception. After one good rinse and wipe, they were ready to go with blue dresses (i.e., for Christmas) and jeans for other occasions.

The ring is somewhere along the lines of my Pink Head Hello Kitty ring: it's almost too cutesy for adults to wear, but the operative term is "almost"--it toes the line without crossing it. I should be a bit abashed to wear such an overtly youthful accessory, but I'm not. It's shiny without being girlish, and the off-center placement of the bow just works. Quite a gem from the accessories clearance section during Nordstrom's after Christmas sale.

What do you think about bows? Do you wear them? Do you avoid them? Do you secretly wish you can deck yourself in them? I don't think anyone is ever too old to wear them; it's just a matter of finding one right for you or the particular occasion. While I don't believe in "dressing one's age," I do think time and age do influence personal style. I certainly dress differently now than I did 10 years ago, mainly due to changes in responsibilities, lifestyle, and other circumstances.

Blue Shift

There's always more than meets the eye, as the saying goes. Speaking strictly in terms of the color wheel, red would be the "warm" color and blue a "cool" color. Hence, it is easy to say that red is the color to wear for parties because bright colors evoke a burst of energy, and darker colors are to be avoided because they are too subtle. But blue is not dull and devoid of the high-powered glamour that festivities demand. Indeed, it's quite the opposite. If you look at color as a spectrum from a scientific point of view, blue light is rather high-energy because it has a short wavelength, while red is actually at a lower energy state.

As hard as I've tried to find the perfect Little Black Dress, I could not find one. I think I'm resigned to the fact that I may never find it, but that's fine. Instead, I've been finding blue dresses. Blue is subtle yet captivating. It slowly simmers with electricity.

[For the work Christmas party: Richard Chai for Target dress, vintage coat, Goldenbleu clutch (a sample sale find), Target diamond-patterned tights, D&G mary janes.]

I tried on the rose-print version of the dress here, and bemoaned the fact that I could not find the blue one. By the time I got around to looking for the clearance section of the Target website, it was all gone. Luckily, I found it in my size on eBay for a fraction of the cost, and it fits perfectly. It was meant to be. The dress actually hits right above the knee, despite what the camera angle suggests.

This Christmas seems especially cold, since an arctic storm rolled through. I've been told by several folks coming from the East Coast that when they got here, California was actually colder than from whence they came! Frigid weather like that tends to put a damper on my plans to wear a dress (I'm a warm-weather wimp). This year I didn't have to choose between warmth and vanity--while I was at Bloomingdale's to do some Christmas shopping, I found the perfectly fitting wool shift dress on the clearance rack for about a third of the original price. It has literally taken me a good few years to find a shift dress like this--something in a gorgeous matte fabric, elegant but amenable to being dressed down, classic with a modern twist. The button details on the shoulder, the subtle gathering at the collar, and the ribbon detailing on the sides and back are just perfect. This is clearly a dressy dress, either for special occasions or with a cardigan/blazer for work, but it is very easy to dress down. On the same shopping trip, I splurged on a hooded leather bomber, which has also been on my shopping list for quite some time. It is the perfect mate to the dress, among other things. Given how badly the stock markets are tanking, I dare say I can get a better return for a select portion of my year-end bonus on these two pieces than I would have if I put it in my 401(k). It's far more comforting to see the cost-per-wear ratio plummet than to witness the same for stock or cash value. (I'll leave my thoughts on deflation for some other day.)

[Diane von Furstenberg dress, Gap scarf (the gift from last Christmas that keeps on giving), Ray Bans, Michael Kors leather hoodie, Target tights, Ciao Bella booties. For the family Christmas gathering, I traded the tights and the booties for a pair of silver slingbacks with a cute bow on it.]

Last Minute Gift Ideas

[Edited because I used the word "thought" way too many times.]

I never thought I'd place myself in this position, but I haven't completely finished my gift shopping yet. That's what happens when I have to hunt down the bacon, drag it home, and fry it too. I'll be out the door soon to complete my mission.

There are plenty of heavy discounts in the retail sector as the stores try to court last minute shoppers, especially the stores slated to get the ax. The discounted items can be fairly eclectic, and I really like the idea of putting gift sets together--instead of spending money on just one thing, which may look dinky, the same amount of dollars can be stretched into something more. I am not kidding about this--this year, $40 got me a nice combination of things for 10 or 11 different people, which is a fraction of people I got gifts for, but every bit of savings helps. On top of that, a good amount of non-perishable deals can be kept for other gifting occasions later in the year.

-Fragrant candles with shiny caps look way more expensive than they are. Sometime last year, I picked some up for $3-$5. In fact, they look great enough that I am completely comfortable with giving just that one thing as a gift.

-Bath and body products are always useful, and they can easily be paired with other things for a themed set, like towels and candles and slippers for a luxe spa set.

-Some may say that gift cards show a lack of thought, but I've always been an advocate of them--the recipient can get whatever he or she wants. However, the downside is that the person will know just how much you've spent. It shouldn't matter, but in reality, sometimes it does to some people or their family members, especially when everyone are at the same gathering. I usually get around that dilemma by pairing it with something inexpensive but complementary, like popcorn and candy with a movie gift card.

-CDs and DVDs require some understanding of the recipient's tastes, but I think it would work out just fine even if there isn't enough time to do homework. Since it's free for the recipient, he or she can experience something that he or she wouldn't have picked out for his- or herself. Who knows? You just might open that person's eyes to something new and exciting.

-Make-your-own gift baskets much less expensive than the pre-packed variety. It also shows that you've given it some consideration and effort. This is probably the ultimate last-minute gift--places like CVS and Walgreen's are typically open even on the holidays, so you can literally wait until the 11th hour (though I'd advise against it) and still be hailed as that sweet and caring person you really are, but just didn't have time to express.

-Mani/pedi set. You can get a set of $1 nail polish of all different colors, and maybe throw in a nail file and some foot cream. Yet another last-last minute gift that can be put together by heading to your local 24-hour drugstore.

-Lastly, something as simple as a thoughtful handwritten note or a handmade work of art can mean more than any gift on the market. A jar of origami cranes or stars is colorful and very affordable. Once I made a bunch of origami cranes, in fairly large sizes, and used them as cards on which I wrote my thanks to each individual recipient; it was very well received and proudly displayed by the recipients, even by those I did not expect to find it moving. At the end of the day, even the ol' cynical me truly believe that it's the thought that counts.

Happy Holidays, everyone. I hope you will enjoy this season wherever you are and with whomever you keep company.

Fit to Print

Due to my work commitments, social commitments, and the general holiday bustle, I hardly had time to post. In fact, I hardly even have time to finish my Christmas shopping, and I don't think I've ever been this behind in this regard. The state of the economy is not good, but at least good deals are abound for the 11th Hour shoppers. Some of the deals are incredibly astonishing, especially from stores that I wouldn't imagine myself buying from. I'll try to finish up this weekend if I can, and if not, at least I have a couple more nights left.

I managed to squeeze in a little bit of shopping at the Ontario Mills outlet mall a few days ago. There were quite a few store closing sales, including the Virgin Megastore. I've already picked up some DVD's and CD's from Circuit City, but the discounts were not that low (just 25% for DVD's) while the pickings were slim and jumbled in a very chaotic store. The Virgin Megastore, by contrast, had 40% off CD's and DVD's, and the stock was well-organized and diverse. I ended up getting gifts for a good number of people in one fell swoop, saving a ton of cash in the process. My vision for one of the gifts is a package of DVD's, along with some snacks to go along with the movie enjoyment, so the sale was perfect.

I went into the Saks Fifth Avenue outlet with the expectation of picking up some makeup for my sister, but this was the one time when the selection disappointed me. Nothing really stood out. Fortunately, the rest of the Saks outlet had a really big sale--50% off all clearance items, including merchandise that look new and shiny as opposed to the typical half-yanked-and-beaten-up condition on things relegated to the clearance racks. Since I have plenty of solid-colored clothes, the only thing I wanted was something with an interesting print, so shopping was easy--no need to sort through the racks, just walk along and see if something pops out. Sure enough, this print dress did, at just $25. Given what it is, the silk jersey dress is a steal. It is clearly a summer dress, but I had no trouble winterizing it at all.

[Express turtleneck, Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, Mike & Chris coat, Target tights, Christian Lacroix flats (I wear them so frequently that I think I've already gotten a return out of the investment)]