
Since I've always been obsessed with Converse Jack Purcells, I'm excited about the new Converse X Marimekko collaboration. Although reports said the shoes wouldn't be out 'til spring, it looks a couple of the designs are already available on the Converse website...
If you're not already familiar with the Finnish textile manufacturer known for their brightly colored '60s graphic patterns, here are a couple more desirable Marimekkos....
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
collaboration: converse x marimekko
Thursday, February 3, 2011
best styling products for a digital perm
I just got re- digital permed last weekend and it reminded me that I need to share my favorite styling products with the rest of the permed hair world. I've tried tons of different products from drugstore brands to special curly hair salon brands and here are my favorites and how to use them...
(A reminder: I can only vouch for how these work with permed hair since I naturally have stubbornly straight Asian hair and would never have even though I would be in the market for specifically curly-haired products until this life-changing digital perm was invented)
Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream
$31.99 at a local salon
There are so many fancy curly hair products on shelves these days, but the Moroccanoil has given me the best results when air drying. One of the annoying things about the digital perm was that I felt like I always had to blowdry in that special twisty way if I wanted curls. With the Moroccanoil Curl Cream I just apply like leave-in conditioner after towel drying, scrunch scrunch scrunch, and air dry (continuing to scrunch while it is drying). It dries to look like naturally wavy hair, which is a great everyday option when I don't feel like making those perfect bouncy waves. There also seems to be some sort of ingredient in the Moroccanoil that makes my hair dry faster.
The only downside is that, even though it says it is a leave-in conditioner, I do feel like it dries my hair out if I use it a lot. I just got the the Original Moroccanoil Treatment, which is supposed to completely hydrate your hair...so maybe they are supposed to be used together to avoid drying your hair out (either a marketing scheme or the best way to have great hair).
Fiber wax
(like Nigelle Lafusion Contrastmove Wax)
Whether I completely blow dry or just loosely dry a little, the key to keeping my curls from frizzing is to use a fiber wax. Don't ever use the regular greasy wax that men use! The fiber wax will hold the curls together so you can have big clumps of curls (I usually divide my hair into six sections of curls) instead of tons of separate curls that can get frizzy. Make sure to use the wax at the bottom tips of the hair to shape the curls.
I started using the Nigelle Lafusion wax because my hair stylist in Japan recommended it, but I think it's pretty difficult to find in the U.S. I think that Shieseido makes a fiber wax, but you can always just ask your hair stylist to recommend something similar.
From what I've found, the salon products are significantly more expensive, but they do a much better job than the drugstore brands.
This is my report for now, but I'm always continuing to try out new products. And I'm still on the hunt for the best conditioner....let me know if you have any recs!
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011
fair isle blouse on gossip girl
Speaking of fair isle popping up everywhere...
On this week's Gossip Girl (am I the only adult who still watches this show?) the always fashion forward (though usually inappropriately under-covered) Serena van der Woodsen was wearing this gorgeous sheer D&G blouse with a delicate snowflake fair isle pattern. If you love it, I just found the blouse on sale at D&G online.
If you can rock the Carrie Bradshaw black bra look under this blouse then that's pretty awesome, but there's also a lot of more real-life ensembles that this could fit into with a black cami underneath. Mostly I've seen the fair isle used with thick knits, so I love the contrast of the traditional cozy sweater pattern with the delicate feminine blouse...so very D&G.
Unfortunately the accompanying fur bloomers didn't make it on the show.
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Tuesday, February 1, 2011
wedges everywhere...
It looks like Faryl Robin had a version of these last year that are actually on sale now at endless.com...
How will I decide which I like better?
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must have these wedges...
I've only barely started thinking about spring fashion, but I've just decided that these are the first shoes that have me dreaming about springtime...I got an Anthropologie catalogue in the mail today and it was love at first sight...these are the first on my list!
They remind of the Pierre Hardy + Gap wooden wedges that I tried to hunt down last year and couldn't find anywhere...but I think I like these even more...

They're just so darn cute...must must have
Thursday, January 27, 2011
fair isle knitting obsession
if you've never tried knitting, you must be be forewarned that is highly addictive!! First it starts out as something to do while you watch Gossip Girl and Real Housewives...then it's something useful to do on long plane rides and in waiting rooms...then you find yourself adding more shows to your DVR just so you can have a reason to get back to your knitting. In fact, I would like to tear myself away from the computer to go knit right now. It's crazy.
I've been knitting and crocheting off and on since my Grandma taught me how to make dishrags and pot holders when I was just a teeny little grade schooler. After knitting basic scarves, hats, and mittens for the last ten years, I decided that it was time for me to face my fears and delve into the world of knitting in multiple colors!

Fair isle was everywhere this winter with ultra thick sweater sleeve scarves and head-to-toe ski bunny looks from D&G (literally head-to-toe, including a fair isle thick knit catsuit...definitely not a good look). If you're not sure what fair isle is, just take a look at the images and I'm sure you will get the idea...see more of the D&G runway collection here.
The name comes from the Fair Isle island in northern Scotland where this style originated, so I think there is a technical definition that differentiates it from all "stranded" knitting where two colors are being knit at the same time...but the fashion world definitely uses the term fair isle to refer to those colorful stripey knits with little snowflakes, reindeer, and exes in them.
The $255 price tag for a Rag & Bone fair isle scarf and a free video tutorial on KnittingHelp.com inspired me to attempt this challenging two-color knitting style at home...
{ color style }My first project is this little red bag (sweaters are just way too intimidating...gotta master the technique first) that I found in Color Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd, which has some modern patterns that looked slightly achievable. The up side is that the technique is complicated enough to make me feel challenged, but the down side is that the technique is complicated enough that I definitely mess up a lot when I try to watch TV simultaneously.
Hopefully fair isle will be in style next winter since it will take me until then to complete anything that I would be willing to wear in public...
I'll let you know how it goes.












