Innocently Materialistic!

No, I am not looking for an excuses for my recent purchases but Yes, I am talking about how I cherish friends' gifts that I had to show them my gratitude through wearing their gifts along with my ensembles ASAP. 


Aren't you so excited to see friends make good use of whatever stuff you bought especially for them?!! I would and I definitely want them to know that they and their gifts mean so much to me. 


Therefore, I am innocently materialistic while showing off those pretty things. 

Ben Amun triple chained beaded necklace (gifted from Cathy), Christian Louboutin heels, evil-eyes bracelet, madewell knotted bracelet, J crew black threaded crystal bracelet, momo's march wooden beaded bracelet 



This Prabal Gurung black sheer shirt becomes my classic and fun piece.  



{Cathy: As opposed to wearing the necklace mysteriously in a tribe look, I hope you'd like this one as well.) 






My Outfit Du Jour


 1. Top:
Prabal Gurung sheer bottom-down feather front/cut-out shoulder shirt (past season)


2. Bottom:
wide pleated hight-waist skirt made in France(thrifty store find)


3. Accessory:
Elizabeth cole dagger Swarovski necklace
 Ben Amun beads necklace
J Crew vintage studs earrings
multiple colored beaded belt (bought in India)
Azzedine Alaia laser cut-out tote 
yellow opaque tights
green socks 


4. Shoes:
Christian Louboutin Pigalle Plato 120 Patent White 11' s/s 




{PS. I have been asked/stopped by people who are wondering if I was carrying a puppy in my Alaia bag three times already.... Err,... }


Love in Summer!
xoxo Rachel 

2011 A/W Trend Elements!!

The influx of emails from the shopping sites and new season's trends' alert almost paralyze my mail box. I mean, I almost have to delete at least 50 mails everyday just so I can read the rest of seem-to-be relatively important emails. {No, I certainly don't like seeing even 1 email alert which reminds me I might omit something important. } Well, is there something like "information left-out panic" phrases exist? I probably will be diagnosed with such syndrome if it does exist. lol I have CNN appl. on my iPhone and it gives "big news" alert everyday which makes me feel that I am not being left-out from the world or be such an illiterate myself. 


Anyway, I was talking on the phone with my friend, Isabel, the other day that how she decided to sell some of her old/past season clothes and how to "get inspired" by me!! Well, she said, she should be like me, wearing newly-bought clothes right away in the future in case she even forgets that she had that piece. Then, she should wear every single piece in her closet at least once every season to make full use of them. As far as her plan is concern, it sounds flawless and I am sure she needs a lot of inspiration from me from now on.... lol. 


Here is what I came up with from my past season clothes which def. can walk me into this fall trend fabulously. Hopefully, you might as well get more ideas when recycling or restyling from your wardrobe. 


Element 1: Sheer, or see-through whatever shirt or leggings or skirt.... { make sure your underpants/bras is cute as well.. ^O^}


Element 2: Pendent necklace 


Element 3: Wide leg jeans {this is forever fabulous piece}


Element 4: platform heels.....

pic. source (hyperlink)

Element 5: Satin .... something 

Element 6: forest green

Element 7: a nice tailored shirt 

Element 8: leopard .. {never enough} 

I altered this satin green dress and bottom Dolce Vita jegging into ONE-PIECE Jumper!!

{I am very tired of the satin dress and the bottom jegging but couldn't bear the thoughts of feeling pity if I throw them away so I have my seamstress sew them together.}



{Now this one-of-a-kind jumper is very convenient and I don't have to worry about how to tuck the shirt in seamlessly}



Pic. source (hyperlink)


Dig in your closet and have fun. 
xo Rachel 

With My Whole Heart Thanks!!

I obtained my Zumba 1, 2 and Zumbatomic licenses and now I am an official Zumba instructor. Yey~~~ {I have all my friends' and family's blessing with me the whole time... and, yeah, you know, my dear hubby baby-sitted 3 children all the way in Napa for 3 days just so I can be closer to them while I had my training in Fairfield!! ^O^}


However, even thought now I am an official Zumba instructor, it doesn't mean I am going to teach or stop going to my mentor, my Zumba instructor's class. In fact, after I completed those training, it only inspires me how much effort and time you have to put into practice to be a good Zumba instructor. No matter what style he/she is, no matter if he/she has dancers background, it certainly needs a lot of commitment to be responsible to your students and to fellow instructors who seeks inspiration while they attending another instructors' classes. {*Kudos* to all the Zumba instructors out there and around the world!!} 

{Thank you, Jennifer and Wendy. Good luck to your Zumba teacher career!!} 

Hubby isn't an epicure at all, therefore he doesn't fancy those 3 stars Michelin restaurants. {Although I really wanted to go Michelin star restaurants in Downtown Napa. lol} Good thing is there are a lot of nice casual dining options in Napa without leaving you a big, fat check. Here is one good Thai restaurant- Mini Mango!!

Green Papaya salad.

Short spareribs

Grilled squid Salad

Pad Thai 

Wide noodles in Thai sweet chili sauce 


Chocolate Wonton with ice cream n' raspberry puree 

A little souvenir of monogrammed coaster for me and hubby. 


Nothing beats a nice photo to mesmerize the happy moment forever!!

Cheers,
 Rachel 

Let's Roll, Bordeaux!!!

These days I often see people carrying red bags on the street. I am not sure if it is because I consciously pay attention to people who carries red bags or it is just everyone is into this red/bordeaux trend. 

Hermes 10' Lindy 30cm in Rubis, Chanel 10' red reissue 226, Alaia 11' laser-cut tote 

In real life, this Chanel bag is more of an unevenly raspberry red. Herems' Rubis has slightly a pink/blue undertone while my Alaia is very much of a true red. 

Blackberry, basil lemonade!.... you really should give it a try!

{I would love to see a red bag with this saturated purple/navy undertone too!!}

My ODJ

Madewell navy shirt with side-buttons, Karen Walker 09' cape shirt, Free people beige/caramel wool hat,  Valentino for GAP 09' cropped pants, Boss orange multiple colored Mary-jane platform, Alaia 11' laser-cut large tote 

{I didn't forget this almost one-of-a-kind Valentino for Gap cropped pants which I bought in Rome last year. I say "almost" is because I know people must still wear it around in Europe but not much here in USA. I still gasp its very dimensional ruffle trims and multiple functional pockets all over!! }

This new Alaia bag is HUGE... I think it is even larger than my Chanel Rodeo Drive large tote. 

Current Coveted Item: Azzedine Alaia....

 Alaïa Perforated leather tote

$3,160 - net-a-porter.com