denim: love or hate?

when i first saw this Herve Leger dress, i had, and still have, pretty mixed feelings about it. the shape and cut is gorgeous and very flattering (thanks to the model as well), and i love the rugged look as well as the 'slice' at the shoulders/upper arms. but there's just something that doesn't seem to sit well with me. i reckon it's the material - denim.

image via MB Fashion Week 

as everyone knows, denim can either be a hit or miss, especially when it's made into other forms of apparel. so now, who can forget the horrendous matching outfits of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake at the 2001 American Music Awards?!

image via galleryworld

what were they thinking?! i know love can be blind but.. surely they could have gotten better stylists? ah wells, i sure hope they've got better stylists now.

side note: still wish they'd get back together one day. they're so cute as a couple albeit the awful matching outfits.

structured dresses and architectural heels.

i've been a little slow with Mercedes-Benz (aka New York) Fashion Week so i spent a good hour catching up with it a while ago. there's just so many many many beyoootiful stuff to blog about but Ports 1961 really stood out for me. from the natural draping of the structured apparel to the "architectural" heels, there's so much to love about this label.

North African-born, Vancouver-bred designer Tia Cibani launched Ports 1961 in 2004 - a label that consists of many ready-to-wear classic apparel with a romantic and ethnic twist. she showcased her latest collection at the legendary tent on the first day of the fashion week.

images via MB Fashion Week

 images via models.com

the sweetest thing - 

i'm adding this to my Christmas wish list.

septembers are busy months.

it's a month of birthdays, one after another. today, my babe turned 21! the surprise that we threw for her turned out very well and the night ended with a big laugh. =D

SURRR-PRISSSEEEEE!



everybody needs a big box of good treats once a year.


and you only turn 21 once, why not do something fun?

so once again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!

how beautiful is that.

Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls. 

- Ingmar Bergman

Bergman and Bertil Guve on the set of Fanny and Alexander

i just love this picture. there's something childlike and endearing about Bergman here; i suppose it's the mismatching socks on him yet matching to Bertil's red shoes. seeing this just makes me wanna take my red high ankle socks out and wear them, once and for all! and for some reason, i can totally see him being featured on The Sartorialist if he were still alive.

too much is no good.

"Damn, oversleeping again.
Damn, I can't believe I did it once again

I can make it in time if i jump out of bed
If i skip to wear and get running instead
If i get on my feet, if i skip to hit snooze
If i don't care to eat and get running instead
I can make it in time."

- I'm From Barcelona's Oversleeping

it's frustrating to wake up, realising you've overslept and missed your class. it's the second time this semester and i do this almost every other semester. it's also worrying because while classes sorta allow you to skip, work will not.

in an attempt to solve this problem, i consult good ole google again. one website instructs this -
1. Set the appropriate alarm tone (done that. mine's a jarringly, annoying Nintendo Mario game soundtrack. yet, i just don't hear it.)
2. Set a reliable alarm at a reasonable distance (done that. my mobile is placed at the other end of the bedside table)
3. Refuse to snooze (okay guilty as charged)
4. Maintain a regular sleep schedule (erm, what schedule?)
5. Consult a physician (ah mine can't be that serious... can it?)

is snoozing my biggest problem? maybe "Snoozester", an online Free Wake Up Calls service, can help. it's hilarious and rather ridiculous what services there are available out there these days. but i can't seem to find a solution right now. i know 'tho that i need a laugh to perk my day up. perhaps you do too.

images via Cartoon Stock.

little pleasures in life.

for so long, i'd go past a quaint little cafe called Mart130 while on the way to St Kilda. never once, i'd look out of the tram to notice it. so when my sister came down to visit in july, i'm glad i took the extra effort to look for nice places to go to for brekkies/brunch. needless to say (now), Mart130 came up in the google search.

it's funny how i don't make an effort to discover more of such places without a reason, such as the sister visiting. the nooks and crannies of Melbourne have yet to be discovered and whats more, i feel like i'm running out of time. yet, i just can't seem to find the time in my busy schedule at the moment to indulge myself in these little pleasures in life. so for now, all i can do is look back at the places and good food that i did enjoy.

if i remember them correctly... (clockwise from top left) Spinach, mushrooms and eggs; Spanish chorizos and eggs; Salmon, avocado and eggs; Bacon strips on french toast.


Mart130 used to be an old station master's building.

must look out of trams more often!

can't wait to go back there again, soon...

Mart130 (tram stop 130) -
107A Canterbury Road, Middle Park, Victoria.
Getting there:
Tram No. 96, towards St Kilda

lace-up is sex.

what more can i say?

Givenchy Open Toe Lace-up Booties USD$1,195; Velvet Angels Snafu Lace-up Booties USD$325

Burberry Prorsum Cutout leather sandals GBP$430; Lanvin Lace-up platforms GBP$731

Christian Louboutin Supra Fifre 120 GBP$1,278

Christian Louboutin Deva 120 GBP$640

And its almost exact copy -

Wittner Vodka AUD$139.95

Wittner Soultry AUD$199.95; Wittner Vera AUD$169.96

are you hyperventilating now?
i know i still am.
*swoons...

every party needs cakes and balloons.

yesterday, an old friend of mine turned 24, albeit that was four days early (his birthday's on 9/9/09 but cos it's a weekday, the party was held on the 5th). it was a pretty special one for him because he was born in the year of the cow and this year, according to the Chinese calendar, is also the year of the cow. furthermore, it was a once in a lifetime 09/09/09 celebration.
so to add to the specialness of his party, i baked vanilla cupcakes, topped with lemon and strawberry icing, just for the birthday boy!

nice and golden brown. time to move on to the icing.

ta-da! the finished product.
candy letterings read: "Happy 24th Birthday, Lippy"

this Snapware carrier case is fantastic. my cupcakes reached its destination in one piece, with no smashed icing or whatsoever.
and i'm sorry i gotta do this but...
RANT: a lady came up to me on the tram, asking where i got the case from. so i told her, "Southern Cross Station's DFO. it's a homeware shop called Matchbox." she gave me a puzzled look, and then asked, "where's Southern Cross?" so i explained, "Spencer St. it's a big factory outlet that you won't miss." she continued to ask, "is it Flinder's St station? Melbourne Central?"
at that point, i was thinking, OMG LADY. should i just draw a map for you? but i patiently answered, trying to explain to her where it is. for some reason, she got fed up with me and just rolled her eyes and walked off. no thanks, no nothing. i don't think i owe her a living or something.

party photos courtesy of Kein -

aren't these the cutest?!

Lindt Hazelnut chocolate cake in the centre.

delighted? indeed!

i just couldn't leave empty handed, especially not if there were such cute balloons!