my future home

I'm back from NYC! Well I got back from Monday and since I barely slept over my trip I became extremely lazy and put off posting.

New York City was amazing, I wanted to live there for the longest time but now that I actually went there I have this screaming urge that needs to move there soon.

Day 1

I checked in my hotel around 5 P.M ish so me and my sisters just went out and walked around Time Square since my hotel was right by it. I couldn't believe I was there- you see it soo many times in movies but it's even more incredible in person. Unfortunately this was also when I found out that Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died- when I was waiting to be seated for dinner the restaurant had the T.V. on confirming the deaths. (RIP FF & MJ). After dinner we headed back to Times Square again and saw this massive crowd of people standing by David Letterman. So we decide to see who was the celebrity that was signing autographs and it was JOHNNY FREAKING DEPP! I was so excited because he was in Chicago a few days earlier and I didn't even know about it then but I see him in NYC instead... it was meant to be ;).


Day 2

Shopped down 5th Avenue then took a cab and did some more shopping in Soho and Chinatown. I also checked out stores that I wanted to for a while now such as Opening Ceremony (so depressing because I couldn't afford any of it) and Topshop (I expected more because of all the hype but I must say the top floor was shoe heaven). I also checked out Little Italy which gave me a large dose of nostalgia- i've been to Italy for months at a time and being in this place made me miss it so much. We decided to get gelato there- which is something everyone should do because you haven't tasted ice cream until you've tasted gelato. It then started to rain so we went back to the hotel and later went walking around in Time Square again.

Day 3


Took a cab to the Upper East side and visited Central Park in the morning which was beyond beautiful. I did not expect this place to be so huge plus I enjoyed the quietness after hearing the noises of traffic for the past couple of days. After I went to Barney's for the first time and it wasn't what I expected.. I figured it would be different somehow. I ended up purchasing a Mike & Chris hooded vest which I cannot wait to wear. I did some more shopping around that area and walked by all of the stores that I wished I could shop at (Chanel, YSL, Prada...) Another depressing moment for me. Later I went to go see Little Mermaid on Broadway which was really cute and again walked around Time Square to look at all of the tourist shops.



Day 4

We ventured down to go see Ground Zero in the morning. It was so surreal being there but I wished that they would leave it as it is instead of rebuilding the World Trade Center. Or make it a memorial site... anyways after we went to Battery Park and took a boat to go see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Again another surreal experience for me, its strange when you see something that you have studied about in history class for so long and then see it person. We took a break after this because it was extremely hot that day and the boat was so shaky that we all were feeling a bit sick. But later on we went back to Soho and Chinatown for some last minute shopping. At night we visited Time Square one last time before we said goodbye to the city.


It's been two days since I've been back and I miss it sooo much. New York City was a place that I've wanted to visit for a long time. The trip was a present from the parents for my graduation since I've been talking about wanting to go there for years now. The trip made me more confident in my career choice, which is apparel merchandising. I couldn't imagine majoring anything in college that isn't related to fashion because it is something I'm so passionate about. Plus if I had to, I would move to NYC in a heartbeat. I always wanted to live that kind of gossip-girl life and hopefully I will get the chance someday.

I may eventually make a post about all of the stuff that I bought from New York. Which reminds me- I might have to follow the "cleaning out closet" trend that many bloggers are doing right now because: 1. I am broke 2. I have so much stuff I haven't worn to sell. 3. I need to make room for all of my new purchases.

By the way this is my 100th post!

she's a lady

Lanvin 2009 Resort
To me the Resort collections just seemed like something for the designers to do while they wait for Fall to come. However this collection proved me wrong. Lets start with the backgrounds, usually you will see a plain color, like white or light grey, as the "setting" but the fake crowd idea is 100000 times better. Next lets talk about the models' posing. Usually, in about 98% of resort collections, you will notice that all the model does is stand there for all 40-something photos. Once again this collection takes it another level by making the models actually look like they are having fun for a change. Now for the clothing, this is like your grandma's chanel closet on crack or something. I don't even know how to explain it but I ADORE it.

P.s. I'm leaving for New York City tomorrow (my first time there!!) I'll be back on Monday and I don't think I'll make another post until then but i''ll be twittering while I'm there.

dustland fairytale

I have nothing to do tonight so I decided to browse through the fashion spot and look up magazine editorials. This is also why I've decided to not waste my money on buying fashion magazines anymore, especially the crazy prices on the international Vogues. As much as I love Vogue Paris and Vogue Italia there is no way I'll spend $15 on them when all of the important stuff gets put on this website anyways.






Julia Stegner in Vogue Germany July 2009
I looveee this spread, right down to the mythical setting and the glow of the lighting. Julia looks like a Venus goddess mixed with a fallen princess.

And now for the giveaway...
First thanks to chickdowntown again for contacting me about this giveaway. It's a great feeling when you never suspect someone, let alone a company that I admire, to contact my blog abotu working together for something.
The winner was randomly chosen and it is Gloria C. from Brambles & Rambles! Congrats ;)
I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who entered the contest!!

windy city

I couldn't resist posting these photos because it was the first time that I ever saw my own city being featured in a fashion editorial. I'm tired of Chicago being shunned out of the fashion world, we don't have fashion shows, exclusive store openings (like Topshop), or have fashion magazines that lay their foundation here. This is partly why I'm reluctant to study fashion in college because there isn't as many opportunities here as there would be in New York or Los Angeles. It doesn't make sense why the 3rd most populous city in the U.S. is being left out, we deserve some fashion attention as well! Here is some proof, my home photographs well, no??






There's still time to enter the giveaway!
Also I'm thinking about starting another blog- one where I'll post random pictures that I stumble upon several times a day. Let's see if it happens.

UPDATE: I have created another blog called Ciao Mademoiselle. It's still new but check it out ;)

Look Closer & Chickdowntown Giveaway!!

Chickdowntown was kind enough to contact me and let me pick out an item to giveaway to one lucky Look Closer reader. For those of you who aren't familiar with Chickdowntown I suggest you go and visit their website. They are an amazing online retailer of over 150 designers including Abaete, M Missioni, Balmain, What Goes Around Comes Around, See by Chloe and more. I love looking through their large selection of designer dresses.
Also, please follow them on twitter and become a fan of theirs on facebook, they annouce new giveaways and giftcards through there.
I chose this Elizabeth & James Deconstructed T-shirt in White. Defiantly a great wardrobe staple and an easy go-to item for any one.


To enter, simply leave a comment below with your email address. You have until June 20th to enter and I will randomly select the winner.

P.s. I'm going on a trip to NYC in about 2 weeks, if any of you have some great tips/places to shop LET ME KNOW!

inspi(red)

I love:
sunrise, the sound of rain on my roof, the noise a Polaroid camera makes before it snaps a photo, windy days during the summer, thrifting for treasures, cuddling with my dog, staying up late at night, lounging in silk, the crunch sound of ice, enjoying the scenary of grassy hills and mountains, piles of soft white bedsheets, watching home videos, bike ridding in forests, the Chicago skyline lit up at night, messing around with tent displays with friends in the camping section of stores, the noise that gravel makes when you walk on it, driving on cobblestone streets, sitting outside when the sun starts to set, big bear hugs, discovering a new song that feels like it was made for you, running in wide open fields, laying on the grass looking at the sky...

the list goes on and on. share yours with me.

photo credit: tfs and whatever I find in my folders. if you want credit let me know