Naked Phantom

So I finally got my friend to come out with her new Celine Phantom purchased last week at Cahier d'Exercices for an iced latte with me.  Obviously, I took the opportunity to snap some pictures to share with you guys...and I'm so happy I was able to capture its true shade under the natural light.  Isn't the colour just yummy?

Celine calls this colour Flesh as in natural colour of the leather.  I just love the rosy undertone with contrasting stitching making this nude colour more feminine and modern.  The light colour also allowed all the characteristics of the leather to show through, a fine detail seldomly found in handbags.

I also brought my Celine Luggage out for comparison and what a difference!  The Phantom's base is much deeper, making the bag seem bigger.  And the straps flopping out from both sides and the braided zipper pull add edge to an otherwise very classic style.  Well, it's confirmed: no mistake taking this baby home with her last week!!!

Now, how do we spell j-e-a-l-o-u-s-y again?!?

OUTFIT DU JOUR - Bitten

Last night, my friend invited me to an art book launch at Nuda salon.  My first question was "are there food and drinks?".  Oh yeah, the girl has her priorities right!

We got there fashionably late and it was already a little crowded.  And of course, me and my friend were the only ones hogging the waitress with a platter of sushi!!!  Haha...why waste good food when everyone else is busy mingling?  I know, I should be doing some PR instead of stuffing my face.  Anyways, the highlight of the night was a bathtub full of oysters, sponsored by LeMeac restaurant, on their outdoor patio!  Naturally, I decided to stay there for the rest of the evening...

But all didn't come without a price: I got bitten by mosquitos all over my legs!  Ouch!  Right through my opaque tights!!  Guess I won't be showing my legs anytime soon.

Shirtdress (worn as top) - Club Monaco; Leather shorts - Tweny8Twelve; Purse - Hermes; Booties - Modern Vintage; Necklace - Hermes; Studded cuff - Hermes; Crystal bracelet - BCBG; Wrap bracelet - Club Monaco; Beaded bracelet - Chinatown; Ring - Dominic Jones

Hair Envy

I want her hair please!  Ever since my pregnancy, I haven't dyed, bleach, permed or any other kind of chemical process in my hair.  Now, almost 2 years and many trims later, my hair is at its virgin state.  However, it lacks a little something...I can't pinpoint it out...

Maybe I need more texture and layers; maybe I need some highlights.  It just feels boring...or maybe I'm just bored of them!  In any cases, I want her hair!  Full of shine, full of bounce and full of waves.

ps.  Feel free to give suggestions

SHOPPING SPOT - Cahier d'Exercices

About two weeks ago while buying my new Alexander Wang coat, I was talking to my sales about how we lack shopping spots here in Montreal.  The city is often referred to the Paris of North America yet we only have a handful of decent shopping spots that we can be proud of (stores with avant-garde & emerging designers, exclusive collections and hip/trendy brands in general).

And just then, she told me about a relatively new store called Cahier d'Exercices (french translation of workbook), located in Old Montreal.  The owner Laura Gurandiano has set her store exclusive by locking in exclusivity with one of the most coveted label, Celine!  Celine RTW, Celine accessories, Celine shoes and of course, Celine handbags!!!  How exciting!

I immediately called my friend who was looking to buy a Luggage Tote to inquire with them (new store + maybe not a lot of people knows about it yet = tiny, if any, waiting list for the Luggage tote!).  Without having her hopes too high, she gave her name for the new Phantom Luggage in Flesh colour.

In less than a week, she got the call and dragged me with her to see the bag in person.  Wow!  The colour is more spectacular in person than I had imagined.  I knew she needed me for moral support (obsessing over the bag vs. guilt of the purchase), but I was barely able to contain the excitement myself.

"No pressure, because after all, you'll be paying and using it.  But I would get it without hesitation!  I know you...you'll regret it!!!" is exactly what I said.

So if you've been longing a Celine piece (they also just received Nano Luggage, Trio Pouch, Small & Medium Box, and much much more), call them now!!!

Cahier d'Exercices
369 Saint-Paul O.
Old Montreal, QC

www.cahierdexercices.com

ps. I'll try to get some pics of her new Celine Phantom Luggage this weekend to capture the beautiful colour in daylight.  It's really stunning!!!

GIRL CRUSH - Jayesslee

Do twins count as a girl crush?  Or should I pick one out of the two that I prefer over the other?

Jayesslee are twin sisters Janice and Sonia.  I discovered them this week on Facebook but soon found that they have a YouTube Channel where you can listen to all their interpretation of current pop songs (english and korean)!  I must admit that the being twins (and very cute ones) obviously is a big + for getting attention to viewers!  But after listening to them sing "Price Tag", you'll soon also be charmed by their cuteness and their talent.  And did I mention that Sonia, the younger twin, plays guitar?!?


24 years old and born and raised in Korean Australia, the girls really have their whole life and career in front of them.

Beauty Fix - Stila Lip Enamel Luxe Gloss

Talk to any girl out there and they will tell you that cosmetics are hard to resist.  We are like a kid in a candy store!  I mean, looking at the new palette of colours each season is literally like looking a bowl of Skittles!  The people at the marketing department really know how to get to us...

Anyways, I don't own a lot of makeup simply because I refuse to get suckered in to buying all the new shades each season only to have them neatly stored in my makeup drawer.  I will replenish the basics (tinted moisturizer, concealer, loose powder, eyebrow set, eyeliner and mascara) as needed but limit myself to one or two shades in everything else (eyeshadow, blush and lip colour) each year.

And this is the time of the year where I'm itching for new lipgloss!  I usually buy MAC, but wanted to try something new and easier to apply.  Stila's Lip Enamels are both pigmented and on a brush wand!  Now, my only problem is choosing the colour...which was quickly solved because I bought all three of my favourite shades: Nirvana (a nude shade), Happiness (a light pink shade) and Giggle (a hot fuschia shade)! Don't you just love the names!!  Yeah, those marketing people...

MAIN EVENT - Pintxo for 2

Last night, we had dinner at Pintxo, my favourite Spanish restaurant in Montreal, to celebrate our anniversary.  It's been almost 3 years since we were last there and the food is still as good!  I love it when a restaurant is consistent (a rare quality we don't find very often)!  So while waiting for our table, I got hubby to take a picture of me at the entrance.  And guess what?  I even convinced him to take an "Outfit du Jour" shot!!!  Haha...I really didn't think he would go for that!

We ordered 10 pintxos (tapa size entrees) and a private import red wine called 50/50 to start.  Well, let me tell you something about this 50/50: there's nothing half way about it.  Full body and full flavour...so good, we asked if we can buy by the dozen!

Almost half way into our bottle and starved to death (why does this always happen to me?  I need to remind myself to have pre-dinner snack at home so I can act more lady-like when we go out), we finally got our food!  And before we knew it, we've been eating for 3 hours!!!  But no worries, there's still room for a chocolate fondant to share as dessert!

Pintxo Restaurant
256 Roy St East
Montreal, QC
514.844.0222

OUTFIT DU JOUR - I'm going for the kill

 

So I know very well that I'm no Femme Fatale like Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, but today, I'm trying very hard!  I got the dress, I got my heels and I got my red lips!

I'm actually just heading out for our anniversary dinner tonight.  Just a big excuse  to dress up and dolled up!  It's been a while since my last date with hubby...any excuse is a good an excuse!

Dress - Alice & Olivia; Clutch - Hermes; Sandals - Gucci; Scarf - Winner's; Earrings - Kate Spade

Isn't it ironic?

(Illustration by Garance Dore)

Garance Dore is one of the first blogs that I started following 5 years ago...back when it was only available in French!  I love the fashion illustrations combined with street style photography.  She's really ingenious!


This recent Rouge Louboutin is a very interesting view on the fashion industry and its character:  

"First I was intrigued by the Louboutin red sole, then I thought it was just the coolest idea, and then I loved the design of the shoes, and then I saw way too many of them during fashion week, and finally a few years passed and I saw Kim Kardashian wearing them. And now I’m just not interested anymore.

And then after that, I was locked up in the house because of a hurricaine and I watched the Kardashians – just to get up to date on my pop culture, of course – and of course I kind of fell for Kim’s charm and after watching her, it bothered me less that she wears the studded Pigalle – I mean, even when she practically eats it when she gets up from the table, she’s still just so cute.

I always wonder if having such a distinct marker for a brand is more of a weakness than a strength.

I know that Louboutin’s success is partly because the red heel is sort of a status symbol [and a status symbol very heatedly defended. Have you followed the Louboutin vs YSL affair?] but doesn’t that make people like me shy away from them some?  Regular folks who just love the shoes but not necessarily what the red heel says about them?

Because the quality of the design of the shoes is still fantastic! So much so that I know of one top editor who found a good solution: she just paints her soles black.

Fashion can be so ironic, don’t you think?"

Somehow, I feel the same way and this is a dilemma that has become somewhat of an issue for me too!  I'm not only talking about Louboutins, but about all other brands and cult items that by themselves beautiful quality pieces that have now become a little repulsive to own due to its association!  Does our reputation (translated by the association of what we wear to a type of person) supersedes everything else?

OUTFIT DU JOUR - Croque-Monsieur

Another chilly morning followed by a much warmer afternoon.  I think the uninvited Fall weather is here for good!  And only now, I realize that all my sweaters are still in boxes, packed away!  Why was I under the impression that I won't be needing them in a long long time?!?

Aside from some wardrobe malfunction this morning, we heading out for our sunday brunch ritual again.  This time, we were at Dejeuner Eggstyle in the Dix30 area.  I wanted to capture the family brunch feel of the suburbs.  However, we were in starvation mode when the food arrive (in addition of being late), so I didn't get the chance to take a lot of pictures.  I had my order of croque-monsieur, which is essentially a hot ham and cheese grilled sandwich served on a croissant (yummy!).  



Coat - Armarni Exchange; T-shirt - Pre-View; Cutoff shorts - DIY hubby's old jeans; Booties - Modern Vintage; Tights - Hue