I'm on Tumblr!

"I am Fashion" - Coco Chanel

I haven't bought a fashion magazine in ages. Why should I when I find more inspiration in sartorial style and tips than the Internet? Hello YouTube and Tumblr. Yes, I joined the Tumblr bandwagon and that's partly one of the reasons why I've been so distracted – between my Tumblr and Pinterest, I've been busy scouring and documenting my fashion/beauty/shopping inspirations on the Net. Head over to my Tumblr to see what I'm finding right at this moment. 

I Am In Love with Pinterest

dearlydevoted's Fashion Pinterest Board.

What have I been doing lately? Well, aside from checking ulzzhang, beauty Tumblr blogs, and tackling the world, I came across Pinterst via Oh! Joy blog. Pinterest is a "place to share collections of things you love -- whether that's food, art, clothing, or books." I love the picture-driven format where every item gets a neat white border and label. A virtual pin-up board which is ALOT easier then how I would just save random photos to my hard-drive and forget where I found the original image source. 

 dearlydevoted's Illustration Pinterest Board.

Summer Travel: Stylish Jet Setter Packing

Who wants to travel? I do, I do! Of course, the fantasy of travel is doing it in style. I love daydreaming about destinations, how I would pack, what to wear, keep myself comfortable on a luxurious, international flight (oh to win the lotto...).  I spend alot of time fussing but to me, packing adds up the fun to it (when its for pleasure and not for work!). 

Here's a mix of high-and-low priced travel accessories I picked to brighten up my trip experience. 

Clockwise: 19" HIDEO JELLY BEAN TROLLEY YELLOW, $185, MOROCCO SQUARE ORGANIZER   $28. SLEEP MASK ROYAL BLOSSOM, $22 at Flight001.com.  Proenza Schouler Large Leather PS1, $1995 at Barneys. Evian Spray Mist, $12 at Sephora. PAR AVION BAG TAG, $18, TOILE PASSPORT, $18 at Flight001.com

My first destination: Tokyo!

More posts to come on the topic of travel. It's really something I enjoy. 

Retail Therapy + Early Birthday Surprise

 I'll be rocking these at a summer wedding soon. Rachel Roy Olla Sandals (Black), $83 at Rachel Roy.

Despite their looks, they are surprisingly comfortable to walk in! Major important as I'll put these sandals to the test for a summer wedding and later in New York.

My BF surprised me with an early birthday present ~ my dream bag I've been coveting for years...

Documenting the lovely Louis Vuitton packaging.

Tada! The Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 in Damier

Summertime Nail Art

As the weather heats up, you look for ways to cool down. Aside from shedding layers, I'm playing around with nail art this summer. I'm sporting a nail design I call Peppermint Tips I created myself.  Not too shabby for my first attempt at a French manicure? 

Inspired by Fuck Yeah Nail Art, a tumblr photo blog.

Champagne Nails

Take a shimmery Champagne nail polish, layer with pink glitter polish, repeat and bam! My nails' be popping. Neutral Glam? The color is not too distracting while I'm pecking at the keyboards at work but still noticeably prettier then the usual Essie nail polish I use.  Photos shot with a Canon PowerShot G10 using the macro setting for close-up views.   

NYC Shopping: East Village, Brooklyn

One Stanton, Brooklyn NY

Weekend Shopping in Brooklyn + East Village:

Brooklyn Flea Market

If you regard shopping as a treasure hunt, you will rummage to your heart's content at the Brooklyn Flea Market. For the Winter, it's residing inside a historic bank building off the Atlantic Stop in Brooklyn which is where I found my booty. Vintage furniture, clothes, knick knacks abound, but I immediately gravitated towards the women's accessories – bags! Bartering is key and you have more leverage to negotiate if you go later in the day or have cash on hand (some vendors do credit transactions). I scored a vintage black Coach bag (school prep style) for $30 (it was missing a silver buckle attachment + I paid in cash).

Vintage typewriters in working condition

Random disembodied doll parts for macabre decorating?

Alphabets Boutique in East Village

For design blog aficionados and lovers of nerd-cool, this was a must-stop shop to browse.

Imagine if Anthropologie + Urban Outfitters + Fred Flare had a retail relative ~ Alphabets would be it.

Here are two finds I made. Left: Jack by BB Dakota Plaid Dress for $25 (50% off) and the vintage Coach Willis Station Bag for $30.

Eccentrics Keeping Time

Oh, Marc Jacobs and your quirky chic accessories. I would proudly sport this on my cuff, it's black-white looks can stand on it's own as a cute gothic piece of jewelry. You had me at the gobsmacked skeleton face design. Marc by Marc Jacobs Skull face watch, $200 at Net-a-Porter 

What Up, My Ninja!

Check out My Ninja! 

It has to be my favorite typographic t-shirt to date. Straight from the West Coast, designer Peter Hong, otherwise, known as Peter Rocks started up this line. It's about time we celebrated ninjas! Am I biased? Hells bells, yes. Look here.

Seen at Angry Asian Man 

Pink or classic black?

Happy Birthday? The Sak Silverlake Leather Flap

As my birthday present, I decided to reward myself with

The Sak Handbags Silver Lake Leather Flap Cross Body in Punch. Isn't she lovely? I hope she arrives on my bday in a few days! As a city dweller, I need a stylish durable, leather bag that can take me across town without much fuss, summer, fall, winter, and spring.  Easy to reach pockets? Check. Extra long, adjustable strap? Check. Fun color? Check! It was a tossup between the saffron yellow or punch red. Here's me snapping a reminder pic at Nordstrom with the yellow down below. After much agonizing, I went with Punch Red: 1) It should wear more gracefully in appearance then high maintenance yellow. 2) Red is a must-have color accessory in my closet. I was so excited, I went and purchased the Silverlake through Zappos for its free two-way shipping (just in case, I wasn't sold on the punch red in person). As for dimensions, it's pretty spacious, I'd probably be able to cram a netbook there, pens, gadgets, etc: 15" Length, 3" Width, 11.5" Height, 11"! 

 

DAISO carries Swine Flu Masks

Spotted at my local DAISO store: SARs mask packs in fun shades and shapes. 5 a pack, got to choose among checkprints, leopard, duckies, etc. DAISO is the local Japanese dollar convenience store that I j'adore. See previous post. I went with the heart-shaped. Best $1.50 spent to sow sheer panic, ever? Cue alarmed facial expression (see above).

Rocking Retro Swimwear

Credit: Flickr by Miss Axemaker 

With summer quickly approaching comes a much-hated ritual for some femmes — bathing suit shopping. Bikini? Tankini? One-piece? Two-piece? Let's face it, today's latest style of swimwear is most forgivable on those who hit the gym frequently (Hello, sexy Victoria's Secret models! Mwah!). However, since dearly devoted is more low-maintenance (ahem) and we love to concentrate on the pretty and whimsical, we turned our eyes to the retro, glam swimwear that pinup girls made famous.  No need to thrift shop for finds. Check out Portland-based Popina Swimwear, whose creator, Pamela Levenson, became inspired by swimwear from the 1940s-1950s. The best part is seeing how her swimwear fits on real women, like Miss Axemaker above. Love the rockabilly look? See how these girls rock the suits below.
  

Credit: Popina Swimwear

Love the poolside accessories, heels and all. This is my favorite shot of Popina swimwear 
(L-R): Retro Sadie in Red $78, Retro Halter in Espresso Dot, $75, Retro Halter in Jungle Flower, $75

Credit: Popina Swimwear

Designer, Pamela Levenson, surrounded by her swimwear models on a shoot. 

Couture on Cuisine: Karl Largerfeld's Daily Affirmation

"Fashion is the healthiest motivation for losing weight." – Karl Lagerfeld

The Chanel photo spread is giving me totally mixed messages. Dear Papa Lagerfeld, don't you know those delicious French fries look so damn good (especially with the Chanel logo!) and swimsuit season is JUST around the corner? Tsk, tsk! 

via BryanBoy 

Spike Fashion: Don't hurt yourself

I love tough fashion. The conflict between tough gear, feminine fashion is irresistible and hard to find. Perhaps, that's a good thing as independent designers are cranking out some sweet designs I am too happy to support (and the prices are friendly too). Jewelry designer, Laura Markley's Antigenre line can be found at her Etsy boutique. Above, are her ballistic-inspired Coriolis earrings. Only $16? That is a steal. 

FashionToast is rocking her spike cuffs she scored off eBay! Love it. 

Stephen Rocks is another Etsy designer who focuses on leather bracelets. I know, that's a dangerous territory between cool and 'urgh, wannabe 90s rocker.' However, I dig his White O-ring Rebel Bracelet, $20 . The white leather, silver chains make it more minimal, industrial chic that I'd love to sport.

Dig the 'stache?

Check the 'stache disguise. Montreal-based jewelry designer Melanie Favreau's Incognito? ring offers the wearer the perfect double-take look whenever you want (or don't want) your photo snapped. 

Incognito? ring, $45 at Supermarket.

Karl Largerfeld's Daily Affirmation

"The worst thing is when friends say, ‘Remember the good old days?’ Forget about the good old days! That just makes your present secondhand. What is interesting is now. If you think it was better before, then you might as well commit suicide immediately."

Karl Lagerfeld

Lego my Hoodie!

I.MUST.OBTAIN.

Head Hoods, $49.99

How awesome is this? JUST LOOK AT THIS. The bright yellow. The creeping grin of the anonymous Lego Man? Doesn't this inspire shameless photo mockery on the streets? Creeping up to loved ones? Despoiling local scenery with your zany poses?

Exhibit A:

Other Head Hoodies-in-crime:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Be Still My Heart.

1940s Snapshot: Japanese Americans, Internment Camp

Japanese-American camp, war emergency evacuation, [Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, Calif.]

 Taken in 1944 at an internment camp, photographer Russell Lee snapped these young Japanese-American women looking their fashionable best, despite their harsh environments. Quite sobering and quietly empowering; its a testament to the human spirit to the girls kept behind barb wire to carry on with their dignity and fashion. With the recent Inauguration, the closing of Guantanmo, secret prisons, etc. I can only hope that something like this won't happen again. A shoutout to The Coveted for blogging about this.

Latest Japanese Fashion Magazine Find: Jelly

My latest Japanese fashion magazine find has been ero-kawaii Jelly. Can I say, I just love that name? Jelly, jelly, jelly. It's a fun word to say out loud. I picked it up on a whim at Kinokuniya and love the fashion spreads. Sexier then CanCan and Non-Non, Jelly is the editorial equivalent of Mean Girls to the rest of the J-Fashion pack. Cheeky, fierce, and full of attitude, the Jelly girls are confident in what they wear. Which, judging from their December edition, is short skirts, boots, and chunky knits. Doesn't it snow in Japan? Oh well, suffer for fashion it is then. They even contained a cute lingerie spread (Victoria's Secret Pink type). With their winter wear edition for December, it almost *almost* made me want to wear uggs. The photo scans are courtesy of the latest Japanese Fashion blogger, Kahao. 

Christmas Wish List

Christmas Wishlist by devlo


A girl can dream right?  Bags, fashion, gadgets, and house goods, I want it all (hint*cough*hint).