Archive for August, 2007

Featured Site: Unsung Designers

Unsung_designers_header

http://shop.unsungdesigners.com/


It’s Project Runway meets Threadless.com… well kind of.

Unsung Designers is an online boutique which features "Emerging Indie designers from all over the world." I found everything from the stylish to the scary and it’s all fairly reasonable priced since ‘m guessing these are all handmade garments.

They have a jewelery section which was a bit sorry but if you dig there’s actually a few nice pieces. Although some of it seems suspiciously designer-inspired.

A few highlights…

Puff Sleeve  Blouse by Verrieres & Sako

Unsung3

Puff Sleeve Hoody by Scott Gibson N.Y.

Unsung_designers_2

Mercer Dress by Gina Michele

Unsung_designers_1

New Look Book at Armani Exchange

One more look book to add to my Fashion Look Book Index!

This look book from Armani Exchange is well done from a usability standpoint, e.g. easy to navigate and they have a nice summary summary (3rd image down) which makes it easy to shop for the items in each look. I must say I am disappointed with the looks themselves though. I’d expect more from Armani. It’s funny how you can take the same clothes and result in a completely different style identity. I’d put these pieces together so differently. The look I show below is probably the only one I like a little.. I like how they name the looks too. "Campus Clique". I guess I must think I’m younger than I really am.

Armani_exchange_lookbook3

Armani_exchange_lookbook2

Armani_exchange_lookbook

Check it out at Armani Exchange.com

Summer Work Look… thanks again Polyvore!

Hey Mayor! I heard about Polyvore from another friend. How did you hear about it? And more importantly what do you think? Are you using it regularly now? — conducting my user research when I can.. :)

Polyvore Look of the Week — Work Attire

I like to carry two bags with me in the event I need to downsize for an evening event. Usually the evening purse fits inside the larger bag with no issue. I like how this top is long enough to cover the rear — espcially important when wearing white pants since a lot of times they are can be sheer. I’d like to layer this shorter jacket over the whole look, a necessity in the office since I’m always freezing from the AC.

Luxemix Report from Seoul, Korea

Everytime I travel to Korea I tend to come back with a whole lota something that never seems to make it out of the closet after returning to the states. Why is that? Well I’ve come to realize that I have a weakness for falling into the traveller’s fashion trap — essentially falling into step with the local fashion and convincing yourself that you can make that work back at home. The truth is, it just doesn’t work. At least not for me. The fashion in Korea is always at least 2-3 degrees more feminine than the US. When I’m there, I always start to feel like what I’m wearing is too rugged and not refined and polished. I’ll go about buying up nice skirts, frilly tops and a lot of sickeningly sweet hair pins and and accessories. By the end of my trip I’m looking quite girlishly Korean. Then of course, after I get home I’m looking at these pieces trying to be creative and integrate them into the rest of my “California” wardrobe… to end up just pushing them far into the depths of my closet. So word of advice when travelling — don’t get brainwashed by the locals style and buy up every trend you’re running into. I’d say get a few unique items to mix into your existing repertoire so it’s a fun reminder of your trip out there and it could add a freshness to your look, but don’t sell out like I do :)

Anyway, wanted to share a few pics of my  days in Seoul, Korea.

The Westin Chosun

P1070838_3

My luxe hotel room at the Westin Chosun. I stayed here once in college with my Mother and fell in love with the design of this bed. We tried to model my bed in my parent’s house after it… didn’t work quite as I’d imagined.

Myung-Dong Shopping District

P1070828

Myung-Dong — one of Seoul’s most trendy
shopping districts. I was able to take the full day to myself.. roaming
the streets and shops all alone — my happiest state when shopping!

I went into this Starbucks shown above… my very first experience at a Starbucks in Korea. I was mersmerized by the “Iced Doppio Espresso” they made me. Somehow coffee tastes better to me in Korea. I think it’s the richness to the cream used there. I’m craving that same flavor every day…

P1070830

A cute little “Nail Art Studio”. “Nail Art” is big big time in Korea these days. I almost fell into the trap… I was about to get my nails painted bright pink with glitter. I ran out of time though phew.

P1070829

Another Nail Art Studio… very cute interior design.

Red Mango Frozen Yogurt

Red_mango_korea

Red Mango = My most favorite treat in all the world. If you are no up to speed on the Yogurt war in in LA.. Red Mango vs Pink Berry — please read up on the issue! Red Mango forever!

Luxemix in Korea

Sorry… forgot to tell ya I’d be gone for awhile… am travelling in Asia right now. Was in Korea and just got to Guam. Have lots of exciting fashion tid bits here from Asia, will have to get back and update you!

While I’m gone pls check out my blog roll and visit my luxe neighbors!

I’ll be back August 8th… anyong for now~~~

Return top

Who's the Luxe Mix?

I wouldn't qualify myself as anything official when it comes to fashion but I might officially qualify as a shopaholic. To keep from going broke I have learned to mix the luxe with the less, the cheap with the chic. I'm a technology junkie in addition to being hopelessly fashion obsessed so while I am a corporate UX designer by day, by night I am an obsessively compulsively working up visions of a splendid online fashion retail nirvana. Contact me if you want my input on how to transform your fashion house into a mass-tech-revolutionized business.