I’ve been lurking on a site for the past year called YesStyle.com. If you can get past the fobbilicious name there may be some sweet finds on the site for you. Prices are very reasonable — within a Forever21 to BCBG price range. I’ll admit you’ll need to pore through the pages (and be amused by some of the ridiculous styles like hoodies with pom-pom ties or oversize sweaters with bunny rabbits), but some of the clothing and handbags in particular are definitely worth a peek or two.

Warning, do not enter the jewelry section. That’s the most criminal area of the whole site. If you do.. enter at your own risk and don’t think that all Koreans wear that stuff.

YesStyle.com

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

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

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…

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.

Another Nail Art Studio… very cute interior design.

Red Mango Frozen Yogurt

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!

I watched the Korean film 200 Pound Beauty a couple nights ago. The concept of the movie — an overweight sex-phone-operator / lip sync vocalist turns into a bombshell overnight after getting massive plastic surgery — is itself a bit disturbing and yet ridiculously interesting, and there were some parts of the film that I really liked. I thought I’d share these clips with you so you’d be spared from having to watch the whole thing. The main character Hanna (Kim Ah-Joong) is crying through literally
half the movie. It’s got that Clueless/She’s All That theme in the
beginning… building up the evolution of a beast to beauty — through
plastic surgery of course since it’s a Korean film. It seems the
director has A.D.D. though and the plot kind of goes all over the
place. You are of course welcome to watch the full film on You Tube if you’re interested. The movie being a contemporary Korean film has some great fashion in it — of course

I really liked the singing scenes one scene shown below. In this scene Hanna is auditioning for the back-up singer role that she used to play when she was 200 pounds. She’s come back to try out for the role since she’s in love with the music producer (of course). She’s now much skinnier and attractive and no one recognizes her of course but is blown away by her singing.

This next one is the scene where Hanna has to go out and do her first performance in front of a live crowd.

And this final clip is the same "Maria" song but the official music video — provides a quick recap of 200 Pound Beauty. Now tell me, does this look like a Korean Shallow Hal or what??

Last week PinkMirage (who btw was the very very first fashion blogger I ever followed) blogged about Miss Universe and Makeup Talk. I agree wholeheartedly with her that it’s so nice to see more Asian females in the media. It sucked growing up and never seeing Asian females on TV, or in the movies and magazine who I could relate to. I mean other than Claudia or whatever her name was in Sweet Valley High… who else did we have to look to as examples or representations of Asian Americans? haha Sweet Valley..

I had heard about the newly crowned Japanese Miss Universe on the radio but after reading Pink Mirage’s post was compelled to do a little more reading up on the topic. I found out Miss Korea came in as 3rd runner-up!

Apparently there’s some controversy over who really deserved to win. I guess the translator did a poor job of translating Miss Korea, Honey Lee’s,  response to the interview question (see below for the clip), and some think that ruined Miss Korea’s chances of winning.

W/o having watched the show, it’s hard to tell who’s the better package overall but from the photos and video clips I’ve seen I must say Honey is Honey. I can’t imagine what guy would not give their right ball for one date with her. She has that sultry but adorably innocent look to her. Guys were made to go ga-ga for that combination. Riyo looks a little Amazon.. esp in this photo below.

Miss Japan– Riyo Mori

Miss Korea — Honey Lee

I love the celebration of culture and fashion through these cultural costumes — amazing.

Pictures taken from Miss Universe.com

A Video Clip of Miss Korea

Warning Advisory: Cheezy korean pop music, skimpily clad girls, and a healthy dosage of gratuitous pageant poses.

Korean actors and actresses sure know how to get dolled up… but these brothers and sisters need to learn how to work that Red Carpet.  I’m going to have to send word back to Korea to work on that Red Carpet pose and wave.

In any case, how excited was I when I found these photos in Wireimage?

All in all sexy legs and backs were big. White/ light hues also were a dominant theme. Here’s the best and the worst of it.

43rd Annula Paek Sang Art Awards — The Arrivals

Lee Jung-Ah

The tiered dress is going strong… I luve it. They are comfy comfy and are awesome for covering the post-dinner pot bellies.

Han Ye-Sul

Too much white for me here but still look nice. She should have gone with some gold open toe stilettos or peep toes for a more appropriate Red Carpet Look. She looks like she’s having a good time though! Definitely the most natural looking out of them all.

Son Ye-Jin

Nice hue and I like  the draped effect of the dress.

Yum Jung-Ah

This is a nice take on a snakeskin print.

Park Si-Yeon

I can’t quite tell but Si-Yeon’s hair is either way LUXE  or really SUXE.  You be the judge. The back of her gown is very flattering. I would love a dress like this!

The Men

Women across the world… Here they are!

Lee Jun-Ki

— They don’t come any prettier than this.

Kim Ju-Hyuk

— If you haven’t seen it yet… "Love Me Not".

Lee Byung-Hyun

And finally… Fashion Victim of the Night

You In-Young

In-Young-shi… did you check in the mirror before you walked out the door? Didn’t your friend tell you that the attack of the scissors look was never in? Last time I check in Korea this was the case as well.