La Petite Californienne

Find Me At

2008-12-06T17:52:00.001-08:00

Gladiators

2008-06-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

I just bought a new pair of gladiators from Fred Flare. This online shopping thing is really not good for my bank account... But I loved these shoes so much:

And imagine my surprise when there was only ONE size 8 available! I snatched that up faster than a socialite going to a Chanel sample sale. They're more appropriate than flip-flops (or appropriate for fighting lions, as a male friend mentioned) but will still keep my feet cool. AND they were only $24!

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

The Perfect Bag

2008-06-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

I've been searching for the perfect tan bag for a few months. It needs to be big, but not too big and a soft, creamy brown. I've found the right bag:

It's the Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Faridah bag. Isn't it perfect? The bag is completely not-trendy and classic, which I love. If I'm going to shell out $500 on a bag, it better last me a long while. I can just see myself in the streets of New York City, interning at some magazine publication with this gorgeous bag!
However, its $452... Which means this is what I'm going to save up for. When I bought MY (as in, I paid with it with money I made working) first 'expensive' item ($88 jeans,) you better believe I took care of those jeans like they were my first-born child. Maybe it's a psychological thing, but people just take better care of things that are theirs. Anyways, I make about $10 an hour, and i work about 25 hours a week, so in a month I should be able to buy this bag. Or, I can stop by the MbyMJ store on Fillmore and see it for myself :)

Have any of you seen/own a perfect tan bag?

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Rompers

2008-06-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

Can anyone really wear a romper? Every time I see one at a store, I marvel at how 'hoochie-mama' most rompers look. Also, I don't really understand the concept... It's like a shirt and shorts put together. A dress but not? Many people don't wear them, simply because they are so hard to pull off... Which probably is a good thing, because I've only seen it pulled off correctly once:

Scott Schulman/The Sartorialist

I love the romper itself. It's so simple and it seems so actually wearable. The belt REALLY does make the outfit complete. I'm not a big fan of the shoes, but I think any tan shoes would make this outfit 'work.' The outfit does not seem very practical, from a 'professional' side but it would be nice to wear to a concert... If I could find this romper, I would definitely buy it, but for now, I'm eschewing rompers.

Anyways, would YOU wear a romper?

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Say what?

2008-06-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

Summer 2006: Nordstroms. I saw the most adorable sales girl. She was wearing a long grayish tunic, leggings (it was 2006!) and jelly sandals. I marveled at her outfit, because she looked chic, professional and appropriate. In the fourth grade, I tried jellies... and then promptly realized how sweaty your feet get while wearing them. They are the epitome of uncomfortable, and a bit childish and tacky to me. Anyways, I was in extreme shock when I saw a few pairs of Stuart Weitzman shoes at Nordstroms (I think I shop there too much...)

Then, while reading my mother's Oprah magazine, I saw a whole page dedicated to the monstrosities.

Please tell me these are NOT coming back!

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

I have a problem...

2008-06-01T09:27:00.001-07:00

I just bought four pairs of shoes in five days... It all started when I needed to buy shoes for graduation dress. I picked up a pair of $16 black and white heels from Me Too at Marshalls, which didn't match my dress but were cute and comfortable and cheap (also, after donating half my closet to the goodwill, I didn't have any other heels)

Is it just me, or does the Me Too logo look a lot like the Miu Miu logo?

After my jaunt to Marshalls, I went to Target and browsed through their shoe selection and again, although I didn't find anything, I scored some amazing flats:

I've been seriously coveting some animal print flats for awhile, and these are amazingly perfect. They are extremely comfortable and basically go with anything in my wardrobe. They dress up the basic jeans and teeshirt combo and I've been wearing them non-stop all week. Oh, and they were $14.99... In love fsho.

Still frustrated after not finding any shoes that matched my dress, I decided to go home for the day and try again later. Friday, I went to Nordstroms, arguably my favorite (expensive) store to find shoes... Again. My mom went with me this time, only because I didn't want to personally spend $60 on shoes. After circling the shoe department for 20 minutes, I settled on black pumps from BP. They're comfortable and go with everything and a wardrobe basic

As my mom was about to pay, I did a double take and saw the most beautiful thing I have ever seen (no, not James Franco although he did come to my work once...) It was a gorgeous pair of T-strap sandals, and I have never obsessed over a pair of shoes quite like this before

This is what love at first sight must feel like. It's an inexplicable feeling that just makes you so attracted to something. The shoe was like a magnet, and I saw my mom's face fall when I asked the sales girl, in a breathy voice, "Can I see these in a 7.5?" They were (are) perfect, and even though they were a bit pricey ($80,) my mom relented and bought them for me. Even though I'm just lounging around at home, I'm still wearing them. If thats not true love then I don't know what is...

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Honestly

2008-05-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

Who decided that such an unflattering and ill-fitting item of clothing would be the outfit that every single graduate would have to wear on their graduation day?

Because I would love to give them a piece of my mind...

Crazy cat lady gone RIGHT

2008-05-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Oh goodness, I am inexplicably in love with this pictures! This is my favorite editorial since... well I have a new favorite every week :) but this one is fabulous. I love the color scheme and I absolutely covet the purple shoes and dress in the kitchen shot.

Siri Tollerød for Vogue Italia May 2008 photographed by Miles Aldridge. Images via supermodels.nl

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Graduation Chronicles

2008-05-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

My graduation is in six days, and I have been searching high and low for a perfect dress. It all started Thursday night when my mom and I went to a nearby shopping center that houses many cute stores. Our first visit was H&M. I've only been in an H&M once in my life, and as I walked past the display windows, plastic mannequins with gorgeous dresses started back at me. As I browsed through the racks, I searched and searched and searched and... nothing. The gorgeous dresses on display? Gone. All I had left was a flower print 'halter' that was two sizes too small (or two sizes too big... those were the only sizes left! And the dress was not cute!) and a yellow peter-pan neckline dress than was also too big/small.

I left dejected, but noticed the Antropologie next door and went in. Anthropologie's target market is probably older than me (I'd say 25 and up) but they always have nice dresses. This time was no exception:

This yellow dress is a bit more 'mustard' in person, but would work well with a very petite, small girl (maybe less than a size four) but it made me look flat as the neckline was at an awkward length (maybe 2 inches under one's collarbone.) At $178, it was definitely out of the question

I've never been a big fan of orange, but I did love the dress on the rack. The dress felt silky and smooth as I put it on, but as you can see from the picture, the neckline is very awkward-looking. The dress was average, so definitely NOT for $168.

This was by far the cutest dress I'd tried on. The only problem: it was ripped! Along the sides of the yellow ribbon, there were two or three noticeable holes. It was, unfortunately, the only one left in it's size, and the sales person said she couldn't discount it for us. Again, it was too much money ($168).

I tried on a few more dresses, but they all looked the same. Anthro makes clothes that will probably look alright on every body type, which means they look amazing on no one. If I'm going to spend over $100 on a dress, it better look GREAT on me. I'm not about to spend $168 on an 'eh' dress, especially since I know I can find a cuter one for much less expensive.

Our last stop before heading home (it was about 9 PM on Thursday at this point) was Urban Outfitters. I figured there could be something there, but I really just want any excuse to go into an Urban. Anyways, when I walked in, I immediately saw four or five cheap 'graduation' summer dresses

These were my ideal dresses: cute, cheap and summer-y. The only problem? They are PAPER thin. There was no way I could wear a bra under any of them. I'm a C cup... I NEED to wear a bra. I'm 17, obviously my breasts aren't sagging, but they're not fake-ly perky either. The first dress was probably the 'least appropriate' one, as the V is very, very deep. These are the times I wish I was small-breasted, as the dresses would look amazing on a girl with a flat chest. I suppose I could of bought one of them, but I'm not about to look trashy at my graduation (out of all things!)
After trying on about two dozen dresses, my mom and I decided to call it a night. Today we are going to Forever 21 and Nordstroms to find a dress... If all else fails, I can just go naked under my gown :).

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

We Do It Prep

2008-05-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow marks a sad ending in my life: It's the last day I will EVER wear my school uniform. As much as I sometimes despise it, you can't beat getting up at 7:20 and only having to ask yourself "white or green polo today?" Yes, the ending is bittersweet, but since tomorrow is the last day of plaid skirts ever (!), I'm doing it big. Silver flats, black tights, straightened hair and a headband. Blair Waldorf, eat your heart out.

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Queen B(ee)

2008-05-21T16:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever browsed through the internet and seen a gorgeous item and wanted to do something more fun than just bookmark it? Hive it! Stylehive.com is a relatively new site that allows you to ‘hive’ clothes, accessories, runway looks or whatever you want to one place. You can also check out what other stylish ladies around the world are into. It’s super addictive and fun. I think it’s a good gauge of someone’s personal style and you might discover something new when you’re over there.

Check my hive out at http://www.stylehive.com/follow/iloveyouu and see a plethora of summer dresses and loud colors. If you ever want to see what I’m into (and face it, you do because I’m the awesomest person ever… Duh,) then go pop by from time to time. Or don’t, and just make your own and start ‘hiving’ clothes and trends straight away!

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Beach Chic

2008-05-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

Monday was my senior cut day. For those of you who don't know, that means every senior is not supposed to come to school (it's mandated by the school.) I went with a group of friends to (where else?) the beach! Contrary to popular belief, the ocean is very very very cold in (Northern) California. Being my adventurous self, I was in the 50 degrees Fahrenheit water for a few hours. Let me tell you, it is IMPOSSIBLE to look anywhere near cute when you're attempting to boogie board in the ocean. Just try. Thank goodness I was with all girls because my bikini top came off about 300 times. One of my friends, D, who did not go in the water, looked amazing and low-key:

From the bright flip-flops to the cute (and appropriate) halter, D looked like the quintessential California girl. If I was to stay out on the beach instead of boarding in the ocean, I would wear an outfit like this. In her outfit, she easily could of gone from school (if we didn't have uniforms) to the beach, out to eat and to a party afterwards. The best thing is that since D is such a bargain shopper, Her outfit couldn't of cost more than $70. Cute, appropriate and cheap? I'm so in.

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

San Francisco Chronicles

2008-05-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am EXTREMELY proud of where I'm from. Imagine my excitement when I opened up June Vogue with Sarah Jessica Parker and saw this editorial:

The model is Daria Werbowy (and Pierce Brosnan) and the spread is photographed by Mario Testino. To me, this is not a 'fashion spread.' Yes, the clothes are beautiful (I especially love the Carolina Herrera trench in the Golden Gate Bridge shot,) but the way Testino integrated the scenery is gorgeous. The editorial is so visually stunning that I would frame one of these pictures and put them on my wall. It doesn't hurt that Daria and 007 look like a stunning couple (which they are not... But seriously imagine how gorgeous their kids would be!) This is my favorite June editorial by far... What do you guys think?

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Vanessa Anne Hudgens for Glamour

2008-05-14T19:40:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love edgy editorials. Give me Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, Annie Leibowitz or any photographer that shoots for W anyday. I stopped reading Seventeen partly because I don't like the way they present clothes in their photo shoots. However, one of my favorite editorials recently has been Vanessa Anne Hudgens in May's Glamour:

I'm not a High-School Musical fan and I don't really know who Vanessa is, but this editorial is gorgeous. I want every single one of these dresses! I absolutely love the zebra-print Derek Lam and the strapless dress, but all these frocks are covet-worthy. I live in California (it's seriously around 85 degrees here... and it's 10 PM!) and I want to start living in summer dresses this year! After grad I'm going on a shopping spree at Forever 21/H&M/Cheap stores and stocking up on these bright,colorful and feminine dresses

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

P.S.: I ended up straightening my hair for prom, because I knew I was going to be out till two so I didn't want gross hair by the end of the night

Busy!

2008-05-08T22:19:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates guys! I've been really busy with... PROM! My senior prom is tomorrow and for the past few days I've been finalizing EVERYTHING from what time my friends and I are meeting for the limo to where we're going post-prom. I've also been agonizing over my hair for prom! I've toyed with an up-do, a half-do, leaving it wavy or straightening it. Since prom is in 20.5 hours, I probably should have a good idea what my hair will look like. I've narrowed it down to two options
Option #1:

I'll be completely honest: I have GREAT hair. It's perfect brown and extremely shiny and healthy (think Blair from GG.) Everyone says it looks great straight (and while this is true,) I want to do something different for prom. Also, I have a strapless dress and up-dos usually look better with strapless dresses (the dress is here, but the color is turquoise blue/teal)
Option #2:

Mandy Moore looks stunning here. I love, love, love, love her hairstyle and I would love to re-create it. My only problem is time. I get home around 1 PM and need to be ready to go at 5 PM. I don't know that I will have enough time to go to a salon to get this done. I can do it myself, but I fear that it will look like a messy 'I-just-got-done-running-a-marathon-' look. But if I get into my dancing (which I usually do, hello eight years of ballet,) I will want to take my hair down and if there is mousse and hairspray and everything else in my hair I won't want to.

What do you guys think? Should I stick to one of these two or do you have any other ideas/styles?

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Costume Institute Ball

2008-05-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

I firmly believe that I will have 'made it' when I get an invitation to the Met Costume Institute Ball. This is when everyone comes out with their best looks, kind of like the Senior Prom for us high-schoolers... In real couture, of course! This year's theme was 'Superhero,' yet few followed it (although those who did looked spectacular!) Here are my favorite, least favorite and OMG-Did-She-Wear-That looks:

Obviously I need to start with the queen, Vogue's Anna Wintour who wore Chanel Haute Couture. I hate this dress in principle... are there SNAILS on her hips? But Ms. Wintour pulls this off so beautifully that I cannot hate on the outfit.

Bee Schaffer, Anna's daughter, wore this gorgeous Nina Ricci dress. The color completely compliments her skin and I love the leaf-like pattern. I do wish she would of worn her hair in a sleek chignon instead of an "after-the-gym" ponytail.

Note to Joy Brant: a turtleneck Pucci floor-length dress looks good on no one. Not even you. I also adore Matthew Williamson for eschewing the normal tux and wearing this blue and yellow suit.

What Sofia Coppola is wearing is ALL BAD. And its Marc Jacobs! I'm terribly disappointed.

Everyone is hating on Emmy Rossum's Phi dress, but I love the print and I think she looks amazing (although maybe a bit boring) in it.

This is also one of the dresses I would usually hate on the racks, but Dylan Lauren's Ralph Lauren dress looks divine on her.

Most people seem to be loving Mischa Barton's Missoni dress. I think it overwhelms her frame and washes her out. Come on Marissa!!!

Kate Mara (she's an actress... Yeah I haven't heard of her either) and Zac Posen look AMAZING. For the life of me I cannot pull off yellow, but Ms. Mara looks gorgeous in her Zac frock. And Zac Posen took the Superman idea THERE. He is the best dressed man of the evening.

Christina Ricci is the best-dressed woman of the evening by far. I love the color, the material, the shape, the accessories... Everything looks great. She would make Hubert de Givenchy proud! Her facial expression says "Yeah, I look amazing, and I know it, but I'm pretending to look modest even though you know that I know I look the best. But I'm still humble!"

I usually wouldn't put a model on a list because they can make anything work. But Jourdan Dunn's Bill Blass dress looks so pretty. I love the shoes and the nail polish and her simplistic clutch. Her best accessory apart from designer Peter Som? Her infectious, bright smile.

Why Posh Why? Everything in this outfit is bad. Just bad. Please do better next time, I did spend $90 on a ticket to your concert. Armani should be ashamed.

Eva Longoria-Parker took a risk with this Marchesa gown but looks great in it. One of the most daring dresses of the evening, but she made it look covet-able.

Donna Karan, I see why you look confused: You're a fashion designer. You pore over clothes all day. You have a team working for you. Yet they let you wear this. You and I are both wondering what the hell you were smoking when you thought that this mustard yellow atrocity would look good. To be fair, your hair and makeup look good. Make sure not to fire THOSE people.

Vogue's Alexandra Kotur does the Vogue's Best Dressed list every week... Maybe that job should be delegated to someone else. Carolina Herrera never looked so bad. But Alexandra did look good in the dress, at least.

Kimora Lee: Fabulous. Seriously, you look amazing.
All photos via Style.com

In conclusion, I loved most of the dresses at the Ball. I do wish more people would of tried the superhero theme and took more risks, but I overall enjoyed the myriad of strapless dresses and plunging V-necks.

Now Anna, where is my invite for next year?
À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Florals for spring? How groundbreaking.

2008-05-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

In the past few months, I've started wearing makeup every school day. During my junior year, I was too stressed out playing two sports, being part of three clubs, taking three AP classes (the only three available to juniors,) being part of my school's ASB and preparing for the SATs. Consequently, I never put any effort in my appearance. This year, I wear foundation, bronzer, blush, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss on a daily basis. Recently, I've been using bright pink lip gloss. I usually tend to go towards purple or coral shades, but I discovered some bright pink Aveda gloss my aunt gave to me for Christmas and I am in LOVE. Maybe I have un-knowingly taken a cue from some S/S 08 looks?

Chane Iman at Badgley Mischka, Behati Prinsloo at Carolina Herrera, Ali Michael at Luella

In my daily routine, I try to incorporate all three of these 'lip' looks. The color at Badgley Mischka is gorgeous. The magenta is so perfect and it doesn't dull out skin. On a side note, doesn't Chanel Iman look AMAZING in everything she wears? I swear to God she would make me want to buy a trash bag if she wore one down the runway. I love the glossy-ness at Carolina Herrera. Carolina Herrera, to me,isn't a 'youth designer.' (I consider Marc Jacobs, Thakoon, Rag & Bone, Sass & Bide 'youth designers,') she designs clothes for 30+ woman. Her makeup here looks so youthful! I think lipstick is too severe for teenagers. We should stick to wearing gloss while we can :). The pop of color at Luella is so pretty! If a girl was wearing that exact look (with the bitchface, of course,) I would think she's a badass who knows how to have fun and can play with the boys.
My preferred gloss? A discontinued Aveda color called Hollyhock, which is unfortunately discontinued. It combines all three: a deep magenta color, a high-shine gloss and lips that pop against my skin.
What is your favorite spring makeup trend?
À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Senioritis

2008-05-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

There are only 14 days left of school for me. Crazy, huh? It feels so weird... My whole high school career will be over in a few short weeks. Anyways, as school is almost over, I have the most intense SENIORITIS. I've gotten accepted to college (nine of them, actually) and selected one a few weeks ago and since then I have done the bare minimum amount of work. I've always been passionate about learning, but I can't bring myself to care about the stock market, energy in the ecosystem or electromagnetic waves. I this phase, I've discovered the most delicious time-waster: Online TV! I had no idea that I could watch and re-watch all of my favorite shows on the internet! Since April 15th (the day i decided,) I've discovered Weeds, Ugly Betty, Arrested Development and my favorite: Skins.

Skins is a show about seven or so teenagers and their normal life in Bristol, England. It's similar to the Canadian show, Degrassi, except for one big difference: it's NOT preachy! In Degrassi, or any teen show, if someone has sex, they inevitably get pregnant/STD. If they try drugs once, they become addicted. In Skins, the main characters drink, smoke and engage in 'promiscuous conduct' (my favorite phrase from our school handbook,) like regular Americans. However, they don't try to 'teach kids a lesson,' they just try to portray life as it really is. I love the banality of the show and I've already watched the entire first season. Another GREAT reason to watch the show:

His name is Nicolas Hoult and he plays Tony, one of the main characters. I'm not a "fan-girl," but seriously, this guy is ridiculously good-looking (Zoolander!) Also, I'm a sucker for accents. Anyways, if any of you are ever bored, check out http://www.sidereel.com/Skins to check out some episodes.

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

P.S: I've also started playing Super Mario World. I'm really lame, I know :)

Sunglasses

2008-04-29T15:31:00.001-07:00

I'm a California girl think and thin, which basically means I wear sunglasses 200 days out of the year. Sunglasses are tricky accessories because there are so many out there. Do you want high-end or low end? Black or tinted lenses? Do you want UV protection? What style suits your face? I've been the owner of numerous pairs of sunglasses and the first thing I make sure of is UV protection. It's incredibly important, but most sunglasses are UV protected so no worries there. The next most important thing is style. To me, there are three main styles of sunglasses:

Big Sunglasses

Big sunglasses are great because they basically hide your entire face. There are so, so, so many options to choose from but these Gucci shades look like they would be universally flattering. Obviously a choice pair for the 14-25 year old girl set as they are so "hot" (yech) right now. Sunglasses TOO big can make you look like an Olsen (in a bad way,) so beware!

Wayfarers

Maybe I'm biased because I only wear these, but I am in love. These sunglasses look good on EVERYONE. I have yet to meet a friend who does not look amazing in them. I prefer cheap sunglasses (because I break them so much) and the Fred Flare ones I blogged about a few days ago are perfect. However, many people opt for the classic Ray-Bans pair. If a guy puts a pair of these glasses on, they instantly look 1000000 times sexier. If a girl puts them on, she looks 100000 cooler. I would tell anyone to get a pair of wayfarers, you will not regret buying them.

Aviators

Aviators also have a great shape to them. I'm not a big fan of guys who wear aviators (unless they're European, in which case they can pull off anything,) but I think many girls look effortlessly awesome in this style. Aviators are NOT flattering on everyone. I have an oval face with a five-finger forehead (ANTM!) and wavy brown hair. 99% of aviators make me look like a stoned, dirty hippie. I looked high and low to find a pair that suited my face and finally found them at Forever 21 (they are not the ones pictured,) but it took a lot of searching.

Whatever style you choose, make sure you love them and they suit YOU and not what current fashion dictates. It's summer ladies, get those shades out!

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

The Weight Issue

2008-04-26T09:21:00.001-07:00

In recent years, as obesity is rapidly growing all over the world, another curious weight issue has sprung up in the fashion industry: skinny models. You've all heard about the guidelines various cities around the world have put to curb this phenomenon. They're all trying, and I commend that. Fashion designers and CFDA officials claim they're doing it to help teenage girls improve their body image and self-esteem. Lofty goal, hmm? With all the pro anorexia and bulimia websites and groups out there, its hard to imagine girls ever feeling good about themselves. However, if you ask me and my friends, guess what: We don't want to look like models!

Tanya D and Masha T are very interesting looking and beautiful in their own way. As beautiful, skinny and tall as they are, they are there to showcase clothes. To me, fashion equals art. Galliano, Ghesquiere and Lagerfeld are not only influential designers, they are artists and their clothes are masterpieces. Let me put it this way: If you had an original Renoir, would you put it in a $5 frame? Hopefully you would showcase it at its best. This is the same with fashions. Models are just glorified clothes-hangers. Designers want to showcase their clothes at their best. It's been drilled in our heads that most styles look better on tall, skinny girls. To some extent, this is true. Many styles, like wrap dresses, look better on curvy (represennnnnt) girls. I think the female form, with real thighs and hips and breasts looks much more attractive than a beanpole. When I flip through magazines with my male friends, they usually say the models "look like aliens" and are "too skinny." Models like Doutzen Kroes, Hilary Rhoda and Alessandra Ambrosio who have more meat on their bones are exponentially more attractive.

The point of this rant is this: be happy with what you've got. If you're tall and skinny, rock those wide-leg trousers and mini skirts. If you're short and curvy, throw on that wrap dress and those butt-hugging jeans and enjoy your body. Be confident and don't let the Western standard of beauty affect how you think of yourself. Confidence makes anyone the most beautiful girl in the world.

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Fred Flare

2008-04-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

I love online shopping! Case in point: last night I bought my boyfriend two teeshirts from bustedtees (who, by the way, are having a sale today. All shirts $12!!!!)for his 19th. Although bustedtees is always good for witty tee's, I prefer to do my shopping at Fred Flare. What is Fred Flare, you ask? Only the best online shop. EVER. Everything on the site is completely wearable, cute and inexpensive:

Plexi Ice Cream Necklace: $10
Maritime Polka Dot Skirt: $38
Oh La La! Madeline tee: $24
Silver floral weave flats: $24
Heart Bangles (no longer available) :$10? My boyfriend almost got them for me for my 17th birthday and I believe that is how much they cost. Too bad they're unavailable now :(.
Marissa Purse: $30
Risky Business Sunglasses: $10 each. These are the greatest sunglasses ever. I'm going to do a post about sunglasses later on, but I do own these (in black, tortoise and purple) and they are the greatest.
If this were to be an outfit, it would cost $136, which is extremely inexpensive. I would probably wear this out, sans necklace. Drop anything you're doing and go to the website right now. You will not regret it!
What are your favorite online shops?

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Channeling Juno MacGuff

2008-04-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

Juno has to be the best movie of 2008. It's one of those movies that just gets better and better every time you watch it. If Juno existed in real life, I would want to be her best friend. Not only is she hilarious, smart and kind, she also has a wicked sense of style:

From the Sonic Youth (who played at the Fall Marc Jacobs show) tee, to the perfectly worn in flannel jacket paired with skinny jeans. I would imagine her shoes to either be Vans or Converse, covered in Sharpie doodles. In the movie, she had THE sickest sunglasses ever. I can't find a picture of the glasses (or a way to describe them,) but they are honest to blog (!) the most awesome sunglasses I have ever seen and Ellen Page ( current Teen Vogue cover girl) can pull them off so perfectly. The messenger bag is the only bag she 'wears' in the movie and I can't see Juno using any sort of bag... Can you imagine her with a LV monogrammed tote? Neither can I.

Obviously this look isn't very wearable, but I love the idea of going out in a party dress and flats one day, then walking around in jeans, a band tee and your boyfriend's flannel jacket the next day. Pair the look with a wicked sense of humor and a devilish smile and you're good to go.

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Gossip Girl Live

2008-04-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

8:00 OMG I missed you Kirsten Bell
8:01 Blair as Audrey= perfect
8:02 What is with the girls' outfits. Ew much? I assume its the point
8:07 Love the Brody Jenner reference, S!
8:11 Why is Ashley Tisdale the Degree girl?
8:12 Can I marry Nate please??
8:17 Oh Dan, you and your awkward "my pleasure" How I love you!
8:27 Jenny you're in deep shit
8:36 Moments like these are so awkward that I can barely watch.
8:38 Oh Jenny Jenny [who can I turn to? Kudos if you can name the song] Jenny you're so much better than this!
8:45 Why is her makeup perfect when she cries??
8:50 HAHAHA Chuck's dolphin shirt!
8:56 Jenny don't become a bitch!!!
9:00 Oh hell no Michelle T did just NOT do that.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that's it folks until next week!

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Venturing Into The Gap

2008-04-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first time I ventured into The Gap (I don't even know if the is capitalized) for about four years. My mom was buying baby presents from Baby Gap and I just went across the way to check out "adult" Gap. Mainly, it was to see the CFDA designs. When I walked in, the display was right in the front. They only had a few shirts left on the racks. Just from looking, I found the Michael Bastian one very uninspired. It looked like a regular white button-up shirt that I could get anywhere else.

The Band Of Outsiders shirt was also very unappealing to me. If I'm going to spend $78 on a white shirt, it has to have SOMETHING going for it, such as an intricate design, above-par fabric

or it just looks amazing on me, none of which I saw in the Band Of Outsiders shirt. Also, the shirt doesn't have any loops to put the "belt" in (there might of been one on the back...) so it would seem a bit awkward to wear the belt with it.

I had to try something on, so I tried the 3.1 Phillip Lim Bell-Sleve shirt and the threeASFOUR tank top. I don't know if I've shared this yet, but I have a very large chest for a girl that's 5'3. They just came in my sophmore year (as in, I went from an A to a large C in six months) so it's hard to shop 'with' them. I pulled a medium and a large of both shirts. The 3.1 Phillip Lim shirt was horribly unflattering on me. Not only did it make my breasts look saggy and flat, but it also made me look pregnant. The medium fit me better but both did not look good enough to warrant spending $78.

Onto the tank top. I got the medium and the large. The cool thing about the top (apart from the design) is the buttons. It's hard to explain unless you touch the shirt, but you can button the tank up almost like a button-up shirt. It would be great for a beach cover-up. As the medium 3.1 Phillip Lim fit me, I assumed the medium THREEasfour would too. I was dead wrong. The top was so tight around my chest I looked like a porn star. If i were to breathe in the shirt the top button would come undone. There is no way one can wear any sort of bra under the top (another thing i forgot... The shirts are VERY VERY sheer.) The large one was too big on my chest so I looked like I had breasts of an 80-year-old woman. Not cute.

Another thing about the top... It has a low neckline. Basically, if you have anything larger than an average B-cup, your breasts WILL look awkward if you pull it up as high as it is on Catherine McNeil, who can pull the look off because she has small breasts

Final say: If you are very very skinny and flat-chested these shirts will look very flattering (as with most fashion trends... Sigh.)If you are all of that PLUS very tan and wealthy and go to the beach a lot, buy every one of these shirts because they will look amazing on your body. If you are not wealthy and have any sort of curve to your upper-body (B cups) then sorry, this collection is not for you :(. I came out of the store annoyed because 'The clothes look so good on the models but so bad on regular women."

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Gucci By Gucci

2008-04-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

I don't pay much attention to fragrance ads. For the most part, they are meant to be provoking and unless they have one of those flappy samples pull-outs... I just don't care. There have been a few that I have liked (Marc Jacobs Daisy, Coco Mademoiselle and Chanel #5), but most I don't pay attention to. Until I saw Gucci by Gucci starring Raquel Zimmerman, Natasha Poly and Freja Beha Erichsen:

Raquel Zimmerman and Natasha Poly from NY Mag
Raquel is something of a rarity in the modeling world. She's been in the biz for 7 (!!) years and at the 'old' age of 24, she's the #1 model on models.com top models rankings because she takes amazing pictures. Natasha is also a well-known model (she has seven Vogue covers under her belt according to wikipedia) and has been the Gucci face for a few seasons now. She's done the Victoria's Secret fashion show and is also very in-demand. Freja is one of my personal favorites. She's 20 and Danish and she's done a slew of campaigns from Chloe to Jil Sander and just seems like a fun girl (from what I've seen of backstage photos) We all agree that these ladies are beautiful right? Ok so onto the campaign:

Honestly what happened here? Did the photographer ask himself "Let's see how bad we can make these girls look?" They look like they came to the shoot after a long night of partying, still drunk and high , and kept on 'last night's' makeup.' The huge bottles of perfume don't help either.The color scheme is nice, but the ad campaign just does not suit me. Then I saw the video:

To me, it's rich 70's housewives who just shot up and who are ready to go Studio 54 to 'dance.' The weird swaying around they're doing just looks awkward. Most campaigns don't make any sense, but when a company has put so much money into it, I would expect it to look much better than this.
Gucci can do much better Not to mention they kinda ruined Heart of Glass for me...
What do you guys think of the campaign?

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Spending Money

2008-04-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

I love working. Not only do I actually enjoy my job (at a very well known coffee shop) but I love those two Fridays a month when I get paid. Since I haven't been working a lot (maybe five hours a week,) I haven't been getting much money and I've finally realized how much money I spend. Let's take a gander at my account:
Since 3/21/08
Deposits
(3/21/08) Paycheck: $311
(4/04/08) Paycheck: $43
Total: $354

Withdrawals
(3/21/08) iTunes: $33
[I have a serious addiction to crappy music. I've spent over $30 on solely Britney Spears before]
(3/24/08) Restaurant with friends: $87
[About 10 of my friends and I went out to eat. Half of them left and 'paid their share' before the bill came. Of course, the bill comes and we're $25 short, so in order to restore my karma, I pay with my card and keep the cash. Note to self: get separate checks ]
(3/25/08) iTunes: $11
[Damn you Steve Jobs]
(3/28/08) Boutique: $86
[I'm a sucker for expensive denim that's 55% off]
(3/28/08) Another boutique: $38
[Also for quilted purses]
(3/31/08) iTunes: $10
[I'm really embarrassed right now...]
(4/03/08) BustedTees: $19
[Brothers birthday present. 'Nuff said]
(4/04/08) iTunes: $12
[...]
Total: $296 ($66 on iTunes!!!!)

Balance: +$58 (except there was a time where I downloaded music and didn't spend an exorbitant amount of money on protected mp3's so I thankfully do have more than that in the account)

I feel like Becky from the Shopaholic series, except instead of spending money on clothes, I buy David Banner, Simple Plan and Miley Cyrus... Thankfully I have a debit card so the money is directly taken from my account, unlike a credit card where I have to pay it off.

Do any of you have any good advice on not spending money? This 'saving up for college' is not going so well...

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

How to NOT dress like a skank

2008-04-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

In my four years of high school, I've been to quite a few parties. As of this weekend, party season has officially started (and I say this because the majority of partying happens during the summer.) Since I'm a graduating senior, this summer people will be full of them. I'm personally not a big fan of parties, but there's only so much you can do when you a) don't want to spend money and b)you and your friends are sick of watching one tree hill re-runs. Anyways, the main thing I observe at parties is girls dressing like complete (for lack of a better word) sluts:

Yes, it is about 80 degrees outside and no, I don't have anything against "showing skin," but COME ON ladies. Do you really need to show off your legs, butt, stomach, chest and back all at once? One, maybe even two of the above is fine, but all of them? The girl(s) in question who is/are wearing this is/are probably nice, funny and smart yet they attract the wrong kind of attention. You guys can do so much better! La Petite Californienne is here to help:

Dress-Forever 21: Whoa what do we have here? A dress that shows some skin, is cute, keeps you cool, looks great on any skin tone and is LESS THAN $25?? Yes, items like this do exist. Instead of buying your 10th Juicy Couture charm, invest in this. Your future self will thank you.
Shoes -(?): Yes, grecian style was very S/S 07... I don't care, I still love this style. It's a step up from Havaianas but they don't make you look like you're trying too hard (ahem wearing any kind of heel )
Bag-(DeGroot Brown Croc Bag at Bluefly): I've personally never had this problem, but many of my friends have had their cash stolen at parties. I've left my bag right next to theirs and never has anything of mine been touched. While it might sound boggling to some people, the explanation is simple: People think my bags are cheap. In a sea of Chanel, Dooney and Bourke, Juicy Couture, Coach and Louis Vuitton, my no-label bag doesn't spark much attention. I don't go to "shady" parties, but I've heard from an EX-friend (emphasis on EX) that she stole money from people with "status bags" because "If they can spend hundreds of dollars on their purse, they can afford to give away a few bucks." This bag is super cute, has a strap that makes it easy to carry and probably won't catch the attention of thieves. Did i mention it was adorable?

Come on ladies, let's be classy.

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

If magazines were people

2008-04-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

My favorite post ever on Fashionista is If Clothes Were People. I love thinking of Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Chloe as real people. Since the ladies over at Fashionista already did such a good job at describing high-fashion labels, I thought I'd give it a shot with what I love the most... Magazines. If these magazines were in high-school, this is who they would be:

Seventeen: She would be the all-american girl. Probably blonde, blue-eyes, head cheerleader and homecoming queen. She's the girl you really want to hate, but you can't because she's so damn nice.

Teen Vogue: If Teen Vogue was a TV character, she would be Blair Waldorf. She has the coolest clothes and lifestyles and yes, she does think she's better than you. Underneath the fabulous lifestyle she is a real person and has her own vulnerabilities and sometimes she lets those show.

Elle Girl: Ok, this magazine has been dead since Summer 2006, but Elle Girl was/is by far my favorite magazine. The Elle Girl girl is that girl that's in all of your AP classes, wears great clothes and has an awesome, witty sense of humor. Best of all, she's 100% genuine and you can relate to her.

Nylon: She's that indie girl who listens to weird music and is really sarcastic. All the 'popular girls' make fun of her, but you secretly wish you were like her because she's probably the coolest girl you know. She'll come to school wearing granny glasses and suspenders and look amazing.

Cosmo: She might be a little "too": too loud, too obnoxious, too rebellious... But she'll always be there for you, through good and bad times. Yeah, she gets annoying if you're around her too much but she always has a shoulder to cry on and underneath it all, she's totally dependable.

Vogue: She's the girl that wears the best clothes and the smallest size. She speaks five languages fluently and summers in the Hamptons and skis in the Alps. Her mom does something important and fashion-related so she gets to sit front row at Marc Jacobs and Zac Posen. She's always graceful and poised and confident. She probably isn't the nicest girl, but makes sure to never say the wrong thing. Even though she doesn't strike you as that smart, she's heading off to Yale next year.

Jane: Jane is also kaput (RIP!) but was definitely one of my favorites. Serena Van Der Woodsen is the quintessential Jane girl. She might be young, but she has everything already figured out and is infinitely more confident than any girl in your class. She gets along with everyone, not because she's fake, but because everyone wants to be like her. She's smart, funny, happy but lets her weaknesses show. She isn't perfect and isn't afraid to show her real self to the world, and everyone can't help but love her.

Take note that this is done and jest and I absolutely love every magazine I've mentioned as I subscribe to all the current ones.

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

My Beauty Routine

2008-04-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Sephora has always been one of my favorite places. My mom and I used to go when I was younger, in France. Funnily enough, they sell Maybelline at Sephora in France, while they sell Bourjois at the grocery stores! Anyways, makeup has always fascinated me but I never wore any. My junior year, I was over-loaded with 3 AP's and one honors class (out of six periods, one which is a mandatory religion class), in addition to doing SAT tutoring, community service, sports teams, clubs... etc that I rarely put any effort into my appearances (it was worth it when I got the scholarship letters!) This year, with nine acceptances under my belt and a strong case of senioritis, I've been putting on makeup and doing my hair daily!

Clockwise
1. Hair Straightner- ($?) This was my "big gift" when I turned 15. I use this at least twice a week. Since I cut my hair a few weeks ago, it becomes a big frizz ball when it's curly, so I've resorted to wearing it straight almost every day. I really wish I knew the brand so I could recommend it to you guys, but a CHI straighter seems to be very popular among my friends, but it is very expensive.
2. Makeup Forever Eyeliner in Black 1 (Deep Black)-($16 at Sephora) Honestly, this eyeliner does not stay put very well. It goes on smoothly but once i touch my eye it goes everywhere. I believe they discontinued it, which is all the better anyways.
3. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler- ($19 at Sephora) This is the best eyelash curler on the market. It's a bit pricey but totally worth it.
3. Ban Deodorant-($3.50 at Longs) It's the best deodorant. Period.
4. Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMinerals Foundation in Fairly Light-($28 at Sephora) I just bought this on Monday! My skin gets very red (it doesn't matter if i've been in the sun for hours or cooped up inside for days... my cheeks are ALWAYS red) and I asked one of the employees how to reduce it. She recommended Bare Escentuals to me immediately. I rarely get pimples, so this foundation is light enough for me to wear on a daily basis. So far I love it!
5. Sephora Brand Professionnel Kabuki Brush #50- ($22 at Sephora) The woman helping me told me this brush was better than the Bare Escentuals one , and because the Sephora Brand one was $6 cheaper I got it. I have been using it for three days and I like it so far.
6. NARS Blush in Orgasm- ($25 at Sephora) I got this blush because of the total hype behind it. However, being a naive 15 year old, I forgot I already had naturally flushed cheeks. I don't usually use this because my cheeks are so red that even foundation can't cover it up.
7. Sephora Brand Professional Rounded Blush Brush #41- ($22 at Sephora) As far as blush brushes go, this one is the best one I've ever used. It doesn't waste product on its bristles and gives an even coverage that looks real.
8. Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder in Brown- ($34 in Portland, Oregon) I'm going to let you in on a little secret... I wash my hair about twice a week. This is simply because I don't have the time and energy to use my flat iron every day and I don't want to ruin my hair. Instead, I use this powder than absorbs grease in my roots. It makes my hair feel disgusting but it keeps my blowout for that extra day.
9. Aveda Brilliant Damage Control-($18.50 at Salon Lux in San Luis Obispo) This product keeps my hair "protected" from heat styling tools. Since I straighten my hair twice a week and touch it up almost daily. this is a MUST so my hair doesn't break. There are products that do this for much cheaper and as effective, notably V05 Extreme Style Heat Defense, which is AT MOST $5 from a drugstore. My mom just had this in her beauty bag and since she never uses heat styling, she gave it to me.
10. Frederic Fekkai Luscious Curls Cream- ($19.50 for 4 oz. at Sephora) This gives me perfect hold on my curls. I have notably less frizz but it doesn't feel like a gel. It also smells amazing. Please, ladies with curly/wavy hair... Invest! You WON'T be disappointed.
11. Frederic Fekkai Straight Away- ($17.50 for 4 oz. at Bath and Body Works) I confused this balm with the "ironless straightener" that Fekkai has. This elminates frizz for BLOW-OUTS. I rarely use my hair dryer and wait for my hair to air-dry, so this product was essentially a waste of money for me.
13. Benefit San Francisco Some-Kind-Of-Gorgeous ($26 at Sephora) This was my first foundation ever! I do sunless tanning every so often (it's for a medical reason!) and when I tan my face, I use this foundation as it is a bit darker than my usual skin tone. It gives great coverage and isn't at all to greasy. Plus, Benefit is from San Francisco so what's not to love?
14. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter ($20 at The Body Shop) Today in Honors Physics, my male lab partner was copying my data and all of a sudden looked up and said "Wow... you smell REALLY good. Like summer." Darlings, it was this body butter. It feels so luxurious and soft when you put it on and is a hardcore moisturizer. Oh, and did I mention it smells amazing? Do your skin a favor and go grab some!
15. TIGI Bed Head Brush ($? at Longs)- It does its job. It untangles my hair and doesn't break it. It isn't a miracle worker and doesn't try to be... but it works.
16. Fresh superNOVA mascara in Black- ($25 at Sephora) I don't know if any of you have heard of this "trick," but many makeup artists say to bend your mascara wand so it picks up more products. I tried it with this and it rendered the brush all gunky. Don't try THAT at home, kids. Thankfully, it doesn't deliver too much product and still doesn't clump, but it is NOT worth $25. There are many drugstore brands that I'm sure are much better than this.

At most, I spend about 3 minutes putting makeup on and maybe another 3 on touching up my hair. I get up at 7:10 and have to be out the door by 7:25!
Makeup Wishlist
NARS Bronzer in Laguna
Bronzer Brush
Smashbox Photo Finish Correction Foundation Primer in Color Adjust Green-Minimizes Redness

What are your beauty must-haves?

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Walking Advertisments

2008-04-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yearbook awards came out today. You're now looking at "Best Sense of Humor" for my senior class (out of 30 girls. My class is SMALL) Anyways, most of the 'awards' came to me as no surprise except for best dressed, where I voted for one of the 'funkiest' girls in the class. The girl, "Ann," is very sweet and funny and I love her dearly. That being said, she looks like any rich California girl to me:

Ed Hardy shirt, Abercrombie & Fitch mini, Leggings, Coach shoes, Juicy Couture jacket and charm bracelet and Louis Vuitton Monogrammed purse (fake, natch)
To me, style isn't buying a $100 jacket or a $150 pair of jeans. It's taking different items and mixing them in an interesting way.

The Sartorialist
Any girl wearing this at my school would get made fun of if they wore this. But she looks exponentially better than a girl wearing head-to-toe "designer" gear.
As Coco Chanel said "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." And who wants to look exactly like the girl next to them? Where's the fun in that?

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Prom

2008-04-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

Prom is coming up! There is nothing more American like prom. In France, people just don't understand the concept. I'm kind-of excited for prom. Last year I wore a red body-hugging Laundry by Shelli Segal dress and a pair of black Tribeca heels with ankle straps. I loved what I wore so much that I wore it AGAIN to homecoming this year. The guy I liked during prom season junior year came up to me on the Monday after prom and said "Liz... You looked REALLY good at prom..." I don't dress for other people, especially not guys, but I did have an extra bounce in my step the whole day.
This year it's my SENIOR PROM, which makes it all the more "important." My friends and I are going all out, Hummer Limo, hotel suite etc... Anyways, I found my prom dress on Tuesday and I adore it. It's (again) Laundry by Shelli Segal. I feel like a goddess in it. The only problem is I don't know how to do my hair in it! Any suggestions?

Dress:($250 on sale from Bloomingdales)
Shoes: ($5!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From Charlotte Russe): I bought these for my winter formal dress and I orginally thought they were $30... but I got them for $5!!! I love them, they match everything and they look amazing. Those aren't the EXACT shoes, but they look pretty damn similar.
Clutch: (£10.00 or about $20): I won't be using that exact clutch, which is from Dorothy Perkins in the UK (I've never heard of it) but something similar. Or maybe I won't even bring a bag and make my date carry everything!

Whatever I end up doing, I know that my prom will be a night to remember with friends I'll never forget (oh shut up, we're all cheeseballs :])

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

Bonjour Summer 2008!

2008-04-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky enough to live in California where it is sunny most days out of the year. Today, as I was coming home from school I thought to myself "Summer is HERE!" Bust out those tank tops and shorts ladies because it's not going anywhere.
My ideal summer outfit:

If I ever go the Hamptons and I was a gazillionaire, this is what I would wear to a fabulous soiree on a yacht.
Tom Ford Sunglasses- ($360 at Eluxury ) I've never really been a fan of "designer" sunglasses. To me, you can buy almost exact renditions of the glasses for hundreds less at Forever 21 or any stores like that. These Tom Ford glasses don't look like any other style out there and they're a perfect mix of cool, glam & comfortable.
Catherine Malandrino Cotton Sundress- ($425 at Net-A-Porter) Most sun-dresses I see on girls are either a) too short, b) too tight, c) show too much cleavage, d) Juicy Couture or e) All of the above. Although this dress is short, its details make it sweet and not slutty. The current Jovovich-Hawk for Target ads say something along the lines of "girls just want to put a dress on a be the coolest girl in the room," which is exactly what I think when I see this dress. If only I had a clam-bake/store opening/charity event/yacht party/beach bonfire to wear this to...
Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume- ($55 for 1.7 oz. at Sephora) This perfume is amazing. It SMELLS like summer. It's also completely age appropriate, something that many perfumes aimed at teenagers lack.
Jimmy Choo Elika Sandal- ($530 at ?) These shoes are probably the most gorgeous sandals I've ever seen. They're dainty, but the gold and wooden accents give them a bit of an edge. Also, with the sole, this shoe clocks in at 6.11 inches! It would make me go from a shrimp to editorial-model height. When shoes look THAT good, who cares about comfort?
St. Tropez Auto Bronzant Lotion #16133- (8 oz. for 37.22 at St. Tropez Market) Some people look amazing pale (I'm looking at you Jessica Joffe, Nicole Kidman and Dita Von Teese.) I wasn't blessed with that. My dad has had skin cancer three times and I have a skin condition called Tinea Versicolor so "real tanning" is completely out of the question as I am pre-destined to get skin cancer AND I can't tan evenly. Anywho, this lotion is by far the best on the market. It delivers the most even and real-looking tan. On Monday I went on a college visit and then shopping with my mom to Sephora to get this. I applied it that night. The next day, instead of the usual smirks I get when I've self-tanned in the past, I got "Wow you got so tan yesterday!" No one has to know it's out of the bottle...

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

What's In My Bag?

2008-04-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

I have an obsession with bags. It started at a young age, when my mom would take me to Louis Vuitton and Longchamps to look at the fine leather (mind you, this is a woman who buys most of her wardrobe at Marshalls.) From backpacks to quilted clutches I have at least 15 bags. What's in my bags, dear readers? Well...

My bag in question! Please excuse the fuzziness, I took the picture with my camera phone as I do not have a digital camera. The bag in question was a STEAL at Nordstrom's BP... I bought in on a whim... It was $10.99! To my readers not from the West Coast, Nordstrom's is a department store much like Bloomingdale's or Neiman's with an amazing (and affordable) Juniors section.

(Clockwise)
1. Orbit Gum ($1)... I have an obsession with gum. I ALWAYS need to have some with me. I hate bad breath and gross dental hygiene in general.
2. Clinique Full Potential Lips in 02 Peach Plump (Sample)- I love Clinique. Not only because they usually have great products (ahem moisturizer, lipgloss, mascara...) but because usually if you buy more than $21.50 's worth of products you get a load of free samples and a free bag. This lipgloss is great because it's just clear, and when I wear lipstick to school I put this over it so it doesn't look so severe.
3. iPod Touch with pink case around it ($320 with case)- My birthday is about two weeks before Christmas, and since I was about 11 years old my parents have been giving me one "big gift" and many small gifts instead of getting "medium gifts." This year my gift was the iPod touch... I am IN LOVE. No joke, this is my life. This thing does email, internet and you can buy music directly from it... If only I could stop doing the latter!
4. Keys- I need these to get in my house.
5. Pen- I ALWAYS lose pens. I usually have about 3 or 4 in my purse to use to write notes or when someone needs one.
6. Teen Vogue May 2008 with Ellen Page ($3?)- I love Teen Vogue. It's by far my favorite fashion magazine. Ellen Page is also a big idol of mine... She's so cute and adorable! Juno is definitely my favorite movie of 2008.
7. Sample of Marc Jacobs Daisy(Free at Sephora)- Here's a secret for everyone... Sephora will basically give you a sample of any perfume when you make a purchase. I love samples because I usually don't love anything enough to buy in full size. However, I might change that with Daisy. It's a perfect perfume... To me it smells like a bare faced, care-free17 year old girl enjoying the summer.
8.Burt's Bee's Chapstick ($3?)- I'm obsessed with having a clean mouth and i HATE having chapped lips. This usually goes in my Marc clutch that I bring to school with me. Portable, effective, and smells amazing. What more do I need?
9. Clinique High-Definition Lashes($13) -I love this mascara. I love mascara in general and this one gives me that 'Oh-I-Just-Naturally-Have-Superlongandthick-Lashes" look. AND IT DOESN'T CLUMP!!
10. Marc by Marc Jacobs Wallet (Borrowed from mom)- I love Marc Jacobs. Seriously. I adore his bags. Someone buy me a Stam... I'll die happy. This wallet is too big to bring to school so I leave it in my purse. It probably has no money in it, just my (yes, mine... Not linked to my parent's account) debit card and gift cards. It's perfect.
11. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream ($18)- You know how people always seem to ask "If you had to go to a desert island what would you bring?" This is my product. It's amazing for lips. While Burt's works when my lips are minorly dry, I need Elizabeth Arden when my lips look like death. This product works miracles, I tell you. It's the best $18 I've ever spent.
12. Estee Lauder Mirror (Gift bag from a friend's party)-When I was little, I loved going to birthday parties...Solely to get the gift bags! Nowdays, it seems like most parties center around alcohol and weed (laaaaaaame) and gift bags are from another era. However, my friend M decided against the "Let's-Throw-A-Huge-Bash-That-Will-Get-Busted-By-The-Cops-And-Get-Me-Arrested" routine that too many people I know go through (again:lame) and had a REAL party at a high tea. Unfortunately, the day before my work called in and basically forced me to come in on the day of the party (!), but since my mom is friend's with M's mom, I scored the gift bag! Anyways, this mirror is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It has a normal zoom and a 5x zoom and it looks so adorable and chic that I don't feel vain when I pull it out
13. Pen- Another one!
14. Marc by Marc Jacobs Clutch in Rose ($30)- I use this everyday. It's the PERFECT SIZE and the color matches everything. It's discreet enough that when I go to a party or somewhere no one will steal it (my friends have had that happen with their LV's and "obvious designer" bags) yet it fits everything I need. You can only get it at a Marc Jacobs store or try to find it on Ebay. Another worthwhile investment.
What's in your bag?
À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne

First Post

2008-04-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

Wheee new blog. I guess I should introduce myself... I'm Liz and I'm 17 and... from California! SF Bay Area actually. I've seen a lot of bloggers do this so here is 6 random things about me:

1. I know I shouldn't say this as this is a fashion blog, but I really don't own many clothes! I wear a school uniform during the day and on weekends I usually work so I barely ever get out of any certain uniform.

Shirt: School issued ($25)
Skirt: School issued ($40) [ I should note that during my sophmore/junior year I constantly got in trouble for my skirt being too short... what a rebel]
Bag: Erin Fetherston for Target ($30?) [Ok, so I seriously COVETED this bag when I first saw it. I rarely actually go into Target and thought I wouldn't be able to ever get this. But huzzah! Online shopping. This bag is A LOT bigger than it looked online, so much so that I use it as a backpack. It fits a binder, a "big" textbook, my laptop and misc. other things. Honestly I LOVE this]
Tights: Frenchi from Nordstroms ($10)
Shoes: Steve Madden from Shoe Pavillion ($45) [These arn't actually the shoes but I couldn't believe I found a picture on polyvore of a girl wearing tights and silver flats!]
Not pictured: an uber-cute headband and straight brown hair. Blair Waldorf eat your heart out!

2. Speaking of Blair Waldorf, I actually do look like her/am like her. Short (she's 5'4 in the book, I'm 5'3), brown hair, brown eyes, a penchant for Audrey Hepburn and all things French. That is where the similarities end, cuties. This is also the closest you will get to seeing what I look like. I won't be posting pictures of what I am ACTUALLY wearing (for the record: Roxy jacket, Hanes Tee and black sweats) and what I look like. 1) I am devoid of a digital camera (even though my dad is a photographer) and a privacy freak. Polyvore is my friend.

3. La Petite Californienne sounds much better than 'The Little California Girl' but that's not why I chose the name. I actually lived in Paris when I was younger (1st-4th grade.) I went to a normal French school and lived a 'normal' French life. I am fluent in French. Not 'I can conversationally say a few words' French but 'French people actually think I am French' French. However, Spanish is my first language (my mom is from Cuba.) And now I live in California! I knew at a young age that Givenchy was Jhee-vhen-she and not Give-enchy... I should give Whitney some pointers

4. I work A LOT. And I don't mean school, I mean at a well-known service-industry establishment. I'm a glorified coffee-maker at an ubiquitous (one every mile) chain. Hey I gotta make money somehow! Seriously, I can have the meanest, catty-est, most horrible boss that makes me do the worst assistant tasks EVER and it would be better than dealing with some of the customers I deal with.

5. As obsessed as I am with fashion, my ideal job is at Conde Nast Traveler. I'm lucky enough to have lived in different countries and I've been able to explore North America/Europe/Africa . I am PASSIONATE about magazines and becoming the Anna Wintour/Glenda Bailey/Amy
Astley of the travel magazine industry.

6. As I said before, I'm 17. I'm a high-school senior! Only a few months left until I get to wear an ugly sack over my body and do my hair, only for it to be ruined by a square cap (Who came up with the sash and gown?!) All kidding aside, I'm very sad to be leaving high school but excited to go to college! As of now, I'm deciding in between the #1 Journalism School in the country, (cross your fingers, I find out about my scholarship tomorrow!) A school that offered me a nice amount of money that I loved and the best state school in California. It's a daunting task, but I know I'll be happy.

À la prochaine,

La Petite Californienne