the most beautiful thing i've seen/heard in a while.

i'm chuck bass in sequins.

So the sequins trend for this F/W has worked its way into Gossip Girl character Chuck Bass' ecclectic wardrobe. I mean I guess I can't say I'm really surprised, since my vote for best dressed male EVER (as fictional as he may be) has been seen looking impeccable in pieces clearly not made for mere mortals -- such as: plaid pants, a maroon velvet blazer, a white linen suit, bow ties, argyle knee-high socks, and even a purple suit. The list goes on and on, really. But in the next episode, Chuck really outdoes himself in this sequined tuxedo. I've been pondering whether or not I can/should work this borderline obnoxious trend into my own wardrobe, but seeing these photos on one of my favorite blogs ever makes me seriously re-evaluate any previous doubts I had. Totally swoon-worthy and a style inspiration? My kinda guy. (As fictional as he may be.)

P.S. - Was it sad I just listed GossipGirlInsider.com as my favorite blog ever?

as promised.

Goldfrapp's Felt Mountain album definitely makes it on my list of all time favorite albums. Most of you know Goldfrapp as the British electronic group responsible for hits such as "Strict Machine," but to be honest those albums, as great as they are, do no justice in capturing the almost eerie grace and sensuality of Alison Goldfrapp's vocals like Felt Mountain does. This particular song, "Deer Stop," is my absolute favorite and never fails to break my heart each listen. Watching her perform this (even on a tiny YouTube screen)--especially towards the end--makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time. This performance is just unbelievable. And just look how stunning she is...

mary-kate.

This video is almost a year old but it somehow never ceases to inspire me.

In more ways than one, might I add.

change isn't here just yet.

R.I.P. gay marriage in California. My friend Jeff Tang wrote a much more eloquent entry about this issue. I think he says it better than I ever could. I'm sure so many of you are thinking to yourselves, "Damn, I guess I should have voted." And to those I say: think hard about your choices, and how you choosing not to be a part of this has just devastated thousands of individuals who just want an equal chance to be happy. I hope this teaches us all what happens when we think of ourselves as one tiny voice in this race, and not as a collective cry for what we believe in.

de young museum, our economy, how it all ties together, and why you should vote for me.

One of my fondest memories was visiting the de Young museum in SF a year and a half ago, and having the pleasure of being there when the Vivienne Westwood exhibition was happening. (I think what contributed to said fondness was the vivid memory of sitting outside the museum on a bench surrounded by the very lovely greenery and being on the phone with Nancy.) Thus imagine my excitement when hearing the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition would be opening beginning of November this year. After discovering the exhibition would be running until April 5, 2009, I immediately made Nancy promise to go with me whenever I get the chance to make my next visit to the bay area. So, if someone could please fly me up to SF some time between now and April 5, 2009 (sooner rather than later), I would greatly appreciate it. My budget is in need of some tightening seeing as how the economy is majorly kicking my company's ass and yet I still managed to add laces, (even more) neutrals, and a beautifully constructed pair of strappy platform heels to my wardrobe today. Ugh, economy.

Which brings me to my next thought: what to wear to the voting polls tomorrow. I think my new heels will have to sit this one out, since I'd like to be comfortable enough to not give up my spot in line and therefore my chance to vote for the future of my bank account. It's all part of my plan. Better economy, more money for me, more money to give precious heels everywhere a nice warm place to call home, more consumer spending, higher demand, create more jobs, higher supply, lower prices, stir more consumer spending, even better economy... etc. etc. I'm so smart it hurts.

the no bra movement.

This photo set was inspired by the moment I kicked off my shoes after a long day of work and freed myself from my restricting bra. I really despise wearing bras. I mean are they not the most uncomfortable piece of clothing ever? I've always thought it incredibly sexy when a woman can proudly wear an outfit without a bra. It's a whole new level of confidence, really. A woman, no matter the size of her cup, who can truly wear her breasts as nature intended them to be -- free and breathing! Isn't that what makes the outfit oftentimes on the runway? Or in magazines? The "raisins", the side cleavage, the nipples! There's nothing like the subtle allure of a B-chested woman's cleavage peeking out from her low-cut, dangerously thin tank. It's all so deliciously risque. I'd even go as far as to say it should be a new feminist movement! A metaphor for freeing ourselves as women from the constraints of what society deems as "lady-like." So, all you women out there, embrace your sexiness and your God-given accessory(ies). If people look, hey, at least they're lookin'.

my "celebrity" crush.

Alexander Wang. Sad to say, but the man himself makes me swoon more than his designs. Even if he's gay.

Note to self: Must begin hunt for a vintage faux fur vest, a pair of super sexual ankle boots, maybe some dangerous-looking pumps, a simple black long sleeve, a tripod for my Rebel, and my next trademark necklace. I've been wearing mine since I turned 20 so I've been itching to retire it.

Major caffeine high right now. I'll write something of more substance (ha, substance? on this blog?!) once my attention span settles down.

epic fails.

Might I mention that the above banner is artwork penned by yours truly via Microsoft Paint and an optical mouse sometime last year, or the year before that, or some year I still had a PC. (Run-on sentences ftw.) I hastily created this blog at work, so the only access to photos I had was on my Photobucket account and I thought this to be quite fitting for the intended "theme" of my blog. I spent hours last night on Photoshop trying to design a new banner but the finished product deemed to be too narcissistic even for a Leo like me.

Anyways. Onward, ho!

Epic fail #1:
This past weekend my mom noted that it's a "good thing" I no longer work in retail what with the economy and consumer spending being in the shits and all. However, she failed to recall that I now work in the automotive industry.

Epic fail #2:
Last night my roommate had a girl I'd never met sleep on the couch. Before I left for work this morning I noticed she was still in our apartment and would be left alone all day. I immediately began to fear for my purses, and thought of a brilliant plan for a booby trap but could not execute thanks to my partner-in-crime being unwilling to cooperate. I was later informed that the girl in question is my roommate's girlfriend's cousin. Apparently, Chanel, Marc & co. can get a girl's head really twisted.

Epic fail #3 (aka fail of all fails):
I'm Chinese and allergic to MSG.

hello, blog world.

This moment marks a great day in history. After eight years of "blogging" (before the term "blog" was coined, I'm sure) on LiveJournal, I have reached a new level of boredom. Hell, I even had a Xanga at some point. I lied. I still have it, but only to read my friend Allen's Xanga posts as he documents his life as an LA-loving, Texas-film-school-attending young adult. (sidenote: be on the lookout in the coming years for an up-and-coming director: Allen Ho.) Nothing seems to satisfy my thirst addiction to blogging. I plan to take over them all: LiveJournal, Xanga, and now Blogspot.

I haven't yet decided what I should post about. Much like the rest of my life, I doubt that this blog will have any direction at all.

I'll start by introducing this lovely photo, taken many many years ago by someone else at a lake near my aunt's house. Serene, no? Well, before you all sigh and turn into mush...

Topic #1: The Lomography "ActionSampler"
I think Lomography and their line of cameras is the hipster's ticket to calling themselves "photographers." How many Myspace hipsters have you seen carrying these around? The trend also seems to be that any sort of event held on grass: be it outdoor concerts, barbeques, or carnivals, you will see drugged out kids waving around their Lomography camera so as to create that "action" look you see in so many photos. My photographer, however, seems to have failed on that look, seeing as how each frame is exactly the same. Minus 2 for that. Plus 1, however, for the grass setting. Looks like you're well on your way to being Cobrasnake.

Hey, the ActionSampler in that photo is mine. Does that mean I can be a hipster too? I even bought it at The Getty! Shouldn't that be, like, extra hipster points for being extra artsy? (I guess the point of having a blog is so you can ask rhetorical questions and have the option of answering or not answering them. I will opt not to answer this one.)

Topic #2: Why anyone wanted to make out with me is a mystery
Now, what is up with my shorts in that photo? Hell, my whole outfit should be burned. Granted I was 19, still had the body of a prepubescent boy, and the confidence level of, well, a 19-year old, this is still not enough justification for me to not want to burn delete all photos from that time period. Let me explain the sheer horror that is my outfit in that photo: Jack Purcells, olive-toned canvas shorts, and a white wifebeater. My idea of personal style was: cheap knee-length skirts purchased at swap meets, Chuck Taylors and Sambas, topped off with a mis-matched shirt most likely taken from my parents' closet and a newsboy cap over my short, choppy hair. Shannyn Sossamon was my fashion icon at the time, but I think I still failed on trying to emulate that look.

The only two things I've taken from that era: rocking my parents' clothes, and recently turning one of those swap-meet-skirts into a dress. It's a blessing in disguise that I grew into the body of a woman gained too much weight since then to wear anything else (the excuse I gave my Asian mother -- please note Asian mother -- when I tossed giant bags-full of clothes out last summer).

My current fashion icons? The obvious ones come to mind. Kate Moss. Emmanuelle Alt. Kate Lanphear. And Mary Kate and/or Ashley Olsen depending on their/my mood. Not to mention my dear friend and inspiration, Nancy Kim.