Fashion and Puppies and Charity! Oh my!

Bergdorf Goodman really tugs at your heartstrings with this delightful and especially sweet Christmas video. Seriously, puppies and fashion for a good cause? Genius.

Rumour Has It/Someone Like You

I'm a bad blogger, but hopefully this amah-zing video will make up for it. I've had it on repeat since I saw it last night. Still trying to figure out how to balance work, writing and this amazing new project I'm working on. Hopefully I'll be able to blog more regularly soon!

And I'm Back

 What's even better than poutine? Poutine topped with duck confit. Killmenow.

Our uber luxe suite at the Hotel Georgia was an indulgent experience. Our room had its own living room, dining room and extra bathroom. Not to mention the service was incredible.

 The Bella Tower at Sushi Bella is an amazing combination of tuna and salmon over a mix of crab and avocado and secret sauce.

 Best ramen ever at Kintaro. Rich with fatty pork belly. I would go back to Vancouver just for this.

Best. Sushi. Ever. How I'm ever going to get used to SF miniscule serving sizes is beyond me.

Sorry for the long radio silence. I was in Vancouver on vacay and had no time to post. My trip was an amazing mix of catching up with one of my best friends, taking in the sights, relaxing, admiring the gorgeous city and stuffing my face with ridiculous amounts of crazy good food (we're talking the biggest and freshest Sashimi ever, the best ramen of my life and more poutine than any one person should eat). Vancouver, I will be back for more—take my word for it! Here are some of the highlights of the trip. Oh, and yes, I did get up close and personal with a beluga whale named Aurora.

Intermission and a Confession

I'd like to take a break from my previously scheduled Paris Fashion Week rundown, because I feel like I haven't been completely honest. That and holy guacamole, PFW is beyond, and it's going to take more than one entry to adequately cover it all. But anyhoo, I digress. I'd like to share a problem that I'm sure many a young lady is suffering from as well. So here goes: My name is Sasha and I'm addicted to online shopping.

There. I've said it. Wasn't that refreshing? Now before the creditors come knocking on my door, don't worry, I'm not getting into debt over this. I'm not shopping any more than I used to, it just so happens that I now shop almost exclusively online. I can't help it, it's like a drug and I just can't fight it.

Some people get anxious at the thought of their personal information making its way into the hands of hackers, but in my case I get the shivers at the thought of going into a store. Generally, if I can buy it online—I will. Sure, I like perusing the stores every now and then, or going out to hang out with the gals. But after years of being able to comfortably shop in the comfort of my pajamas, I dread having to try on my purchases under the glare of harsh lights, I loathe dealing with sales associates and I hate not being able to find exactly what I want to purchase. It's so easy online: colors and sizes are just a click away and the selection just can't be beat.

Free shipping and free returns are the icing on the top of the online shopping cake—although occasionally a small fee is ok, especially since it's normally less than what I'd pay for parking anyway. I frequently have a rotation of goods coming in and out of my apartment. I return a lot of what I order, but I do keep things every now and then. I'll be honest. I'm a bit spoiled and know I'd be less enthused about the entire process if I didn't have a doorman to sign for my packages and send them out for me. But I do prefer trying on clothes in the comfort of my own home, with my own lights and mirrors. There are no gimmicks designed to trick me into purchasing, and I know 100% whether the skirt I bought goes with my favorite shoes.

So there's my confession. It's long enough for now. Heck, I'm going cross-eyed just reading it. Long-form writing was never my strong suit. As a bonus for making it this far, here are a few of my fave online shopping locations.

1. ASOS.com - This site is addicting. Formerly a British-only haven for celeb-inspired style, it's finally come state-side and veered into a more fashion-forward direction. Clothing quality is hit or miss, but there are definitely plenty of hits as my closet can attest. My tips for shopping this site are to save things for later as the saved cart tracks price increases and decreases, and to never buy big US brands here as they can be double what they would cost normally.

2. TheOutnet.com - I love Net-a-Porter, but I realistically shop its discount sister site The Outnet on a more frequent basis. It's a great place to pick up designer goods at a discount and occasionally find great deals on pieces you loved from past seasons, but weren't able to get the first time around.

3. Gilt.com - I love a good flash sale site and in fact have a routine of checking all of them first thing in the morning. Although I have many faves, Gilt always comes out on top of the list. Its well-curated selection and prices can't be beat!

4. Shopbop.com - I have a love-hate affair with Shopbop. I love it so much, but I hate that I can't buy up every single thing on its site. They carry pretty much all of my fave contemporary brands and consistently have a great selection of merchandise.

5. Piperlime.com - Piperlime is another fave in the same vein as Shopbop, with a great selection of brands and well-chosen pieces. Piperlime has a more extensive selection of affordable pieces to help round out your wardrobe.

Like Nails on a Chalkboard

Some people get a cringing feeling when they hear nails grating against a chalkboard. For me, the thought of biting into yarn or of nails digging into wool makes me shudder.

Aside from these, there are other things more fashion-related that result in a similar adverse reaction. Call them pet peeves if you will. When I see these horrors on anyone, I wonder why?—WHY?! I generally feel they're completely avoidable, and therefore should not happen. If you have a mirror, there's no excuse. Here are the ones that top my list:

1. Visible Panty Lines aka VPL. Since the invention of the thong, there has been no excuse for VPL. None, whatsoever. If the fabric of your pants isn't thick enough to conceal your panty lines, then your shirt is either too short, or you need to wear a thong. Simple enough. If you're sitting there going 'well guess what, thongs aren't comfortable' then you're probably not wearing the right kind. Invest in some Hanky Panky ones, they're worth every penny. Or wear a longer shirt.

2. Leggings as pants. Sorry ladies, but leggings aren't pants. Unless they're made of material similar to riding jodhpurs, then they're meant to be layered over with a tunic or dress that covers your butt. Here's a simple test: If you hold your leggings up to a light and you can see the light through them, they're not pants. Don't even get me started on the people who wear leggings as pants and then have VPL...

3. Sheer jersey. There's a time and place for sheer clothing. I'm actually quite fond of it, when done right. But when something is sheer and it's not supposed to be, then the wearer doesn't realize it's sheer—well, that's where we have a problem. The culprit is usually jersey, the cheap kind, that looks opaque on a hanger, but when you try it on reveals more of your undergarments than anyone needs to see. Did I mention this material also highlights lumps and bumps like no other? To check for sheerness, follow the same light-test technique as #2.

4. Camel toe. I get it, camel toe happens. But it doesn't have to. The reason for camel toe is ill-fitting clothing and bad material. Most commonly, it happens with workout gear like loose jersey yoga pants—or leggings without enough spandex in them. Here's a tip, make sure your pants have enough heft to them. Also, check a mirror regularly. If, after wearing your pants for a while, you notice it happening, do yourself a favor and throw them out.

5. Not dressing for your body. Now, this has nothing to do with size. No matter what your weight, everyone has a different shape. But it's important to know what it is in order to pick flattering clothing. I'm all for empowered dressing and owning your figure, but just because you can fit into something doesn't mean you should. At the end of the day, just because something fits girl A doesn't mean it'll work on girl B or C.

Photo source: DCD

Into the Wild

While my boyfriend plans our excursion to Death Valley—the one he's been trying to get me to go on for years—I  am of course planning what I'm going to wear. Surprise, surprise.

While I would be perfectly content to never have to sleep in a tent or pee behind a bush, my SO is a huge camping enthusiast. Since he indulges my frequent shopping sprees, I, in turn, put my high heels aside in favor of something a bit more rugged.

One of my biggest qualms about camping, aside from the bugs and lack of showers, is how difficult it is to look remotely attractive. No offense to REI and other camping supply stores, but that stuff is ugly. Functional, sure, but hideous and made of plastic. I don't know where the clothes took a frumpy turn after the elegant explorer outfits of the 20s, but they did.

On the other hand, fashion magazines like to put their spin on camping gear with couture-filled spreads. But while they're pretty to look at, 4-inch heels just won't cut it when you're trudging up a mountain. So what's a fashion-loving gal to do for a weekend in the middle of nowhere? Well, here's what I have in mind for our trip.

Since we're going to Death Valley in October, the weather is going to be a bit of both extremes, highs of 90 with lows of 60. Layers are essential, as are clothes that I don't mind getting a little—or a lot—dirty. When I started making my list, the first thing I turned to were clothes in various shades of brown and olive. But really, what's stopping me from wearing neon yellow in the desert? Absolutely nothing.

Could This Be The One?

Some gals go gaga for bags and need the latest It bag on their arm, or else their lives are over. But me? I'm not a bag person. I tend to use one bag for months at a time before either breaking it or getting completely sick of it. Then, I get frustrated trying to find a bag that'll be functional, but attractive, affordable, but not cheap. It's a tough dance, especially as the price of bags sky rockets to ridiculous levels. Right now, I'm carrying a bright blue slouchy tote by Rebecca Minkoff that I scored for $200 at Nordstrom Rack. To be honest, it's the most I've ever paid for a bag since all my other totes were gifts from mummy.

Top: 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli $895 from Nordstrom | Bottom (L-R): Proenza Schouler PS11 $1850 from Proenza Schouler, Reed Krakoff Boxer $1390 from Net-a-Porter, Celine Luggage Shopper $1480 from Bluefly

For the past few seasons, there have been several bags that have caught my attention for their classic, yet edgy, styling and timeless appeal. The Celine Luggage Tote, Reed Krakoff Boxer and Proenza Schouler PS11, for example. But the price points are too steep for my taste. Enter the 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli. I discovered it while browsing Susie Bubble's site today and I have to say, it's definitely tickled my fancy. At $895, it's still pricey, but not so much that it makes me want to run into a corner to cry. Considering how often I'd use it, it would be a decent investment. Now if only I could get my bank account to agree with me.

Daily Rumor: Marc Jacobs Heads to Christian Dior

As head of Louis Vuitton and his own eponymous label, there was no doubt that Marc Jacobs' name would be tossed around as being in the running for the unfortunately vacated head designer position at Dior. At first, Ricardo Tisci of Givenchy was the front runner, but WWD and other major fashion news outlets have suddenly placed all bets on Jacobs. It's only a few weeks until the big announcement, so speculation has gone into overdrive.

I mourned the loss of Galliano's talent from the brand. He's an individual and creative genius who did great things. Unfortunately, his personal struggles and troubles got the best of him and he succumbed to the pressure. There's no excuse for the anti-semitic statements Galliano made, but people have been forgiven for worse things. A big part of me wishes LVMH would give him another chance. 

I have great respect for Marc Jacobs, but I have to admit his designs haven't always been my favorite over the years. They tend to look great on the runway, but don't translate well on the average consumer. I do like his recent Fall 2011 collection, but I just haven't ever felt the admiration for his designs as I have for Galliano. Perhaps the new platform will allow him to shine in new ways. Jacobs' imagination is definitely up for the challenge and his grand theatricality will translate well as couture.

Overall: Marc Jacobs for Dior? Undecided.

Photo Source: Fashioncraz, MariaCarla in Wonderland and CelebrityDogWater