The DQ Luxury Boutique Service Awards

We're in the dog days of summer here in the City of Angels.  It was 97 degrees in my hometown today!  It's August, so it's to be expected.  During most years, these days begin in late May and go well into October.  The hottest days reach 110...or more!  Since Memorial Day weekend, we've not had as many of those upper-limit temps this year, so I'm grateful for that.  But boy when they do happen...no wonder no major events happen during the summer (except for the World Cup and Summer Olympics...and only one of them happens every other year...and neither is happening this year)...

So I'm creating my own tiny little event.  Of course, it'll do with what I love most...luxury fashion.  By no means am I any kind of expert, but what I do have is a lot of research and personal experience.  Since it's been about 10 years since I've been consuming luxury goods, it's about time I shortened my shopping experiences into these 2 lists (and yes, I'm a little biased toward Los Angeles and certain designers--remember, this is about my experiences ;) )

BEST LUXURY SHOPPING SERVICE, AS DECIDED BY THE DRAMA QUEEN:

1. Christian Louboutin, West Hollywood
2. Balenciaga, West Hollywood
3. Christian Louboutin, Horatio Street
4. Christian Louboutin, Madrid
5. Balenciaga, South Coast Plaza
6. Christian Louboutin, South Coast Plaza
7. Natalie Schuterman, Stockholm
8. Shoe Salon at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York
9. Chanel, Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue
10. Hermes, Wall Street

WORST LUXURY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE, AS DECIDED BY THE DRAMA QUEEN:

1. Christian Louboutin, Dallas*
2. Christian Louboutin, Madison Avenue**
3. Hermes, Las Vegas Bellagio
4. Madison, Beverly Hills

*The experiences were so bad here I had to explain my reason for ranking this #1 on the worst list.    I've never actually visited the store.  I was nearly stuck with buying a pair from them a couple of years ago.  I had pre-ordered a pair but called a week later to cancel my order.  I had the good sense to randomly check my credit card balance online to find I'd been charged by Dallas for the canceled order.  I nearly argued with the sales associate to get her to void the transaction.  Fast forward 2 years later, to June 2013.  My shoes were ordered through a salesperson at another Christian Louboutin store, unbeknownst to me.  They charged me full price for a pair that had a very visible stain on them!  Long story short, they insisted on doing nothing wrong, and my credit card company didn't bother fighting them on it, so I'm stuck with a $1200 credit at Christian Louboutin.  I guess it's not all bad; my next pair will be free or nearly paid-for, and the credit for the sale will go to a worthy sales associate at Robertson, South Coast, or Horatio.  I will never shop at Dallas again, and I recommend no one ever to do so.   By the way, I'm not the only customer who's had this experience with them.  I know of one tpfer who specifically instructed her Dallas sales associate to NOT send her the display pair (she wears a size 35, which is frequently used as the display shoe), but the sales associate sent her the display pair.  This was a strass pair--over $4000!

**I missed out on a lunch with a really good-looking guy while being stuck in this store one summer.  I was supposed to make a quick purchase, then head downtown to meet him, but the service was too slow (I was scheduled to fly home the next day, so I had no other time).  The sales associates were ignoring all but 2 customers and fought with each other in front of me. 

Feel free to comment on your personal lists!  I'd love to read them.

Christian Louboutin Spring 2013 Sale

I was planning on posting a pic of a brand-new pair of Christian Louboutin bleu saphir Lady Highness shoes, but sadly, that didn't work out for me.  I bought them, but had to return them, due to a defect.  I chose not to name the boutique involved cuz they actually had satisfactory customer service...so far.  If it turns out to not be satisfactory, I'll not hold back from typing out their name.

Anyway, until now, I'd held back from buying any new Louboutins for over 6 months.  I had heard the boutiques were having their semi-annual sale, but wasn't been able to take advantage of it on the first day, as I normally do.  I finally got a chance a few days later.  I went in thinking that I'd missed out on anything good, particularly in my size, which is always in the range of 37-38 1/2.

I was wrong.  They had on display a Ron-Ron, in Rose Paris suede, a pinkish color.  I liked it, but didn't love it.  I missed out on the turquoise suede Ron-Ron a couple of seasons back, so I had that hopeless feeling in my stomach again.  So I tried the Rose Paris.  Then I asked my favorite salesgirl if there happened to be any other colors, and she said that there was a "blue" that also went on sale.  I got my hopes up and asked which blue color it was, thinking that it might be turquoise, but she answered, "blue sapphire, like the shoe you returned".  My face lit up.  She said she was told the "blue" suede Ron-Ron was sold out, but she'd look for it anyway and went to the stockroom.  A few minutes later, she emerged holding a box and wearing a big smile.  The box had a sticky on it that read "LAST PAIR".  She happily declared that she did indeed find the "blue sapphire", and it happened to be a 37 1/2, my Ron-Ron size.  Perfect!  And to top it off, this is my first pair of Ron-Rons.  To a longtime CL collector like me, it's sort of shocking that it took me this long to get a pair of Ron-Rons, a classic CL style that's been around several years.  Another milestone checked!

After having lunch with my SA, a delicious crispy kale salad, I went back to the boutique with her to purchase my Ron-Rons.  And the grand total was...$375 plus tax!  Wowee!  I'd never find a gem like this in the department stores.  This is why I'm almost always partial to buying from namesake boutiques.

Like probably most of America, I watched Game 7 of the NBA finals.  Probably almost like most of America, I rooted for the San Antonio Spurs.  I'm a Lakers and a Kobe Bryant fan, so I looked forward to the dethroning of King James, but it didn't happen.  However, I may actually be relieved that the Miami Heat won.  If the Spurs won, that'd give Tim Duncan his 5th NBA championship ring, and he'd be on par with Kobe.  LeBron James has only his 2nd, so he's still nowhere near catching up with Kobe.  And LeBron hasn't 3-peated, either.  Til next season...in basketball...and shoes!

The Chosen Few

So I finally decided to pare down my Christian Louboutin collection to 20 pairs.  It was a much easier decision to make than I thought.  I slowly sold off pair by pair, until I got to 20.  Here are the chosen few, none of which I would sell unless I really will, literally, starve:

In case you want to know the color/material/style names:
back row (left to right): jade watersnake Jenny, nude patent Lady Peep, nude/red patent Very Prive, leopard ponyhair Madame Butterfly pump, and batik python No Prive; 3rd row from front (left to right): black kid Clou Noeud, yellow satin Jolie Noeud, nude patent Bianca, nude satin Youpli, and blue python Lady Claude; 2nd row from front (left to right): purple satin Fiorellino, black/burgundy jazz No Prive, mandarin red suede Lady Gres 160, lavender sequin Poseidon, and black patent Horatio; front fow (left to right): black nappa Madame Butterfly booty, leopard ponyhair Tigresse, gray suede Declic, leopard ponyhair Simple 85mm pumps, and red lizard Simple 100 mm pumps

I think I did a pretty good job keeping the variety of colors and materials I have here.  I have every color in the rainbow represented, plus a few others, too.  I also did a pretty good job of mixing up classics, seasonal, and limited styles...and kept it at a relatively low total.

For a while, I wanted to keep my collection at 21 pairs, but I then decided that lucky #21 will be purchased AFTER I meet my big goal ;)

Bye-bye, Raspberry Babies!

Hi, dear readers. For those of you in the United States, I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I'm staying home, but for those of you going wonderful places, take me with you in spirit. May we return home safely and well-relaxed. I think the farthest I'll physically venture this weekend is Beverly Hills lol

Anyway, the closet cleanout continues. I said good-bye to the beautiful pair pictured on this entry, my framboise suede Christian Louboutin Madame Butterfly booties. To work toward my goal, I have to "Sophie's choice" my shoe collection. So I ended up literally listing all my CL shoes on paper and found that I had 24 pairs left in my collection. Initially, I decided that 20 was the maximum number to have, but I decided to change it to lucky number 21. I highlighted all the ones I HAD to keep and made sure to leave out 3. One of them was the framboise MBBs. I was so excited to get them last year, but in 14 months, I never found the opportunity to wear them outside my house. I thought of getting rid of them sooner, but whenever I took them out of the box, I'd change my mind. No looking back, just rip the band-aid off, DQ, and let them go. The universe must've heard me cuz I got a reasonable offer for them immediately, from a grateful woman in New Jersey. She'd been looking for this pair for a while, and now she's getting them brand-new and below retail. I hope she gets her Cinderella moment in them. They're on their way to her as I type. Sniff-sniff

Oh, well, I still have my bad-a$z black leather MBBs. The great thing about the cleaning of the closet is that whatever is left gets appreciated more. I will NOT fall into old habits and look to add to the collection to replace what I let go, at least not right now. I will NOT fall into old habits...

Lessons Learned in Luxury Purchasing/Sales

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about selling off my rouge garrance Birkin. I'm still on the closet purge, so I had to say good-bye to another beloved item: my aqua Christian Louboutin Poseidons. It was a hard decision to make, but as I got a decent offer for them, I decided to let the aqua ones go. I bought the aqua ones from the West Hollywood boutique, which carried it in that color, gold, and silver. I didn't even know the lavender ones existed until they were posted on tpf, but it was sold at other boutiques, and I couldn't afford to get 2 pairs at the time. Fast-forward a few months, when a dear friend and CL angel told me he found the lavender ones ON SALE! He fronted the money for me and even brought them to me, then they were mine! I hate to admit that I haven't even worn them yet :( .... but I promise to soon! The aqua babies went to a very grateful buyer in New York who swooned over them 2 years ago in the boutiques, but couldn't shell out the retail price for them. She was very grateful to find them again. I hope they find their way to her and she can have her Cinderella moment in them. Here's the one picture I took of me wearing them, on a Mexican cruise captain's dinner in 2010 (Wow! What a difference 2 1/2 years can make--that dress was a size 10--I now wear a size 2).

Anyway, in this closet purge, I learned a few lessons, which I will now share with you. These were some very expensive lessons, and by reading them, maybe I can save someone else from making the same mistakes. However, don't take my words as gospel. Do what's right for you and you alone. Also understand that your experience may be different from mine.

1) I'm not Victoria Beckham/Paris Hilton/Kim Kardashian/etc. I'm a single working girl with a limited wardrobe budget. Every lesson following this one is based on this premise.

2) No one needs designer bags or shoes. You buy them because you want them. You can carry your essentials in a no-name bag from Walmart or wear shoes from American Eagle and still look great.

3) If I buy a bag, I buy it for life. Today, I threw out an old Mossimo T-shirt I bought from Target years ago cuz I found a huge rip in the fabric. Designer handbags are different. It takes an AWFUL lot of wear and tear before throwing out should even be considered. Even if it becomes trashed, do you literally throw out the bag? Probably not. The next step would be to take it to Eddie's (see previous posts on my wonderful experiences with this man!).

3) Considering designer handbags last a lifetime, how many can you actually use in your life? The more you have, the more options you have for different outfits/occasions, but the more you have, the less each one gets used.

4) Brand names count for a lot. Rachel Zoe said that your bags should earn you money. I mostly agree with this statement. If you have extra money and find a bag that you want and know you'll love for a long time, then buy it. I will likely not be able to make money off my next birthday present, but goshdarnit, I will love and use it anyway, so it's worth it to me. However, if you're ever in a predicament like I'm in, you'll realize that certain brands carry more worth than others. I sold my Hermes Birkin bag for 96% of the price I paid for it, despite being used and with a few imperfections. The best offer I got for my Chloe Paddington bag was for 23% of the price I paid.

5) Classic bag brands above all else, classic styles above all else. Even though I sold my Birkin for 96% of the original price, I can't even sell my Hermes Paris-Bombay for 50% of the price I paid. Besides the money factor, classic brands/styles can be worn/used at age 18 or 98 or any age in between.

6) Shoes will not make you money, particularly if they're worn. Christian Louboutins are a very desirable brand, and of all designer shoe brands, they're likely to fetch you the highest price, but it's rare that you'll get the amount you paid back. If they're used, you'll be lucky to get 40% of what you paid. So buy the shoe only if you love it. Sell it if you have to, but be prepared to take a hit.

Bottom line: No more "it" bags, and I think I'm done with new purchases, save for the yearly birthday treat ;)

When all's sold and done, I will proudly post pics of my pared-down collection.

That Time of Year-Christian Louboutin Spring Sale

Oh, boy...there goes the drama about the CL sales on the forum again. I really don't get all the frustration and the "Private-message me if you want the sale list", then saying "We don't post the list cuz we don't want to ruin our relationships with our sales associates". Why go on there to say you have the list, then refuse to give it out? I actually did PM someone, who did not give me the list. What was the point then? You just wanted to show off that you got the list to people you didn't know? It's like watching "The Real Housewives of Orange County" for me. I love hearing the silly little quips, but then someone says something really mean (usually Tamra), and I have to change the channel or turn off the TV. It's just shoes, it's just TV. If you get what you want, great. If not, well, that's life. Move on...

I did end up getting what I wanted this time, and it was unexpected, which made it even sweeter. I promised I'd sit this one out, but I couldn't help myself! I headed out to the Robertson boutique and got the only pair of these that made it to sale, which meant that they totally sold out at full-price. Here are my CL Super Dombasles, this time in taupe suede. I swear this will be my last pair of CL for a looooooong time!

I really should post a CL collection pic. And more modeling shots, too. My new summer goal =)

Drama Queen's Collection of Nudes

Nude what? Paintings? Scupltures? Photos? This is me, so what do you think we're talking about here? Shoes, of course! What kind of shoes? Again, this is me, so we're talking about Christian Louboutins. Nude Christian Louboutins!

Most people don't bat an eye on a shoe collection that is 50% or more black. In these people's minds, black is the most practical color. I, however, think nude is. You can wear a nude shoe with any color clothing, and it doesn't look as harsh with light colored clothing as black does. I don't think anyone does a better nude shoe than Christian Louboutin. Fortunately, for me, the nude patent leather used by CL goes pretty well with my skin color. So why not invest in a nude CL shoe collection, and why not post it here?

First, I'll post solos of my newest addition, the Lady Peep, added today. When it first came out a couple of years ago or so, I passed, thinking it looked too much like the Very Prive, of which I already had a nude pair. Then, several months later, I visited the Robertson boutique and discussed the matter with my fave sales associate. I told her my thoughts on it, and she suggested I try the LP because it had a different look. I put my name down for it, but being that I rarely pay for an item without seeing it first, I likely got bumped down under another customer who requested my size but reserved with a credit card. Fast-forward months after that, and I saw them at the South Coast boutique. I tried them on in my usual CL size, 38, but my heels slipped when I walked in them. I tried them in a 37.5, and voila! They were soooo sexy, and my friend M., who was with me that day, agreed. I nearly plunked down my credit card to buy them, but I just couldn't spend the money at the time. A few days ago, I got notification of new styles from my SA at the Horatio boutique in New York. I replied to her text, asking her to let me know when they received the nude LP in 37.5. She replied that they were in her store, in my size! Aaaahhh! I knew I had to act fast cuz I know this is an in-demand style. After a lot of back-and-forth, they were on their way to me. By the way, I highly recommend that if you're planning on buying a classic CL style, buy it as soon as you can afford to. The prices go up on most styles yearly, usually increasing by about $50. The Lady Peep originally cost $895. I bought it for $945. I bought the Bianca when it was $735, back in 2010. Now it costs $845!

By the way, UPS has a new service called "My UPS". I highly recommend it. I used to dread having stuff shipped by UPS cuz, in the past, they refused to hold packages. Being that I'm rarely at home, I always missed the delivery and had to wait for the package to be delivered to the customer service center so I could pick it up there. One time, about 6 years ago, I waited at the center for 3 hours...on a Friday night! And the UPS employees were so rude. I wanted to leave, but I was waiting for a Hermes bag, so I decided to tough it out. I always thought it was stupid UPS wouldn't hold packages cuz it was actually more convenient for them. Anyway , with "My UPS", you can request the package to be held at the center. If you pay a $5 fee, you can request a different shipping date or address. If you pay a $40 yearly fee, those requests are free. Anyway, the UPS customer service center in my area is 2 miles from my work, so as soon as lunchtime rolled around, I hopped in my car. Totally different experience this time! There was no line, and the guy who helped me was so nice! He read the return label, then said, "Where's this from? Let me see if I can pronounce this right. Christian Louboutin?". He pronounced the name perfectly and smilingly remarked that it was due to his 3 years of high-school French. Then he said, "I've seen that before. What is that? Jewelry? Clothes?". I answered, "Shoes", then he said, "Oh", and smiled.

I read the reviews on saks.com, and most of the posters recommended buying the shoe in a bigger size, but I'm wondering if they mean buying the shoe in a size bigger than your normal US size. Like most women, my US size is smaller than my CL size (7.5 vs. 8 in CL, or European 38). However, like I wrote above, the 37.5 was the perfect size for me in this style (my feet are sort of on the narrow side). Keep in mind that patent stretches a little, so it's good to buy patent shoes in the tightest size you can bear. And with the 150mm (almost 6") heel, you don't want any heel slippage!

Also included, of course, are the other 3 members of the nudes collection: satin Youpli, Bianca, Very Prive with red tip. I also included a comparison toe pic of the VP with the LP, just to show you the difference: the LP has a little more lift with the higher platform and extra half-platform.

Hello to my newest follower, Girlie Shoppe!

Cheap Clothes, Expensive Shoes...Who Cares?! (part 2, Fashion Star)

I'm continuing my post from Friday. For people who aren't familiar with "Fashion Star", this is a reality show that features designers who make one special piece of clothing or accessory each week. They're mentored by 3 people who are current successful designers: Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, and John Varvatos. Each week, their items get showcased on a runway in front of 3 buyers: one from H&M, one from Saks Fifth Avenue, and one from Macy's. If any of the buyers likes the item, a bid is placed. The item can be sold in only 1 store, so if more than 1 buyer likes it, a bidding war takes place, and that's where it gets exciting. If a designer doesn't get any bids, (s)he gets put at risk for elimination from the show. The winning items are sold in stores the next day and online right after the end of the show.

This dress is one of the latest winning items from the most recent episode, which I bought from H&M. I learned my lesson after about 5 episodes. The items go on sale online right after the show ends on the East Coast, which was why I missed out on buying them from the online H&M store. Now I know to log on to H&M right after 8 pm PST. Now I can get the same advantage as East Coast fashionistas and watch other shows at 10 pm. However, I'm one of those people who hates returning, so it's pretty rare that I buy any clothes online. So it suits me to go in store to buy them. But feel free to use this piece of advice, West Coasters/Midwesterners/Mountain Regioners! Honestly, I don't feel any item from the show is worth more than $50, so I don't think I'll be buying them from either Saks or Macy's. At Saks, the items sell for around $300 each, and at Macy's just over $100.

The H&M items from this show sell have been selling like hotcakes, so I was surprised to see it in the store at Century City mall on Thursday. I'm now wearing a size 2 in most brands, so when I saw the smallest size was a 6, I thought I'd be swimming in it. I took the size 8 in, too, just in case. My first thoughts were totally wrong. Boy this dress runs small! I was able to zip myself into the 6, but barely. The size 8 went on perfectly, but on a petite woman like me (5'3"-5'4"), the top part was a little long and bunches out. The dress was only $39.95, so the retail price may end up costing as much as the alterations to fix it, but I love this dress, so it may be worth it.

Following the theme of the title of this post and making good on my promise to post a pic, here is the "Fashion Star" dress designed by Luciana with my Christian Louboutin nude Bianca pumps:

Hello to my newest followers: Ms. Shena and nikkiwix!

Cheap Clothes, Expensive Shoes...Who Cares?!

I'm so tired on most Friday nights. I don't hit the bars to relieve my stress. The last thing I want to do on a Friday night is deal with crowds. I usually go home, kick back, and watch TV. Nothing I wanted to watch was on TV tonight, so I decided to log onto tpf after a long absence. Then I was reminded of the reason why I took my absence from tpf.

I clicked on an interesting thread that addressed judgements people make on wearers of Christian Louboutin shoes. It started off well. Many people posted that they usually deem the wearers to be sexy or fashionable. Then someone posted "why would you spend that much on shoes and then have really cheap clothes".... People are entitled to their opinions. I get that, but since this is my blog, I'm going to give mine.

Why does it matter to one person how much a complete stranger spends on her/his clothes, shoes, or accessories? I don't care if the girl who passes me at the mall walks into Steve Madden and buys the shoe that looks like my Very Prive. Why should I? I have more important things to think about. Do I think that, as a Birkin owner, I'm better than the woman who buys her purses from Wal-Mart? No, because I know that a person is much more than the things she owns. And if the woman who bought her purse from Wal-Mart decides to splurge on a pair of Louboutins one day and to continue buying her purses and all her clothes from Wal-Mart, should I care? Hell no! That woman is entitled to spend her money how she wants.

The tpfer's statement really got to me cuz it made me think of my dear friend J. J, if you can recall from my earlier post on my trip to New York last summer, is the friend in the photo with me in front of the Christian Louboutin Horatio boutique: http://thedramaqueenssocalledlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/drama-queen-travels-to-east-coast.html J had been planning, for months, to buy her CLs. She'd been admiring mine for a long time, but due to all her financial commitments and overwhelming generosity toward others, couldn't afford a pair of her own. When we decided to go to NY together, she was determined to get a pair for herself. She knew it'd be a one-time deal cuz those commitments weren't going away. She's also tiny, so it works out for her body and her budget to shop at Forever 21 and H&M. Since she went through with the splurge, she's been rocking her CLs almost everywhere. We both recently took our CLs to my favorite cobbler, Eddie (http://thedramaqueenssocalledlife.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-preserve-your-christian.html). He joked that he could tell she'd been partying cuz hers were so much more worn out than mine (he did a great job restoring them, though). I need to take a page from J's book. Talk about enjoyment from your things! And yes, she wears them with her F21 and H&M dresses...and she looks hot! Should she have kept the CLs in her closet until she was willing and able to buy a Dior dress?! I don't think so!

Speaking of mixing inexpensive clothes with expensive shoes, I went to H&M last night. I was lucky enough to find the Fashion Star floral dress designed by Luciana. I put it on in the fitting room, thinking how perfect it'd look with my nude Biancas. So I took it home. Pic to follow. And since it's a Fashion Star dress, it'll be easily recognized as a cheap dress, but IDGARA!

Where Have I Been?

So my last entry was on 3/2. Where have I been since that day? Well, the week after that, I was in the Big Apple...again. Second time in a year. I'm on a roll!

I was there for business and pleasure. I went to a very informative work-related seminar, then I just spent the rest of the week relaxing. I know people don't generally think of New York City as a place to relax, but for me, it is. Work has been so stressful that I wanted to take a week to do something that's different from my daily grind. Every time I visit NYC, I feel more and more like I belong there. It must've shown in my face cuz 3 people asked me for directions! Last time, just one did (and I gave them to her in Spanish). I also learned to take the subway-I couldn't believe how easy it was!

One way in which I was taken out of my daily grind is the volume of food I ate. I'm normally a light eater, but with almost every meal in NYC, I was able to scarf down an entree, appetizer, dessert, and wine. The best part? I didn't gain any weight! It must've been all that walking. Speaking of food, I couldn't leave NYC without checking out the first American outpost of Laduree, the infamous macaron bakery from Paris. It may be a very long time before I get to see the original one in Paris, so I figured I should pay a visit to the NYC one. I got there at about 4:30 pm on a weekday, and there were about 20 people in line ahead of me. It took more than a half hour for me to get in and out of there. In the end, it was worth it. The treats were scrumptious! I've cut out a lot of dessert from my diet lately, so it shocked me that such a little piece of food can cost $2.70. If you're like me and like to save a little here and there, don't get the gift boxes. They're in all the displays, so it may look like you have to buy them, but you don't. Besides, the regular boxes are not-too-shabby-looking (as you'll be able to see in the pic on the left). Of course, I had to do the New Yorker thing and eat hot dogs and pretzels from the street and pizza. Yum...but I was sure to balance them with salads and fish, too ;)

Having a mostly open agenda, I was free to move about the city as I wanted. I spent hours in neighborhoods I had never visited previously, such as the Flatiron District and Little Italy. I also spent quite a few hours in the Financial District, home of the newly-built 9/11 memorial. It was pretty crowded there, so I can see why appointments have to be made. I felt a little humbled, just taking in the sights around the memorial. To think of people who give their lives and have to leave their loved ones, all in the name of service, it makes me think how lucky I should feel to be alive and how grateful I should be to people who sacrifice their lives so people like me can go on.

So my agenda was mostly open, but what was sure to be included was...can you guess? Shopping, of course! Did I get anything special? Yes, I did!

Introducing...my Christian Louboutin Lady Gres 160 pumps, in mandarin red suede! This is a style exclusive to the CL 20th anniversary capsule collection. Even more exclusive to the style is the color, which was sold in very few stores around the world. I lucked out big time that the Horatio boutique had my size! Each pair from this collection comes with a special box, cloth bag, and even special tissue paper!

Hello, 2012!

Finally...I'm back! For the last month, I've been trying to post several times, only to find that my entries never went through. I'd have these posts all written out, then when I'd hit "Publish Post", nothing would happen. Oh, well, no use dwelling on that now.

Anyway, Happy 2012, everybody! I have good feelings about leap years. 2008 was a pretty good year for me, and I believe that 2012 will be even better.

I meant to do this on 1/1, but couldn't (read the first paragraph for the explanation), so I'm doing it now. Here are 3 lists that reflect what happened to me in 2011 and what I anticipate will happen in 2012. In honor of the "11" number and the fact that there are "3" lists and that I turned "33" in 2011, each of the lists has 11 items (I can't help it--I'm a numbers junkie!).

Things I (Hope to Have) Left Behind in 2011:

1) worrying about work-related matters outside work hours

2) being overweight

3) worrying about finding Mr. Right

4) willing people to be different than they really are

5) taking rude people's rude comments too personally

6) foolish spending on clothes/shoes/accessories I don't wear/use

7) not getting enough sleep

8) feeling "old" about being in my 30s

9) not exercising enough

10) unnecessary drama

11) focusing on what's wrong in my life

Things I Take From 2011 into 2012:

1) being in good shape

2) wearing all the fabulous shoes and dresses I bought in 2011

3) the thrill of traveling

4) my end-of-year bonus!

5) my renewed zest for dance classes

6) my renewed sense of domesticity

7) taking pride in my job, but realizing that a balance is important

8) memories of the time I spent with my family and friends

9) pride in tackling a huge portion of my student loan debt

10) realizing the importance of staying in touch with old friends

11) a newfound appreciation of champagne

Things I Look Forward to in 2012:

1) drinking more champagne!

2) joining Facebook to stay in touch with friends? (yeah, right...but I will stay in touch)

3) losing a few more pounds

4) a trip to NYC

5) a trip to the Middle East

6) saving more money for future dreams

7) a higher sense of self-esteem

8) more home-cooked meals

9) more time with family

10) becoming a better professional

11) trying a new hairstyle

Remember that entry from November when I was on a search for the perfect party dress from Rebecca Taylor? I found it a couple of weeks later! I leave you all with this photo of me in the dress, which I picked up on sale through the Saks e-commerce site. I'd been searching for it forever and nearly shelled out $400+ for it at full price, but couldn't even do that cuz I couldn't find it in my size. And that's because, after all my efforts and sacrifices, I can finally wear a size 2 again! Here's the dress, paired with a purchase from my East Coast adventure, my Christian Louboutin batik python No Prives:

Also, I wish to welcome my 4 new followers. I'd name you each individually, but for some reason, I can't see your names when I click on my followers page. Anyway, you know who you are, and I say hi to you and "Happy 2012" to all my readers!

Side-By-Side Comparison

In my last post, I reflected on the changes that have happened to me. One of them was me being in better shape. I thought of this as I got dressed this morning. I had the day off today, so instead of wearing scrubs, I got to wear "normal" clothes. It was supposed to be a cold-ish day, so I decided on a sweater and jeans. The sweater I chose was purchased in August 2009 from the original H&M store in Stockholm, Sweden. I wore it a couple of months later when I traveled to Washington, DC and attended a meet-and-greet with Christian Louboutin. The lovely MichelleD from tpf took my picture while I sat across the table from the dream shoe designer, gushing to him. When I first saw the picture, I couldn't believe how I looked. I looked heavier than I thought I did. I've long since deleted the image from my digital camera, so I had to take a picture of the picture (near right).

Well, fast-forward 2 years, and here I am wearing the sweater again, but today, the sweater fits more loosely than it did in 2009. I took a picture of me from the back so I could see the difference (far right):

Here's another pic, of the complete outfit (left). I rarely post outfit pics, simply because I'm usually busy just trying to run out the door. I actually had the time today, so here it is. With the sweater, I'm wearing my Paper Denim & Cloth Ripper jeans and framboise patent Christian Louboutin Super Dombasle wedge sandals. Even though my 2 pairs of PDC jeans are the same color and style, they look very different because each pair is unique. They're my favorite jeans. I'm glad I got 2 pairs because they've been discontinued for years now. When I was heavier, I was devastated that I couldn't wear them. So when I started losing weight, the first thing I put on was them.

And the bag needs no introduction, right? ;)

I'm going to end this post with a message of thanks to our nation's veterans. These brave men and women deserve to be recognized for their bravery and service. I live in a free country because of what you've done or are doing right now. Freedom isn't free, people, so don't take it for granted. Thank you x10000000!!!!

My 33rd Birthday

Yes, I'm admitting it. I knew it was coming, but I full-on admitted it to myself this morning. But you know what? I don't care. Age really is a number. 33 is still young, and like I told my 27-year-old coworker last week, I feel as if I'm hotter now than I was in my 20s! I feel sorry for any 20-something dreading the big 3-0. Life is soooooooo good right now!

I think now's a good time to reflect on this past year, and I realize I haven't done any lists on my blog yet. So what I'll do next is combine these 2 by making a list that incorporates changes in me and in my life from this past year. In honor of the big 3-3, I'm doing 3 lists, with 11 items each. These are in no particular order. It's just really hard to pick faves.

11 of the Most Special Memories From When I Was 32:
-Portugal/Spain/France
-Hawaii
-East Coast Adventure
-my sister's wedding
-Christmas with my family
-Vegas getaway
-stepping on the scale and seeing the needle drop at various times throughout the year
-my parents' anniversary celebration, watching them dance in front of our family and friends
-meeting Brad Goreski with my pals G and J
-hanging with my pals at Happy Hour at various times throughout the year
-putting on clothes that haven't fit in years

11 Lessons I've Learned Along the Way (Most of These Inspired By People I Love):
-Life is time. Waste as little of it as you can.
-If you concentrate on the good stuff, the bad stuff goes away.
-Worrying about something doesn't change it.
-Despite knowing #3, I will worry anyway.
-Miserable people want nothing more than converts to their ways. Don't become one.
-Maturity doesn't always come with age.
-It's OK to like being alone.
-You'll never be able to figure out why anyone else does what they do. Don't bother trying.
-Where you went to school, the subject of your degree, and how much experience you have count for very little. If you can play the politics game well, you'll get far.
-It's OK to be "superficial" and care about the unimportant things, like what shade of lipstick you wear, occasionally.
-Being in shape is a great thing! The sooner, the better.

11 Things I Look Forward to as a 33-Year-Old:
-getting into better shape, now knowing what activities excite me and realizing the importance of being in shape
-paying down more of my student loan debt
-silently telling myself I'm hot more often
-finding Mr. Right, if it's the time and being OK if it isn't
-more precious time with my family and friends
-being less self-conscious
-making new friends
-fun trips
-getting closer to fulfilling my dreams
-wearing my sexy dresses and shoes more often
-cooking more often

Of course, I'm not going to leave you readers hanging. Here are my 3 birthday presents, revealed! These gifts are definitely a scaleback from past years. I really could use a new wallet and a small bag to take to dinner or a party. And the book...well, I just wanted it. They are, from left to right:
Christian Louboutin Suola wallet, small Gucci canvas pochette, Christian Louboutin 20th anniversary retrospective book.

Hello to my newest follower, judyspink!

What a Great Pre-Birthday Week!

I don't dread birthdays. In fact, I love them. I don't get why people dread them. I mean, they come whether you want them to or not, so why not make the best of it?

On Wednesday night, I got together with some friends for a co-celebration of my birthday and the birthday of another friend. It was about 15 people who spent Happy Hour at Smith House, a bar in Century City. Free valet parking, tasty buffalo wings, discounted drinks, and a churro-type dessert for birthdays...what better place?! More than the great place, I was just thrilled that someone actually remembered and planned something for me.



Today, I picked up birthday present #3! Honestly, I intended to buy just 1, but the other 2 just kinda happened. Despite the fact that there's 3 of them, this really is a scale-down from years past. Don't worry, readers, it's only 2 days until the reveal!

I had a great dinner. It began with a glass of champagne with a few friends, then I headed to The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Beverly Hills to meet up with my sisters and their men for another birthday celebration. This restaurant has been named the best in LA, and if you're lucky enough to go, you'll see why. It's frequented by celebrities, such as the Kardashians. The decor is interesting, and the food is yummy! The dishes are the creations of Jose Andres, world-famous chef known for avant-garde dishes that are the product of molecular gastronomy. It's on the pricey side, though, so unless you're a Kardashian yourself, it's likely a place to dine on special occasions only. It's a Spanish-style restaurant, so the plates are tiny, but the prices are the same as full entrees in other restaurants. All of my food pics came out blurry, but when my sister sends me hers, I'll be sure to add them. However, I did get a somewhat clear pic of one of the display cases, sponsored by Kiki de Montparnasse, the risque lingerie line (when I reach my goal and have more money, I'm buying all my lingerie there!).

I have 5 new followers! Hello, Sunshine, zippity, Katherine, Petra, and Yami!

Vegas, Baby!

One of the many great things about living in LA is the close proximity to Las Vegas. I know you've all heard this before, but I have to say that Vegas is the ultimate adult playground. Sometimes I take it for granted because it's so close, but let's just say that I make sure to pump some dollars into their local economy every time I'm there =)

Angelenos can get to Las Vegas via a 5-6 hour drive or a 1-hour flight. I choose to fly because the idea of sitting in a car for 5-6 hours and using up all that gas sounds like a bad idea to me, plus Southwest frequently sells LAX to LAS flights for $29, so I took advantage of this special. WTH not? I usually make it a point to visit Vegas at least once a year, in the summer. Summer passed, and I hadn't visited. It was time, plus it's not a bad way to spend my birthday =)

I spent just a couple of days there, enough to have a little fun and recharge my batteries. Like I do during every visit, I ate at the buffet at Bellagio Hotel. I've eaten at all the major restaurants there, and this one is still my fave. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I didn't take full advantage of it this time. I've shed about 20 pounds this last year, and I'm trying really hard to keep it off, so I had to resist.

I saw Jersey Boys, a musical/dance show that tells the backstory of famed oldies group Frankie Valli & the 4 Seasons. They had many hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry". I highly recommend it, unless you don't like music, since this show is full of it. Most of the people in the audience were middle-aged or older, so they rocked out to the songs, many of them remarking how much the show brought them back to their childhood and teen years.

I guess I don't feel comfortable with the idea of throwing hard-earned money away (I'd rather spend it on something I need or want-like shoes!), so I didn't do much gambling. I did, however, briefly hit the slot machines...and won a whopping $3!

This being me, you're probably wondering if I did some shopping. Why yes, I did. I stopped by both Christian Louboutin boutiques, including the new one at Caesar's Palace Hotel. I was hoping to see some python, and they did not disappoint. They had the black crystal python Madame Butterfly pumps and the purple python lucido Hyper Prive pumps, and they had my size in both! I gasped when I tried them on, but I had to resist and pass. Both pairs cost over $1K, and I just can't spend that much on a pair of shoes right now. Due to my desire to meet a major goal that I hope to accomplish within the next 3 years, I have to sacrifice a little...so unfortunately, it could be a while before I buy a really fab pair of Christian Louboutin shoes.

So did I walk away with nothing? No, of course not. I got a 2nd birthday present! It's scaled down, compared to previous years, but it's something I'm excited about nonetheless. Since my birthday's not until the 31st (yes, Halloween!), I have to keep it under wraps until then. Here's a sneak peek, though...Yeah, I know it's wrapped in Christmas paper (lol)!

I just noticed that I have a new follower: Hi, carlinha!

A Sneak Peak at My Birthday Present

Last weekend, I made a purchase: my next birthday present. I asked them to wrap it up because I don't plan to open it until my actual birthday. I promise to not delay, like what I did on my 30th =) Here's a sneak peek:

Fashion's Night Out LA-9/8/11

Going into the East Coast trip, I knew that I had to make a choice: 1) Spend minimally, then spend as I normally would upon returning home (moderately, with the occasional splurge) or 2) Splurge, then spend minimally for the next couple of months after returning home. I chose #2. And being that I was in New York for a few days longer than planned, all the more I need to really stick it out. So far, I've been good. Other than the once-daily lunchtime meal (yes, I can cook, but I really need my time away from the office) that's always under $10, all I'd spent was $18.99, on a car wash.

I nearly stayed home during FNO, but the invitation sent to me by Christian Louboutin was too convincing. So on Thursday night, I stepped out in my brand-new batik python No Prives and headed to West Hollywood. I arrived a little early, so on my way, I stopped into Maxfield. Maxfield is a very Gothic-looking boutique. With as many mentions as they get in the major fashion rags, you'd think they'd be much bigger than they are, but the boutique is actually quite small. No matter, though. They carry the most cutting-edge labels, like Givenchy and Stella McCartney. Their clientele is major. The sales associate with whom I spoke told me many of the store's clients were in New York for the "real" FNO. We had a chuckle about that, agreeing that there are just some things that NY has on LA, and fashion is one of them. Let's not start another argument here. I still think LA is a great city and is better than NY in some ways. For example, the weather and entertainment is unbeatable in LA. Anyway, temptation struck, in the form of a dress by Dries van Noten (image is from nymag.com). I've seen his dresses before, in Barneys, but I never tried them, thinking they were too funky for my taste. I almost wish I didn't put this one on...because now I want it! There are so many occasions for which this dress could be worn, and it fit me perfectly! I had to pass...just had to. Luckily, by the time I took the dress off, it was time to head to CL, which was a 5-minute walk away (but on this night, it took me 10 minutes, with the shoes LOL).

The party at CL was awesome! They served Grey Goose cocktails and delicious snacks, including grilled cheese! They do love their customers, and we all got cool gifts from Frederic Fekkai and Make Up For Ever. After spending some time in CL, I headed to Chanel on Robertson, where they served champagne. I made a beeline straight for the nail polish counter, where I picked up the 3 colors of the Les Jeans collection. While I was examining the colors, I look to my left to see their nail polish model: a tall dark-haired young lady, who was none other than Kendall Jenner! After I got my polish, packed up in my first-ever Chanel shopping bag with white camellia ornament, I wandered around the store. It's a beautiful boutique, with an outdoor sitting area, so very LA.

OK, so I splurged just a little. At least I contributed to the cause of FNO, which was to revitalize the economy by having fun with fashion ;)

The Drama Queen Travels to the East Coast-an Adventure (Part 2)

As promised, I will finish writing about my East Coast adventure.

Thursday, 8/25: I left Washington, DC for New York City via Amtrak train. I highly recommend. I got a 10% discount on train fare for being a AAA member (I highly recommend that, too, for discounts on train fare and hotel stays, which I got to use quite a few times during this East Coast adventure). Even though I bought coach fare, the seating was sooooo comfortable and the ride was smooth. I looked out the window and watched as the train rolled through Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and finally, Penn Station. It was raining lightly as I finally breathed in the air of New York City. It had been 4 years, but I returned, just as I promised. I took a cab to midtown East, to meet up with my cousins for dinner. The view was breathtaking.

Friday, 8/26: The weather was sunny and warm, perfect for walking around the city. I started my day on the Upper East Side and stopped for lunch at Serafina Fabulous Grill. The service was slightly less than sufficient. They ignored me most of the time, and I had to be aggressive the two times I needed attention (to ask for bread and the check). However, I've had worse restaurant service, and the most important thing to consider when reviewing a restaurant experience is the food, and it was pretty good. I ordered the rigatoni alla bolognese.

After lunch, I walked eastward, determined to check out the Christian Louboutin Madison boutique. I was so excited, and then I was disappointed. There were 2 sales associates working, and they ignored everyone except the 2 customers they were with. There was a cashier, who "helped" me. I use the term loosely because she acted as if me being there was ruining her day. I tried to make friendly conversation, and she would interrupt me. She didn't smile even once and got into an argument with the manager in front of me. Not only was the service awful, but the selection was scant. The only shoe there that even caught my eye (and in which my size was available) was the indigo watersnake Bambou (a thick-heeled peep-toe platform). I was disappointed, but determined to walk away with a pair of CLs.

J and I checked into our hotel in Chelsea and hotfooted it to the Meatpacking District. She was eager to buy her first pair of CLs, and I was excited for her. Also, I brought along my Bambous, hoping to exchange them for something at the Horatio boutique that would make my heart sing. The experience at Horatio was so different from the Madison one. J and I were warmly greeted by the manager, who recognized me from events at the Robertson boutique, where I am a frequent visitor. He was so attentive and when I told him I was looking for python (which isn't sold in California), he showed me several pairs. If that wasn't enough, he produced from the back a dream pair for both me and J: for her, the No Prive in bronze python. For me, the No Prive in batik python! I thought I missed out on this shoe forever, especially when it went on sale and a bunch of girls on the Purse Forum snatched them. And there they were, in my size! We took a photo in front of the store, with our bags.

Our dinner wasn't to start for another couple hours, and we were starving. We saw a classic-looking British delivery cab sitting in front of Tea & Sympathy. As I'd heard of this place before, I was curious to see the inside, and we were hungry, anyway. It's a cramped little place, but with excellent service from women with adorable British accents. I ordered the Welsh rarebit, and J ordered a mushroom sandwich meal:

After Tea & Sympathy, we headed back to our hotel room to deal with the issues brought upon by Hurricane Irence: rescheduling canceled flights, calling our work supervisor, calling family, and figuring out where we would stay for the next few days (we were originally scheduled to fly out the next day). After dealing with most of it, we decided to take a deep breath and get ready for a dinner out at a hip NYC restaurant. After some confusion with our cab driver, who drove us in the completely opposite direction of where we needed to go, we made it to Buddakan. The food wasn't any better than Asian cuisine I've eaten in LA, but the "crying chocolate" dessert (white chocolate ganache with jasmine tea ice cream) was picture-worthy, so of course, we took a picture of it. Does this restaurant look familiar? If you've seen the Sex and the City movie, it should. It's where Carrie and Big had their rehearsal dinner.

Saturday, 8/27: Instead of flying home, J and I wandered around midtown Manhattan. We couldn't believe how empty the streets looked. The rain fell pretty hard, but we didn't let that stop us.

We continued on, checking out the tourist areas: Rockefeller Center, Times Square, etc. Who did we see in Times Square, besides all the tourists, determined to not allow the rain stop their vacations? The Naked Cowboy! He's one brave fella!

Sunday, 8/28: Not much happened this day. I woke up late and had a nice quiet day in Connecticut with my cousin. There were a lot of fallen trees and messy debris in the neighborhood, and lots of people were without power. However, at least where we were, there wasn't a lot to complain about.

Monday, 8/29: My last full day on the trip. In the evening, we drove into the city, and I had one last dinner in Manhattan with J. We ate at Osteria Serafina, which had good service and food. On our way to Serendipity 3 for dessert, we spot a little boutique called Dejavu. They have unusual hours, from 1 to 11 pm, versus the standard Manhattan boutique hours of 10 am to 6 pm. This worked out well for us, as we didn't end up finishing dinner until 9:30 pm. The friendly Dejavu sales associate told us that the hours were set up so that people like me and J would be accommodated. I really did need new dresses, since I'd lost so much weight this last year, and after I tried this one on, I knew it had to be mine. Here I am wearing it with my nude CL Very Prives. Excuse the bruises on my knee. That's what happens when you have to move yourself and your luggage from plane to train to taxi to 4 hotels within one week.

Tuesday, 8/30: I flew home today, a little sadly. I really do love New York. I hope it won't be another 4 years before I return.

Never Say Never

I gave up on this pair. I wanted them at full retail price, but I just didn't feel it was right for me to pay that price for them. So I figured I'd have to do without. Then I got a tip that they were going on sale. I decided to chance it by calling up a SA at an out-of-state store who helped me before...3 years ago. A lovely woman answered the phone, and when I asked for the SA who helped me way back when, she told me that she was long gone. Then I asked if she could help me, and she said yes. I asked if she was able to find me this shoe in a 37.5. She said she'd look for it and call me back. I was at work when she left a message, but when I got the chance to listen to it, I yelped for joy! She found them...and 11 (long!) days later, they arrived! Here they are: the Christian Louboutin suede framboise Madame Butterfly bootie!

On the Prowl for More Christian Louboutin

What's with the corny title? "On the prowl"? What animal would you think of? How about a leopard? I was on the prowl for a while, but gave up. I was lurking on tpf one day, then I happened to come across some info: the leopard Madame Butterfly pump was being reissued! I jumped on it immediately, even prepaying for them, which I never do...but this is an exception. The reissued version is darker than the original, as you may be able to see from the photo on the right, which is of actress Jamie Chung sporting them (photo came from http://celebrityfasion.onsugar.com/).

Also, notice anything else from my modeling pics? OK, I'll tell you. My legs and feet are slightly darker than before (check out the side-by-side comparison with the photo of me in my Chloe sandals, which I bought back in Feb.). That's courtesy of Jergens Natural Glow. I'd seen the ads for them and decided to finally pick it up after seeing tubes of them on a display shelf at Wal-Mart last night. I'm gearing up for summer--I'm determined to wear skirts and dresses this year!