Check it out!

The September issue of Vogue has a great article, "Go East," that totally captures the spirit of China (especially the fashion side of it) much like my recent post "Nailed it!". It's a definite suggested piece. Plus every girl needs the biggest issue of the year.

http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/813115

And if you can't get out and by the colossal issue, here's a glimpse of just the fashion spread with sure-to-awe-ya pieces by Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga and more.

never too much <3,
Aubrey

Metal Monday

Even though my job does not guarantee a set schedule with a free weekend like any 9-5 job (plus my job is awesome), just hearing the word 'Monday' gets me all down. My boyfriend and I have now deemed the unappealing frontrunner of the week 'Metal Monday.' And what's more metal than Brody Dalle and Josh Homme at a shooting range?

Despite the fact that it's technically punk rock, here's some Distiller's while I'm at it. Brody Dalle, a strong front woman, will always be in style.

With never too much love (even on a Monday),
Aubrey

Nailed it!

Milan, Paris, New York, Hong Kong--these are all of the places that we look toward for fashion forward inspiration. I am adding mainland China to the list after my recent stay there. Of course one expects huge cites - and I mean huge- like Shanghai (pop. of 23mil.) and Beijing (19 mil.) to offer brand names like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc etc etc, and they do just that. However, the easy access to cutting edge fashion in popular cities is not what impressed me. Instead, I was blown away with fashion and luxury culture in even the smallest of towns.

Lines outside of stores like Chanel and Hermes in Hong Kong.

My boyfriend and I took an hour trip outside of Shanghai to Suzhou which is known for its imperial gardens and beautiful women. What I was not expecting to see was  luxury storefronts amidst such a rural background of jade gardens and tea houses.  It is like you can not escape the shopping culture in China. And what's crazy is that if it's there, that means that people are buying it!

The fashion focus in China goes literally from head to toe. While Sally Hanson has made beautiful manicured nails more easily attainable and affordable with products like Salon Effects Polish Strips, China takes the manicure to an entirely different level. Think Tokyo Nail Expo!

Tokyo Nail Expo. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110130x1.html

In Guangzhou, where I spent most of my time during the trip, I too indulged in a luxury manicure and pedicure once or twice. I spent half the price and got twice the result!

My manicure in Guangzhou. (Excuse the swollen airplane hands.)

My thoughts on fashion in China: Nailed it!!

With never too much love,
Aubrey

Falling into it.

Hello all! I know it's been long due to my epic fail at keeping in touch while in China. I had a little too much fun, but still it was not enough. Keeping up with my blog was not the only thing I've been neglecting either. While trying to catch up on reading the blogs I follow, I came across this Mulberry Fall 2011 fashion film (at galadarling).

This yummy video along with unpacking new shipments at my new job (Wish NOLA) has me revved up for cooler weather. The fall line has everything I am excited about.
- rich and poppy colors paired with basic neutrals
- beautiful kelly green
- knee highs
- stained lips
- and animal inspiration!

Have fun!

With never too much love,

Aubrey

Lip Service

I am not one to carry much in my purse. You can usually find books, pencils, and a water bottle. Whether it is the purse I am carrying or one of the many setting in the top of my closet,  there is one thing you can be certain to find: oodles of lip products. Lip gloss, lipstick, chapstick! I am so hopelessly addicted to my chapstick that I even bring it to the gym. Obviously, my lips are spoiled with attention, and there can never be too much attention. 

            With spring in the air, it’s time to treat your lips with that eye-catching orange shade seen everywhere in SS11 shows, including some of favorites, Marni and Marc Jacobs (more of a red-orange, but still!). Upon jumping on the orange bandwagon myself, I noticed that I have not spoiled my lips enough! In order to make these shades work and last on your lips, you need the perfect canvas. Like your body, hands, and face, lips need to be exfoliated ,also. Because I am too impatient to make the trek to Sephora, I’ll manage with what I have at home. Here are some quick fixes for more beautiful and smooth lips so they too can be trend worthy!

-         A simple, soft scrub with a toothbrush over slightly wet lips can do just the trick.

-          Because it’s near your mouth, why not treat yourself to something sweet?

Just add a teeny tiny bit of olive oil, a spoon of honey, half of spoon of sugar, and mix together. Lightly scrub onto lips, rinse, and viola! 

Now the only thing left to do is choose your weapon. You can never go wrong with Mac lipstick (Loudmouth Orange, $14.50)  

Or if you a want to inch your way into this “look-at-me” trend, try a lipgloss. Covergirl’s Fruit Spritzer in tangerine is simple enough for me to wear to class but still gives my lips a subtle orange glow.

I’ll be wearing my orange lipstick atop smooth lips this Friday for my sister’s birthday!

With never too much love,

Aubrey

C'est maintenant ou jamais!

I am a firm believer in having dessert everyday. Let's face it, my sweet tooth exceeds that of most people's. Only once in my life have I been given a dessert that was too rich and chocolatey, and Anthony Bourdain's restaurant Les Halles was the culprit (but that's beside the point!). Why not have your sweets before dinner? Why not wear that sequin beret? My response to that is that there is never too much, jamais trop.

Because there can never be too much, my blog will cover everything from beauty to travel to random affinities.
Here are a few examples of the eclectic topics I am working on now:
- Exfoliates you can make at home for your lips and face!
- Ms. Tea- How drinking tea has affected my body and mind (and even got me in the kitchen more!)
- A myriad of postings from my travels in China over the summer where I will go to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xian, Beijing, Shanghai, and more!


Stay tuned, and remember jamais trop!

Aubrey