i still love you

I left without so much as a note to say I'd be gone.
I apologize.

I'm on holiday (do people still say that??) back home in Nigeria, the internet connection is *insert expletive here.* However, I'm having a good ol' lazy time :). It's still in the (early) delightful stage, really. I'll get tired by next weekend, I'm guessing. I'm reading my suitcase full—yes I said a suitcase—of books and magazines, including my fave Vogue versions - UK/Intl, U. S and French (I prob know all of two words in French, but I certainly feel tres cultured. That, and listening to the melange of accents on 'DSTV' makes me feel more worldly.) And I've gotten round to Colures finally!! I do have tons to write about and I should, but did I mention I'm almost comatose with laziness!! It's bliss!!

And I love watching Fashion TV!! Catwalks all evening!! (Look it up.)



Big lip-smacking kisses.

engaging thoughts

As thick blankets of snow covered the ground Thursday afternoon, I sat on my couch in my usual easy lotus position and took up finishing a book I'd been reading. I went from an enthusiastic high to hopeless depression in three minutes flat!! It was quite alarming and I couldn't understand it. (Still can't.)

Out of habit—but, not expecting much reprieve—I sought out a few of my best shopping webbies. It may have taken about an hour; but, after a labyrinth of numerous shopping windows, I ended up on Tiffany's website. I'm not certain how I feel about this ritzy jewelry conglomerate. I mean, agreed, they have pretty baubles; but... And I do love the patented Tiffany blue color. I was pleasantly surprised with the newly designed webbie—I hadn't visited the site in months. And, while I wasn't really looking to buy anything at all, I did add some gorg pieces to my shopping bag; and then muse, in a pleasurably nonchalant manner, at the increase in 'total' price with each added piece. True to the effectiveness of retail therapy (in my case, faux retail therapy) my spirits began to lift and I remained mostly euphoric the rest of the evening. I'll ignore the fact that my down-in-dumps feeling returned the next morning: Sheesh!! But, seriously, I don't need to stress the intoxicating bliss—if only for a few hours—of filling one's hollowness with purchasable superficial trifles, or the possibilities thereof?? I mean is the Pope catholic??!!

Amidst my musings—and an IM conversation with a friend—I did a quick search for a Tiffany engagement ring with which I'd previously fallen in love. And though I struggle with the concept of conflict diamonds, the Jean Schlumberger Two bees ring with Emerald center diamond brought a quick smile to lips, I remember. Diamonds are a gyrl's best friend... but, I think I'd love elaborately inlaid less controversial pearls.
Perhaps??


The intimated brilliance from the Schlumberger ring triggered memories of other pretty baubles, natch. I recalled fondly, my fave—and, quietly anticipated, LOL—engagement rings¹ from the revered Houses of Leviev and Graff. Together, both houses produce the world's largest and most resplendent jewels; Graff possessing and having mined about 70% of the world's most famous diamonds. Needless to say, staring at the pieces on these websites was pure heaven!! During one of my latest visits to Saks NY, I made abit of time to go sit in the newly commissioned (and brilliantly lit!!) Graff enclave on the jewelry floor. I can't imagine what the men in black (guarding the entrance I suppose) must've thought. Ha!!

Absolutely nothing compares to the delusional joys I derive from daydreaming about engagement rings. I don't complicate my reveries with the concept of the giver, per se, just the gift itself. Hahaha!! Can't say I blame me much. Besides, it's always being all about the lady, anyway. So, yes, I do have my fave engagment rings picked out. (I'll make up my mind later.) And I will accept a tenth of the carat weights of my said rings, or with less controversial stones. ie pearls.


B.l.i.s.s.






Joyful kisses.
P.S. I don't allow price interrupt important discussions such as these. :)
P.P.S. It's that time of the year when I go shopping with my carry-on suitcase. I always end up buying quite a bit, it's just so much easier to put all my purchases in my suitcase and lug that along. :)

Footnotes:
^{1. I don't really think too much about being married and all that, but I certainly know what I'd like my engagement ring to look like :) And the future Mr. Man will be forced to read this post, and avoid us both any unnecessary hassles.}

coat check

Notwithstanding my continued subconscious longing for these decadent and timeless pieces, I've tumbled in love with a more contemporary line of coats—Soïa & Kyo. The brand, which is the sister company of the recently celebrated Canadian Mackage outerwear under the APP Group, was created in 2004. The creative directors behind the line posits its collections as "young, trendy and urban with a retro twist." Hmm... Sadly, I find myself wincing at the mention of three of the four descriptives, but I'm still enthralled. It's the same exquisite coat tailoring that the Mackage coats are known for, without the slightly bothersome leather trimmings. The Soïa & Kyo coats flaunt incredibly natural fits and bold details—buttons and belts; and the funnel collar that's all the rage at the moment—that'll make up for my awful day clothes during winter!! I'm wont to throw on a mismatch of layers during the cold; it becomes imperative to top off the underlying disarray with a fashionably pulled-together coat or jacket and pretend that my air of chi chi chicness never wavers. Hahaha!! And if these aren't the most reasonably priced coats (price range:$180-$380)... And lest I forget, the array of colors... Joy!!






Cinnamon sugar cookies and kisses

the perfect shake (Renee Lewis diamond shake earrings)

Perhaps the most ingenuous pair of earrings I've ever come across; its simplicity in form is just brilliant!! And remarkably, still, the brilliance transcends its design and construction. The "shake diamonds" reflects a seemingly pureness; each stone casting a sparkle—that together, culminate in a brilliance and becomes awe-inspiring when you grasp the concept of the whole piece. Renee Lewis is applauded—not too loudly so, however—for her innovative jewelry. She is part of the growing school of shrewd jewelers, who, while highly regarded, prefer to produce one-of-a-kind high-end jewelry independently. She forages flea markets, rummage sales and antique fairs in search of vintage baubles. Her "Shake" jewelry series are contrived from solutions of the extracted stones (from her vintage finds) which she suspends in white gold spheres. I can't express how much I love these shake earrings!! Chic!! If I could fathom buying them at the moment, or ever—they do cost a pretty $17000, we all know I've ridiculously expensive tastes, even though I don't mean to really—they'd be my fave earrings. And staying true to fashionable fussiness, Renee Lewis's pieces are available at the 'vogue czar of contemporary exclusivity' (and natch, my fave) Barneys.

Allowing myself to drift into a romantic reverie, don't they make just the perfect gift from a perfect lover?? If I had one, that is. They also make me want to break out in a rugged gyration—even though I know I'm too old and, quite honestly, incapable of taking it there—to Ludacris's "Money maker," so I can shake what my mama lover gave me!! :) Ahhh...






Butterfly kisses

White out, or white satin

Well, it's only logical.
After the frenzy that was the Black Satin nail polish, Chanel's Creative Director for Makeup, Peter Philips introduces the "white satin" flaunted by all its models yesterday evening at the Paris-Londres Maison d'Art collection fashion show, London. So while, it reminds me of painfully trying—but never succeeding—to get a smooth glossy look out of "white out" cum clear nail hardener, I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival on shelves in January!! It's the Chanel fever, because I'm very certain Nars has white nail polish...
Quite right.
I just checked Sephora and indeed Nars does have two white hues: Temptation (opalescent white) and Edelweiss (sheer white); but, alas!! It's not Chanel. And when this fad reaches fever pitch early next year, perhaps—and sadly so—no one will recognize that Nars was ahead of its time. According to Vogue UK, Peter Philips admits to be inspired by "a mixture of the swinging Sixties and 'today's punk culture.'" The latter of which is slowly infiltrating my style persona. We'll see.






Cheeky kisses.

giving to me :)

Indeed, while Christmastime marks the season for giving and sharing, we may find ourselves selfishly ogling some of the seemingly most beautiful and unique items—or, is that just me?? It seems around this time each year, the prettiest extravagances and objet d'arts emerge invitingly from their hiding places; and the mere gorgeousness of them all begs buying. But, of course, you couldn't possibly buy these items for, say, ten of your closest friends; as much as you'd love to. Well maybe you could. I shouldn't assume that just because I can't, you can't either. Anyway, as I come across some of these pretty little things, I mentally file them in my ever expanding wishlist for myself—and for backup, under my shopping bookmarks—hoping to come back to them mid-February. At this time, without the Christmas-induced hallucinogens that permeate the air (causing an almost indiscriminate and irrational spending) I can pick out a few items to splurge on. I've gathered some decadent gift ideas from my fave online circulars. Perhaps, we can all allow ourselves one or five nonessential, but, very amazing pieces nonetheless, in the coming months:
Style, Elle, Glamour, Luckymag, NYmag




Sugar-splenda kisses.

p.s. NYmag has a section of gifts dedicated to the "chic wife." I'm gushing!! I just don't know how they knew my trophy-wife aspirations.

and introducing my hubby: Didier Zonga

I've just spent a lovely couple of minutes day-dreaming about this gorgeous man, model Didier Zonga. He happens to be one of the headliners for the Hennessy Ad campaign, "Flaunt Your Taste" and, more importantly, my future hubby.

I stumbled across his pic unintentionally when I clicked on the ad¹ to take closer look at this divine creamy silk dress worn by model Marta Ber-something—her name is unimportant in today's grand scheme of events. Anyway, there Didier was for the 'Manifesto' flash page. I tried to find some more info other than his body stats, (he is 6'2 ⅖" of chocolate-y goodness); but I'm left very disappointed. I mean I found nothing even on Style or the NYmag model rosters. So. I'm on a mission... and that's all I can reveal at the moment. The rest is c.l.a.s.s.i.f.i.e.d. :)

Oh, and that dress is pretty too. Not as alluring as my YSL pre-wedding dress, which I talked about at the bottom of this post and pictured here; but, pretty nonetheless.







Blowing you air kisses.
(Perhaps, I now have a name to put on my wedding registries. *blissful sigh*)


Footnotes:
1. I found the ad on T magazine. I managed to read all of nothing after I welcomed the pleasing distraction as you can imagine.

In the words of Kiki de Montparnasse underthings...

Kiki de Montparnasse's prettily sexy underthings are said to inspire "the romantic imagination."
Certainly.
However, the fine print that should address the dangerously torturous desire—intensifying under two minutes to a frenzied obsession, for practically every single piece of the line's lingerie is conspicuously missing.

And if you're like me, sometimes you just want to skip the imagination part and say exactly what's on your mind!!:
(Also at Shopbop).





Pretty pretty kisses.