3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Yellow Mini Satchel with Gusset Giveaway

For those fashionistas in the know, no doubt you were waiting in line bright and early on Sunday morning to grab those delicious Phillip Lim bags.  Some of you were even up late Saturday night waiting for Target's website go live!  Well, after all the dust had settled, Phillip Lim for Target mini satchels were all gone.  But fear not, I had a friend grab one for me from her local Target store so I can giveaway this impossibly hard to find bag to one of my readers!  I don't need to go into details about this bag because I'm sure you are more than familiar with it.  Good luck everyone and may you be the lucky gal to call this bag yours!

Please note: apologies to my international friends - I wish I could extend these giveaways to you but legal restrictions prevent it. Thanks for understanding.

Phillip Lim x Target collaboration Men's collection review

I had a chance to hop to a few Target stores in the SF bay area on Sunday (9/15).  Didn't see the whole collection.  Quite a few of the pieces were online only.  So I guess I shall see them when I finally get everything I ordered (one can only hope.  It's Target.com after all so you never know).  I did try on few pieces and touch few others.  Here's my take:

The Blazers.

These run one size bigger than normal.  So if you are a typical EU 50 like me, you would need a M not a L.  The M actually fits quite well on me.  Sadly I feel the proportion of the jacket is off.  The length of the jacket, IMO should be an inch shorter (you can clearly see in their model picture above that the sports coat is too long).  If you are looking for fashion type of sports jacket, you should not get this unless you are willing to take it to a tailor (or if you are good at DIY) to have it shortened by an inch.  But as one may have guessed, it will cost the same as the jacket if I were to take it to my local tailor so the sports jacket was a thumb down for me.  The blazer is partially lined.  

The Trench coats.

I only got to try on the khaki color ones.  The black ones are online only.  Again, the sizing is on the large side.  But of course that depends on if you wear a suit underneath or not.  If you are looking to wear this trench with a long sleeve shirt or a t-shirt, then you should take a size smaller than your normal suit size.  For me, that would mean getting a M instead of L.  The coat is not lined but at $80, I don't expect it to be.  The fabric feels nice and solid not flimsy.  I am also getting the black version which I feel looks more chic than the typical Inspector Gadget trench coat color.

Addendum (9/16): I did finally find a S to try on.  I can still fit in it but it's more on the snug size.  If you are into slim cut and if you are slim, then S is definitely the way to go.  I suspect if you normally wear a M but with a slim body, you may find even S is a bit too big.

The Camo / Color Block sweatershirts.

I ordered both in L online last night.  Of course both are terribly oversized as I try them on in person this morning.  Again, if you are a typical L, you will need a M.  There were so much room when I tried on the color block L sweatshirt.  So if you have a large beer gut, then go with the L if you typically wear a L.  If you are on the trimmer side or slim, you should definitely take a size down.  The construction on the camo sweatshirt feels better than the color block one.  The seam where black meets gray looks a bit funny in person.  But that's just personal opinion.  I do wonder since these are not yet washed, perhaps hot water plus dryer can make a L into a M???  Will have to test that out.

Addendum (9/16): I thought black/gray color block sweatshirt and camo sweatshirt is cut the same.  Not so.  I compared size M for both.  The camo is 2" shorter in body length and 1" shorter in arm length.  Not sure if that's because maybe my camo M was mislabeled or they are just differently.  When my online order gets here, I will be better able to confirm this.  Color block M sweatshirt is still rather large on me.  But I would call it roomy I guess.  The camo M is what I would call slim cut.

The Cotton Pants

The pants sizing was correct.  At least for me.  It's a normal waist pants (ie. the pants button closure hits right below your naval).  I've not worn such a high waisted pants for awhile.  But I suppose it's not technically high waisted since that would mean the pants closure would be at naval or higher.  The fabrication is nice.  I ended up buying the navy one in person even though it was not on my to buy list.  And I also ordered a khaki one online.

The Color Block pocket t-shirt

I didn't get one as I feel it's very Marni-esque.  It also looks kinda flimsy in person. Not my thing. 

The Sweaters/ Cardigans

Honestly, they were too plain for me.  I have something similar already so I only touched them and didn't try them on.  They were fairly soft and not scratchy as one may think they can be.  I don't buy sweaters anymore as I seldom wear them.  I do buy cardigans but I only buy cashmere cardigans so I passed on these.  But for someone who doesn't have basic cardigans and doesn't need it to be cashmere/wool, then I think these are good alternatives.

The Leather Jacket

I didn't try it on as by the time I found them, there were only XL left.  I just figure what's the point of trying them on?  They don't look cheap to me in person but I would not use the word luxurious either.

The Shoes

Again, I have too many pairs of shoes to bother with these.  They looked too plain for me.  I think people have enough basics already.  We need shoes that make statements!

The Bags

Unfortunately I did not see any bags during my foray this morning to Targets.  I'm sure they were fought over by my local bay area residents and then some.  I shudder to think what actually happened at my stores when they first open.  But I did get mine online last night so let's hope those get shipped soon!

The Sweat pants

I picked up the zodiac night one.  It's nice and soft.  I also picked up a heather gray one with zippers without trying it on.  I just figure it look about the same size as the zodiac night one.  But later when I got home, I was trying everything on again and when I looked over what's still available online, I realized that the gray one is actually for women.  There are few subtle differences between the men's sweat pants and women's.  First the men's sweat pants has a drop crotch design.  But IMO it didn't drop low enough.  You see drop crotch pants was repopularized (in early 1990s, it was MC Hammer) by Rick Owens few years ago.  I almost feel that Phillip wanted to do a drop crotch sweat pants but refrained from it as it won't sell very well so we get this kinda drop crotch but not really drop crotch sweat pants....The women's sweat pants isn't as soft and doesn't have a drop crotch but it does have zipper pockets which I like because things won't fall out if you zip those pockets up.  In terms of sizing, surprisingly the women's large is the exact same size as men's large at the waist.  Another difference is length.  The women one is shorter but not by a lot.. about 3".  I'm 5'10" and the length of the gray one was fine on me.  However, because men's sweat pants is softer, I'll return the heather gray one and try to find the dark gray sweat pants.

I think this is a good effort by Target to give men some nice options for these designer collabs.  I feel there were a lot more options for men this time (compare to when Target collaborated with Missoni).  Obviously with Prabal and Wu, men were left out.  I'm glad we are included this time around.  In addition, I think Target controlled their inventory quite well.... so far anyway.  I believe the leather jacket for men is only available in SF Target store in the whole bay area (so said my tracker on Saturday afternoon).  I was hoping to get it at a discount when they go on sale but I'm doubtful if I can even find one in my size in person or online now without discount!  How was your shopping trip at Target this past Sunday?

      

 

3.1 Phillip Lim sunglasses winner is.....

Thank you all for entering the 3.1 Phillip Lim sunglasses giveaway!  After two weeks, we have a winner!  The winner is Entry #467 Jackee K!!  Congrats and please don't forget to email me your shipping address within a week.  To everyone else, please come back and visit often as another fabulous giveaway may just be right around the corner!  In the mean time, are you ready for the Phillip Lim x Target this coming Sunday???  Make sure your alarm clock is working as I predict it may be another mayhem like Missoni!

Rimowa + Moncler = ?

 
When these two companies get together, fireworks is bound to happen.  In this case, Rimowa took what Moncler is known for, padded down jackets, and translate it into their luggage collection. 

For those of you who's not too familiar with Rimowa, here's the 411.  Basically the company was found in 1898.  It manufactured luggage but not the metal type that Rimowa is known for.  In 1950, Rimowa built the first structural suitcase and that proves to be extremely popular with the jet set crowds.  In 2000, Rimowa start to make polycarbonate shell suitcases.  This material is impact-resistant, lightweight, and nearly indestructible polycarbonate shell returns to its original shape after pressure has been released.  Since then, this German company's suitcases have become popular with celebrities such as Bradley Cooper, Jessica Alba, and Liev Schreiber.

You can get your special edition Rimowa at US Moncler website or the German one.  I noticed that the German website is definitely cheaper than US...... I wonder why?

Who knew a lamp full of cobwebs can cost you a fortune!

 
Who knew a cobweb table lamp can cost millions of dollars?!  Well, if it is stamped with Tiffany Studios, it can be.  The rarest of all Tiffany studio lamp is the cobweb lamp.  There are only seven made because it was so costly to produce.  The price in 1906 was $500!  To give you context, the average wage is 22 cents an hour at that time.  This means even after working for a full year without eating and paying rent, one still can't afford this lamp.  It was costly to produce because most of the Tiffany lamps have bronze base with glass shades, this particular model has glass mosaic base.   This lamp, more so than any other Tiffany studio lamp design, has an unified thematic composition from top to bottom.  Since this is the ultimate Tiffany lamp, you can pretty much only find it come up occasionally at Christie's or Sotheby's although one did come up for auction at Michaan's auctions in California last year.  You can also buy reproduction of this particular lamp from Frontgate.  But frankly I would not get it from them.  If you seen and touch the real Tiffany lamp, you would not buy reproductions.  The quality difference is night and day.  It's like buying a real Birkin versus buying one from a street vendor in china town in NYC...  

Diamonds are a girl's best friend!

 
While I'm not very big on jewelry, I came across this today: Sotheby's is auctioning off an egg size diamond in October in their Hong Kong sales office.  Yes, you read that right, egg size diamond.  The said diamond is 118 carats and flawless colored.  Apparently the diamond was 299 carats before being cut into its current shape.  The winning bidder gets to name this gigantic rock.  I wonder what the name would be? 

Oct 7 update... this diamond was sold for $30.8 million dollars.  This is the highest price for a white diamond at auction ever.  I wonder what Marilyn Monroe would say?

Chef's hat lamp

 
Recently I came across a lamp that resembles a chef's hat so I'm just going to call it a chef's hat lamp!  LOL.  This table lamp comes in two sizes and there is a hanging version as well.  This lamp has a nice Zen quality about it.  Besides the unique look, the price isn't too bad either!  You can order one from Moustache. 

3.1 Phillip Lim sunglasses giveaway Round 2!

For those of you who entered for a pair of 3.1 Phillip Lim sunglasses couple weeks ago on this site and did not win, well, here is another chance!  This time I'm giving away the brown version of the same sunnies.  In about two weeks (September 15), Phillip Lim x Target collection will be unleashed.  There will be tons of accessories to choose from!  However, one of the accessory that was left out of the collection is sunglasses!  Fear not my readers, I'm giving away a pair of 3.1 Phillip Lim sunnies!  It's true that these are not from the Phillip Lim x Target collection, but can I say they are just as fabulous if not more because they are from his main collection line.

Please note: apologies to my international friends - I wish I could extend these giveaways to you but legal restrictions prevent it. Thanks for understanding. 

Spill Side Table

What can I say about Blackman Cruz boutique on Highland Avenue in Los Angeles?  The word brilliant comes into mind.  Eccentric, weird, strange, amazing are other words I would use for the furniture in this showroom.  The owners always manage to find things that are off the beaten path that may not always be your cup of tea but never fail to intrigue you.  

One of the thing that intrigued me when I visited the shop last time was Stefan Bishop's spill side table.  I have never seen anything like it.  It is just so odd and yet mesmerizing at the same time.  It's one of those statement piece that I certainly would not mind having in my home.   

Versatile Fornasetti tiles

 
When you need something to give your kitchen or powder room a punch, look no further than Fornasetti tiles.  These are designed by Piero's daughter Barnaba Fornasetti.  She used her father's extensive design vocabulary and came up with these brilliant hand-painted 8" square tiles.  They came in a matte or glossy finish and are perfect for giving that powder room a bit of a va-va-voom. One can also frame these up as a wall decoration for a long hallway or use them as coasters (add felt circles under to prevent scratches to tables).  I'm sure you can think of gazillion ways of put these tiles to good use.  What would you use them for? 

And the winner for this pair of 3.1 Phillip Lim sunnies is:

Congrats to Angela S. for winning this fabulous pair of sunglasses!  I'm sure you will look great with it and possibly even better if you pair it with the new Phillip Lim x Target collection coming this fall.  Please send me your address and your sunnies are on their way.  Thank you everyone for entering.  Until next time!

Julius Eberhardt's collection of Ancient Chinese Bronze

I always find that an interior is most successful if owners inject themselves into the space; be it family photographs or things they collect.  Luckily for connoisseurs who collect ancient Chinese bronze, they will have a chance to add to their collections by bidding at Sotheby's this fall.  Of course the biggest pitfall for buying ancient Chinese Bronze has always been either fakes or they had been illegally dug up recently. But fear not, this collection has an impeccable provenance that you won't have to worry about any of these!

Contemporary Silver: A Selling Exhibition by Christie's Auction House

Christie's auction house is currently doing a small exhibition on Contemporary British Silversmiths in their London King Street premise this summer.  61 British craftsman made 186 pieces (some were made specifically for this exhibition) to exhibit their range. Some used traditional method such as hammering to make their ware while others resort to use computer-aided techniques.    There are some amazing pieces in this selling exhibition.  I particularly like the Arc 4 Jug by Martyn Pugh.  The line of the jug is simple and elegant; goes perfectly with that B&B Italia table you just bought.

Not your grandma's doily

Who knew that doily can be so out and yet so in?  Crochet chair by Marcel Wanders struck the perfect balance of looking back and looking forward at the same time!  The shape is not extraordinary nor is doily, but the combination of the two makes it so irresistible!  This chair is perfect for adding a twist to your sleek modern interior. 

The 3.1 Phillip Lim Spectacle/ Sunnies giveaway!

 
In about a month (September 15), Phillip Lim x Target collection will be unleashed.  There will be tons of accessories to choose from!  However, one of the accessory that was left out of the collection is sunglasses!  Fear not my readers, I'm giving away a pair of 3.1 Phillip Lim sunnies!  It's true that these are not from the Phillip Lim x Target collection, but can I say they are just as fabulous if not more because they are from his main collection line.

Please note: apologies to my international friends - I wish I could extend these giveaways to you but legal restrictions prevent it. Thanks for understanding. 

Esterel sconces

 
There are gazillion sconces out there, but none as unique looking as Esterel sconces by Pagani Studio.  I like the rock crystal rectangles that stagger on top of each other.  The effect reminds me of Mondrian and cubist paintings.  I think this particular design looks elegant and sublime.  They are perfect for that long hallway or powder room.  These scones are great example of designs that are interesting looking without screaming look at me! 

Reed & Barton's Denmark coffee and tea set

 
I have a fascination with tea services.  I'm always looking for interesting shapes be it art deco, contemporary, rococo, or mid century modern.  I must have came across an article several years ago about American mid century modern silverware.  One of the design that caught my eyes is Reed & Barton's Denmark line.

This line was designed by John Prip in 1958.  After his gig at Reed & Barton, Prip went back to teach at School of Museum of Fine Arts in Boston as well as Rhode Island School of Design.  He actually did several clean modern lines for Reed & Barton.  For some reason, the Denmark line tends to come up on Ebay often with reasonable prices.  I've seen this set sold for just couple hundred dollars in the past.  In fact, currently there is a set comprise of coffee, sugar and cream for $80!  Denmark line also have flatware and comes in silver plated finishes.  Interestingly, the coffee and tea service comes in two different types of finishes: silver plated or pewter.  Pewter sets usually sells for less than $100 on Ebay.  The set is currently in the Museum of Arts and Design in NYC.

Fashion genius Valentino's favorite place to eat tiramisu?

 
Next time when you are at The Eternal City a.k.a. Rome, stop by Felice Restaurant.  Every single pasta dish in this trattoria is cooked to perfection but you must have their Cacio e pepe.  This Roman dish essentially consists of pasta (usually Spaghetti but at Felice they use homemade tonnarelli) with freshly shaved pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper, emulsified with pasta water and olive oil.  When I was there, my waiter tossed it next to my table until the shaved cheese completely melted into pasta.  The result was a creamy pungent dish that is so simple but yet perfect.  Anyone who cooks regularly knows that cooking a great simple dish is the hardest task because there is no place to hide from imperfection.  Let's just say Felice's Cacio e pepe defines perfection.  Oh and just so you think you are done, don't forget to order their tiramisu.  It is said that it's one of fashion designer Valentino's favorite place to take in his tiramisu.  And frankly if it's good enough for Valentino, it's good enough for me.  Just saying...       

Chippendale in 18th century!

 
No, I'm not talking about Chippendales that one can find in Las Vegas.  I'm talking about Thomas Chippendale, the genius cabinet maker in 18th century in England.  This particular table was offered by Sotheby's auction house last month.  It originally came from Harewood House in Leeds, Yorkshire.  Don't let the word 'house' mislead you as this house is probably as big as your local library!  Harewood is rather significant as the interior was designed by famed architect Robert Adam, the furnishing was done by Thomas Chippendale (the largest commission of his lifetime), and the landscape was laid out by the most famous 18th century landscape architect in England Capability Brown.

But enough about the house, let's talk about the this magnificent George III fruitwood, tulipwood, marquetry and giltwood pier table.  In case you don't know what a pier table is, it is basically a low table that sits between two windows and typically there would be pier glass above the table.  I just love the color of the table.  It feels very warm and inviting.  I can see it sitting in front of a deep gray colored wall in the entrance area of a 5th avenue apartment.  I would just love to have this neoclassical pier table greet me daily as I walk into my apartment!  Unfortunately I do not have the budget to acquire this museum worthy furniture (the mate to this table is still at Harewood)....it was last sold for close to 600k to a lucky bidder!
  

Madera restaurant in Menlo Park

 
There are a handful of one Michelin Star restaurants on San Francisco peninsula.  Madera is one of them.  The location of the restaurant could not be more perfect.  It is right on Sand Hill Road where all the tech venture capitalists are at.  I went there to grab lunch and saw two types of lunch crowds: ladies who do lunch and VCs.  Being that it is one of the few restaurant on peninsula that has a Michelin star, I had high expectations.  Sure, it's not going to be as good as Baume restaurant in Palo Alto (two Michelin stars), but surely it should match up to Acquerello or Quince in the city right?

Well, it really depends on what you are looking for.  Quality of the ingredients was very high.  I had Fresh Rock Shrimp Tempura with Spicy Chili and Sesame Aioli.  It was very good.  The shrimp was definitely NOT overcooked.  It was very juicy and tender.  I guess I'm so used to eating turbo fried tempura shrimps at my local Japanese restaurants that I forgot what a well fried shrimp tempura should taste like.  Next I had a Crab and Shrimp cake.  They were delicious.  The crab and shrimp cake was 75% crab and shrimp and 25% filling.  Too often one orders crab cakes and you ended up with a lot of "cake" but not too much crab.  This one is the opposite.  The curry emulsion goes perfectly with the cake and mint leaves made a pan fried dish light.  Who knew mint leaves does that? 

All in all, I enjoyed the food here.  I just wish the presentation of the food is more on par with Acquerello or Quince.  With that said, perhaps their lunch presentation is more casual than the dinner one?  I guess I will have to go back and check it out again.  BTW, I was there for a birthday lunch and their freebie raspberry cake definitely leaves much to be desired.  It felt more like something that Rosewood Sand Hill hotel (where the Madera is at) would leave at their customers' rooms as a welcome gift than the same kitchen that just served me expertly fried shrimp tempura.