Ladies Who Lunch: My Style #1 Casual!

I decided over the weekend that I needed to interject a little more of myself into this page and what better way than to talk about my style and my friends style!


Since it was the weekend, I am starting out with a very casual look!  Well, this is about as casual as I get :)  If you were hoping for some grungy shorts and flip flops, aint gonna happen! 


Even though there are tons of high priced jeans on the market (and I do plan on trying out the custom fit jeans from INDI), I still end up falling back on good old  Levi's 501 Button Front jeans!  I just like the fit and the nostalgic reminder of past wearers like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe!


The shoes are Dr. Martens!  While I haven't worn Dr. Martens boots since the early nineties, these lace-up shoes are totally comfortable and have a look to them that is casual, yet still stylish in a hip kind of way!


And of course the pièce de la résistance, my custom polo from Ralph Lauren!  My obsession with these polos began with the Country Flag polos, so when they came out with this New York polo with custom embroidered name on the back, I had to have it.  Terribly happy that I had the foresight to buy 2 of them, as they are now discontinued! :(  However, I can still get the Country Flag polos, which I continue to love!

Until the next time and the next outfit!


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Ladies Who Lunch: Shinso Skin Care!

Last September I was fortunate to be invited to the Sherri Hill showroom to interview her about the launch of her gorgeous ready-to-wear line.  When I went to the interview, they were in the middle of the campaign photoshoot featuring Miss China Luo Zilin and we also got to interview the phenomenal Yue-Sai Kan.

While we were setting up cameras and mics, I chatted with Mr. Nao Tsuruta and discovered that he had developed a line of products that rejuvenate the skin and lift it as well.  I am extremely skeptical of all of the “age defying” products on the market, so I just politely nodded and made small talk about the line.  But then he pulled out one of his products and demonstrated.  Using the Shinso Mist product, he misted one half of my cameraman’s face.  Within minutes, the skin on the side that had been misted almost instantly started to tighten up, pores became smaller and there was a visible lift, so much so that the side that had not been misted seemed to sag in comparison.  I was still skeptical, but intrigued.

Before & After

As I asked more questions about the Shinso skin care line, I found that the line is all natural, combining over 26 active ingredients including rare Japanese botanical extracts and herbs.  Shinso means “deeper layer” and the products actually reach the deepest layers of the skin to correct the health and function of the skin.  I was interested, but still politely skeptical. Mr. Tsuruta dug in his bag and handed me samples of all three of the products and insisted I test drive them for myself.

Like most guys, while I try to take good care of my skin, I don’t always stick to a routine, but I have been using the products for the last 7 months and I can honestly say that I can see an extreme noticeable difference in my skin.  The Shinso Essence is a powerhouse of nutrients for the skin that make it firmer and smoother, giving my skin a healthier overall appearance.  The Shinso Glow product exfoliates dead skin and lifts off grime and dirt that are unavoidable living in big cities, leaving my skin smooth, fresh and also preventing blemishes from occurring.  The third product, Shinso Mist, I use the most often.  I especially use Shinso Mist before I go to events, for an extra boost to tighten my skin and looking my best.  Using all three of the products produces a result that is almost like having a non-surgical face lift!  Also a winner for me is that all of the Shinso products are chemical, fragrance and paraben free they are non-animal tested.

Before & After

I have to say that after extended use of the products, this Doubting Thomas is now a believer.  So, discover why celebrities “in-the-know” are already using Shinso products and what they can do for you!!

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Ladies Who Lunch: Sequoia & Gita Spring 2012!

Founded in 2007 in San Francisco, Sequoia & Gita grew out of the underground performing arts community of the Bay Area.  Staying true to their beginnings, the line runs the gamut of tailored suits and red carpet evening gowns to relaxed but edgy casual wear.

The women’s line is flirty and bold and the men’s line is a melange of grunge meets dandy with both of the S&G collections having a definitive rock star feel to them.  The lines have also proven themselves to be very versatile and have attracted a wide customer base, appealing to the likes of Prince and Miley Cyrus to Chris Brown and Taryn Manning.

We spoke to Gita Salem, one half of the design team about the S&G Line and what is in store for Spring 2012.

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Ladies Who Lunch: Nuvula Spring 2012!

Designer Rebecca Victoria describes her Nuvula Collection as a company with a commitment to art, authenticity and innovation. The inspiration for her designs come from the love of art, music, dance, theater, and painting: "the circus of life, the circus of performing and the circus of the surreal".

For Nuvula Spring 2012, the Columbian Native took her inspiration from the Art Nouveau period and the Gulf Oil Spill, giving her collection the Theme of Farfalle, Sole e Vente (Butterflies Sun and Wind): A farewell to Oil:   But there were also hints of inspiration from Asian culture and samurai armor, creating a multi-faceted collection.

Opening the show with an operatic perfomance of Puccini by a singer in a Venetian masquerade outfit, Nuvula set the stage for another of their dramatic collections!

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Ladies Who Lunch: Bryan Hearns Spring 2012!

A true California Native hailing from Covina, CA, designer Bryan Hearns attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles while at the same time launching his own line at the age of 18. The line has garnered him a lot of attention in the fashion press and with celebrities.  We attended the Bryan Hearns Spring 2012 Collection and spoke with the designer about his line and his inspiration.

Known for his structured shapes that are a blend of femininie, masculine and whimsy, Bryan Hearns has a keen eye for what is on-trend in fashion.  This design sensibility has led him to be tapped by Lady Gaga to make costumes for one of her music videos, as well as the costumes for a Marie Antoinette themed music video for Acid Girls.

With a flair for drama mixed with  West Coast street style, it is no wonder that this young designer is on the rise.

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Ladies Who Lunch: Thai Nguyen Spring 2012!

Born in South Vietnam to parents who owned a private sewing school, you could say that Fashion Design is in Thai Nguyen’s blood.  Thai and his family immigrated to the US in 1993 and Thai followed his design dream by attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles.

After graduating in 2002, Thai Nguyen earned the title of Associate Designer for BCBG Max Azria before going out on his own.  He quickly became the designer of choice for the Vietnamese entertainment industry and went on to be a finalist on Bravo's Launch My Line.

With a showroom and storefront in Orange County, CA, Thai Nguyen Couture offers evening gowns, cocktail dresses, Couture Bridal Gowns, ao dai (traditional Vietnamese gowns), and a ready to wear line, all proudly made in the United States.

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Ladies Who Lunch: NAMI Spring 2012!

Presenting her first collection for Spring 2012, designer Sarah Nami Ahn’s NAMI collection expresses the young designer’s diverse past.  A self proclaimed army brat, Sarah Ahn had already moved 22 times before her 18th birthday and that exposure to different worlds and cultures has strongly influenced her design.

Before pursuing a career in Fashion, Sarah Ahn earned a BS, MS & PHD in the Neurosciences from UCLA, definitely not the typical education of a designer.  Only 6 months out of fashion school, she won a design competition and her dress design was sold as part of the Spring 2011 Collection of Laundry by Shelli Segal.

The early success prodded Sarah to launch her own collection NAMI which has been met with glowing reviews.  Already in stores for Spring 2012, NAMI just presented its first Fall Collection in Los Angeles, proving that Sarah is not just a one hit wonder!

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