Santa Clause is coming to town!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I am such a holiday fanatic, and this is in no way an exaggeration. Lately, I have grown nostalgic of the holiday traditions and moments my family has had, so I decided to share them with you all.

Every few years, we are lucky enough to have my grand-parents come from Bulgaria, for the holidays, and those are always such spirited occasions. We spend the entire day cooking and making the most of the short time we have together.

My parent, having grown up in Bulgaria, still celebrate Bulgarian Christmas traditions, with their own twist. It is common to be a vegan for 40 days prior to Christmas in Bulgaria, but we just have a vegan feast on Christmas Eve, bringing in my parents' childhood traditions to our American table.

After dinner, we all hustle into the living room and watch the movies Elf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a rather recent tradition; and let me just say, Elf is probably one of my all time favorite movies, regardless of how ridiculous it is. When Buddy the Elf yells "SANTA! I know him! I know him," I crack up every single time :)

Eventually we all go to bed, and in the morning, we wake up to stockings stuffed with goodies (I get a pair of fluffy pink socks every single year haha), and presents underneath the tree. We open up the presents, and this year, we are driving a bit North to visit some family and spend Christmas Day with them having another feast, this time with meat (Bulgarians eat a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot).

Well my mom is calling me for some help with setting the table and finishing up the food, and then I have to get dressed for dinner, so I will talk to you all soon. I hope you all have a happy holiday and it is filled with joy, family, love, and plenty of food! :)

Neon? Oh yes.

Today I was feeling a bit under the weather, which is odd because honestly, I love love love winter; I love the cold and the snow and just the spirit of winter.


But as I was sitting on my new comforter, looking at endless online shopping websites, (what else is there to do when you don't feel all too well?) I hit up my usual online shops, Top Shop being one of them. In case any of you are wondering, Top Shop, until this year, was a store based in London and online Top Shop was the closest any American could get to it. Well now there is one in Soho, which is still too far away for me, so I am submitted to online Top Shop. Anyway, I was browsing through all of their bags, and when it comes to purses, I like to stick to neutral colors whether that be black, brown, or even gray; however, this time, I found myself gravitating towards the highly colorful, obnoxiously neon bags. Furthermore, I love love love big bags. I always have way too many things in my purse and just like the obscurity of my gravitation towards bright colors, I was also gravitating towards small purses. So here they are:

             
How cute are these?! I probably won't be purchasing these purses, because honestly, they are all so random, and a tad expensive ($85, $110, $90) for patent leather; nonetheless they are gorgeous and I will probably be on a hunt for something similar, that costs less, which I am sure I will find somewhere...and if I do, I will let you all know!


For any questions, e-mail me at la.vie.est.chic@gmail.com


And remember, like always, la vie est chic. 

Oh hey, what should it say?

Hello to all my lovely readers. You all are my inspiration; yes I am indefinitely inspired by my surroundings, other writers, photos, etc, but you all take the time to read my blog and hopefully follow it, so I want to know, what do you want to see on here? I am still struggling to figure out just how to format posts, and what to write about, because if I am excited about something not so great, like a wooden elephant sculpture, I will write about it, but I want you all the enjoy it. So what is something you'd like to read about on here, hopefully related to either fashion, beauty, music, or even food. Let me know by commenting below or emailing me at la.vie.est.chic@gmail.com


I love writing for you all, and remember, like always, la vie est chic.

Glittered in Gold

I think I am going to mix things up, just a bit. I of course will continue talking about fashion, because truly, it's a huge part of my life, but I want to also incorporate my love music and make-up, and ultimately, anything else that catches my eye. So today, we are talking about make-up, really great make-up...


For those of you who have not heard of the website Hautelook.com I recommend going, pronto. To access the goodies within that web-page, you have to submit an e-mail address along with a password of your choice. Once your a "member" you get to online shop at heavily discounted prices; it's like an online TJ Maxx, but better. There are generally between 10-20 retailers at a time, and they stay on that website for two days, usually. And prices are unbelievably low. Around Thanksgiving, Hautelook had Urban Decay as one of their retailers, and I don't think I have been that excited in a really long time (!). 


For those of you who do not know what Urban Decay is, it is a brand of make-up. They are well known for their amazing quality and colorful products. And although some products can be a bit expensive, things like their eye shadow palettes with 12 eye shadows, are very reasonable priced, ranging from $30-$50. Well, as I skimmed the products Urban Decay was offering on Hautelook, I came across an eye shadow palette, the Get Baked palette. (Their names are equally creative and humorous as the products are to die for!) This palette was one of the smaller offered containing 4 shadows, a mini 24/7 liner, and a mini Sin Primer Potion. When I purchased it for $14, I was ecstatic. This package was valued for $53, and selling for $28 on the Urban Decay website, so I had just gotten it half price! It was a miracle.


I ordered it, and just got it today so shipping took quite some time, but other than that, I was very happy with the selections available and the product quality.

This palette, comes with the eye shadow colors Twice Baked, Half Baked, Flipside, and Baked; all are heavily pigmented colors, easily blended, and truly gorgeous. Also included as I said above is a mini 24/7 Liner in the color Bourbon, a deep bronze brown; the liner is very creamy and truly long lasting. Lastly, not shown in the picture is a mini Sin Primer Potion, which is meant to prevent oily eye lids and help colors stay longer; Sin has a gold tone and works wonderfully with this palette. 


If you have not yet checked out Urban Decay's products, please do! They are well worth the price, gorgeous, and truly amazing quality. 

Anything you would like to see on here, or any questions, email me at la.vie.est.chic@yahoo.com

Boots...lovely

Earlier this season, I was on a search for boots and not just any boots, the boots. I hate spending money on something that will not last so I have truly been on the hunt for my dream pair, and tah-dah! I found them:

It is a great black leather boot, and being the girl I am, I even bought a spray to protect them from rain and snow, a very common thing where I live.  I love these because they have the shape of a classic riding boot, a slightly rounded point, but the buckles bring a sense of edge to the classic shape, which is exactly what I was looking for...


I believe I spent $54 on these, and for the quality, shape, fit, and comfort, the price was perfect. I am very excited to wear these boots and I will probably put up some pictures of my outfits with them on, so keep a look out for that.

Anything you would like to see on here, or any questions, email me at lavieestchic@yahoo.com

I also created a facebook page for la vie est chic, so become a fan...!
And remember, like always, la vie est chic.

Current Loves...

I find myself being especially pleased with different things in my life, and they constantly change. So here are my current loves, a post I hope to do on a regular basis:

1) Pandora.com.

        I heard about this website from some friends and didn't have the urge to rush to my Macbook and type in the address. However, a few nights ago I was yearning for some music so I tried out this website. Basically, what happens here is you type in a song name or artist, and a streaming of songs begins, that are similar in style to what you put into the box. It's great, you discover new artists and get to listen to some great music for free...

2) Tea.

        For anyone who knows me, you know I am a die hard fan of coffee, my mochas and I are joined at the hip; at least that was the case until recently. I have been drinking more tea which is odd because a month ago, I hated it. I didn't like the fact that it was watery and lacked in flavor and ultimately, it wasn't anything like my first love, coffee. However, I started drinking it more and more and have found that a day does not go by that I do not drink at least one cup of tea. My current favorites? Lipton Bavarian Wild-berry and Chamomile (No specific brand). I am excited to go to Teavana soon and create my own custom "dream tea".

3) Everything French.

         I have found myself reminiscing of my trip in France over the summer, remembering the quant shops, the lovely patisseries, and the simple ambiance. I could sit at a little french cafe, write and read,  for days. The unexpected was that all the outdoor tables, just big enough for an intimate setting between two people, were all faced toward the sidewalks and streets, made for people-watching. I miss the air, the language, the art, and I hope to go back soon...

4) Nail Polish.

        I find myself searching for new polishes that I love, constantly. My new favorite brand? Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear. It retails for $2.49 at drugstores and chipping is minimal, and the price point compared to OPI's is unbeatable. This polish didn't chip until 4-5 days wear and for me, that is incredible, especially considering I don't wear base coats or top coats. The only downside? I haven't found a huge selection of colors, but the my favorite is Flirt: an incredibly deep maroon-purple with little purple shimmers, the perfect fall/winter color...

5) A toned down version of myself.

        Lately, I have been toning down my look. Before, my usual straight hair, an occasional dramatic eye, and an all black outfit (not gothic just to clarify, a more classic, simple style with an edge) has shifted to my natural curly hair, casual make-up, comfy tees, cardigans, and my boat shoes (love!). I am a more relaxed version of my "fashion" self, and I love it.

What are your current loves right now? Let me know in a comment below :)

Also, anything you would like to hear about on here? E-mail me at lavieestchic@yahoo.com

Pay how much less?

Lately the weather here has been a bit chilly, and I love it. It is the perfect atmosphere to not feel guilty for procrastination and take pleasure in drinking hot tea, wearing warm sweaters, and simply flipping through endless magazines. My current need? Shoes. I have found that all I am really wanting to wear are my simple black flats, and my favorite shoe purchase: my Sperry's. Who doesn't love a good pair of boat shoes?

Although I could live in my Sperry's, they are barely holding up, so I have decided I need some new shoes; I am thinking some more flats, incredible booties, and just something I fall in love with, haha. My search has been rather unsuccessful, because if I love it, it's out of my price range, and anything in my price range, well, is far from what I like. Where to look? For the first time in years, I looked at Payless ShoeSource, and tah-dah!. There are a couple I fell in love with; designers like Alice+Olivia, Lela Rose, and Christian Siriano have made lines for this bargain shoe store, and may I just say, I am terribly excited. Here are my picks.

Abaeté Pump - $34.99

  

                                               Lela Rose - $29.99                                                          

                                   Sasha Ruffle Bootie - $34.99       

Christian Siriano - $49.99

The Abaeté Pump comes in Taupe as well as the black I have shown, I am just a sucker for any black, amazing shoe. The Sasha Ruffle Bootie looks gray for some reason, but its black and also come in a gorgeous purple. I don't know about you, but I am shocked the I found four killer shoes at Payless ShoeSource. I plan on going soon to pick up at least one of these positively delicious pairs. And remember, la vie est chic, even at an unexpected store like Payless ShoeSource, looks like I just found a new place for bargain priced shoes to fill my fetish...

A Walk in the Park.

Lucky Magazine never fails. Every month they have incredible spreads, perfect clothes, and inspiring cover girls. This month was no different. This month's spread was inspired by the 60's in London; she looks picturesque perched upon the bench in the park in a striking coat, poppy skirt, and killer accessories. JCrew has some similar wool coats, which I will snag the second I acquire more funds, and thats just one thing on my shopping list, there are more to come, don't you worry. And always remember, la vie est chic.

NYLON>>>>>>>October '09.

NYLON. This is the title of one of my all time favorite magazines. This magazine focuses upon the urban, alternative, eclectic, and eccentric thing in this world. Headed in New York City, it represents my holy grail, my little slice of heaven each and every month. It has fashion, shopping, beauty products, music, and events; ultimately anything you could ever need or want NYLON holds within its glossy, perfect pages.

It also manages to set itself dramatically apart from other style publications such as Vogue, In Style, and Elle. The page layouts always look homemade and reminiscent of a collage. NYLON manages to speak out to any reader; products mentioned range from the classic quilted Chanel bag to drugstore nail polish on the same page (referencing the Star Potential piece from the October issue).

And the cover girls are true icons, in so many different ways. October’s cover girl was the one and only, Megan Fox. She is incredibly sexy and confident, and NYLON changed up her usual look that screams, “I am sex” to an understated version saying “I am awesome and urban, but still sexy; she looks incredible with the killer cut-offs, oversized plaid shirt, and an amazing studded and fringed jacket she sports on the cover.

Whenever I get the latest issue of NYLON, my heart flutters just a little bit, because I know that once I sit down to consume the information, I will be busy for the next few hours. NYLON actually has articles! I know, a crazy thought, a stylish magazine with actual journalism. I read each and every article and have a stack of post-its next to me at all times to mark stores, brands, writers, and bands I want to check out.

Each month, I will try to put up the best parts of NYLON and what caught my eye, so even if you for some reason are still unconvinced as to whether NYLON is right for you, you are still gaining insight into the world I adore oh so much.

NYLON, October 2009

1)    Nixon Watches. These suckers can get pricey, but some are around $60 but can get up to the hundreds, and may I just say, completely worth the cost; they are exquisitely made, positively stylish, and look so good, bracelets are no longer necessary.  Quick side note: I am not a fan of bracelets. I don’t know why, but the only kinds I wear are the leather ones. I always wear my silver elephant pendant from Bulgaria, and usually a ring; occasionally I will throw on another necklace. And earrings, I have found myself recently shying away from, I have been wearing my pink pearls I got the day my brother was born, pretty much 24/7.

2)    Urban Decay Show Pony Shadow Box. Urban Decay is a line of cosmetics sold on their website as well as Sephora. This brand is beast. The eye shadows are rich with color, super pigmented (more pigmented = richer color in less applications), and this particular shadow box goes for a measly $30. If this seems like a lot for 6 eye shadows, liner, and the infamous Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion (its puts on before eye shadow and helps keep lids oil free and helps shadows stick to lids all day, and enhance the color), it’s not. Although the liner and primer potion are mini, the actual size Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion retails for $17 and individual shadows are around there too, so this box is a steal! I recommend Urban Decay to everyone out there, trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

3)    Vampire Weekend’s new CD Contra. If you have never heard of Vampire Weekend, get onto iTunes this very second, or after you finish reading the rest of this post, and check them out! I came upon them a year or 2 ago and it was love at first listen. Vampire Weekend has a very original sound; it’s alternative folk rock pop, simply amazing sounds, all mashed up into one band. Their new CD Contra comes out in January 2010.

4)    Chew Lips. No, this isn’t some crazy lip balm or anything like that, this is a singer. She is based in London but has two singles out on iTunes, Solo and Salt Air, and is totally worth the listen.

5)    Music Go Music. Another pretty sweet group worth checking. I haven’t really looked at them a lot but from a quick listen on iTunes, they sound interestingly new.

6)    Noisettes. Once again, music worth checking out.

These are the things that I marked with post-its while reading, and that’s just some of it. I didn’t mention a lot of fashion because a lot of higher end pieces were featured in this months issue due to the recently released fall/winter collections.

I hope I inspired you all to check out NYLON, my love, because it is truly my inspiration. A new post will be up soon, because my sporadic absences are ridiculous, so I apologize. And always remember, la vie est chic.

"Who likes my blue jeans?"

Jeans. I am an avid jean wearer, ask anyone. It's actually on the verge of ridiculous because not only have I managed to accumulate quite a random collection of jeans, I wore them all summer. I have slipped into the occasional dress and skirt, however I am anti-short kind of girl; I cannot explain the reason for this being, but I just am. I went shopping recently at the largest mall near me, and managed to add three new jean pieces to my wardrobe. As you have noticed, I have really focused a lot of my style on the "biker chic" look and I have loved that a lot of jean brands have incorporated that essence into their pieces.

H&M; this is a store I never truly payed any attention to, but is slowly becoming one of my favorite places to shop at. I ended up picking up a gray jean pencil skirt with an off center zipper in the front. I fell in love with this skirt because the zipper provided that sense of edge I love, but the pencil shape kept the skirt classic and clean. I also got the most amazing jean dress. It is a fitted, shapely jean dress is a light blue wash, and the top has a corset feel to it, which provides a modern edge to a vintage idea. I have already worn both, and have fallen in love with them...

Urban Outfitters; this store has been one of my favorites for quite some time, and you will see, that in future posts I will rely on pieces from here to convey what I am talking about. The crazy thing is that even when I go in just to browse, I manage to walk out of the store with multiple pieces I probably don't even need. This time I restrained myself and as I was rifling through the sales rack (the best part of any store!) I came upon a high wasted medium wash jean skirt with sailor-esque buttons, but somehow, the skirt gave off a very modern vide that was unexpected. Of course it was in my size and even though I had the underlying feeling I didn't need to try it on, I did, and voila! It fit and I felt amazing. I have already worn this number paired with a vintage Beatles tee and my black gladiators. I felt stunning, without a doubt.

I think the thing about jeans that really draws me in is that they are this fabric that is like a chameleon. You see celebrities wear them with oversized blazers and killer stilettos down the red carpet and then see the same fabric worn on a 2 year old playing at the park. This fabric, this look, is able to change from just pants to this a piece which grabs everyones attention. And as we examine jeans throughout the years, styles have changed, cuts have been altered, and washes have differed. But somehow, this fabric has stuck and managed to become a staple piece for ever person, flourishing into more than just clothing, but a ubiquitous piece than manages to embody the idea that fashion is truly universal and can extend itself to everyone on the earth. As Yves Saint Laurent said, "I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes."

vrrooom vrroom.

I am in love with the whole motorcycle, biker chic look that has taken over the fashion world. But lets just get it out of the way, whether or not you like Taylor Momsen (let me just say I love her! haha), she was one of the first that I saw to truly take this style to the next level. But she has stuck to it, and has now traveled deeper into the depths of chic biker girl, and it works!

Designers are now emerging with some killer looks that embody this trend in the full essence of what it is meant to represent. This look is powerful, provocative, and somehow manages to convey a level of class that is unexpected. It allows a woman to leave her house without looking polished, or like she spent hours getting ready; with a quick smoky eye, or a statement lipstick and messy, yet chic hair (of course!), a woman can work this trend. It involves lots of leather, suede, black and other darker colors, and metal; these things paired together used to mean dark, grunge (and not in the good way) but now this look is transformed into something new, a chic yet doable look for women everywhere, even if you can't buy the designers' looks.

H&M has a new line that personifies this look; I actually just got a gray jean skirt with a huge side set zipper on the front, I cannot wait to wear it! But check out this leather jacket:

Topshop, one of my all time favorite stores also has some killer leather jackets out, and the most expensive one is about $300, which for some style and awesome leather, isn't all that bad...this one is $260:

I hope you love this trend as much as I do, I just feel amazing when I look so edgy, I feel powerful and I admit, even "cool". Throw on some skinny jeans, a pair of killer heels, a tee, a sweet leather jacket, and your favorite Wayfarers, and you will look just as chic as any runway girl...

life is chic.

I thought I would dedicate my first blog entry to what we all are a part of: life. But even in this crazy, mixed up world, anywhere you look, you see fashion, you see art, you see the inner chic coming out of everyone, even if they don't see it themselves.

Fashion surrounds us, and as each designer takes their stand on what they see as the "in" and Anna Wintour proclaims which designer understands what is worth our time, these trends trickle and spread themselves everywhere. Displays windows change according to the seasons hottest looks, struggling designers alter their collection to fabricate the same essence that was shown on the runways (with their own twist of course), and the fashionsistas of this world?

We work the trends we care for into our everyday ensembles, even if we can't afford to buy the new drool worthy Yves Saint Laurent leather jacket. Everything in this world is fashioned to be appealing to the senses of each individual, and with out realizing it, no matter where one looks, fashion is there, style is there; and life is chic.