I Am Recessionista MakeUp Spree

After months of anticipation and being thrifty, I finally gave in today and spent $ on my favorite makeup and fragrances must-haves. It wasn't a planned affair, I was supposed to just get my routine brow wax. My dear eye brow wax girl informed me of a secret - one that I plan to keep and one that benefits me in every way possible! I got them at a huge discount, which is the only reason why I (Recessionista) will be willing to part with the $.

These are just some of the items I got today. There are more, but my fingers are too tired to type. These should be good eye candy.

I Love Boots Part 1

I don't even know where to start to blog about my obsession with boots. I love boots of all kinds and shades and colors and style....from thigh-highs and knee-highs to mid-calfs and ankle booties. I wanted to announce that these four pairs of boots are my recent acquisitions and also my first time buying boots that are non-leather and non-branded. My oh my, I am totally surprised with their quality. If I didn't tell you this, you probably wouldn't have guessed that every one of these styles cost around $50 or less! My most favorite is the last pair - which essentially can be worn 2 different ways!

Recessionista Review: Carlos Falchi for Target

The long anticipated wait for cheap designer chic from my favorite store Target is finally here. I am talking about Carlos Falchi. The famous designer known for his exquisite exotic skin handbags that can cost more than your rent. In my previous blog entry, I promised to post photos of the Carlos Falchi for Target photos, so here you go.

I have been eying the little purple fellow in the center, and so I went and checked it out in person. As I walked towards the accessories department, I saw this huge signage and I headed straight for it. From a distance, the purple cross-body bag looked so enticing!

As I leaned forward to grab the purple bag, I realized that I was actually touching a plastic piece of patchwork. All I can is one word - Disappointment.

Maybe I was expecting too much, secretly hoping that this will be a real investment at a steal price of $24.99. I knew it wasn't going to be real snakeskin, but I guess I didn't expect it to be so glossy and plasticy. In my many years of being a Fashionista, I can now say that when it comes to handbags, you get what you pay for. For $24.99, I believe other Fashionistas out there might appreciate it more than I do. Clothing on the other hand, I can still get by with cheaper options of designer couture. Thank goodness! If not, I don't think I can remain a Recessionista.

My Photo Shoot for the Ann Taylor "The New Ann" Campaign

Ann Taylor, a brand I knew since I was a teen. My Mom and Aunts were patrons of this businessy women's clothing brand. Did you know that the brand Ann Taylor was derived because "Ann" represented a very New England name, and "Taylor" evoked the image of tailored clothing. When I graduated from college, I got myself three suits for interviewing. One of them was from Ann Taylor that I paid $300 for it. I must say it was worth every cent because it was well-tailored and survived many of my business travels. To me, Ann Taylor was where I shopped when I needed a good suit or a nice pair of slacks.

Not until recently during New York Fashion Week, I was approached by an Ann Taylor personnel to do a photo shoot makeover for their new image campaign "The New Ann". The location for the shoot was Union Square where hundreds of passer-bys watched as I posed for the camera.

Picking out outfits for Me

I was quick taken aback when I saw the pieces that Ann Taylor Style Director Kristin Rawson was picking out for me to model. Many of the pieces didn't look like they were from the Ann Taylor that I once knew. Quite honestly, I think some pieces can pass off as Elie Tahari (which I did mention during my interview at the photo shoot).

Ann Taylor Style Director Kristin & Me

After a pleasant surprise from Ann Taylor, I decided to check out their Fall/Winter 2009 Collection, and my oh my, what did I find? Fabulous luxe pieces for under $50! These are just two of my favorites, but they should give you a good idea of The New Ann.

Recessionista's Halloween

I haven't been blogging for a while due to my busy work schedule, but I decided that a blog post before Halloween is blog worthy. Prior years, my Halloween costumes were Dragon Geisha, Lara Croft Tomb Raider, Alex Munday (played by Lucy Liu) from Charlie's Angels, and the list goes on. All these costumes sit in my wooden chest in storage now.

This is the first year that I decided not spend a dime on my Halloween costume. Prior years since I can't even remember when, I have been going out every single year to shop for a Halloween costume. 2009, I decided to be a good Recessionista and take what I have in my closet, use my creativity and Voila! I have my Halloween costume! I am going to be an Old Hollywood Starlet. My decision was mainly influenced by the Alfred Hitchcock movies and black and white movies I watched recently.

To keep you in suspense, I will post photos of my Halloween costume sometime this weekend. :D Stay tuned!