fffabulous

salinas swimwear

I always get so excited when my Brazilian girlfriends share their very favorite Brazilian swimsuit brands, because who's better equipped in the bathing suit department than them? Brazilian brands always offer the most sexy yet most comfortable styles around, and my dear friend, Miss G., revealed that she loves Salinas swimsuits the most. And honestly, judging by the designs they have on their website, I don't need much persuasion...I'm already tempted to click on multiple 'order' buttons. They are just sooo hot! But According to Miss G., Salinas swimsuits offer much more than just a pretty bikini:

"I really love their bathing suits because they are fashionable, flattering and durable. They are small indeed, after all you're dealing with a Brazilian brand here, but they are not scandalous and they do stay in place. I actually used to wear Salinas bikinis when I swam in the Masters Class. Even with constant use the colors don't fade and the seams don't fray. Salinas always comes up with new things, whether it's a new cut, print or hardware. All you need to do is pair them with a cute pair of Havaianas and you're all set! Not to mention that they make the most adorable bathing suits for men, so I get stuff for my hubby while I'm at it ;-)"

And may I add that you can find some of these fffabulous swimsuits on sale? I want them all!

saint grace dress

My friend Lisa was trying this very cute Saint Grace Meryl Halter Dress the other day at Romi Boutique. It is cute (yes, really) and very comfy (it's 100% modal), and simple, yet different. The neckline is absolutely adorable and creates nice flowing lines down the length of the dress; and it is really what makes this dress so special. This dress looks good 'as is' with flip flops or with a pair of jeans or leggings and flats. And it would look even better paired with giant sunglasses; I bet people would think you're one of those celebrities just hanging out, or traveling in style. And don't we all want to see how it feels to be a celebrity once in a while? Oh, and I wouldn't recommend getting this dress if you have big boobs, as you'd look totally pregnant; unless you are pregnant, of course. eh eh.

And btw, it's already sold out on revolveclothing.com. Doesn't it tell something? However, I prefer this Saint Grace dress in Clay. This color goes well with the casual look of the dress, and it'll enhance a nice gold tan.

fffaqs: where can I buy kasil jeans?

Hey there fffabulous girl!

I have a fashion question for you. I am always in search of jeans. I have own more than i need but don't all girls??? I was in long beach this past weekend and I tried on some kasil jeans for the first time. They fit super nice and I should have bought them, but I was feeling really bloated and was between sizes. Short story, I didn't buy them because i think they deserve to be more than just "bloated" jeans....hahah.  Do you know of a boutique around here that carries them?

- Bterkup

Hey hey Ms. Bterkup!

So nice to hear from you!!! So I have never heard of this jeans brand (shame on me!) but looking at them on their website, they look so hot!!! Okay, girl, I understand that when you're bloated, the last thing you want to do is try tight clothes on and spend the big bucks on a pair of awesome jeans (I agree that those jeans shouldn't be just bloated pants, not for that price) but the #1 rule I live by is: when you find something you really love and have no second thoughts about, just get it!! Because if you can't find it again, you'll be miserable. And aren't you right now??? Anyway, you can find the Kasil Jeans at the Drift Denim Boutique in Oakland (a very new boutique I still have to check out!) or online on revolveclothing.com or even on sale at vibetheboutique.com; if you remember which model you tried on, just order 2 sizes and return the one that doesn't fit! And when you get them, please let us know which one you got and why you love them so much. I do already love the pocket design (I am sure it makes a great butt) and the fact they are 34" to 36" inseam long. The longer the better!

-miss fffabulous

Send your questions to miss fffabulous at fffabulous -at- gmail -dot- com and get a chance to be featured on her fffaqs section. Oh, and 'how do I make more money to be able to buy all the stuff you feature on fffabulous.com?' doesn't count. Ha!

the louis of my dreams

I went to Miss Erica's graduation ceremony two weekends ago and one of her girlfriends, the super fffabulous No'el, was sporting an equally fffabulous Louis Vuitton Mahina XXL in white. I have dreamt of this purse for as long as it has existed, and No'el confirmed that it is indeed the hottest thing in town:

"If you want a bag that not only turns heads, but practically breaks necks, the Louis Vuitton Mahina XXL is the bag for you! I recently received the white version as a gift and I'm so happy with it. First and foremost, this is a BAG in every sense of the word...it's pretty large, and to be honest it sort of overpowers my 5'3" frame, but I love it nonetheless! This is the bag for women, like myself, who love to carry pretty much everything but the kitchen sink with them at all times! The other day I realized I had stuffed my Mahina with a spare pair of shoes, two books, two water bottles, wallet, makeup pouch, sunglasses case and a few other random items, and STILL had room to spare. It makes for an ideal travel or all-day bag which is exactly what I use it for. Aside from its practicality, it's absolutely beautiful!!! I have yet to take it anywhere without several ladies stopping to comment on it! It isn't gaudy or flashy, but rather its divine craftsmanship can't help but catch the eye. Unlike many of the recent Louis Vuitton creations, the bag has a more classic look that can be transitioned from day to night, summer to winter. Now yes, the price tag on the Mahina is pretty steep, I believe the XXL is slightly over $4,000, but I can attest to the fact that this bag is definitely worth every penny! Louis Vuitton really outdid themselves with the Mahina, and for the lucky ladies who get to wear it on their arms, you're sure to feel like a million bucks!"

silky smooth

Tiny bikinis and fancy sunscreens beg for ridiculously smooth legs, and this is really easy to achieve when you've got the right product. I love my new Schick Quattro For Women Razor; it is totally awesome and it's not just because it's pink (yeah, I know I love pink; the pinker the better!). This razor has four blades, which makes for an intimately close, smooth shave: you'll never need to shave over the same area twice, and therefore won't have to worry about cuts or razor burn since it's all gone the first time around. Also, you can easily skip a day, and you will always be razor-bump-free after each and every shave. Woohoo! Oh, and I got two Schick Quattro for Women Razors (one for my bathroom and one for my gym/swim bag) and a bunch of blade refills since I plan to show my legs more in the coming weeks/months. It's just the beginning of summer! Yay!

fffabulous sale: lauren moshi sweats

I've been wearing my Lauren Moshi black zebra sweatpants all winter and, well, let's just say that the guys like them more than I do sometimes. Ha! But now it's summertime, and white is officially the hot color to wear this season. So what's hotter than a gorgeous pair of sweatpants from Lauren Moshi herself but in white? Wait...it does get hotter, because they are on sale! So get these hot pure white Lauren Moshi Knight Sweats while they last, and you won't regret it. They feature an extra-long, flared cut, with knight and dagger emblems in black and silver on each leg. Love it!!!

bronze beauty

I am always on the lookout for the perfect sunscreen to protect my skin during the summertime. I have my personal favorites that I'll blog about soon, but I always love when girlfriends email me with their favorite brands, too. Masami discovered the Natura Bissé Barcelona Sun Defense line at Neiman Marcus, and since then, she can't stop talking about it:

"Did you make your summer plans already? Ha! I just came back from a well deserved vacation in the Carribeans and I am happy to now have the most amazing tan. For years I've had problems finding the perfect sunscreen. Coppertone, Clarins, and other organic brands...I tried them all. They each had some benefits and flaws and I just couldn't find my perfect match. This year I visited Neiman Marcus to see if the beauty consultants had some advice and I was introduced to a brand called Natura Bissé Barcelona. OMG, this brand is fffabulous! Light, silky, non-oily and smooth, I can't recommend a better brand. Natura Bissé Barcelona has all kinds of products in their Sun Defense line and it's the best smelling product I've come across in a long time. If you're heading for a tropical excursion, be sure to check this one out. If you're in the market for an aggressive tan, they have an SPF 2 that's only available in Europe, but you can buy online in the U.S. You won't regret the investment, take my word for it :-)"

be beach fffabulous

It's officially summer, and with it comes the daunting task of searching for the perfect swimsuit. My friend Mia mentioned that she gets hers custom made, and it this made me really curious because for one, I have never heard of such thing, and for two, this is a genius idea! Here is Mia's blurb on it:

"Zoe Bikini has just come out with a sassy, sexy and glamorous line for summer! The new collection is made in delicious and trendy colors such as fushia, bright cobalt, soft yellow and glamorous black and gold. A lot of the pieces you can mix and match as you please. And, if you don't happen to find anything on the rack, Zoe can custom-make a bikini for you. Hot pink (fushia) is just that – Hot! This summer, I love the details of the straps of the bikinis and the little metal details - just the right thing to dot the i and make it more than any plain old bikini. Prices are reasonable, more than what you are used to paying at H&M but it is worth it; having a bikini that you feel totally comfortable and sexy in!”

more magic with purell wipes

Okay, I make fun of Ms. Eileen for being so hygiene-sensitive, but she definitely has a point. We touch things all the time, and I personally don't want to carry germs around. Who does? I'm not a big fan of the hand sanitizer gel (it makes me feel like I'm spreading the germs around more so than killing them), and just prefer washing my hands as often as I can. But what does one do when there is no water and soap to be found? Ms. Eileen has the answer to this question (but of course!), and I sure will order a box of these wipes as soon as I have posted this blurb. Thanks Eileen!

"Another product that I just cannot live without is Purell Instant Hand Sanitizing Wipes. I love this product! One packette is small enough to just leave in your pocket – all day! Perfect for on-the-go sanitizing or emergency lunch meetings when you have no time to wash your hands. They are available in 5x7inch and 8x6inch but the 8x6inch wipes are really my all time favorite. I actually prefer this over the gel just because it's easier to carry plus you can also use it to wipe around you when you're at a restaurant or in an airplane. Of course frequent hand washing with soap is really the best I suppose but this product really provides an extra level of peace-of-mind and convenience! Stay clean!"

lysol 'magic' wipes

It wouldn't be spring cleaning week without a few spring cleaning 'accessories'. My colleague Eileen is totally obsessed with hygiene, to the point that it is even eelarious (yes, that's my French way of pronouning 'hilarious'.) Ms. Eileen was kind enough to recommend her very best friend, the Lysol Disinfecting Wipes with Micro-lock fibers Citrus Scent. I am sure she'll convince you that these wipes should also become your best friend:

"I'm sure you all have read horror stories about the amount of germs and bacteria that’s found in the most unlikely places. According to a University of Arizona study, scientists found that phone receivers had 25,000 bacteria per square inch, desktops had 21,000 bacteria per square inch, while toilet seats had only 49 bacteria per square inch.

Yeeew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Granted the study was partially funded by a company that makes disinfecting wipes, they nonetheless, found that if you used anti-bacterial wipes, you can drop the bacteria count as much as 99.9%!!! I personally use Lysol Disinfecting Wipes with Micro-lock fibers Citrus Scent daily on my desk and phone at work. The Micro-lock fibers make the wipes very strong and stay strong even on a variety of hard surfaces – cubical surfaces can be really rough!  And the citrus scent is not so harsh – obviously in a cubed environment, you have to be very sensitive with scents. Plus it also cleans!!! My cube mates have learned to love this product as well and now wipe down their desks weekly...er, ok...maybe monthly...ok ok...maybe when I nag them about it."

fffabulous show: what not to wear

I am totally in love with this show--and with Stacy London and Clinton Taylor, too. What Not To Wear is one of the coolest shows on TV these days, and it's not just because it's all about fashion...okay, well, maybe it is! I love how they don't try to change people with diets (it is not about weight; it is about "the fit"), plastic surgery, and intense workouts. They instead build off of a woman's already existing –-yet often times hidden-- strengths and qualities, such as her amazing waistline and/or fffabulous boobs. And let's be honest, no diet will ever make us look like Cindy or Naomi.

I always get stressed out when I see the poor woman wander around clothing and shoe stores in search for the perfect blouses, pants, dresses and shoes (seriously, I would be terrified if I were not a fashion expert and I had it all wrong so far). However, I do like the make-up sessions when they feature hair-makeovers and eyebrow waxing sessions. And let me tell you, it seriously changes people's faces! New wardrobe, new look and most importantly, new confidence! So ladies, get those boxes out and fill them up with all those out-of-shape or out-of-trend clothes you wear out of convenience, and treat yourself to a pair of nice heels or flats that you truly deserve! And here are Stacy and Clinton's fashion tips if you can't wait for tonight's show.

And I love that they use the "fff" word so often during the show. fffabulous, that is.

fffabulous sale: dior cannage peep-toe ballerina

This is this time of the year when sales are coming left and right and don't we all love it?

One of my girlfriends fell for these gorgeous Christian Dior Cannage Peep-Toe Ballerinas in black with silver stitches, and I have to agree that they are totally adorable. As you all know, I am a huge fan of Dior shoes, mainly because their pumpheel is always so elegant, high, and SO stable. Well, these are flat and they are nonetheless classy and --of course-- super stable too. Ha! I also love how the silver stitching adds a nice, sophisticated touch to a classic pair of flats. Plus the "C" and "D" charms on this pair make them totally cute and irresistible! And did I mention they are on sale??? Go get them before they sell out!

a fffabulous file box

I have been good at keeping my wardrobe clutter-free lately since my clothes are worth it (gotta take care of those expensive tees and jeans, right?), but I am a total disaster when it comes to keeping my paperwork, invoices, etc. in order. Documents and magazines pile up on top of my coffee table or next to my bed until I pretty much decide to get rid of them altogether or shove t hem all into one of my kitchen drawers. After reading Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, I decided that it was time to get a filing cabinet and start being disciplined about becoming more organized. I went to Crate & Barrel the other day and got this beautiful File Box with Hinged Lid in chocolate brown faux leather. I probably could have gotten a cheaper storage system at any other department store, but I needed to treat myself with something classy yet practical to motivate me. I am now diligent at filling it up with invoices and receipts right when I get them, I throw away unnecessary papers from the mail as soon as they land on my desk, and I even have a special folder for magazine articles and fffabulous products I want to buy.

Don't I deserve the clutter-free queen title already?

hang on to fffabulous stuff

The other day, I decided to clean up my wardrobe. I bought a lot of clothes recently (which is obviously fffabulous.com's fault!), and my closet couldn't handle the extra fat anymore. So I thoroughly went through my wardrobe and tried on every piece of clothing I hadn't worn in ages (click here for practical tips on how to declutter your wardrobe). It took some courage to get rid of some items, but seriously, with all the cute stuff coming out every single month, why worry? I kept the clothes that I wear often and brought the rest to my local charity. I felt so good! Yet, something was still missing: my lovely clothes didn't behave well around my old wire hangers, so I decided to go on a trip to Ikea to get nice hangers that would keep the shape of my beloved sweaters, expensive tees, and stunning dresses. And I didn't regret that trip because I got to shop shop shop without spending too much money.

I got the PROPP clothes-hangers to hang all my sweaters, dress shirts, and dresses, which --of course-- they all look fffabulous on. And for $2.99 per pack of 8 hangers, it is worth stocking up on these. I also got the absolutely fffantastic HEMLIS coat-hangers to hang all my tees. Not only are they perfect when I air dry my tees, they also stack well when empty. Genius! I think I got close to 60 of them, but for their price ($0.49 for 5 – yes, that's not even 10 cents per hanger), I didn't have to think twice. And I got the BUMERANG skirt hangers to hang all my pants and skirts.

Overall, I feel like I have a totally new wardrobe, and it takes no time in the morning to select what I'm going to wear that day. fffabulous!

no country for old stuff

Okay, although it feels like summer, it's technically still springtime. And spring rhymes with spring cleaning (yes, that was easy!). And if you're like me, you may need a bit of encouragement to proceed with this task. If so, I may just have the best trick to get you started. Lucky you!

I discovered Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston a couple of years ago, and it is one of those books I just keep reading over and over again. Although the title mentions Feng Shui as a method to reorganize your living space, this book touches only very briefly on making your home more Feng Shui compliant (but it's still a great book to learn about the basics of Feng Shui). Karen explains that the more order you create into your life--through getting rid of all that crap you've been accumulating over the years, the better your life will become, and the more energy you'll have. This book also helps you become more detached from material things, starting with those things you don't use anymore, and how ridding yourself of them will only create space for brand new and more vibrant things in your life. A couple of months ago, I followed Karen's advice and donated three sweatpants I hadn't worn in two years. It took me a while to get myself to do this because they carried memories I didn't want to let go of, but as soon as I did, I came across these sexy sweatpants, and I had to get them. Okay, so I spent a little money in the process, but now I enjoy wearing my new sweatpants every single weekend, and I feel even more fffabulous in them than I did in my old pairs. As difficult as it can be to get rid of old stuff, I say 'go for it!', and you'll experience some 'joie de vivre' you've never experienced before. Yay!

So are you ready for some serious Spring Cleaning to make place for the new? (And by 'new', it could mean a sexy new pair of shoes or a brand new purse.)