fffabulous

fall fashion fever

Fall is officially here, Fashion Week is happening in Paris this week (yay!), and the newest issues of our fffavorite fffashion magazines have just hit the stands. Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar–you name it!—all feature the latest fashion trends and what we should and are going to wear this winter. And that's so exciting!

But this also means that we'll all end up browsing ultra thick magazines with tons of beautiful ads and fashion spreads. And to me, this is quite a physical task in itself; I never managed to casually and single-handedly browse these magazines, or I'd take the risk to lose the page I was looking at, and nobody wants this to happen, right? How do you feel about ultra thick fashion magazines?

free people shoulder top

I LOVE this Free People Soft Jersey Girl Slouch Shoulder Top. The style of this top is unique and so fffabulous with its 4" banding and ruching at its wide neck and 5" banding and ruching at its bottom hem. The soft plum color is totally awesome too (and so trendy this season!) and looks great on everyone. Last but not least, it is super versatile: you can wear this shoulder top with capri jeans and flip flops on weekends, or with skinny jeans and flats or boots to go out; and you can wear it on or off shoulder, which is totally cool!

Oh, and talking about skinny jeans, I just discovered a pair that is totally awesome and ones I would actually wear; you may have noticed that I have never blogged about skinny jeans thus far, so this promises to be very good!

a fffabulous guy week teaser

Many of you have requested to have another fffabulous guy week, and I am happy to announce that it's coming very soon! I am very excited about it since it's gonna be, well, fffabulous!

In the meantime, I'll go ahead and share a fffabulous tee I've recently come across and that you might love, especially if you are into soccer or if your team has won the last World Cup (that wouldn't be me on both fronts. Ha!). Brett got this Bambast Tee at the Ted Baker store and I absolutely love it. It is classic and fun without being over the top –in the spirit of the caffeine shirt. And you can't go wrong with navy blue either!

Oh, and you SO have to have it if you are a foosball (or babyfoot!) master...and I know many of you are!

Enjoy and stay tuned for another fffabulous guy week—to be featured soon!

dylan george jeans

I have found yet another pair of jeans —and jean brand—that is worth trying and 'investing in'. I tried the Dylan George Elizabeth Bootcut Jeans in Baron the other day, and I fell for them right away. They may even end up being the jeans I'll be wearing all winter long. Here is why I love them so much:

• They are extra long with a 35" inseam —a big prerequisite in my books; it is always easier to hem them if they are too long than to have them look too short with your favorite pair of shoes (a big fashion no-no)
• They have a nice dark wash —this is the perfect wash for winter time, whether to wear at work or for a nice dinner out around town
• They are stretchy without being too stretchy with 98% cotton and 2% lycra —I love that they are tight at the legs without being that tight at the waist/hips, so there won't be any 'muffin top' showing when you wear tight tees with those jeans. Hooray!
• They make your butt and legs look amazing —I noticed this right when I got out of the dressing room, especially after hearing all those 'oohs' and 'aahs' coming at me
• The back pockets have a super nice design and a brown/gold color stitching that will look great with my Loeffler Randall boots and Louis Vuitton purse
• They were designed by fashion mogul Danny Gueze —Danny started his own luxury lifestyle brand Dylan George after helping launch and establish William Rast and People's Liberation, two other amazing jean brands

All in all, those Dylan George jeans are classy, comfy, ultra flattering and different from any other brands out there. When you'll wear those, all you'll keep hearing is: 'but where did you get those fffabulous jeans?'. And don't we all love that???

Oh, and they fit true to size, so if you are a 27 in Citizens, you'll be a 27 in those Dylan George jeans.

must-have camisoles

Talking about camisoles, every woman should have a couple of those stocked in her wardrobe. Why? Because you don't realize how much you will need them until the day you actually do–and you will (if not already!). So when you find a camisole you like, buy a couple in white, black and nude—at the very minimum—to wear underneath sheer tops, and perhaps one in a fun color to spice up a classic outfit, too.

Commando camis are great: they are sleek, strappy, stretchy and simple, just how we like them–and need them to be, too! I also love the GapBody essential featherweight camis; they are light (like featherweight light), stretchy and cheap, too ($10 instead of $14.50 each). Or you can also get the GapBody new support camis with interior shelf bra for added support, but I personally prefer–and recommend—the plain cami as I don't believe a thin piece of fabric is as effective as a real bra. But that's just me!

botkier for target® wristlet

This is the second time I heard about Botkier, and featured this brand on fffabulous.com. The first time, my friend Lisa was wearing those really cute metallic sandals with a black jumper. And now, Masami showed up to one of our dinner parties with the classiest wristlet, and it was from Botkier too! And when she told me where she got it (Target!) and how much she paid for it ($19.99!), I thought there might be some hope that, one day, I may do all of my shopping at Target, and buy an entire outfit for less than what I currently pay for one pair of jeans. That day may be in a very distant future though.

Back to this adorable metallic clutch...the Botkier for Target® Wristlet – Rose is totally fffabulous, with its pink metallic color (so in!), cotton lining and zip pocket; it'll look terrific during a night out with a pair of jeans or an all-black dress, or even on weekends with a more casual outfit to go to the grocery store. It is also available in gunmetal and goldtone but I like the pink color the best, because it is more versatile and subtle. And since it is your lucky day, it is now available for a mere $13.99. Yay!

I also learned that Loeffler Randall did Loeffler Randall for Target® earlier this year. Loeffler Randall  happens to be my favorite shoe brand this winter. I may have to swing by Target more often from now on, and take a pick at their designer brands while shopping for home supplies.

louis vuitton stephen sprouse shawl

I love leopard (or cheetah) print in all forms and shapes: shoes, tees, sarongs, and coats –you name it! And my latest acquisition proves it once again. On my last trip to Maui, I happened to visit the Louis Vuitton store. It was conveniently located next to our hotel, so why not check it out? Of course, I had no intention whatsoever to get anything (for those of you who know me well and/or read my blog, you must know that the last thing I need these days is yet another accessory branded LV). But I figured it didn't cost anything to just look, right? BIG MISTAKE! I entered the store, took a peek at the purses and accessories, such as those gorgeous bangles I know oh so well. Everything was okay until a leopard shawl nicely placed on a mannequin caught my eye. And I HAD TO HAVE IT!

This Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Shawl is gorgeous: long, light, luxurious (gotta do the 'lll' after the 'fff', ha!) and made of cashmere. I absolutely love the leopard print (such a classy classic in my books) and the subtle purple Louis Vuitton Graffiti signature on one end –you can show it off or not, your choice. And I love it that celebrities such as Keira Knightley have adopted this fffabulous shawl, too.

fffabulous sale: joie top on bluefly.com

I would have never picked this Joie porcelain linen 'Merlot' scoopneck top by myself. I love fitted tops, so when the lady at romi boutique told me I should tried it on, I just politely replied: 'no, thank you'. But I was intrigued; so the next time I stopped by, I asked to try it on, and I was sold! It may not be fitted, this top is still a great top, and it will look fffabulous as is with a nice pair of jeans or with a large belt for a more sophisticated look. Its porcelain color is just exquisite, and its rolled raglan sleeves with button straps give it something special. It is semi-sheer, so I recommend you wear a white cami underneath. And it is made of linen, so please do not wash it yourself! I know it's a bummer to have to bring this top to the dry cleaner each time you wear it, but that's the price to pay to wear fffabulous clothes sometimes. And talking about price, this Joie porcelain linen 'Merlot' scoopneck top is on sale for $77 instead of $128. That's 40% off! Yay!

a fffabulous idea: flattenme.com

Kids love books. They love to be read to, listen to beautiful stories, and look at colorful pictures and funny animals. But they'll love it even more if they can become the hero of those amazing stories. This happens to be exactly what flattenme.com is all about, and this is absolutely fffabulous: Choose your story (we love the potty dance, and the magical under-the-sea adventure), upload your child's photo, and you are all set to make your child the happiest child on Earth.

I discovered flattenme.com back in December while reading sfbaystyle.com (it made The Today Show too), and I was wowed by this children's book concept right away...What an amazing idea, and what a precious gift to give to a child. Go get one for your child, your niece or nephew or your friends' child now. They'll love it and they'll love you for it!

my special tree

fffabulous baby week may be over, but I still have a few fffabulous baby things to talk about. So here we go! Children's books are very dear to me because reading to a child is much more than just reading a story. It is about creating a bond with your children and snuggling and cuddling with them while reading their favorite books; it is also about developing children's brain connections since they are so influenced by these repetitive positive actions when they are read to. So, all in all, I am a big fan of reading to kids, and therefore of children's books.

I heard of the My Special Tree children's book through a friend, and I had to meet its author, Raki Desai. Raki used to be a teacher at an elementary school; she is an avid reader herself, and she loves children books. Raki wanted to write something special, that 'special book' that would be appealing to everyone: a transitional book that not only kids would enjoy, but one that much older children would also love while getting its message and the meaning behind the whole story, too. I have to admit that I liked this because I always hear of parents who have children of different ages that do not know how to please them all. Problem solved!

Do you want to know more about My Special Tree? Well, here it is (highly simplified and without all the cute illustrations from Dylan Pecro, an up-and-coming illustrator): My Special Tree is about a young girl who has a tree that is very dear to her; she writes stories under her tree all the time, and as she gets older, she has to go to college and leave her tree behind. While in college, she gets to study architecture and after graduating, she gets to do her dream job: build a toy store (kids will love it!). The issue is that the company wants to use the land where her tree is!!! After much debate and letters to the company, they finally agree to build the toy store around that special tree. Yay!

I love every stage of the book, as it can really relate to so many children: children who have something or someone special in their life, such as a pet or a book; children who are starting school and are facing a transition; children who can understand what it is like to have a conflict and know how to weigh the pros and cons of a decision; and even us adults! Another great thing about this book is that it is a nice reminder that every single tree is indeed special, and every single tree counts!

My Special Tree is the first book that Raki wrote and published, and it is a very special book! Thanks Raki!

mini uggs

UGG boots are cool. But UGG boots for little kids are even cooler, and they are just plain cuter. I would buy a pair 'just because' the UGG Toddler's Classic Boots look so precious. And even though they are expensive, your baby will probably wear them for a long time since they do stretch over time...okay, maybe not for a couple of years, but at least long enough to learn that UGG boots are definitely the way to go. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Kingston Rossdale, Gwen Stefani's adorable son, wears them too!

Who would have thought that I would feature so many pairs of shoes during fffabulous baby week? Not me!!!

ffface-a-ffface with melanie notkin of savvyauntie.com

fffabulous baby week wouldn't be fffabulous baby week without a word about this fffabulous site called savvyauntie.com. savvyauntie.com launched in beta back in July 2008 and is meant for all of you ladies who are totally mad for your nieces or nephews and friends' kids, and who want a place online where you can talk about them (and yes totally show them off!) and feel safe to ask questions about kids, their health, nutrition, and even what they're into these days. What a fffabulous idea! Melanie Notkin, savvyauntie.com founder and a PANK herself (as in Professional Aunt No Kids), was generous enough to spend some time with us to discuss what savvyauntie.com is all about, and I so love what she has to say. Thanks Melanie!

Oh, and this blog post is our first ffface-a-ffface post, the first of a series of fffun interviews with entrepreneurs (or should I say auntrepreneurs?), fashion designers, etc. Yay!

What should a savvyauntie check out first?

savvyauntie.com consists of four different sections: the expertise section, the activities section, the gift ideas section and the community section. All sections are great (of course!) but I'd recommend that aunties check out the community section first to get a sense of what other savvy aunties talk about on our message boards: they discuss what they often do for and with their nephews and nieces, e.g. what perfect gifts they do get them or what they consider a special day with the kids are, etc. The community can also help an auntie with information about health and nutrition, special needs, coaching, as well as law and finance, such as how to become a legal guardian, etc.

What's the perfect gift a savvyauntie should get for her niece or nephew?

There is no perfect gift. Every child is different and, at the end of the day, it shall be about what the child wants. In fact, it is not even about the dollar amount you put in the gift, or the number of bells and whistles on the toy you choose; it is about listening to what the child wants, about the gift that fits his personality. But you need to keep in mind that a child may tell you what he or she wants at this very moment, but a month from now, 5 new other things might pop up.

What I like about gift giving is that a real bond can be created that way, as well as an opportunity for mentorship. A savvyauntie can be into green stuff, and influence the kid to appreciate sustainable goods, or a professor and give the child a development tool; there is really no right answer, and it is for you to decide what is right for the child and what you can bring him or her based on your passion, skills, etc.

What is your idea of the perfect baby shower gift?

If you focus on the child, focus on something that the mother is not likely to buy for her baby. I like giving a cashmere sweater, or a cashmere blanket; because even a baby deserves a dose of luxury, and an auntie can provide that! (miss fffabulous here: I totally agree with Melanie! Love the cashmere sweater/blanket idea!)

What is your idea of the perfect activity to do with kids?

Fall is coming and apple picking is my favorite activity by far at this time of the year because it always turns into a day full of fun and diverse activities. You start with a trip in the car, pick the apples together, and then go home to bake that special apple pie or that sweet apple sauce. How great is that? And throughout the day, you take a lot of pictures and end up creating a scrapbook that captures all those fun moments spent together. This very simple activity ends up creating experiences and fond memories for the child to remember for many many years.

Anything else?

I will never emphasize enough the power of our community. We created auntiepedia for all aunties to reveal the savvy aunties they already are; for them to create and share their own content, skills and knowledge. We know that every auntie is *very* good at something, and we want aunties to share their savoir-faire on auntiepedia for the benefit of other equally knowledgeable aunties. We also have a very successful forum where aunties can ask questions about issues they haven't found on auntiepedia.

Any final words of wisdom to share with our fffabulous readers?

What I hope is that each and every single auntie will find answers to her questions at every stage of her life and for every special needs that she has, so that a savvy auntie can hopefully cope with anything that comes her way when interacting with her nephews and nieces. We teach savvyaunties how to complement the parents, in a way that is beneficial to the kids; by providing safety guidelines when hanging out with the kids and by providing tools, so that a child feels loved and happy around them at all times.

monkey toes shoes

Oh, after a round of great gift ideas for one year olds (thanks Jaime!), here is a fffabulous recommendation for adorable baby shoes for two year old 'ladies' from my friend Luciana:

"Hello Ms fffabulous, How are you? I have a recommendation for you! Eduarda got a pair of shoes for her 2nd birthday...and as soon as I opened the box, she jumped at it (for a girl who loves to be barefoot, that was pretty unusual.) These shoes are so cute and so soft, I immediately went online to check the Monkey Toes site...and to my surprise...Suri Cruise has a pair, they have been featured on Oprah, etc. And they are only $29/pair (about $35 with s/h). They are so cute...I bought 7 pairs for her. Hope all is well. XOXO, Luciana."

Hmmm, seems like Eduarda (a.k.a. Baby E) is already one fffabulous fffashionista, and I absolutely *love* it! And I sure would love to own seven pairs of Manolos myself. Ha!

coco stylewood™ baby lounger

So if you're expecting and you're not sure you want a big pink plastic 'thing' in the middle of your living room, or if you simply want to impress your friends and show up with the coolest baby shower gift (perhaps you've already given the Tiffany Teething Ring Rattle at another baby shower and want to re-invent yourself a bit), I've got exactly what you're looking for! You have got to get the Coco Stylewood™ Baby Lounger; The Coco Stylewood™ Baby Lounger is truly beautiful–and probably comfy too–and it's not too expensive either (relatively speaking, of course). I honestly thought it was worth $500, so imagine my surprise when I found out it did 'only' cost $200 on giggle.com. That's the price of a pair of jeans. Sold!!! And the coconut/white color will go perfectly with your friends' Roche Bobois furniture. Eh eh! But it also exists in a lot of other classy colors. Check them out; they all look so cool!

I am fully aware that this is the Summum of baby sophistication, but I think it is just too cute of an accessory to pass on. And think about it–the colors are not gender specific, so whether your friends decided not to find out the gender of their baby, or if baby #2 is a girl and you already have boy--you're all good!

fffabulous sale: baby jak blankets

Baby Jak Classic Baby Blankets and Snuggle Blankets are the softest baby blankets ever. I have bought many of these blankets since I first blogged about them back in October 2007, and I even ship them to France when my friends welcome a bundle of joy in their life.

And it gets better, you can save 20% off all Baby Jak and The Softest Blanket Ever Blankets, by entering the coupon code holiday at checkout. Yay!

Note that the offer is valid on in-stock items only and expires on September 17, 2008.