Biker Chick Chic

If there's an item to buy this Fall in an effort to update your cold weather digs, it's the biker jacket. Get the edgy look by pairing a biker or motorcyle jacket with your jeans, skirts, and dresses. Spend wisely and invest in a 100% real leather biker jacket in black to start. Trust me, you'll wear it season after season. I've had my Kenneth Cole biker jacket for 7 years now and it's still in fantastic shape. Already have that cool biker jacket in your closet and ready for a new color this season? Opt for a brown biker jacket. The look is soft, yet edgy and pairs nicely with the brown riding boots you MUST rock this fall and winter.

Basic black that's fitted and quilted. Snag the look at Victoria's Secret for only $178!

Levi's is always an American classic. Choose from black or brown from Urban Outfitters for just under $300.

Because sometimes it's not cold enough to rock the leather. Get the same edgy look with this knit moto jacket available at Urban Outfitters for only $59.

Members Only nixed their iconic nylon numbers and updated the look with camel color leather. Get this hot number at Urban Outfitters for $250.

White is a nice change from the typical black biker jacket. At Urban Outfitters for a cool $128.

Slim fit in basic black at Piperlime for $215.

For under $150, get this number and instantly turn all your flirty summer dresses into fall and winter wearables.

Parfum Chic

Perfume bottles are as feminine as the women with the boudoir vanity display of them. And like women, perfume bottles come in every shape and size imaginable. From very round, to tall and narrow, to square shaped, there really is no limit to the perfume bottle's design. All are beautiful in their own way. Beautiful on the outside? Yes. But, the real beauty comes within. So, never leave the house without a little spritz.

"Spray perfume where you want to be kissed." - Coco Chanel

Mirror, Mirror On and Off The Wall

I love mirrors. No, not for vanity's sake, but used purposely in design. Whether hung, lying against a wall, or incorporated into the furnture's own aesthetic, there's a million and one ways to create an illusion with a little glam. Have a large blank wall? Create the perfect headboard with a proportionately sized mirror strategically placed behind your bed. Off the wall, (and I'm not referring to my favorite Michael Jackson album) mirrored accent pieces are subtly glamourous.

Workout...Don't Phone It In!

As the days get shorter, the mornings darker, and longer workdays happen, it seems there's just not enough time to get in a good run in the neighborhood or stairs at the park in the daylight. Days like these, I turn to workout DVDs. Sometimes, the best workouts are done at home. My favorite and most challenging DVD workouts are by The Biggest Loser personal trainer Jillian Michaels. The ICM talent agent turned primetime personal trainer's short routines are easy to follow. The "30 Day Shred" (available on Amazon) is 3 20 minute workouts incorporating cardio, strength, and abs. Each of the workouts coupled with some good cardio will take the place of having to spend hours in the gym. Now, you have no excuse if you can't make it to the gym. Don't phone it in!

You Nailed It

Polished nails are oh so pretty. There's nothing worse than a cheap nail polish that doesn't dry within a few minutes, chips by day 2, and is just the wrong shade of pink or red. And, don't even get me started on those women with vanity nail designs. They're kind of like vanity rims on a car. Like, the intention is good and all, but somehow the final outcome is a bit cheap looking.

I've tried them all. From Revlon, to Wet 'n Wild, to Nars, Chanel, Mac, OPI, Essie, and Sally Hansen, there's been some hits and some major misses in the nail polish options on the market. I'm VERY particular about what I put on my nails. Especially finger nails.

Like clothes, nail color speaks volumes about your style and personality. Not everyone can pull off a fire engine red nail. Personally, reds should only be worn on a very short square cut nail. Otherwise, the look borders on call girl-ish. Dark purples and vamps are best suited for the fall and winter. Pinks and nudes are perfect for special occassions like weddings or when your outfit is taking center stage.

On the other hand or foot, have fun with pedicures. Go footloose and fancy free with toe nail color. But, dont' go without it. EVER. Period. There's nothing more disheveled than an unpolished toe nail. It's for the boys. Straight up. For $20, many salons will do a mani/pedi in an hour. Even during a recession, you too can forgo something for a $20 visit to the nail place atleast once a month at the minimum.

Here's a few of my favorite nail colors

CHANEL Vamp - It's the original vamp shade and goes on smooth and dries in a jiffy. LOVE IT!

OPI Big Apple Red - Because every woman should own their own bottle of the perfect shade of red for an instant home nail makeover on the fly.

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark - While this shade is better suited for twenty-somethings, it's a great wintertime nail color next to an untanned hand for that vintage look.

NARS Schiap - This one was a gift to me in college. It is the best shade of pink, perfect for summer, very complimentary to a tan. NARS polishes are hands down (no joke) the best nail polish on the market. Dries fast, chip-proof even without a top coat.

Essie Mademoiselle - Ever need a color, without the colored look? This one does this trick. It's polished, yet doesn't take the spotlight. Perfect for weddings.

Halloween Costumes

Around this time in LA, is just about my favorite time of year. Halloween is 2 weeks away and this year, I'm going to dress up! I was in Chicago last year for a friend's wedding, so I didn't get into the Halloween spirit. Over the years, I've been many characters...an 80s partied out tennis player, goth girl, and a Playboy bunny to name a few. There's something so exciting about dressing up as something completely out of character for a night and watching others parade around doing the same. I always get a kick out of how many of us still dress up as if we were kids going out trick or treating in the neighborhood. Like, for one night, it's completely normal to see dudes dressed in drag, a super conservative friend in a "sexy" cop costume, or someone wearing a little bit too revealing of a costume when they shouldn't. Halloween really is a no age limit holiday and those that don't dress up are just no fun!

So, instead of procrastinating until October 30 this year to throw together a costume, my sister and I made a trip to the costume store. So many options...sexy cop, sexy cowgirl, sexy beer girl, sexy nurse, and so on. You get the picture. Put the word "sexy" in front of anything and you've got yourself a costume! I even mistook the teen girl costume section as women's because they were bordering on sexy. What is this? For one day, it's an excuse to dress up in the most skimpy outfit and it's OK. No one will think twice.

So after I realized that I couldn't try a "sexy" costume on over jeans and a T, I decided to hold off on spending $50 on a crop top, booty short type costume until I could see the full effect. The wig section on the other hand, was SO much more fun. There's the used car salesgirl wig, the 80s rocker chick wig, the Cecilia wig, the truckdriver mullet wig, and the list goes on and on. Feel like being a redhead for the night? There's a wig for you. Feel like channelling your inner Joan Jett? There's one for you. And the wigs aren't cheap. Some will set you back a cool $40 not to mention adding in the time spent styling the mangled tresses to look like the packaging's picture. Have fun!

So, here are some of my favorite costume ideas...

German Beer Girl

Shoot Em Up Cowgirl

FBI Agent

Flashdance

Punk rock chick

Shaken Not Stirred

Over the years, my drinking palette has changed. In high school, I could drink Natural Light beer with ease. As a teen, it's easy to throw back a few beers at backyard parties every weekend and NOT get that dreaded beer belly. When I went to college, I moved into vodka tonics as a refreshing cocktail in the hot Arizona weather and I'd order comforting Jack and cokes when the weather turned cold, which was almost never.

After college, Red Bull Vs were my favorite, then I ventured into different wines. At some point, it was a fun to pop a bottle of bubbly, either sparkling wine or Champagne. Most of which was sparkling wine. I'm a stickler for calling sparkling wine Champagne. If it's not from the Champagne region of France, it's NOT Champagne.

There were few occasions at family dinners, when I would try my mom's vodka martini with an olive. One sip, and I could never quite get into the bitter all alcohol taste. Maybe they were dirty martinis, of which, I don't like sipping olive juice. Steakhouses like Mastro's or Ruth's Chris will serve up a blue cheese stuffed olive martini, which pairs perfectly with a petite filet. Oooohhhh, my mouth is watering.

Lately wine, mainly reds, give me a headache and allergies. It's those histamines. I'm staying away for now or atleast the weather cools off. So, I decided that if I was going to have 1 drink with dinner, it would be a vodka martini shaken. I suppose if you can only have 1 drink, it might as well not be a watered down vodka soda or an overpriced glass of 2 buck chuck type wine followed by a catnap.

When I saw the Ultimat Martini listed on the drink menu at Bottega Louie, I ordered it. The cocktail was refreshing not bitter, and with olives not stuffed with those pimentos. I hate those pimento anyways. They ruin the olive taste. The martini glass was a bit on the small side. Not like the large martini glasses served at Mastro's, but suitable for a 1 drink kind of night.

I think next time I'm going to ask for Grey Goose vodka. I don't do Dutch or Russian vodkas, so I won't be ordering Ketel One or Stoli. Count me out. Ultimat vodka is Polish, so maybe that's why I took a liking to last night's martini. Nonetheless, my drink of choice is ever changing with my mood, age, and season. Kind of like, I never choose the password retrieval question that asks, "What is your favorite drink?" I would have to take several guesses at that and always find it quite amusing that that's actually one of the options. So, a martini it is, for now atleast.

Dressed Smart Like a London Bloke...

Before he spoke, his suit bespoke.

Hamilton custom shirts

Brooks Brothers suits...always in style

Loden Dager shoes

J.M. Weston loafers available at Colette

Created by Vanessa + Valentine

I stumbled across a Polyvore set created by Vanessa + Valentine. "I must say I'm amazed!"View 'Cuvee Chic' on Polyvore

Boudoir Chic

I'm always searching for the perfect French pieces for the ultimate boudoir chic look. Now, I just may have found the PERFECT items, surely fit for a queen, to complete the look, courtesy of Newton's Furniture Company of the UK, Urban Outfitters, and Ikea. Now the hard part...shipping the bedroom set over the pond! Oh bugger!

Newton's Furniture Company Chateau Noir Collection

IKEA Ung Drill Frame

Z Gallerie Clarity Mirror

Urban Outfitters Antoinette Fainting Sofa - Aubergine

Urban Outfitters Edie Velvet Chaise - Ink Blue

A real boudoir. So chic!

Le Toilette and Chinoiserie wallpaper

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

But, that doesn't mean you have to get soaked! So they say it's coming in...rain that is. And it's headed straight for LA in the next few days (in case you already didn't get sprinkled on today...I did). One of the most useful and timeless wardrobe staples may be just the thing you need to turn your grey skies blue. No matter your budget, there is a trench made just for you. Here are 2 I love...my budget loves one WAY more though.

Burberry Harbourne: $975.00

Old Navy Belted Trench: $49.50

Get the look: Gwyneth Paltrow

The Strokes Suit Up

There's something about a fall day in LA like today, that makes me want to throw on some Strokes tracks, particularly from "Is This It?" The album debuted back when rock made a smashing comeback. Mostly, I'm reminiscing about the Fall of 2003 when my sister and I were officially Strokes groupies. We crashed 4 Strokes shows in LA and Vegas...literally crashed.

Our neighborhood Sunset Strip Kinko's staff helped laminate our fake backstage passes that actually worked at both LA and Vegas shows. We snuck underneath the Shrine Auditorium's stage in heels, leather biker jackets, and miniskirts watching the crowd through a vent. The sound of Julian Casablancas and the other Strokes dudes playing just above us on stage will always make me laugh just thinking of how bold we were! Hey, you only live once!

These days Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. has collaborated with Confederacy to design a line of rock inspired men's suits. And, by the looks of these threads, you'll want your dude rocking one too.

Hand Picked Music

I have to hand it to my fellow blogger "French Filter House Music" for providing me with some choice new picks in the more electro side of house. I LOVE HOUSE MUSIC! But, sometimes, I just need some fresh beats, new DJs to follow, and setlists to blast at home! Kudos to whoever is the master behind the music at French Filter. Keep me coming back for more!

Check out:

1) Wellness Is Wild - Goon & Koyote (listen for the Fleetwood Mac sampling)

2) Let Yourself Go - JSD

3) Freak It - Studio 45 (funky, disco-esque)

4) Hold On - His Majestry Andre (oddly sounds like "Turn Your Love Around" by George Benson)

5) Water Proof - Honom (sounds like such a masculine track)

6) Rinocerose - Le Triangle