Shopping is synonymous to procrastination

One of the most wonderful things about living in the year of 2009 is being able to window shop online -- er, or should I call it screen shopping? For me, a late night quick pick-me-up consists of browsing eBay and eating frozen yogurt for up to an hour while making sure I get as little sleep as possible before my government exam.

Anyway, I love browsing online and occasionally snatching up a good deal -- especially because I hate shopping at the mall. When I was young(er) and dorky, I used to get shunned by the salespeople because I didn't look like a serious shopper. I mean, even the saleslady at PacSun snickered at me behind my back in fourth grade. These days, I get all the attention I need at the mall. I think there should be a mathematical formula for this: quality of customer service = [(number of shopping bags) + (brand of bag)]/(overall rating of outfit)

Something like that. Math isn't my forte, but I try.

Because I'm super exhausted even though I'm graduating in four weeks and I haven't been able to post as much as I'd like, I have Gilt Groupe, ideeli, HauteLook, and Editors' Closet invites for all of you. These are fabulous invite-only shopping websites that sell luxury and designer clothing and accessories at wonderful discount prices (in limited supply; there's always a catch!) -- think $2,000 Vera Wang gown for less than $400.

Gilt Groupe

Click here for the invite.

ideeli

Click here for the invite.

HauteLook

Leave your email under comments for an invite.

Editors' Closet

Leave your email under comments for an invite.

Hopefully, this will make up for some blogless days. I will open invites until Friday, May 1st, 9:00pm PST.

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Miss Couturable

Sixth period nothingness

"You're acting like you don't care about high school anymore," I said, sitting across from the individual who was stretching his or her arms in a nonchalant manner.

"It's because I don't," the individual replied with a sideways grin. I think the individual may have yawned, or perhaps I imagined it. "After seeing all that college has to offer, I don't care about high school. I don't even care about senior prom anymore."

I smiled back sheepishly. I still care about senior prom -- about my dress and about trying to not have a wardrobe mishap (keyword: trying), at least. About the fun night with my friends. My last four weeks of high school still matter to me.

I know, as second semester seniors, we've been jetsetting around the nation, visiting colleges and trying to decide how our next four years will turn out by May 1st. We visit some college frat parties and get wasted and wake up with a hangover and puke before breakfast thinking, "College is so amazing and I could totally get used to this whole morning-vomit thing." We discuss the dorms in online forums and daydream about dorm life whenever we should actually be studying for the statistics exam (or writing on our blogs about daydreaming about dorm life when we should actually be studying for the statistics exam).

It's not a surprise that high school seems so trivial nowadays.

But we're not done yet. Part of me wants to be done with AP exams, 8:00am classes, and getting detentions for dress code violations -- but part of me loves the innocence and loss of innocence of high school. Like Friday night lights, first kisses, bad prom photos, and lying to your parents about your whereabouts. And fighting with your parents and crying to your friends, and fighting with your friends and crying to your parents.

But I didn't say any of this to the individual sitting in front of me. "Well, don't get too apathetic," I finally replied, realizing that I was still on the same page in my psychology textbook since the period had started. Four weeks is still a lot to live for, after all.

The bell rang and sixth period was over. I ended up being late to seventh period. We're still in high school, and we're still moving with the bells until graduation.

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Miss Couturable

Verily Vera Wang for prom

I've worn a long dress once before -- a sparkly lime green confection that I bought from Caché for eighth grade graduation. I never wore it again, because I decided shortly after graduation that long dresses were reserved for pageant queens, Hollywood starlets, and girls with long legs.

Thus, for all of high school, I wore short dresses. I was planning on wearing a short dress for senior prom too -- I had already picked out a few simple Lorick frocks that I was choosing between this morning. The idea of wearing a long dress felt intimidating and daunting to me, considering that I'm 5'1" and not exactly a statuesque goddess like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. I'm also extremely picky when it comes to dresses (or any piece of clothing I buy, I suppose), and I found that most of the long dresses at the mall or in local dress shops were too sparkly for my taste.

However, I found this silver Vera Wang Lavender Label gown yesterday, and I bought it without question. A fellow friend in college told me to buy a long dress because "this is [my] biggest formal EVER. Don't screw it up! [I'll] have plenty of time in college to wear short dresses." And how can I argue with that?

(Photo Credit -- Bluefly)

The silver is lustrous but not super shiny, and the sash drapes down like a shoulder sash in an elegant understated manner. When I was little, I wanted to wear Vera Wang to my wedding, but luckily the talented Vera Wang expanded her designs to accommodate 18-year-old girls like me. Major hemming will need to be done.

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Miss Couturable

P.S. I'd love to hear your hair, make-up, shoes, and accessories suggestions! The only thing harder than buying the dress is piecing together the right look.

Prepping for prom

I just skimmed my Facebook newsfeed and I'm reading status updates about prom -- big shock to me, is it prom season again? Apparently, some people have already had their proms. Thirteen months ago, I was already dreaming about my prom ensemble. I was excited for the sole reason that junior year would finally be over and I would be able to celebrate the fruits of being an upperclassman in high school.

I've gone to prom ever year since my freshman year and I've decided to share some hopefully practical advice -- because I'd love to go dress shopping with all of you but that's not possible:

♥ Your dress really doesn't matter as much as you think it does.

I know, I'm a hypocrite for saying this. My freshman year, I dragged my parents all the way to San Francisco to buy a poofy silk gown. Yesterday, my friend gaped at me in amused horror because I spent every single minute of my free time looking at dresses online. My psychology teacher said, "Good luck on prom dress shopping!" as I walked out the door.

But quite honestly, my wonderful memories with friends at prom had nothing to do with my dress or the compliments I received for my dress. Wear your prom dress for yourself -- you deserve to shine after a hard school year -- but don't stress because the right date will think you're beautiful no matter what and the great memories with friends will overshadow any potential wardrobe mishaps.

Also, most people can argue that ten years from their prom, they're embarrassed by their choice of dress. Let it be.

♥ Do your own make-up or get someone trustworthy to do it for you.

I've gotten my make-up done with a variety of make-up artists -- from $90 applications, where I was practically given a new mask for my face, to free applications at the Chanel counter at Macy's, where I drowned out the sales pitches around me because I wasn't interested in rejuvenating luminating face cream at the moment.

I wasn't pleased with any of these professional applications. Getting your make-up done is really fun and therapeutic, but only you know exactly what you want on your face. Don't go to a make-up artist you're not familiar with (and therefore, is not familiar with you either) for a night like prom -- some make-up artists do offer make-up application lessons in case you don't live in the aisles of Sephora like me. Otherwise, consider asking a parent or friend to help you.

Pretty much the same thing with hair, although I do prefer getting my hair done at a trusted salon. Just don't experiment with crazy new hairstyles that you think would look on you three hours before the dance. But some of you might be braver than me.

♥ You don't need to spend a lot of money on food to have a good time. Or transportation. But splurge if you want to.

Most girls I know don't eat a lot before formal dances (me included). Last year, I ate one lamb shank and drank half a glass of sparkling mineral water. Dinner was really expensive because my friends and I went to an upscale restaurant, and I didn't even finish my food (and the restaurant charged us $50 for the water).

Limos are fun -- but the novelty wears off fast. Chip in for a limo once, and then take your own cars in the future.

But anyway, I barely remember the past prom meals and the past limo rides. The ridiculous conversations over dinner and in the limo, however, were priceless.

♥ Something will go wrong, so surround yourself with the people you love and don't take yourself too seriously.

Your straps might break. You might spill soup on your dress (or your date). The music might suck. The limo might break down. Your date might disappear on the dance floor.

Just remember that there is no perfect fairytale prom, and laugh about it with your friends afterwards.

Besides, there are always the after-prom activities to look forward to.

How did your prom go? My prom's coming up in a month and nope, I don't know what I'm wearing. Or doing for after-prom fun. Suggestions are welcome.

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Miss Couturable

Going gaga for GOOP

(Photo Credit -- GOOP)

I subscribe to way too many blogs on my Google Reader. I also read too many email newsletters. I shouldn't be adding more online reading material to my plate because I've already hit the 1000+ unread items mark on Google Reader.

But GOOP by Gwyneth Paltrow is such a fun read! I just subscribed to the weekly lifestyle newsletter and I can't help but think about how fabulous Paltrow is, for enlarging her internet presence without taking the "Gwyneth Paltrow Fan Club" route.

Oh, and her guide to New York City is making me super excited for my college years coming up.

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Miss Couturable

Embracing another culture

(Photo Credit -- Janet Jun)

Today was Multicultural Day at school -- but unfortunately, I don't have a single article of Chinese clothing (and neither do my parents). However, I used this occasion as an excuse to borrow some Indian clothes from a friend.

I love Indian clothes and I pranced around school wishing "Jai Ho" was playing in the background and secretly hoping that I could sneak home in the outfit and keep it for the weekend (no such luck). Indian clothes have such a pungent vibrancy to them, from the bright colors to the intricately embezzled beads and jewels. The skinny silk pants I am wearing that you can't see in this photo are the same teal color as the scarf, with sequins and beads sewn at the bottom. Beautiful.

A parent of a former student at my school started a South Asian print fashion magazine called Nirvana Woman a couple years ago. I remember visiting the office a couple years ago and being completely in awe at this cultural fashion magazine, which featured not only South Asian designers and celebrities but also mainstream American celebrities such as Nigel Barker!

(Photo Credit -- Style.com)

Some of you may have heard of Naeem Khan, an Indian-born designer who creates some of the finest craftmanship in design that I have ever seen.

I love shiny.

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Miss Couturable

Stuck in a rut

I've been stuck in a rut for the past few weeks. I gaze listlessly out the window in English class even though I actually like the poetry unit we're studying. I am a zombie at cheerleading practice. I haven't even brushed my hair for two weeks (it has magically remained untangled). And I've been dragging myself out of bed at 6:50am instead of 6:00am, most likely pulling a sweatshirt over the tank top I wore the night before.

In other words, I haven't been myself lately. I want to blame it all on senioritis and on burning out, but I haven't even had the motivation to write lately.

So, I went to Disneyland last week -- the happiest place on Earth, no? I rode Space Mountain three times, ate a $7 turkey leg, and waited an hour to take a photo with Mickey Mouse. I wore a bikini for the first time in my life. Gala Darling of iCiNG was right when she said, "You’ll really find out whether you like someone when you have to stand next to them in line for an hour with sore feet & twinkling music swirling around your head."

Okay, there's a point to these incoherent ramblings: I stayed up until 4:00am bitching and eating potato chips on the bed with my roommates -- two freshmen girls and one other senior. It was one of those nights -- we sat in our pajama pants on the same bed with smeared eye make-up and talked about love, heartbreak, friends, school, college, and the future until we could barely open our eyes. With crumbs on the white sheets. That is what girl friends are for -- snapping you back into the world with food and girl talk.

I'm totally ready to fall in love with the world again. And yes, that includes dressing up -- but that also includes staying young forever. When you have something good, learn to enjoy it.

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Miss Couturable

P.S. Related to Disney -- how amazing is this?