Tres Chic!

I'm loving the Jumpsuit trend! It's such a chic alternative to wearing a dress or blouse & pair of pants. The Jumpsuit looks fresh, it's easy to throw on and tends to be quite flattering and comfortable.

The first item (which happens to be my fave), is strapless, has a banded natural waist & banded cuffs. It's by Robert Rodriguez & can be yours for $374 at Neiman Marcus.

The second item is by Thakoon, available at Saks for $1,635. The workmanship is impeccable with a draped front & gathered waist, consisting of a viscose crepe & lined with silk.

The third item is by Diane von Furstenberg, made of stretch silk charmeuse, available at Intermix for $345.

All 3 items can be purchased at the retailers' websites. Now if only it would get warm!

 

L'Artisan Parfumeur Tubereuse

'The queen of white flowers, tuberose, gets royal treatment in this classic, Tubereuse. With narcissus to highlight the fresh aspect of tuberose as well as to enhance its almost animalic quality, and with ylang-ylang and coconut milk to emphasize the delightfully creamy, tropical feel of the star note, Tubereuse is indolent and sensual. As heady as a diva on the night of a ball! Timeless femininity. Notes: narcissus, jasmine, ylang-ylang, coconut milk'

Even though the quote above describes the scent of the perfume, I have to tell you that whenever I wear it, I feel empowered & decadent. This scent is not for a mere wallflower. It is bold, sexy & sensual. It is definitely the most expensive perfume I've ever bought (1.7 oz. @ $95 or 3.4 oz for $125/135), but I've had it for several years, since I only deem it appropriate for certain occasions.

You can pick one up at Neiman Marcus or order it on line at
neimanmarcus.com or artisanparfumeur.us; but strangely enough it's $10 less at Neiman's. Go figure.

Panting for Pants!

Panting for Pants!

Now, for those of you who don't know, the latest look for pants are at the ankle, a little above or as far up as hitting the knee. The cut ranges from Big Billowy Harem pants to more subtle such as a Jodpur style, with a very pegged/skinny leg and emphasis on the exaggerated front pockets; either very draped or with slanted tabs, sticking out more & lower than traditional cuts. I've been dying to find an updated version inspired by ones I've seen on the runway from Philip Lim's 3.1 line & the more conservative & beautifully tailored ones I've seen by Stella McCartney. The problem? Finding pants that suit my figure AND my wallet.

Now, the top 5 pictures are Bridge & Designer price points. The bottom 2 pics are my find!

These pants are an excellent choice for an updated Spring pant. They're made of black twill, have front slant pockets, the updated skinny leg & fit great! They can be worn during the day with ballet flats, at night with stilettos & when warm enough, with flat gladiator sandals.

Unfortunately the picture does NOT do them justice; they're REALLY cute in person. Now, for the kicker...I got them for $29.99 at TARGET!!! You can look in your local Target store or go to Target.com in the women's department, called the 'Go International Jodper Pant'.

This proves you don't have to spend a lot to look like you did!

Loving Lounge!

Swimming Hole Romper

When I worked at Anthropologie, one of the most valuable fashion tricks I learned was to shop in the Lounge Department. Why? Because you can find clothing just as stylish as in the Apparel Departments, for considerably less.

The mint green chemise with ecru crochet trim could easily pass for an easy breezy spring/summer dress! The price is only $88! It is beautifully constructed with pintucks, a drop waist with flounces & beautiful crochet trim!

The navy blue empire chemise is reminiscent of Morocco, printed with patina gold starbursts & polka dots, with a panel of patina gold polka dotted fabric, gathered & shirred going down the center front of the dress, yours for $58. Add a pair of gold earrings & sandals & your good to go!

The black romper is ADORABLE & so of the moment! Rompers are one of the biggest Spring/Summer trends in 09'. One could wear it with flip flops during the day or with flat or high heeled gladiators at night, a long gold necklace & an envelope purse. Only $68.

Find these items at your local Anthropologie shop or Anthropologie.com...if you stop in at the one in Westport, CT, tell them 'xtina' sent you! ;)

Snoozing Twenties Chemise

Dappled Light Chemise

Paradise

Even though I had the pleasure to visit St. Martin back in January, the warm weather has inspired me to write about it today.

St. Martin (the French side of the island, not to be confused with St. Maarten, which is the Dutch side of the island) is one of the most beautiful & fabulous places I've ever had the pleasure to visit. Orient Beach/Bikini Beach isn't just a site for sore eyes; it's an EXPERIENCE. With the sounds of the sensual & eclectic mix of Island, Middle Eastern & French music playing, laughter & the ocean washing ashore, one is immediately transported.

The restaurant & bar is conveniently just a stone's throw from any lounge chair on the beach. There's even a FABULOUS & very reasonably priced clothing boutique. The array of clothing, jewelry, handbags & shoes was overwhelming to take in. I wanted to buy everything! Turquoise encrusted belts, necklaces, bracelets & earrings; v-neck tunics made in the lightest of cotton; leather sandals reminicient of the boutiques in Rome; the most exotic bikinis. It took my breath away! It reminded me of the Calypso clothing boutique in New York City. The clothing was clearly French, with an island vibe.

The beach was beautiful as well. The white sand, dotted with turquoise & orange parasols & lounge chairs & the water the shade of aquamarine. It reminded me of the beaches of Naples, France. Everything & everyone were so chic, stylish, beautiful & sexy! There were young women & men from Brazil, who happened to be absolutely stunning. They had such amazing style & guts! All of the Brazilian girls were wearing thong bikini's & the guys were wearing Speedos. They wore them quite well! There were also men, women & children of all ages from, France, Italy, Germany, India, China, Canada & the U.S.

Personally, I'd love to go back. Whether one is single or married, I highly reccommend visiting the Orient Beach/Bikini Beach in St. Martin. It's pricier than the other islands, but it is well worth it!

The Power of Scent

So some of you reading this may think that this is a biased opinion; but I assure you it isn't. For those of you who know me, you know that I only compliment someone or in this case something, sincerely. If I love something, I'm very enthusiastic. If I don't like something, I just don't say anything at all. It's that simple.

Enough about me. I'm writing about this candle. It smells amazing. No exaggeration. Seriously, a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Every day that I work at the Kat Burki Home store (when I'm not working with Kat herself, on product development), I light this candle, customers walk in & rave about the scent of it. True story.

It's Kat Burki's signature Tuberose scented candle. The aroma is so beautiful & soothing, it completely transports you. Once considered to be an aphrodisiac, now the scent of Tuberose is known to stimulate serenity & creativity.

Come by to see for yourself at 35 Old Post Road, Southport, CT 06890, or buy one online at KatBurki.com. Tell them Christina sent you! ;)

Gnocchi Queen

Now, I don't consider myself a Gnocchi Queen, it's just a nick name I've earned over the years from my family.  The reason being, is for no other than for making home made Gnocchi.  For those of you who don't know what Gnocchi is, it's just a pasta made of potatoes & flour.  For enthusiasts, the sky's the limit.  From the basic recipe, one can add, as I have, eggs, cheese, fresh herbs & any other spice or ingredient that floats your boat.

So, cut to this past weekend, when my brother came home from Miami.  After rigorous & non-stop begging, I caved and made it for him.  Since I only had sweet potatoes on hand, I made Sweet Potato Gnocchi.  It sounds so impressive, yet it's so easy to make.  Boil a potato (or sweet potato); peel skin while potato is still quite hot (ouch, ouch, ouch); mash quickly & thoroughly & season w/salt & pepper to your liking (or it will be bland); add/sprinkle SOME flour on top & work it in; add some more flour & work it in.  Flatten the dough to about a half inch.  Sprinkle a tiny bit of flour onto top & bottom.  Cut into 1/2" strips & 1/2" pieces & press down on each piece with a fork.  Gingerly throw into a pot of boiling water, boil 2-3 min. max/until they float to the surface, remove, add sauce, mix gingerly & serve.

Your friends and family will think your the next Top Chef! 

Loco for Lobster

When it comes to Lobster, I don't discriminate. Whether it means pulling over at a Lobster Shack on the way to the Cape for a Lobster Roll, stopping in at SABLES (bet 77th & 78th, 2nd Ave; NYC) in my old neighborhood for the best Lobster Salad known to man, or simply pulled from it's shell & dipped in clarified butter, I'm all about Lobster.

Enter Lobster Nachos, from the Dragonfly Lounge in Stamford, CT. It is pure genius. The true spirit of mixing the 'High & Low', a term deemed to fashion, an analogy about mixing Couture with the vibe of the Street.

Anyway, the Lobster Nachos are sheer heaven; the richness of the lobster in cream, along with the sweetness of the corn, the kick of the chipotle pepper and the crunch of the corn chip they are just simply divine. At $15 a plate, it's an inexpensive way to get your lobster fix, especially if split with a friend. But I warn you, you'll want a serving all to yourself!

Dragonfly Lounge

488 Summer St.

Stamford, CT 06901

Loco for Lobster

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Comma u know whatta me shoes

O.K., seriously; I D.I.E. over these shoes! They are Christian Louboutin & were in the 3.1 Philip Lim Spring 2009 show. Now, I'm a little delayed in professing my love to these divine shoes, but in all fairness to me, I've been experiencing technical difficulties in uploading pics for quite a while. Don't laugh; O.K., laugh, but even though this may be delayed, the shoes still remain a beauty none the less. These can be picked up at Barneys for a mere $1,095; who ever said money can't buy you love?!