tea time

first off, i must apologize to my viewership for the unexplained hiatus. it's been quite an exhausting 5 months opening the flagship store for converse. that said, i welcome you back.

this teapot isn't darling per se. but it does look like it's been plucked straight out of the mad hatter's table. creator jono pandolfi calls it the willy-nilly teapot. i guess there's really no other way to describe its oddities. the small indents are "pinched" details that match the rest of the misshapen structure. i suppose the designer intended for it to look like two cups stacked on top of each other from a distance. but whether you're up close or far away, the teapot will definitely add some drama and interest to your afternoon tea parties. i especially enjoy the little swirled wheels at the base. it almost makes it mandatory to serve cinnamon rolls with the tea.

Anthropologie
willy-nilly teapot
anthropologie.com
$298

somewhat short shorts and top attached

i've been a little romper crazy this summer. i have to give it to french connection for introducing me to one that i love to wear when it's blistering hot outside. but for those summer occasions where you just don't feel like wearing another dress, i think a silk romper would be a nice curveball. a silk romper? impractical you may say. and i would have to agree with you to a certain extent. it's not something you would wear more than...maybe three times in one season. that may even be stretching it a bit. however! for a knockout piece as such, i think it's worth it. they designed this silk in such a way that i hides a lot of things you want to hide- tummy, wide hips, small boobs. the batwing sleeve and the asymmetrical top keeps you comfortable without being boring. of course the embroidery and beading on your shoulder adds to the whole effect as well. just tie your hair up in a simple bun, but on some diamond studs, and you're good to go. oh, and don't forget the heels.

A.B.S.
mink silk romper
macys.com
$280

cut and sew

how cute are these? it's a shoe that i would definitely pick up at the store, and then ponder for 10 minutes about with what outfits i could wear them. the leather upper makes it classy and sturdy enough to wear spring (with a dainty skirt and cardigan), summer (with your favorite sundress), and fall (with funky colored tights and flannel shorts). the cutouts on the side help keep it fresh and not so serious. the embroidered sides makes it seem, for a lack of better words, vintage. it reminds me of all the needlepoint my mom and i used to do when i was little. you may just have on a white tee and jeans, but it's the type of shoe that makes you feel happy and nostalgic as soon as you slip them on. maybe this is a little more girly in an off-shoot way- by raiding your grandmother's upholstery and strapping some leather to it; but it works.

Anthropologie
needlepoint wedges
anthropologie.com
$218

keeping time

i'm one of those people who need to have a watch on her at all times. if i don't, i'm in a tizzy all day. and what's the point of having your watch just be a watch when it can be a jewelry piece as well? make your watch do double duty and have it go beyond just the simple silver link strap. i've always had an eye for gucci watches. they have a way of accomplishing said goal while staying classy with a hint of flair. any passer-by would see this on your wrist and think of the band as a cool cuff bracelet. after all, it is a good inch wide. it reads a bit edgy in the stripes, especially the lucite center stripe. the round clock portion of the watch also rotates, which is signature feature of gucci's (i just discovered that today). did you know that watches are always sold showing the time 10:10 because we perceive it as being a "smiling"watch? who says my blog isn't educational?

Gucci
wide twirl strap watch
beyondtherack.com
$795

cat eyes

now you may think only a truly eccentric person can pull of a pair of sunglasses like this. and you're probably right. i'm not even entirely sure if this pair fits in with my sense of style. but i do know they caught my attention and held it. i would feel a little bit like cat woman wearing these. but that means i would feel empowered and sexy, so i really can't go wrong. a pair of sunglasses like these can't be worn with just a sweatshirt and pair of jeans. you would look quite the fool. many people underestimate the power of coordinating your accessories into your entire look. sunglasses like these demand a pair of heels, a sleek updo, and some smoking hot red lips. you wouldn't look girly, per ce. but you would catch everyone's attention of being quite a woman.

Alexander Wang
cat eye sunglasses
lindafarrow.co.uk
$314

my sunscreen

growing up, my mom would always tell me that i looked good in hats. i never really believed her, probably because she made me wear ugly patterned hats (sorry, mom). also, i have a rather large head, especially for an asian girl. so what better way to disguise it than a ridiculously large hat to make your head look itty bitty? obviously you're not going to wear a hat like this for a random beach day. this is a "i'm going to an afternoon yacht party down in cancun and i want people to notice me" hat. straw hats seem to be getting more sophisticated as of late. the architecture to the giant bow on the side adds texture and a hint of volume. but the built-in molded construction, the floppy-ness if you will, makes the hat appropriate for any face shape. in addition to all the space i dedicate to my jackets and sweaters and jeans and knick knacks, i guess i'll have to start making room for some hat boxes.

Helene Berman
bow straw floppy hat
$161
asos.com

a dainty carryall

by now, i think most of my readers think the bows are getting old. i know it seems to be a running theme to most of my entries, but you are reading a blog titled ruffles, etc. there are other features on this handbag that make it adorable other than the bow. although the heart lock is merely decoration, it adds a certain flair to the overall look of the bag that would be missing without its presence. when you want to look dainty you can carry the bag by the short handles. the bag also has a detachable chain strap (you can kind of see the rings on which they would be attached on the sides of the bag) if you prefer to wear it slung on one shoulder. with coordination of the right outfit, just a tweak in bag placement and transport can create a completely different look. the size of the bag is also just perfect enough to not overwhelm yourself in cuteness. you make a statement of your style with the color and the details in the bag, but there's still plenty of room in the other things you're wearing to add to that statement. another notable feature is a betsy johnson signature: mixing the wild with the girlie. she poses the giant bow with zipper edges. and a hot pink backed up against silver piping. even the fringe tassel goes against a lip charm. how cute. how bold. how worthy of a post.

Betsey Johnson
heart of gold leather satchel
$328
betseyjohnson.com

ribbons, chains, and sparkle

normally merchandise at j.crew is a bit plain and simplistic for my taste. however, this partnership with fenton/fallon has definitely caught my attention. dana lorenz, creator of fenton/fallon, is known for her mix of textures and bold pieces. i love the combination of the mixed metal chains with the swarovski crystals. the silk ribbon is hand-dyed and perfectly matches the metal chains and keeps the necklace from being too girly. you wouldn't be able to wear a necklace like this often, of course. and you would wear it with the simplest of necklines and outfits so that the necklace can be the statement. who says diamonds alone a girl's best friend? sometimes you need a lot of pretty pieces all in one to help you express just how amazing of a fashionista you are.

FENTON/FALLON for J. Crew
carrington crystal bow necklace
$295
jcrew.com

stacked and wrapped

okay, maybe i'm on a bit of a valentino and shoe fix. then again, i'm always on a valentino and shoe fix. when it comes to high end, coveted designer merchandise, a lot of it is extremely difficult to wear. how do you justify a $10,000 statement cocktail dress or a $5000 pair of neon harem pants? in most cases, you can't. however, these shoes will become a staple in your wardrobe for life. and when i say staple, i mean staple. this demure gray can be worn with anything. and it'll camouflage with your skin tone regardless of your shade and your current tanned state. the heel is not ridiculously high and you have the platform to give you cushion and comfort (yes, platform high heels are comfortable!). the black embroidery around the ankle is true craftsmanship and its detailing can instantly punch up any outfit. the shoe is dramatic yet kept under control. i would wear these until the last thread on the embroidery is falling off. but these are valentinos- they will last with you to the grave.

Valentino
embroidered flower sandal
$895
saks.com

more exaggerated sleeves

leave it to valentino to inspire me again. you wouldn't be able to wear a shirt like this often. nor would i recommend you trying to stand out so much. but when you do wear it, be prepared to draw a lot of attention. is wearing a bell sleeve like this in or out? to be honest, as of right now in spring 2010, it's probably out. but this kind of style is right up my alley: crisp white shirt, romantic bell sleeves, ruffled cuffs around the biceps, and an interesting spin on the collar. it's kind of typical to wardrobe a shirt like this a basic black pencil skirt. but to make it interesting, i would wear this paired with an beige or silver pair of tuxedo pants to a black tie occasion. how's that for unconventional? but valentino makes it happen.

Valentino
white bell sleeve blouse
ruelala.com
$1380

garden feet

where to start with this shoe- i think my attraction to it pretty much speaks for itself. it's the perfect way to inject spring into your wardrobe yet an unconventional way to impose spring florals into your outfit. the design is also not so over-the-top that you can't mix other jazzy pieces into your outfit. i see myself wearing these shoes with a denim skirt, skinny cropped pants, and dressier shorts. the portion that draws my eye the most is the vine ankle wrap. the delicate way it spins around your limb is going to create the illusion that mother earth decided to grow with your steps. i keep staring at the flower, too, but only because i feel like it could be prettier. the flower on top is a duller green than the strap vines. but looking at the shoe in person may be a completely different story. you would definitely want perfectly prim and pedicured feet while wearing these, because your feet will get a ton of attention.

Manolo Blahnik
vine ankle-wrap thong sandal
neimanmarcus.com
$945

something worth carrying

it's taken me a long time to find a handbag worthy of my taste. i've never been a fashionista who drools over bags. i've always preferred function over taste. so what makes this one catch my eye so much? for starters, i enjoy the structure the bag has. regardless of how little you put in it, it'll maintain it's sweet lady-like shape. green has never been one of my top three colors, but this shade intrigues me. i can see it easily adapting to many of my outfits- whether casual or dressed up. it may be a little hard to see because it's a small picture, but the patent portion underneath the silk bow is actually tiered in ruffles. and let's not forget that silk bow. if it could come off i would wear it as a neckerchief. the pattern on it makes you stop and stare at the bag. and the colors all blend so well together. i would be glad to dote all my essentials and non-essentials in this. and when not in use, i probably wouldn't hang it on such a strange looking hook.

Orla Kiely

beverly frame bag
anthropologie.com
$588