Roadrunner's Gear in Spring/Fall

Spring and fall are the two best seasons in the Northeast for running. Crisp air, cool breeze and golden sunlight easily boost up your energy and keep you going, as long as you've got the right gear to keep you warm at the start and wick away the sweat on the road.

My favorite fall/winter running tee comes from Under Armour. I have this Coldgear tee in multiple colors. Its super stretchy material feels silky and soft to the touch, and keeps me dry and warm from start to finish. Compared to the popular chic Lululemon tees, this one feels more substantial and seems more durable with absolutely no see-through. Honestly I just couldn't convince myself to buy those flimsy Lulu long sleeved tees even at sales price.

CW-X compression tights keep me warm and dry, when the temperature falls between 30F and 50F. Those rights are designed to help stabilize muscles and joins, and some people claim that they also shorten recovery cycles. I've never got muscle sore from running (well, I'm slow on the road...), so I can't comment on the second part. But those tights are really tight, and they do keep your muscles in the right place. CW-X have different types of compression tights. I've got Stabilyx, Pro, PerformX and Expert. I personally cannot tell the difference among all these tights. They all feel tight and comfortable. If you pressed me for recommendations, my answer would be: "Go with the least expensive pair in the market unless you are a professional runner or have serious joint problems."

Finally I love my Lululemon Forme II jacket! It is stretchy and body hugging. I've never worn it running, but always throw it on on my way to the gym prior to my long run (I usually drop my gym bag in the locker room, go out for a long run, and stretch & shower in the gym).

Tee: Under Armour Coldgear Infrared Crew in Magenta Shock
Jacket: Lululemon Forme II Jacket (current season, similar)
Tights: CW-X Stabilyx Compression Tights (here, also like Pro, PerformX, Expert)
Running shoes: Nike
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Tote: Coach

Cool Rain Boots

We had a couple of rainy days here in NYC, and I couldn't wait to show off my new rain boots. My other two pairs are both tall boots and do not go with knee length pencil skirts I wear for office. Now problem solved! They are cute and comfy!

For review of my recent purchase from Shopbop, including these Loeffler Randall Fenton Rain Booties, check out my previous post.

TBT: 痴人说花

TBT, i.e. "Throw Back Thursday", seems to be quite popular among bloggers. When you have nothing new to post, just throw back an old post or outfit and fill in the blank.

Recently my best friend finally moved back to New York, and she mentioned those good old days that I wrote a lot on my old blog that was only available to a handful of friends. How time flies! I totally forgot that I use to love writing! So I returned to my old blog, and was shocked at those words I was able to put together.

For your entertainment, here is  throw-back of my old blog, written when I was in London on a beautiful Spring afternoon. It reads especially sweet on a cold rainy day like today. :)

2007-04-29 痴人说花

难得不用加班的周末。我穿上吊带小背心和牛仔短裤，屐着拖鞋，抄起yoga mat，夹了一本书一瓶水，到楼下晒太阳。我的卧室阳台朝南，面对一片绿草地，大概有Madison Park的2/3大，疏疏落落的点着几棵树几个人，正是晒太阳的好去处。

我拣了一棵快开败了的桃花树，把mat铺好，头埋在半密的树阴下看书，脖子以下沐浴在阳光里。看的是Hemingway的The Sun Also Rises，讲的是几个颓废的美国人在欧洲的乱七八糟的故事，有点意思。初中的时候尚且很认真地读过Pride and Prejudice，到了大学就只读Hemingway和Jack London了。无他，喜欢他们的句子，简单句式，简单语法，简单词汇，没有上流社会的繁复委婉，只有现实的冷峻残酷。

Hemingway的书一如既往的行云流水，我也就一如既往的一目十行，不知不觉就看了大半，低头一看，已经落了一身的花瓣和树叶。于是仰头看花，看两只蜂儿上下翻飞，看一群蚂蚁来来回回地忙个不停，甚是有趣。又看了不知多久，忽然发现一个两三岁的粉都都的小姑娘正蹲在不远处瞪大了眼睛看我。我对她笑一笑，谁知她却转过身蹒跚地跑掉了。真是“你站在桥上看风景，看风景的人在楼上看你”呢！不知道在她幼稚的眼中，我又是怎样的呢？大概是脱不了一个“痴”字吧？

研究生的同学都知道我痴，而且是“花痴”。

当时班上有一个长得很漂亮的美国男孩，瘦瘦高高的，留半长的头发，刘海厚厚地垂在大眼睛上，对了，就是Leonado DiCaprio的脸加上John Lennon的盖碗头。一个很用功的孩子。有一天，他居然在课上了一半才来，我就随口说了声：“咦，小帅哥迟到了。”坐在一边的J笑得要死，我很痴地问：“我说错了么？他不是迟到了么？他不是小帅哥么？”从此，所有的中国同学都在背后叫他小帅哥，而我就是那个暗恋小帅哥的花痴。我问遍了中国同学：你们不觉得他漂亮么？所有人都同意他的确象DiCaprio，的确好看。我不过是把大家心中所想用语言表达出来罢了，怎么就成了花痴呢？大概，痴的不在这个“花”字，而在我的“花行于色”吧。

以前在本科的时候也曾被当作花痴。一个周末的早上，寝室里几位懒丫头都醒了，却没有人起床，各自躺在床帘背后懒洋洋地聊天。对面上铺的南京女孩说话本来就绵软，加上刚睡醒的哝哝鼻音，我不觉就听得有点发痴，仿佛有一只小手在心上挠着。慢慢的，我的痴劲上来了。我蹑手蹑脚地爬到桌上，掀起她的床帘一角，把头伸进去，屏住呼吸，看着她埋在凌乱长发里红扑扑的脸，心里有无限的温馨和快乐。这时，她睁开眼睛，猛然看见我披头散发一脸痴迷的样子，撕心裂肺地尖叫起来。四个同样披头散发的脑袋齐刷刷地从床帘里伸出来，四双眼睛象探照灯一样雪亮地照在我的身上。唐突了佳人的我站在桌子上，穿着睡裙光着脚咬着手指头，嘻嘻地笑。

爱美之心，人皆有之。我所不同的是，对美的欣赏热爱总是行于颜色，并乐于与人分享。孟子说：“独乐乐，与众乐乐，孰乐？曰：不若与人。”我看见好看的风景，指给同伴看，同伴以为然； 我看见好看的女孩，指给同伴看，同伴以为我不straight； 我看见好看的男孩，指给同伴看，同伴以为我花痴。其实，这女孩男孩在我眼中也不过是一道风景罢了。

若真说到痴，最高境界莫过于醉眠芍药的史湘云。又有酒，又有芍药满身，又有春风拂面，这样的良辰美景，若换了林妹妹只有红消香断的顾影自怜，若换了宝姐姐也只能扑扑蝴蝶摇摇团扇，都不能品味到十足。只有湘云才会糊里糊涂地枕着一包芍药花瓣在石凳上美美睡去，听任春天的滋味浸透每一个毛孔。

痴便痴了。若是因为怕被人笑话而不能尽情尽兴，那才是俗人。

醉卧花阴君莫笑，春光烂漫能几回？

Shopbop FF Purchase Review

Ladies! Have you got your purchase from Shopbop Friends & Family event last week? I've got most of my packages (one more on the way)! Here is a quick review of my precious. :)

Loeffler Randall Lock Clutch. I ordered two, one in Zebra/Feather print, and the other in shearling/wool. The latter has been sold out. Here is the picture I found online.

Both bags are of good size and high quality. I can easily put in my credit cards, cell phone, key and still have lots of room left. Absolutely love its clean cut and interesting play of patterns and materials. The only question is: which one should I keep??? The zebra one is more edgy and versatile, but the shearling one is so cute and cuddle-able in winter! What do you think? In the end, I decided to keep the zebra one because cleaning shearling/wool may not be as easy. Do you think I've made a right choice? See how cool it looks in action!

Trench coat with warmer: Burberry Brit (current season)
Clutch: Loeffler Randall Zebra Feather Haircalf Lock Clutch (here, similar, similar,  similar, also like this, this)
Pants: Club Monaco Carolina Skinny Waxed Pant
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Booties: VC Signature by Vince Camuto

Loeffler Randall Fenton Rain Booties. Aren't they cute? They look like leather booties! I'd got a pair of Hunter rain boots, and a pair of UGG wool lined rain boots for cold days, and I thought that covered all four seasons and I needed no more. But I just couldn't say no to these cuties! With those rain boots on, I could still walk around and look stylish on a cold rainy/snowy day. I'm definitely keeping these babies.

Vince Little Boy Tee. Basic tees in awesome soft material and the white one is not a see-through. I'm keeping both the white and black ones I ordered.

Sophie Hulme Mini Envelope Bag. Another evidence that you can't trust commercialized bloggers. This bag has been so popular among fashion bloggers and it looks so cute! But in real life, the leather feels like rubber, and the bag is simply too small to hold anything - not even my Louis Vuitton wallet. I ordered it in tan, navy and black (navy and black are sold out on Shopbop), and they are all going back.

Rebecca Minkoff Paris Clutch. Still patiently waiting for its arrival.

5th & Mercer Asymmetrical Skirt. Disappointing. The material is really cheap.

L'AGENCE Pleated Side Skirt. Cute. The material has the right weight and is not flimsy at all. This is a keeper. The size is small though. You may consider sizing up if you have strong thighs.

OK. That's all for my review. Did you get anything exciting?

BTW it's getting really cold here. So I pulled out my olive color trench coat with a removable warmer. I like its sleek look, neutral color, and military style. I only saw a mid-thigh version in this season's collection on Burberry's website. Glad that I snatched it last year!

Royal Stewart Tartan Updated

Alexander McQueen

In a season of plaids, Royal Stewart tartan is one of the elements that should not be overlooked. It came into full blossom last winter, and continues to be seen in many offerings this year.

Personally I was not a big fan of tartan prints...until I saw this tartan print dress in the Alexander McQueen exhibition a couple of years ago. The somewhat rustic somewhat preppy thick material adds weight and history to the feminine lace and tully. The dress looks so fresh and young.

That's when I concluded that mixing tartan with other elements may create some really interesting outfit that looks both old and new. Tartan should not be limited to prep school uniforms.

In particular, I like the idea of mixing tartan with leather. This is a combo of tradition and modern, country style and urban chic. This February for instance, Rita Ora stepped out in a DKNY tartan dress with a black leather jacket. I simply loved this look!

That is why I was very excited seeing this wool/leather jacket from Karl Lagerfeld earlier this year. This is my first Royal Stewart tartan print purchase after I finished high school. :)

Wool/leather jacket: Karl Lagerfeld
Pants: Club Monaco Carolina Skinny Waxed Pant (also seen in this outfit)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Booties: VC Signature by Vince Camuto

Black and White Leather Jacket

We are now officially in the leather jacket season here in the big apple. The temperature did not drop much, but the wind has picked up remarkably. You may not want to get wrapped up in too many layers yet. All you need is a nice jacket that shields you from the wind.

Black leather jacket is classic, but color blocking is also fun. Do you like this black and white leather bomber from Karl Lagerfeld?

BTW the second picture is a pure show-off of my quads... As I was walking down the street in UWS on Sunday, a guy caught me and asked:"Are you a dancer? No? Then you must have done some dancing before. You have dancer's legs!" Haha, that's weight lifter's legs, babe! // feeling proud

Leather jacket: Karl Lagerfeld (similar, similar, similar, similar, similar, similar)
Striped tee: JCrew
Leggings: Club Monaco Rochelle Faux-Leather Legging
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Boots: DV by Dolce Vita Malika Boots

Feeling Chanel?

There is nothing as ladylike as a classic tweed piece. After borrowing a tweed sportswear from a male friend, a Duke to be exact, Chanel was enchanted by this comfortable and supple fabric that was exclusively used in menswear at that time. In 1924 she enlisted a Scottish fabric factory to produce her iconic tweed fabrics for everything from sportswear to suits and coats.

Nowadays quite a few mass production brands offer decent tweed pieces, but the texture and weight are still the key elements some brands have not mastered. It seems to me that JCrew tweed has done a good job in its price range, with its soft texture, right amount of weight and clean cut. This blue jacket is one of the JCrew tweed jackets I've collected in the past a couple of years. I feel so Parisian whenever I throw it on, either over a skirt/dress or a pair of jeans. This season, JCrew has a similar tweed jacket in stripes that fits just like this one. Check it out!

Tweed jacket: JCrew (similar)
Dress: Theory
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Pumps: Stuart Weitzman

Saks: FRNFAM

Saks is running its friends & family event now with code FRNFAM. What did you get? I'm scratching my head as the excluded brand list is growing longer every year. Well, at least this Helmut Lang jacket is on sale. Last time I paired it with skirt for an office appropriate look, and here is a casual outfit with it.

   

Jacket: Jacket: Helmut Lang Sonar Wool Shawl Collar Jacket (here, here, here, here)   

Tee: Anthropologie

Jeans: Rag & Bone

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Suede oxfords: DV by Dolce Vita

Foodie Chat (11): Amuse Wine Bar

I always hesitate on writing reviews on wine bars. First of all, everyone has different taste buds and the same wine may taste differently by different people. To make things even more complicated, I find that sometimes the same wine tastes differently on different days, depending on my mood, diet, activity level and hydration. That is why it's always a good idea to ask for a sample before you order a glass of wine. Secondly, bar tenders play a critical role in running a fun bar. You may go to the same bar and taste the same wine all the time, but one day feel completely different when your favorite bar tender is not there.

That said, I feel obliged of writing a review for Amuse Wine Bar, a hidden gem in Manhattan's lower east side.

Amuse is a super friendly wine bar for everyone. Unlike many pretentious wine bars where you are left with a thick dictionary of unknown foreign names that may potentially dig deep into your pocket, the wine list in Amuse is both extensive and approachable. The menu is informative as every wine has a brief description of its taste under the name. If you are still in doubt, feel free to talk to the knowledgeable staff. They will recommend a sip either to suit your preference or to pair your food. To sweeten the deal, Amuse has happy hour wine tasting special Monday through Saturday between 3 and 7 pm: $15 for three 2-oz wines three kind of cheese and three kind of meat. I had this wine tasting special last Saturday. Man, every wine had a generous pour. It's almost impossible to beat this deal in Manhattan.

Even on a rainy Saturday afternoon, the ambiance at Amuse was charming. The place looked cozy and quaint with simple wood tables, couch and coffee table. The wall was decorated with humorous paints from Wizard Skull. We were served by Yudheer Manandhar, who turned out to be the general manager of the bar. He was a chatty and funny guy who knew everything on the menu. His recommendation on both wine and cheese were very well received. He told us that Amuse also has live music with no cover charge on weekend nights. I will definitely check it out next time.

Yudheer told me that the owner of the bar firmly believed that drinking wine should be as relaxing as drinking beer. Apparently Amuse has done a good job to make her customers happy and relaxed.

Address: 121 Ludlow St., New York, NY 100002
Telephone: 212 477 0100

Chunky Blanket Cardigan

Last time, we reviewed the big chunky knit trend of fall/winter 2014. In particular, cardigans are widely used as a soft cozy substitute of over coats for a more laid-back look. I got this Vince piece last winter, but I'm sure you will find many options in the market this season. For the chicest style, stay neutral with colors and go fancy with knit work. Chunky knit and blanket / bathrobe style are the two main elements that will shine throughout this winter.

BTW Shopbop is running its friends & family event with code FAMILY25. Many of the cardigans I listed below are included!

Long sleeved tee: Anthropologie

Cable knit cardigan: Vince (similar, also like this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this)  

Leggings: Club Monaco Rochelle Faux-Leather Legging 

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Scarf: Abercrombie & Fitch

Boots: DV by Dolce Vita Malika Boots

The Book of Mormon

If you are not offended by the foul-mouthed South Park and like the music of Avenue Q, you should definitely see The Book of Mormon, a ridiculously hilarious religion satire musical comedy that is packed with surprises and laughter.

The plot itself is both simple and complicated: two fresh Mormon missionaries were sent from Salt Lake City to Uganda. Their ambition were quickly smashed by the dark reality: poverty, AIDS, a one-eyed cold-blooded warlord, and villagers singing "hasa diga eebowai" (meaning "fuck you God") whenever they felt upset and hopeless... As this blog post is not intended to be a spoiler, I will stop right here: how they dealt with the situation was absurd; if you dig deeper, however, you might learn quite a bit.

The musical seamlessly blends traditional all-American musical style with African folk songs. The music language is fluent. For me, the most memorable songs are Hasa Diga Eebowai, Turn It Off, and Salta Laka City. Nyk Bielak's Elder Cunningham remained quirky and funny throughout the show and Nikki Renee Daniel portrayed the dewy eager village girl Nabulungi beautifully with her flawless and powerful voice. The choreography is witty, ridiculous and impeccably executed.

It's really no surprise that this musical has been acclaimed by musical critics on both sides of the pond: nine Tony awards and four Olivier. Just make sure that you don't bring your kids to this show, or anyone who frowns at "F U God" or "China is the source of all problems". If you indeed step into the theater, just sit back and take a deep breath -- remember: it's all satire.

Eugene O'Neill Theatre
Address: 230 W 49 St., New York, NY 10019
Ticket Office: 800 447 7400 or 212 239 6200

A Not-So-Mad Plaid Coat

If you are looking for a new overcoat for the upcoming winter, you may want to look a little beyond the classic solid colored ones and think plaid. In general, plaids are coming back stronger than ever this winter, especially in the overcoat department.

Key words for this season's overcoat:

• Big bold plaids  
• Oversized in blanket or bath robe style

I found this trend especially challenging on my petite frame. It's much easier to embrace these two elements one at a time: "plaids + slim", or "solid + oversized". I've tried a couple of plaid oversized coat (like this Theory piece), and felt totally overwhelmed. If you check out other fashion bloggers, you will find many of them, except for those tall ladies, only "kind of" wear those new trendy coats -- throwing one on the shoulder is not really wearing it; in winter, we all need a coat that sits nicely on the shoulder when we put our arms through the sleeves and button up. Honestly, although being understated is the new sexiness, plaid oversized coats are really made for taller girls with wider shoulders who have the asset to play a tomboy. I'll try to stay sober in all this madness for plaid.

Here is my not-so-mad plaid coat from Marni. Slim cut and streamlined. Another investment piece I got two years ago.

Wool coat: Marni (more plaid coats from Theory, Polo Ralph Lauren, Free People, Rag & Bone, Sea, Trina Turk)
Wrap dress: Tory Burch
Pumps: Fendi
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Purse: Louis Vuitton Damier Hampstead PM

Grey and Purple

I got this beautiful purple skirt from Anthropologie years ago, but had a hard time to pair it with a proper top. I want something simple to make the skirt the one and only focus point, something substantial (but not too bulky) to balance the weight of the fully lined material, and something neither too long nor too short. The search ended last week when I found this Theory wool and cashmere sweater.

This sweater is the perfect mate of almost all midi skirts. This classic minimalist sweater hits just below the waist, and it's neither too loose nor too tight. The heather grey color goes with almost everything, especially elegant with the deep purple of this skirt. The textured wool and cashmere blend is warm and soft. It's thicker than most light sweaters, but lighter than those chunky oversized ones. The only concern is that it might be a little itchy for sensitive skin.

I've collected tons of compliments on my skirt and outfit when I walked down the street this morning. But I know it won't look this good without this perfect sweater from Theory. Happy with my new purchase!

Sweater: Theory 'Jodi' Wool & Cashmere Sweater in heather grey (available in Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, also available in charcoal grey and black)
Skirt: Anthropologie
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Booties: VC Signature by Vince Camuto

Some Random Ramblings

I like a day like this: sunny and cool outside, no client meetings, boss away from the office, and on top of everything, having a bridal shower at lunch time. What a lovely day!

Women are born lovers. We love being loved and cared, and we love giving love to the loved ones. Unfortunately many of us have been frustrated more than once on the journey of finding a loving relationship. That makes me feel enormously happy whenever I see my friends or co-workers glowing with love, just like today when I saw a beautiful bride in the making. :)

When I look back, I think the key of finding a loving relationship is staying foolish. There are too many books in the market telling you how to attract a man by technique, but the simple fact is that many of us fell head over heels when we were teenagers and knew nothing about love. I've concluded that, except for those "expert love technicians", the more techniques we learn, the more likely we cannot see our heart or feel the beat from the other party. As mentioned in the famous book, The 5 Love Languages, different people have different ways of expressing their love. I'm a strong supporter of life time self-improvement. But things are naturally much easier if two people speak the same language. Stop asking whether he is into you or not; your heart feels it. Stop comparing his love with another guy's; your heart knows what really matters. Stick around when his presence makes your life richer and happier, and leave him when he brings nothing but suspicion and frustration. Live in a simple world and listen to your heart, and you will find your destiny.

Love makes the world go around!

Striped sweater: JCrew
Pleated skirt: Jason Wu (similar, similar, similar, similar, similar, similar)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Oxfords: Ralph Lauren Collection

It's the Poncho Season!

After a full week's sleek business attire in black, white and grey, this weekend I was inevitably drawn to cozy knits that is bold, bright and fun. This Tory Burch knit poncho was exactly what I was in the mood for: contrast colors, fringes, tussles, and soft chunky material. It's really a Boho chic statement piece. Believe it or not, I bought it two years ago and this was the first time I pulled it out of the closet! //feeling guilty...

Sweater poncho: Tory Burch (more Boho chic pieces like this, this, this, this, this) 

Long sleeved tee: Banana Republic

Leggings: Club Monaco Rochelle Faux-Leather Legging (also seen in this outfit)

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Mini in hot red

Booties: VC Signature by Vince Camuto

Gladiators Will Be Back

Among all the trends that may or may not flow from runway to main street, one that appears to be a sure hit in the market next spring is gladiator boots. And this time, the key words are flat and knee-high. These babies will spice up any outfit from the dressiest dress to ripped shorts. Are you ready for this?

Valentino

Carven

Chloe

Givenchy

Oh, I can't wait to see that Chloe pair hit the market!

Other noticeable trends of spring 2015 shoes include;woven, flats or flatforms, color block, block heels. Many look friendly to my delicate left foot, which is definitely great news!

Kate Spade

Versace

Tod's

Fendi

Oscar de la Renta

Burberry

Marni

Just Cavalli

Proenza Schouler 

Tory Burch

Alexander Wang

Michael Kors