Gilly Hicks vs. Victoria's Secret

I don't know about you ladies, but I'm pretty tired of Victoria's Secret. I don't know what it is about their bras, but I feel like they're getting less refined and more...bulky. Or they just don't seem to fit as well on someone who is more on the petite side (barely a 34B here). Whereas old school VS is looking more matronly, their PINK line is starting to look too juvenile. It just doesn't seem to meet my needs as a young woman looking for a great fit and great comfort, while being both sexy and sensible.

Then came Gilly Hicks. I recently heard about the "cheeky cousin" of Abercrombie & Fitch that is supposed to have originated from Australia (their icon is the Koala). As with the usual brand of A&F, it has overtly sexy advertising. Their store has a greeter, is dimly lit, plays loud music and is scented with their signature perfume. However, it's beautifully designed and surely anyone can appreciate the effort put into the store. The layout is more similar to Ruehl where it's broken up into separate rooms, but with out all the confusing mirrors that Ruehl has.

All their bras, lingerie and clothing items are perfectly laid out and very well displayed. Also, their associates are very well trained in customer service and are super helpful. I'm sure they're being held to a very high standard as there are only a few Gilly stores in the States at the moment.

Their items are on the more expensive side (just take a look at their website) with their bras running from $40-$60. Their sale section is similar to that of A&F and Hollister prices so I tend to gravitate towards that section, but their clothing items and pajamas are super soft (much that is the A&F signature). Their fit is more similar to GAP Body, which is great for more petite women and come in a variety of styles. Also, if you go, you MUST see the fitting rooms! They are so cute and pretty with soft bench cushions and even a bureau that is filled with various bras and sizes so that you can try them on for fit without even going back outside.

Current promotions: I went there yesterday and they're having a special where you can buy two bras for $40. Also, if you're a fan of theirs on Facebook, they're having a promotion where you get 30% off your Gilly purchase until December 23rd if you bring in a receipt from A&F or Hollister.

How to throw an amazing holiday cocktail party

'Tis the season to be jolly...and inebriated! Ahhh the holidays, that cherished time of year when everyone gets all warm and cheery, and once again has the perfect excuse to be more smashed than usual thanks to the multitude of festivities taking place. In light of the spirit, we are going to pretend for a minute to be refined (ha) and share with you how to revel in holiday cheer in a slightly more sophisticated fashion by hosting a fun and festive cocktail party that is guaranteed to warm the hearts and cloud the memories of all your near & dear ones...

Here's how:

1. Ingredients. First, you will need to make a market run to gather all the essential ingredients necessary to whip up your delicious concoctions and provide a few finger snacks for your party guests. Take this handy checklist with you!

a. First and foremost, you will need liquor and lots of it! Necessary poisons include: vodka, gin, brandy, rum (preferably Bacardi Grand Melon), and champagne

b. You will also need the following mixers: vermouth, grenadine, liqueur, amaretto, club soda, juices (cranberry, orange, lemon, lime, pineapple, olive and POM), cinnamon schnapps, simple syrup, coconut cream, white creme de cacao, and orange curacao

c. Beer for those who don't 'do martinis' (aka the guys). Try a spiced seasonal one.

d. Olives, cherries, apple slices, rosemary sprigs, almonds, milk chocolate, miniature candy canes, white chocolate shavings, and whipped cream

e. Seasonal fruits, strawberries, cheeses, crackers, baguette, hummus, shrimp, and cocktail sauce for the snacks

f. Cocktail shaker

g. Martini glasses, pint glasses, and shot glasses

h. Plastic toothpicks, stirrers, and bottle openers

i. Plates and napkins

2. Menu. Now that you have all the necessary inebriation-inducing ingredients, you will need to know how to put them together. Here we provide a food and cocktail menu with instructions on how to make each item. (Tip: We highly recommend either recruiting a friend with bartending experience or that you start working on your own bartending skills at least a few days in advance, as some of the recipes can be fairly involved!)

Classic Dirty Martini

Ingredients:

-3 oz gin (interchangeable with vodka depending on individual preference)

-1 teaspoon dry vermouth

-1 tablespoon olive juice

-2-3 olives

Add all ingredients minus olives into cocktail shaker with ice and strain into chilled martini glass. Place toothpick with desired amount of olives into glass.

Cranberry Martini

Ingredients:

-2 oz vodka

-1 oz liqueur

-1 oz cranberry juice

-1 teaspoon cranberry sauce

-1/2 oz chilled champagne

Add all ingredients minus the champagne to cocktail shaker with ice. Let stand for a full minute then shake for a full minute. Strain into chilled martini glasses. Top off each glass with champagne.

Apple Pie Martini

Ingredients:

-3 oz vodka

-1 oz brandy

-1 teaspoon of dry vermouth

-1 chunk of green apple

-Garnish: green apple slivers

Add the liquid ingredients only to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for a full minute. Rub the apple chunk around the inside of a chilled martini glass. Strain cocktail into glass and garnish with apple sliver.

Nutcracker Sweet

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 oz vodka

-1/2 oz amaretto

-3/4 oz white creme de cacao

-Garnish: Maraschino cherry

Prepare a martini glass by dipping it in chocolate then in crushed almonds and coconut. Mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Grand Poinsettia Cocktail

Ingredients:

-1 oz Bacardi Grand Melon

-1/2 oz orange curacao

-2 oz POM wonderful juice

-1/2 oz lemon juice

-1/2 oz simple syrup

-1/2 oz champagne

Add all ingredients minus the champagne in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass. Top off with champagne. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.

Mistletoe Kiss

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 oz cranberry vodka

-1 1/2 oz pineapple juice

-1 oz coconut cream

-Garnish: cherries

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with Maraschino cherries.

Wonderland

Ingredients:

-2 oz vodka

-1/4 oz lime juice

-1 tsp lemon juice

-splash of Grenadine

-club soda

Pour all ingredients into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with berries or miniature candy cane.

Two Turtle Doves

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 oz vodka

-1 oz coconut cream

-1 oz half & half

-1/4 oz creme de cacao

-Rimming: shaved white chocolate

Mix all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into chilled martini glass with shaved white chocolate rim.

Slippery Santa Shot

Ingredients

-1 oz vodka

-1/2 oz cinnamon schnapps

-whipped cream

-Garnish: Maraschino cherry

Pour vodka and cinnamon schnapps into a shot glass and top with whipped cream and cherry.

Fruit, Cheese, and Cracker Platter

Ingredients:

-seasonal fruit such as pears, apples, grapes, and pomegranates

-a variety of cheeses ranging from soft to hard and mild to strong (suggestions: Havarati, blue, Gouda, sharp cheddar, brie, and Boursen)

-crackers or baguette

Cut ingredients into small wedge shapes and arrange on a platter. Make sure to have cheese knives and toothpicks available.

Hummus with Pita Bread

Ingredients:

-hummus with pine nuts or sun-dried tomatoes

-pita bread or pita crackers

Place hummus in a glass container on a platter and arrange bread or crackers accordingly.

Shrimp Cocktail

Ingredients:

-fresh & frozen cooked & cleaned small or large shrimp with tails on

-cocktail sauce

Place cocktail sauce in a martini glass and place several fresh shrimp on the rim of the glass with the tails facing the outside.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients:

-16 oz milk chocolate chips

-2 tablespoons shortening

-1 lb. fresh strawberries with leaves

Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries. In a double broiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding the strawberries by the toothpicks, dip them into the chocolate mixture. Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpicks into styrofoam or lay on wax paper for the chocolate to cool. For a fancier look, drizzle white chocolate over the milk chocolate.

3. Ambiance. Last but hardly least, you need to create your party's ambiance, which ultimately is everything. Start bringing your party's sexy vibe to life by dimming the lights and lighting large cranberry, cinnamon, or vanilla scented candles. An alternative for those who are less coordinated around ignited objects (and know their drunk friends will be too, for that matter) would be to string white Christmas lights or hang paper lanterns, both of which provide for a glamorous setting. Decorate couches with deep red throw pillows and place poinsettias on tables, as they are festive without being over-the-top. And finally yet very importantly, don't forget the music! Down-tempo lounge music is perfect for the occasion, with our personal favorites being any of the Swinging Martini, Hotel Costes, Cafe Del Mar, or Chill Out Ibiza mixes (all available on iTunes). For those who want exclusively holiday tunes, we recommend turning on any of Frank Sinatra's, Bing Crosby's or Dean Martin's Christmas compilations, also available on iTunes.

You are now ready to host the sexiest party of the season!
Cocktail away, our friends!

*While you are having a blast this holiday season, all we ask is that you play safely, kindly and responsibly, and that you please look out for one another.

Happy Holidays everyone!

How to Properly Clean Your Contact Lenses

Do you wear contacts on a daily basis? Did you know that if you don’t properly clean your contacts, you could be at risk for an eye infection? I was planning to blog about the latest trend of circle lenses in Asia, but decided to start off with a quick intro to keeping your contacts clean and thus, keeping your eyes happy! =) I will post about circle lenses when my mom comes back from Asia with my contacts.

I’ve been wearing contacts for about 10 years now. The reason I don’t wear glasses is not because I don’t think they look good, but they just always slide down my face since I don’t have a high nose bridge. (Ah, the hardships of being asian…) I haven’t really ever had a problem with contacts until this past year. I was prescribed a new set of contacts that was to be changed every year rather than every month. My eyes started to get irritated on a daily basis and I eventually went to see one of the eye doctors at work.

Turns out that the multi-purpose saline solution I use to clean my contacts wasn’t enough to break down the protein buildup. It was then that I was introduced to Clear Care by my optometrist.



From their website: “Clear Care uses hydrogen peroxide to kill germs and bacteria that cause eye infections. Clear Care works with its special lens case to create a bubbling action which actively cleans and removes protein from your lenses so the lenses feel more comfortable.”

I wanted to do a short tutorial on how to use Clear Care since I know a lot of people aren’t familiar with this type of care for contacts. I certainly didn’t know about it until my optometrist told me about it.



Each box comes with a bottle of solution and a special type of lens case (as shown above).



The metallic wheel is what neutralizes the hydrogen peroxide and the “basket” is where your each contact lens goes. (they are marked L and R)



After you have placed your contacts in the special lens holder, fill the clear container with Clear Care solution up to the marked line.



Then all that’s left to do is to put the lens holder in the cup, screw it shut, and let the solution do its work! Be sure to let it sit for at least 6 hours or else burning/stinging will occur. The solution needs at least 6 hours to neutralize.

Some safety tips to keep in mind: [also from their website]

• Never use Clear Care with a regular flat lens case. Clear Care only works with the special lens case provided.
• A fresh lens case is included FREE in each package of Clear Care. Always use the new Clear Care lens case when you open a new package.
• Keep your lenses in the Clear Care lens case for at least 6 hours. The solution needs time to neutralize – making it safe for you to insert your lenses.
• Never rinse lenses with Clear Care prior to inserting lenses into your eyes. Clear Care is a powerful cleaning and disinfecting solution that will burn and sting your eyes unless neutralized properly. If you want to rinse lenses, use a sterile saline solution.
• Never squirt Clear Care directly into your eyes.

Clear Care works for all types of soft contact lenses (daily disposable, weekly, colored, etc). I used to use Clear Care once a week to remove protein buildup from my contacts but now I use it every day. We only have one set of eyes and I’d rather play it safe and make sure my contacts are bacteria-free, than to lose my eye sight in case of a severe eye infection. Plus, after the protein is removed, the contacts are much more comfortable against your eyes – almost like wearing a brand new pair!

Hope this helped for all those contact wearers out there! I’ll be back soon with a post on newest fashion trend in Asia – Circle Lenses!

Ruehl'ed Out

I'm sure many others can relate to my experience(s) with Abercrombie and Fitch: "Man, their sweaters are soft but...HOW much are they??"

A&F has always prided themselves in being "Casual Luxury" and have become nearly a staple in any teenager's wardrobe and popular for foreigners. I have to admit, it's impressive that they do not spend a dime on marketing; they don't do commercials or magazine ads and yet they've become a household name. They are so successful, that they have bragged about not having to lower their retail prices. Their stubbornness to change in any manner to the changing economy and consumer climate shows an obnoxiousness that turns me off as a consumer, but hey, maybe that's because I'm broke. However, Wall Street was definitely NOT pleased with their declining business and their CEO finally admitted to their decision to decrease initial prices slightly (and in time for the holiday season) in hopes of boosting sales again.

I know that Abercrombie is expensive ($30 for a graphic T? No spanks). I'd rather shop at their sister store, Hollister, which is more budget friendly (and who cares about the kids' store? Ok, maybe I've tried their jeans...), but perhaps an unsurprising event is that their failing line, Ruehl, is shutting down. For those who have not heard of Ruehl, it's an even more expensive Abercrombie that also sells leather bags on the side. Sadly (?), the line will be closing its doors on December 24, 2009. And, as far as the grapevine goes, NOTHING will go on sale. Dang.

As a young economist, retail therapist and fickle consumer, Ruehl was just too obnoxious to handle. It's prices were ridiculous for the same quality as A&F and I felt a bit insulted that they would assume I wouldn't see through their plan. Yes, Abercrombie and Fitch has some some of the softest clothes I've ever touched, but I'd rather save my money, fly myself to Thailand, go on an adventure and buy a soft pile of legit A&F for $2USD a piece. No joke, this is from personal experience. I think the workers stole it from the factory itself and sold it at the market because it had the paper price tags and everything on it.

Until then, goodbye Ruehl, you were too high maintenance for me. Also, I couldn't wear cute heels with you. =(

Article: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE54H3PB20090518

Psst!

...it's time to herd to the watering hole and exchange news!