Goodbye

This was a breaking point.

I could run after you, sure. I could throw a fit and scream and cry, tell you how disappointed and angry I was, but what would that have done in the end?

No.

If it didn't happen, it meant that our separate lives had much bigger plans for us than just the closing chapter of our angst-filled teenage years. You would go off to become a role-model and win over the hearts of everyone around you. As for me, I was going to fade into oblivion and learn what hardship was on my own, so I could better the flaws in me that I never saw before.

Will you save me then?


It was summer and you were going away for three months. Shy that I was, I kept silent as each day passed and your luggage grew heavier with every additional item you packed to take away with you.

Boy, you don't know how much I'm going to miss you.

Even if your attention was slowly getting snatched away from me by someone else. It was fine. Even if you were going to be away for three months. It was fine. No, I'll wait for you to come back and maybe you'll miss me too. Maybe you'll realize just how much you missed me and you won't be able to wait to see me again. Maybe it'll be just like old times.


What to wear...

Tonight was Lily's birthday and she made me promise her I'd go and be with her on her big night.

"I promise. I promise I'll be there. I won't disappoint you, Lily."

What to wear... Blue or pink?

But tonight was also your last night in New York and you'd promised everyone that you'd meet us all for dinner one last time before you went away.

Hm.. The blue one I'd worn already that one time we went to the boardwalk. But the pink one was a little too.. pink.

Your gift sat on my bed - meticulously wrapped and decorated. I stenciled your name onto the card I had taped to the side and the wrapped was laced with an assortment of wide and colorful ribbons. You wouldn't like the gift, but you'd love that it was so thoughtful and that so much time was spent on it. I already know what you're going to say when you unwrap it. And then you'd save the card for last - you'll read it when you are alone and smile to yourself.

I finally settled on a simpler set of attire - blue jeans, black boots, and a yellow elegant but still spunky ruched camisole.

Nervously, I bit my lip as I surveyed myself in front of the full-length mirror. I had spent way too long getting ready. I smoothed out the length of my jeans and straightened my top. Simple, natural makeup (You hated the heavy stuff on me) - Check. Combed and neat hair (You always teased my messy hair) pulled into a high ponytail with just the right amount of bangs to scatter across my forehead - Check.

My stomach did little somersaults.

Shit, I was going to be late.

I grabbed the gift, gave myself one last once-over, and bolted out of my room.

On the bus ride there, I felt squeamish and excited at the same time.

Would you see me and think that I looked nice? God, I hoped so. I tugged at my hair and checked my phone.

Ah, shit - I was running late. Shit shit shit!

The bus came to a screeching stop and I grabbed my things and pushed past the double back doors. There was a shortcut through a hotel that I would take to reach there faster. Everyone was already at the restaurant waiting for me.

Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I waited impatiently for the stop light to turn red so I could cross the street. As the light moved from green to yellow, a girl passed by me. I recognized her - Alice. She was wearing a skirt and she looked especially cute today.

The naive me smiled at her and called her name out, waving when she turned around to gaze at me. This was the girl you'd been spending all your time with for the past few weeks. She smiled briefly - not too friendly, but not fake either - and said hello as she crossed the street ahead of me. Strangely, I didn't feel threatened. Maybe it was because I was going to see you in a few minutes. That had to be it.

My phone rang and it was Jaime.

"Hey where are you?"

"I'm here. I'm just a few blocks away. I'll be there soon. Is everyone there already?"

"Yeah, we're just waiting."

"Start without me. I'll be there soon."

"Okay, see you soon."

The light turned back to green and the rush of cars cut me off just as I stepped forward to cross. I looked down at the wrapped gift, cradled within my clasped hands.

Hurriedly, I whisked through the hotel, my heels clicking swiftly against the Oriental tiled walkway.

Laughter..

Alarmed, I stopped in my tracks. I heard a voice that sounded a lot like yours. And then a softer voice, a girl's voice, floated down the hall.

Oh God.

I freaked out and my legs broke out into a frantic sprint out of the hotel lobby.

Oh my God.

I slowed to a stop outside of the hotel doors, my hands clenched tightly and resting against my knees for support as I bent over, trying to catch my breath.

Was that you? No.. it couldn't have been. Could it have? But it sounded exactly like you. And you were laughing with someone.

No, it can't be you. I shook my head. Everyone was waiting at the restaurant. I convinced myself it wasn't you back at the hotel and started walking again.

It couldn't have been.

When I reached the restaurant, everyone was there but you. The sensible part of me already knew this and the other part of me (responsible for the clothes, hair, gift, the feelings) struggled to keep the disappointment from showing on my face.

"Where's Vince?" I asked, trying to sound casual but my own voice sounded alien to me.

"He's with Alice right now," your best friend David answered, his mouth full from a spoonful of fried rice.

Alice.

Somehow, I had already known that when I bumped into her.

"Ah, okay," I nodded agreeably. I sat down nonchalantly, tucking the gift discretely between my feet on the floor. When everyone turned their eyes away from me and back down to their own plates and side conversations, I swallowed hard.



I checked my phone. It was seven thirty already and the sun was setting. You never showed up to dinner and we'd just finished paying the bill.

"I-I can't stay much longer. I was supposed to leave for my friend's birthday party a couple of minutes ago," I announced, hesitantly.

"Where the hell is he," muttered David, visibly annoyed. "He's been with this chick for the past two hours. What the fuck!"

"Call him," interjected Barry, another one of our friends.

"I'll call him," Jaime offered helpfully, pulling out her phone. We crowded around the phone and listened carefully as the call was forwarded to voicemail.

"What the fuck!" exclaimed David, exasperatedly throwing his hands up in the air.

I didn't say a word. I sat down on a nearby bench, the gift safely hidden in my shoulder bag, and waited.

---

It's eight. You finally called back to tell us you are at the park with Alice, on the swings.

Barry suggested that we all go there to meet you. I shook my head, "I don't want to interrupt. Maybe we should let him say bye properly first? Give him five minutes, maybe? It shouldn't take too long..."

...Right?

David kicked an empty coke can down the sidewalk. "Fuck it, let's just go. He's taking too fucking long."

But you weren't at the park anymore either when we got there and when I stepped into the empty playground, my patience began to wear thin.

-------

It's nine and you're not picking up your phone again. Only this time, I had been the one making the last several calls to you. My patience, long gone, had somehow transformed into livid anger.

"VINCENT," I snapped angrily into the phone as your voicemail picked up my call, "Where the HELL are you?! I have to go. It's my friend's birthday and I'd like to say bye to you so get your ass over here NOW." I hung up and threw my phone back into my bag, seething. "Where IS HE?!"

David looked over at me. "What time is it now? Are you late?"

Lily... she'd called me twice already and both times, I promised her I was leaving soon. I need to go.

....You know what. No. Fuck Vincent.

I stood up abruptly, my bag making a loud 'clack' noise as it bumped violently against the bench armrest. "I gotta leave now - it's my friend's birthday and I'm going to miss her party," I announced, agitatedly.

Have a great trip. But I can't keep waiting for you anymore.

"Dude, CALL HIM NOW. And tell his bitch ass we are all leaving if he doesn't come. Like, RIGHT NOW. Someone call him again," David groaned aloud.

Jaime did the honors this time. Finally, someone picked up on the other end. I looked away, scoffing in deliberate annoyance.

"Hey, sorry about that. I was just walking Alice back to her bus," I heard your voice on the other line.

You sounded calm - as if you hadn't just made a whole league of your friends wait for you for hours.

"Hey, where are you right now? We'll walk over to you," suggested the ever so patient and forgiving Jaime.

But I can't. I've reached my breaking point.

----------

All of us were walking towards the main intersection where you agreed to meet us. I saw you out of the sea of faces - your back was to us and I could already tell you were lighting up a cigarette. David, tall and leggy, reached you first. I couldn't hear what you two were saying and it didn't stop me from interrupting either.

This... This is too much, Vincent.

I heard the irate and impatient clicking of my boots against the pavement and I knew I was walking fast.

I'm used to you trampling all over my feelings whenever you want... but you've gone too far.

I couldn't control myself.

"VINCENT!" I yelled fiercely down the long length of the sidewalk, my voice thick and coarse with anger.

My ponytail was slipping, the tie loosening against my reckless and furiously swift strides. I already knew my next words to you would be coated with venom. You are going to get it, you - you PRICK.

You turned to look up in surprise and I faltered a bit on the inside, though it didn't stop my pace. I stalked up to you, immediately shoving my wrapped gift against your chest. You looked down at the gift, curiously and then your eyes leveled themselves back onto me. One of the ribbons tore off and fell to the floor but neither of us paid it any attention.

"HAVE A GREAT TRIP!" I practically shouted, my voice cracking a little. I avoided your gaze - I really couldn't bring myself to look you in the eye. "BE SAFE." I tried my best to sound indifferent. "I HAVE TO GO SO - GOODBYE."

I roughly brushed past you and -

You caught my wrist.

Just like that. You caught my wrist and pulled me back to you, balanced me as I clumsily teetered from the sudden change of direction. And I looked up for the very first time, my eyes flared and defiant at your face, your unreadable expression, that something brewing in your eyes and our eyes locked for that split second.

Do you know how I'm feeling right now? Are you looking at me like this because you know?

You were looking at me, your expression indiscernible but eyes so rich with raw raw emotion. And then, without a word, you pulled me into a hug, so tight that I could hardly breathe. Both of us barely noticed as our friends crowded around and you kept your arms wound tightly around my smaller frame, your face buried in my hair. It felt like you would've stayed like that forever. And we did stay like that for a while before I finally stirred. After all, our friends are watching... and that is just... too uncomfortable for me.

Part of me was still infuriated. Don't think I'm so quick to forgive.

"Goodbye," I part-whispered, part-choked out, part-reluctantly pulling myself away from you.

I turned around, putting on my bravest face for the rest of our friends. "Bye guys!" I waved, feigning lightheartedness. "Have fun tonight, okay?"

They took the bait. No one noticed a thing. Well, except for you.

Like that, I spun on my heel and left, not even sparing you one last glance. My final image of you, standing amongst our crowd of friends with my gift in your hands and your eyes following me every second as I walked down the stairs to the subway, lingered in the back of my mind.

You hadn't said a single word to me.


As I sat by myself waiting for the subway to depart, I was still fuming. But as the subway pulled out of the station, I didn't know what I was feeling anymore.

In my hurry, the card I wrote for you had been separated from the gift and was lying abandoned and neglected in my shoulder bag. I let my fingertips trace the delicate texture of the card envelope as I bent my head low - to not let the other subway riders see. I cried quietly to myself the entire ride.

Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye.

A Beautiful Disaster!

There's this saying, "Without suffering, there would be no compassion" that I never quite understood up until today.


There is this particular neediness about me that I despise very deeply. And even though I insist on maintaining an air of independence and find it incredibly imposing on my ego to accept any sort of REAL help from another person, I'm almost too aware that I fall short to the level of self-sufficiency that I'd ideally have. It seems that every waking moment requires the conscious effort of smothering that lack of self-sufficiency to keep from surfacing.

But today I realized that without it I would have never been able to experience the warmth and kindness from you that makes everyone look at you the way they do. I would have never been reminded of the kind of person you are and how blessed I am to have you as a friend.


Crouching down with me in front of my wreck of a situation in a McDonald's parking lot in an unfamiliar neighborhood, you cracked a joke with the very ease you used to have so long ago and you grinned at me. It surprised me - like it had surprised me when you showed up out of nowhere to once again rescue me, when I had no one to turn to, just like in the past. All of a sudden, I couldn't remember bawling like a baby just a few moments ago - not having a napkin to wipe away my tears. I laughed hard and I felt happy and very safe with you there. It was like all of my troubles had drained away and replaced by instantaneous relief in that one second.

For some reason, unbeknown to yourself, you've always shown up to save me from my weakest points in time. You've always been there for me at the most pivotal and poignant moments of my life. I know you don't know this but I truly want to thank you from the bottom of my heart even though you will never accept it.

Thank you for being there for me.

You have always been my hero.

Guess what this is....

Gifted - The Summer

I wrote this short story on a whim when I was younger. I don't really know what it's all about and it's not really supposed to be about anything. You'll also have to excuse the short length and the choppiness of this piece; I think that is mainly due to my growing disinterest in this particular work. But I really started it because I wanted it to embody the thoughts of a young girl who has a person in her life that is neither friend nor lover. But kind of an in between. She's subconsciously (and unaware of it) in love with this person who practically seems like her soulmate but has no intention of bringing that potential out.

Enjoy. Or leave constructive criticism at the door. :)

He was gifted in the musical sense. His best – his passion and all of his strength was on the piano but his guitar wasn’t too bad and his violin was enough to move you to tears. He treated his talent casually since his interests laid elsewhere, or more specifically in graphic design and computer animation. One wondered why he was so blessed with all these fortes and even I regretted shying away from my piano classes at my younger age.

When he took me to the beach on a nice, warm day just to enjoy the breeze and he played a few guitar riffs of my favorite classic songs, I knelt down in front of him and told him that I loved him – with no intention, of course. It just stumbled out on its own and I brushed the potentially awkward moment off oh-so nonchalantly with a wide smile and a loud laugh. But he had appreciated the comment and responded with his own generous grin.

On the way there, I stuck my head out of the passenger window of the car and I let the summer breeze and ocean salt sweep through my hair and entangle as I watched the sun rise to start the day. We sang along to the radio at the top of our lungs even when we didn’t know all of the lyrics and we were laughing and my stomach hurt and my sides felt like they were splitting and it was exciting and brilliant and wonderful all at once.

--



“You play the guitar?” I inquired, reaching into the back of his trunk to pull out the guitar case. “I didn’t know that.”

“Just a little,” he replied, taking the case from my hands. He took his guitar out and threw the strap over his shoulder. “I’ll play you a song,” he offered, not intending to be charming but now that I think back on it, oh, he was so charming. Naturally, at the time, I didn’t notice. I did, however, give him a blank stare.

“What song can you play?” I asked him as we sauntered down the boardwalk side by side. I surveyed the empty beach and the ribbons of pinks and purples an early sunrise had streamed into the open sky.

“I don’t know. What song do you like?”

I played coy and lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. He took a seat on the plank of the boardwalk steps and likewise, I followed suit, sitting a step below him.

"I take requests," he declared, tenaciously, eyes squinting but alight at the beach shore.

My feet played idly at the corners of the steps and I tossed a brief look up at him. I had no preference. I would've liked anything. "Something pretty," I finally settled on.

He laughed, at first, at the silly request of a young girl. But as his chuckles died down, he reclaimed his guitar, fitting it snugly into his lap and echoed thoughtfully, "Something pretty."

Clucking his tongue, he looked down at his guitar.

“Most people ask me to play this piece,” I was told matter-of-factly, as he began to strum the opening notes to an old favorite song of mine.

I looked over to catch him watching me. “I like this song,” I admitted, old memories of faded cologne and velvet fabric flooded my thoughts. “It’s one of my favorites.”

Seamlessly, he transitioned into a second song – yet another old flame of mine. Not wanting to admit adultery on my previous confession, I watched – or listened, rather – wordlessly, feeling the corners of my lips tapering at a relaxed smile. And I watched him play and I watched his eyes linger on me, the expression on his face unreadable, and then I watched him look back down at his guitar. The songs he played with his guileless fingertips reminded me of sunlight, laughter, the dipping of feet into a Jacuzzi pool, and a past that was far too long ago to be consciously remembered. I felt happy and I hadn’t felt content like this in a long long time, I think.

I decided to declare my happiness.

"I love you," I announced, unabashedly, throwing my arms out for further emphasis as I hopped off of my seat from the steps and twirled about gracelessly in the sand. When I received no response, I glanced back at him. He was watching me - no longer strumming away at former lullabies and sweet melodies, but instead, he donned a strange expression on his face.

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. Inwardly, I inhaled and mustered up my quirkiest smile to beam at him. I laughed loudly before trotting back over to him and plopping down onto my rightful seat. "You're the best I know when it comes to creating music," I added, in a feeble attempt to explain and also to shake off the awkwardness of my words. I shifted onto my knees to sit and peered up at him. "I mean, I really like it when you play."

He smiled widely at me - an easy smile.

“Ugh, you're so talented,” I exclaimed, breathlessly, unable to stop myself from speaking. "I just hate you so much." I was rambling now. Someone stop me.

He laughed his gratitude at the half compliment. “I need more practice.” He caught my eyes with his – deep brown and smoldering with something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on – and he lifted the corner of his lips into a wry sort of half-smile; an arrogant smile, almost.

Silently, I shot him an inquisitive glance. I saw the sun in the reflection of his sunglasses as they hung haplessly off of his collar. The day was still early and the sun hurt my eyes.

He was sitting on the plank of the boardwalk steps - his guitar strap strung along one shoulder, his hair ruffled in the slight breeze, and he was incorrigibly handsome as he was. Not for me, though. Oh no. Just in general, of course.

I craned my neck to look out at the ocean behind me. There was a lone boat out at sea, a few seagulls dallying about by the shore and some flying lazily in the air.

Maybe I'd practice on my piano when I got home. I would practice a song until I became good at it. And then I'd show him. Maybe he'll even be impressed.

Suddenly, I felt something in my hair. It was him and he was pulling a lock of my hair around his fingers gently, his expression unreadable again but I was dying to know what he was thinking. I wondered what my hair felt like wrapped around his finger. I wondered if I had conditioned it enough that morning, as silly as the thought was.

“You’re quiet,” he commented.

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?” he asked, innocently.

I thought of how to respond. What was I thinking about exactly? There were so many things all at once. I was thinking about how sick I’d been of my life in the past year and how sick I was of other people’s expectations. I was thinking about how I desperately wanted to escape it all sometimes, change my name and start fresh again. I was thinking about him – the one with the guitar sitting by my side, strumming the very notes that pulled at my thoughts. I was thinking of how safe I felt with him, how comfortable and protected his very presence made me feel. I was thinking how someday some girl out there would snatch him up and I’d never see him again but I’d think about him often and wonder how he was doing. I was thinking of my hair in his fingers.

“Thinking about what I’m going to do tomorrow.”

He picked his guitar back up from where he left it and began a slower song – sweeter and unique, almost. Did he write it?

“Well, what are you going to do?”

“Nothing,” I answered, rather dully. “What about you?”

“Nothing,” he grinned at me, still strumming away at his guitar.

I kicked my sandals off and dug my toes into the sand, feeling the warmth of it seep between the crevices of my feet. I sat back and stared up at the clouds. I saw no shapes in them. "You wrote this song." Not a question, but a statement.

“Yeah, it reminds me of you everytime I play it."

"Maybe because it's a terrible song," I teased, laughing jovially.

No.

But my own laughter began to sound contrite and forced - alien, even - as though the gravity of my words had finally sunk itself upon me. I regretted it instantly, at that moment.

I felt, more than saw, him look away.

No, wait.

I didn't mean that. I'm sorry.

His next words were but a quiet murmur and I felt him re-level his gaze on me. "Terrible, but I'm happiest when I'm with it."

Oh.

I looked away quickly.

I want to run away from you. Straight into your arms.

My heart was pounding.

--

And when the summer air
in the guise of a soft breeze hits me
It hits me hard
And I'm young and sweet again
and you're there too and
it's as if nothing has changed

And everything -
the sleeping sky and the waves of the water
the smooth sand between my toes, the salted scent of the wind that plays with my hair oh so recklessly
and the stillness of an inevitably fleeting moment..
is all so painfully beautiful

If the world could be without bitterness
If the warm breeze and familiar chime of an old song
Could hit me every so often
If I could be reminded of you
and of how things were back then
And if I could hold onto that feeling forever
to my very core and never let it slip or fade or die
as all of life's innocent creations eventually do
then the world as I know it
would be perfect

and on those rare sunny off-season days that chime reminiscent of the summer, when an uncanny combination of warm cool air and the subtle sweet notes of an old song hits me, it hits me hard, and all of a sudden I'm barefoot against the hot sand and laughing so hard that my stomach hurts and my head feels dizzy

and I'm vivacious and spunky all over again just like how I used to be with you so naturally and how you always thought of me as.

Victoria's Secret 2008 Fashion Show

One more post before I tuck myself away into bed. I'm a bit late on this (again) but I definitely wanted to have a blogging of the latest Victoria's Secret Annual Fashion Show.

While it left a bit to be desired, especially since last year's show was so phenomenal, it was still a crowd-pleaser and I was very inspired myself by this year's slew of designs - especially with Miranda Kerr's butterfly piece. That was flipping amazing. Floored me immediately.

This year, we got paid a visit by musical guest Usher as well as the newly updated list of Angels -with Doutzen Kroes, Miranda Kerr, and a few others joining the team- which I believe were all great choices. My personal favorites from VS would have to be Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, and Doutzen Kroes. I'm not too keen on Marisa Miller (although she is still very beautiful); I guess I'm just more into the exotic look. But Usher was a pretty good selection as well. Can't say I really understood his last song about sex though. What was THAT about?

Anyway, on to some of my top favorites from the show.

Firstly, I'd like to point out that I am pretty thrilled that Doutzen was chosen to be an Angel. I think she is gorgeous and has a definitive classic look to her. Secondly, I love this rose garden piece she's wearing on the left. The designers were mentioning just how complicated this piece was, in terms of the construction and how fragile it was. Luckily, Doutzen pulled it off perfectly on the runway. Not to mention, the botanic look really suits her.












Doutzen again; this time with a feather-esque ruffled waist cape with a passionate shade of red bleeding into a light colored pink. She's donning a matching top and bottom valentine's lingerie set with stockings and just the right amount of lace.















Has anyone realized how much Doutzen resembles a certain blondie actress by the name of Denise Richards? I couldn't help but notice during the fashion show that they do look a lot alike from certain angles.



A comparison of Doutzen (bottom) and Denise (top).


While I was watching the show, I had completely forgotten that Alessandra had just popped out a baby not too long ago. But her figure is near-perfect a month later and she was stunning on the catwalk.







Picture of Ambrosio to the left wearing a black laced two piece and more notably a flowing sheer black robe draped loosely over her shoulders.
















Looking good and she knows it! For this ensemble, I really liked the ribbons laced around her wrists, the added lace along her stomach and the matching choker. The Pegasus wings set perfectly with the Grecian heels.
















Adriana Lima's gorgeous. Just wanted to stick in a photo of her here. Liked the white transitioning into black sheer wing set on her.









I think Heidi looks good in everything but the kimono-inspired lingerie was a really magnificent piece of work. Not only did the colors coordinate fabulously with one another (never underestimate yellow and light coral together), but the actual structuring of the piece itself was immaculately done with the elbow high gloves, the assymetrically waist-draped kimono that flowed effortlessly behind Klum as she took over the runway and the ballerina-like lace ups of the heels. Oh yeah, and her neck piece was pretty blinding too.













Love this red and jeweled piece on Heidi Klum. Very belly-dancer styled and was stated to be worth $5 million. I'm especially crazy over the jeweled abdomen.













I am totally okay that Karolina has no belly button because she makes up for it in beauty, grace, and class. I like this peacock-styled ensemble on her. The overall elegance of this piece really suits her well since she's so tall and thin-framed (reminds me of a peacock's neck) and I think the bottom piece of the set is especially brilliant with its ridged design. The peacock cape in the back actually does look a lot like a peacock tail.












I don't even know where to begin on this one. Why do I like it? I think that in itself is self-explanatory but I'll give it a shot. It has a very Christmas feel to it and she looks like she'd make the perfect Angel to set on top of the Christmas tree. Also, I love the sparkles and grey blend of the cape, full-length white gloves, little white tutu, and the SHOES.












Now for anyone who thinks Selita's new hairdo is ugly, I'd just like to counter that by saying I think it's a fantastic cut on her and she still looks as flipping magnificent as ever.

I love the intricacies of this piece and how the design wraps over her entire front abdomen, sides, back, up to her right shoulder and over to her left arm.

I wanted to include this photo of her just because I love the full-arm wing set.

And now for my favorite of the favorites of the show and possibly in all of history. The butterfly wings! I can't get enough of the little butterflies dancing around Miranda Kerr as she strutted down the runway in her impossibly adorable fashion. The outfit definitely helped as well. Not only her butterfly wings looks authentic to the core and detail but I loved the touch of the wired butterflies streaming and dancing around her as she walked. The lingerie baby color blue was a nice shade. I'm not too crazy on the granny panties but it doesn't detract from the outfit, surprisingly since Kerr pulls it off without any trace of sweat. Huge fan of the lace up shoes too.


Since we're on the subject of favorites - in terms of models, I have to say that Adriana Lima is probably my favorite just because I love her exotic look and the contrast in hues between her dark hair, dark features, and bright bright eyes. Also, she's really gorgeous (Sorry, I use that word a lot, I noticed). This piece wasn't from the 2008 show. I think it was from 2007 but I love it and wanted to include it in this post. I just love sheer white decored lace.












I wanted to have a photo of Marisa Miller too. Her outfit on the right looked really cute and gave off a very warm, Christmas present, knitted-stockings feel. And it's not just because she's wearing knitted stockings and literally has Christmas wrapping ribbons attached all over to her.

And does anyone else think that she resembles Jessica Simpson?













Last photo from the show but this piece is essentially a rose-strung webbed wingset. Which was really beautiful in my opinion. I'm just glad there weren't any giant spiders on that thing.















Overall, the fashion show was amazing. It was less Christmas-oriented than last year's, I couldn't help but to notice, and the finale wasn't as mind-boggling either. But then again, I don't think anything could beat Heidi Klum flying out from the ceiling in a nearly full diamond piece lingerie set worth tens of millions of dollars complete with a pair of wings with the enormity and quite possibly the weight of the Atlantic Ocean.

Fashgasmic

For those of you who have yet to check out Colleen Quen's 2007 "Compassion" collection, don't forget to do so. I'm about a year late in this but I couldn't miss a chance at re-oogling over her "Three Hundred Pappillons" Origami Gown - one of my absolute favorites out of all the designs out on the runway thus far.



This magenta and red silk gown, hand-crafted and hand-stitched with intricate little butterflies that drape along the length of the gown, won me over instantaneously. When I first looked at it, I couldn't ignore the Autumn-esque mood of the dress. It sort of looks like Falltime foliage, ripened to the perfect shade of red, floating one by one off of its branches. Did I mention I also have an infallible weakness towards mermaid-style gowns? Well, I do and I ADORE IT. Quen, an innovator of the modern pop art and French couture style, strove to inspire peace, compassion, and love within the community with her designs. And I am definitely feeling the love... for this dress.





And who can resist a pair of Robert Cavalli lace pumps? I am dying to get myself a pair of these...



Would go spectacularly well with my vintage flapper dress... That is, once I buy it... (Ha ha ha)






If anyone has seen the recent Sex and the City big screen film, you'll be sure to recognize these beauts.

This Judith Lieber strawberry cupcake clutch was featured in SATC and is currently at a whopping price of $4500+! It's sparkling, gorgeous, attention-grabbing, and most definitely DELICIOUS.




Another beautifully-designed Judith Lieber flower-jewel decor clutch.


And if you liked the first cupcake clutch, take a bite out of this one - beaded and sequined to perfection!





Next are three of my favorite dresses out of the Christian Dior 2008 Couture Fashion Collection.




I am completely digging the sheer babydoll styled blue dress to the left with its matching silk sewn bonnet and the decorative, but not obnoxiously so, bow sash on the side. It screams Japanese couture doll. Not to mention, the open-toed pumps she's harnessing with its anklet-strap bows are adorable as BALLS.










As for the Christian Dior dress on the right hand side, I am loving it for mostly the same reasons as the blue. I like the general style and design of the dress, not to mention the fact that I adore the printed neckpiece which I feel gives it a great added effect to its overall base color. The difference between the two dresses would be that I feel this one has a bit of a sassier attitude to it while the blue dress has more of a babydoll vibe. The bare shoulders of this piece exude naked confidence and a certain strut to this outfit. Again, the asymmetrical design of this garb is very fitting to the couture style and I am a big fan of the matching headpiece as well.








You can probably tell by now that I'm a huge groupie of the babydoll look. For this Christian Dior, what I liked was the fluff and puff of the overall design and the color itself was a very tasteful selection. The ruched bow as the centerpiece of the dress was a nice touch. The delicately squared shoulder wraps and the open-haltered collar also allowed just the perfect amount of skin to show for this piece. The open-toe heels are flawless.










Two more honorable mentions. This time from the Armani Prive 2008 Fashion Collection.








With its thick-laced décolleté and fitted midsection, paired with a matching and elegant wrap, this piece is certainly an eye-catcher.
















I am FIENDING for this split-color ankle-length gown. It's classic, classy, and bleeds of sophistication. The necklace is also a great decorative addition to this barenecked and shouldered piece.











On a completely irrelevant side note, this is what I intend on treating myself to before the end of the year 2008.



The 5150 Empress - 153cm. Friggin' beautiful and just to my liking too. Merry Christmas to me.



With that said, au revoire and see you at the next catwalk!