Channeling My Inner Whore Turned Beauty at the Rose Bowl Flea Market

Some girls dream of dressing like a princess in the gowns that seem to be poofed to perfection as if it were all just one giant balloon. (Balloons are so in this summer. Like in Up! That movie seriously caters to my every desires - old people and fat things.) Others dream of dressing like Celebs that can afford a $10,000 + Birkin bag. I finally figured out how much those babies cost thanks to the Asiana airline's supply of "World's Most Expensive" episodes. But I, the wanderer of the weird, have always admired my darling, the Pretty Woman, aka Julia Roberts as a whore. It's not so much her clothing as it is her transformation. It's like the underdog movie where prostitutes are just not to par with normal classy folk up in Beverly Hills. I like myself a good blond bobbed wig and tight snake-skin printed, spandex microminis as much as the next girl But that also doesn't mean I can't like a sassy hat for the derby.

Oh wait, you aren't into the snake-print spandex microminis? Oops, my bad. I get it. It's about the leopard print this season not the snake skin. What have I been smoking.

In the movie she wears this nice long brown polka dotted dress with this cute little straw hat and on top of that she wears a pair of white gloves like a sunday with a cherry on top. Ever since then, I've had a soft spot for dressing like a sophisticated, uber rich snob, older lady. You know the ones who wear those ridiculous hats with like some out of date white suit and skirt combo and their overly botoxed face? In my twisted way of thinking, I love the look because it reminds me of the derby and derby reminds me of grass and grass reminds me of blue skies and blue skies make me happy. I'm a real simple minded fellow. It doesn't take much to make me happy.

My of all things ridiculous lead me to a huge jackpot in my latest thrift-venture. A hat jackpot I might add because I ended up walking away with 5 hats that afternoon. I tell myself it's worth it because I'm starting a hat museum..someday. So I found this awesomely awesome pink and lavender floppy hat with a giant sculpture-like-thing with feathers stuck on top of it. It reminded me of my Pretty Woman and Barbie and I just loved it. Sure, it's not quite the style of the moment, not quite in-season, not that "edgy" but I was never one to give a flying duck about those sorts of things. (shoot. I'm totally going to fail in the fashion industry)

Like all my purchases, I usually have difficulties coming up with places to wear them because to me I like a little show and tell. I like to go out and be seen in my wackiness because if I look like a clown and act like a clown, then the people around me will benefit from the happiness the clown brings. I don't really understand much of what I just said, but then again... I never do.

Thankfully, last Sunday was the perfect occasion to wear my hat. I called up my pimp mama-

"Yo. Pimp mama, what up?"

"Not much. Not much. Hows you doin?"

"Alrite. Look G. I got some bomb news that the Rose Bowl Flea Market is this Sunday. Ya down fo it homie?"

"AH Shooot. Fo sho yo! Fo Sho!"

"Look we gotta go all out and dress up for this. You down?!"

"I'm always down! what you talkin about!"

(conversation has been slightly modified)

So pimp mama and I drove up to Pasadena last Sunday to what we agree to be the best shopping experience ever because if you're a junk junkie like us, this place is filled with endless, endless stalls of junk. But one man's junk is another man's treasure.

We wore our snazzy attire. With the power of my hat and her hat we summoned the Gods of shopping and they were on our sides. Don't we look so cute?!

An outfit details list? Must you?! Yes. I must. Sorry folks.

• Snazziness on my head: $4 thrift
• Ruffly shirt: $10 mall
• Yellow shorts: $2 thrift
• Belt: $1
  
• Shoes: $25
• Those giant smiles on our faces?!: priceless

The Rose Bowl Flea Market comes every second Sunday of the month. The only down side to it is the $8 entrance fee (costs more if you go in earlier), but if you have nothing better to do, then just looking at all the cool things alone is worth it! It's like a museum and shopping all wrapped in one.

We arrived around 9 in the morning and left around 1:30 and we didn't even get through half of the market. We mostly stayed around the second-hand, antiques area because once you start there, you seriously can't go back. People there are super friendly and seriously they sell like everything there. If you are looking for a particular thing, I'm pretty sure you can find it somewhere.

Prices were actually not too bad. I was afraid that things were going to be expensive since the sellers know the value of their goods. If you look hard you can find some super cheap deals and some awesome finds! I personally was swooning with all the hats they have there. Most were on the pricier side but they were so fun to try on and look at. Pimp mama found two awesome fur hats her dream come true!

There is a whole area in the back that is filled with vintage clothing and lots and lots of boots. I got sidetracked by the American Vintage clothing stall because everything was five dollars. Oh am I a sucker for cheap things.

I ended up getting that dress in my hands up there (turning it into a skirt. It's awesome!) and this lavender dress that was like a confused dress because it didn't know if it wanted to be a good girl or a slut.

The thing about this place is that there are soooo many cool things that everything just sort of blends in. There were so many cool boots we saw but since there were so many we just sort of passed by them all and only looked at the ones that really stood out.

These were mens shoes and they were awesome but it was sadly $70 and too expensive for me.

So ladies and gents, what have we learned today?

That hats are cool and that you should definitely check out the Rose Bowl Flea Market if you ever get a chance.

Sorry my blog post just sort of declined in it's snazziness. So much to do. So little time.

Ciao all.

Shabby Apple Ain't Too Shabby & A Little Goodbye

Summer school is officially finished. Can I get a HoooRAY?! I spent the last 12 hours of my life pretending to be an alien and trying to understand the sex of Americans. When I wrote my paper I tried my best to have a British accent because then I could imagine my paper being some kind of documentary for the Discovery or History Channel.

I'm packing once again and getting ready for a month long adventure into the Eastern wonders of the world. However, my last post before I leave I must do a quick shout out to the lovely new clothing company that is Shabby Apple. As a supporter of indie fashion and new up and coming businesses I was quite intrigued by Shabby Apple's mission - "Shabby Apple is proud to offer you fantastic dresses that allow you to look fabulous, without having to compromise anything."

Shabby Apple sent over the Duck Beach dress for me and I must say it is absolutely adorable. I love the wrapped look and the fitted waistline. I love a good 50's silhouette because it is flattering on nearly all types of body types. I dressed up in this dress immediately I finished my paper and the theme was a jet setter. I can totally imagine myself hopping on a plain in this comfy and classic dress. Doesn't it just scream American Explorer? I actually remember doing a post almost a year ago with a photoshoot of the same jet setting theme when I was off for Europe. Oh the lovely memories.

I remember when i was younger I was quite self conscious of how much skin I was showing. I wouldn't wear spaghetti straps without putting a cardigan over it first. Shabby Apple is great because it caters to those people who want something feminine and sexy without revealing too much. They offer clothing for women, teens and even children as well as some wonderful accessories to match. I could find dresses for nearly every occassion. They have some beautiful simple black dresses as well as more colorful pieces.

What I loved even more about Shabby Apple was their sizing. Shabby Apple celebrates all shapes and sizes of women. In fashion is easy to forget that women are not models, we are not all stick thin and as tall as a baby giraffe. Sure I love interpreting the latest runway styles to flatter my own body but what I also love is when clothing is made to flatter the figure. It makes life simple and easy and that is what Shabby Apple does, creates simple and flattering dresses that real women would want to wear. Plus having a dress that states a size Small label makes me feel really happy. Even though sizing is arbitrary, it still makes me smile. A section on their website - the "Flatter to Figure" hand picks out dresses that made to enhance and flatter the body.

Off to packing now. Toodles poodles. I'll see if I can update from China but I'm not quite sure what my internet situation will be. Cross fingers.

A First for Everything.

I went shopping today. I tried on a Cavalli dress and a Valentino dress. It was heaven. My first time trying on legit designer duds.

Anyone want to donate some money to me?

I did buy some stuff. I was bummed when a lovely Stella McCartney dress for 20 Euro was way small. I ended up with a silk dress marked down to 20 euro from 465 euro. Then we found a really cheap shop and I got a jacket and two tops for 11 euro. Mission complete.

No more buying. No more going out.

Hm. Nah, that won't work.

Lala's Style of the Day and Another Adventure to Jet Rag

• Yellow & white striped top: 0.50 thrift sale
• Shorts: 0.98 thrift
• Yellow skinny belt: tjmaxx
• Panda bag!: $3 Taiwan
• Heart watch necklace: $5 thrift
• Shoes that are already falling apart?! curse you cheap Taiwanese shoes: $5 Taiwan
• hot pink tumor in hair? organza heart that I was going to use in my collection but didn't safety pinned and tied to a shoelace. Such a recycler I am.

Today I woke up at 6 in the morning, probably the earliest ever this summer. I went with my sister to her orientation since I had to go to the newspaper office for production today anyways. Little freshman don't look so little. I felt an evil happiness when these three freshman were so confused about where to check in that they got lost. They made it there eventually, so I'm not that mean.

It was only 8:30 and I had like 4 hours to kill, the perfect excuse for another jet rag excursion. The last time I went to Jet Rag was last summer. I lived so close to the place but never went until now. This time my mom and sister weren't there so I had the pleasure of hunting without worrying that someone was bored. If you didn't know Jet Rag is famous for their $1 parking lot sales every Sunday. At 10:30 they open like 10 bales of untouched clothing which means that you can find some great treasures that were untouched by elitist vintage store hands. Now the problem is, I am a slow one. I would be the tortoise in the tortoise in the hair - minus the hard shell, I'm really a softy. People were already surrounding the packages so I was left staring at the sweaty backs of bargain hunters. A lovely sight. Seriously, within 3 seconds of opening the plastic, everything is gone. People just take a whole bunch, anything they can grab. They then go into their little corner under the hot LA sun and take their time looking through it. Because my plan A was unsuccessful, I opt for plan B. I follow the boys and wait for them to throw back the girls clothing. Perfect yeah?

Jet Rag is located on La Brea near the Melrose intersection. If you ever want to do some vintage shopping, this area is totally the place. I saw so many vintage stores along the way plus the Fairfax flea market.

I went a little crazy and walked out with $24 dollar trash bag filled goodies. I plan to put some things up on lalaliu.love anyways so I have a good reason.

Afterwards I went with my dad to the famous Pinks hot dogs which is right next to Jet Rag.

The line was sooo long. To me, it was only okay. I just think I'm not a hot dog person. Too salty for me. After gorging down my mushroom swiss dog, I hurried to work and designed my first page by myself ever. Pat on my back.

Be ready for lots of pictures of my finds. I have a dressing room rendezvous in my room tonight. I totally went over my limit this week.

Retail Therapy at Target.

Ever since coming back from vacation, I've been fed up with a lot of things. For a few days I've had the greatest urge to beat up random strangers or scream so loud as to popping my lungs. Sadly, both things never happened because I don't want to go to jail. Orange doesn't complement my skin. I have clear anger management issues. Thankfully, retail therapy is always there when I need it. And need it I did.

We drove down the hill and the instant my eyes saw the red bulls eye, my heart calmed a bit. The smell of Target's shiny clean floors flooded my nose with poisonous cleaners. I smiled as I passed by the micro food court as people stuffed their faces with hot dogs and less than gourmet pizzas. Oh the gluttony! It was magic. Right across from the food was the women's clothing. My home Target does not have good business sense because why would you put swimsuits and bikinis next to the food court. I wouldn't want to eat anything if I'm forced to face posters of girls romping in water.

To the clothes I went. And I actually remembered this time that a new Go International Collection was out: Richard Chai. A skipped around the small area like a hippy on mushrooms in a grassy field. I laughed with laughter and frolicked without care. I have to say I was pretty impressed with the collection. It looked nicely made and most pieces had wonderful details. There were many well-tailored pieces. They excited me. My eyes were already transforming into a green lust filled color. They were taunting me and clearly taking advantage of my current fashion slump state. If only I were made of Benjamins.

I took a handful into my hands and off to the dressing room I went. I really do hate how stores limit it to 6. If I were ruler of the world, master of the universe, I would change it. And make it 7. Take that.

Never have I bought anything from the Target Go Collections when they are not on sale. All my finds usually end up in the 75% off rack, so not expecting anything and just for the fun of it, I went to try things on. In many experiences, the collections always disappoint when I actually try them on.

I brought my new camera with me hidden in my new panda bag. From now on I shall bring my camera with me everywhere I go.

Uno.

The first piece was a lambskin vest. I wore it over a leftover Rogan one-piece that was only $5, but too bad it was too small. The vest was nice and all but no way was I going to spend $80 on it. I'm sorry. Maybe next time when I actually make money.

Due.

A top and skirt. I don't think they were meant to go together. But whatever. Both pieces were cute as well.

Tre.

I thought the design of this dress was really cool. It's a little surprise in the back with the racer back style. It had some nice seams and lines. The only thing is this satin fabric that proudly glorifies my non-existent flat abs.

Quattro.

A weird dress. It was when I realized it was sort of difficult to pull the zipper past my boobs, that I had worn it backwards. Oops. I reversed it. the style is alright with a "V" in the back. But the material felt like I was wearing some 80's ski jacket or something.

Cinque.

Dress with awesome blue flowers. It fit so well. It has nice lines and sweetheart necks are my favorite.

My mom really liked dress cinque on me and so did I. But was I really prepared to spend $40? I held the dress in my hands around Target for another half hour as we browsed the clearance racks and I picked up two super comfy t-shirts and a jacket. The dress was still in my hands. I kept debating. I must seriously be the most indecisive person on the Earth.

As we headed towards the checkout, the dress was still in my hands. I placed it onto those plastic black slidey thingies (what are those called?). I felt guilty that I was spending money, or my mom's money. That is the story of my life, guilt. I don't know why but whatever I do, there is always a sense of guilt. Okay, enough emo-rambling. So I bought it.

My first ever Target Collection piece not from the clearance rack. Is this a step up or step down? I walked out Target with a plastered grin and my stomach aching for food. Retail therapy sure does work. For some great reviews on the Richard Chai collection check out Fashion Trend Guide.

And notice my use of Italian numbers baby. I'm practicing and that's all I seem to remember. Less than a month away!

Oh yeah, one more day left!

Fashion Finds from Far Far Away

My two week adventure to Taiwan has left me with serious jet lag, a new bag of clothes and a hybrid between a question and thought. These rare specimens are called a questhought. If you didn't know these existed, well surprise, they do exist. Well, in my world anyways. What a strange world I live in.

I did do some shopping in Taiwan, but don't worry I didn't go mega-crazy. I think. If I could sum up Taiwanese female fashion I would use the word "cute". They all dressed rather modestly. I was surprised to see so many people wearing jeans and jackets when I was wearing a tank and shorts and still feeling the humid heat.

For all you cheapskate peeps, Taiwan shopping is definitely a must if you are ever to visit the lovely island. Sure with cheap clothing comes cheap, or a less than high, quality, but you can find some pretty cute things out there.

Before coming to Taiwan, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to buy anything because of my gigantic size. Asian sizes tend to run really small. My last experience in China was buying an XXL. Awesome. But thankfully, I did manage to find things and thanks to the loose and bubble trend that is going on in Taiwan worrying about being the sad girl who couldn't find anything that fit would only be a story of fiction.

Oh and back to my questhought. Why are my feet so big?! The only thing I couldn't manage to find were shoes my size. I think my feet in Taiwan are the rarest creatures in that island. It doesn't help that my feet are not only big in length, but big in width as well. It's an embarrassing moment in your life when your mom asks the store manager what's the biggest size they've got and the store manager asks how big and your mom points at you and the store manager looks down at your feet and immediately shakes her head. Then there is that awkward moment where you look at the person and she looks at you and you look back knowing fully well that the person is laughing uncontrollably inside at your gigantic feet. Finally you walk away empty handed while your size 6 footed sister gets to comb through the racks and shelves of cute, trendy, (although cheaply made), dainty shoes of joy. Luckily enough, I did manage to scrape up two pairs of lovely sandals in my size! Even though on one of the pairs my squishy heel peeks off the shoe, I will call them shoes in my size. Take that you small non-size-9-dainty shoes of horror!!!

Back to shopping. The place I went most was WuFenPu. It's an area made just for shopping. Every little alley is filled with the smell of new clothes unwrapped or wrapped in plastic packages (and imported from good ole China). Most stores had sale items - $100, $200, $300 and so on. These are in Taiwanese dollars roughly $30 NT= $1 American dollar. Knowing me and my primal thrifting instincts I rarely left the comforts of those sale racks, getting almost everything at WuFenPu for only $100.

A lot of the styles I saw there were not so much different to the trends over here except in a more "asian/FOBby" manner. I don't know if you get what I mean, but I'll carry on nonetheless. I saw many suspender inspired items, a lot of bubble hems, graphic T-shirts with large phrases printed on, and lots of jumpers. There weren't any dressing rooms and trying things on was a big no-no, so I had to wing it, use my instincts and estimate. I often overestimated my skinniness or is it underestimated my fatness? Either way, I had to give some things over to my sister.

Without further ado, my Taiwan trip haul.

1&2 Jewelry was from my aunt. She went to China and bought all these interesting pieces and planned to sell them for profit in Taiwan. She told me to take whatever I wanted. Um, okay? So I did. I got these awesome ring-bracelets. Now all I need is an Indian outfit and I'm ready for my bollywood debut! // 3 dress: $100NT from a night market. Very schoolgirl meets leprachaun. Mildly tight, not sure if to give it to a friend or somehow make it work.

1 tshirt and not just any tshirt, a PANDA t-shirt. $100 NT. The thing I love about asian countries is the mass amount of panda paraphernalia they have. SO CUTE. I have an insane crush on fat pandas // 2 shiny shiny dress. $100 NT. I'm not quite sure why I bought it. Maybe I was trying to fullfill my inner diva's style sense. It was my first purchase and I think the cheapness of everything got to my head. I'll figure it out somehow!// 3 top. $100 NT. I'm a sucker for things that have doodles that look like I drew them and for bubble-esque hems. And the round buttons on the straps. I'm a sucker for many things in life, these are just a few.



1 top. $100 NT. I love the faux suspender straps and black and white is one of my favorite combos...because they're panda colors! // 2 PANDA BAG! $100 NT. I almost peed in my pants when I saw this. // 3 shoes. 2 pairs for $300. They're a lot cooler in real life and are so comfortable. Maybe it's because these were the last pairs sitting out there and have been worn and stretched to perfection?

1 floral button top $100 NT, it has a collar and then two straps making an X in the back. // 2 Tunic or super mini dress $100 NT. Simple but nice with fake crystal buttons. One step closer to my African safari dreams. // 3 Jumper $100NT, I love a good ole jumper.

1 tshirt $100 NT, my mom didn't like how it looked on her so she gave it to me. // 2&3 dress& tunic 2 pieces for $150. These are super comfy pieces. Way cheap.

I also did shop other places but didn't really buy except when we went to XinmenDing, a place where a lot of young people hang out. Not as cheap as WuFenPu but still fun!

1 lime jumper $300NT, there goes the bubble! // 2 pink doodled mini-dress $300 NT there goes the bubble again! and the doodles! // 3 Be Happy Shirt $100 NT because I like being happy.

There it is folks, my haul of clothing from Taiwan. I really need to stop buying and start prioritizing things in life like sleeping. I need to fix my internal clock. I didn't know jet lag could screw with my brain this much.

Oh yeah, and click here. Heehee.

Weekend Extravaganza: Materialism for a good Cause

Before I tell the tale of my lovely pre-birthday weekend (I cannot believe that I will be 20% of a century old. That is unfrickin believable) I will as usual post what I wore because it's just so darn interesting.

Photos thanks to lil pee, who has decided by the way to go to the same college as me!!! YAY! She just could not stay away from my coolness.

My tee basically sums up my crazy materialistic weekend.

WARNING, there will be lots of pictures ahead. For the picture inducing headache prone people, I recommend not to proceed. But cool pics of me vastly outweigh headaches yeah?

• I <3>
• Jeans: back in my mall rat days, wetseal
• flipflops
• headband: $1
• Chanel red bag, most definitely a faker.
• Leftover cuban food.

So this weekend I came back home. Barbie picked me up Friday and I went a lil fabric shopping. We did an our-family-celebration on Sunday which consisted of Buffalo Exchange madness and good ole Cuban food, Old Towne adventure.

Awesome.

An ENORMOUS MOUND of food. No wonder Americans get fat.

My $4.50 birthday cake that I shared with my sister. It was a delicious 2 minute experience.

There was a car show going on.

But basically the coolness of my weekend consisted of going to the Buffalo Exchange Earth Day $1 Sale on both Saturday and Sunday. I told you I was crazy. Prepare for a long long list of the goodies. I went on Saturday just with my dad to the one in downtown of my favorite city in the world. After noticing the swarm of hipsters and crazy families I knew I needed reinforcement and called my dad to come watch my pile. I basically grabbed, sifted, and grabbed. I ended up with a $30 box.

Coming off my high I wanted to go again on Sunday at another buffalo exchange located in a different city. My whole family came this time. I never knew Lil Pee was this feisty when it came to grabbing clothes. Even my mom was pleasantly surprised at the not so thrift store-esque surrounding. Maybe I've finally convinced her! There were so many new clothes left and right.

First Loot.

Second Loot


First Loot pictures of like almost everything. A lot of these look way better in person.

Tee Shirt // Custo Barcelona LS tee for sister

Plaid Dress with gold trim // Silk floral dress (excuse fug face)

Vintage Floral Dress

Diesel Jeans // Denim Jumper missing a button

Little house on the prairie dress/ Habitual white jeans

Vtg Spantastic patterned polyester dress// Sisley floral dress

Vtg Floral mod dress// Authentic one of those Austrian traditional corset dresses

Le Tigre skirt (luv the colorfulness) // Nolita highwaisted trousers. WAY TOO LONG

Volumnous jacket, semi-tulip skirt // dress

Satin blazer // Gold BCBG silk skirt

Mexican dress// Vtg Dress with awesome bow design

St. John Cardi // Blazer

Flats

Leaf Belt // Etnies new flat wedges

The other three items not shown included a hot pink flowly night gown that I don't know why I bought, a dress for lil pee and a jumper that didn't fit also for lil pee.

The next day I went again with the whole LalaLiu family. This time $34 was spent and we even got free plastic bags. This sale was even crazier because they kept refilling the piles and people would grab like insane psychos. I became an insane psycho. The are was so nice with trees and all other Earth Day filled events. I saw a guy with dreads carrying around a marijuana plant. It was lovely. I didn't take pictures of everything this time. No more vanity for me.

Perfect condition DOC MARTEN shoes!! // Penny Kenny wedges too big

See by Chloe skirt // jeans like a lot

And then i bought a lot of clearance tights from Target

School now. Getting ready to leave my teenage years. Barf me now.