ShopDiary

Christian Siriano and Nina Garcia in Ugly Betty

Project Runway judge Nina Garcia and season four winner Christian Siriano make guest appearances on tomorrow’s episode of Ugly Betty. Here’s a preview:

Kiehl’s Free Gift with Purchase

Receive a complimentary full-size Kiehl’s Light Nourishing Eye Cream ($20 value) with any purchase of $45 or more.

To take advantage of this limited-time offer, visit any of the Kiehl’s free-standing stores or purchase your products online at Kiehls.com and enter the code BABES. Online orders also receive complimentary shipping.

Offer is valid until May 12.

Gossip Girl: Serena Van der Woodsen’s Burberry Prorsum The Mason Warrior Bag

Spotted: Serena van der Woodsen toting a metal studded bag from Burberry Prorsum called The Mason Warrior Bag. The metal studs look a bit hardcore for Serena’s sweet image. Perhaps it will come in handy when she eventually goes to battle with her arch-nemesis, Georgina Sparks. $3195 at Net-a-Porter.

Images via youknowyouloveme and Net-a-Porter

Gossip Girl: Blair Waldorf’s Valentino Couture Braided Tote

Still another must have handbag from Gossip Girl’s latest episode, “Desperately Seeking Serena”, is Blair Waldorf’s red braided tote. Although the style has been around for several months now, the Valentino Couture Braided Tote just looks hot in red, doesn’t it? It’s made of napa leather that is buttery soft. The woven details and braided handles are unique features that go well with the bugatti shape. Seeing all these gorgeous handbags in one show suddenly makes me rethink my recent handbag purchase. Ah, if only I’ve got an extra $1950 to spare!

Image Sources: CWTV.com, Neiman Marcus

Gossip Girl: Georgina Sparks’ Gucci Hysteria Python Bag

Georgina Sparks (portrayed by actress Michelle Trachtenberg) made her debut on Gossip Girl’s latest episode, “Desperately Seeking Serena”. She’s back to stir up trouble for reformed former bad girl Serena and it looks like she arrived with a deadly accessory on her arm. I just watched the episode last night and I couldn’t get my eyes of her black python bag. It fits Georgina’s snakey, er sneaky, personality.

But seriously, the bag is Gucci’s Hysteria Python bag. For someone who isn’t usually drawn to Gucci and python (snakeskin gives me the creeps), this bag is to die for! The bag’s shape is distinctive and comes with a hefty price tag of $3990. Neiman Marcus has already sold out of the style but if you must have it, Saks Fifth Avenue still carries it. And if you live in California (where python is banned) or prefer a non-snakeskin alternative, Gucci Hysteria also comes in black patent ($1790) and gun metal leather ($2150).

Images via CWTV.com and Saks.com.

H&M at The Americana at Brand

H&M will be opening a new store at The Americana at Brand in Glendale this Friday, May 2nd at 10am. The first 200 customers at the grand opening will receive a free t-shirt and an H&M gift card with a value of $10 - $300.

$50 off $300 at IntermixOnline.com

Even Express Has Gotten on the Marni Balloon Bag Bandwagon

Stores like Forever 21 and Steve Madden love Marni’s balloon bag as evidenced in their own incarnations of it.

Even designer Cynthia Rowley has her own version. (For those of you keeping track, she was ahead of the copycat pack; her Deena Handbag was released last summer).

Don’t look know but Express has gotten on the bandwagon as well.

Which version do you prefer?

(Left to right, top to bottom: Marni, Cynthia Rowley, Steve Madden, Forever 21, Express)

It’s My Birthday and I’ll Buy What I Want To

Hahaha. Don’t I sound so defensive? I know I’m going to get some flak for what I got myself for my birthday. (Yes, don’t wait for anybody to get what you want. Get it yourself!) But I know I will, especially from those in New York. Call me nuts but yes, I got myself a Goyard again. The brand isn’t as ubiquitous in Los Angeles as it is in New York. And I haven’t seen Goyard knock offs yet, so I’m still immune to being turned off with the brand.

I wanted something bright and cheery for spring, particularly a marine blue (royal blue) fidji hobo. And when I lock onto an idea, I can’t let go of it (that must be the Taurean in me). But Barneys didn’t have it. So I gravitated towards yellow and light blue. The colors look good against my Marimekko for H&M top, don’t they?

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Zipped Back Gladiator Shoes

When it comes to shoes, I like them to be easy to slip in and out of. I usually can’t be bothered with straps if I can help it. So when I started searching for gladiator flats, the ones with zippered backs appealed to me the most. And since I didn’t want to commit too much to the style, I didn’t want to spend much on them either. I found the perfect pair, stylewise and pricewise, in these Dorian gladiators from Baker shoes. They are $49.95. I couldn’t decide between brown or white, so I got both!