Shibuya Nights

With a busy and chatty toddler at home, date nights are just about mandatory for the hubby and I to catch up on life outside the nest. We try to pop out together once a week, but lately my third trimester is calling for an 8:30 pm bedtime and date night usually is more like happy hour. Even though our 3 am nights out in Roppongi have retired, Tokyo is so alive that even if you only stayed out until dusk you feel as if you hit the town hard :)

I dragged my husband out to a fashion show with me and we continued out in Shibuya. I found a dress that still fit despite the bump and heels that were the closest thing to comfortable in my stiletto wardrobe. I lasted just one hour after the fashion show and my ankles looked like coffee cans by the time I hit the elevator to our apt (haute!)

 Oh Shibuya, your lights shine brightly but tonight I need my bed and a bath. Until next time..

Fur Jacket: Grammes
Dress: Catharine Malandrino
Heels: Christian Louboutin

Holiday Style Guide

 Check out my holiday style guide, published on www.SavvyTokyo.com

The city is illuminating and the season of festive fetes is in full swing. Our calendars are filling up with celebrations and if you are hosting, organizing, or Christmas shopping, chances are you’re left with little time to orchestrate outfit ideas. From toasting with your colleagues to ringing in the new year, here are some styling options that will have you looking chic and Savvy and hopefully put an end to the dreaded “what to wear” dilemma this party season.

 Company Bonenkai:

Whether you are going as a date or attending your own company holiday party, it is always wise to maintain a level of professionalism. Aim to strike a balance between cocktail attire and business formal, skipping the skintight varieties and opting for an effortless yet elegant style.

A tuxedo pant in a luxe material, paired with a tucked in silk/satin (or synthetic blend) blouse is a polished and refined look, yet still departs from your everyday uniform. Go festive with a jeweled necklace and clutch and add some sex appeal with a sky-high pump and a deep red manicure.

Outfit Details

-Tuxedo pant (luxe fabric):  J.Crew (around 21,000JPY, netaporter.com)

-Black Blouse: Zara (around 5,990 JPY) ww.zara.jp)

-Jeweled Necklace: Banana Republic (around 7,990 JPY)

-Clutch: River Island Embellished Clutch – (around 5,200 JPY)

Pumps: DianeVon Furstenburg Ankle Pumps, (around 21,000 JPY) 

School Holiday Concert/ Holiday Program

Concerts and winter programs are typically in the cards for mothers, caretakers and school staff during the holidays. Similar to an office soiree, it is sensible not to cross the line between festive and inappropriate.  

Keeping the holiday novelty vest and snowman motive sweaters tucked away in the closet, opt for a high neckline such as a thin knit turtleneck and pair it with a leather or jacquard pencil skirt. Structured yet jovial accessories add a perfect touch to the evening outfit and polish the ensemble with an on-trend statement overcoat and leather gloves. Lipstick in spiced hues or matte nude bring warmth and grace to the look.

Outfit Details

 -Jacquard Pencil Skirt- Altuzarra forTarget (around 7,400JPY)

-Roll Neck Sweater: Next Direct (around 4,667 JPY) 

-Statement Overcoat: Zara (around 9,990 JPY) 

-Cross body bag: PourLa Victoria (around 12,000 JPY) 

Leather gloves: H&M (2,490 JPY) Hm.com/jp

Earrings: H&M(around 500 JPY)

Christmas brunch with Friends

If you are invited to a friend’s home or your crew all plans to congregate at a fancy restaurant, a formal brunch is always a lovely reason to dive into the holiday spirit with a fun and feminine outfit.

A taffeta or midi skirt, paired with a form fitted sweater or cashmere top is a great choice for a daytime celebration. Pair with a biker jacket and ankle booties to bring edge to the prettiness of the skirt and sweater. Big framed sunglasses and a deep blue manicure will add some glam to the chic look.

Outfit details

-Midi Skirt: Topshop (around 7,000 JPY)

-Cropped Cotton sweater: J.Crew (around 15,000JPY)

Biker Jacket: Maje (around 110,000 JPY) 

Sunglasses: Armani Exchange (around 15,000JPY)

Ankle Boots: Asos (around 5,200 JPY)

New Years Eve Party

Time to get your party shoes on! All your reservations for the office, school and fancy restaurant can be put to rest and it’s time to let loose. Bring on the bling and ring in the New Year with style and glam.

Winter white hues, blush and nudes are all the rage this season so opt for a monochromatic look with fun details. This nude hued crepe, embellished mini dress paired with nubuck sandals is the perfect canvas for your new years outfit. Stay warm between parties with a long overcoat and fur stall.  Accessorize with a blush tone clutch and lean toward mauve lip colors and frost hued makeup to create a beautiful pale pink look.

Outfit Details

-Crepe Mini Dress: Needle and Thread (about 42,000 JPY)

-Nubuck Sandals: Shutz (about 23,000 JPY)

Overcoat: Topshop(around 16,000)

-Clutch: Aldo(around 5,200 JPY) asos.com

Fur Stall: Zara(around 5,990)

Notorious M-O-MMA Leggings

Maternity shopping is not rainbows and butterflies and if you have another child to look after, going to the store and "trying on" clothing is utterly impossible. Therefore, you order "maternity" online, it arrives, it's either too big, too short, too tight, too loose and goes into a to-be-returned pile, that really should be a "wasted money" pile, because you know you aren't going through the task of returns, (especially when you live abroad and going to the post office is like doing algerbra after 5 shots of tequila). That being said, I have found a somewhat fool proof method of maternity shopping that works for me. I tend to lean towards fast fashion, your H&M's, Forever 21, Zara etc. A lot of their clothes are made with elastic blends or jersey cottons, that are forgiving and form fitting to the bump. I buy in a size (or seven) higher than what I wear when I am not growing a child, and voilå, relatively cheap and trendy maternity shopping is done. Pair with fun accessories and pieces from your regular wardrobe and you'll be the furtherest thing from maternity frump.

I found these Notorious BIG leggings and fell in love. They aren't for everyone or everyday, but experimental maternity fashion is half the battle.

Leggings: H&M
Top:Vince
Denim Shirt: Zara
Jacket: Fur Fur
Booties: Zara
Crossbody bag: Issey Miyake Bao Bao

Corto Moltedo Fall/Winter Collection

(I wrote this article for SavvyTokyo.com)

Me with Corto Moltedo and my first CM purchase at his Tokyo Trunk Show

Luxury accessories brand, Corto Moltedo, held a trunk show in Tokyo last month and I was there to get the details on this fast growing handbag line and a sneak peak into this season’s “ode to freedom”, collection.

Designer and owner Gabrielecorto Moltedo, is no rookie to the art of creating superior quality products.  His parents, Laura and Vittorio Moltedo are the founders of Italian fashion house, Bottega Venetta and he was  raised as an apprentice to trade in artisan-craft leather. All Corto Moltedo bags are handmade in the same family factory in Florence, Italy and Moltelo prides himself on his hands-on approach throughout the entirety of the design and manufacturing process.

There’s no question as to why Corto Moltedo bags are seen on the most fashionable and stylish women across the globe, such as Madonna and Pricilla Presley. Contrary to other fashion labels, Gabrielecorto Moltedo has taken a quirky approach on luxury handbags, marrying superior quality with edgy, artistic expression,

Raised in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Moltedo uses his city dwelling roots, enthusiasm for music, and admiration for figurative arts as inspiration for his collections.

Lady Liberty is the title of the Corto Moltedo Fall/Winter collection. The color palette comprises of olive green, rose-gold, bronze, and sky blue, which were inspired by New York City in the autumn.  The collections theme of duplicity features clever fastenings and detailing, allowing each bag to morph into a different design. Standout bags such as the “Liberty” and “Hudson” are offered in exotic skins such as python and calf. The collection has a variety of styles such as messenger, shoulder and tote bags all encompassing CM trademarks such as many pockets and an inside mirror. The brands staple evening clutch, The Susan, was inspired by Moltedo’s love for music with one featuring singer Grace Jones and others reminiscent of disco with an art deco effect.

Corto Moltedo currently has three large storefronts in Paris, Milan and Jakarta. The brand will begin selling wholesale in Japan in the beginning of 2015. Currently the bags are sold online at www.Corto.com and can also be purchased at his Tokyo trunk shows for VIP shoppers.