We all have our own journals of our lives with what we do everyday. I’m about to walk into a big journal of mine. I mentioned on my previous post that I’m going back to my country for a visit. I’m super excited and anxious at the same time. The last time I was there was 13 years ago, and this is my first time back to visit my family, friends, and, most importantly, to experience something that’s very close to me in my heart, yet very far away from me. I remember my past life there and my family and friends, yet I have not seen any photographs of any of these since I left 13 years ago, so everything is just in my memory. I can’t wait to see everything and everybody again. I’m sure everything has changed since the last time I was there.

I’m planning to take lots of photos on my journey.

I feel like you all,as my readers, are very close to me, as well, and I would like to stay connected with you while I’m there. I will be updating my blog while I’m in Vietnam so check back with me to see what’s going on with me in Vietnam. I need to get some sleep now for an early fly tomorrow. Have a beautiful day to you all! xoxo Nini Nguyen

Photos via Google

10.res-pulchrae – Captures the ‘city style’ trend nicely. I don’t know where she lives but she is the epitome of NYC cool. Love her. Why? Her minimal color palate mixed with interesting silhouettes and layer combinations make me want to see her WHOLE closet.

9. Lightning STIKES – White Lightning has a wonderful sense of humor while somehow dressing like a trendy sweet-heart and yet sounding like the man who stands on my subway stop corner every day–unless it’s snowing. What I mean to say is, sometimes she has a dirty mouth. (Which I love.) I always return to her blog because she has quite the fashion etiquette.

8. Winnipeg, Canada –

Winnipeg, Canada is where to find your own style voice these days. What’s so trendy about the place? Creative youngsters seem filled with the spirit of experimentation, the spirit of expression and where creativity flourishes, trends will sprout.

These are just a small sampling of all the great blogs coming out of Winnipeg.

As I was looking for photos on their blogs, I discovered that they had had a tiny blogger roller-skating party…PERFECT photo-op.

Chip from pullteeth

Antonia from Live Glam Or Die

Raez of Cheap Thrills

7. Pandora – For me, it was love at first sight with this blog. What more can I say?

6. Successful Steampunk - Reasons to love The Freelancer: she can wear the silhouettes of the 1940’s and 1950’s like no other, she constantly blogging about interesting projects and she participates in burlesque. She is a fantastic example of the steampunk trend done well.

5. Styleorectic – She can mix (and pull off) leopard prints, gothy jewels and lip colors with a twist of femme. There is also a certain darkness to her writing and I really enjoy that.

4. The (newer, better) Fashion Collective – There was (around 2007) a really popular blog called The Fashion Collective. It was basically a group of fun kids documenting their lives and I loved the fashion style of the group: both the boys and the girls. In late 2008 there was some sort of drama in the comments section and as soon as the blog got one million hits, it was shut down. Almost all the photos of the group disappeared from the internet.

I missed that blog from the moment it disappeared. Then, someone emailed me a link to Bleeding Hearts. I can’t be sure but it appears that Bleeding Hearts in the new Fashion Collective. They make their own clothes (see the patent black cape in photo), collect amazing vintage finds, they see and make great art. I’m glad they’re back.

3. Hot Mama – Hanh the SuperMom. I’ve never seen anyone pull off so many difficult trends.

The Ann D. Corset Belt? Done.

The Nick Kirkwood for Rodarte? Done!

The rigid and linear construction of Rick Owens? Bring it on.

Besides the adorable kids, the amazing meals and all the kind words she posts, she simply has great taste. And do you know that Hanh is Nini’s BFF?

2. Style Rookie – The tiniest fashion pioneer with the hugest critical lens for fashion: nothing escapes her roving eye and she’s really no rookie at all. (photo credit: jak&jil blog)

1. I love being backstage…He’s a talented photographer who is hired by the most important names in fashion. He only posts during the show seasons and every fashion week(s) you can find an amazing set of shots directly from backstage. What I find incredible is that he is a hidden gem and I just can’t understand why more people aren’t crazy about his blog. The last post on this blog came at the tail end of the last show season and I am SO excited to see what he brings us for the Fall of 2010 season.

By: Natalya Dreyzner

Hello all-
I hope you are all well. Thank you for giving Natalya a very warm, friendly welcome on the first two entries. Her writing skills are immaculate and I myself look forward to many articles coming from her. Thanks Natalya again for helping me with the blog.

I’m leaving for Vietnam this Thursday for two weeks. I’m going there to visit my family and to attend a friend’s wedding. I’ll try my best to give you all an update while I’m there (if internet is accessible) and if I don’t please excuse my absence.
The climate there is extremely hot, dirty and humid. I’ll be packing all lightweight clothes to wear during the day. And for night-time probably the best bet are dresses and a cardigan over top. I’ll be bringing back a surprise to show you all in the blog so be on the look out for it.

I really appreciate you all reading my blog and giving such kind comments all the time. I do read every blog that ever leaves me even one comment. I’m sorry if I don’t leave you comments because of my lack of time. I do check my Twitter all the time and I hope that we can stay in touch there.

I’m wearing my favorite tee-shirt from AA. It’s called The Sexuali Tee. It’s the best. I have it in white and I wore it out completely! I recently just got it in black. The quality of this fabric holds up so well and hangs beautifully on the body. Seriously, this tee-shirt is better than some of the Alexander Wang tees in quality. Highly recommended!

I always liked the look of knee high socks with tee-shirt dresses but have never it tried before. I know that many fashionistas have done this look out and they all look so great! The weather in Dallas is cold right now so knee-high socks with tee shirt dresses and a fur jacket over top is great! I always love the look of casual pieces mixed with dressier ones. Socks and sexy heels always appeal to me if you do it in the right way. I hope you guys enjoy the photos Loc took for me and have a beautiful day everyone !!! xoxo Nini Nguyen

Wearing: AA Viscose Sexuali-Tee and knee high socks, YSL booties, Chanel wallet, Fallon necklace, F21 pearls, vintage faux fur

I was flipping through Gap Press magazine – Tokyo/Madrid/Barcelona/Sao Paulo and Writtenafterwards got my attention. It’s so inspiring! The runway is so wicked and I love all the body draping, the crazy hair, senior man with a live cat. Absolutely love everything. Gap Press is my new favorite magazine. Its showing a lot of Japanese designers that I have not heard of before. I’m so glad to discover this new line!

Alongside all that, I also feel in love with g.v.g.v, Miharayasuhiro, Nozomi Ishiguro, and Amya Arzuaga. I think these are all pretty interesting and that so much great design is coming out of Japan right now… I’ll see if I can scan some photos to show you all. You can get Gap Press on magazinecafeny.com. Have a great weekend everyone!! xoxo Nini

WWD

Hello all-

Nini and I have gone over your comments and are really impressed with your answers. It really is rare that we have gathered about ourselves such kind people as our readers are and we appreciate the input. Based on that input we will be nixing WorstTen, moving forward with TopTen and are working hard on a project based on closets.   I’m awful at keeping secrets so no mysteries here: I am calling the ladies whose fashion senses I most admire and begging them to peek inside their closets with a camera. Not everyone reacts well right away, but I think the NYC girls are warming up to it slowly. Why? My personal theory is that we all live in such tiny apartments that we have to get extra creative. I am really excited to share some photos of the closets.

TopTens are going to be weekly and this week’s TopTen will be based on the word HIPSTER. Not always positive connotations, right? Forget those connotations! We are going at this concept using the definition of the word as given by the Oxford American Dictionary.
hipster 1 |ˈhipstər| noun informal a person who follows the latest trends and fashions. DERIVATIVES hipsterism |-ˌrizəm| noun

The TopTen for this week will not just based on those who follow trends and make that a priority in their lives. If you dug deep enough into the word, the embodiment of it would be a person who doesn’t just follow the trends: they create the trends. Thus, TopTen this week will include those who are creative in their own right. Those who don’t try to stand out to get noticed but stand out anyway because it is in their nature.  I am really excited to show you some of the blogs I have dug up! Some of them are so great but barely anyone knows about them and like I said, I’m awful at keeping secrets. Especially fashion secrets!

(I am also excited to see what you all have to say about this before the post goes up…thanks to our last round of comments, Nini and I found this awesome blog: http://artarra.com/ where you can pick up some excellent recipes for super healthy smoothies.  Also, found on the blog: encouraging words. I was immediately drawn in. So send in your votes, your tips, your URLs, etc.)

Kiwis/Melon/Limes smoothie from Artarra

As a sneak-peek into the TopTen, I begged Nini to post some photos taken by the blog that holds this week’s top ten. Ladies and Gents. Hold. On. To. Your. Seats. This super-talent posts only during the fashion weeks (NYC, Paris, Milan) but the wait is ALWAYS worth it. We can’t tell you the blog name yet but enjoy the photos.

Thanks for reading!  xoNat.