Hanna | littlemissdressup

Sexy White Shirt

By: hanna

22-12-2011

I didn’t realize this man was getting his feirce on with me

Pursuing multiple passions and interests in a balanced manner is something I’m constantly working at. Compartmentalizing my career and extracurriculars is good to a certain degree because I don’t feel static, but life isn’t tidy so one box inevitably spills on to the others. Is perfect balance achievable? Not really. Still, I’d rather get as close to it as possible because the opposite is just too dreadful. I mean when you get down and jiggy with it, as long as you’re persevering towards something that’s life affirming, then even if outcomes are uncertain, running into some major ugglliiees is still minimized. (Mind you, there’s really a fine line between caution and cowardice; informed risk and gambling)

Perfect anything doesn’t really exist. There’s this chia muffin at le pain quotidien that comes dayum close to the perfect muffin, but even baked goods are unpredictable. Seriously, I was so furious one time when they gave me an anorexic muffin with practically no dates in it. So now I make it a point to be hyper-friendly to the wo/man behind the counter so I can hand pick the muffin I want without rubbing him/her the wrong way.

How-e-to the-ver, I had the most hilarious experience that taught me how acceptance of imperfection shouldn’t be an excuse for accepting the status quo, giving up, and maintaining a closed mind. Listen, for the longest time, I refused to wear tshirts because the fit was never right so I just always claimed not to have the body for it. Then Sexy White Shirt comes along and sends me two of the best fitting shirts I’ve met in my life. So there. I have what I wanted. I had to wait (and we all know how patience can be a biatch) but it was worth it.

Coral Lips

By: hanna

07-12-2011

Hanna, Make Up

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Coral lipsticks are your 1) grandma’s best friend 2)your best friend’s worst enemy and 3) my lip color du jour.

Before we begin, I hope you appreciate my print screen collage (picture 6).

Shudder all you want, but Im currently cookoo for coral lipsticks. It’s the kind of thing that would be buried in your nana’s handbag along with used kleenex and mini lotions she took from her hotel because ‘I paid for the room and everything contained in it’. Grandmothers are cool. They’ve lived long enough to say whatever they want and not care. It also helps that the general population tend to be very kind and forgiving towards them. Though there are still those pricks who don’t have the decency to offer their seat on the subway, but that’s another subject for another blog post.

Coral lipsticks are fun because you don’t really know if it’s orange or red. It’s like a confused little make-up that’s neither here nor there but always manages to make a grand entrance and steal the show.

The verdict: coral lipsticks are chic…nursing home chic.

Wear it while: listening to Braid the Raven Hair from The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan

Braid the raven hair —
Weave the supple tress —
Deck the maiden fair
In her loveliness —
Paint the pretty face —
Dye the coral lip —
Emphasize the grace
Of her ladyship!
Art and nature, thus allied,
Go to make a pretty bride.
Art and nature, thus allied,
Go to make a pretty bride.

Benefit Hervana

By: hanna

05-12-2011

Hanna, Make Up

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The make-up fairies over at Benefit sure have the supreme ability to make me go giddy and giggly with their latest beauty potion-y concoctions. Their latest powder blush, Hervana, is heaven sent. Packaged neatly in a lilac box is a mosaic of dusty/rosey/coral/mauve color wheel that can turn even the most cranky broad into a sweet blushing angel.

This blush officially hits stores in January 2012.

Before you sulk, Benefit is spreading some Christmas cheer and holding an online flash sale today via Benefit, Sephora, Ulta and Bloomingdales. Enjoy!

(And before I forget, a massive thank you goes out to the girls over at Benefit for spoiling me rotten)

The Window is a Stage

By: hanna

28-11-2011

Hanna, Inspiration, Style Diary

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Back when I did my little stint in retail, three of my favorite activities were 1) rummaging like a rat in the stock room for apparel from past seasons which were severely marked down 2) guessing the price of new merchandise and 3)window dressing. I specially loved number 3 because you can play around, brainstorm on themes and create a stage! Never mind if the mannequins clobbered me with their long limbs. I never really took offense even if I usually ended up with scrapes and bruises trying to clothe them.

New York has a visual surprise in every corner. Even a stroll up 5th or Madison is a guaranteed feast for the senses. I don’t know about the rest of the city but Bergdorf and Barney’s windows always create a stir in me when they unveil their latest display. It’s ephemeral, yes. But maybe that’s what makes it so appealing. When it goes beyond its sell-by date, it leaves an unsavory taste in the mouth. There are things which get better with age and store windows just aren’t one of them.

There’s museum art and there’s temporary art. Both beautiful but ultimately differing in permanence.

You know what would have been amazing? Seeing Andy Warhol’s displays for Bonwit Teller in the mid50s. All the other ‘artists’ doing it back then thought it was beneath them to dip into visual merchandising. Andy, being Andy, never really gave a flower about it and just carried on being and doing awesome.

Far East

By: hanna

17-11-2011

Hanna, Inspiration

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I feed on novelty..not in the ‘consumerist-i-need-to-buy-something-every-five-seconds-because-everything-needs-to-be-brand-new’ kind of way but more in a ‘wow-ive-never-seen-this-before’ or even better ‘ive-never-seen-this-in-this-particular-way-before-and-omg-it’s-therefore-totally-different’. The fascinating thing about the latter is that it is entirely independent of a new item/experience, and yet it offers a brand new thought process and/or deeper insight.

Okay…to be honest.. I started with the intention of talking about Chinoiserie with aims of speculating if it was slightly narcissistic to be into Orientalism when you yourself are from the Far East.(You know, how it’s more fashionable to be infatuated with a culture that’s exotic relative to your cultural roots, etc.) Tangent much?

Actually, to be REALLY honest, I just wanted to share these amazing photographs:

There. Original intent accomplished.

Quickie but Goodie

By: hanna

26-10-2011

Hanna, Jewelry

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Less than 48 hours is really an unacceptable duration to stay in Manila. Still, Im glad I got to meet-up with some of my nearest and dearest and even managed to visit my sista from anotha motha Lucille in between all my appointments/alteration fittings/dry cleaning duties.

Some of the beautiful things currently on display at the Jul Dizon jewellery salon:

1. LUCILLE

2. Blackamoor with feathers. Hello, I love you, be mine.

3. Little Mermaid ‘Under the Sea’ necklace

I also got to steal a SIGNED copy of Preview Magazine where Lucille features as one of the best dressed in the country. I’d like to credit myself for acknowledging this fact 10 years ago before the magazine made it official. (It took me FOREVER to ask for her autograph. I guess some people are just born superstar celebrities who can’t be bothered with fans..what can you do?)

Thanks for the lovely chat,lunch,ostrich skin bangle, shoes,lip plumper,make-up brushes… Honestly, I visit you for 3 hours and suddenly, it’s Christmas! I love you.

There is a valium/dormicum somewhere out there that is calling out my name.

As I fly out tonight, I would have managed to acquire yet another jet lag before I can even recover from the first one. (Look at me whining like a maharani. ‘Pity me! I travel all the time and can’t deal with the stress.’ On that note, can somebody please invent something that deodorizes airplanes? Stale air smells SO bad.)

So cliche but so true anyway

By: hanna

22-09-2011

Hanna, Make Up, Style Diary

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The best things in life are invisible, infinite, precious and priceless.

Like love, relationships, ideas, emotions, make-up, hairspray and opera tickets.

The beautiful chicas over at Benefit cosmetics are heaven sent. For two weeks, I’ve been wanting to go to Sephora to replenish my beauty supplies. I was in need of a new pot of High Beam (mine exploded and turned all disgusting on me. Dropped it = my bad), eyeliner and hairspray. I have been, however, far too distracted.

Also I’ve come to realize that in my world, anything ‘planned’ usually doesn’t go according to plan.

You can just imagine my joy when the mailman brought me Watts Up, the latest highlighter from Benefit. It’s High Beam but slightly better (why do i feel like such a traitor typing that?)

It’s easy to apply. It’s not prone to explosion. And it gives that same glowy look you get when you fall in love for the first time . Basically, it’s ‘So Nice by Bebel Gilberto’ in a make-up stick.

As if my number one freebie was not enough, guess what some random Loreal promoter hands me on my way to a meeting on 47th Street? An Elnett Hairspray. I wont say much about it because.. well..it’s just hairspray. I still have no clue how Hollywoood managed to make a whole movie out of it.

LASTLY BUT NOT LEASTLY, I won 2 FREE tickets to the open dress rehearsal of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at the Met Opera! I got an email from the Met the night before the closing date of the contest, joined and got an email a week later telling me I’d won.

The best thing is that I get to see it before the rest of New York does as the opening night is still on the 26th.

I feel so thrifty receiving all these free goodies. I’ve probably saved millions of dollars. Financial planning definite win.

(Ps, im sending out good vibrations to the universe for a free eyeliner. Waterproof. In a deep green shade. Please)

Snuff Boxes

By: hanna

05-09-2011

Hanna, Jewelry, Jewelry

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Sometimes my outfit really has no relation to what I’m about to write, but I put it there anyway..for those people who don’t really care to read about one of my many weird interests. (No hard feelings. Half of the things I ramble about are lost on ordinary folks. You are not alone.)

Up for discussion tonight are SNUFF BOXES! There’s a whole collection of them at the Met. It also happens to be my 2nd favorite gallery. (the arms and armor is number 1) I just think they’re pretty, and to me that’s a good enough reason to like them.

Case in point: this Faberge snuff box with an H on it. Has anyone seen anything more perfect? Of course if I owned it it wouldn’t contain snuff, because snuff is very un-hanna. I’d most likely utilize it as a container for my vitamins and supplements because my plastic one is really missing the mark and isn’t in keeping with the rest of me. And there’s nothing like a pretty case to induce one to maintain one’s health.

I guess I wouldn’t mind having my face painted on the cover either. If the Russian tzars approved, then why not? It makes for easy identification.

I wonder how the tsars felt when they got a bit fatter and they stared down the constant reminder of what they had once been. Very depressed, I suppose. Ah rich people and their problems.

I think I’ve gotten to the point where diamonds can no longer just be confined to jewelry.

Sprinkle them on anything and everything I say!

The Birthday Girl

By: rosanna

23-08-2011

Hanna, News

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It’s a fact — in this world, there’s only ONE H.Cho!

The only 24 going on 50 year old that we all adore.

While I could go on and on writing sweet nothings about you but unlike you, sweet I am not. I could never do you justice. Instead, I just want to wish you a Happy Birthday! This blog will never be complete without you We miss you so and envy everyone in New York who get to have you 24/7!!!!

Fall 2011

By: hanna

12-08-2011

Hanna, Inspiration, Wishlist

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Fall 2011 is going to be magic. There are good vibes all around, most of all in fashion. Granted I was left baffled by most things I saw for fall/winter 2011. Case in point:

I know you youngsters have this on-going infatuation with Alexander Wang. However, it’s never acceptable to wear bin liners fashioned into capes. EVEN IF it’s made by your fashion idol or it features a fur collar. Step away from it. Now. Run if you have to!

Enough about the BVs and on to the GVs. Marchesa, as in each and every piece in the entire collection, is sublime. I think it’s completely unfair when Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig are accused of being stale because they choose to stay loyal to their aesthetics. Brand identity is such a valuable commodity in a fickle industry such as fashion. Anybody who fears that creative bankruptcy is inextricably linked to maintaining a single vision is completely misguided. I think when a fashion house commits itself to an image/vision it forces them to reach the outer limits of their boundaries by formulating inventive ways of expressing that original vision. Think about it, anybody is able to create a pastiche of tit and tat and tut and fruit and vegetables and mountains and screw drivers and dolphins and wherever else they claim to find inspiration from. Only the truly creative work within a framework because they recognize that in order to push the limits, a limit should exist. And this forces thought, innovation, and evolution while still maintaining continuity.

Haha. How did this rant happen? I don’t know. That’s the result when Im left to my own devices armed with a laptop and a throbbing head. But there you have my two pence.

Also sealed with my approval is the debut collection of KELLY WEARSTLER.

love the clothes. love the mix. love the woman behind it.

Fall, be mine.

Ba de ya – say do you remember
Ba de ya – dancing in September
Ba de ya – never was a cloudy day

-September; Earth Wind and Fire.

xxxxxxxx

Building and Burning

By: hanna

02-08-2011

Hanna, Style Diary, Travel

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Building good bridges and Burning bad ones.

That is la vidaaaa! La vida loca, as ma boy Ricky Martin would say. x

That awesome flea-ling

By: hanna

01-08-2011

Hanna, Shopping, Stores, Style Diary, Travel

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Another blog post!

Believe me, Im just as surprised as you are.

Thing is, for the longest time I couldn’t be arsed lugging around a huge ass camera so I was perfectly content just observing and not recording life as it happened.That all changed when mama got me an iPhone. From then on I was unstoppable at capturing the things that fascinate me on a daily basis.

Today was flea market day! The heat was insupportable but I was readily armed with my umbrella, abanico and diet snapple (inside bag). Thanks to the three, im still alive and kickin’.

Didn’t really end up buy anything even if I spent a good 3 hours in the market.

I’m perfectly content just having a visual feast and running my fingers on things that have been around longer than me.

What I did end up buying was back home in Manhattan. First, let me tell you a story about a charming man I met while walking! This is James and he’s lovely. I knew this for a fact after 5 minutes of meeting him because I’ve got a gift for sussing out people.

Apart from being awesome, he also handmakes bags using scrap leather.

My first ‘James’ original: a giraffe wine bottle drawstring bag. Nothing is cut straight, there are still ball pen marks on the inside (in blue so it screams at you when you open the bag), the eyelets are not in line with each other, the strap is uneven, and the string’s width range from anorexic thin to obese fat.