Gen Art Shop NYC

Last night we participated in GEN ART's SHOP NYC event. The place was packed, great music was playing and everyone was shopping!

I was in the mood to wear jeans yesterday. 

I bought these wide-leg jeans the other day at Urban Outfitters on SALE for $9.99...no joke! Love the fit and wash!  My favorite top from Spring 08!

Check out the crowd!

Me & Tiffany (DRU NY),  just like old times eh?  Don't forget about "us little people, missy!"

Business Tip of the week:

Before you can receive, you must give.  It's important to give back and support your peers!

Here I am shopping away, supporting my fellow designers!

I found the coolest bracelet and necklace at Chris Habana's booth. 

"Your stuff rocks, Chris!"

My favorite, MINDEN CHAN...I can't get enough of your clothes!  It's all about the details!

Rachel, thanks for giving me first dibs!  Mark, you're hilarious as always!!!

Check out all the people that stopped by to show us some LOVE....Yaaaaay!

Wow....it was a madhouse at YK! whoooohoooo!

I had a such a great time hanging out.  It was great running into old friends & meeting new friends!  I also did some major damage last night shopping. Ouch!  Gotta support your fellow designers right =)?

Wow!  We were all so exhausted by the end of the night.  

Gen Art NYC, you guys totally ROCK!

YK crew- what would I do without you guys?  THANK YOU!

I can't wait till the next one =).

www.genart.org

www.chrishabana.com

www.mindenchan.com

www.rachelnasvik.com

www.drunewyork.com

www.judithhaas.com

www.lewischo.com

www.margaritasaplala.com

SPOTLIGHT: WHO WHAT WEAR

I usually start my morning with a visit to whowhatwear.com.  

With my hectic schedule these days, I'm too busy to flip through piles of magazines and fashion newspapers to keep up with what's going on in the fashion world. I think this site is even better than some of the fashion magazines that are out there.  It has an awesome layout, and they're always on top of all the trends!  The best part is, it's for FREE!  You don't need a subscription =).  

Check out whowhatwear.com...

LOVE the layout!

Cool inspirations....

Yaaay, you can get the latest scoop on beauty trends too!

LOVE...LOVE...LOVE this site!

www.whowhatwear.com

Sweet Surprise!

I woke up this morning and wanted to dress casual-comfortable for the day.  I love wearing slip dresses with flip flops on my lazy days.  It's still cute, but not too much thought had to go into it.  This is one of my favorite prints from Spring 08 Collection.

Oh my goodness, I walked into my office after a rough morning and guess what I find on my desk? A Yves Saint Laurent shoe box wrapped with a big white bow. What a SWEET SURPRISE! I opened it and found a pair of YSL platforms I had been eyeing for months. OH MY, OH MY, Tuyet (old assistant) sent me the best THANK YOU gift ever...awwwwww!  I'm speechless...Tuyet, you really shouldn't have!  You've done so much for me already, woman!

Look how happy I look! They're so HOT!

She also sent the cutest gift for YUMI....TOO TOO CUTE!

I have to say, this might be the highest pair of heels I own now.  Geeez louis! SO SEXY!

Awwww...they're sooo beautiful.  I'm in SHOE HEAVEN!

Tuyet, THANK YOU soooo much.  I LOOOOOOOVE my gift!!! 

I hope you're having a blast in Hawaii.  Congrats on your new job =)!  

We MISS YOU soooo much in NYC!  

Manic Monday

Just another Manic Monday!

My schedule was crazy as usual.  Had to run to my silk vendor's office to finalize the last of my Spring 09 prints. Yes, can you believe that I'm finishing up on Spring 2009 already--geez!  I can't believe I'm almost done and going to be on schedule for the first time.  WOW!

Ginny & Jeanette, you're gonna be so proud of me.  Yaaaaay!

This past weekend, I stopped by my friend Calvin Tran's shop to play catch up.  Calvin surprised me with this gift...I LOVE it!  Makes me feel "oh so chic!" I look like an UPTOWN GIRL =).

11:30am- Meeting w/ Allan (silk vendor)

I've been working with Allan since day one.  He's taught me everything I know about silk. I would be so lost without you, Big Daddy! 

Look at what I have to sift through! So many new fabrications, color swatches, and thread colors to choose from.  Too many options...yikes! My eyes were hurting after 2 1/2 hours of staring at all this!

Here we are finalizing the last of the Spring 09 prints. I'm soooo excited! We really took it to the next level.  YK is all grown up!  I can't wait till you guys see the line. It's my favorite collection to date =).

It's always a pleasure working with you, Allan!  I can't believe it's been almost 5 years since we met at my first textile show in NYC. Wow, how time flies...sniff...sniff...sniff.  

ALLAN, THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!

Love,

Your Lil Kim

www.calvintran.com

My Fall Wish List....

Yesterday was a gloomy and rainy day in NYC. I spent the afternoon in bed reading, catching up on work, and online WINDOW shopping.

Here are a few items on my Fall WISH LIST.  

I am in LOVE with these heels! I LOVE the zipper detail! 

SEXY SEXY SEXY!!!

Jimmy, you did it again!  Loving the gold details and the bag is so chic!

I want to rock these this fall!

Miu Miu- where do I even begin with you?  Speechless......

Awwww...a girl can only dream right? Sighhh.........

www.netaporter.com
www.jimmychoo.com
www.giuseppe-zanotti-design.com
www.miumiu.com

P.S.1. Warm Up Party!

After all these years of living in NYC, I finally made it out to a P.S.1. MOMA's Warm Up Party yesterday.  I had an amaaaaaazing time!  Every Saturday during the summer, between 3-9pm, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center hosts a summer party in Long Island City.They bring in live bands or world renown DJs to entertain the crowd for 6hrs! This is what you get when you mix music, architecture, and art together...

It was such a nice day yesterday.  I wanted to wear something cute and easy to dance in.

Met up with Jacqueline and friends.  I was starving!!!!  So excited to see food!


great positive energy flowing!

After getting our boogie down, we took a break and went inside to check out the art....



Wow...that was sooo much fun!  Time to head back to the city and grab dinner!

Thanks for the invite guys!  I had a blaaaaaaast! We have to do it ONE more time before summer ends!

http://www.ps1.org

Homework

Homework assignment for my photography class: take portraits of a person from a few different angles.
Check out my subject...

It's ME and YOU kid....FOR LIFE!

Count down till PROJECT Las Vegas

My mood: STRESSED!
ONE MONTH TILL PROJECT LAS VEGAS TRADE SHOW

I've been working from home this past week. When I'm in the office, it stresses me out because of all the phone calls and dealing with issues from the staff & stores that it's hard for me to be creative and focus on designing.  I LOVE designing Spring/Summer Collections, because I get to play with so much color and pretty prints. There's nothing like putting on color to brighten your mood or wearing a gorgeous printed dress that makes you feel "oh so pretty!" 

This is an image of my work area today. Fabric swatches all over, color cards, rolling racks, sketches, and yes-that is my CEO, YUMI...she's sleeping in the middle of all of it. 

I've been sitting in the same place all day staring at my laptop screen finalizing print colors and bodies for my salesman samples for the shows. This is crunch time for me...URGH...deadlines, deadlines, deadlines!

**photo taken from my macbook**

Last night, around 11:30 PM, ISI (part-time assistant designer) came by to drop off samples from the office. He looked at me and said, "yep, you're a hot mess! I think you need to get out of your apt and get a drink" I was feeling exhausted and creatively drained.  I looked up and said-"Lets do it! Lets go out and go dancing! My eyes are sore from staring at my laptop all day."

By midnight, I was out the door rocking a cute vintage dress I bought last year. First time wearing it out...Chiquita banana anyone?

Business Tip of the Week:
Always remember to make time for yourself and take a break! I know it's hard to take a little time off with so many deadlines, but if you don't, you're gonna get burnt out. Work to LIVE, not LIVE to work! 

In the cab on our way....I'm sooo glad you got me out of the apt!


Thanks, ISI, for making me go out. I needed a drink and to boogie down a bit to take my stress load off.  All work and no play will make KIM a dull girl!

Xmas in July!

It felt like Xmas in JULY yesterday! My friend Julie sent me a package full of Christian Dior make-up and some extra goodies =). Whooohoooo!

I've been hearing a ton of people rave about the Christian Dior Mascara for quite sometime now. I finally tried it this morning, and the verdict is....."I like it...I like it a lot" (british accent). It totally rocks, Julie! I am a new fan! Damn...$24 Dior Mascara is a bit steep compared to my $6 Maybelline pink one..ha. I know, I know, the price you pay to look good. Sigh.....

I recently started wearing make up again. Yes, I said it....as unbelievable as it sounds, I just recently started wearing make up again on a daily basis this past year. I will be the first to tell you, during the first few years of starting a business you will look like a HOT MESS. The last thing on your mind is adding another step to your morning before you head out to run all the errands on your THINGS TO DO list. You're lucky if you even have time to shower!

Now that I finally somewhat have a life again, I make an effort to put on make up before I leave the house. In order to feel good "you have to look good right?" I love experimenting with make up. Here are some of my favorite items...
After getting all dolled up, remember to splash on a good scent!


I have a special treat for you ladies! Sephora is doing a special sampler mascara package. All of this for $28! Enjoy!


THANK YOU SO MUCH, JULIE!!! I LOVE all the goodies and LOOOOVE the Bobby Brown gel liner!  You were right,it's the best out there...no more smudges!

Hope you are rockin all the YUMI KIM dresses in La La Land!

WEEKLY OBSESSION: CANON EOS REBEL XSi

This week, my obsession is my new camera, the CANON EOS REBEL XSi.  I LOOOOOOOVE IT!

I bought it a few days ago for my photography class, and since I picked it up, I can't seem to put it down.  Monday was my first day of class, and so far it's been one of the best things I've done for myself in a long time. I can't believe how much I've learned in just a few days.  

After class each day I usually wander the streets of NYC to shoot and learn how to use my new toy.  Since I've always had a great appreciation for photography, it's been such a wonderful and fun learning experience.  It's pretty cool to be on the other side for the first time, to be able to let the world see what I see through my eyes.

This is what I shot after my 2nd day of class....    

A photo captures a moment, a feeling, an emotion. 

This is my new hobby...my new passion.