There’s a feature on the 35th Anniversary colors inside, but I can’t read Japanese…

All I know is, they’ve got all these cute Hello Kitty themed trinkets…eeep!

This is what’s inside, mostly sticker photos of ViVi models…

Yeah…it’s cute…but where does one really use these? I wouldn’t stick it on my stuff, haha! I guess this is meant to be a collector’s item.

Here’s the freebie I was telling you about!

One thing I’ve noticed about British and Japanese magazines is that they have a lot of freebies and inserts - from really useful stuff like a tube of lipstick or some other cosmetic, to get this, a See by Chloe tote!

The July 2009 issue of ViVi celebrates Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary with a sticker booklet of Hello Kitty colors! (Whatever that means, I can’t read Japanese, this was the only English text in the booklet, haha!)

More of what’s inside later!!!

Got the July issue…

And the freebie that came along with it was very interesting! Tell you all about it later!

Amah got this pair of socks for Berry from H&M in Hongkong too!

I’ve seen Hello Kitty socks for adults at the Ladies section of H&M but I didn’t know they had for babies too! Eeep! How cute! Heehee!

Amah (That’s Grandma from Dad’s side) got this for Berry at H&M in Hongkong!

It’s made of fabric with leatherette soles, and we just love the pink floral print! I can’t wait to get Berry’s little feet into these shoesies! Heehee!

This has got to be the most fabulous tic tac toe “board” ever!

It’s a gift from my friend, The Baghag and it’s such a great reminder of her! She used to collect shoes before she started collecting bags, and every time I see this on our coffee table, I immediately think of her!

Every girl/lady visitor of ours never fails to notice this as she sits on our couch, no fail! It’s really such a hit! The bags and shoes are so tiny and cute, I hope Berry will be a good girl and not swallow each piece whole though! Hahaha!

This outfit captures four essential wardrobe must haves actually: a well-cut blazer, a lived-in tee, skinny pants (it doesn’t have to be leather, can be just plain leggings too) and flats…

What’s the lesson here? Well, for one, it’s not easy to limit must haves to 5 pieces! Haha! That and if you have a well-edited wardrobe, it’s so easy to look good! Just pile on whatever you have in your closet and you’ll look great in a flash.

Think of it this way. Everything I mentioned in this post and the last couple ones can all be mixed and matched and worn together with aplomb. Pair the ballet flats with dhoti pants and a leather jacket, wear the blazer with wide leg jeans and heels, match the worn tee with cargo pants, the possibilities are endless, all you need are great fitting, classic pieces that make you feel good and look good!

Oh, and don’t forget to invest in quality accessories! A great leather bag, a luxurious cashmere scarf, and fabulous shoes will go a long, long, way!

Hmmm, in this case, it’s a toss up between cargo pants and a well-cut, great fitting military style jacket.

See, what I want to point out is, when it comes to wardrobe must haves, you have to also consider what suits your body type, personal style and lifestyle. Cargo pants may not be the most flattering article of clothing for girls who are conscious about their thighs. Because, yes, it adds bulk. Gold or brass buttons on military style jackets on the other hand, draw attention to the upper body so if you don’t want to emphasize that, then you’ve got to learn to say no to buying one even if you are sorely tempted.

Stylish women are known for their discipline and restraint. It’s knowing what clothes suit them and not being a slave to trends. It’s all about looking timeless throughout their lifetime, and being spared of cringe-worthy photos. A stylish woman may not have the most clothes or a wardrobe bursting with shoes, bags and accessories. She doesn’t have to have everything she sees. What she has instead is a closet full of well-edited pieces that complement everything she owns, and makes dressing up every morning a pleasure and not a chore.

The bad-ass leather jacket:

Provided you live in a cold climate. As much as leather jackets are cool, they honestly look out of place in a tropical setting. They look great with bandage dresses, with jeans, and with dhoti pants like in this photo, but not when you are sweating in it!

Personally, I think we should all dress appropriately. Not only should we follow dress codes, but we should seriously consider what the weather is like as well. I mean, check out those local action flicks with the hero dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, dodging bullets and jeepneys on a busy street in Quiapo, all sweaty and drenched in carbon monoxide fumes. Absurd right?