Ever since I returned that fake Givenchy bag, I've been on a new bag search.

For me, it's a difficult challenge because something's usually either really good but is expensive or it's at reasonable price and I still don't want it. It's not all about appearances all the time; I need it to function as well. Oh, and standing out in a crowd is pretty important.

Freitag F21 Nightclub CHF 180 $167.30

I knew about Freitag before it was "cool," but didn't have money to buy it because I was a broke high school student. But now that i do have a job, I can afford one. It's a good choice because it's eco-friendly (made of out old tires, signage, and car parts). But these remind me too much of those bike hipster bags, which is not my thing.

Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Airliner' flap $358.00 $250.00

This is actually a really nice bag. It's a good staple coming from Marc Jacobs, who doesn't really design staples. However, the bag I'm using now is a Marc by Marc Jacobs, so if I use this, it will be as if I haven't gotten anything new.

Berlin Bag $175.00 $148.75

This is another recycled bag that is made of old wool blankets from Berlin. The random German text throws me off, but it's kind of endearing in a way. Unfortunately, wool is too hard for me to maintain because it gets dirty so easily and needs to be dry-cleaned. Who has time for that?

Yves Saint Laurent 'Manhattan' $895.00 $716.00

I would have to say this is the best "all purpose bag" there is in the market. It looks formal enough for work or special occasions and casual enough to do whatever. The gloss from the patent leather screams luxury, but I don't have 700 bucks to fork over. Unfortunately, there's only 2 left, so hopefully they'll still be there when I have enough money.

Alexander McQueen Pilgrim $1,419.00

No one does it like McQueen! As my favorite designer, he has done it right with this gorgeous bag. I love simplicity of the design and pale gray coloring; it's what I would call "modern antiquity." Too bad it's over a thousand dollars. Otherwise, I would've still gotten it if it were the same price as the YSL bag.

Raf Eastpak Flap $208.76

Raf Simons is going to do his last collection for Eastpak this season. Now the past two seasons were too horrendous and dysfunctional to use. This season is pretty awesome because there's such an interesting mix of materials (natural and metallic leather, cream colored straps and canvas). I'm sure Eastpak is getting most of their revenue from this because their other products are quite ugly. Since this collection is only going to be sold for a limited amount of time, I might just get it for the price and design.

Courtesy of Freitag, Bluefly, Oki-ni, Yoox, Design Within Reach, Zappos

I'm currently on Accutane right now and my lips are always dry and chapped.

Being a drug store junkie, I didn't really want to invest too much money on specialty products. So far, there isn't a lip balm out there that lasts throughout the day, but here are some products I've used. Some were better than others, and surprisingly, the ones I wanted to work, did not.

Blistex Lip Infusion

I really thought I would like this because of the ball applicator, but in the end, it was a disappointment. As soon as I put on the liquid balm, it basically evaporated after a few seconds. Now maybe for regular un-medicated people, this is a good product.

Medicated ChapStick

Nothing works like good ol' Chap Stick. This one is a medicated version, which works quite well. My problem is the packaging. When it's in your pocket and you move, so does the wheel on the Chap Stick. So when I opened it last time, everything was smushed.

Carmex Original Stick

I've used Carmex for many years and it's great for anything mild. I liked it because of the cool menthol feeling it left on your lips. However, right now, it's just not working that well. I have to keep applying it and it's quite messy having to do that.

Burt's Bees Replemishing Lip Balm

As much as I would like to believe that natural/organic things work better, this one doesn't do itself justice. First of all, the packaging is the same as Chap Stick, so the same thing happened. I put it on and felt greasy. What drove me to buy this was that there was pomegranate in it. The antioxidants did nothing for me.

Nivea A Kiss of Moisture

This turned out the be the most effective product for me. My lips absorbed everything right away and became moist. It's like lotion on your lips. Also, the packaging is great because the rotating device is inside, so it's kind of like a glue stick. I'm currently running out, so I'm going to need to get a new one. Anyway, for people on Accutane, I highly recommend this.

Courtesy of Walgreens

Street art never ceases to amaze me.

There's something so magical in Lothar Wolleh's photographs.

I've been "hopelessly devoted" to Maison Martin Margiela for the longest time.

Martin Margiela is such a fashion forward designer without the 21st Century kitsch. His ideas about future style resonates with what we know now, which is a good direction to head towards. He's also quite avant-garde with his designs, but they're pretty street-friendly at the same time. Now if only I could afford his stuff...

White Distressed Leather Wallet $375.00 $225.00

I lost my wallet the other day, but found it later. Had I really lost it, this would've been my replacement. The color and size are perfect (mine is way too long). I love that it has a coin snap, full closure snap, and 8 card slots. I might just get it because.

Nail Ring $145.00 $87.00

I'm not much of a jewelry person, but when something awesome, it's hard to deny it. Here we have a ring made from a nail. How genius is that? This could be a D.I.Y. project, but it'll require too much labor, so I'd rather just buy it.

Parachute Waistcoat $529.36

I personally would not wear that vest, but it's still pretty cool. I like how he mixed in all the different materials like denim, cotton, polyester, etc. It also has an adjustable strap on the vest.

Canvas and Leather Messenger $845.00 $507.00

I love the juxtaposition of the white canvas and leather. It gives a nice touch to what would've been an ordinary white canvas bag. I wonder if it's detachable and be used as a dopp kit as well.

Sci Fi Sunglasses $410.06

This pair of sunglasses has been made in collaboration with Italian eyewear brand Marcolin. L’incognito.It's made from a solid piece of Polycarbonate, so there's not a whole lot of cutting and pasting involved. It's very futuristic looking and I'm pretty sure you'll look crazy walking down the streets, but will definitely be original.

Tennis Confetti Trainer $290.77

These shoes are so cute! The shoelaces that come with it are off color, but you can buy a pair of white shoelaces and you're good to go. It's inspiration for a D.I.Y. project (white paint dripping on black shoes), but I'm afraid the result won't be as well executed. Maybe I'll just use stencils. Thank you Martin Margiela for giving such a great idea.

Courtesy of eLuxury, Oki-ni

The Costume Institute Gala at the Met this year was interesting as always.

There was definitely more fashion risk-taking than last year. I like this event in particular because it's pretty much the only time celebrities can experiment with fashion and not have to worry about being on the "worst dressed" list. It's not about being glamorous; it's about having fun. Here are some people I thought did it right according to the dress code.

Rihanna in Dolce & Gabbana

She totally made a comeback with this tuxedo to show that she is stronger than ever. The shimmer of the fabric of the suit feminizes the whole look. I love those puffed sleeves and length of the pants. (I personally would dow ithout the bowtie). She managed to look sexy in a suit, so I'll give her props for that.

Mary Kate Olsen in Christian Lacroix

For someone who's style I don't particularly like, Mary-Kate sure made an appearance in this beautiful gray Lacroix. The metallics on this dress add to the modern effect that she is trying to portray. Oh, and the hair is just perfect.

Jessica Biel in Versace Atelier

Jessica is dazzling in this beautiful Versace Atelier gown. I love the tiered effect and corseted top. I also think she did a good job with the makeup and accessories.

Blake Lively in Versace

It's refreshing to see her in something different. She's the type of gal who embodies the whole "laid-back California" look, which can be quite boring. She really edged everything out with the slicked back ponytail and the slits and cuts of the dress.

Victoria Beckham in Marc Jacobs

Mrs. Beckham always seems to march to the beat of her own drum. I absolutely love this dress; the polka dots add the much needed quirk to such a beautiful silhouette. She completed the look with a pair of interestingly heeled shoes. Then again, we're talking about someone who cares more about fashion over function.

Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs

My Hollywood muse is on a roll! She mixed up her whole look with different decades of the 20th Century: 1960s bouffant, 1980s zipper dress, and 1990s Versace-esque shoes. Damn, she's good.

Here are some people who could've done better with certain changes here and there:

Kate Beckinsale in Marchesa

For a "costume gala," this was quite disappointing. The look is way too tame for me. Maybe a different color or length would've done the trick. Go for it if you're attempting the cabaret showgirl look.

Ashley Olsen in The Row

This whole look is flat from head to toe. It's so polished, she looks like a mental institution worker. She's also way too young to be wearing something for people who are 60+ years of age. The dress could've looked so much better if it was a mini instead. By the way, her line "The Row," sucks.

Katy Perry in Tommy Hilfiger

I usually love Katy's creative style, but this just did not cut it. Why would you wear such a generic design(er) to a costume gala? The cuff, neckpiece, and hideous shade of blue does no justice to her beauty.

Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton

I appreciate the fact that she took a risk and actually don't hate the design. What's really wrong is the print. I usually like bold prints, but this is way beyond bold; it's just ugly. The look could've been fantastic in a solid color.

Courtesy of USWeekly

If you like Etsy, but question some people's craftsmanship, K Studio has it.

"Great design, green materials, and social responsibility need not be at odds with one another." That line grabbed my attention because one of the things I want to be as a designer is to be as ecologically friendly as I possibly can. I love that they use sustainable materials like hemp, recycled wool, and organic cotton. They create pieces with a childish style and adult sensibility. Unlike Sanrio, the characters are not conventionally "cute," but if you understand the whole "beautifully ugly" concept, they are much cuter.

Thoughts Wall Art $134.00

I used to be a comic/manga geek, so this piece really speaks to me. Their thought bubbles are very random and that dressed up dog is hilarious. She's looking for love apparently.

Family Series Tote $45.00

Here's an idea for a D.I.Y. project. I'm sure you can just get a plain canvas tote and draw with a fabric pen. I'll probably end being around $10. As much as I like this tote, I would not fork out $45 for it.

Animal Figures $180.00

These look very handmade and not manufactured, like the ones your grandparents had when they were young. I have no idea what these animals are supposed to be. A dog and bear? I actually like that they are somewhat ambiguous.

Round Face Pillow $124.00

How would you like to snuggle up to these cute things? If you're single (like me), it could be a "boyfriend/girlfriend" substitute.

Woodland Creatures Ornaments $20.00

I would love me some cloth ornaments because glass and plastic ones are so easy to break. They are versatile and can be used as keychains after the holidays. Oh, and they're 20 bucks.

Courtesy of K Studio