Interview with Lisa

 I have a wonderful interview today with Lisa at Cocobella Ballerina. Lisa is one of my favorite blogs to read not only because she has such amazing items – but also because she is just so fun! When I asked Lisa to be interviewed, I requested that she write just like how she does on her blog because I said I loved it so much. She laughed and it said that people say that she “writes just like how she talks.” And it’s totally true, I can definitely feel like I am getting to know Lisa whenever I read her blog. Enjoy meeting the lovely Lisa!

Beautiful Lisa at one of my favorite restaurants, The Rotunda, in San Francisco

Who are you? What do you do, and where do you live?

My name is Lisa – I am not working at the moment as I am currently following my husband to Europe!  However I use to work for a very famous blue box jewelry company better known as Tiffany & Co first in Hawaii and then later in San Francisco.   I worked on both ends of the retail business – operation and in sales.   Working for Tiffany’s allowed me to discover my one true love and passion – fine jewelry!  I’m currently studying for my GIA gemologist license.

I love your blog name – Lisalovescoco – is Chanel one of your favorite brands? What are some of your other favorite brands? High end and low end both?

Haha YES!  I guess it’s fairly apparent that I’m a Chanel handbag lover.  For shoes I really love Prada and Miu Miu because they’re made incredibly well and are extremely comfortable.  I also love Christian Louboutin because there’s no two ways about it Monsieur Louboutin knows how to make one hell of a sexy shoe.

For clothes I generally buy low end – H&M, Forever 21, Zara, Asos and Lulu’s.  I definitely consider myself an “accessories” girl vs. a “clothes horse”.  I generally don’t believe in spending a lot of money on clothes and I have a long list of reasons why… sweaters can pill and stretch, people change sizes, seams tear, clothes can become dated ect ect.  I’ve found that if you invest in good quality handbags, shoes and fine jewelry you can get away with wearing just about anything and always manage to look polished & pulled together.

What are some of your favorite holy grail items that you have?

My engagement ring & wedding band!  Every time I look down I can’t help but smile because I’m reminded that I’m married to such a wonderful man!

Now you know I couldn’t do a holy grail list without talking about some of my Chanel flaps haha.  I’d have to say it’s a tie between my blue python metallic láme reissue and my special customized jumbo metallic gold flap!

Also I’m obsessed with my Alexander McQueen nude suede Swarovski strass shoes.  Although to be totally honest I don’t get a lot of use out of them because they’re 1. nude and 2. made of suede. Hahaha. but I totally feel like a princess when I wear them around the house bahahahaha.

What items do you wear the most and have been the most versatile in your closet?

You would think that I would get the most use out of my black patent leather Louboutin’s but I actually get a lot more use out of a pair of patent leather candy colored teal Loubie’s!  When I got them I thought they would actually be quite limiting but they’ve since become my go to shoe whenever I’m looking to add an extra bit of omph to my outfit!

What about some items that in retrospect, you wouldn’t have purchased?

Practically every article of clothing that I purchased on sale.  I probably got at the most one or two wears out of them before they ended up in the donation pile.  UGH. Truthfully if you wouldn’t buy it full price you probably won’t end up using it all that much on sale.

I’ve owned 4 black Chanel bags.  It was probably 1 black Chanel bag too many.  I’ve since sold two of them.. and am tempted to sell a 3rd.  When I started collecting Chanel 8 years ago I felt the best thing to do was to be “safe” since it’s such an investment purchase and hey black is safe!  However I’ve found since then that apparently everyone has the exact same thought and I often find myself sitting in a restaurant and the girl at the very next table is my bag twin… awkward. hahahaha.

Last year I passed on a gorgeous navy blue bubble quilt flap in a sparkly suede material because I opted to buy ANOTHER black Chanel bag and I can no longer purchase that bag since it’s completely sold out in the company and have completely regretted my decision since!!  The black Chanel I opted for can be found at any Chanel I’ve walked into since then. Sigh.

Invest in items that are unique and specific to you as an individual!  Don’t buy them because they’re “safe” – ie. refer to my answer to question #4 regarding my teal Loubie’s!

Lisa and her handsome husband at a Chanel event

I would love to hear more about your relationship with the Mr.! You seem to have such a fun time together and plus he is so sweet to buy and select such fabulous gifts!

Haha there’s not much to say on the Mr. other than that he’s the most thoughtful, intelligent, hardworking, loving guy I’ve ever met .

He came from very humble beginnings and put himself through undergrad and a doctoral degree so when we met he thought any purse over $50 bucks was too expensive haha.  Like a typical guy he’s very technical so whenever we had free time I would take him to visit the brands that I loved and would explain to him why I loved them.  Guys inherently need to place a value on items they purchase so I would patiently explain to him how well these particular items were crafted and the materials used to craft them.  Five years later the hubs can point out a gorgeous Hermes crocodile Birkin from across the room before I can!  It’s a little scary haha.

What are some of your other hobbies?

My hobbies for the most part are all showcased on my blog!  I love to eat, travel, shop, spend time with the hubs and our fur babies.  But something that may not be as apparent is that I also really love to sing I’ve been singing since I was a child in different chorus and choir group.  I haven’t done anything with it as of late but I would really love to get back into it. :p

What are some pieces of style/shopping advice that you’ve learned over the years that you’d like to tell to readers?

I try to score most of my designer goods on sale.  As a general rule Chanel and Christian Louboutin for the most part rarely goes on sale.  However for everything else it will probably end up on sale.

At the beginning of every season I scour Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-a-Porter, Barney’s, Nordstroms and Saks and bookmark everything that I love.  And then I sit on them.  If it’s something unique and specific to that particular season it will undoubtedly go on sale at the end of the season.  ie. Christian Louboutin Graffiti pumps.

If it’s something classic such as a pair of black Louboutin’s it will never go on sale and you should jump on it because not only will it not go on sale it will probably increase in price the next season!

Having a good sales person is essential!  When I lived in San Francisco my Nordstrom salon shoe guy actually pulled every new Louboutin in my size and hid them in the back for me and did the same with anything on sale!

Your blog always shows so much delicious food! What are some of yourall time favorite dishes and restaurants?

Oh man.. too many restaurants to count!  What can I say I love food! hahaha

San Francisco – House, PPQ Dungeness, Masa’s, Cafe Bakery

Napa – Ad Hoc, Redd, Bouchon Bakery

Taipei – Din Tai Fung, 85C Cafe

Hawaii – Roy’s, Side Street Inn, Panya, Shirokiya, Cafe Laufer, Alan Wong’s

Texas – Salt Lick, Cracker Barrel

Din Tai Fung also has locations in LA and Bellevue and across Asia must eats are their Xia Long Bao and Pork glutinous sticky rice roll’s are to die for.  Roy’s in Hawaii Kai has the most mouth watering Miso Butterfish I’ve ever had in my entire life.  I’ve been to the Roy’s in SF and it’s just not the same.  PPQ go for the fried egg rolls, butter garlic crab & noodles.

Finally, please share something surprising about yourself!

I love the typical girl shows Giuliana & Bill, The Real Housewives of (whatever city is current airing) and Pretty Little Liars.  But I’m a huge history buff and can spend hours watching the History Channel.  I’m especially partial to Greek or Roman mythology and anything regarding King Henry the VIII and his many wives haha!

Didn’t you love meeting Lisa? She’s a favorite of mine and I am so happy that she was able to do this interview! Thank you again Lisa – for sharing your gorgeous pictures as well as your amazing and funny self- and best of luck on your move to Germany!  For more of Lisa, make sure to check out her blog, here!