Saturday, April 30, 2005

Online shopping = Bargain hunting?

For those of you not in the know, I have been really sick these past few days.

Committed to bed and battling cough syrup-induced delirium, the only way I could think of to ease my boredom, besides the occasional post on The Fashion Spot, was to do online shopping.

Online shopping has its pros of course - you get to have brand new pieces delivered to your doorstep. You also get to preview the designs of up-and-coming designers, honestly some online boutiques have the most interesting selections compared to those that you see in Neiman's or Bergdorf. You get to avoid the crowd at the shopping malls; compared to a long time ago, when you had to drive to Los Angeles to get your fashion fix, a lot of these brands and boutiques are going online. Also, some of the pieces being sold online are exclusives, which means the choices of you bumping into someone wearing the same piece is pretty slim. Sometimes you can avoid sales tax if the website is headquartered in a different state. Plus, more often than not, you have the advantage of comparing prices and you can save a substantial amount with a coupon code. These codes can also sometimes get you free shipping on your order.

But to everything there's certainly a flip side. What happens if what you receive doesn't fit? Or it's not quite what you expected? Then there's the hassle of returns which, though some websites are trying to make it as pain-free as possible, still cannot entirely reduce the inconvenience of having to drive to the post office to return your package.

Online shopping is even harder if you are a die-hard online shopper based outside of the United States. Since I alternate my time between CA and Singapore, battling on-line shopping deprivation is something that I face when I am back in Singapore. I love to shop everywhere, online, offline, eBay..but most of the clothing sold in Singapore is pretty generic. Don't get me wrong, there are treasures to be found in Singapore, but they are far and few in between..so much so that most people end up wearing the same style or thing.

The trick is to make online shopping work for you, regardless of where you are. Firstly, if I am in Singapore, I only buy from websites that offer a minimal of 20% discount to cover my shipping costs and save some money in the process. I must admit that it is hard work to look for a discount code for a website all the time and success is not always guaranteed.

Sometimes I am forced to make a decision if I can't find a coupon code. Then it really depends on how badly I want the item and whether I can find an alternative at another website or offline.

If you are based in US, it is all the better. Quite a lot of websites offer free shipping with/without minimal purchase amount. Throw in a coupon code and you really get substantial savings which you would not be able to get at brick-and-mortar stores. If you live in a different state from where the website is based, you will most probably save on the sales tax too!

I really love to shop online as there are bargains if you know where to look. Plus a lot of websites carry clothes which are really unique.

Shop online - you'll never know what you'll find!

Friday, April 29, 2005

The High-Street Doppelgangers

You'll have to be a Hilton to afford everything you see on the runways.

But what's a mere mortal like most of us to do? That's when we turn to most high street labels to scour for our runway knock-offs. I have always believed that it is easier to get away by paying less for clothes than it is for shoes and bags.

Favourite high street haunts of mine include Zara, Mango, Topshop and Warehouse. That's pretty much the only places that I shop in Singapore anyway! But I must admit, the tank tops from Topshop are a steal and comparable in quality to those from C&C California or Juicy Couture.

These high street stores really have a high inventory turn-over and I am surprised by how aggressively they keep up with what's on the runway for S/S 2005:

1.Wallpaper chic by Prada
LEFT: Prada runway S/S05; Right: Mango.com

Given how for S/S, almost all designers have turned back to the 70s' for that carefree, bohemian look, it was only a matter of time before the stronger, graphical elements of that period appeared in this eclectic collection by Prada.

Similarly, the ever quirky and feel-happy label Marni also had its share of high-street knock-offs. Note the skirt and shrug combo in the picture below:
LEFT: Marni, S/S05; RIGHT: Mango.com

This easily translates into a lot of graphical blouses and skirts being churned out by the high street labels. I feel that you have to be careful with the type of print that you buy for this trend, least you end up looking like you cut up the curtains for your dress. Frankly, my dear, it might have worked for Scarlett, but that does not mean everyone can pull it off.

2.The pirate-gypsy
LEFT: Etro dress from NM.com ; RIGHT: Mango.com

When I first saw this poster by Spanish brand Mango, all I could of were two things, "Gaultier and Hermes". This style obviously borrowed heavily from the pirate-gypsies which Jean-Paul Gaultier had sent down the walkway for his S/S for the house of Hermes. Surprisingly I couldn't find any pictures of the runway show for Hermes on style.com , but I found a suprisingly similiar interpretation of gypsy chic in a dress by Etro. Seems like even for high-end labels, pollination of ideas are not uncommon and most collections do debut every season with a few common trends throughout.
Here's a picture of the ever-luminous Cate Blanchett in Hermes at the French premiere of "The Aviator" sometime back. Note the similiar high street copy next to it.
LEFT: Cate Blanchett at the French premiere of Aviator (Getty images); RIGHT: Mango.com

I suppose credit shouldn't be given to Gaultier alone for the emergence of the pirate-gypsy this season. A lot of fashion houses have debuted their clothes with volume, volume and more volume (think - Spanish flamenco skirts) for this summer. This translates into very weareable clothing for the average female. Think loose, flowy comfortable clothing, preferably white (a break from last spring's palette of vibrant colours), something like the Timotei girl. Do you still remember those commercials?

3. The Chloe girl
No brand probably has more of its looks re-appearing in high street translations than Chloe. Phobe Philo has managed to capture the female psyche in her collections, she has an uncanny knack for knowing what would appeal to woman and what won't. Ironically, some have even labelled her the female Marc Jacobs.
The loose feminine lines in her clothes shows that comfort need not be compromised for style. She also has the uncanny ability of making bermudas appear formal with her tuxedo shirts, showing us that bermudas need not be relegated to beaches only.
LEFT: Chloe S/S05 (style.com); RIGHT: Mango.com

Fashion is also taking a break from body conscious clothing this season, to more kinder cuts in which moving and eating is a breeze:
LEFT: Chloe from NM.com; RIGHT: Mango.com

What about a pretty dress in this season's "in" colour, blue?
LEFT: Chloe from NM.com; RIGHT: Zara.com

Lastly, I could not resist putting the next picture down, I was struck by how similiar in design the skirt was to it high-street copy. Do observe carefully:
LEFT: Chloe from NM.com; RIGHT: Mango.com

These are just some of the main trends which I have choose to highlight for the S/S 2005. Please note that I am not saying that high-street copies are bad, in fact I am grateful that they are around because most of them offer runway pieces at affordable pieces to the average consumer. In fact, the quality in some of these high street labels are really good and it really makes you wonder if it is worthwhile to splurge so much on the high-end labels.

Trends come and go and fashion moves in cycles. For the trend-conscious consumer, the high street labels are a very economical and sensible way to keep up with trends.
But I believe that the high-end labels will always be around, to offer us inspiration, as well as let most people have something to aspire to.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

The convertible skirt/dress

This convertible skirt/dress from Cool Change is well, cool.
Picture credit: playhouseclothing.com

Worn as a skirt:
Picture credit: playhouseclothing.com

Spotted on many celebs, I was nevertheless intrigued by it when I saw it at Playhouseclothing.com while I was surfing the web.
The beading looks exquisite and the dual purpose of this clothing makes it a worthwhile buy. However international shipping charges are expensive, I will probably hold this off till my next trip to SoCal, if it is still available. Another concern that I have is that this skirt/dress seems sheer, especially the white one. But out of all the colours, I am in love with the white one.

I have also spotted another gorgeous skirt/dress creation by Matthew Williamson:
Matthew Williamson beaded cotton maxi skirt, net-a-porter

It should be pretty easy to create this look as long as you have the correct type of skirt. A maxi skirt is probably the best bet, while shorter skirts can be belted to be worn as a top, tunic-style. Worn as a top, the skirt/dress should be accessorised with layers of necklaces/beads, maybe wooden bangles or cuffs and it can worn with a shrug or bolero.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Boots in Summer?

As we slowly move towards summer, a lot of stores are now discounting their fall/winter collections heavily to clear stock. In fact Spring sales are long over, and I think now is the best time to pick up a pair of boots, just before the summer collection arrives in stores.

By boots, I certainly do not mean the fads of past F/W seasons like Uggs or Mukluks. These boots age fast and it is better now to invest in a pair of classic boots, while they are cheap. A finely made pair of classic boots can be worn for many seasons.

One of my best finds on the web were these two pairs of boots from UrbanOutfitters:
(LEFT: Jeffrey Campbell Suede Slouchy Boot, $70. RIGHT: Leather Engineer Boot, $40; all pictures from UrbanOutfitters)

The slouchy boots on the left are similar to a pair seen in the Imitation of Christ F/W 2005 RTW collection:

Though the pret-a-porter version is definitely of a better make, the boots from UrbanOutfitters are undeniably a good find. I can see these boots being worn with this summer's flirty dresses, especially with the Free people dress which I purchased. These boots would also look cute with denim minis, tiered skirts or can be worn tucked into jeans. Do drop by my StyleDiary webpage to see what outfits I can cook up with these boots

I got the other pair of boots as I like its structured feel. They can be worn with leggings under a mini, plus the price made it very attractive. For a girl who lives in Singapore, a hot humid country with no four seasons, the price of these boots are about just right for me. Since I do travel occasionally, I can also wear them overseas. I would consider their styling to be rather classic, so these two pairs would last.

For pricier(and better made) boots, gorgeous options abound on the web. I found this pair of Fiorentini & Baker Eternity Washed leather boots in tan:
Fiorentini & Baker Eternity washed leather boots in caramel, $511, net-a-porter.com

Timeless and classic, this is a style that should age nicely.

How about this pair of sleek black boots from Jimmy Choo?
Jimmy Choo peony leather boots, $850, net-a-porter.com

These pair of boots are a warerobe staple and I would definitely get these if I weren't living in Singapore. I just cannot justify paying so much for a pair of boots (though so very gorgeous) which I know I won't be able to wear often in sunny Singapore.

For novelty value, how about this pair of cowboy boots from Anna Sui?
Anna Sui cowboy boots, $704, net-a-porter.com

These pair of boots are pretty but I am not too sure if they can last beyond two seasons. Cowboy boots have been trendy for almost a year now, so I wouldn't buy another pair right now. The trend is still hot due to the likes of the Olsen twins and Sienna Miller, but it is probably time for it to start tapering off.

Choose slouchy or brown boots for summer time dressing. These styles would go well with the bohemian-gypsy trend that is so hot this summer.

Summer Wish List

Bernado's Mistral sandals in Gold:
Mistral sandals shown is in silver, from Bernardo's website

Chloe's Python Sandal:
From NM.com

I know I have the flats version, but the python strappy heels are to-die for!

Ingwa Melero Crystal Flower Blouse - Beautiful, vintage, glamourous, this is a beautiful classic that will last and last.
From Blaec

A beautiful embellished, boho-chic Indian silk skirt from Sage:

Embellished tops are very in this season and here's a beautiful one from Matthew Williamson:


A classic tuxedo shirt from Chloe as seen on the runway. It's perfect for balmy nights and is a style that can be taken from the office to the poolside.


These beautiful key pieces go beautifully with warerobe key pieces like jeans, fitted tanks and this season's bermuda shorts, flared pants and peasant skirts.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

SKII - "Miracle Water"

Girls in Singapore just can't get enough of this skin-care brand SKII.

I have been using SKII for over 6 months now, and I must say that this brand does live up to its hype. It's magic ingredient is Pitera, which is a yeast derivative. Pitera supposedly accelerates the monthly renewal cycle of your skin to give you the conveted, signature glowing SKII complexion.

Here's the list of SKII products which I have incorporated into my skincare regime:

1. Facial Treatment Essence - This is really the star of the entire SKII range and the most enduring of the entire product line.


I like to use this after my toner and before my moisturizer to drench my skin in the goodness of Pitera. This essence is suppose to contain 90% Pitera. It smells a little like yeast upon application, but this was my first product and introduction into the SKII range. I find that this essence helps to control sebum production and my skin does look brighter after some time.

2. Signs Treatment - I moved onto a richer moisturizer after my laugh lines and the lines on my forehead became more apparent. The turning point came when my colleagues pointed out my wrinkles to me...I knew I had to do something then!


I like to use this cream as both a night cream and a day cream (layered with sunblock for the day). It's quickly absorbed by the skin and pores and fines lines do seem diminished after sometime. At least, I don't get teased about my "wrinkles" anymore!

3. Facial Treatment Mask
I use this as a weekly treat for my skin. It's recommended to use this sheet mask continously for two weeks to get crystal clear perfect skin.


I think that's way too extravagant, but I guess I'll probably try that when I am getting married.
The mask really peps up my complexion - skin glows and make-up sits better on the skin after application. Plus the mask comes soaked in a thick Pitera substrate which I like to use as a serum in my regime. One packet of substrate lasts me for up to a week.

I am lucky to get these products at a discount as my sister works in an airline.
I used to have problem skin, but after using these products I don't break out that often anymore.
I sure hope I am achieving that beautiful glowing complexion as espoused by SKII in all their commercials!

Photo credits : All pictures from SKII website

Bermuda Bahamas, come on pretty mama!

So it's spring and what could be more in style this season than a pair of bermudas?

I first had my eye on this pair from Hudson:
Credits : Shopbop.com

But these are so popular that they are sold out now online!
But you may still be able to try your luck at Neimans, or the Macys at Union Square.

Eventually I settled on this pair of berms by Joe's Jeans:
Credits: Revolveclothing.com


I ordered it from RevolveClothing, which is an excellent site for purchasing premium denim.
There's free shipping and the prices are tax-free if your shipping address is out of California.
Plus there's an extensive variety of brands to choose from - almost all denim brands are present and it is a really awesome site. Worth checking it out!

Back in Singapore

So, it's been a couple of weeks since my last post.

Well I am now back in Singapore and I am feeling pretty bored. During my hiatus, I have been to San Francisco, which is simply one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
I was looking forward to visiting the first H&M outlet on the West Coast when I was there but damn, it would not be open till Fall 2005.

I bought myself three pairs of flip-flops(!) when I was in SF. I actually bought my Chloe metallic bow flats along, but these babies were giving me severe blisters after sometime in Castro.

To digress a little, I flew in love with my Chloe flats ever since I saw them on Nicole Richie :

It took me a little while, but I finally found them at one of LA's greatest boutique, Satine!
I was really lucky because that was the last pair in my size. Their website is really wonderful too, though you have to call sometimes if you are ordering the popular items as their online inventory may not actually tally with what they have on hand.

Talking about Nicole Richie, I have been in awe about her recent transformations. I didn't like her, but I must admit she is getting better. However I still have my doubts about her personality.

Well, more on Nicole's style in my future posts. I also fell in a love with a FreePeople dress in an Urban Outfitters store there. Funny thing was, the dress was suppose to be a web exclusive which would not be available in any of their stores. But the zip on that dress was broken. I eventually ended up ordering the dress online from the Free People website:


It's gorgeous, glossamer-light and "vintage-y". It's definitely a very pretty piece for summer and I can see myself wearing it with slouchy boots or layering it with sheer colour tanks.