Those Colin Stuart studded booties

Colin Stuart studded booties, from victoriassecrets.com

I know, these booties have spreading around the blogosphere like a wildfire for sometime now.

But at $49.99 per pair (on clearance at Victoria's Secret's website), the little biker-chick wannabe in me couldn't resist.
Click, click, click and they are now on their way to me!

I'm still tidying up my Vegas photos and will be back with a proper post soon!

Duty-free shopping

For those who are fans of the online luxury website, Net-A-Porter, rejoice!
The website now ships directly from USA, which translates into no duties for those living in the States!
Woo hoo!!!!
Click here to go to their US website.

(P.S. The US website has restocked some Vanessa Bruno and Stella McCartney items which I have been eyeing..hee hee ;))

This Never Happened Before

Well, at least not in SoCal anyway, where the folks are the friendliest you'll ever find.

I am referring to the frenzy that occured during the opening of two H&M (Hennes and Mauritz)stores in San Francisco's Bay area on the 19th Novemember. Besides the fact that this was THE Swedish high-street conglomerate with its design-for-all credo, what got most female shoppers hyperventilating was a golden opportunity for them to pick up some Stella McCartney pieces at a fraction of how much they usually retail for in her boutique.

This is the second time that the fashion juggernaut has collaborated with a high-profile fashion design, its first collaboration being with Chanel doyen, Karl Lagerfeld for its holiday collection last year.

The female progeny of Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has rehashed some of the iconic pieces/silhouette from her past designer collections, such as an over-sized trench, ankle-zip skinny jeans, gem-coloured dresses and a silk knitted blouson. The latter is probably the most popular item state-side in her H&M collaboration as it was released exclusively to two stores in New York.

Some pieces from her H&M collection; (clockwise from top left: ankle-zip skinny jeans with silk cami and jacket; silk teal dress; blue silk jumper; black over-sized trench; blue wrap dress over skinny jeans; the piece de resistance - silk knitted blouson with boots; all pictures from hm.com)

Barely two days ago on the 17th of Novemember, the debut of Stella's H&M collection in London caused a stampede as female shoppers formed lines to get into the stores. Once in, pandemonium enthused as shoppers fought with each other to get a chance to purchase a piece of her collection at high-street prices. Within hours of the collection debut, the items had also made their way onto Ebay as several people auctioned off the items at several times the H&M retail price.

Shoppers fighting to get into the London H&M stores; the "Sold-out" sign appearing hours with the collection's debut; pictures from thisislondon.co.uk

The same chaotic scene replayed itself across the pond on the opening of the two H&M stores in downtown Frisco. Lines formed round the block and the popular pieces were sold out within minutes. Expect also, to see them surface on EBay.

Hype aside, I really love what Stella has done in this one-off collaboration with H&M. Designer clothes at cheap prices - now who can refuse that? The rarity and the look of these clothes makes them really appealing. I will be driving up to San Francisco during the Thanksgiving holidays, and I am really hoping to purchase a few items for myself at H&M. Sadly, I'm thinking that all the popular pieces may be sold out by then, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. I really want to get myself a pair of her skinny jeans, the jumpsuit, the wrap-dress..well it seems like whatever I can get my hands on!

Fashion Chaos and Creation in the Backyard indeed!

I'm (Not) Worth It

I'm sorry that I haven't been updating my blog as often as I would like to - work has been busy!
I have a couple of topics which I would like to share, hopefully I can translate them fast enough into posts before my work catches up with me again.

In the meantime, I just came across this interesting article in the NY Times, which I'll just like to share with everyone; especially for the shoppers out there who felt they have spent too much on a particular item!

By LYNN YAEGER
Reproduced from the NYTimes, August 28th edition

Right at this moment, somewhere in the deep recesses of the fifth floor of Barneys New York, a flimsy black Dries Van Noten dress waits for me. It's hidden away because I whined and begged until a saleswoman -- who is not, after all these years, unfamiliar with me and my ways -- agreed to put it on hold, partly to get me to shut up and partly in the slim hope that I might break down and buy the thing at full price.

And, sad to say, I might, even though it is borderline unwearable (transparent top) and the tag says $1,440, a gross reflection of the inflation that's afflicted fashion since the dollar sank against the euro.

Still, if the saleswoman is suffering, I am suffering more. I have an exquisite S-and-M relationship with shopping: I'm in agony most of the time, but I wouldn't have it any other way. After all, when pants cost as much as a weekend in Paris and a coat as much as a couch, is it any wonder one is so neurotic? You might not expect a $300 jacket to solve the world's problems, but for $3,000, it ought to do more than just keep you warm.

I may be an extreme case (in a whirlwind of zeal and regret, I tried the nerves of the usually beatific staff at Bergdorf Goodman when I bought and returned a hideously expensive Comme des Garcons skirt not once but twice last winter). But I'm hardly alone. When I ask Laird Borrelli, an editor at Style.com, if she is plagued with shopping guilt, she confesses that she is frequently troubled by shoes: ''Say there's a pair I want. If I don't buy them, they become my constant companions, haunting my waking and sleeping dreams. I become simply obsessed, until, usually, I buy them. It's not so much about the shoes as much as the wanting, I suspect. When I hand over the credit card, I feel like I've closed my eyes and dived into the deep waters, things are now out of my control, like at the hairdresser's, and fate has taken over.''

Lots of shoppers employ creative accounting to justify stratospheric purchases, but Borrelli's was a new one on me: she actually splits the cost of a pair of shoes in two because, after all, you are getting two things. (And, you know, she does have a point. An idiotic point, perhaps, as George Sanders said to Marilyn Monroe in ''All About Eve.'' But a point.)

More typical tricks include dividing the cost of the item by the number of times you plan to wear it. This would work if you were Nostradamus -- otherwise, how can you know if you'll even wear it once? Another ruse is to buy something that's really overpriced, return it and then figure you have suddenly freed up that amount to spend on other things.

Some shopping rationalizations have a built-in element of self-flagellation. Kym Canter, the creative director of J. Mendel, is forcing herself to take the subway instead of taxis until she has made up the cost of a diamond brooch that she was sure she'd wear every single day. As of this writing, she has worn it only a couple of times -- it isn't quite as magical pinned to the hip of her jeans as she had hoped -- and it'll be months before she can stop riding the rails.

Relatively more successful was the $2,500 coat Canter bought two years ago. It was a sweltering July 4 weekend, and the town was empty, save for Canter, who wandered into a tomblike Prada, only to be ushered into a V.I.P. fitting room by a bored sales staff delighted to have someone to play with. Not only was she among the first to see the new fall line, but also, miracle of miracles in the teeny world that is Prada, something actually fit, a plaid manteau with bracelet sleeves. No way was she buying, until it dawned on her that she had saved $2,500 by not going away for the weekend. O.K., so she's only worn it a few times. But at her prep-school reunion at the Modern, ''everyone loved it.''

For Bernice Kwok-Gabel, who does public relations for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, work offers a perfect rationalization for overspending. ''I manipulate my own vocabulary,''

she admits. ''Instead of viewing something as what it is -- just another acquisition -- I convince myself it's part of a collection I'm building.'' Kwok-Gabel fantasizes that someday her purchases will be a generous bequest. Which might be true, when you're talking about a red Dior couture suit, complete with bustier and top hat (''I wore it once, to dinner at the Ritz''), but doesn't add up when you ask her about the clothes she wears every day. ''Will any of them retain value?'' she asks plaintively.

I know better. This stuff has almost zilch resale value, and you can't even give it away, unless you want to haul trash bags to Goodwill yourself. Still, it's not as if everything ends up ignominiously stuffed in a garbage bag. Sometimes, after all the math tricks, the double-think, the soul-searching, there's one little item, one silly little Moschino skirt bought with a sick stomach and a deep sense of shame, that exceeds all expectations. When you wear it, your heart sings, and you understand the expression ''to feel like a million bucks.'' Even if you've just spent it.

Go, set, SHOP!!!

Ron Herman is finally online!!

Time for some serious shopping ladies!!!

The mermaid's treasure trove

I am in love with these whimisical creations found on Space Mermaid.

Space Mermaid is a jewellery website set up by LA designer Stephanie Carbone.
Each necklace is inidividually hand-made once an order is placed - customers also have the option of customising their pieces.

Throughout the website, every piece of jewellery is just so cute!

Her bird rings are dramatic pieces, though I think they are best reserved for the night or a special occassion:

I love, love, love her necklace and earrings creations, seems like her designs are inspired by the ocean, by nature and all things magick!

Some of my favourite pieces on her website:

There are many many more beautiful pieces on her website!!

She also does international shipping as well, but luckily I am in California right now so I have ordered some of her stuff and it will be delivered to me soon!

I just can't wait!!

P.S. For all my wonderful blog readers, use the coupon code "tree" for her fall preview pieces and you will save 15% upon checkout! If you love wood accessories, this is definitely something to check out!

Pic credits : All images are taken from Space Mermaid.com

These shorts are made for wearing

I am absolutely in love with my Johnson shorts.

For those of you not in the know, these shorts are designed by LA designer, Kristen Johnson. They come in three different cuts - the bermuda shorts, the trouser shorts and the most popular (which is also the one that I have) the short-shorts.

From left: Flat-front trouser shorts; bermuda shorts and the short-shorts (pic from Johnson's website)

These shorts have become very popular since their debut this Spring in LA's boutiques. Part of this could be due to them being on heavy rotation among LA's most-watched starlets like Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan and shopping queen Mrs Lachey - Jessica Simpson.

From left: Mischa Barton (pic from celebweb.org); Nicole Richie (pic from celebweb.org); Lindsay Lohan (pic from clasos.com); in their short-shorts.

From Johnson's website, these shorts are available in versatile tweeds, glammed-up satin or funked-up print fabrics.

I got myself a pair in houndstooth wool with vintage-looking buttons.

My pair of Johnson shorts!! Pic credit : extralaces.com

I wear a size 27 in jeans most of the time and size 4 fits me perfectly fine. It might be tempting to size up to compensate for what seems like a skimpy piece of clothing, but these shorts really run true to size. The shorts skim your hips rather than cling and does not accentuate any trouble spots of the body (and we all know that most of the time, a woman's trouble spots are her hips and thighs ;)) I really love the fantastic slimming and square cut of my shorts plus it makes my legs look long and toned! Magic!!

These shorts really stand on their own merit, but I guess the free publicity given by being seen on these rail-thin starlets does not hurt this line a single bit. Read this Daily Candy article for more information. There's also another great review in Stylediary on these awesome shorts.

I can see myself wearing these shorts all summer long with flats, sandals and flip-flops. They are even versatile even to be worn into fall with a pair of black leggings and heels, much like Lindsay:

Pic from celebweb.org

So far, these shorts are available online at shopintution.com. However I strongly urge interested readers to buy from other sites - there have been several complaints about shopintuition's service in the past! Satine also carries these online, thought the spring/summer collection is sold out on their site. I got my pair from the auction site extralaces.com. You can also email the designer via the johnson website for more information on stockists.

For those who love living in shorts, this is definitely one brand to keep your eyes on! Watch out for the fall collection as the designer introduces more designs in velvet!

Lost in translation - working your summer pieces into Fall

Tis' a glorious time to start shopping again.

Fall or at least pre-fall collections are starting to debut in shops all over and it's hard not to get into a tizzy with the promise of new clothes, new styles and new trends to drool over.

Dear reader, if you have accumulated a sizeable stash over summer (like me!), fret not. As I have mentioned in my earlier posts and which I shall reiterate, fashion cycles are getting shorter. Stash the trendy items that you really love in your wardrobe for now and pray that they will be trendy again.

Remember the military trend of 2003? Well it's back again this time for F/W 2005. Granted, the army green may have been traded in for navy wool and shiny brass buttons, a la The Admiral, but the epaulettes and military embellishments still abound.

First seen in its Riviera chic incarnation in resort collections this year, it was later given a seaworthy spin by Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga's S/S 05 collection.

Balenciaga S/S 2005 - from Balenciaga.com

These pieces have since then been given a high Parisian polish for F/W, with more intricate details being worked in, as well as the emergence of a stronger silhouette, a drastic departure from the relaxed form for spring.

Balenciaga F/W 2005 - from Balenciaga.com

The most iconic piece of this trend is probably epitomized in this Jean Paul Gaultier jacket for his F/W 05 collection:

Jean Paul Gaultier nautical jacket, F/W 2005 - style.com

This is an extremely workable trend for night - nothing adds panache to an ensemble like a well-cut jacket. Unfortunately, this may be a hard style to carry off during the day. For a more casual touch, I can see navy pants and stripy tops from the summer being worn past fall. Remember however that this is sailor chic, so while navy wool and brass buttons will work, camouflage stripes will just look dated. It is even possible to pair the voluminous skirts seen in summer with a structured nautical jacket for Fall.

As for the floaty chiffon dresses seen all to often in summer, these can be easily translated into a stunning fall ensemble. The sheerness of the fabric can in fact balance out the heavier textures and fabric used for fall. Dresses like these are the most versatile; it can layered with scarves, worn with a trench/blazer or with boots or heels.

Chloe S/S 2005 - style.com

I am especially fond of this look which was seen on the Chloe' runway for S/S2005. It is a prime example of how with a little flair and creativity, we are still about to wear our summer pieces well into fall.

White dresses were very popular this season due to the boho trend and nothing provides a better canvas for the jeweled tones of Fall than white. If you are a great fan of vintage, especially of pieces from the Victorian/Edwardian era, rejoice for this is one trend that is rapidly heating up for Fall. With the appropriate accessories, I believe that certain dresses can even be transformed into Victoriana ensembles, which is another popular Fall style to watch.

Some of my favourite pieces on the runway are :

Chloe F/W 05 ;pictures from style.com

The silhouette of the above pieces look decidly Edwardian

Heavier Victorian influences here:

Chloe F/W 05 ;pictures from style.com

While I personally hate to see this being done to death for Fall much like the bohemian trend, there is no denying the strong presence of the romantic novel blouse/dress seen on several runway collections for Fall. As with all trends, never wear this head-to-toe, Victoriana looks best when there is one iconic piece in the entire outfit. The best example that I can think of is to wear the romantic blouse with cigarette pants or skinny jeans. This image has been seared into my mind ever since I came across this picture below in an editorial of Vogue July 05.

Gucci F/W 05 - reproduced from Vogue USA July 2005.

High street stores like Zara have already debuted an interesting Victoriana collection for Fall and I have already picked up several pieces (to add on to my vintage collection) with interesting trimmings like lace, beads and pompoms.

A popular colour for Fall, which might have come about due to the strong nautical vibe this coming F/W, is a deep rich royal blue. This hue is seen in several pieces from the fashion houses – it is one of colours seen in the palette of offerings from Balenciages for their famed classique bags, produced in several colours of the rainbow. Gucci has brought back their horsebit hobo in a gorgeous blue for their new Guccissima leather collection, while the paddington from Chloe’ has been reinvented in a jewel blue tone as well. Lanvin has debuted its new line up of flats for Fall and there is a particular loafer style done in rich blue velvet that is so pretty – I have become the proud owner of a pair!

Pretty in blue, those bags get a new coat of paint - from left: Chloe' Paddington (chloe.com); Gucci Guccissima horsebit hobo (nm.com)

It is easier to wear a piece from summer to fall, rather than vice-versa, simply because it gets too hot. I realize that for fall, I tend to concentrate more on accessories like bags and shoes and spend less on clothes. The sumptuousness of Fall fabrics makes it a little harder to wear them past winter, while layering can really stretch the versatility of summer pieces. Similarly, I believe that the line between summer clothing and fall clothing is rapidly blurring. I think it is great fun and a test of style to transition pieces from one season to another. Some things are obvious – no ruffled minis in Fall (I never understood why these were still around anyway, particularly on tweens in LA – wasn’t this suppose to die out last year?), but other pieces can be extremely versatile and worn season after season, like jeans or cropped jackets.

As always, be aware of yourself, build up your own style and recognise what works for you and what doesn't. With better self-assurance, you will be able to sieve through the new Fall trends and re-interpret them equally well with existing pieces in your wardrobe!

Between seasons - to buy or not to buy?

Ack! I am now facing a shopping crisis-what do you buy between seasons?

I have been out shopping over the weekend in Malibu, checking out the cool shops there like Planet Blue, Madison and Ron Herman. It's summer sales time and what could be better than scoring stylish finds at good prices?

When I was at Madison, beautiful pieces like swishy boho skirts were on sale, as well as beautiful caftans, beaded tops and all things feminine and bohemian. I even saw the same pair of Costume National wedges worn by Nicole Richie recently on sale, but in tan instead of cream:

Note the beautiful cream wedges from Costume National on Nicole! (Candid from http://www.isifa.com)

They were so gorgeous and I remembered how badly I wanted them when I first saw them. However, the more I looked through the racks of wonderful clothes and shoes at Madison, the less excited I felt. Amazingly, the rational part of me realised that I would have very little thing left to wear these summery pieces and I should be investing in good basics, pre-fall items or summer pieces which would translate nicely into the fall trends. Now, when was I ever so rational?

It was the same situation too in Planet Blue and even Ron Herman, which was really a pity because I really liked a lot of stuff there! The amazing thing was that I realised that I could pretty much purchase the same stuff at the shops online and it would be cheaper too with the relevant coupon codes.

So in the end, I pretty much ended my shopping "spree" with some basics from Rachel Pally as well as a Victorian blouse from Anthropologie.

I scored myself a long cami in sand and the shrug in 2 colours - white and persimmon in this picture. Picture from Rachel Pally.com

I also invested in the blouson top in this picture in white.

From Rachel Pally.com

Victorian influences will be big this fall/winter season, and it may be good to invest in a few key pieces, like a lady-like blouse or lace-up knee boots right now.

Vintage - "Glamourisation" of old clothes?

Mention the word "vintage" and I get a lot of different reactions from everyone.

Some, like my ever-practical Boyfriend, will scrunch up his face and go,"Eeee, why are you spending so much money on old clothes..possibly dead people's clothes?" My more tactful colleagues will shake their head in bewilderment. (Forgive them, they are engineers and know not what they say/think.)The only form of mutual appreciation I'll ever get when it comes to vintage are only from posters on The Fashion Spot. Which leads me to declare that the majority of Singaporeans are a pragmatic lot - the thought of paying money for old and possibly worn clothes, just does not compute to them.

Vintage, is really so much more than a euphemism for old clothes. Any type of clothing that is a decade old can be classified as "vintage". This means that clothes produced from Victorian times all the way to the 80s' can be classified as vintage. I feel that the older a vintage piece is, the harder it is to incorporate into my daily wardrobe without coming across as too "costumey". Also, it is harder to find good-quality stock for the older pieces, such as those from the Edwardian period. Taking care of them too needs a lot more care and attention mainly due to their age, and also because pieces from that period tend to be made of more delicate material like lace.

Doing vintage well is really a taste of your sense of style and restraint. Pairing a pair of sevens with a 70s' victorian-style hippie blouse is the easiest example of vintage-chic. Wearing a 80s' off-shoulder blouse with skinny jeans and leg-warmers just means that you missed the audition for "Flashdance" by a really loooong time.

My love affair with vintage started when my mother found some of my grandmother's stuff while she was doing house-cleaning one day. My grandmother was a very fashionable lady and she owed some of the most beautiful and needless to say, vintage stuff. I had inherited a lot of stuff from her when I was younger, there were tons of beaded necklaces (which are so popular now!), clipped earrings, brooches, vintage Lancome compacts and even an antique watch. Sadly, I didn't realise the beauty of these items before and now a lot of them are gone. The only saving grace I guess is that the most valuable items still remains, such as the vintage Peranakan silver custom-made belt which my mother found. Peranakans are a race of Straits-born Chinese and they are unique in the sense that their culture and tradition incorporates elements of the Chinese and Malay cultures. The belt that my mother found had a phoenix motif as its buckle and the entire belt was custom-made and hand-crafted in Malacca, Malaysia. It was easily 50 years old. Wearing the belt gave me a sense of connection, not just to my culture, but also to my grandma. The fashionable factor, in this case, ceased to become important.

That is what I love about vintage - every piece has its own history and is unique. How each piece is carried off really depends on the wearer's individuality and no two pieces are exactly alike. Wearing vintage transports you to a time where things were more idealised, pre-911 everything was just more carefree and optimistic then.

I started with accessories to ease myself into vintage. There were the requisite beaded necklaces and chunky bangles, besides the truly breath-taking finds in my grandmother's closet. Bags and sunglasses, especially the big Jackie-O ones are also good starters for introuducing vintage pieces into your wardrobe. I love clothes from the 50s-70s the best as these pieces are the easiest to work with my wardrobe without looking too weird.

I usually get my clothes from eBay - I don't believe in visiting vintage stores where the clothes get unnecessarily marked-up to pay for the rental. Thus far, I have scored a few dresses and tons of accessories. Horror stories do exist about flea-infested vintage stuff on eBay, but as always when it comes to eBay, only buy from reputable sellers and use a healthy does of common sense in everything you bid for - do NOT get carried away! One seller which I highly recommend is mamastonevintage, I get a lot of my eBay stuff from her:

From left: vintage wooden bangles from the 60s; victorian-inspired blouse from the 70s'; calico dress from the 70s; pictures courtesy of mamastonevintage ebay auctions.

The Olsen twins I think, do vintage very well:

The Olsens in their vintage looks.

I have been in love since I saw Mary-Kate Olsen in this white dress for Chanel's introspective at the MET in New York. She got her dress from the famous New York-based vintage store, What Comes Around Goes Around.

The Olsen twins at the MET Costume Gala, NYC, May 2005; pictures from olsen-twins-news.com

You might also like to check out other vintage websites like Enokiworld and Adorevintage, for more inspirations.

If you are leery about wearing vintage however, vintage-inspired designs is the next best bet. I highly recomment visiting my favourite online website, blaec, for the season's best vintage-inspired finds.

Vintage is a homage to one's individual style and the revival of eternal classics. As the saying goes, "Greatness never truly goes out of style."

I couldn't agree more.

Down Under - where fash meets surf (aka Shopping in Sydney 101)

G'day mates!

This is my first post to my blog after returning from Sydney, capital of the land down under. I spent a total of seven days down there with my boyfriend. He was there for duty travel while I lived a tai-tai lifestyle of waking up late, spas at the hotel and shopping shopping shopping!

For the first two days, we visited the requisite tourist spots like Bondi Beach and the Blue Mountains. These two are definitely must-visit spots in Sydney-if you are really squeezed for time, I highly recommend these two spots, especially the latter! The Blue Mountain's beauty is unparalleled and it was a comfortable hike even though it's a winter month in Sydney. Bondi Beach is of course a good place to soak in the Aussie beach culture though I guess there were not too many people on the beach in June as it was winter. On days when the Boyfriend had to go to work, we did our sight-seeing in the evening, making it to the Sydney Opera house, Darling Harbour and the Rocks to name a few.

So what else could I do during the day when left to my own devices? One word: SHOPPING.

I was probably very lucky to be in Sydney last week, as it was the start of the sales! Almost every store was having their winter sales and I lived in a good locale - my hotel was located in the city center along Elizabeth/Castlereagh Street.

For all you fashionistas, this is an important street to remember, as well as Market Street that intersects it. These three streets, together with Pitt Street, forms what I would term the Sacred Square of Orgasmic Sydney Shopping!

Shop here for orgasmic sydney shopping!!

For those who are into high-end fashion labels like Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc, Castlereagh Street is sheer heaven. This street is where all the high-end luxury houses are located, with the exception of Armani, which is located on Elizabeth Street. Remember to get a tax invoice from each store should you spend more than AUD$300 there (and how difficult is that with these labels?) to qualify for the Australian TRS (Tourist Refund Scheme) where you get the goods and services tax credited back to you.

We went into the Chanel store to purchase my birthday present. I must write this encounter down as I was extrememly unhappy with the level of service which I received in Chanel Sydney. First of all, the SA who was keeping the bag for me had gone off for the day and she obviously had not left any instructions for her colleagues as to how to get my order should I turn up after she left. For the record, I did turn up on the agreed day as promised and I was surprised that she had already left for the day. But what really got me was the attitude of the first counter staff that I spoke to down there. First of all she had NO IDEA of the cerf tote that I requested for, even thinking that I was asking for the SURF tote instead. Even when I spelled out the name for her, she had the most unintelligent and uncomprehending look on her face. I wondered if she understood English? To add salt to the injury, she certainly didn't look contrite nor cared that I, as a customer had better knowledge of the products in Chanel than her. Luckily a more experienced and poised customer associate took over and was able to locate the cerf tote for me.

On to happier stuff- department store David Jones was heaven-sent! Down there, I managed to pick up Aussie labels like Sass&Bide and Willow at a fraction of the prices availabe online at Net-a-porter! Do note, however that I have yet to locate any website selling Willow. I love her designs and how it draps so flatteringly on the female body. I bought a heavy sequinned type which felt like armour but it was just so beautiful and unique!

Damage at David Jones:

Willow Wish cami - I have it in plum.

Managed to net this gorgeous top from Sass&Bide - woo hoo! ^-^

Sass&Bide stand-aside jeans

Be sure to check out these aussie labels and other favourites like Collette Dinnigan, Alannah Hill, Lisa Ho, etc when you are there!

Further along the other shopping centres, there were also perennial Aussie high-street favourites like David Lawrence, Witchery, Kookai and trendy, budget-conscious stores like Sportsgirl, Supre and Dotti. I just went wild inside and bought so many shrugs, tubes, tank tops and flirty summer skirts! The salesgirls there were really cute and nice, especially the girls in the Supre store along Pitt street!

A portion of my loot:

Montage composed of pictures from Supre.com.au and Sportsgirl.com.au

On top of these, I also splurged on tiered skirts, retro giant sunglasses, chunky boho jewellery and of course, Tim Tams! Only in Australia can you find so many flavours!

Besides the city centre, check out the shops along Oxford street - there are just so many interesting ones! You can find a repeat of some of the shops in the city centre there as well as shops devoted solely to Alannah Hill and Lisa Ho. Interestingly along King Street, I found a small shop called Como which stocks a very small selection of CoStume National. Predictably, I still was unable to find the CoStume National belt which I had been hunting for a really long time. Anyone has any idea if this label is carried in Singapore?

Walking down the entire length of Oxford Street will lead you to Bondi Junction which is another conglomeration of more shops and malls. This is recommended only for the die-hards as it is really easier to take the bus half-way down Oxford Street to arrive at Bondi Junction instead. There is another David Jones at Bondi Junction, but there is a much better selection at the flagship store at Market Street. There are also more surf wear stores at Bondi Junction, presumably because of its proximity to Bondi Beach.

There are so many more interesting shops for you to explore in Sydney. I only stayed in the northern area of Sydney due to a time shortage, but hopefully what was written here would give a meaningful representation of the shopping experience there. There are also Sydney shopping "landmarks" like the Queen Victoria Building and the Strand Arcade which were not mentioned in this article as enough coverage has been given to them.

I had great fun shopping in Sydney. Next target : Melbourne ^-^
(I can hear my boyfriend faint.)

A perfect clinch

I have always been crazy over belts.

Next to bags, they are probably my second-favourite accessory. I have always felt that belts can give a different feel to an outfit and give you more bang for your bucks. A loose mini-dress, when worn with a thick hipster belt and a pair of distressed skinny jeans, can instantly take on a different look and feel. Or you can even take a belt to a maxi-skirt (see post below) to wear it as a dress.

A while back, there was a mini-furore over the Old Man River belt which was sold at Kitson after a few (the usual!) celebrities were spotted wearing them.

Us Weekly scan : Celebs with their Old Man River belts.

However I felt that the crystal encrusted belts were probably a little too bling for me. At USD$250 dollars per piece, I felt that they were too much to pay for a gimmicky piece. It didn't help too that the celebs that were touting them certainly did not fit my ideal of any style icons.

Belts have been slowly heating up for the past few seasons. They lend a semblence of structure to this season's loose and flowing bohemian look. The House of Yves Saint Laurent was particularly taken with this look and sent several models down the runway for their S/S 2005 RTW shows with their narrow waists elegantly clinched with a wide belt.

YSL S/S 2005 RTW show - from style.com

This trend continues into YSL Rive Gauche's F/W 2005 RTW line:

YSL FW 2005 RTW show - from style.com

At under USD$300 a piece, belts are arguebly the one of the "cheapest" pieces in the YSL collection.

Being a jeans-and-tiered gypsy skirt girl, I prefer my belts to ride on my hips or sit low on the waist. When it comes to getting a belt, one is easily spoilt for choice. There are options galore on the Net. It was while belt-shopping online that I chanced upon the British accessory brand Jocasi.

I found these belts at my favourite online website, Blaec. Now I have read all the propaganda about this UK brand, about how wonderful they smell, the baby-soft Indonesian leather that they use to produce their belts and bags and what a cult favourite they are with UK and across the pond, US celebs. Such is their clout that Topshop, the premier UK high-street chain store, carries their product range in their flagship store in Oxford circus.

I must admit that I do like the classic and rock-n-roll sensibilities in their design. I guess that the way Blaec put together their highly-lauded outfits, usually with a Jocasi belt as a finishing accent also made these belts more attractive to me. I had no chance to sniff and touch the highly-lauded fragrant and supple leather as this brand is not available in Singapore. Costing USD$100 - USD$130 a piece, I must admit that similiar pieces can also be found, at cheaper prices elsewhere. However, the attraction had started and giving into temption, I ordered one of their famous styles, the Moon belt.

Jocasi moon belt, available at blaec.com

I received this belt last week and I must say that Jocasi does live up to its hype. The leather is really supple and baby-soft and I love the way the belt curves and sits comfortably on my hips. The belt is actually a much richer brown colour than shown in the picture. The design is classic and I can see it being worn across several seasons. Best of all, it smells heavenly! I profess, I am now a Jocasi-convert!

There are several more styles available at Blaec, as well as another website, LuvCharlie for those who are not living in London. Currently, these two sites are the only ones that carry Jocasi.

If you are looking for a belt with just that little bit of edge and want a design that last, I think this brand may just be what you are looking for.

I am loving my Moon belt so much now, that I am tempted to order other funky designs from this brand as well!

It's not what you buy, it's how you put it together

This article couldn't have said it better.
Reproduced from fashion.telegraph website

High fliers turn to the high street
Once coveted designer labels are losing their allure as discerning shoppers head for the thrift stores, says Clare Coulson

Research published yesterday which revealed that high-earners are increasingly buying their clothes and accessories from the high street will come as no surprise to most women.

Over the past couple of years, the astounding improvement in the quantity and quality of chain-store and supermarket clothes has brought about a huge shift in our shopping habits.

At the same time, the survey found, many people on lower incomes who would have shopped at the cheaper end of the market are indulging in exclusive brands - thanks partly to society's obsession with celebrities and designer labels.

There's a certain satisfaction to be gained from telling your friends that your wallpaper-print camisole (inspired by Miu Miu, of course) came from Topshop, or that your tweed jacket was snapped up at Zara for a fraction of the price of the Chanel version. Mixing cheap and expensive clothes has become an essential part of the game for women who know the season's trends.
Foraging for bargains also displays shopping savviness, and this, perhaps, is one of the key reasons why women who could easily afford to kit themselves out at Harvey Nichols are choosing to spend just as much time rummaging around high-street stores. If you have the cash, it's easy to wander down Bond Street and drape yourself in designer labels, but it's much more challenging - and satisfying - to hunt for genuine bargains at the high-street stores, searching through endless rails of tat before chancing upon the real gems.

"It's so much more individual to combine the two," says Navaz Daruwalla, a London barrister. "I buy lots of casual tops at Topshop, but all of my jeans are designer labels. I certainly buy more from the high street than I ever have before; the quality and the design are so much better than they have ever been."

Designer Anya Hindmarch has always been a fan of the high-street stores. "I think you have to be a bit of a mug to wear top-to-toe designer," she says. "I have always mixed everything up. Today, I am wearing a Miu Miu coat with a pair of Hennes sunglasses that cost £3.99, and a new cashmere sweater with a white shirt from Zara."

Kate Jones, a successful, London-based literary agent, is typical of many of her contemporaries. She shops at Topshop, Uniqlo, Jigsaw, M&S and Camden market as well as Maxmara, Kenzo, Amanda Wakeley and Joseph. "I will shop anywhere at all," she says. "My only requirements are a changing room with enough room for me and a five-year-old."

Affluent women are trawling the high street more than ever, but there are some things that they still seem to prefer to buy from more expensive labels. Daruwalla, for instance, continues to buy tailoring and suits from department stores such as Liberty, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, as well as the season's key accessories. "And I wouldn't buy evening tops on the high street: not because I don't like them," she says, "but because I would worry that someone else will be wearing the same thing."

Cara Goodley, a company director from London, who wears items from Topshop and Mango with designer pieces by Marni, Chloé and Pucci, says: "I don't like people to know what I am wearing, so I tend to look for things on the high street that people can't really identify. You can buy a pair of Marc Jacobs wedges which look really expensive and wear them with a cheap high-street dress and feel much more original than if you had flicked through Vogue and then bought a whole look from Yves Saint Laurent."

Goodley agrees that there are some areas in which affluent shoppers such as herself are unlikely to compromise: "I never buy cheap bags or shoes."

But while high-earning women are flocking to the high street, traditional high-street shoppers are increasingly buying expensive, aspirational labels - whether they can afford them or not.
Emma Seares, a 23-year-old graduate from Essex, is typical of the new breed: "I live at home and I don't pay bills, so I can spend all my money on clothes and going out."

Seares has a vast collection of accessories from Prada and Gucci, and clothes from Missoni and Julien Macdonald, which she buys from Harrods, Selfridges and www.net-a-porter.com.
"Sometimes, I go shopping three times a week," she says. "I don't buy things just because celebrities have them, but if I had something that Kate Moss was wearing, I would think it was a privilege."

Filed on 13/05/2005

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!

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.

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.

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.