it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

I'm in (hopefully) sunny NZ for Christmas this year, but even if there's no white Christmas on the cards for you, here's hoping it'll be a wonderful one nonetheless.

And don't forget to remind your significant others - a little blue box goes a long way towards feeling Christmassy! there's just enough time to get there before Christmas!

Merry Christmas one and all!

hello kitty...

I'm been a fan of local design talent Max Tan for some time now... but was still blown away when I saw the pictures from his recent campaign! It's no surprise he's been recently featured in Vogue Paris' blog no less! I couldn't be more excited for him!

If you'd like to check out Max's new collection, it's available at Parco Next Next at Millenia walk. In the meantime, here are some images from the current collection...

wishlist - etsy edition

Etsy seller Woodland Belle does lovely nature inspired accessories... perfect for your inner faun. I'm really loving these twig hairpins (above) which come in 4 different finishes, including a (faux)moss covered one!

And for those of you with black thumbs like me, there's the super cute (and incredibly realistic!) succulents ring... no watering required. :) It's a bit late for Christmas shipping now, but there's always next year....

newfound obsession

I'm very late to the game on this, but have recently been completely enthralled by Asos. I'd previously never quite warmed to their site mostly because of the sheer amount of stuff they feature - it's a bit like the H&M at Oxford St. for me... so much stuff I just can't quite wrap my head around it all and end up walking out empty handed.

My recent foray though has unearthed this beauty....


beautiful washed leather at an amazing price and on sale to boot! If I hadn't just bought 2 Dunlin bags, this would be winging it's way to me right now. In case you're tempted, Asos is doing free international shipping at the moment so grab it while you can!

my wallet is shaking in fear

The Dunlin e-store has finally launched! While not as swish as their normal website, it does mean that you can now order their beautiful bags while sitting at your computer in your pyjamas. :) And to make things that little bit better, they're also offering 10% off (code: 7538) until next Friday (17 Dec). So if you have something you always wanted to get and you don't live anywhere near one of their stockists, now's your chance!

the end of an era

It's a little hard to say this, but I'm finally giving up on a dream. Granted the dream was only to own those incredibly cool Ann D. laced up booties, but still....

First I missed them when Ann D. did them a year (maybe more now?) ago, then I managed to find them online at Saks, but have been waiting all this time for them to go on sale. Sadly, this particular pair hasn't gone on sale (everything else has though if you're looking out for some Ann D. goodness) and now my size is gone too. They've still got a 37.5 but at full price and almost US$1k, it seems a bit much to swallow. I've just resigned myself to the fact that it's just not meant to be. *sniff*

I might have a moment of silence though....

grab it quick!

One of my favourite jewellery designers is having a pre-Christmas sale! 25% off everything in her store (code:'HAPPYHOLIDAYS2010') - so don't say I never share my secrets. Abigail doesn't have many sales so this is a great chance to grab something for that special someone for Christmas. Even better, if you buy during this sale, she's guaranteed that the items will arrive in time for christmas. Even if you're overseas!

Everything is hand made personally by Abigail and she is an absolute sweetheart so you should really head on over to the sale as quickly as you can. The offer runs til midnight on Sunday (think this is midnight GMT) but don't leave things too late!

my hands are shaking

... cos it's Black Friday again! Not that you'd notice looking around Singapore, but it's the biggest shopping event of the year in the US! And thanks to the wonders of online shopping, we can get in on it too. Shopbop is doing 20% off a whole bunch of new stuff plus they're adding an incentive by giving more discounts if you spend over a certain amount.

I'm sorely tempted by that velvetine hobo I posted about a while ago, but at $600 after discount it's not quite tempting enough. Anyway, I've got presents to buy!

Just about everyone in the US is on sale this weekend so happy shopping everyone!

time for a change?

I'm loving Emma Watson's new crop! Makes me wondering if I should go for a crop too? but then again my hair always ends up standing straight up when it's short so might not work.... Still, it would definitely be more affordable than trying to get a customised Burberry coat no?

sorry sorry....

...for the long hiatus. Haven't been feeling particularly inspired of late. Strangely enough though, that seems to have coincided nonetheless with a hellavalot of actual shopping! Maybe I was on to something when I said this blog might be a shopping substitute!

Run: Swiftly Long Sleeve top

Anyway, I finally got my hands on the lulu Flow and Go top which is just as cool in real life as it looks in the pic! Now I ended up getting it a couple of sizes too big but hey, it was on sale (and they were out of my size everywhere). Also picked up a Power Y top for yoga while in the HK store. We really need a lulu store here!! Pure Yoga marks up the prices waaaay too much! Even in HK, I saw the Dash Pullover at Pure for HKD100 more than the same top at the Lulu store! What a ripoff! Anyway, ended up getting a couple of mesh headbands, the Dash Pullover and the Swiftly Long Sleeve tee from the online store cos they didn't have my size at the HK store. I guess that's the one drawback of shopping in Asia. Even in NYC I could find stuff in my size on the sales rack. No chance in Asia!

Run: Dash Pullover


Flow and Go (front)

Flow and Go (back)

but mine is in a much cooler colour :)

still crazy after all these years

Madewell sweatshirt top and lace shorts

I just can't help it. Notwithstanding it's sweltering out here, this time of year just has me thinking about sweaters, coats and high boots.

rick owens boots - sadly sold out in like 5 min on outnet. Can't say I'm surprised.

holy grail boots - Charlye by Golden Goose

rick owens shearling coat

A.P.C. toggle coat

always the way

After much googling and bemoaning the lack of stockists and sales, I finally caved and bought the Dunlin Lafayette bag in black. Shiho from Dunlin couldn't be lovelier to deal with and sent the bags (mine and a friend's) super quick! Only of course shortly after I receive it, I get an ebay alert telling me there's one available on ebay. And this after I had searched and searched everywhere for one for cheap(er)!

so um... now I've got 2 bags.

And I gotta tell you, they are seriously fabulous. The leather is so wonderfully smooshy and soft and has that great leather smell y'know? heh...

I'm baaaack!

Back from London, a little colder, a little poorer... what am I saying? a LOT poorer. But still... lots of loot to show for it. I'll report back on the shopping in a bit, but wouldn't you know it? As soon as I get back all the sales start! I'm pretty sure the universe is out to torture me.

Not in order of merit / temptation:

- Shopbop mid season sale! I'm absolutely loving the Fiona Paxton cuff above, but now that I'm back to reality, I really should be good and give it a miss. Sniff...

- On Pedder sale: Happening this weekend if you're interested. Doors open at 10am at Raffles City convention hall (I forget the exact details, but there should be signs), but if you're serious, be there early. queue starts to form by 9am or earlier.

- Front Row sale: my main reason for hitting this would be for A.P.C. but again, have to restrain myself.

Keep repeating the mantra: If you don't see, you won't buy.

Saks F&F sale!

quick one - the Saks Friends and Family sale has landed! 20% off most things, but designer exclusions apply so make sure you check before getting too excited. Online from today with the code FRIEND7 at checkout. Go to Saks.com to check out the sale and see the exclusions. Until 24 Oct so run don't walk!

time warp - Dunlin

pc: jargol.com

I read about Dunlin years ago in US vogue and was seriously obsessed for a while... unfortunately my budget couldn't handle it so I put it out of my mind eventually (I bet this story is starting to sound familiar... what can I say, this happens to me a lot). Anyway, fast forward to last week when I saw Dunlin featured in a blog post somewhere and the love just came crashing back full force! I guess I should just count myself lucky that this has never happened with exes or anything like that :p

Anyway, now just to decide if I should get the medium Lafayette tote or the larger Weekender size. I'm kicking myself for not remembering to check out their store in NYC when I was there in the summer! Can you say summer sales? (not to mention that I'd missed out on some truly amazing deals end of last year - some people picked up the medium lafayettes at 50% off! Sadly those stores don't seem to carry Dunlin anymore... If I could find more online stockists maybe I'd wait).

Medium Lafayette tote in grey

Medium Lafayette tote in black

Lafayette Weelender in Cream

pc: totokaelo.com

sale alert!

I'm a bit late to this party, but the shopbop friends&family sale has landed. 20% off anything your heart desires until Monday 11:59 PT. code: INTHEFAMILY20.

happy shopping!

hot or not?

theory short sleeved leather shirt

Well in Singapore at least, undeniably hot (and not necessarily in a good way). Still, I've been pining for a leather tee ever since I saw the Celine one last year... has it been that long already? Lucky for me, it seems the trend's had some longevity, so now there are a whole new crop of leather tees to choose from at a significantly lower price point. Sadly still not cheap, but you can't have everything.

DvF Jenning Leather tee

What you can have though, is this DvF leather tee at 50% off... but only if you're a size 0 or 2 (*sniff* I hate you already).

Maje black leather tee

my personal favourites, these two (above and below) from Maje.

Maje Camel leather tee

theory Deeleana leather tee

these boots were made for walking

The whole celeb thing doesn't normally move me... ok that's a lie, certain celebs always make me wish I could afford their entire outfit (and their personal trainer, and their life...). But I digress... what I meant to say was that I saw the pics of these boots and just fell in love. They've got that lovely pirate-y feel to them but without the Vivienne Westwood / Golden Goose prices. Not to mention with the heels maxing out at 2 inches (most at 1 inch) you'd actually be able to walk further than five steps in them. In fact it seems I'm not the only person who thinks so... the boots are mostly down to one size per pair on the site already! Better grab one quick if it catches your fancy!

Fiorentini & Baker Eli Boot in Black
Fiorentini & Baker Mellow Boot in Black

Fiorentini & Baker Eternity Boot in Black

somethings are just not meant to be.

the lovely "iggy" hobo by velvetine

Things like this always push me into a downward shopping spiral - I was eyeing this bag sometime ago but thought it was too expensive at full price (around US595) and talked myself out of it. Then it went on sale, but I'd stopped looking at that point and missed out on some truly amazing deals (can you say 60% off??!!!). I finally put it out of my mind. But recently in pondering the olivia harris bag, I remembered it again and guess what, shopbop actually has it! Here's the kicker though - it's now US$200 MORE than that price I'd previously thought was too much.

arrgh. sometimes there are just no words. Though it does start to make the Olivia Harris look pretty reasonably priced!

stylespiration - cool girls (and one guy)

All these girls makes me sigh and wish I looked so effortlessly cool.... yes even Olivia Palmero (well in this pic at least)

I don't think I've ever seen a picture of Leigh Lezark that I didn't like, but I think this pic could be the first one. Almost made me pick up that Christopher Kane dress... almost.

I love the film noir look of this pic... complete with the perfect smokey eyes and the little dog. I don't say this often, but I think the dog makes the picture.

makes me wish we had winter... LOVE this outfit. Wondering if I can come up with some variation of it for my London trip?

Those Ann D. sandals again! I must have them!

not many people can do the Kate Lanphear look well, but this girl carries it off I think. Now if only I could do white blond without looking like an albino....

and finally the one guy... what can I say, this photo is adorable :)

p.s. in case you were wondering, all the photos are linked back to the original posts in garance's blog.