have to have it?

pc: treehouse28

just came across this on etsy... my favourite kind of pants. And they look soooo comfortable....

bags on the brain

pc: mymanybags

Finally putting in my order for the SC bag with a friend heading to Paris (fingers crossed that she'll be able to get it!) seems to have triggered something in my brain and now all I can think about are bags!

I was tempted by the new Mulberry Edie with the guitar strap, but that got vetoed by both E. and A. so I took that as a sign.

I am wondering whether I can justify this seriously cute lunch sack though... surely that's something I don't already have. The lovely Artifact bags are handmade by Chris Hughes in Nebraska and look like they would survive a nuclear holocast. So at least if the worst happens, you know your lunch will be safe (and stylish). He also does large totes should you wish to protect an item larger than a sandwich. You'll be pleased to know there's a lifetime guarantee too....

(pc: artifactbags)

poor neglected blog

I've been feeling terribly uninspired recently, and completely swamped (which is probably not unrelated) hence the lack of posts. Still.... I've recently discovered a whole raft of things which I'm super excited about!

First up is new (to me) site The Coveted. Why have I never heard of this site before??? It's just ridiculously fabulous! You know how magazines do those little one pager stories where they ask someone to tell you about their favourite things... well I love those! And this site is like that but so much better cos the people featured about really write about the things they've picked and it's more than a miserable one liner. And of course I say people but what they really are is that special breed of fashion insider with the most amazing closets and fantastic taste...colour me jealous!

pc: thecoveted

better late than never

So I meant to do a post on some of the lovelies I got for Christmas but got interrupted halfway and forgot about it. Still.... it's a rare occasion that I actually remember to take a picture, so figured it was worth going through with it anyway.

In a hilarious coincidence, A. and I got each other iPads for Christmas! What really impressed me though was his ability to keep a straight face when he opened his first... he even managed the requisite level of excitement to allay any suspicisions we might have had. Well, I can't speak for him, but I adore mine! If I could blog properly on it, there would be a lot more posts on this blog than there are, but that's my only real gripe.

Even more shocking, was the second little surprise A. kept back....



loveliness no? :)

my dream

the selby

is to have a house that could accomodate a library like this. Not surprisingly, my dream library belongs to the kaiser himself. Some people have all the luck...

to faux or not to faux

jak & jil

Interesting post on garance's site recently about faux pieces (of the "inspired by" variety, not fur as suggested by the pic). E and I have had numerous discussion on the merits/demerits of copies and personally I have to admit I'm still undecided. There are definitely things where I think only the real thing will do - bags for the most part and definitely shoes fall into that category. But other times I wonder, especially with clothes since so many retailers do great versions of runway pieces at prices I can actually afford! So what to do? I suspect until I'm a billionaire (or A. is) the dilemma is destined to continue.

headstart on Chinese New Year

the sartorialist

perhaps this could be my new way to usher in the new year - red accessories instead of red clothing. Especially now that I've just managed to score a great dress at the alldressedup sale (um, and also a top and 2 necklaces.... a little voice told me that I really shouldn't have gone at all!). Now I just need to find some red accessories. Maybe red lipstick will suffice? hmm... not sure my grandmother's going to go for the idea come to think of it....

drowning in work

from weheartit

first monday back at work....

Unbelievable: She’d been living in a windowless cell for six years without even an inkling about the movable panel.

from Unhappy Hipsters *giggle*

love and other things

pc: bona drag

the rosary necklace take 2 (for me at least). I'm thinking this might be the year to get my hands on more pamela love. Have been looking around for a rosary alternative though, and maybe I'll end up getting a cheaper alternative somewhere. still, at US$207, this is vaguely affordable for her stuff. Might also consider getting a talon necklace, but given that there are some lovely alternatives on etsy these days, I might go that route instead for that at least.

Another designer with a similar bent whom I discovered recently is Julia de Ville. She's apparently been doing the taxidermy jewellery thing for ages, but being based in NZ (and now in Aust) her work hasn't garnered the same kind of press that people like Pamela Love's have. I'm also guessing that the fact that her main stockist outside Aust/NZ is Coco de Mer doesn't necessarily help. They're not exactly the first place you're going to be looking for cutting edge jewellery! Her pieces are definitely work a look though if you like this kind of thing. While some of her pieces are a little too much on the taxidermy end of things for me (um, like the shoulder piece above), I did see a lovely onxy necklace with a skull charm at a store in downtown Auckland which I absolutely loved. Couldn't find a picture of it online, but her website has a bunch of wonderful pieces as well.

2011 wishlist

I was planning to do a 2010 retrospective of significant/favourite purchases but got too scared once I started compiling the list (also I'm still in NZ and all my stuff is at home). In the meantime though as part of my attempt to be more curatorial in my approach to shopping, here's my current wishlist for 2011:


Repossi ring
I first saw this on Garance Dore and just fell in love. I absolutely love Gaia Repossi's style and her designs are absolutely stunning, but at more than EUR5k, it might just be a pipe dream for now.

LV SC Bag

After all the vacillation last year, I think I might just bite the bullet and get the bag this year. As with Chanel, the price just keeps going up so it's only going to get worse. It helped also to finally try on the smaller size. Turns out (IMO) that the bag doesn't work quite as well in the petit version.

Celine Bag?

still undecided about whether to take the plunge and add a Celine to my bag collection. E's luggage tote is just gorgeous, but I'm not sure I can pull it off (and also, the fact that it looks that good on her doesn't bode well for it looking good on me as per usual :p). Then there's the classic box shoulder bag which I love, but the price just seems so excessive for what it is! Of course you never know, 2011 could have a whole bevy of new lustworthy designs!

And last (for now) but not least: YSL Tribtoo pumps

I'm currently going through a phase of wanting to get classics that I'm going to love forever and these definitely fall into that category (though I will admit to being slightly tempted by the horsehair version!) Now just wondering how I can get my hands on them for cheaper.... might have to wrangle a trip to Paris! :)

petal perfection

With all the China knockoffs you see around, I'd kinda gone off BCBG, but this top has reminded me that there are some things they do really well. And then the magic words: on sale!

In fact, if you're a fan, check out the BCBG sale site. The discounts are pretty good (on Herve as well, though still expensive.... everytime I see Herve now, I'm wracked with non-buyer's remorse about that dress which was on massive discont at Scoop NYC.)

easing back in

Here I am trying to ease back into the idea of going back to Singapore/work etc and of course the first thing I think about is shopping! Fortunately/unfortunately, I missed the shopbop extra 20% off sale pieces, cos if not I'd definitely be the owner of this pair of lovelies from Alexender Wang. Must stop perusing the sale though.... there are still lots of wonderful buys to be had, but I am determined to be more circumspect this year. Guess we'll see how long that lasts!