Relax... Recharge... RETAIL

You might have realised that I don't often do shop posts. I find it somewhat of an impediment to shopping properly if you're snapping away. Isn't it also part of a true retail experience is having sales staff attend to you? When you're busy taking pictures of their store, sales staff either dismiss you as being too poor to buy anything, or they decide to be extra pleasant because they want to make sure you speak kindly.

{pc: mooie}

But after a great weekend getaway, I will give a little shoutout to the charming Mart by Mooie along Jonker Street in Malacca. Sandwiched amongst pineapple tart bakeries and tourist traps was this gem which just opened in August. The store was a thoughtful curation of breton dresses, whimsical print tops, linen & cotton totes and a smattering of accessories and curios. Needless to say, me and A didn't need any reason to cave on such prize purchases as a postal print card wallet (MYR 19 - about USD6) and shoes.

It was as though a little slice of Haji Lane had made its way across the Causeway... Find them at 82, Jonker street, Malacca!

Wish Fulfillment: Shearling

Because hell would have to freeze over before I'd be able to justify shearling in these tropics. I believe the term is 'hot sweaty mess'... But ASOS have the perfect solution to my temperate dilemma and at the very moderate sum of GBP36! Should I add this onto my anticipated cape fund?

In My Dreams

If only we had all looked quite so cool stumbling out of bed and heading to classes. Clemence Poesy has set a new standard for 'effortless chic'. Can you imagine what a stunner she'd be even whilst clocking 18-hours days at the office? Life is so unfair.

The Sale Worth Waiting For

The powers that be at The Outnet certainly have a stable of ways to cause me to voluntarily hand over my cash. Two phrases that really should come with a chorus of angels: 'THE OUTNET' + 'CLEARANCE SALE''. Hear that? Yeah, me too.

With the likes of Alexander McQueen, Chloé, Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney at 80-85% off on Monday, August 23, I'm fairly certain at least half the world's women will be sitting vigil at their desks. Certainly, there would be no meetings for me if I have any say in my schedule!

Come On, Get Happy

Have you read this week's Straits Times URBAN? I'm quietly breathing a sigh of relief that Lanvin's Happy medium shoulder bag wasn't highlighted amongst their laundry list of luxury bags. Please don't let the rabid bag hounds cause this bag to go the way of the Chanel 2.55.

It's far too early in the morning to properly extoll the virtues of my new tan boots which fit (they FIT!!)... Their acquisition, however, does raise that perennial retail decision: Bump this colour variation of the Happy up The List, or go for the one in Black (above, via Garance)? Such fabulously frivolous decisions to ponder this rainy Friday. But all we can do is attempt to ponder our retail decisions when we haven't the (true) luxury of promenading both the Happy and Birken like Katie Holmes. I'd be happy with the lot I have as long as I haven't to strike another bag off my wish list on account of being too prolific / copied by November.

{pc: tfs}

Fastest Fingers First: Isabel Marant Boots

I might have officially sold my soul to The Outnet - for the price of Etoile Isabel Marant leather slouchy boots.

Ok, in my defence: It was raining, I was severely carb-deprived and had mulled & thrudged through most of the yesterday without any mobile phone. All valid reasons to invest in tan boots which I'd been scouring for years, of course.

For anyone with a similar weak will, they come in black too! Considering they were only GBP107 (after a hefty 65% off) , a and absolutely on-trend for Fall/Winter (and my European holiday - cough, cough), I'm praying they fit because this would bring Rachel Bilson sartorial similarities/admiration to a whole new level... *fingers crossed*

{pc: tfs; musing mutley}

Let's Discuss: Just One Bag

{pc: tfs}

Some pre-Europe bag scouting ensued over the weekend to narrow down the List which (in its feasible - "won't completely cripple the remainder of my holiday "- form) was looking a little bit like this: the Mulberry Bayswater, or Gerard Darel's 24-hour. After actually sighting the GD in Bangkok's Central department store, the French answer to Mulberry was struck off the list summarily. It just Did. Not. Work. on me.

Which leads me to a surprising, overwhelming feeling of ambivalence when I tried on the Bayswater with galpal M. It wasn't not a good bag; it just wasn't Ah-may-zing, you know? The oversized Alexa bore more immediate appeal than my one big love.

Since that day, my thoughts have been shrouded with doubt: Was it nostalgia that was keeping me in love with it? When did I fall out of love with this modern classic? Is it even possible not to love a classic bag anymore?

Troubling times indeed... Is there any hope for a trustworthy, all purpose bag anymore? *ponder*

Remember, Remember, the 5th of November...

It's unbearably hard not to shop between now and my November holiday. I am beginning to resent my scheduling decisions: (a) missing out on the September sample sales that often coincide with London Fashion Week, and (b) failing to be in Europe to scoop up early bird Uniqlo +j Fall/Winter offerings. Rachel Zimmerman?! Oh Uniqlo, how you tug at my Vogue-worshipping heartstrings...

Great, now I'm relegated to paying full RRP on everything a month from the post-Christmas sales, stalking the local Uniqlos for paltry +j offerings and/or waiting for them to go on sale *pine... pout...*

{pc: nitrolicious}

Actress Off Duty

I might have developed an mild fascination with observing several actress' off-duty looks. The less they look like they've been touched with a stylist's hand, the more I'm intrigued with what clothing or bag they'll turn up in. It's not necessarily about "following" their style - it's more of a healthy dose of self-confidence when you realise you're dressed like Rachel Bilson :)

Then again, there are moments of true actress-envy: witness Clemence's single-handed ability to entice me back into Balenciaga motorcycle bags. If there was a Facebook group endorsing slinging your City strap over the shoulder - hereinafter 'Clemence-style'- instead of having the handle hooked on your inner arm, sign me up!

{pc: tfs}

Tonal Threesomes

Do you ever shop by tone? You buy a first item in a particular tone/vibe, then wind up with a complimentary piece shortly after?

This week, I've succumbed to a love affair with Oak brown - that 'just gets better with use' rustic, lived-in, I-want-a-Mulberry Bayswater hue. Doesn't everything in this tone already feel like you've owned it forever? Isn't that an amazing feeling? I so adore this colour.

Naturally, everything this National Day weekend has been a tonal homage: My A.P.C. wedges, vintage Dooney & Bourke spectator bag from Granny's Day Out and a personalized wallet from Maxx & Unicorn that I'd gifted to the Man earlier in the year. The D&B was only SGD37.50 after the discount and might just go down in my closet history as Best Vintage Buy (Ever). In fact, I could do an entire hyperbolic post on the bag but the pictures probably say it all..
The A.P.C. Spring/Summer sale is still on with 30-50% off at its Raffles Hotel Arcade store and Granny's serving up a rare store-wide 50% over at Peninsula Shopping Centre. If that sounds like a perfect lunchtime of shopping in the City Hall area, it's very much meant to :)

Little Black Riding Hood

I'm starting a list of reasons to buy this ASOS wool cape in anticipation of my European sojourn in November... if I get to 10, I'll cave (that is, if UK8 isn't gone by then):

1. Capes are in this season.
2. It's in black. Black is eternal even if the cape trend is not.
   
3. It'll be fall and I need to be Warm
4. And Chic.
5. Capes hide all bulges.
6. Styled with my plethora of breton tops, I'd have successfully mimicked ASOS' Rachel Bilson styling.
7. I have a deep insatiable need to live out fairy tales.
8. *Grunt*
9. Hmm...
10. Darn.

(pc: fashionising)

There Goes Gravity

I'm back... well only physically... to a large extent, I'm mentally still on holiday *moan*

Despite the awesome wholesale heaven Platinum Mall and 50% off almost every label in the Siam Paragon, I exercised (great) restraint and narrowed my purchases to no-regrets classics. Here are some highlights with more to come as I debut outfits:

Cheap as chips fabric-wrapped bangles from Platinum Mall in CDG-style dots and French gingham

Also from Platinum Mall (main pic): polka-dot cotton shorts which I adore - I want it to be the weekend already!!

Fly Now's current collection wasn't as inspiring as that during my last visit, but they had a range of "couture" pieces which had an opulent, McQueen final collection feel. I however opted to try on this stunning silk painting.

My darling Chloe shades doing afternoon tea at Mandarin Oriental

My first endeavour at Phad Thai at a cooking class; eating and shopping was the order of the day.

Paul & Joe Sister denim dress (50% off) and breton top from Platinum Mall

Little Prince x Melissa rubber flats - wish these had looked better on me!

I was thoroughly tempted to get them just to start at... (1490 baht after 50% off)