Be Still My Card

Oh I'm in so much trouble! Eye candy and wallet tempting treats galore await me in London - starting with no less than 3 sample sales which have caught my attention (Daily Candy you kill me), and this adorable Kate Spade pop-up shop in Covent Garden! It's the brand's first sojourn across the pond, and they honestly couldn't have picked a better to infuse the grand old dame with sunshine and glee. Bask in the brights until 10 November 2010 at:

Kate Spade

7 Henrietta Street
mon-wed: 10am to 6pm
thurs: 10am to 9pm
fri-sat: 10am to 6pm
sunday: 10am to 5pm

As for sample sales, I'm hoping the stock isn't too depleted by the time I touch down on Friday! Can you hear my wallet quivering in anticipation?

Aimé (3-5 November 2010)
A.P.C., Isabel Marant, Repetto - up to 70% off? Come on!
20th Century Theatre, 291 Westbourne Grove
wed: 5-8pm
thurs: 9am-7pm
fri: 9 am-6pm

Reiss (3-6 November 2010)
Prices from a tenner... which is basically giving them away for free!
The Music Room, 26 South Molton Lane
wed-fri: 8 am - 7.30pm
sat: 9 am- 6pm

The London Accessory Sale &
Secret Sample Sale
(4-7 November 2010)
Up to 80% off designer clothing and accessories from the merry likes of Miu Miu, YSL and Jimmy Choo
T2, The Old Truman Brewery, 85 Brick Lane
thurs: noon-9 pm
fri: noon-8 pm
sat: noon-7 pm
sun: noon-6 pm

{pc: kate spade facebook}

Tick Tock

Doing reconnaissance in preparation for my whirlwind trip to Paris is proving to be informative, but damaging for my wallet. With every option eliminated from my "wish list", I find another in its place.

Firstly, I've resolve that as great an investment (and ideal) as having a Chanel 2.55 is, the price and style just doesn't quite sit with me. I was even strangely underwhelmed with the feel of the leather when I popped into their Takashimaya S.C. boutique. Maybe I'd romanticised the idea of buying Chanel in Paris, or maybe it was the visual assult of sighting that bag (or a derivative) on every other arm when attending cocktails. Sacriligous or not, I think I'm finally retiring my Chanel dreams.

Next up were two of the bags of the moment - the Celine Cabas and Classic Box. Both are lovely to the touch and I dare say the leather felt more supple than that of the 2.55! Unfortunately, the Cabas was definitely too large for my petite frame and the Classic (well in light faun at least) just didn't have enough oomph for its pretty price.

Having mentally saved myself ten grand, I chanced upon a Celine SA unpacking two-tone ankle-strap wedges in a covetable chocolate brown/black combination. The size - mine, the effect - leg lengthening fabulous, the price - slightly scary... and naturally, these went straight to the top of my Paris wish list!

I haven't been able to find a photo of this dreamy creation but if the two Celine styles above had a lovechild, that would be it :)

The B is Back

After some stuttering outfits this season, dare I declare that Blair Waldorf has returned to her Season 1 style heights? As an aside, who else feels Gossip Girl is just that little less fabulous now that we've reached the conclusion of Clemence Poesy's story arc?

{tfs}

One Of These Days

Start the countdown - I am now TWO weeks from flying off to Europe! This also means I'm about a month from crashing back to reality, but let's ignore that for the moment, shall we?

I'm like a 5-year old with their first advent calendar. Actually, a holiday countdown advent type calendar would be a marvelous idea (Kikki K, are you listening?) which would undoubtedly include "#14: Pick your shoes!".

I'm cheating a little and posting only my boot options this time because I can't bring myself to even start working out which will be my other pairs from the remainder of my shoe collection - especially since it is not a remote possibility that I will return with, possibly, twice the number of pairs of shoes I left with!

My first pair and always my first stop for any holidays in Winter (OK, it is technically the tail end of Fall but it is unpredictable in London) will be my CK Calvin Klein black leather knee-highs. They are deliciously worn, the leather lining is buttery soft and they make my shins look fabulously slim... what more could any girl ask for? I scored this at a random end-of-season sale at their Ngee Ann City branch at least 6-7 years ago. Yes, back in the day when I fretted over a last pair of S$250 full leather 'Made in Italy' boots in my size. Ah youth!

An addition to my boot collection are these tan slouchy flat boots from Etoile Isabel Marant and relatively fresh off The Outnet. They pair fantastically with my grey Gap jeggings. I adore them so much that I'm dreading that first water stain/scoff/blemish on this untreated leather lovely. So this really only leaves only one minor fashion problem with the boots: Boots over socks over gathered jeggings - which stretches out the socks, or Boots over gathered jeggings over socks - which means no trying normal shoes since I won't really be able to remove my socks?

My conscience is inclined to the latter. *ponder*

Let Them Eat Cake

Hello World! Isn't it wonderful being able to sit upright and type?! I'm still recuperating from a bad BAD bout of stomach flu, but I'm flooding my laptop with images of all things retail and smile-inducing!

One thing that I can't quite believe slipped my Mulberry radar are the awesome 3D cakes and cupcake toppingss which graced Club 21's Mulberry Fall/Winter 2010 Alexa launch at Tanjong Beach Club back in August. You know how I feel about the bag, but let's turn the spotlight on these Alexa cakes for a moment... and more importantly, the amazing baking artist behind them Felicia Khoo.

If patience is a virtue, this 20 year old inspiration must be a saint! She spends at least 2 days making each cake (1 day for the fondant, and another for the cake presumably). I reckon she could also be an extremely rich one if she made 3D fashion cakes for a living. Felicia has even made her cake flavour match the colour of the "bag"! Oh to have a Happy birthday cake... with salted caramel methinks :)

{pc: feliciacupcakes; mulberry}

Red Carpet Anti-Climax

Nothing like Lanvin SS2011 making its way off the runway. The dress, the shoes, the insect brooch, the styling are all Alber Ebaz amazing. But Blake Lively, in her innate Serena-ness, had to pose at the Spike Awards with her dress held ajar... you know, just so you know she has legs (or that it's the same dress from the runway sans the motion-induced flyaway effect).

{tfs}

Cheery Pic for an UnCheery Me

This is literally the first time in close to 60-hours that I've managed to sit up, let alone type at the MacBook after being hit with a combined wave of fever and nausea not seen since the Exorcist (I).

In fact, so glued to the bed was I that I couldn't even bring myself to browse the latest Elle or watch my dvd of Grey Gardens. I promise to get back to bright, shiny and frivolous pursuits of life but in the meanwhile, it's more porridge and back to bed for me...

{pc: chanel}

The Carey + Keira Show

I've died and gone to fashion heaven from the collective gorgeousness of Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley at the British Film Festival. Carey is in stunning mustard Proenza Schouler (need to dig out my alldressedup mustard dress -stat!) and Keira in a ming vase inspired Rodarte dress right off the Spring/Summer 2011 runway. Chocolate brown Louboutins! Black YSL pumps! Lace! This is better than the Devil Wears Prada fashion montage!

I would start a petition for a 'Never Let Me Go' international promotional tour (de force) with these two, but I think my brain might explode from the fashion heights.

{tfs}

Sincere Flattery

Just when I thought I'd escaped the hordes by opting for the PS1 instead of the IT-bag Alexa. I fear for my darling Proenza Schouler! Startling similarities aside, Need Supply Co. has rather hilariously described as a briefcase bag instead of a satchel - which I've taken to mean they're aware of how close it is to the original and they're trying to avoid any potential suits.

Princess Diaries

I can't quite decide if the black & white combination donned by Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, is chic or cheap. Whilst the neckline is classic and appropriate, I'm baffled by her decision to sport a decidedly hotel chambermaid hair, erm, appendage (you can tell how old-fashioned it is). To salvage this faux pas, I'm going to pretend that she's wearing Rupert Sanderson pumps...

{tfs}

The Silk Road

I'm torn. After scouting for a silk shirt in nude, I'm actually fairly apprehensive about buying any of them online. Even in the stores, every shade I've tried is more pale-stricken than pale-chic.

Several options are available:(1) ACNE's outlet has one in putty but at USD 155 after a 40% discount. It's not exactly a budget buy ahead of the November holiday, though they do have an XS in stock (so crucial for those styles which fit tends toward voluminous)

(2) Shopbop has a promotion with 20% off everything (use 'INTHEFAMILY20'). This makes the Equipment Classic Shirt vaguely justifiable. I love the idea of buying into this reignited classic, but it's still over USD 139 after the discount and with only a size S available, I really not wild about the prospect of having to do a return.

(3) Alexa Chung for Madewell is finally back in stock (somewhat)... Her Peter Pan collared version is completely me - but potentially not as elegant as the others (I concede that Carine vs. Alexa is not quite the fair comparison)? Either way, in the time it took for me to post about the replenishment, the clearly popular Iris blouse is off the market again.

Decisions, decisions...

The Jury Is In: LV SC Bag

It's hardly news that Galpal M has been obsessing over the Louis Vuitton Sofia Coppola SC bag for as long as the collaboration has existed. With her latest collection launching this month (right around the time M's in London), I suspect she'll *finally... FINALLY* throw in the towel. The only question is: Which one?

I adore the original Cobalt (navy) and Jasper (red), but the suede and croco (embossed?)versions certainly make a convincing argument. That and the cape / Louboutin flat combination. In any event, there is undeniable truth to the adage of not doing anything in halves. So if you do find yourself on the cusp of *finally... FINALLY* purchasing investing in a full leather Louis Vuitton, why not make that dream BIG.

Over to you, M... :)

{tfs}