Killing Me Softly: Additional 20% Off on Shopbop

Christmas is an odd time for me.  I do rather intense amounts of shopping but can't post about my triumphs until the recipients actually open their gifts.  Similarly, I also can't bear to blog about the items I passed on, lest my friends wish I'd opted for the runner-up.  This frustrates me.

Equally unraveling is attempting (often unsuccessfully) to avoid buying anything for myself while Christmas gift shopping.  Made worse in no small part by the plethora of incentives being offered as we enter the last stretch of yuletide cheer.  Case in point:  Homegrown label Raoul's delicious leather and silk tee in warm maroon/cognac combination at only US$114 (about S$145) after Shopbop's further 20% off their 50-70% off sale selections.  The code 'EXTRA20' is valid until 11.59PM PT on Thursday 15 December. 

I've been lusting after an decently affordable leather tee for seasons now which is its primary allure. Equally - I don't know about you - but the fact it squeaks past their US$100 minimum spend to qualify for free international shipping (read: one needn't chuck random bits & bops to bolster the cart's value) is adding to my conundrum.  

Maybe there's time to pop over to Raoul's boutique to confirm sizing - who are having up to 40% off instore anyway - or I should just cave now & pray the sizing works?  Such difficult decisions all before I even get into the office...

{pc: styleanywhere}

Cheap Thrill: MARNI for H&M

Chronicling the history of the H&M designer collaborations, the highs of the Comme des Garcons and Lanvin collections made up for the lacklustre Karl Lagerfeld and Madonna.  Maybe it's because I'm hardly bronzed and Italian, but nothing from the recent Versace outing seemed to make me reach for my credit card.  

All that is changed.  MARNI for H&M might be my downfall.  Dare I chance reputational risk by camping overnight for ten minutes of shopping heaven?  I already want every single piece previewed (yes, including those striped tights!) *help*

Thought of the evening:  Is it too early to apply for leave in March? 

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Cheap Thrill: Preen

ASOS must have heard my unabashed swooning over Nina Garcia and Marisa Tomei's Preen looks.  Behold the high street equivalent, right on time for the Christmas party season!  (yes, it's still November but it's been a long first half of week...)

Their variation is not a complete duplication - a good thing - but does enough with the sequined lattice on a sheer panel.  I'm actually wildly impressed their design team didn't commercialize the front by making it less transparent.  On the other hand, the tiny cap sleeves are a tad casual for the look but at £40 (that's about a thousand pounds in savings on the original) who am I to nitpick?

If you needed any other reason, ASOS is offering a midweek 20% discount on all regularly priced items with the code 'HOT20' until 8 am GMT Friday 25th November, 2011, up to a maximum spend of £500.   

{pc: clotheswhisperer; mark leibowitz c/o glamour; wardrobemistress} 

At Last (?): The Other Alexander McQueen

It's officially taken just under 8 months for Sarah Burton's team to unleash Pippa Middleton's "rear of the year"-creating bridesmaid look on Net-A-Porter.  Sadly, all the subtle variations in texture have been edited away leaving behind a pretty but ultimately less than spectacular bridal offering from Alexander Mcqueen.

Also, does anyone actually believe they can don such a famous gown and look better than than original wearer? Perhaps few do since only the tiniest size has sold out as of 11pm (Singapore time) - many a gown has sold out faster on NAP's site.

{pc}

All Chained, All Gained: Fiona Paxton on Sale

Forgive the inactivity, I'm back from a week in Bali paradise!  

After years of lusting after a Fiona Paxton necklace, I couldn't resist when The Outnet offered this gunmetal chainmail stunner at an astonishing 55% off.  

These pretty much never go on sale at Quintessential (the local Paxton outpost) so as much I was hellbent on saving for the wedding I just had to get this.  It proved to be the perfect travel accessory - transforming simple jersey dresses & tees into an outfit worthy of beach club sundown cocktails.  The chainmail had a admirable weight - enough for the tubular mesh to drape properly rather than merely flop and collapse. This style is also far less bohemian than Paxton's previously de jour bead & chain pieces.  Get the gunmetal or gold (below) while they're still available; the rest of Outnet's selection is decidedly less timeless. 

Random aside: Is anyone else now unable to read the word 'paradise' without hearing Chris Martin & gang's melodical drawl?  TGI-No Longer Monday!

Cheap Thrill: Markus Lupfer

Is it too early to start shopping for the gals' Christmas gifts?  Each of them are such critical shoppers, I'm usually inclined to buy them something fun or handmade which they wouldn't usually get for themselves.  Markus Lupfer's alphabet pins are all kinds of collegiate glam perfect - which has *ahem* nothing to do at all with Net-A-Porter styling them with the evergreen breton top, jeans and blazer combination. 

If you're handy with a needle, you could try fashioning these with spare felt & sequins - which might well be the only option available to me since all my initials are already sold out!

'S' for ShopTooMuch, perhaps?

Double Take: Blake Lively

 Exhibit A: Blake Lively with her dog.

Exhibit B: Blake Lively with her dog teddy bear.  

Nothing particularly related to fashion, just putting it on record that I am officially freaked out by how much the pooch resembles a doll.  How about the Gossip Girl writers work it into the show so Monkey has a canine companion? It'd be like Lars and the Real Girl - but with dogs.

TGIF my lovelies!

Dotting The "I", Spotting The Bag

French actress, Roxanne Mesquida, must be having a ball on the set of Gossip Girl while she pouts and poses her way through her guest appearances as Beatrice Grimaldi.  

The striking brunette has my coveted YSL Chyc Tote afterall (in a seasonal Poppy hue), and has uncannily paired it with a Madewell sweater that has me written all over it. This is as close as I get to shopping the runway... oh if only I could justify either!

Pre-order the poppy YSL Chyc Tote (here) at Saks Fifth Avenue with a not too distant delivery date (30 January 2012 - hello Christmas??) or, if you can't bear waiting or splashing the cash, the Madewell jumper is a fair compromise.

{pc: tfs}

Cheap Thrill: ASOS Even Further Reductions

I eat my words.  ASOS has bested me with a further 10% markdown on their current 70% off merchandise (until Sunday).  God bless the internet and internet shopping so no one need ever have to head town, brave the hordes and dreary weather to satisfy a retail urge.  My latest being this and this.

To herald the arrival of the weekend in style, enter 'BONUS10' at checkout.  The code is valid on orders up to a maximum spend of £500, and ends 8am BST Monday 24th October 2011.

Go, Sure Buy: DVF Bazaar Sale

Do I need more DVF? Probably not... but whether I should pass up the chance of a DVF wrap dress at 75% off is a question requiring greater pause.  I've personally gone off DVF somewhat since she started churning out those plasticky accessories (the giltest tongued SA could not persuade me that printed PVC is a luxurious travel companion), though her wrap and tunic dresses have been mainstays of my dinner party wardrobe.  

But don't let my deliberation stop you:

Diane von Furstenberg BAZAAR Sale

Takashimaya, Studio 4, Level 4

19 to 24 October 2011

Tel: 6736 3691

{source}

Cheap Thrill: ASOS Further Reductions

If patience is a virtue, then call me a shopping 'virtuous-o'.  It might appear a bit incredulous that I would plonk down cash for a Celine bag at full price, but stalk ASOS for their further reductions sale.  Even Guy M caved at the 50% mark *cough... sale newbie.. cough*

Count the pennies I must since I can scarcely justify leather culottes in Singapore's beading climate on a normal day, let alone when I started off the evening browsing bridesmaid dress options.  But at GBP35, this khaki pair could be an extreme bargain or a modest mistake - let you know in a week or so...

Rounding off my shopping bag was this navy/black Peter Pan collared top (GBP15), which is playful enough for the office Friday dress down, and the Prada-inspired midi dress which I'd been coveting for a while. 

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Anyone care to wager if Michelle Obama is kicking herself for paying retail for the latter? *cough... online shopping newbie... cough*

The Box #2

It is a rare moment when words fail someone whose livelihood is based entirely on the medium so I'll leave to the images to tell the tale.  Suffice to say it was traditional, tasteful and I was reduced to tears despite my stoic efforts not to cause a scene.

[snippetandink]

I then struggled for months whether to share such a life-changing moment with the world at large.  Coupled with work being manic (we take the good with the bad), I've resolved not to continue browsing bridal blogs in silence.  Instead, I'm asking everyone who's patiently enjoyed the retail madness over the last few years to come along for the ride as I try to put together a day me, Guy M & our families could look back on with a charmed smile instead of a whisked blur. 

And yes, there will be (lots of) shopping involved.  Stay tuned. 

Products of an Old School

For the past year, I've functioned without a "proper" camera.  Opting to snap at whim with my Sony Ericsson Xperia, it's been a tedious waiting game for Canon's S95 successor to launch *drop that price darn it*  Considering I have a blog going (some of the time, anyway), Guy M is convinced I have my priorities thoroughly muddled.  

Trust handmade leather accessories to be the tipping point for me - especially after spending a Spetember morning enthralled by Hermes' Festival des Metiers.  It brought me back to happy days in William Street, Sydney, where I diligently cut patterns, pleated leather and harnessed the sewing machine in the name of local cordwainer pride. 

Closer to home, the charm of cottage industry is precisely why the collaboration between Tiong Bahru babies Nana and Bird and the equally Singaporean J.Myers Company has all the natural earthiness you'd expect of bespoke merchandise.  The decision to keep the camera strap (S$150) untreated shouts out to the most famous untreated leather handles, but also promises a sentimentality that could only come from naturally aging a strap through years of globetrotting.  Cue: Garance ambitions. 

Also catching my eye is the Conway cuff (S$85) - their less-adorned take on Balenciaga wrap bracelet, which may be a more practical badge of honour if you're as keen to support these local artisans as I am.

{pc: nanaandbird; jmyer on fb}

Cheap Thrill: Baggu Leather

Sometimes fashion comes full circle.  I've always felt Jil Sander's market bag was more or less an overpriced Baggu: vaguely luxurious when done in leather but ultimately a £606 £243 hole in one's wallet.  Well, "the original" has one-upped the fashion house by creating a leather Baggu priced at a comparatively paltry US$120!  

A virtual twin with none of the rip-off shame?  Needless to say, I'm genuflecting at the shrine of Baggu with the trusty sacrificial credit card in hand.  Available in black and apricot, and in Small (10"W, 16"H, 6.5"Drop) and Regular sizing (14"W, 24"H, 10"Drop - US$150).  

The Box #1

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It may be almost a whole year into the Arty ring craze but when a thoughtful galpal (and Yves Saint Laurent) gifts the Arty as a belated birthday present, who am I to refuse?  I'm glad this addition to my YSL accessories collection isn't one of the oft-imitated coral or turquoise variations which have pretty much worked its way down to Forever21 level.  Receiving this just before my Hong Kong trip reignited my shopping thirst - which isn't necessarily a bad thing because I feel like the world's most laxidasical shopping blogger.  More on my Hong Kong trip in posts to come...

In the meanwhile, who's seen 'I Don't Know How She Does It'?  I'm on the fence with that one - I already know Sarah Jessica Parker totes an Alexa everywhere in that film, and that girl could (just about) sell me a fanny pack.

Hello Again (Yes I'm Still Here)

Oh my lovelies, I've missed you!  Not quite sure where the last 2 weeks have gone, though I suspect being an unfortunate common denominator in the office leave cover had something to do with it.  It may have thwarted my efforts to follow Fashion Week(s) properly, but I promise I'm baaack with updates and completely justifiable reasons to go shopping :)

{pc: fierceandtrashed}

Go, Sure Buy: Uniqlo +J vs. Club21 Accessories

When it rains, it pours.  New York and London may have their fashion night out, but over here it's just mulling over how to best spend an hour(ish) at lunchtime today.  It's a fashion face-off between the final Uniqlo +J range and Club 21's cheeky prep-school named 'ACS' Accessories Clearance Sale.

Maybe it's queue fatigue - I refuse, on principle, to queue to get into H&M on a weekday (yes, there are still queues in the evening) - but I'm slightly loathe to attempt the Club 21 sale after braving their Bazaar not so long ago. Still though, the siren call of Marni accessories at 60-80% off beckons rather persuasively.

On the other hand, having planned my possible plan of attack, I have one key item I'm eyeing from the +J range - more black long sleeved tees which during Fall 2010 were so well cut that people constantly asked if I'd lost weight when I donned it.  Permanent diet in a tee?  I'm there!

Which will you be going for?

Uniqlo +J

Only available at 313@Somerset

Club 21 'Accessories Clearance Sale'

01-28/29 Forum

9 to 11 September 2011

10.30am to 7.30pm 

(6pm on Sunday)

{pc: onesixtynotepad; club21; uniqlo}

Cheap Thrill: Topshop v Rupert Sanderson

While perusing Susie Bubble's curated picks from Topshop's Fall collection, I spied this budget buy referencing Rupert Sanderson's Pikon heels.  

Let's be perfectly honest, there is just no comparison on account of looks.  The Ruperts scream class in a Mad Men vintage style - there is no chance these would be dismissed as a thrift shop score.  I do love my Rupert Sanderson pumps (call it my foot bias), so this is going straight onto the wish list!  

That said, the Topshop is probably a little bit more practical - don't we all shudder slightly everytime we sprint/squeeze onto an underground train whilst in our "good shoes"?  They're also probably better than the Ruperts when paired with slacks on account of their more masculine detailing.