All in the Details: Zac Posen

How age-appropriate and stunning Glenn Close did looked in her Zac Posen gown at this year's Oscars?  Maybe the press shots didn't do enough justice to all the details like the embroidered silk bustle, but she topped Meryl's Lanvin that night for me (and you know how I feel about Lanvin). Truly red carpet worthy!

For anyone with the ready cash for this Fall/Winter 2012 stunner, it's currently available for pre-order on Moda Operandi (US$8990). What I really want though, is her blazer - I adored the blazer over gown styling! Make it happen Moda?

Lanvin Dance Video = Awesome

TGI-Thursday my dears!  Is it wrong that it makes me daydream of a wedding video with awesome dancing bridesmaids & groomsmen (and couple) in the vein of Lanvin's Fall 2011 campaign?  

You know you want it *ding*

On The Fence: Further Reductions

The lacklustre Net-A-Porter (International) Sale has left a big scar on my retail horizon - so much so I found myself back at the USA sale site on several days scrolling for sizes and wondering where it all went wrong.  I should have known better - nary a day before the International sale and suddenly half my prized wish list was sold out. Conspiracy? Or just shrewed shoppers purchasing, then returning the items (only to buy them again on sale)?

I'm hardly about to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  In fact, my recent shopping experience with Mr Porter has converted me to The Guy Side for their speedy shipping, gorgeous packaging (hello, embossed ribbon) and personalised gift sticker (all complimentary). Coupled with their truly male approach to sale previews, I'm so crushing on NAP's younger brother right now.  Go check out their further reductions at up to 70% off - including this Marni leather blackberry holder for only GBP22!

Other shops/websites on further reductions now: Luisaviaroma, Club 21 (Lanvin blanc, I die!), Net-A-Porter USA (on final reductions) and Alldressedup.

All These Things That I've Not Done: Sale Season

At 30% + 10% off at Club 21's Sale Preview (until 9pm tonight) and I finally found a nerve to try on this Lanvin silk-satin wrap gown.  While I'm now more enamored with its pale grey elegance than when it first caught my eye on Net-A-Porter, I'm decidedly not in love with its price tag.  Even on sale, that kind of money can only be vaguely justifiable when spent on a Celine Classic Box, Chanel 2.55, a wedding gown or a 2 return tickets to New York on Singapore Airlines.

Speaking of things I lack the gumption (or occasion) to buy - Rupert Sanderson's Sale Preview has yielded these nude Figaro sandals - recently spied on annoyingly-chic-for-her-age Chloe Moritz.  Swirls of soft calf leather would be divine and so perfect to complete the aforementioned Lanvin look.  Dare I say it, they seem a better fit than Natalie Portman's matchy-matchy satin heels when she donned a similar gown.  We all can dream, can't we?

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Hello Again

Sorry about the silence, I've been snowed in at the office of late.  Did a little happy jig this morning when I spied Maggie Cheung donning Lanvin x H&M for the official opening ceremony of Universal Studies Singapore. I adore my red chandelier necklace to bits but if there was one other item I wouldn't mind from that collaboration, it'll be this silk dress.  She really can make high street look like a million bucks... Off to stalk eBay now and hoping that some of winsome glamour rubs off!

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Today I Eat, Tomorrow I Shop: Weekend Sales

Club 21's May Madness is back from 29 April to 2 May for Club 21 cardmembers - but this time it's 10% off any 2 items, and 15% off for 3 or more items. 

Unfortunately, a big fat sticker on the reverse of the pre-printed postcard clarifies that the promotion is not valid for Comme des Garcons Pocket, on CDG Play or Black products, or Balenciaga bags and small leather goods. Right - so that basically scrapped most of the shopping list which ran through my head when I first sighted the card.

I might still pop by Tsumori Chisato (cute little scarf, you are mine!) especially since the Inhabit Bazaar Sale is happening in town too - Alexander Wang and Phillip Lim at up to 90% off may be too good a bargain to pass on.

And to top it off, The Link is offering 30-50% off selected items at Bagbar, The Paragon. I scored a gorgeous leather cuff there during their last clearance sale, so I'm hoping the trip into town will be fruitful.

Music to My Ears: Net-A-Porter's Bag Guide

Watch Net-A-Porter's eye-candy video the first thing this morning at your own peril!  I'm off to a day of meetings with the sexy sound of clasps and zips swirling in my head.  Bliss.  TGIF xx

Further Reductions, Further Down the Rabbit Hole

One of the only things worth looking forward to as New Year's Eve rolls past and everyone tries to get back into that "working" mindset is the prospect of bargains at the further reductions.  Personally, none so eagerly anticipated (at least, on my part) than Net-A-Porter's. 

What I adore (read: fear) about their further reductions is that there gorgeous classics abound;  I could build an entirely new wardrobe from the offerings!  If you aren't completely cleaned out by Christmas and are in the mood to pick up something to east the pain of the new year, these are my favourites:

Slouchy charcoal grey suede and SO-Serena van der Woodsen - these Elizabeth & James boots are fantastic for city living (well not in Singapore, but perhaps in a Melbourne winter?).  These also share a brilliant hidden heel design feature with my new favourite and revered label for flats: Lanvin.  I absolutely could not imagine going back to Repetto & normal ballerinas after wearing my Lanvins! So much so I've scooped up the last chocolate, patent leather 36.5s at the further reductions! *sorry ladies*

I had a difficult moment deciding between these olive courts from Marc Jacobs and the Lanvin ballerinas (now £163.83).  Marc's mainline shoes are so much better constructed than the MBMJ ones; I could walk a marathon in my peeptoe flats, which themselves are a bargain still yet to be beat.  Still, the neutral tone is a luscious alternative to the usual brown/black work pumps.  I'd say they're a softer alternative to navy. 

Equally tempting - but far more galpal M than I - were these two Hervé Léger skirts - both at a 70% discount AND in eternally chic black and monochrome black/white!  Oh wait there's more... Check out Maje bargains going at 60-70% off: black silk-chiffon dress (now £40); cotton blend blouse (now £32, but only available in a Medium or Large) and a silk with black lace blouse (now £56).


Keep Calm & Carry on Shopping! 

Let's Remember: Jeanne Lanvin

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As a footnote to my previous post, I should add that one of the highlights of my November trip was an afternoon at the Musee D'Orsay, on Paris' Left Bank.  Nestled among the Degas, Ingress, Van Gogh and Renoir was this portrait of Madam Jeanne Lanvin by Édouard Vuillard.  It was such a warm surprise to be led through the halls to find this: a quiet and elegant classic - much like the design ethos of the House itself.  Though it may not be immediately apparent from this photo of the painting, one of the most striking aspects (for me) were the cloth samples, books and sketches; they were so very vividly detailed in real life. It reaffirmed my dream to have an office space modelled after the Lanvin workspace... plus, The Selby recently did an post on her private library!

I cannot recommend the Musee enough - please visit it on The Left when you're in Paris and don't forget to have some steak tartar at the Musee's Restaurant on the second floor, which gilded interiors and towering windows will make you feel like Marie Antoinette (in Sofia Coppola cool, of course).

Tis the Season of Lanvin

Oh my blog - how I've missed you! Work leading up to (AND during Christmas) was a heavy as the snowfall in Europe. What a disaster on that front! But oh how Lanvin cures all.

After a month of sitting in its pristine wrapper, I finally debuted my Lanvin Happy quilted shoulderbag over the Christmas festivities.  Not that any bag/shoes should ever make your life complete but this practically became my Inception-totem; Everytime work got a little too rough and hectic, I'd run my hands over the hardware, you know, just to make sure I wasn't in a nightmare. Unfortunately, in each instance, I wasn't dreaming.

Thankfully, reality can be sweet - especially when darlings like galpal E are willing to e-stalk this unbelievable gorgeous statement-piece-to-end-all-statement-pieces chandelier necklace from their H&M range!  Whilst I've heard the quality of the dresses still left something to desire, this did not disappoint at all.  For a moment, I briefly contemplated surgically attaching this necklace for all 12-days of Christmas. I lurve it!  Am wondering if I can get away wearing it to a meeting tomorrow... *plot, plot, scheme*

Keeping Things in Perspective

Sometimes... when I might have shopped a *little* too much... I take a moment to remember Mia's Two Towers (of Hermes & Chanel), which is arguably a more awe-inspiring sight than Middle Earth could ever conceive. I am humbled.

p/s I can't wait to debut my Parisian Pick-Me-Up #3... can't be hard to guess what it is, eh? :)  

Parisian Pick-Me-Up #2

I've been a bad, bad girl - I'm not entirely sure if it's the disappointment of not securing anything in the Lanvin x H&M scrum or the realisation Ez and I only spent one day shopping in Paris.  Possibly collective grief? Either way, the plastics are going on major hibernation after today. 

 
I'd like to blame Club 21's End-of-Season flyer for this moment of weakness at Lanvin but, in truth, I should thank them for the sale preview since these deeply discounted darlings cost me scarcely more than a full-price Nine West (at 70% off). 


If you pop down to their Hilton Shopping Gallery boutique, this treasure trove of items between 60-70% off is tucked away behind the mirrored screens at the far end of the boutique, whereas the rest of the store was an introductory '30% + 10%' - how sly!  It's still early days in the sale so there are a decent selection of bags in the bargain bin - most going for under S$980, including an Amalia Cabas tote in a chilli-tomato red and this anthracite grosgrain shoulder bag.  There was even a classic Lanvin 'Love' sketch pouchette for only S$164!


It's a wonder I came out relatively unscathed... now excuse me while I let the cards go cold and the shopping frenzy die down *cough* *shiver* *sweat*

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).

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Happiness Is A Warm Card

Is it wrong how much I feel like cashing in my holiday chips now for Katie Holmes' exact quilted Lanvin Happy bag which I posted about a while back? That is, I *think* it's the same shade... Net-A-Porter describes it as a 'dark brown' but it seems more fawn to me. But who am I to question NAP (read: Retail Heaven)

Either way, I'm wracked with holiday guilt - if I get the bag now, rather than waiting until November and PARIS, will it still be as special?

On some levels, it does take the shine off a holiday purchase even if the money had been slowly saved up for November's trip. Likewise, if I couldn't get this Happy, there'd surely be another. On the other hand, if I wait two more months only to have this and any other Happy which appealed to me sell out all over Europe (as such beautiful things are prone to do), I fear the consolatory retail blitz to follow...

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.

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Lanvin Moving Out Sale

Finally got down to checking out the Lanvin "moving out" sale at Wisma Atria. All apparel is 50-70% off with bags, accessories and other items slashed by 50-60%.

The sale started earlier this month so it's slim pickings for the women by now (read: no Happy bags here). That said, the men should rejoice because more than half the store is still filled with suits and shirts. There's a decent selection of the latter going for less than S$200!

My favourite bargain? Replacement leather belt straps for only S$68... I sense a DIY project coming on :)

Man In Suit: Wednesday 19.08.09

It's probably for the better that not all men looked and dressed like Lucas Ossendrijver, designer at Lanvin Homme, else I wouldn't get any work done! Man candy aside, that dreamy floor-to-ceiling shoecase has me written all over it... oh hell, I really just want his entire workspace *sigh*

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You Were Meant For Me: Lanvin/Acne

I love Acne.  I LOVE Lanvin.  I just wish this designer collaboration wasn't so prohibitively expensive!  But then such perfection should come at a price, else everyone would be able to possess it ;) 

Wisdom and restraint tells me I should invest in one of Albert Elbaz's divine stonewash jackets which might let me achieve a respectable cost-per-wear.  

But my heart's vowed to stalk this puff sleeved dress until it depreciates enough to being mildly within my retail stratosphere.  If you know anything about me, you'll know I can never refuse a cute dress with pockets!