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.

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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 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*

More Unabashedly Preening

Nina Garcia's Preen's Fall 2011 sequined blouses are about to be everywhere soon, aren't they?  Now spied on the similarly tanned & brunette Marisa Tomei at the Venice Film Festival.  Still can't afford it, but this surely adds motivation to the certain brands to get cracking on a well-priced alternative *cough Zara cough*

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All About Nina, All About Sleeves

In a sometimes sweltering city state, I'm frequently on the receiving end of "the raised eyebrow" when I opt for a long sleeve as my top of choice. The potential for perspiration be damned, I refuse to allow my less-than-toned upper arms to be my sartorial downfall. 

Thankfully, I have Nina Garcia in my style corner this fortnight!  She couldn't have dressed more appropriately for her starring role in a recent episode of Project Runway (Season 9).  For anyone familiar with the series, we've had to endure the annual 'Design for Heidi' challenge (which has morphed over the years into 'Help Heidi Design for her Line') that inevitably meant bodycon & short. Designing a day/night outfit for Nina was a proper challenge: the Marie Claire's fashion director wanted nothing too voluminous, no loud patterns, no loud colours, no cowl necklines, not boring... basically she wanted what any working woman wants!  Topping the episode off was Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles armed with droned barbs worthy of The Devil Wears Prada. But I digress...

The star piece of the episode wasn't anything from the contestants runway.  Reverentially (grin), it was the Fall 2011 Preen blouse which Nina wore during her visit to the workroom (read: slaughterhouse). Technically this breaches Nina's loud colours requirement but it's a such clever way to wear bright orange to the office/cocktails, I'm willing to look past any potentially confusing signals she was sending to the contestants. 

 

A variation of Nina Garcia's Preen blouse is available now for £1,230.50 at Net-A-Porter. And for anyone who can't afford a fashion director's wardrobe, it's time to head to the Brother sewing room. 

{pc: gettyimages; tvguide; realitytea; netaporter}

Snooze/Lose: Fashion's Night Out T-Shirt

Blast these efforts to be more circumspect with my shopping!  I've deliberated on this printed long sleeved tee from this year's Fashion's Night Out collection for too long and all the small sizes are gone!  

Frustratingly, Shopbop seems the only online retailer carrying this piece (US$45) which also means enough people have bought (and worked their way through) Vogue's September issue, which featured it as their choice budget buy for the month.  

Maybe I could still get the 'Medium' and style it up as a t-shirt dress?  Plead with friends to scour the stores in the USA for alternative sizes?  More deliberation ensues... Cue: The cast of Glee doing David Bowie!  All we need are the Olsen twins to guest in a Glee fashion episode and the fun frivolous fantasy would be complete. 

 {source: tfs; fno}

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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A Potentially Expensive Morning: Guiseppe Zanotti Sale!

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Right now, I'm kinda in love with Thursday nights.  It couples all the promise of the impending weekend  with that exhilarating countdown feeling which will motivate me throughout the workday.  Also, I get to do my best Simon Cowell impersonation with the latest episode of American Idol whilst toasting the only worknight when one could enjoy a glass of cab sauv without fear (Fridays don't count).

This week, there's another incentive to getting out of bed early tomorrow: Brandsfever's Giuseppe Zanotti sale, starting at 9am tomorrow (SG time).  The prospect of spending cash before you're even done with your morning skinny latte might seem indulgent, but there are discounts of up to 75% being promised.  That's a severe enough markdown to make me strong enough not to snooze that alarm.  

Brandsfever is a members-only discount shopping website so make sure you're in front of the office laptop in time to subscribe if you're not already a member.  

Now, doesn't it feel like the weekend already...? 

Blake Lively on the set of Gossip Girl with slate grey Zanotti boots.

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Swedish Hasbeens: No Longer Havenots

{grazia via source}

Gossip Girl may be the go-to television show for sartorial inspiration these days, but the original weekly fashion show remains Sex and The City.  Consequently, I feel absolutely no shame in confessing that Sarah Jessica Parker's real-life endorsement of those nude Swedish Hasbeens has basically pushed me over the edge.  I even have the light jeans/jeggings from Uniqlo and Gap to go with - Perfect! 

Additionally, these beauties promise to age to a gorgeous softer nude - information care of an expired listing on Galpal M's current favourite haunt 'Laws of General Economy'.  These shoes just look better and better... Mmmm... Into my shopping cart you go... 

Shopping Update: Tom Ford 'Single Man' Glasses

{hypebeast}

Oh the great lengths I go in search of a bargain!  Anyone who's lived in Singapore will know there is one place you do not venture to on a Sunday if you can help it: Lucky Plaza

Madding crowds notwithstanding, I found the time to stop by AS Optics which triumphed where nights of online searches failed.  As an added incentive, the tortoise and plain black Tom Ford frames that retail at S$620 online could be The Man's (and mine to admire) for S$380.  Yes, that's still a pretty penny but with the savings you'd score that bottle of whisky, monochromatic vintage dress and be on your way to that exceedingly authentic Single Man party!

Note: Yes, it may seem rather lackadaisical to post about the same frames twice (and in a row) but I am in LOVE...

My Favourite Guest Star: Mamie Gummer in The Good Wife

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I hang my head in shame for failing to immediately recognising Mamie Gummer during her guest appearances on one of my new favourite shows, The Good Wife.  

Though I recalled Meryl Streep had a daughter who was picked to be the face of Gerard Darel in their 2009/2010 campaigns, placing Gummer in her witty, sneaky Legally Blonde turn proved to be an inexplicable challenge.  For that I blame the collective swoon squad of Josh Charles, Chris Noth and Matt Czuchry for causing my repeated brain spazzes. 

I'm now obsessed trying to get my hands on a DVD of Evening, which has Gummer with Claire Danes and her delicious husband Hugh Dancy. Ok, I readily admit that this post has a sketchy link to shopping, but it's certainly for a good cause.  If you haven't started watching The Good Wife, please do so I won't be alone in my guilty pleasure - I promise it has more guy-candy than Grey's these days... 

{pc: style&fashion}

Water For Elephants: Candy for Friday

I must have watched the gorgeous trailer for Water for Elephants at least a dozen times last night.  Leaving aside Robert Pattinson's brooding, there's plenty to enjoy: 1930s glamour, vintage circus spectacle and Reese Witherspoon possibly making an elephant seem sensous. With trailer HQ screenshots this alluring, the cast (and set) are sure to turn up in a spread in Vogue or Vanity Fair come the April 2011 issue. TGIF everyone!!

{pc: waterforelephants}

Attack of The Blondes

Random Gossip Girl eyecandy is all I can manage this Monday morning... that and, possibly, an up-size to a vente skinny latte. Also, I realise that both the new GG "blondes" Clemence Poesy (my favourite French ingenue at the moment) and Katie Cassidy (a less trashy Serena) are glorified plot movers but I wish they'd join the cast permanently. I love my frenemies catfights but Serena and Blair have changed "relationship status" more often than they've changed outfits! And that is, by GG standards, quite unacceptable...

{pc:tfs}

For Your Consideration

Whatever you may feel about Mulberry's Spring/Summer 2011 line... you have to admit this looked a right rollicking launch (yay, Grace Coddington & Hilary Alexander). Check out all the snaps at their new blog - which format confuses me, but that might just be my pre morning coffee somnambulism.

{pc: mulberry}

New Week, New Obsessions

Clemence Poesy, who is my new Alexa, now carries the Louis Vuitton SC, which is my new Balenciaga Work. And in Navy, which is my new Black. Which means I'm already wishing I'll have more time in Paris, which is going to be my new London...

(tfs)