Being Frugal and Accessories

Frugality is now fashionable. Analysts are advising investors to short stocks like LVMH, one of the largest diversified luxury goods group that sells luggage, watches, jewellery, champagne, perfumes and cosmetics. It seems that even the richest of the richest will also be tightening their belts. No thanks to the financial giants that started all the credit mess and in the most inadvertent fashion exposed ponzi schemes like Madoff’s that have also been feeding on the boom cycles in the last ten years.

So what do fashionistas do in such trying times? Do we need to be ultra-sensitive or do we continue with our religious pursuit for the nicest things to liven up the gloomy days? My best friend was eyeing the lastest XL jumbo Chanel Flap. It’s an inch bigger all round compared to the regular jumbo and its meant to copy the vintage pieces that you see on the arms of young Hollywood celebrities. Under normal circumstances, it would have been classified as a must-buy. And because of the weaker EUR, it is priced equal to or lower than the regualr jumbo in some countries. Quite a bargain you would have thought. But we decided to give it a pass. We need to be FRUGAL.

We opted for accessories instead. Accessories are fun! Accessories are like makeovers- they transform an old outfit. For those who covet another Hermes or Chanel bag, try their accessories instead. Pick up a necklace, a belt, a bracelet or a scarf. In fact that’s what I’ve been doing. You can also use the accessories on your bags. Tie a scarf or hang a charm. It instantly feels like a new purchase.

For cheaper alternatives, I look to Kenneth Jay Lane. His range of rings and necklaces are fun and contemporary. See a selection of some of my favourites from net-a-porter below. They carry an amazing range of designer jewellery accesories that will almost always perk up your wardrobe. 

Tags: Accessories

A memorable end to 2008.

Happy New Year and I wish everyone a blessed 2009. I would like to share some memorable moments I had in Japan as 2008 drew to a close. (Alright, so there were a lot more food moments than bag moments!)

Tags: Hermes, Kelly, Kyoto, Tokyo

I wana be Lanvin-ed

Natalie Portman is one of my favourite fashion icons. So when she’s spotted on the red carpet and events wearing Lanvin and more Lanvin, naturally you want to check out Alber Elbaz - the designer for Lanvin. Alber Elbaz creates modern feminine clothes for the practical woman. Just look at the Spring/Summer 2009 ready-to-wear runway show. You see toga dresses, toga tops paired with skirts or pants in the same tone of luxurious silk and satin. Big bows as belts and details of a skirt, the must-have jacket paired with shorts makes for a sexy emsemble. He makes interesting silhouettes by picking the right fabric and adding just the right amount of volume here and there. The choice of colors is a palette of pretty jewelled tones in pink, red, yellow, green and shimmery black and white, hence requiring minimal embellishments for the outfits. Seriously, it makes me wanna ditch the Kate-Moss rock chic and be Alber Elbaz-ed!

It’s not just the ready-to-wear that I hanker after. Lanvin accessories are also much sought after. My personal favourites are the pearl and grosgrain ribbon necklaces and the ballet pumps they produce each season. And of course not forgetting a favourite bag from my collection - the Lanvin Madras Hero (Spring/Summer 2007)-timeless with all the right trademark details.

Tags: Alber Elbaz, Lanvin, Madras Hero, Natalie Portman

The Big Clutch Issue

Are you a fan of the BIG CLUTCH?

I decided to take the challenge and prove to my boyfriend that the BIG FENDI CLUTCH is not gonna be a white elephant in my closet. Just this week, I managed to pull together four outfits for four very different occasions.

The Shopping Outfit

The Birthday Dinner with the BF Outfit

The Midweek Work Outfit

The Afternoon Tea with the Girls Outfit

For more inspiration, here’s what the celebrity scene is doing with the BIG CLUTCH. Which is your favourite?

Tags: Clutch, Fendi

Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin has a knack for making your feet beautiful with his shoes. The nude patent platform 4-inch pumps are my favourite. Candice and I call them “Loubis” for short. But I have one big complaint. They are totally uncomfortable, contrary to what I read and hear-say. Don’t get me wrong. Those who know me know that I ADORE shoes and heels. In fact, I’ve been tottering around in heels far too high and for far too long. Just last week, I was at On Peddar - the multi-label shoes and accessories salon. It was the first day of the preview sale (discounts up to 50% ) and just a little before noon, the boutique which is probably around 500 square feet already had a crowd that was a little too daunting for the staff. The CL corner was overwhelmed with activity. I didn’t know if I should feel relieved or jealous. I don’t own any Loubis and those trademark red soles that have captivated not just the famous and the red carpet, but for shoe connoseiurs Loubis are must-haves in your collection. I pride myself as a shoe fiend so I will continue to endeavour in my search for the right pair of Loubis. But in the meantime, the Loubi clutch with its whimsical killer heels clasp is a good start !  What do you think?

Tags: Christian Louboutin

The World of Exotics - What’s In & What’s Out

In the world of finance, I am the exotics salesperson. Some of you may have heard about exotic options or exotic derivatives. It used to sound intriguing to many of my non-banking friends. Not anymore I guess. Given the current financial crisis where investors including the institutional and the private, the sophisticated and the not-so-sophisticated are mired in leveraged losses stemmed from exotic investments.

On the other hand, in the fashion world we have witnessed an explosion of exotics. We are talking investing in luxury goods that come in exotic skins of pythons, snakes, lizards, ostriches and crocs. Hermes claims they have the best exotics. The Hermes salesperson proudly told me that Hermes gets the first choice of croc farms every year. For most of us, a Porosus or a Niloticus Birkin is quite an insane investment with prices starting from SGD40k and up. While I do lust after a croc Birkin, I prefer to savour exotics in smaller doses. I like them as details in the form of a thin belt or the strap of your watch, a strappy heel or the trimming of your purse or bag.

Welcome to my little world of exotics. Hopefully it will outlive the former!

P.S. My apologies for the lack of entries in the last 2 weeks. It was a little topsy-turvy but I have pieced it back to normality.

Tags: Bottega Veneta, Devi Kroell, Hermes, O'Lautre Chose, Ray Augousti

I was wrong about Balenciaga…

When I first spotted the Balenciaga’s Motorcycle (or also known as the Lariat or Le Dix) on the arms of celebrities like Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, I made a bet with my bagsnob buddy Candice. The bag would not last more than 2 seasons. Damn I was so wrong! It was first launched in the spring of 2001 and it is still a craze for bag lovers worldwide. When I spoke to the European suppliers just this fall, I was told that Balenciaga’s are still in great demand in Europe and in Japan. The Bbag (yes thats what Balenciaga bag lovers on bag forums call it - show off your latest Bbag!) have been spotted on the arms of celebrities from the young (Nicole Richie, the Olsen twins) to the older (Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna). Nicolas Ghesquiere the extremely talented, fashion-forward designer for Balenciaga has created an almost cult-like following for the Bbag since the Motorcycle. It is pretty amazing.

There have been many more variations since the Motorcycle. The City, the Work, the Part-time, the Brief, the Weekend etc. Bbag lovers collect their favourite colors every season. Recently we have seen emergence of new silver and gold hardware that resembles the thimble.This gave rise to the Giant series. Hence the Giant City, the Giant Work and so on. And the latest for F/W is the Giant Covered series where the giant hardware is covered in the same material as the bag. My favourite colour for this season is the Ghiaccio- a very pale icey grey.

It’s still not too late for your first Bbag. All you have to do is to start with your favourite colour!

Six&Seven is currently taking orders for the latest F/W2008 collection. Prices range between SGD1600-2200.

Giant Covered City in Ghiaccio

Tags: Balenciaga, Celebrities, Giant City, Kate Moss, Motorcycle, Nicole Richie

I’m still in love with YSL

YSL may not be for everyone. But when you start a YSL, you always get slightly anxious in anticipation of the next season’s collection. My first YSL was a Mombasa which hit the stores in 2001. When I saw in a mag Gywneth Paltrow photographed carrying this leather bag with a deer-horn handle, I was immediately smitten. I called the local boutique straightaway and collected it that same night. My friends may not have been very pleased but YSL claims the horns they use are those already shed. Anyway I must congratulate myself on my foresight. The Mombasa has since become a YSL classic. The great thing about YSL - there are practically no labels on the bags. The Muse, the Downtown, the Muse 2, the Emma, the Besace - they are designs, each with its own distinctive flair and, fused with YSL’s signature matt gold hardware. There is no expiry date for YSL. Yes, keep them for the daughters! With the reigns being passed now to head designer Stefano Pilati, it seems to get better. In fact do check out the shoes! They are something else to talk about but will leave that for another entry.

Tags: Besace, Downtown, Emma, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mombasa, Muse, Muse 2, YSL

The Birkin Chase

I own 2 Birkins and they do get their duly deserved attention on days when I take them out for lunch or shopping. What is the allure of the Hermes Birkin? More than 5 different clients have asked me if I have Birkins for sale since Six&Seven started operations 3 weeks ago. I received a much-needed pleasant surprise yesterday. A Birkin 35 in dark chocolate is available! Who will be the lucky wife or girl. I say this because 2 interested bidders are males!

It seems that if you want a Hermes bag it has got to be a Birkin. Not the Lindy, not the Kelly. My first was the Herbag - it comes with 2 interchangeable canvas bodies of different sizes with a leather handle bar. This has sadly been discontinued. The second was the Garden Party tote in cotton linen with leather trim. It was my runaway bag when I was shuttling between 2 apartments. It was the canvas phase. Did I mention Hermes makes the most durable canvas? I had also put my name down on that infamous waiting list. I got my first Birkin not too long after, a 30 gold togo with palladium hardware. That was 4 years ago.  I was initially a little apprehensive about carrying it to work to be honest as I did not want to be “labelled”.

The Birkin is undeniably an “IT” bag in the fashion world. My best friend calls me the “silly branded girl”, but I prefer to think I’m tasteful and understated in my choices :)  So what is the allure of the Birkin, really? Is it the waiting list or its IT status or its  beautiful craftsmanship? Perhaps it’s the eponymous Jane Birkin who once had Hermes so wildly charmed and inspired to create an something so special for her.  I believe its a confluence of the above and alot more. Whatever it is that motivates you to seek the Birkin chase, I say go for it, jia-you! It is worth it! (My second Birkin wasn’t exactly a chase, but i was unrelentless at the Hermes boutique at Ginza Tokyo and the piece of beauty showed up magically! )

Trivia 1- It seems that Jane Birkin has given up on the Birkin as a result of tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon)

Trivia 2 - You can catch a video in youtube where Jane Birkin was trampling on a birkin in her sneakers. Try to search for it.  I must warn all Birkin lovers this will be a rough one to watch.

P.S. I still adore my Birkins but am leaning towards the Kelly these days. Check out the Kelly 25 and the Kelly Pochette at the Six&Seven store.

Presenting my Birkin 35 in black clemence and 30 in gold togo

Tags: Birkin, Garden Party, Herbag, Hermes, Kelly, Lindy, Pochette

Who is Valextra

I spotted a Valextra today! On the arm of a well-known banker who is occasionally featured in our local Tatler. The piece she had is the S-series overnight case in off-white, also recently featured in the telegraph online.  (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelaccessories/2662377/Valextra-leather-goods-Good-buy-guide.html)

Prior to my most recent Europe trip, my knowledge of Valextra was limited to online resources and most of it gleaned from reading contributions at www.bagsnob.com. Valextra is an acquired taste. The craftmanship is exquisite and the similarity to Hermes in terms of its quality is uncanny. I bought a cardcase for myself and thought it would be a practical marketing tool for the brand. A Valextra is something you need to see and touch. And it really grows on you. I have 2 of these (in taupe) sitting prettily on my Poliform couch, waiting patiently for their worthy new owners. What do you think? Doesn’t my friend Annie (pictured above) deserve a Valextra?

Tags: Hermes, Luggage, Valextra