Jul 30 2009

My Stone

What is stone?

Stone is a stool with a simple shape but with a very precious appearance. Made with an essential symmetrical linear shape which is reminiscent of an hourglass, it has an extraordinary irregular myriad of geometrical facets which give a diamond like effect.

Here’s comes the precious stone family:

 The stone family 

 Stone is offered in the colours of precious stones and SMOKE got me into my eyes:

My stone-21july09

The editorial version of SMOKE:   

 stone_4

This ingenious stool really makes  wander…how about CRYSTAL too!

stone_31

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Apr 6 2009

The Kate Spade Collection

I was first introduce to Kate Spade in 2003. It was the same year that Kate Spade celebrated its 10th Aniversary and created the series “Decade Noel” to mark the occasion! 

Happily, i rewarded myself the Tracy Bucket Bag on boxing day of 26 December 2003 at a great bargain of 50%.  Being a long occupant in the wardrobe, tracy was auctioned off in 2005.

The quest for more sets in as the designs offered were vibrant, quirky, sometimes understated and sometimes girly. And thanks to a girlfriend, her priviledge card has given me access to further concession and the mark down prices were really at a steal, it’ll be silly to stick to rigid accounting principles.

Subsequently, i expanded my collection with the Pencil Case which i undoubtly term as my everlasting simple classic.

In 2004, the gaga spins off with the Maira Kalman Collection - A series of Amusing dog illustrations. Quoting the designer, “the results are humorous, engaging & casually chic”. Needless to say, i accounted for the tote & a comestic pouch.

The craze continues in 2005, this round, i settled for the original. A formal piece in their signature trademark logo and one in a more cheery signature print.

Here’s a summary of the mentioned posessions, extracted from my powerpoint:

 
The madness never stops as Kate Spade never fail to bring excitement in its design, in 2006, I was hooked on Oaxaca embroidered reyna. The bright rafia thread-work on the woven pandam market tote swayed my heart with the new creation of tradition handcraft.

In 2008, i set my records by bagging home 4 more new members namely: A tote, a wristlet, one stripe bow evening bag and a satin bow evening bag, all from the Spring/Summer Collection of 2008, flew in during my vacation in USA.

L-R (2nd row): Oaxaca embroidered reyna, Maira kalman yoko, Black houndtooth noel dot.
L-R(1st row): Topsy dot noel, Satin bow, Strip bow, Choco Tote, Wristlet.

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Dec 3 2008

Oops…i did it again!

“If you can’t reach what you want from where you are, you have two options:

You must either aim for something else attainable from your present position or You must move yourself closer.”

In my case, i made my maiden entry to Bottega Veneta Boutique today aiming straight at the Wallet & Assessories Corner. Effortlessly, I made my selection on a woven wallet in red which i had eyeballed for sometime. All ready to settle with my choice when the helpful sales assistant recommended its best buy of the day - The Signature Woven Medium Veneta to go with my wallet. A delightful matching bag cum wallet set indeed.

To avoid been overly disgusting and mindful of my conduct which may stir lifestyle upheavals. I chose the bag, a item i thought i would never afford for this brand as the prices are not cheap. It is known for intricate hand weave, higest quality leather and the touch is soft and supple.

It’s tempting to make a random decision and this was made swift with the additional discount and shopping vouchers i have won.

If i don’t buy it now, i won’t at all next time. And afterwards, i wish i had.

And so i did, and i rarely want repentance.

Shoulder Veneta, S$1701, 3 December 2008.

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Nov 12 2008

My Miu Miu

Miu Miu was a up & coming brand gaining popularity because of its unconventional design in gorgeous leather! And i am definitely smitten on this new kid on the block.

I striked on a good deal on my maiden miu miu during its Spring/Summer 2007 seasonal sale and chose this unappealing colour but beautiful leather folds with cool contrasting golden studs handle to add to list.
  
12 December 2007, S$1248

And i am drooling to expand my miu miu collection with its signature coffer series. Can santa please grant me my wish?


Matellase Luxe Convertible Medium Bag

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Oct 15 2008

Bringing Home the CHANEL: My life in Hot Pursuit of this iconic handbag

To own a Chanel means burning a big hole in the pocket. Even if you are willing to suffer this burnt, you got money…SO WHAT??? Join the queue and be on the waiting list for a month or two to wait for your stock to arrive from her hometown. 

A absolute turn-off and disappointment sets into scene when your tardiness of one or two days result on the possibility that your coveted handbag is all sold out in-store & worldwide. Regretably you have to trade for a second best option available, and the whole cycle of waiting game and disappointment starts again when the sales staff replied: “this is the last piece, madame.” Would you want to spend your account toting a piece that has been touched by hundreds of vain poxs who have experimented the bags in different styles, different angles, looking into the mirror intensively asking it “mirror mirror on the wall, which bag is the prettiest among all?” I definitely would not want a “second” handbag with legacy fingerprints and vain poxy marks stained on my pursuit that i generously squander my hardearn savings on.

My wishlist for my first Chanel was a single chain lambskin quilted classic flap bag. It was priced at S$2150 spotted in Jan 2007 but by the time i decided to give a go, it was the last piece left. Sadly, i wrote my name on the waiting list and it came on Mar 2007. By then the price has rosed to S$2450.

Concurrently, I spotted a new arrival of Spring/Summer 2007 and decided to leave this classic flap bag for the season’s best in blue hues. And i eagerly pinned home my very first Chanel on 3 March 2007 at S$2650.
     
I requested the boutique staff to wrap it up for i want to re-experience and feel the joy of unwrapping a dream gift i have marvelled. It was my most pricey handbag till date.

Satified with one already? The lust for two and three keep the search for this iconic interlocking C. And with no more money for a bigger ticket item, my wayward unruly quest for more landed me a goatskin wallet with contrasting piping at Euro$390, hand delivered from a pal who got it from its France flagshop in May 2007.

The lust for Chanel still does not end, 大家姐called me excitedly from Korea Airport. ‘GPRS-ing’ me her location - inside Chanel Boutique and the Paris Biarritz Shopping Bag that i have been talking about is going at USD$1700. I agreed to invest S$1K and the deal was sealed in March 2008.


(Left to Right: Paris Biarritz tote, Spring/Summer 2007 Chanel Classic in Blue Hue, Spring/Summer 2007 Chanel Wallet)

Crossing continents in search of these iconic watchlists are a great pleasure and saving for the pocket.

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Oct 7 2008

How many BAGS does this girl own - Vol.2

Volume Two - Gucci

Gucci appeals to me because of its signature interlocking GG motif, its signature horsebit trademark, its signature hobo design, its signature bamboo handle and the most unmistakable Gucci logo. And i am proud to be associated with GG, its so close to heart representing my initials.

Here, i proudly present my collection:
 
L to R: Abbey Medium Shoulder Bag, Joy Medium Shoulder Bag, Abbe Medium Tote, ‘Dumpling’ Small Tote, Pouchette, Card Holder, Horsebit Small Wallet.

1) Abbey Medium Shoulder Bag, Spring/ Summer Collection 2006.
It is the annual season sale and with exclusive staff discount on top of the usual mark down, i cannot bring myself to say no to this lovely piece at S$847. 2nd June 2006, the birthday of my bag was the FIFA World Cup Opening and Germany played a beautiful game scoring 4 against Costa Rica 2.


2) Joy Medium Shoulder Bag, Fall/Winter Collection 2005.
This classic hobo has been in my wishlist eversince i idolised Jackie O! Paid S$924 on 9 December 2005, the annual season sale at Paragon.

3) Abbe Medium Tote, Fall/Winter Collection 2005.
A gift for mummy but became mine eventually :). S$619.50 after exclusive staff discount, 9 December 2005.

4) Dumpling Small Tote, Spring/Summer 2008.
Purchased in HK, classified as the Japan Hottest item - Not to be missed! Paid HK$3303 on 4 August 2008. A reward using the performance bonus just pocketed. This the only piece of handbag i bought without waiting for the sale but still i save S$100 from the retail price in Singapore at S$700.

5) Pouchette, Spring/Summer 2004.
My very first Gucci gotten at a reasonable budget of S$274. A limited edition spotted at T2 while boarding my flight to Sydney on 15 June 2004.

6) Card Holder, Fall/Winter 2006.
A Birthday gift for sweet 26. S$170.

7) Wallet, Fall/Winter 2004.
Envied a friend who was seen with this in Medium and i got it from the season sale on 12 December 2004 at S$440. I had a merry merry christmas with my new gucci wallet that year.

Am i not a smart shopper? And i am glad that i have kind people around me who are willing to extend their premiums with me.

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Oct 6 2008

How many BAGS does this girl own???

I am freakingly obsessed with what a girl wants… For goodness sake, moi not into any of the girly sweetie little cutie stuffs - teddy bears, barbie dolls, fury little ugly creatures… moi totally detest it. I am fervent about clothes, bags and shoes …

I was offered by a colleague on getting an LV bag for me from France, this sweet gesture could easily save me 15% to 20% of the retail price that i have to pay in Singapore. And damn…I thought i said, enough is enough? But, who knows, i have been browsing the LV site for 2 weeks in vain for what should i get. It gotta be a great pity to miss this boat and i am still contemplating on this big business deal mounting to thousands value and millions tons of heartache.

So, to dilute my interest, i decided to do a stock take of my acquistions till date for LUXE. The first will starts with LV - Louis Vuitton!

And every bag i own has a story to tell…

It was my dream to own a LV bag since i was in my teens. It was a prestige brand that is marketed for high society. Nevermind you label me, vain or materialistic, of cos, i wannabe a high society citizen and it kept me motivated to strive…My first LV bag took me many years to realise. I slogged hard for 3+ years to fulfil my  desire and opted to start the LV collection with ‘Papillion’ which has a unique cylinder shape. I used partial of my variable bonus and urged my sister to be a co-shareholder to own it in March 2004 at S$930.

Shortly, someone offered to help to buy LV from Paris. Who will not dream to expand the collection??? I placed a order for the essential ‘Speedy’. And i added the 2nd in my collection in May 2004 at a steal of Euro$390 and Singapore was selling at S$900 then.

In the same year, December. Another friend offered to deliver LV from Frankfurt. And i placed an order for the Accessories Pouch and got it at Euro$180.

LV celebrated its 150th Anniversary Year in 2004 and i got 3 in my collection over a period of 6 months, thats really speedy as how i lourve LV.

My fourth LV bag was a limited edition - ‘CERISES, speedy’. I was tempted to own it after knowing that i need to be on the waiting list in Singapore. And this means, its a must-have, a limited edition for year 2005 launched by LV! And so, a friend went to Copenhagen and got it freshly from the shelves in June. And i paid Euro$640 (Equivalent to S$1410) for this cherry where in Singapore, Tai-Tais are still in queue to fight for it at S$1810. My cherry is bought at a saving of S$400 and no sweat to get it. And this delightful piece is one of my favorite which i commemorate leaving my old job and starting my current job.

My fifth LV is also a proud possession that i acquired on 13 November 2007, the limited cruise 2007 collection - ‘Mini Lin Croi Bleu, Marina PM. I felt in lourve with it at first sight and that is last piece available. So i hurry grabbed it S$1940 before the any Tai-Tai did it. I am so proud to walk around showing off the latest bag, till date, i do get a 2nd look on my bag and girls come envying me, ‘it is BEAUTIFUL!’ Thank you, I knew it!!! :)

Okie, i going to put a full-stop to LVs…to be precise, i shall not follow the craze for Neverfull…i wana be unique and be caught gleeing with a limited piece that girls will drool over my obsession :p

And here’s a family portait of my LV members…

From Left to Right: Marina PM, Speedy 30, Cerise Speedy 25, Papillion, Assessories Pouch.

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Feb 25 2008

“Too much is not enough”

When comes to shoes – Indeed…TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH! And that is the slogan of Beverly Feldman renowned for its distinctive blings blings or bold animal prints or classy dinner heels that woman will turn weak at sight! And I am proud to declare I have two pairs of Beverly Feldman although if given a choice, Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboulin will be god sent.  

I started my shoe-buying habit in 2001 when I stepped into the commercial world. The humble beginning were made of Vincci, unknown spots-on brands during my retail retreats and X:odus which was a hit in Singapore then. And as I progressed, my collection rose to higher quality and ‘uncommon’ shoes from the international designer’s corner of C.K Tangs, Hue which houses the best brands of all excellent designs/quality of which Pura Lopez my Achilles’ heel and Pedder Red for it’s quirky style. To date, my expensive collections are still in good condition that has lasted me as I aged.

My early days of my shoes collection consisted mainly slips-in and flats only. Of which most of them were pointy…I lourve pointy…for no particular reason, and it is still today! The only change I have seen was that I am beginning to embrace the heels which I thought I could not handle them gracefully and my shoes collection are now made up by Charles & Keith which was such a common sight at street. Being peeve spotted on the street with the same pair of C&K shoes, but I still cannot help not buying…they cost a quarter compared to my usual pair, can you say No???

Stock-taking my count of shoes, I have closed to 150 pairs! Opps, I am not contesting against Imelda Marcoses. I am still figuring out how to tidy my powerpoint shoes presentation which I proudly showcase my collection and it also serves as a reminiscent of my past and present – The indulgent big spender, the sentimental and insane collector.

 

And here’s a glimpse of a quarter of my collection which was taken recently as I tidy the shoe rag in my living room.
 There other precious babies are hidden in my room! I am looking forward to a family portrait soon. And yes, I am aiming for a pair of Asics Onitsuka Tigers to be added on the list…

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Dec 26 2007

圣诞快乐！

今年的平安夜，真的是平安度过！

圣诞节，是个花钱的季节！我总爱借圣诞节给自己买礼物慰劳自己一年换来的辛苦！圣诞节也是送礼答谢身边亲人，朋友，同事，的节日。送礼的人开心，收到礼的人也高兴，拆开礼物的刹那更是兴奋！

看看我今年的收获吧:
可惜许多包装美丽但内容’嗍‘！每个人对美的价值观都不一样吧！

和以往一样，圣诞节都在Sapphire 度过。。。看看花絮吧！

刚入伍的’PK”:  

每年，年底一定光头的傻貌 -”JH”！ 自己不干净还怪人。。。“就是你们用你们肮脏的手着摸我的头，害我生满头的豆豆！噢，Look’s who talking!!!

可爱的”JY”:

祝愿平平安安。。。快快乐乐！

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Dec 26 2007

出差

出差其实是一件又爱又恨的一件事！

爱-有机会扩展见闻，加宽知识，忙里偷闲-”瞎并“，乐！

恨-累，回来要清理那堆出差时累积的工作，闷！

 

这次出发到中国，要在一个礼拜内去3个省:成都，重庆和西安！

这个行程一点多不轻松。 我出发前还瞎忙着预备冬装，害怕那寒冷的季节。行李不知不觉地20公斤。。。

 

第一站，我们到达了成都，四川省！对成都没什么影象，一下飞机，同事便带我们到著名的倒地豆腐庄，吃了一餐丰盛的午餐。晚上，我们便尝了四川风味的麻辣锅。

和大众不同，他们都感到辣到不行，而我却相反。。。

 

开工了，在应征的过程中，看到了有理想和抱负的年轻人，有的精神可佳-坐了33小时的火车来面试，有的有心无力，有的自以为是，有的好可怜。。。嗨！心理仿佛同情那些没被入选的应征者，同情他们因身长的环境让他们无法前进，语言的限度也成为踏出海外的一大障碍，要走出国度对这群普通又简单的年轻人毕竟没那么容易！希望他们虽然没入选，起码也算吸取了应征经验，以备累积更多的阅历下次再来过！

 

下一站，我们到达了重庆！难忘的是，我们DIY 各自拉了>25 公斤的行李走了超过400米的路程，从国际机场到国内机场。当中，还被机场工作人员搞到团团传，走了许多冤枉路。。。成为班机的最后两位乘客，真是累啊！重庆相似香港，是一个都会城市！对于这个购物女王，重庆符合了我的期望。酒店四周围就是大型百货商场，让我心驰神往。。。期待赶快完成任务，好办事！！！总算不服所望，我通杀了一打内裤，袜子，靴子，等！

 

    最后一站，经历了几天的疲劳，我们好期待行程的结束！终于来到尾声-西安。西安是三个省中最兰。从重庆的大城市来到一个小镇，转变真的好扫兴！建筑简陋，地区落后，“鸟不生蛋“！ 真是闷到极度！我们餐餐都以KFC 填饱肚子！伯不急待赶进回国去。可是扁扁有最多自由活动时间就在西安，时间真是难过。好不容易找到了消磨时间的指甲护理。在离开前，以RMB$38元美丽一番:

 

 

 

这次出差到西安是我最想念家的第一次！好想回家！

 

 

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